Weekly Articles

Obedient Faith (1-18-2025)

Paul wrote to the church at Corinth: “Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17).  Therefore, many churches brush off baptism thinking its not essential.  However, the previous couple verses note how he baptized Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanas.  The reason: “so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name” (v 15).  Paul wanted to avoid people being prideful: “I was baptized by an apostle!”  The church at Corinth struggled with divisions (1 Corinthians 1:12).  Baptism is essential for salvation.  It’s not merely about faith.   “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice” (Genesis 4:4; Hebrews 11:4).  Able’s faith led him to do something.  He gave the best of his livestock, while Cain gave some lousy fruit.  Noah had faith that the flood waters were coming, but he had to be obedient and build the Ark (Genesis 6:14; Hebrews 11:7).  He also had to build it of Gopher wood, and to certain dimensions.  Abraham had faith that God would make his descendants a great nation, but he had to be obedient in showing that he was willing to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1; Hebrews 11:17-19).  God of course planned to stop Abraham all along.  Moses had faith that God would free the Hebrews from Egypt, but he had to obediently go before Pharaoh, show the 10 plagues, and cross the Red Sea (Exodus 7-12; Hebrews 11:23-29).  Joshua had faith the walls of Jericho would fall, but he had to be obedient and march around them once for six days, and then seven times the seventh day (Joshua 6:4).  “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies” (Hebrews 11:31).  She must have been obedient (Joshua 2:1-21).  Also note that she’s commended for her faith, not her previous job.  David had faith God would save Israel from Goliath, but he had to go face to face with Goliath and sling the stone (1 Samuel 17:46).  Naaman, the Syrian commander, wanted Elisha to pray and wave his hand over his leprosy to be well.  God told him to dip seven times in the Jordan river.  In the New Testament Jesus said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God . . . Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:5, 36).  Paul started his letter to Rome writing (AD 50’s): “we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5), and ended with: “to bring about the obedience of faith” (Romans 16:26).  The Bible teaches that obedience through baptism is necessary for salvation: “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).  Also: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).  Peter wrote: “God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:20-21).  It is not a work that we do, but a work that God has done for us through Jesus: “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12).  God is the one working.  God is the one who died on the cross.  God is the one who gave us life.  Its impossible for us to work our own salvation.  Paul pictured baptism as a dead person being buried: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4).  A dead body doesn’t do any “working” while being buried.  It isn’t nailing the coffin, or shoveling the soil back.  We’re dying to sin in order to be raised to life.  Every time someone is saved in the book of Acts, its by being washed in Jesus’ blood through baptism: “Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself'” (Acts 2:38-39).  Note that the promise is for all (not just 1st Century folks).  Baptism wasn’t just a cultural thing in the Greco-Roman world.  Samaritans converted: “when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12).  In Acts 8: “And he [the Ethiopian Eunuch] commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him” (Acts 8:38).  The former persecutor Paul was baptized after Ananias told him the gospel (Acts 9:18).  Peter said to the first gentile converts: “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:48).  Lydia, a seller of purple cloth was baptized (Acts 16:15).  The jailer at Philippi was about to kill himself thinking the prisoners had escaped, but Paul reassured him at the last moment: “And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized” (Acts 16:33).  Jews converted: “Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:8).  About 12 men from Ephesus had been baptized with John’s baptism of repentance, and although believing, they hadn’t heard of the Holy Spirit.  Paul thus asked them about baptism into Christ (Acts 19:5).  Remember what John the baptizer had said: “I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8).  We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), but whenever we see faith in the Bible, its accompanied with obedience.  God knew that humans like saying one thing, and believing another.  God wants a demonstration of our faith.  The old man of sin is being buried in the waters, and we’re raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).  

Ten Lepers (1-11-2025)

Jesus is the Great Physician who can save anyone: samaritans, gentiles, tax collectors, prostitutes, and thieves.  We see this theme throughout Luke’s gospel: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior” (Luke 2:11); “my eyes have seen your salvation [Simeon]” (2:30); “you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself” (4:23); “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (5:31).  See Luke 17.  There are five healings unique to Luke’s gospel: raising the young man at Nain (7:15), straightening the bent over woman (13:13), the swollen man (14:4), the ten lepers (17:14), and a man’s ear restored (22:51; Stein Vol 24 20).   Note Luke 17:11-13.  Jesus is still traveling towards Jerusalem (9:51; 13:22; Stein 433).  Samaritans were Jew’s who married Gentiles after Assyria took over Israel (722 BC).  The great nations would intermingle the various people’s of their empires to stifle resistance.  The Jews in Judea were carful to marry only Jews and therefore looked down on Samaritans as “less pure.”  Do we see the potential of repentance in people?  That can be hard to see at times.  Leprosy is a skin disease that can cause whiteness, disfiguring, or even body parts to fall off.  Being infectious, they were the outcasts of society.  We read: “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ 46 He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp” (Leviticus 13:45-46).  These Jewish lepers are mixing with at least one Samaritan leper.  Both groups are at the bottom rung of society and therefore stick together.  Do we have a kind of faith that sees what people could be?  If Jesus can change Saul’s heart on the road to Damascus, He can change anyone.  Paul called himself the “foremost” sinner (1 Timothy 1:15).  The term “Master” used here is much more than just “sir” (a polite greeting).  These men have heard of Jesus, and have faith that He is able to heal them.  Calling Jesus “Master” is unusual, He’s usually addressed as “teacher” (Petrillo 63; See Luke 17:14).  This is no easy task that Jesus told the lepers to do.  If Jesus is telling them to go to Jerusalem, where the Priest’s and sacrifices are made, this would be several miles away.  On other occasions where Jesus healed lepers, he would tell them also to show themselves to the Priest’s, and offer a sacrifice; that is, a sacrifice for their cleansing (Luke 5:14): “This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest . . . And on the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb “ (Leviticus 14:2, 10).  In the Old Testament, one was healed and then was shown to the priests for confirmation.  These ten could have been difficult like Naaman the Syrian: “Elisha, can’t you just wave your have over the spot and pray to your God?”  You want me to go dip in the dirty Jordan river?  What good will that do?  Do we have faith to go where God sends us even if the situation seems hopeless?  We might also note that Jesus can heal over space and time.  It didn’t take eight days to confirm that they were cleansed.  I wonder how marvelously healthy their skin looked afterward (See vs 15-19)!  This Samaritan is healed because of his faith in Jesus.  Did he go to the priest later?  In my mind, if Jesus told me to go see the priest, I’m making a B-line for Jerusalem!  It almost seems like he’s not following Jesus’ word.  Yet Jesus commends the Samaritan.  Perhaps the thought is that Jesus is where true healing happens, not the Jewish Priests.  Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 2:17).  He glorified God and gave thanks to Jesus.  Even this outcast in a few different ways found Jesus.  No one is too far gone from the Lord.  The thief on the cross was told that he’d be with Jesus in paradise (Luke 23:43).  What about the other nine?  At least some if not all the others were Jews.  It seems that they saw the cleansing and just went on their way.  Note: “your faith has made you well” is literally: “your faith has saved you” (physically and spiritually).  For us also, it is obedient faith that saves us today.  That’s how we come in contact with the blood of Jesus.  Jesus died on our behalf, for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).  All He wants is for us to: believe what we’ve heard by turning to Him in repentance, confess Him as Lord of our lives, and be immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins.  That’s what we read in the New Testament.  If He had told us to climb the Himalayas in order to be saved, we’d be on a plane tomorrow!  

Orbison, Guy. Petrillo, Denny.  Workshop in the Word: A Study of the Gospel of Luke. 2010.

Stein, R. H. Luke. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1992.

Studying God’s Word (12-21-2024)

In our busy lives, it can be hard to find time (appointments, oil change, things around the house).  At the end of the day we wonder where all the time went.  Among all the hustle and bustle, do we find time to read God’s Word daily?  Jesus said: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).  In the Bible, we see people eat a lot of bread (artos).  In fact, the phrase “breaking bread” is used for Communion and common meals (context determines).  In this time period during the Roman Empire, bread was the staple of people’s existence (a Roman Poet coined the term “bread and circuses” as placating masses).  This “every word” is not just the New Testament that we need to read- God spoke words in the Old Testament too.  There are times when you’re reading and you think: That’s the exact thought I was looking for!  The Bible often gives a greater depth of meaning to our day to day lives.  How many a man has not really lived, because he didn’t have the bread of life.  Many bumble through life without purpose, hope, or joy.  A prominent atheist, Richard Dawkins wrote: “there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference” (River Out Of Eden).  Indeed, without God and His Word, who cares?  From a naturalistic perspective, if humanity ends hunger, what ultimate purpose does that have?  Our Sun will eventually use all its hydrogen and supernova leaving no mankind; just the deadness and darkness of space.  If one lives a wicked life like Stalin who murdered millions of his own people in the Gulags, and killed millions of Ukrainians in the Holodomor famine, or one lives a good life, who cares?  They both end up at the same place of annihilation, no punishment or reward (See Deuteronomy 6).  God and His Word are needed.  It makes sense of an otherwise senseless life.  It gives purpose.  Moses wrote in Deuteronomy: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (6:4-5; See 6:6-9).  They shall “be on your heart.”  God’s Word digs down to even our thoughts and intentions: “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).  Do our thoughts dwell on God’s Word?  Do our intentions have the endorsement of God’s Word?  We see there in Hebrews the power God’s Word has.  Its not a dead word like Plato’s, its active.  “In the psychology of the Old Testament the heart is not the center of emotional life and response but the seat of the intellect or rational side of humankind” (Merrill Vol 4 167).  God’s word is to be taught and taught diligently when we: sit, walk, lie down, or rise up.  We probably talk about sports and politics more than we talk about God’s Word (I’m guilty of doing so).  Someone wrote: “Sitting suggests inactivity; and walking, of course, activity. Together they encompass all of human effort. Likewise, to retire at night and rise up in the morning speaks of the totality of time” (Merrill 167).  The Bible has converted millions over the ages.  Its given hope when there seems to be none.  Its quoted more than any other book in the world.  It should be chiseled onto us like on a stone.  When you’re about to do something with your “hand” do we have in the back of our minds that this is for the glory of God?  Do our actions have the fingerprints of Jesus on them?  Is God’s Word at the forefront of our thinking?  The original wording here seems to be from the Israelite’s exodus from Egypt: “And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt” (Exodus 13:9).  They put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts in order to not have their firstborn killed (Exodus 12:7).  The evil beast in Revelation, in contrast, wants to have his sign on our right hands and foreheads (13:16).  Do we show God’s word honor, and are not ashamed of it?  Its as if we have the words inscribed on our doorposts and gates.  Its found at home (doorposts) and in the community (gates).  Every time you walk out your garage you see God’s Word, and every time you come back into your home you see God’s Word.  It’s continually on our minds.  Someone commented: ““I could almost wish that this were literally fulfilled much more often than it is. I was charmed, in many a Swiss village, to see a text of Scripture carved on the door-post. A text hung up in your houses may often speak when you are silent” (Spurgeon).  Mom had us youngsters take Karate back in the day.  The plan was to commit to muscle memory a combination of moves.  I’ve forgotten all of them of course, but God wants His word to be right there at the ready.  Psalm 1:2 speaks of a righteous man: “his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night”  Also: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).  Jesus said: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17).  God’s word is how we learn to get back to Him.  We had a chasm of sin between us and God, and needed a mediator to help.  The average time it takes to read one chapter in the Bible is 4 minutes.  Four chapters is a mere 16 minutes.  When you get up in the morning, that’s the perfect time to squeeze in a chapter of the Bible (you’re waiting for something in the microwave anyway).  Keep your Bible right on your nightstand and read a chapter before bed (some of those chapters can really help sleeping disorders!).  Don’t read Revelation though, you might get nightmares . . . Let’s be sure to be eating through God’s word.  

Merrill, E. H.  Deuteronomy. Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1994

Ephesians 1 Blessed (12-14-2024)

At the start of Ephesians we’ll see: God’s generosity, Christ’s cross, and the Spirit’s seal.  Someone noted: “This one long sweeping statement in Greek goes without a major stop from the beginning of verse 3 to the end of verse 14” (Petrillo 2).  Some key words in this section are: “blessed” and “in Him.”  Considering the turmoil in the world, we’re very blessed.  Considering the hunger in the world, we’ve been more than blessed (See Ephesians 1:3-6).  God blesses us with every spiritual blessing: “Blessed are the . . .” (Matthew 5:3-11).  This blessedness is particularly true in the “heavenly places” which is really all that matters.  Life isn’t about buying things or going to Hawaii.  The phrase “heavenly places” is seen 5X and only in Ephesians (1:20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12).  Christ made it to the heavenly places, and paved the way for us to make it there.  What a blessing to know the way!  God didn’t individually choose to save Humphrey and condemned Kurt.  God chose that this group of obedient people be predestined for salvation, and this group (the disobedient) for the other place.  As someone put it: God loves the world, but He didn’t choose the world (Petrillo 3).  We’re blessed because we’re chosen.  This was God’s plan before the world was created.  He knew Adam and Eve would sin, and that Jesus would be the atoning sacrifice.  We’re blessed because God took us from sinful and guilty to holy and blameless.  This was according to God’s work of love, who is love (1 John 4:8).  We’re starting to see a pattern “in Christ” (v 3), and “in Him” (v 4).  We’re blessed in our adoption as sons.  There are around 200 million orphans in the world (medium.com).  We get to be called children of God (not the lowly Mayor’s or Governor’s children).  We get to call the creator of all things our Father!  This is all “through Jesus Christ.”  He’s the only way (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).  This blessing was also “according to the purpose of his will.”  We don’t deserve any of His blessings, quite the opposite.   The purpose being for “the praise of His glorious grace.”  If there’s something to glory in, its God’s grace.  Worldly accomplishments don’t come close.  The Greek literally reads (v 6): “the grace by which He has graced us” (Petrillo 4).  This is again mentioned as being: “in the Beloved” (Matthew 3:17; 17:5).  We see “in Him” again at verse 7, it all comes back to Jesus.  This “redemption” is literally “the redemption” (Jamieson 342).  God redeeming His people from Egypt and Babylon were great events, but nothing’s better than redemption in Jesus.  A kinsman could redeem a fellow Israelite from slavery (v 7; Jamieson 342).  What a blessing to be redeemed from sin!  This had to be “through His blood.”  No other way can cut it.  Jesus appeased God’s wrath for us.  We have “the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”  God doesn’t just give us grace for 15 or 400 sins.  He gives us grace for them all.  It isn’t merely three strikes.  This isn’t the usual word for sin, “trespasses” it almost sounds worse.   Yet, Paul is quick to add the “riches” of His grace.  Gold and silver can’t compare.  Health isn’t the best blessing one can have.  In verse 8 He “lavished” (ESV; NASB) “abounded” (KJV) “showered” (NLT) the grace on us.  He just keeps piling it on.  God was wise in knowing all would sin, and in knowing the perfect remedy.  God showed insight in having Jesus live as a man, being tempted as we are, and letting Him choose to say: “thy will be done.”  We want to show similar wisdom and insight.  God’s plan of salvation was the mystery.  You mean it’s not an earthly Kingdom?  Its not kill all the Gentiles?  What did all those Old Testament prophecies point toward?  The mystery (7X) was revealed in Jesus (1:9; 3:3, 4, 9; 5:32; 6:19).  Paul refers to this mystery elsewhere: “preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery” (Romans 16:25), “mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you” (Colossians 1:27).  Again we note our phrase: “In Christ” (v 9).   The “plan” (gospel plan) was summed up in Christ (3:2, 9).  The “fullness of time” had come.  Just as we read elsewhere: “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law” (Galatians 4:4).  The first century had a common language (Greek), they had peace under Rome (the Pax Romana), and even several roads built.  It was the ideal time to send Jesus.  Whether “things in heaven and the things on earth” could be the living and the dead all being under Christ’s control (Petrillo 5).  We notice again the: “In Him” (v 10).    Verse 11 begins with “in whom” speaking of Jesus again.  We’ve “obtained an inheritance.”  We were made to be with God.  We’re made in the image of God.  We were made to bring glory to God.  These “first to hope in Christ” were the Jews (v 12).  They were the ones foremost privileged with knowing and seeing Jesus.  All the glory goes to Him.  What a blessing that even us gentiles can be saved!  We have our “in Him” phrase twice again in verse 13.  We heard the good news, believed with obedient faith, and are sealed with the Spirit.  A seal over a scroll would show to whom it belonged and guard the contents from just anybody opening it.  In a similar way, God put His stamp of approval on us.  The Holy Spirt was promised in the Old Testament (Joel 2:28; Zechariah 12:10).  The Spirit is the guarantor that we’ve been redeemed and belong to God.  He’s the downpayment for what is to come.  We’ve been officially redeemed from our sin.  We chose to come back wanting to belong to God, not Satan.  While redeemed here on earth, we look forward to being with God in Heaven where He’s prepared a place for us (John 14:2).  God blessed Adam and Eve telling them to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:22).  The Lord blessed Abraham (Genesis 24).  Israel was blessed by God (Genesis 49:28).  Mary was called “blessed” (Luke 1:45).  Jesus’ disciples were blessed to see Him in the flesh (Luke 10:23).  “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).  Let’s be sure to use the blessings that He’s given us for His glory.  He’s surely given a: “Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over” (Luke 6:38).  

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. 1997.

Orbison, Guy. Petrillo, Denny. Workshop In The Word A Study Of The Epistle To The Ephesians. 2011.

History That Matters (12-7-2024)

I find history fascinating.  We can learn important lessons from Pol Pot’s genocide where he killed off 25% of his people in Cambodia.  We can see what worked and what didn’t with nation’s economies.  Yet in the first half of Acts chapter 1, Luke gives us a summary of all the history that really matters.  After thousands of years, and countless events, Luke wraps it up nicely (See Acts 1:1-3).  Theophilus (meaning: “lover of God”) was probably Luke’s patron.  Jesus healed and taught throughout His life.  We never read of the prophets curing the blind, but Jesus did.  Who in the Old Testament ever walked on water?  His parables helped people look to the spiritual realm.  Interestingly: “During Jesus’ ministry, there is no reference to the Holy Spirit being upon anyone except Jesus” (Polhill 80).  Jesus’ command to love others as He loved us at the Last Supper is great for any era (John 13:34).  His commands concerning marriage are wonderful for any relationship during any time.  Jesus appeared to people for over 40 days after His resurrection.  Pentecost, meaning “50th” (which happened on the 50th day after Passover) was only 10 days after Jesus’ ascension.  Forty days make us think of the wilderness wanderings, Moses on Sinai, Elijah’s journey to Horeb, and Jesus being tempted by the Devil.  Jesus proved Himself alive by showing Himself to people.  He had people touch Him and eat with Him.  What more could these humans ask for?  The Apostles were “witnesses” (1:22; 2:32; 3:15; 5:32; 10:39–41; 13:31).   Acts begins and ends speaking of the Kingdom of God.  Paul was: “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (28:31; See Acts 1:4-5).  Why wait in Jerusalem (v 4)?  This fulfills prophecy: “and many peoples shall come, and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3).  Jesus had promised the Holy Spirit: “I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).  If the disciples were left on their own, they probably would have fled Jerusalem.  They wouldn’t have waited for the power from on high.  This coming baptism of the Holy Spirit is mentioned in all four gospels (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33).  In Acts 2, the day of Pentecost, is when the Spirit came upon the apostles (See vs 6-8).  The Apostles still didn’t understand that Jesus will leave and the Kingdom will be the Church instead of an earthly nation.  The Church wasn’t an afterthought or band-aid for a mistake: “through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose” (Ephesians 3:10-11).  Jesus doesn’t answer their question, for they would just interpret it erroneously as an earthly Kingdom.  This word “times” denotes chronology, while “epochs” is a period (Orbison 6).  God knows the proper time, and we’ll just have to wait.  Verse eight is the theme verse and outline of the book of Acts (Jerusalem 1-7, Judea and Samaria 8-12, and the remotest part of the earth 13-28).  In a former preaching tour, Jesus told His disciples not to go among Samaritans or the Gentiles: “These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans”” (Matthew 10:5).  Even Paul preached to the Jews first (13:5,14; 14:1; 17:1, 10, 17; 18:4, 19, 26; 19:8): “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).  The Holy Spirit helped the Apostles in their understanding.  The “power” dynamis (where was get our word dynamite) is from the Holy Spirit (See vs 9-11).  Note the seeing happening in these verses: “looking on” (v 9), “out of their sight” (v 9). “gazing” (v 10), “stand looking” (v 11) and “saw Him go” (v 11).  These two men in white robes were angels.  Clouds are also associated with Jesus’ Second Coming: “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).  Luke gives the account of the Ascension (Luke 24:50-51).  John mentions it in passing: “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father” (John 20:17).  His ascension happened on the Mount of Olives (v 12).  The ascension was an important event for several reasons.  It shows Jesus leaving for Heaven, depicting His Second Coming, ending His earthly ministry, and becoming our High Priest: “Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law” (Hebrews 8:4).  Jesus’ ascension also fulfills: “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”  (Luke 24:25-26).  “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (v 11).  Jesus is coming back at an hour we do not know.  If a state representative were coming to your home, you’d want to be ready.  How much more then, when its the king of the universe?  How sad that many in the world miss out on the history of Jesus.  They seem to delight in confusing history, and making it something its not.  Yet there is no history more important than the Savior’s.  Even if we were to cure cancer, that’s not as good as curing death.  Jesus only lived on earth for 33 years, yet He followed God’s will all His days.  Noah lived 950 years living righteously (Genesis 9:29).  We too can make history in our lives living after God’s will.  

Orbison, Guy. Petrillo, Denny. Working in the Word a Study of Acts. 2013.

Polhill, J. B. Acts. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1992.

Psalm 107 Thanksgiving (11-23-2024)

We have much to be thankful for.  In 1620, the Mayflower sailed from England to the New World.  The Puritans wanted to escape religious pressures and worship God’s way.  Throughout the first winter, roughly half of the colonist’s died from disease and other aliments.  Thankfully, an Indian tribe was helpful to them and showed them planting and hunting techniques.  They later shared in a harvest that we known as the “first Thanksgiving” (See Psalm 107).  “Although the general theme of this Psalm may have been suggested by God’s special favor to the Israelites in their restoration from captivity, it must be regarded as an instructive celebration of God’s praise for His merciful providence to all men in their various emergencies” (Jamieson 1 379).  In verse one we read: “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”  His “steadfast love endures forever.”  Friends may come and go, but God always wants to be our friend.  Abraham is the only person in the Bible God referred to as: “My friend” (Isaiah 41:8; 2 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23).  This is probably reminiscent of a time when Israel was in bondage to the Babylonian Empire (600’s-500’s BC).  Nevertheless, He can gather us from the east or the west: “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).  “Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in.”  They remembered the glory of Jerusalem and its Temple, but it was no more.  They had to walk 500 miles from Jerusalem to Babylon.  I’m thankful we’re not physical slaves (laboring constantly/ flogging).  We were slaves to sin leading to death.  They wandered in the wilderness, were “hungry . . . thirsty” and their souls fainted within them (desperate situation).  The desert in the middle east isn’t the most lovely place to walk.  “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress” (v 6)  God finds the best and least crooked way for us.  Jesus is our only way.  God’s straight and narrow path leads to the heavenly city.  I read the book: Pilgrim’s Progress a long time ago.  It details our journey to heaven with all its hills and valleys.  “Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love” (v 8).  God should be thanked for His steadfast love.  God provided the needs of the Jews, and He also provides for our needs today “he satisfies the longing soul.”  “Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, 11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High” (vs 10-11).  Ancient prisons were stone boxes (cold, dark, little air).  Even without bars, those living away from God’s commandments are slaves to sin (Romans 6:17).  They “fell down, with none to help.”  We’re no strangers to falls, but I’m sure a helping hand aids greatly.  “For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” (Ecclesiastics 4:10).  “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.”  He led us out of darkness, death, and bondage.  In John chapter 20, the stone was “taken away” airō indicates a “violent removal” (Petrillo 40).  “You know that he appeared in order to take away [airō] sins, and in him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5). “Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love” (v 15).  We’re thankful because of His wondrous deeds.  God wants to free us from the darkness of death, and bring us to the light of life.  God is strong enough to break any bonds that lay hold of us.  Some were “fools.”  A man who keeps making enemies for their own gain (stealing, belittling) they’re guilt catches up with them and they don’t feel like even eating.  Desperate and alone they might starve (“drew near to the gates of death”)?  “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress” (v 19).  He “sent out His word and healed them.”  A comforting word from God is worth it’s weight in gold.  “Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love” (v 21).  Therefore, we should offer Him our best and praise His name.  How terrifying a storm in the ocean would be (even the Apostles were afraid on the tiny sea of Galilee)!  Is the ship going to break apart?  Have we lost our sails?  How will we get to land?  Like Jonah, verse 26 says their: “courage melted away in their evil plight.”  They were “at their wits end.”  People become desperate when they think life is almost over.  “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble” (v 28).  God can calm the physical storms and the spiritual storms of life.  Perhaps we should have in mind the synagogues at verse 32 that were set up in Babylon by the Jews.  Most likely, that’s when Synagogues started while not having the temple.  God can send drought or fruitfulness.  The wicked of Judah needed some time to repent.  He turned it into a “salty waste.”  We recall Sodom’s ending and Lot’s wife becoming a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26).  God is the One who can bring it all back to life.  God was ale to bring forth water from the rock for the Israelites.  They later establish cities, took the Promised land, and formed a nation.  Even after the exile, what rejoicing there would be in coming back home, and rebuilding the temple.  That second one we call Zerubbabel’s temple (the Governor).  God knows how to humble those who are exalted and exalt those who are humble.  Thankfully: “but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks. 42 The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth. 43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.” (vs 41-43).  

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible . Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. 1997.

Meaningless? (11-16-2024)

Ecclesiastes means Preacher in Greek (Hebrew originally).  We only have so much time on this earth.  Jesus said: “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4; See Ecclesiastes 1:1-7).  Solomon was a great teacher having the wisdom God gave him: “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” (1 Kings 3:9-13).  Solomon became king after David, and wanted to lead Israel justly.  As oppose to writing as a king, he writes as a teacher: “The book contains advice and reflection rather than decrees” (Garrett 282).  Vanity is meaningless.  Kingdoms rise, but will just fall.  Apparently the word also can connote a “vapor” or being “ineffectual” (Garrett 282).  Solomon makes it sound like we can’t do anything in a year, and we remember the palaces and the grand Temple he built!  What really can we get done in our lives?  Compared to the sun we’re tiny.  At least its helping keep everything alive and thriving day after day!  Even if we built wonderful monuments like the Arc De Triomphe, they’re doomed to crumble.  Someone else will enjoy them and they didn’t have to build.  People keep being born, and people keep returning to dust.  We’ve learned from history, but it will have to be taught all over again.  Of course the earth won’t literally last forever (v 4): “the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).   The idea is that things seem to continue on as they always have.  Passover didn’t last forever: “Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance” (Exodus 12:14).  “Like ants on a rock, we leave no trace of having been here” (Garrett 285).  Ant hills, like our skyscrapers, will eventually fall down.  The “sun rises and the sun sets.”  I bet tomorrow it will do the same thing.  The British Empire was stretched from Canada to Australia being: “The Empire on which the sun never set.”  The wind seems so futile at face value.  It blows here and then it blows there, and what was the point?  It didn’t even go on vacation.  The wind is mentioned as going from south to north probably following the previous verse about the Sun rising in the east and setting in the west (Garrett 285).  The same could be said of the rivers.  You can’t pour enough buckets of water to make the sea full.  We have very little control over nature as much as we like to thing so (See vs 8-11).  Solomon calls life “wearisome.”  Life can seem like pushing a mountain sometimes.  Dwellings have to be maintained, bills have to be paid, and what was it all for?  A person makes it to the top, and then realizes there’s not much there.  You can hardly tell of it.  There’s always one more tourist attraction to see, or sunrise to watch.  There’s always one more song to hear.  This oft quoted: “So there is nothing new under the sun” is said in a general sense.  Technology advances to be sure, but there has always been: love and hate, rich and poor, healthy and sick, a rise and fall.  The earlier things aren’t remembered.  In Egypt’s hay-day, they owned the entire Levant, built the Pyramids, and had great Pharaohs.  Today we think of a backward country needing better traffic signals and bickering with the Gaza Strip.  In 1945, when the horrors of the Holocaust were uncovered, that must have been an earth shattering day.  Today, it just feels like something in the history books.  Its easy to forget what happened in the past.  Its easy to “spend time.”  Often we don’t even think about it.  Someone commented: “Cars, computers, and jet airplanes may have made some things easier and faster.  For us, however, as for our ancient predecessors, the sun rises and sets; the rivers run their courses; and people continue their endless quest for fame, power, and happiness even as they move steadily toward death” (Garrett 288; See vs 12-18).  Solomon again notes that he’s the one writing, not some lowly nobody.  Solomon was wiser than all those in the east or even in Egypt.  He studied plants and animals (1 Kings 4:29-34).  What man could explore wisdom any better than he?  Physical and intellectual tasks don’t give ultimate meaning to life.  Its like the wind as someone put it: “You never can catch it; but if you do catch it, you do not have anything anyway” (Garrett 289).  There are a few puzzles and riddles of the universe that man isn’t privileged to know.  “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29).  We’ll just have to wait till we get there.  Solomon was greater than Saul, David, the Priests and the Judges.  Solomon pondered: If wisdom can only get me so far, how far will foolishness get me?  Well, you’re still just trying to catch wind.  Socrates, a Greek philosopher once said: “I know that I know nothing.”   God has indeed laid a heavy burden on mankind, that is, without Jesus’ yoke which is easy and His burden which is light (Matthew 11:30).  Solomon will conclude the book noting that with God is where meaning is found.  “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastics 12:13-14).  Jesus lived an incredible life.  He helped the sick and weary (Matthew 4:24).  He taught in the temple courts (Mark 12:35).  He lived day in and day out never sinning (Hebrews 4:15).  For the joy set before Him He endured the dross (Hebrews 12: 2).  Let’s rely on God more than the sun, and find meaning and purpose in him.  

Top Five Questions (11-9-2024)

There are five main questions that everyone should ask themselves.  These concern: Origin, Identity, Meaning, Morality, and Destiny.  

1. Where did we come from?

2. Who are we?

3. Why are we here?

4. How should we live?

5. Where are we going?

Where Did We Come From (#1)?

Either God exists or He doesn’t.  We can’t say that there is a God and there isn’t (Law of Noncontradiction).  There’s no corner to a circle, and you can’t have a married bachelor.  People like to try and find a grey area, but this doesn’t work.  The Law of the Excluded Middle says: “something is or is not . . . There are no third alternatives” (Geisler, Turek 62).  The supernatural exists or it doesn’t.  The British Philosopher David Hume believed that all meaningful ideas were either true by definition or must be based on experience.  A true idea is 2+2= 4.  An idea by experience is that you saw, touched or heard it.  Unfortunately, Hume ignored divine revelation.  Immanuel Kant would say that your mind forms all sensory data, so you never really know the thing itself.  You only know the thing after your mind and senses form it.  However, you can’t say that the real world is unknowable; what gave you that knowledge about the world?  As someone put it: “Your mind doesn’t mold the tree, the tree molds your mind” (Geisler, Turek 60-61).  Further: “Even if you say, ‘I don’t know,’ you are admitting that you know something, you know you don’t know something” (Geisler, Turek 62).  “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).  Paintings can be masterpieces, but God’s sunset is better.  It should be obvious to all humans where we came from.  We also read: “his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made” (Romans 1:20).  You can hardly walk past a tree’s leaves without recognizing its design.  We have a “conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).  How can we know the unseen?  By its effects.  As one writer put it: “despite the fact that you didn’t see anyone writing this book, you’ve concluded that it must have at least one author” (Geisler, Turek 63).  

Who Are We (#2)?

Descartes famously said: “I think therefore I am.”  We’re not in the Twilight Zone.  We’re not merely dreaming all of our earthly experiences.  We can see and touch reality.  Many think that we’re just hairless apes and that might makes right.  People latch onto a cause in order to have a sense of self.  That’s not really who we are.  Jesus talked about a person’s heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37).  We’re not just atoms randomly bouncing around, we have minds and souls.  The mind/ body problem was pondered extensively in the 1600’s.  “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).  God is spirit (John 4:24), and we’re made in His spiritual image.  We’re valuable because He’s made us with these attributes.  Unlike the majestic lions, we can reason and do right or wrong.  The lion kills the antelope, but it doesn’t murder the antelope.  Humans can murder other humans, but we merely roast a pig.  

Why Are We Here (#3)?

God is love (1 John 4:8).  The Trinity made it possible for God to love before He created us humans.  That’s one of the primary purposes why God created us- to love Him.  “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).  We almost expected the verse to say: “Therefore love God” but in fact loving one another is one of the primary ways in which we love God.  Obeying Him and following His righteous path is how we love Him.  That’s why we’re here.  Its not to go after Balak’s silver and gold (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 1:11).  It’s not to mold God into our way of thinking.  We’re certainly not here to follow our feelings.  We’re all made for a purpose.  “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers” (Acts 13:36).  He served God in so many ways during his life: defeating the Philistines, writing most of the Psalms, Acts chapter 2 calls him a prophet (Acts 2:30).  God also: “made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God” (Acts 17:27-28).  

How Should We Live (#4)?

Peter encouraged the churches in Asia Minor: “if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile [NASB stay on earth], 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways . . .” (1 Peter 1:17-18).  What if someone took the electric chair for you in your stead?  We would be quite thankful.  The person who did so was only 33 years old when He did so.  Ruth gave up her homeland in Moab.  She also gave up Chemosh, the primary Moabite god.  She lived in Judah and converted to Israel’s God.  She assisted her mother-in-law even though going her own way would have been more profitable.  Today is what we have to work with.  It makes no sense to worry about tomorrow.  The past can’t be changed.  What has been done is done.  We can live for ourselves or for Him.  Jesus said to take up your cross (Matthew 10:38; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23).  If we’re willing to die for Jesus, we should also be willing to be mocked and slandered for Him.  

Where Are We Going (#5)?

Well, our next stop is 6′ under.  Many think that that’s the end of the story.  They gave it a good run, and what more can be said?  If we live out our 76 years, that’s hard to beat.  But that’s not the end of the story.  “God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power” (1 Corinthians 6:14).  Jesus was dead and in the underworld for three days, but God’s power raised Him up.  We’ll be blessed to be with our creator forever.  Whatever heaven looks like, it has to be sure bliss.  Think of a rodeo or golf course but a million times better.  When Jesus says that the next world is far more important than this one, do we live like it is?  Eternity is incomparable with our few years on earth.  Its just one grain of sand on the seashore (11 trillion estimated) or a drop in the oceans (350 quintillion galleons).  One quintillion has 18 “0’s”.  This life isn’t about material possessions or even foremost our families.  The TV shows always hold up family as the highest good because they don’t know Jesus.  What about our eternal family?  We think about God taking mere dust or ashes and using us for His glory.  He’s the potter and we are the clay.  He makes our lives worthwhile and valuable.  Let’s live for Him through all these five aspects.  

Geisler, Turek. I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist Crossway, 2004.

Politics? (11-2-2024)

Abraham Lincoln warned: “If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand” -Lincoln.  Before he gave that speech in 1858, three years before the Civil War, Jesus said it (Matthew 12:25; Mark 3:25; Luke 11:17).  At least in the 1800’s, the issues of the day were reasonable: slavery, size of government, etc.  Today its which side won’t spend as much, and which side will have one less war.  We look toward capitol hill, and all we see is division, gridlock, and corruption.  We have Team A and Team B, and whatever the other one does must be pure evil  (See Proverbs 16).  What should be done?  Can anything be done?  Some have argued that its all up to God.  He’s in control of everything as it is right?  His will is accomplished in all things.  We read in Proverbs: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9); “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1); “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord” (Proverbs 21:31); “Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice” (Proverbs 29:26).  When it comes to politics, we’re tempted to throw up our hands and say: “Why even bother?”  Elections are now a two year drama instead of a six month season.  Besides, like Proverbs says, it will all work out according to God’s will anyway won’t it?  God rebuked Egypt with the plagues.  He rose up Israel, then Assyria, then Babylon.   Abram (Abraham) was told that his descendants would live in the land he walked on (Canaan; Genesis 15:18).  Yet that time had not yet come: “for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete” (Genesis 15:16).  When the Ammorites’ sins were full, king Sihon would be defeated (Numbers 21).  God knew the proper time to have the cup of His wrath poured out.  Hopefully our nation’s iniquity will not reach “full.”  Joseph didn’t hide away after being sold as a slave in Egypt.  He was made second in command when God gave him the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream.  He saw the healthy and scorched wheat, and the sleek and fat cows (Genesis 41).  He then worked in the Egyptian government storing 20% of the good years of grain to alleviate the coming seven years of famine (Genesis 41:34).  God had a purpose for him working in politics.  Joseph would later say to his brothers: “do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life” (Genesis 45:5).  I like that.  In America we talk about: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness.  Those are a few things the government should be doing.  Yet considering: crime, abortion, and cancel culture, I’m not sure how well that’s going.  King David worked in the government, and he was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22)!  Before becoming King, he tried to influence Saul’s government toward peace by sparing the king several times (1 Samuel 24:4-5; 26:9).  David had the backing of the military, he’s our great war hero!  I’m sure he could have started a coup, or locked up King Saul, but he didn’t.  He waited for God’s timing, and had a great influence on the nation.  God told Jeremiah: “See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10).  God is the force behind a Kingdom’s rise and fall, and He used Jeremiah to warn Judah.  Almost all of the prophets spoke to the political powers of their day.  Jeremiah had the difficult task of not appearing “patriotic” and saying that surrendering to the Babylonians was the right choice.  Judah’s rebuke by Babylon was the punishment needed for repentance.  It didn’t sound correct to say that these pagans would destroy God’s holy temple, but it was needed to make God’s people into the true temple.  Daniel was taken captive to Babylon away from his homeland in Judah.  He could have chosen to be a gorilla war fighter or Jewish rebel, yet he worked in the Babylonian government.  Through a vision God gave him, he was able to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:19).  In the Old Testament, God cared prominently for His people, but also had concern for the gentile nations.  He was thus made the most prominent wise man in the kingdom, and also later under the Persian government (Daniel 6:28).  God used him to save all the wise men in Babylon from the government’s genocide (Daniel 2:24).  A little later in history, although God was the one to save the Jews from a Persian named Haman, He used Esther and Mordecai’s influence to do so.  They didn’t just sit back and do nothing in the world of politics.  Mordecai said to Queen Esther: “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).  We can either be silent or stand up.  We can choose the easy way or the hard way.  Who knows?  Maybe we’re here for such a time as this.  We read about praying for politicians: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).  We offer entreaties, prayers and petitions, to God.  We’re blessed in America to vote if we wish (entities, petitions).  “Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:7).  Nero didn’t have much honorable about him when Peter wrote that, but there is a sense that the rulers should be respected.  Jesus’ focus was on spiritual matters, but He tried to sway the religious and political leadership of His day.  He lived in the first century which included the Pharisees and Sadducees.  As someone put it: “Freedom from anarchy, persecution, and economic hardship can facilitate the spread of the gospel” (Lea Vol 34 88).  We live within a certain place at a certain time, and we might as well influence it for the good.  If we do nothing concerning the government and politics, we know that evil isn’t standing by idly.  They’ll be happy to swoop in and cause all sorts of problems and wickedness.  If a mere 10 righteous people could have been found in Sodom, it wouldn’t have been burned to ash (Genesis 18:32).  Apparently within the city, Lot and some of his family were the only righteous ones (2 Peter 2:7).  We can have an influence in our nation for morality.  We can show people that God’s way is the best way.  He’s chosen us to be that shining light and a city on the hill (Matthew 5:14).  During the period of the Judges (ca 1300-1000 BC) we read: “And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10).  Whether this was due to false teaching or no teaching at all, that was the result.  We need to be there for the next generation showing them the good path to take.  If we have the opportunity, why not influence society as well?  Certainly, the main goal for us Christians is to bring souls to God.  Our first priority isn’t tax reform, or whatever “social justice” is this week.  Indeed, society doesn’t make plans, individuals do.  Voting is a wonderful privilege, but it really comes down to a person’s conscience.  If you don’t want to vote for the lesser of evils, then don’t.  And if you want to vote, the Bible certainly isn’t against it.  Jesus said: “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).  If you’re not apart of God’s Kingdom, the church, that’s the one reign you don’t want to miss out on.  His kingdom is full of truth and justice.  Its full of people who love their neighbors as themselves.  Even though being a Monarchy, and a strict Theocracy, Jesus will always take us up the right path.  His Kingdom doesn’t need to vote every four years.  

Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. 1, 2 Timothy, Titus Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1992

Once Saved Always Saved? (10-26-2024)

What about the thought of “once saved always saved?”  This thought sounds so right doesn’t it?  Isn’t God’s love for us just so all surpassing, high above us, and incomprehensible?  When God acts one way (in saving us), can we really act another?  In Switzerland during the 1500’s, John Calvin preached that people were predestined to be saved or lost.  It is easy to see how he thought that: “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Romans 8:30), and “he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons” (Ephesians 1:5).  Of course we know the answer.  Its not that God predestined individuals to be saved, but that He predestined this group who does His will to be saved.  Jesus said: “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28).  Didn’t He said “No one”?  Wicked men can’t take us away from Jesus, Satan can’t single handedly take us away.  Paul wrote to the church at Rome: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword . . . I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:36, 38-39).  Wow!  That sounds solid and unbreakable.  God is love and his love endures forever.  Who’s more powerful than God?  Paul listed so many things that can’t separate us from God.  It almost sounds like nothing can.  Yet consider the implications of saying “once saved always saved.”  This view is implying that one could become a Christian and then steal, lie, and murder the rest of their life . . . and still make it to Heaven.  Once saved always saved is a false notion.  What about Judas?  Judas had power to cast out demons like the other Apostles in the “Limited Commission” (Mathew 10:5-8).  Peter stated: “For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry” (Acts 1:17).  Yet: “(Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out” (Acts 1:18).  He’s called the “son of destruction [damnation]” (John 17:12).  Ananias and Sapphira were christians at one time (Acts 5).  They lied and died.  They had the free will to boast or not.  Concerning Simon the Sorcerer it says: “Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip” (Acts 8:12).  Then what happened?  Simon saw Peter giving the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of his hands, and wanted to pay Peter for this ability also.  Peter responded: “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you” (Acts 8:20-22).  There was an immoral brother at the church in Corinth, where Paul wrote: “I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5).  If that wasn’t to happen, his spirit would have been lost on the day of the Lord Jesus.  To Galatia (southern Turkey) we read: “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel” (Galatians 1:6).  If you desert Jesus found in the gospel accounts, you’re not going to make it.  “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4).  These Jews who became Christians wanted to go back to some of the Old Testament Laws.  Yet circumcision and festivals don’t gain you access to heaven.  The writer of Hebrews (Perhaps Apollos) wrote: “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12).  “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance” (Hebrews 6:4-6).  This “fallen away” spoken of here is utter apostasy.  This is someone who has completely rejected Jesus- there’s no other way to heaven (John 14:6).  My understanding of that verse is: “You can always repent unless you don’t repent.”  “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins . . . How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified” (Hebrews 10:26, 29).  Peter wrote: “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves” (2 Peter 2:1).  Some of the Christians there in Asia Minor who Peter was writing to would turn their back on Jesus.  Romans 8 listed a lot of things that can’t take us away from God, but there is something that can . . . ourselves.  We can choose to have our name removed from the Lamb’s book of life.  Let’s be sure to remain faithful to Him.  

One Church (10-18-2024)

They say all roads lead to Rome.  A lot of people will say that all roads lead to heaven.  Just pick any religion you want, and surely God will be pleased.  Satan uses this to great effect- he hardly has to work now!  If he can cast doubt on which religion is the true one, he’s won the battle.  Yet just because mankind is confused, that doesn’t give us permission to make up our own rules.  God promised king David (1000 BC), a man after his own heart, that his kingdom would last forever (2 Samuel 7).  One of his descendants would sit on his throne.  The New Testament, and particularly Matthew’s gospel make it plain that Jesus reigns over His church.  Jesus said: “I will build my church [singular]” (Matthew 16:18).  The founder isn’t: Luther, Muhammad, or the Pope that built it.  Does God not have the power to build the ideal organization if He wants to?  He doesn’t need a second or third church (there are a hundred or so Baptist “churches” I thought they only went to 4th).  He’s all powerful and all knowing.  He doesn’t need to fix His first attempt- being perfect.  He doesn’t need an added Westminster Confession (Presbyterians).  Israel and the Maccabees kept trying to carve out an independent kingdom, but even hell can’t overcome Jesus’ church.  Its the only establishment that’s too big to fail (Even the British Empire couldn’t say that!).  Can you imagine the confusion it would cause if God said: “Follow whatever church you want.”  What if two religions contradict each other?  Which do I follow?  Both can’t be right.  There are an estimated 10,000 religions in the world (populationeducation.org).  Lutherans say you only need faith.  The Bible says that you need obedient faith (Romans 1:5; 16:26).  Catholics say you can baptize infants who can’t believe or repent.  The Bible says otherwise (Acts 2:38).  Paul wrote that there is only one gospel (Galatians 1:6-9); there isn’t another one like Mormonism teaches.  We read that: “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33).  He’s more than just thoughts, but has action.  Therefore, it must be deceived mankind that comes up with all the confusion.  “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:4-5).  What is this one body that Paul is talking about?  “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body” (Ephesians 1:22-23).  There’s only one body just as 1 Corinthians 12 explains.  Jesus’ church started in Acts 2 during the AD 30’s.  It didn’t start in the AD 600’s in Arabia, Wittenberg in the 1500’s, or anywhere in the 1800’s.  The prophet Daniel gave us the timing for when God would set up His kingdom (the church; Daniel 2:44).  He was interpreting Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king’s dream.  The king dreamed of a statue from top to bottom (gold, silver, bronze, and iron) which was all crushed by a massive rock.  Daniel tells the king that he’s the head of gold (Daniel 2:38).  After Babylon would come the Persians, Greeks, and then the Romans.  “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:44).  Within Roman Emperor Tiberius’ reign from AD 14-37, God established His church starting at Jerusalem.  “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).  Only those in the church of Christ will make it.  There is no “universalism” where everyone will make it to heaven one day.  You don’t want Pol Pot and Mao making it.  Around a 100 or so times we read in the New Testament of “the church” (singular).  The gnostics were straying from the early church, and were rebuked (2 John 7).  They weren’t considered part of the church.  “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).  Other religions don’t sound so rosy now do they?  What about other gods?  God wasn’t pleased with the Israelites worshiping Baal (Canaanite) or Molech (Moabite).  They isn’t just other avenues to heaven: “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:14).  God specifically warned against worshipping these idols that can neither see, nor speak, nor hear (Isaiah 44).  “They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded” (Deuteronomy 32:17).  Paul rebuked the Athenians of his day for worshipping the Parthenon gods.  They weren’t just another way to heaven.  You couldn’t sacrifice to Zeus and be pleasing to God.  You can’t sacrifice bulls today and call it worship.  Note: “we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:29-30).  Hinduism sounds like a nice philosophy, but without Jesus, you won’t make it to heaven.  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).  You can be as rich as you want, but that won’t get you into the church.  You can help the homeless everyday (which is great), but that won’t get you into the church of Christ.  Jesus was exclusive, intolerant of the Pharisees error, and even judgmental of sin.  Truth must be exclusive from all the world’s lies.  By definition truth is exclusive.  Surely 2+2=4, and any other answer is wrong.  The truth doesn’t change whether you were born into a Muslim family, or a Greek Orthodox family.  It doesn’t change whether you’re born in a Christian country, or in Polynesia.  There, you have the world around you witnessing to God’s existence.  Those in Christ are the only ones going to heaven, and the church of Christ is the only church that follows the Bible correctly to get people there.  “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).  Some will point to Mark 9 to try and say that all churches are fine: “John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ 39 But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him . . . 40 For the one who is not against us is for us” (vs 38-40).  If this man wasn’t against Jesus, that must mean he was teaching the same doctrines Jesus taught.  That means that he taught John the baptizer’s baptism of repentance.  Jesus was baptized by him.  Religious groups have all sorts of different hierarchies, worship practices, and festivals.  They simply cannot all be the same.  I bet even atheists recognize that if there were a God, He’d have only one religion.  “[God] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).  He’s not the One being difficult here.  Humanity’s sin, and Satan’s deception is what makes things difficult.  

Having Eternal Life (10-12-2024)

You can know that you have eternal life.  This is not something we have to guess at.  Nor is it something we merely wish for and hope for the best.  That belief branches off from our other beliefs: that Jesus is God’s son, and that God raised Him from the dead (See 1 John 5).  When we know that we have eternal life, this life doesn’t seem near as burdensome.  There is hope beyond the grave (See vs 1-4).  The idea of “believes” carry’s with it the idea of obedience: “commands” (Petrillo 36).  “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36, 1:12, 5:38).  If some say they believe the oceans will kill millions in 12 years, yet then build a home on the coast; they really didn’t believe did they?  The word “born” (v 4) has reference to baptism (John 3:22).  Thats the water everyone should want to get in.  We need to believe that Jesus is the “Christ.”  Christ is not His last name, but a title (Greek: “Anointed One”).  He was chosen by God to be our anointed: prophet, priest, and king.  Part of God’s commandments are to love God’s children (Christians).  A disobedient son doesn’t love his father does he?  Don’t let your feelings or heart make you think you have eternal life: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).  Don’t follow your heart.  Jesus said: “out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander” (Matthew 15:19).  Our hearts aren’t a good guide.  God’s commandment’s lead to life.  God’s commands are “not burdensome.”  Jesus said: “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).  God provides: hope, meaning, and purpose.  That makes life a lot easier.  Being married once for life surely makes life a lot easier.  Note how our faith “has overcome.”  That word is in the aorist tense: as if the victory has already happened- faith overcoming is that certain!  We have faith that God can raise the dead, and will conquer a faithless world.  We already ave assurances about eternity (See vs 5-10).  The “water and blood” is in reference to Jesus’ baptism and death.  The: “Spirit is the truth” God’s Spirit can’t lie, and is therefore a very good witness.  The Spirit also knows all things being God: “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit . . . You have not lied to men but to God’” (Acts 5:3-4).  The “Spirit” came on Jesus’ as a dove at His baptism (Luke 3:22).   He enabled Jesus to work miracles: “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:28).  The Spirit aided in the resurrection: “was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection” (Romans 1:4, 8:11).  The Spirit even came on the apostles like tongues of fire (Pentecost; Acts 2:3-4).  Concerning the “water” testifying, when Jesus was baptized, God spoke saying: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).  Jesus submitted to John the baptizer’s baptism because his preaching was from God.  Jesus’ “blood” also testifies.  He was willing to die for His cause!  He must have really believed what He was preaching.  It also fulfilled many of the prophesies testified to in the Old Testament (See vs 11-13.  Witnesses are important in a court of law.  God has witnessed, and we ourselves bear witness by believing.  Paul wrote in a similar vein to the church at Corinth: “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all” (2 Corinthians 3:2).  Believing that Jesus is the Son of God seems to give more credence to that claim.  Would we be willing to go to our deaths for that testimony?  Does our belief in Jesus mean that much to us?  These verses are very similar to John’s purpose statement in his gospel: “these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).  This “know” is an absolute certainty, Matthew’s Gospel used the same root word: “But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4).  The word “know” is found about 30X in 1 John.  Note: “that you may know that you have eternal life.”  The word “have” is in the present tense (we have life in Jesus right now).  Knowing is a part of our belief.  Knowing that heaven awaits us, and that God will raise us up from the dead should give us great hope.  Yet this is only true for those who: believe the good news, turn from sin, confess Him as lord, and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins.  

Orbison, Guy. Petrillo, Denny. Workshop In The Word A Study Of 1st John. 2007.

Mark 9: Faith (9-5-2024)

We’re told to believe in a God we can’t see.  We read of a Savior long ago whom we’ve never looked at face to face.  The Bible was written over several hundred years in the distant past.  It can be easy to doubt and wonder if its all worth it.  We look around the world, and where is God?  Doesn’t He want righteous people to lead us?  Does He care when the hurricanes come through?  We read in Mark 9 of a man struggling with these same sort of questions.  There’s really not too much difference between ancient man and modern man (See vs 14-18).  This will be the last exorcism seen in Mark’s gospel (Brooks Vol 23 145).  Peter, James and John had just witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration,  probably on Mount Hermon.  They come down to the other nine disciples and a crowd.  “As wonderful and important as mountaintop experiences can be, the disciple’s primary occupation is in the valley of service” (Brooks 146).  Surely the scribes are chiding Jesus’ disciples for not being able to help this possessed boy.  However, when the crowd saw Jesus, there was amazement (unlike the slow disciples).  Some have faith that He can help the boy.  He’ll also be able to answer this dispute between the scribes and the disciples!  It wasn’t the leaned scribes shown having faith here.  It wasn’t even Jesus’ own disciples having faith.  Its some nameless father among a sea of faces.  During Jesus’ time on earth, God granted Satan his demons to come down with him.  This was so that Jesus could show His power over the spiritual world.  Faith can conquer even the mighty demons.  The father’s child can’t speak, he’s thrown down, foams at the mouth and becomes rigid.  Matthew adds that he had seizures (Matthew 17:15).  We recall how God granted Satan power over Job’s life and possessions.  “So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”  There’s a lack of faith on the disciples part.  Interestingly, we read that they were formerly able to cast out demons in 6:13.  Maybe that time was specifically Peter, James, and John.  We put so much weight in faith, but when it comes time, do we really believe?  Will God really help us out in that tough situation?  Is He really there to help and aid us on this journey called life (See vs 19-22)?  “O faithless generation . . .”  He could easily be talking about many Americans today.  They didn’t have long with Jesus.  He lived a mere 33 years.  His ministry was only 3 years.  That doesn’t leave much time to dilly dally.  This demon believes!  He knows his time is short.  “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” (James 2:19).  When Jesus cast the demons out of the pigs, they begged not to go into the abyss (Mark 5:7).  These harmful episodes have been happening since childhood.  How many nights has this father stayed up with his son to make sure he’s not killed?  The daily grind must have worn him out.  How many physicians had he gone to see?  Maybe you start with pills and meditation, but eventually you go to the Vodou doctor.  Yet none could help his son.  His son needed a spiritual healing, not just a physical healing.  After however many years, and constant disappointment, the man tells Jesus: “But if you can do anything . . . ”  We sympathize with this father.  Nothing has worked for several years.  Why would Jesus be any different?  The father also mentions help “us” the whole family has had to endure this ordeal (See 23-27).  With faith, all things are possible.  In a parallel account, Jesus said: “For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you'” (Matthew 17:20).  I don’t see why we’d want to move a mountain, but certainly Jesus’ point is the great power of faith.  If God is for us, who can be against us?  With faith, all things are possible.  A camel could go through the eye of a needle/ the rich can enter heaven (Matthew 19:26).  We read of Abraham’s wife: “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age [90!], since she considered him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11).  Conversely, without faith, what can we really accomplish in life?  Nothing of lasting significance.  If mankind cures cancer, but doesn’t make it to heaven, what good was that?  “Immediately” is a common word found in Mark’s gospel account.  The father believes, but also has doubts.  We’ve all been there.  We’ll pray for something, and God’s answer is either: yes, no, or wait.  It seems that more often than not, God’s answer is one we don’t like (maybe we need to change our prayer).  We recall: “for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).  After so many times of not getting help, I’d say this father’s faith is doing pretty well.  I’d be easy to throw in the towel, but this man kept trying.  The father also recognized Jesus as the one to seek for help.  Jesus sees a crowd coming and heals the boy before the whole crowd comes.  This is what we call the “Messianic Secret.”  Jesus would heal someone and then tell that person not to report it.  Why?  Doesn’t He want more people to have faith?  It seems to me that Jesus didn’t want to cause sa lot of hubbub.  He’s on God’s schedule to be crucified at a certain time.  Displaying too many miracles may hasten that to quickly.  The demon was to never enter this boy again.  The family’s years long problem was solved forever.  At other places we read about one demon cast out, and seven more moving in (Matthew 12:45).  The demon gives one last gasp, and leaves the boy.  The child looked dead, but Jesus raised him up.  Just as God raised Jesus from the dead, he’ll raise us up one day as well.  Obedient faith is how we get there.  

Brooks, J. A. (1991). Mark. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

John 3 (9-28-2024)

Nicodemus and The New Birth

Jesus wants to give us something far greater than mere physical life.  Its something far better than chasing after vacation or retirement (See John 31-16).  Nicodemus was part of the Sanhedrin.  We know he was also rich, for he’ll wrap Jesus’ body in “myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds” (19:39).  The term “Pharisee” means: separated one.  Nicodemus came by night perhaps to get Jesus alone or because of fear of fellow Pharisees.  Night would be the best time to study not having all that rabble in the street (Barclay 124).  Whatever the reason, Nicodemus came seeking Jesus.  Many fail to take that first vital step.  Nicodemus knows Jesus is from God; he had probably seen plenty of false Messiah’s come and go.  Nicodemus, and at least some Pharisees believe Jesus is from God (“we”).  The word “truly” (amēn) shows importance, and further, Jesus states it twice!  Nicodemus came to learn, and Jesus jumps right in.  The “Kingdom of God” is the “most common topic of Jesus’ teaching in the synoptic Gospels” (Morris 213), and was the most talked about topic of Jesus’ day (Petrillo 5).  One must be born again or you cannot see the Kingdom.  Forget entering, you won’t even see it!  The word “see” idein denotes seeing and experiencing.  Nicodemus thinks that we have to reenter a womb to be born again!  Jesus always directs people’s focus toward the spiritually.  We need to allow ourselves to think spiritually to avoid Nicodemus’s pitfall.  The Pharisees, unlike the Sadducees, believed in a resurrection: “For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all” (Acts 23:8).  So, Nicodemus should at least be open to the idea of a spiritual birth.  Being born of the water and the Spirit indicates Christian baptism and would have been thought of immediately by John’s readers (AD 90’s).  The water and the spirit are necessary to enter the kingdom of God (See 1:12-13).  Paul wrote about the: “washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).  The Hebrew writer said that we’re “washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22).  Jesus cleanses the Church “by the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26).  Even the surrounding context suggests baptism (3:22-23).  Jesus speaks authoritatively not only of earthly things, but also of spiritual things (He came from heaven and has lived on earth).  Water would bring to mind a cleansing like the Old Testament washings.  The Jews were very familiar with ceremonial washings with water, but also with types of baptisms.  Gentile converts (proselytes) were baptized, and the Jews don’t seem to think of John’s baptism as completely odd.  The “Spirit” here is the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13-14).  Jesus often took the physical and portrayed it in a spiritual light.  Jesus wants to refocus people: “living water” (4:10), “bread of life” (6:35).  The word “Kingdom” can have different meanings: earthly Kingdom (Roman Empire), Kingdom as the Church (Revelation 1:9), and the Heavenly Kingdom (Matthew 8:11).  Jesus’ kingdom is an everlasting kingdom (3:16).  Jesus says “you” plural (Also v 3) must be born again: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world” (1 John 5:4).  Nicodemus probably thought he was already part of the Kingdom being Abraham’s descendant.  You “must” be born again.  Its not an option if you want access to the kingdom.  We don’t see the Spirit, nor do we see the wind.  The comparison is between the wind and the one born of the Spirit.  “Just as physical seed produces a physical child, it takes spiritual seed to produce a spiritual child” (Petrillo 5).  Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?”  Jesus is teaching something quite different from what the Jews were.  Often God’s commands are seen as folly: Do I really need to be baptized?  Can’t I just believe (feels more genuine)?  No prophet went into heaven and then came back with heavenly information.  Yet Jesus came from heaven, so nobody on earth could give a more accurate view than He.  When Israel grumbled, God sent serpents to punish them (Numbers 21:5-9).  The bronze serpent saved the people who saw it physically, but today, seeing Jesus saves us spiritually.  Jesus was lifted up on the cross and was glorified (completed the mission).  The Son of Man was “lifted up” in various ways: on the Cross, from the dead, and to heaven (See 8:28; 12:32-33).  Believing is a part of salvation, but being washed by water in baptism is too.  Verses 16-21 probably continue Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus as oppose to John the baptizer speaking.  Seeing the word “for” gives the reason of verse 15.  We think of Abraham sacrificing Isaac as his “only son” (Genesis 22:2).  Verse sixteen has been called the Gospel in one sentence.  Seen is the source: “For God” the extent, “so loved” the object, “the world” the demonstration, “that he gave his only Son” the condition, “that whoever believes in him” and consequence, “should not perish but have eternal life” (Lipe).  God loved the whole world, not just the Jews.  John 3:16 teaches us about a sinning world, a loving Father, a willing Savior, a workable plan, and a certain salvation.  God is not foremost a God of judgement, but of love and salvation.  John also wrote “God is love” (1 John 4:8).  The word “love” agapē occurs 43X in John’s gospel (Petrillo 7).  Concerning the English word love, Chumbley wrote: “never has a word been used so often, to describe so much, yet mean so little . . . Gaelic, for example, had twenty words a boy can use to tell a girl that he loves her.  The Greeks had at least four words (agapē, philea, storgē, eros) . . . three of which occur in the New Testament though storgē appears only . . . [negative] in Romans 1:31 and 2 Timothy 3:3” (Jenkins 61).  While agape is the most common word for love in the Bible, interestingly Palmer stated: “This is one of the least frequent words in classical Greek” (Jenkins 61).  The verse “begins talking about love . . . but ends talking about life . . . By this is implied that the end of love is life” (Jenkins 62).  When it says “He gave His only begotten Son” (3:16), this shows a great paradox: “death was the means to life” (Jenkins 63).  God loves the unlovable “the world” (can we do that?).  That God “gave” is a loving action.  The verse also mentions “whoever” indicating anyone (Jew/ Gentile, rich/ poor, male/ female).  This gift is for those who “believe.”  Even believers still need to receive Jesus by obeying Him (3:36).  If we’re not obeying and following Him, then we don’t really believe, do we?  To “perish” is separation from God and salvation (everything good).  The contrast with the word “but” (alla) is the “strongest possible contrast [in the Greek]” (Petrillo 7).  We were all on that perishing road . . . but.  Christians even have eternal life right now: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life” (5:24).  This “life” is existence, but also denotes quality.  Jesus paid the cost on our behalf:  The apostle Peter concluded his first sermon saying: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).  

Orbison, Guy, and Denny Petrillo. The Gospel of John. Workshop In The Word, 1997.

Isaiah 53 (9-22-2024)

The prophecies in the Bible are the greatest testament for it being written by God.  Only God knows the future, so if what the prophets foretold came to pass, then what they wrote must be from God.  The prophet Isaiah wrote in the 700’s BC.  He lived during the reigns of: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah (1:1; 730’s-680’s BC).  Even the skeptic has to admit that it was written at least 200 years before Christ, for the book of Isaiah is found in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament).  Pharaoh Ptolemy II commissioned it to be translated, and was also the one to build the Great Library of Alexandria (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world).  See Isaiah 53.  All the Bible’s prophecies are amazing.  Of particular interest are the 300 or so prophecies concerning Jesus.  Perhaps none is better known than the suffering Servant found in Isaiah 53.  This chapter is very Messianic, and speaks of God’s “Servant”).  It speaks of an individual: “he,” “him,” his” (vs 2-12), and not Israel as a nation (As Jews today say).  The victim is also described as innocent and passive- unlike Israel (Jackson 86-87).  We’ve seen mention of this suffering servant since chapter 49 (See 53:1-3).  

(1) The Jews of Jesus’ day wouldn’t believe God’s message even though they saw His mighty right “arm” in His miracles.  Sure, He makes the blind see and raises the dead, but I don’t like the words coming out of His mouth!  Both John and Paul quote verse one: “Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ‘Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?'” (John 12:37-38; Romans 10:16).  

(2) Jesus grew up poor and in the flesh as if a: “young plant . . . out of dry ground” (not a tall Oak tree?).  The boy: “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).  He didn’t look like a “stately” king from the upper class.  Joseph was a lowly carpenter!  Jesus wasn’t dashing like David, or tall like Saul.  

(3) Jesus was despised: “breaking” the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-7), working for Satan (Matthew 12:24), being called a demon/ Samaritan (John 8:48), being born illegitimately (John 8:41), blasphemer (Mark 14:64), and plotting against Rome (John 18:33).  “The Jewish Talmud suggests that Jesus was the son of Mary and a Roman soldier” (Jackson 87).  That’s not what the evidence says.  They certainly despised Him.  The cross didn’t look like an esteemed position (See vs 4-6).  

(4) “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24).  God forsook Him for a time being “smitten”: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).  Jesus’ healing brings spiritual healing.  

(5) Jesus died on behalf of “our” sins (He didn’t have any!).  The nails “pierced” His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16).  That was prophesied by David long before crucifixion was even a mode of death.  Even in the 700’s BC, we don’t see the first crucifixion until the 500’s BC either by the Carthaginians or Persians.  Jesus suffered physically, spiritually, and emotionally.  

(6) All us sheep have gone astray.  We’ve all sinned (Romans 3:23).  If we could count the number of times we’ve sinned, it would be a big number.  What about all our future sins?  We also consider all the sins billions of people have committed in the past.  Jesus bore it all (See vs 7-9).  

(7) “He did not open His mouth.”  That is, He made no formal defense.  He did of course speak to Pilate, the governor.  We read about submitting to the governing authorities (Romans 13:1).  He didn’t look like the one in control. but only He can command the wind and the waves.  Pilate can only command soldiers.  Jesus is called the Lamb of God (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 5:7).  The one great shepherd aided many sheep.  In fact: “More than thirty times in the New Testament, Christ is symbolically depicted as a lamb (Jackson 89).  The innocent died for the guilty (death is quite a bit more than just a slap on the wrist).  Its one thing to suffer for counterfeiting like the government, its another to suffer even though having done nothing wrong.  “For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God” (1 Peter 2:20).  

(8) Starting at verse 8 we see the results of this suffering Servant.  He was killed without descendants.  Jesus never married.  He was “cut off” (Daniel 9:26).  He took the penalty that we should have.  These verses are quoted in Acts 8:32-33 where Philip draws the connection to Jesus for the Ethiopian eunuch (Isaiah 56:3-5).  

(9) Jesus looked like He’d have a grave with the “wicked” being crucified between two criminals (He must be the ringleader!).  Being buried anywhere could be said to be with the wicked since only Jesus was sinless.  Someone noted: “It was the common practice of people in this era for the relatives to bury all the family members in a large family tomb” (Vol 158 Smith 455).  Joseph of Arimathea was “rich” being part of the Sanhedrin, and it was in his tomb that Jesus was laid (Matthew 27:57-60).  How could Isaiah have known that would happen?  Since Jesus never advocated for jihad, He thus had an honorable burial.  He told Peter: “Put your sword back into its place” (Matthew 26:52).  He didn’t bring a physical sword, but a spiritual one (vs 10-12).  

(10) God knew this was the only way to save humanity.  There never was a “Plan B.”  He was foreknown before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20).  Jesus was our “guilt offering” (Leviticus 5; Jackson 90).  He took our guilt from us.  Jesus would see His spiritual offspring in Christians.  God would “prolong His days” when He raised Him from the dead.  Christianity would “prosper in His hand.”  Three thousand souls would be saved on the day of Pentecost.  

(11) Jesus’ death appeased God’s wrath against sin.  What a blessing to have knowledge of the way to heaven.  Paul wrote that Jesus will deal: “out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1:8).  We need to know and obey.  

(12) Jesus’ victory would conquer many souls through the gospel.  He was numbered with sinners, but had He Himself had no sin: “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).  Jesus quoted verse 12 in Luke 22:37 referencing Himself.  We can trust the Bible is God’s word, and that Jesus is our way to heaven.  

Jackson, Wayne.  The Prophets An Old Testament Commentary IV. Christian Courier Publications, 2015.

Just Judgement (9-14-2024)

When God acts, He’s an unstoppable force.  He also knows the proper and right justice to deal out (See Nahum 1:1-5).  This “oracle” against Nineveh is definitely a bad thing (Isaiah 13:1; 15:1; 17:1).  Nineveh was located on the Tigris River in northern Iraq (near Mosul), but they now have it coming to them.  Nahum has a vision, but sometimes God used dreams to reveal His word to the prophets.  Nahum’s name means something like “compassion” (Jackson 437).  Nahum is an Elkoshite of the city of Elkosh.  This may be the same city as Capernaum which means “the city of Nahum.”  Interestingly, “Among the Dead Sea Scrolls are four fragments of a commentary on the book of Nahum” (Jackson 437).  Nahum, like Jonah, foretold doom for Nineveh, but there won’t be the 150 years of reprieve like during Jonah’s time.  God is called jealous (v 2).  Usually we think of jealousy as a bad thing, but if mankind is worshipping wood instead of the One True God, the Lord has every reason to be jealous.  “We are jealous only of those we love: a husband, of a wife; a king, of his subjects’ loyalty. God is jealous of men because He loves them” (Jamieson 697).  Thus, He has wrath stored up for His enemies (Word: “avenging” 2X).  God had been patient with Nineveh in Jonah’s day, but its time for justice to be dealt out.  God’s holiness demands that wickedness be punished.  “The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty” (v 3).  God told Moses on Mount Sinai the same attributes (Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 103:8; 86:15; 145:8; Nehemiah 9:17; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2).  He has control over the storms, and is seen as if walking along the clouds.  They are like the dust of his feet.  I picture a massive giant foot trampling resolutely.  If God has that kind of power up in the sky, what kind of power does He have down on earth?  All of nature is in His hands.  He has control of the mighty seas which so easily toss man and great ships about (Jesus also calmed the sea).  All the way from Bashan in the east (modern Kingdom of Jordan) to Mount Carmel in the west (along the Mediterranean Sea), God has control (v 4).  Also: “the blossom of Lebanon withers.”  If God wants the vegetation to not yield its abundance, He can do so.  Nothing is too hard for the Lord, even for proper justice- which seems to happen rarely in America.  If even the steadfast mountains quake before Him, the hills don’t stand a chance (v 5)!  We think of the earth being eternally stable.  Experiencing my first earthquake at college in Oklahoma I thought it was a big guy stomping up the stairs (there’s not that many stairs . . . See vs 6-11).  God’s wrath against wicked Nineveh is described as a fire (v 6).  There was a fiery pillar during the Exodus, fire shooting forth from the Tabernacle, and seen on Sinai.  God melts everything before Him, even the smoldering boulders.  “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”  Among God’s righteous indignation, those who trust in Him are safe as ever (v 7).  He knows them.  Their names, their hearts, and their intentions.  When a flood hits a coastal city, water gets everywhere.  It seeps through the walls, it covers the floor, it fills every crack and crevice.  It’s all encompassing (v 8).  He also will “pursue His enemies into darkness.”  Its as if they’re running away trying to hide themselves.  Don’t “devise” plans against God.  Formerly, Assyria made plans and laid siege to Jerusalem, where God in the past chose to put His name (1 Kings 11:36).  We recall how God protected Hezekiah and destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night (2 Kings 19:35-36).  It says: “trouble will not rise up a second time” (v 9).  You can bet Assyria didn’t try their hand at Jerusalem again.  They threw in the towel on that city.  They tasted a little of God’s justice there in 701 BC.  The historian Diodorus (100’s BC) mentions how Nineveh was having: “drunken festivities when the city was taken” (Jackson 439).  It will be the same with Babylon in the future also feeling overly secure (v 10).  Assyria had “plotted” to conquer Jerusalem, but it all came to nothing for God was with the Jews.  Some think this is specifically the Assyrian king Sennacherib (705–681 BC) being mentioned (v 11; See vs 12-15).  Notice that these things “will” happen.  The Assyrians are at their height having conquered Babylon, Israel, most of Judah, and even Egypt.  Who can stand against them?  There is One even higher than the current superpower of Mesopotamia.  Though God had used them to rebuke Israel and Judah, He’s now going to break off the heavy yoke on their necks and the shackles that kept them subdued (vs 12-13).  Assyria’s days are numbered.  God had spoken through Isaiah about 100 years earlier saying: “Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hands is My indignation” (Isaiah 10:5).  Now that Israel’s idols were taken care of, its time for Assyria’s idols to be destroyed (v 14).  What god is there that can stand against the true and just God?  The idol’s grave is pictured as ready and waiting.  What a joyous day it would have been in Judah to hear of Nineveh’s collapse (v 15).  We no longer have to pay tribute!  We’re no longer forced to serve in his army!  Even if the messenger was the ugliest brute ya every did see, you’re giving him a hug.  You could just about kiss his feet its such good news.  Someone commented: “In many ways Nahum 1:15 is the book’s key verse” (Barker 190).  Paul would write about 700 years after Nahum: “And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! [gospel]'” (Romans 10:15).  God gave the Jews deliverance from Assyria, He gives us deliverance from sin.  God was just in bringing down the Assyrian Empire, He was just for us in defeating death on the cross.  We can trust that God will give a just judgement.  While speaking of being ready for His second coming, Jesus said: “that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating” (Luke 12:47-48).  I’m not saying that there are levels of hell, but there does seem to be degrees of punishment.  Thankfully, we have a much better hope.  Jesus took that punishment on our behalf.  Do we trust in God’s righteous judgment?  

Jackson, Wayne. The Prophets An Old Testament Commentary Volume IV. Christian Courier Publications. 2015.

Righteousness, Peace, Joy (9-7-2024)

Christianity often isn’t the easy path to take in life.  Its described as a narrow path that’s hard to find.  Jesus said to take up your cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24).  Really?  That’s going to be our slogan?  We’re going to have a guillotine as our mascot?  The Jews planned on stoning Paul at Iconium, so He ran 20 miles south to Lystra.  After being stoned at Lystra (either left barely alive, or raised from the dead), Paul said: “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).   Great!  Where can I sign up?  Jesus prayed at the Last Supper concerning how: “the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:14).  Who doesn’t enjoy being hated?  Jesus didn’t even say: “disliked.”  These people don’t want to just click a thumbs down on your Facehook.  Christianity can seem rather daunting at times.  It can feel like a never ending struggle toward martyrdom.  How can this all be worth it?  Yet, living as a Christian is the best life one can lead.  How can this be?  How can all these obstacles be a good thing?  How is it that Jesus said HIs yoke is easy and His burden light?  Paul wrote a few encouraging words to the church in Rome within the AD 50’s (See Romans 14).  We’ll highlight three main words: righteousness, peace, and joy.  Emperor Claudius had expelled the Jews from Rome in the AD 40’s.  When he died in AD 54, the Jews were allowed to return.  This surely caused some animosity within the church at Rome.  Maybe some of the elders were Jewish.  When they return in a couple years, will they still be accepted?  There were Christians in Rome bickering about food being sacrificed to idols.  Some were looked down on as having “weak” faith, and others as having “strong” faith.  “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).  Paul did his best to try and get souls to heaven, yet these Christians are going to grumble like the Israelites?  Don’t they know there are more important matters than these?  It feels good and right when you help your neighbor rebuild after a tornado.  That’s a reward all its own.  Moreover, there is an assurance given that only God can provide when we’re walking on the right path.  Certainly, we wouldn’t know the right path without Him.  We see the word: “righteousness” and its forms 55X in Paul’s 16 chapter letter to the Romans.  It usually concerns God’s righteousness in the giving of His son.  Yet even we can become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).  We see in the news of people locking up their kids; how unrighteous can you get?  Aren’t you always looking over your shoulder to make sure you’re not caught?  Isn’t there a natural parental love that’s constantly pulling at your heart strings?  There has to be something psychologically wrong with you in order to stray from righteousness that badly.  If they plead insanity, lock them up in an asylum.  If they don’t, lock them up in a prison.  However, when you’re not running people over, and honest with your fellow man, that leads to an inner peace.  Righteousness, peace, and joy.  People say they want world peace, but actions speak louder then words.  Even among as small a unit as the family, it can be hard to maintain peace.  A Russian philosopher once said: “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself” -Leo Tolstoy.  Paul wrote: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Romans 12:18-19).  Certainly, we want peace, but not at the cost of ignoring God’s word.  We want peace, but not at the cost of losing a soul.  Jesus told some Roman soldiers to: “not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14).  He didn’t tell them to be pacifists.  He didn’t tell them to quit their jobs.  Moreover, when sin and guilt were weighing us down, there was no peace.  However, as Christians, we have a wonderful peace in knowing we’re forgiven.  Our sins have been removed as far as the east is from the west (that’s more than 8,000 miles- SLC to Saudi Arabia).  Jesus was dying on the cross, but He had a peace the world could never know.  Confident that He was accomplishing God’s will gave Him that peace which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).  We have a peace in knowing where we’re going.  Heaven is described as a place of bliss and peacefulness.  Its not just this life and then that’s it.  We don’t merely become dust- the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7).  What Joy that gives us.  Righteousness, peace, and joy.  The Hebrews writer tells us that for the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross (12:2).  His sacrifice would save mankind, and He would be reunited with His Father.  He would glory with God just as He did before the foundation of the world.  That is a joy kidnappers will never know.  Whereas happiness is a temporary feeling, joy will last into eternity.  During the emotionally heavy Last Supper, Jesus said: “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22).  Trials may come in the night, but joy comes in the morning.  Jesus’ crucifixion saw three hours of darkness, but heaven is described as having no night (Revelation 21:25).  “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2-3).  King David wept and rejoiced when his son died, for it was God’s just judgement because of his adultery (2 Smauel 12:20).  The apostles rejoiced after being flogged, for they were found worthy (Acts 5:41).  Happiness in this life is not what its about, its about joy now and in the next.  The Kingdom of God (the Church) is not about Old Testament traditions and physical sacrifices.  The Kingdom is about our spiritual lives: righteousness (through justification), peace (through reconciliation), and joy (through the Holy Spirit).  If we’re living righteous like God, we gain that inner peace which leads to joy.  

Unity (8-24-2024)

Solomon wrote: “A cord of three strands is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).  Someone noted how: “None of us is as smart as all of us.” –Ken Blanchard.  Indeed: “the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.” – Rudyard Kipling.  At the Tower of Babel, the people wanted to be united, but in that case, it was in violation of God’s command.  Unity is talked about a lot during election years, but actions speak louder than words.  Results matter more than good intentions.  There at least used to be something called bipartisanship, where both sides agree to spent too much of our money!  While it would be nice to be united politically and socially, there is a unity that far surpasses both- the unity found only in the Church (See Ephesians 4).  Kingdoms rise and fall, economies go up and down, but the Church will be united forever: “Of the increase of his government and of peacethere will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore” (Isaiah 9:7).  Unlike temporary organizations of unity, the Church will always be there.  Even the gates of hell won’t overcome it (Matthew 16:18).  Wickedness looks pretty united around the world.  It doesn’t have to speak the same language.  It doesn’t discriminate by ethnicity.  Everyone loves the thought of unity.  “The Greek word henotēs [unity] appears only twice in the New Testament— [both] in Ephesians 4:3 and 4:13″ (Carpenter 347).  Unity is a central concept all throughout the Bible, but especially in regard to Jesus’ Church (See Ephesians 4:1-3).  Paul was speaking in chapter 3 of the love Christ displayed for us.  Just as the Father and Jesus were unified in the atoning work of salvation, God want’s His Church to be one.  Sometimes unity hurts, but its worth persevering for.  Since God has done so much for us, we need to walk worthily together.  We walk worthy when we don’t comprise.  Paul has walked worthy even to the point of being imprisoned.  The government put Tulsi Gabbard, one of the kindest uniter type people you’ll ever meet- on a terrorist watch list.  Paul then lists various qualifications for unity in verse 2.  We should walk in humility “a term . . . derogatory among ancient Greeks” (Orbison 25).  Don’t you want to be the most dominant?  Gentleness is power under control (not weakness).  He mentions “patience” that is, being gentle with a weaker brother.  We’re sharing each other’s burdens.  Other translations have: “being diligent” (NASB), “making every effort” (NRSV).  Unity can be hard to accomplish.  Diligence is not only hard work, the word connotes being done with haste.  Paul then lists seven areas of oneness.   There is a “unity of the Spirit.”  As members of God’s Church, the Church of Christ, we all share God’s Spirit.  This unity of the Spirit is through “the bond of peace.”  For, if we’re not being peaceful among each other we’re obviously not unified.  Solomon wrote: “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases” (Proverbs 26:20).  Peace is another one of those attributes that everyone would say they’re after (See Ephesians 4:4-6).  Verse 4 doesn’t say “a spirit” or “some Spirit” but “one Spirit [the Spirit].”  If the schizophrenic man wants to feed the poor, but also poison people, it’s not going to work out.  They say two heads are better than one, but not in that case.  We only need Christ as the head of the body.  We have one hope.  We don’t have to put our hope in: a second chance after death, serving time in purgatory, or “hoping” to be annihilated.  We don’t want that kind of “hope and change.”  We have one Lord (v 5).  Am I the Master?  Or is Jesus the Master?  Paul doesn’t list: “One pope, one council, one form of government” (Jamieson 349).  One faith says that Jesus is God, and He rose from the dead.  He’s not just a “good teacher” or just a “prophet” (Muslims).  The word “baptism” means: immersion.  Its been transliterated (unfortunately).  There would be less confusion if it was just written as “immersion” (not: pouring, sprinkling).  There is a unity of practice.  There is only one God.  When people pray to Zeus, Allah, or Mary are they praying to God?  No, they’re in fact praying to demons (1 Corinthians 10:20).  Was God fine with the Israelites praying to Baal, Molech, and Himself?  God is over “all” that is, Jew and Gentile.  Its also neat to see the Trinity in verses 4-6.  They’re united in essence and purpose (See Ephesians 4:11-13).  God designed His Church to where we all have our part to play.  We all have our individual talents that contribute to the building up of the unity of the Church.  Concerning this “unity of the faith” we all believe that Jesus taught God’s Word, and was raised from the dead on our behalf.  We all believe in the Lord’s day and partaking of Communion, loving one another.  We are all unified in the truth of God’s Word.  Our unity doesn’t come from the Magna Carta, or the Communist Manifesto.  That’s not where lasting unity comes from.  Surly, we all don’t agree about everything, but when it comes to doctrine- the basic principles of our faith, our unity shines bright.  The church at Corinth struggled with who to follow: Peter, Apollos, Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:12)?  The church at Philippi had two women who could have split up the church (Philippians 4:2).  We read in the context of forgiveness that: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).  There are some big differences between Jews and Gentiles (ethnic, religious background, cultural).  Yet Jesus can make them one.  Slaves and freemen had a world of difference in the ancient world.  One was treated as property, and the other had some rights.  Jesus can give them unity.  Males and females have healthy God ordained differences.  Apart from the physical aspect, each one’s thinking tends more toward reasoned or compassionate.  Both are necessary.  God gives unity in marriage, but moreover unity in Christ.  Unity is important in many aspects of life, but it’s most important in the Church.  

Appearances Aren’t Everything (8-17-2024)

They say: “You can’t judge a book by it’s cover.” I can read you like a book- and its a horror story!  Beauty is more than skin deep.  It only takes the first seven seconds for someone to form an opinion of you (See 1 Samuel 8).  In the ending days of the Judges (ca 1000 BC), the Israelites made a foolish request.  Samuel, the last judge, didn’t have great sons: “his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice” (1 Samuel 8:3).  Thus, the people asked for a king: “that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles” (1 Samuel 8:20; See 1 Samuel 9).  They should have seen God as their king.  God is the best judge and victor.  God raised up judges only because the people didn’t heed His words.  When you can’t see something, you tend to have it out of sight, out of mind.  That’s the way most people treat God.  Its easy to see the problems of life around us and want to blame God for them.  Yet there are more blessings around us than we can count.  We read of Saul: “[Kish] had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people” (1 Samuel 9:2).  God knew the people would ask for a king under Moses, 500 years earlier: “When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ 15 you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose” (Deuteronomy 17:14-15).  Saul looks great, and the people sadly want to be like the nations.  The other nations have Pyramids, fortifications, and great temples!  If only we had shiny whitewashed walls!  The Titanic looked great, it was the most luxurious ship of its time.  It was said to be unsinkable because of their several watertight compartments.  Yet in 1912, a long gash cut through several of them.  Politicians promise all sorts of things to win votes.  They look trustworthy n their suits, and sound so sincere.  Yet how many times have we seen those appearances crumble into nothing (See 1 Samuel 16)?  Saul will disobey God in not completely killing off the Amalekites.  They were the ones who fought Israel soon after the Exodus; when Moses’ hands were held high, Israel won, and when his arms became heavy, they lost (Exodus 17).  Saul killed 85 priests at Nob (near Jerusalem) for aiding David (1 Samuel 22:18).  After defeating the Philistines, the people sing that: “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7).  Saul becomes wary and angry at the people’s words.  Saul will thus be removed from the kingship (1 Samuel 15:22-23).  He’ll later try to murder his successor a few times.  A highly unlikely figure will take his place.  Samuel journeys to Jesse of Bethlehem: “When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.’ 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:6-7).  Jesse has seven of his eight sons pass before the Prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 16:10).  Surely the Lord will chose one of these!  “Then Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep’” (1 Samuel 16:11).  I’m sure Jesse knew his sons pretty well.  He knows their talents and character traits.  However, he misjudged his youngest, David.  He didn’t even consider him among the options.  He’ll just stay out there watching the sheep because- what more can he do?  David is anointed, and: “the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward” (1 Samuel 16:13).  We recall God saying: “I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will” (Acts 13:22).  Even a short time later when Goliath would see David: “he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance” (1 Samuel 17:42).  He learned too late that you can’t judge a book by its cover.  David struggled with sin from time to time just as we all do.  He even committed some of the “big” sins (murder, adultery).  Nevertheless, he repented and kept his heart fully on God.  The world thinks us Christians are chumps.  Honesty is the best policy?  Really?  Why not say you’re great and get ahead in the rat race?  Put on some charm and get your way!  The more victim cards you have in your pocket, the more stuff you can demand.  I think it was the last election cycle when they had their main speaker as a black, female, paraplegic, veteran.  Come on people.  Why would you want to be meek?  That looks weak!  Being humble doesn’t get you the CEO job.  Atheists think that Christianity is a crutch for the powerless.  How wrong they are.  Speaking of the Messiah in Isaiah 53, the prophet wrote (700’s BC): “he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (vs 2-3).  “As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind” (Isaiah 52:14).  He took a serious beating and flogging.  Jesus is usually painted as a respectable good looking teacher.  We know that God sees the heart.  While on earth He taught God’s word, stood up for the downtrodden, and gave His life to redeem mankind.  Only Jesus can turn our whitewashed sin stains white as snow.  Gordon wrote: “What a chemist and an artist in one is this Jesus! He uses bright red to get a pure white out of a dead black” (Roper 314).  He can make us appear holy before God, who will remember our sins no more.  He calls us heirs and royalty when the world sees failure (Romans 8:17; 1 Peter 2:9).  Let’s be sure to look Christlike everyday of our lives.  

Roper, David L. Revelation 1-11. Searcy, AR: Resource Publications, 2002.

Rapture? (8-10-2024)

We need to be ready for the resurrection.  We see in the Bible that at Jesus’ second coming, the dead will be raised, and we’ll be with the Lord forever.  Wayne Jackson gave some very insightful thoughts on the subject of the alleged “rapture.”  There are some religious groups that teach of a coming rapture before the resurrection.  Dispensationalism breaks history into ages.  It claims that Jesus will come back silently to earth and rapture up the alive saints, and only later resurrect the dead saints.  Is that how the end times will happen?  According to them, the rapture starts a so called “seven-year tribulation period” which will be finalized by “the battle of Armageddon.”  Then, so the story goes, Christ will begin His reign of 1,000 years on David’s throne in the city of Jerusalem.  We see these movies of cars driving off the roads, and people randomly disappearing.  Is this frantic scene something that will actually happen?  Is there a taking of the righteous, and then a time for everyone else to repent?  The word “rapture” is derived from a Latin word: rapio meaning “to snatch.”  This word is not used in the Bible (Hebrew and Greek), but dispensationalists claim the idea is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.  Paul speaks there of Jesus’ second coming all throughout his two letters to the Thessalonians: “we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (4:17).  Paul writes of Jesus’ second coming. The living saints who witness the Lord’s return will be “caught up” in the clouds to meet Him.  According to the Bible, that’s it.  No earthly reign, no seven years of tribulation.  The verse says we meet Him in the “air” not in Jerusalem.  Another reason the rapture won’t happen is that at Christ’s second coming He will be very visible.  The return of Christ will be seen universally.  Its not a secret, or event known only by a few saved individuals.  Jesus warned His Jewish audience to be ready giving several parables (thief, ten virgins, talents) and then said: “when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 And all the nations will be gathered before Him” (Matthew 25:31-32).  He said “all the nations” not just the Christians.  Jesus said: “a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come out: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29).  We see both good and bad being raised.  Even the prophet Daniel in the 500’s BC wrote: “many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2).  Luke, while recounting Jesus ascension to heaven, gives a hint also about Jesus’ second coming: “He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them, 11 and they said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven’” (See Acts 1:9-11).  Jesus’ ascension was seen just as His second coming will be seen- its not a secret.  In 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 Paul pictures Jesus’ second coming with His mighty angels in flaming fire.  We often see the thought of Jesus appearing: “keep the commandment . . . until the appearing of our Lord” (1 Timothy 6:14); “I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:1); “in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8); “[we’re] looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Titus 2:13).  Jackson commented: “Of His coming it is said that Christ “shall appear (horaõ, “become visible”) a SECOND time” (Heb. 9:28).  If Lindsey and his dispensational kin are correct, Christ will not appear until his THIRD coming!”  Unlike a silent rapture, Jesus’ second coming is noisy.  “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).  This has been called the “noisiest” verse in the Bible!  Further: “the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat” (2 Peter 3:10).  In Jesus’ parable of the sower, the wheat and weeds grew together until the end.  The wheat wasn’t raptured seven years prior to the end: “the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 40 So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age” (Matthew 13:39-40).  We do read, however, of the final resurrection at Jesus’ second coming.  Paul spoke to the Roman governor Felix saying: “there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked” (Acts 24:15); “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:2).  Also, this resurrection will happen on the last day: “The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:54).  There’s no seven-year tribulation period afterward, much less a millennium!  In school you want to be ready for that test.  When job hunting, you want to be ready for that interview.  We like being prepared and ready for our physical futures; how much more should we be ready for heaven?  Our earthly lives are temporary, but the next world is eternal.  We need to make sure we keep those in their proper views.  We need to be ready for that one final resurrection day at Jesus’ second coming.  We need to be obedient to Him in baptism.  That’s where we’re clothed in Christ (Galatians 3:28).  That’s where we have our sins washed away (Acts 2:38).  We’ll be able to stand before before God’s judgment throne confident in what Jesus accomplished for us.  If you’re not ready, you need to get ready.  

Jackson, Wayne. What Does the Bible Say About the Rapture? ChristianCourier.com. Access date: December 15, 2016. https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1577-what-does-the-bible-say-about-the-rapture

Balaam’s Desire
 (8-3-2024)

Sometimes folks think: How close can I toe the line without sinning?  Lots of people unfortunately like flirting with the Devil (See Numbers 22).  I’m a good person . . . what could it hurt?  When we think of the prophets, we think “good” (Isaiah, Daniel), but interestingly one of the prophets God used was wicked.  In the first six verses of Numbers 22, Israel had camped near the kingdom of Moab.  Balak, the king of Moab (east of the Dead Sea), had heard of the victories Israel had.  Israel defeated the Amorites and the king of Bashan since coming out of Egypt.  Balak of Moab now fears for his own country.  He calls upon Balaam to curse Israel so that he can win. For: “I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed” (v 6).  Do we turn to family for help before God?  Do we read self help books before His word (See Numbers 22:12-13)?  Balak sent distinguished messengers to Balaam requesting that he come.  Balaam at first follows the Lord’s instructions.  However, when a second envoy comes from Moab, it seems that Balaam’s heart is wavering after the money Balak promised him.  God allows us all free will (See Numbers 22:20-22).  Perhaps God is testing Balaam to see if his heart will be fully devoted.  Surely Moab’s gold and silver is tempting (Numbers 22:18).  Are we ever stubborn wanting our way over God’s way?  How often do we become captivated by “silver and gold,” and turn our eyes from all the warnings (See 22:31-35).  As Balaam sets off on this journey to Moab, the Lord was displeased with him.  God, the angel, and even Balaam’s donkey know of the danger.  When we’re focused on the temptations we desire, we’re not looking out for the warning signs.  Nonetheless, God instructs Balaam to continue.  However, God warns him to only speak what He tells him.  Perhaps Balaam in his heart is wanting to toe the line between God and Balak to gain Moab’s pretty penny.  Jesus said: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24).  Jesus could have made any other comparison: God or immorality, God or lies, God or pride . . . He notes “money.”  Are there things we put in our lives ahead of God?  Balaam then has Balak build seven altars, and offers a bull and a ram on each (23:1-12).  While we recognize seven as God’s number, we don’t see this type of sacrifice mentioned previously.  Balaam then leaves to go to a solitary height to hear the Lord’s word.  “R. Largement cites the reference to a Babylonian text in which a worshiper is instructed to “erect seven altars before Ea, Shamash, and Marduk, to set up seven censers of cypress, and then pour out [as a libation offering] the blood of seven sheep” (Cole 399).  Three times they try different methods, and three times Balaam speaks God’s word.  Balaam blesses Israel after the sacrifices (Numbers 23:7-10).  God had instructed Israel to offer very specific sacrifices, and this wasn’t it.  Balaam blesses Israel again (after more sacrifices) after seeing only a part of the people (Numbers 23:18-24).  When we’re not doing things God’s way, we’re not doing it the best way.  Balaam will then bless Israel a third time (Numbers 24:3-11).  That third time Balaam traveled with Balak to Peor thinking that a different location may change the God of Israel’s mind.  Or, maybe a different god is “god” of this mountain.  The first of Balaam’s prophecies should have been enough . . . for king Balak and for the prophet Balaam.  Does Balaam hope God will change his mind?  Is his heart still set on Balak’s silver and gold?  We can beat our heads against a rock all we want, but going our way doesn’t get us closer to God (See 24:1).  This third time there were no rituals, or solitude seeking God’s counsel.  The Spirit immediately comes onto Balaam- like He did upon Saul (1 Samuel 10:6).  Balaam seemed to not fully trust in God alone for his prophecies (Cole Vol 38 416).  We know Balaam will later counsel Moab to cause Israel to sin with the women of Peor (Numbers 31:14-16).  In this way Moab could attain victory.  Balaam spoke God’s word, but his heart wasn’t after God’s will.   Moses wrote: “the Lord your God was not willing to listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you” (Deuteronomy 23:5).  Peter: “forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Peter 2:15).  The right way is narrow, but its the only way to go if we want a happy fulfilling life.  Jude: “Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah” (Jude 1:11).  Paul could be poor and homeless, yet he lived one of the best lives we have recorded for God.  “But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality” (Revelation 2:14).  Balaam could have been a great servant of God, but he wanted to also be a servant of gold.  Do we “play with fire?”  Do we have one foot in the sand and one foot in the ocean?  We need to care more about God’s word than man’s word.   Jesus didn’t let anything et in the way of Him and His Father.  He was obedient even to the point of death.  Lets be sure to not put anything before God.

Cole, R. D. (2000). Numbers. Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Talents (7-6-2024)

When we think of the great heroes of the Bible, there’s one thing they all had in common: They used the talents God gave them.  We’ve all been granted life by God; therefore, it only makes sense that we should live our lives and use the gifts He’s given for His service.   Benjamin Franklin said: “Hide not your talents . . . what use is a sundial in the shade (forbes.com)?  The Hebrew women who feared God more than Pharaoh, hid several infants instead of having them tossed into the Nile.  They not only feared God, but acted on that talent protecting the children.  King David had a talent for giving God’s justice to the wicked.  He won several battles against the: Philistines, Hittites, Moabites, and Syrians.  “David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep” (Acts 13:36).  Stephen, in Acts 7, had a talent for boldly proclaiming the gospel.  The crowd covered their ears, and rushing at him, stoned him to death.  He was also described as: “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5).  Napoleon was not a great chap, but he had a talent for winning battles.  He won over 70 even though almost always outnumbered.  At Austerlitz (Austria) in 1805, he inflicted 30,000 casualties for only 10,000 (wikipedia).  We recall Jesus’ parable of the one, five, and ten talents (Matthew 25).  Differing talents were given different amounts of blessing.  A silver talent equaled about 6,000 denarii.  Since a denarii was a day’s wages, one talent was 16 years of labor.  Yet what if they were gold talents?  The first two had a 100% gain, but the third slave tried to shift the blame to the overbearing Master.  It does no good for God to grant us blessings, and then for us not to use them.   Saul, before he was Paul, had a talent for persecuting Christians.  He even obtained letters from the Jewish hierarchy to do so (Acts 9:2).  Yet God turned it into a talent for preaching (See 1 Corinthians 12).  In the first 11 verses of this chapter, Paul mentions the “Spirit” (Holy Spirit) 10X.  In the first century, the Holy Spirit allowed christians to have miraculous gifts.  This ended with those the apostles laid their hands on (Acts 8:18).  These gifts, services, and activities were all done by the same Spirit.  In verses 4-6 are seen the trinity (Spirit, Lord and God).  That’s where our talents come from.  All these gifts derive from the same Spirit in order to build up the church (v 7).  Everyone has a part to play.  In theater you need: backstage hands, lights, musicians, and actors.  They all work toward a common goal.  This “utterance of wisdom” (v 8) may be the ability to judge appropriately like king Solomon.  The “utterance of knowledge” seems to be guidance and instruction.  The whole Bible wasn’t quite written down yet.  The “faith” of verse 9 is more than the faith we all share being a “gift.”  Maybe this faith includes a degree of steadfast trust.  We read: “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” (Romans 12:3).  The gift of healing would be nice in the first century: curing lepers and calming fevers.  Folks today have a gift for healing with encouraging words.  They say sleep is the best medicine.  I’d add to that not being stressed- avoid that like the plague.  The definition of “prophecy” at its simplest, is communicating a message from God.  Some even had the ability of “distinguishing . . . spirits.”   John wrote: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).  Tongue speaking was an individual who could speak a foreign language without ever studying it.  Surely Romans were speaking Hebrew and Arabic, and some of the Jews spoke Latin.  God’s Spirit wills that the church be edified in the best manner possible (vs 11-12).  Maybe the gentile churches had more tongue interpreters in order to read the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament).  Paul then compares the church to the human body.  We cherish the limbs of our bodies.  If you’re in a wheelchair paralyzed, you notice!  It becomes harder to get from here to there, reach for things, clean; life slows down dramatically.   If you were to lose your dominant hand in an accident, think of all the things that would be harder for you to do.  The church is unified like the body.  You can’t have your legs walk right and you hands crawl left, its just not going to work.  You need your lungs (oxygen), heart (pump blood), muscles (movement), etc.  Jews associating with Gentiles in the first century was considered taboo.  Greeks aren’t the chosen people of God!  Putting slaves on par with freemen wouldn’t have been easy to do either.  Freemen liked their higher social standing than slaves.  We speak of America being the great melting pot, but the church is the greatest melting pot of all.  What other organization can make enemies into friends?  More complaining is brought up at Corinth: “I wanted to be the hand, not the foot!”  I don’t know why, but it always seems like the other person got the better deal.  There’s always someone we want to be more like . . . well, maybe that person wants to be more like you.  Someone commented that: Someone commented: “Paul mentions the foot and hand noting the active members of the body . . . the eye and ear noting the contemplative parts of the body” (Jamieson 287).  We need all the members to make up the body.  If you could only keep one of your five senses: touch, hearing, sight, smell, or taste, which would it be (v 17)?  I’d want to keep my sight, but the point is, we need all our members to have the body.  If all of us were teachers, where would the encouragers and helpers be?  This is the way God designed His body, the church.  It’s been said: “someone can’t do everything but everyone can do something.”  Each body part is necessary, thus there should be no division.  Corinth struggled with divisions.  The arm is stronger than the eye, but the arm will give itself for the eye any day.  Someone gave the example: “When a thorn enters the heel, the whole body feels it, and is concerned: the back bends, the belly and thighs contract themselves, the hands come forward and draw out the thorn, the head stoops, and the eyes regard the affected member with intense gaze” -Chrysostom (Jamieson 287-288).  Again, this section is spoken in the context of miraculous gifts.  The first century christians didn’t have the whole Bible, so even their teachers had a miraculous gift for teaching.  Intentionally, Paul places tongues, one of the Corinthian’s favorite gifts, last (12:10, 30; 14:19).  Every gift had its part to play.  Sometimes we’re tempted to put the preacher on top, but without the members, there is no body.  I’d just be a lone pair of lips.  Romans 12 lists non-miraculous gifts that we have today: speaking for God (prophecy), service, teaching, exhortation, generosity, leadership, and mercy (Romans 12:6-8).  We don’t have to bumble through life aimlessly.  We don’t have to be slaves for the company or the government.  God wants our talents used to build up His church.  What talents has God given you?  We don’t want to bury our coin in the sand and forget about it.  God wants us to keep growing and maturing.  Today is what we have to work with.  The past is done, and the future is always ahead.  What talent will you show today?  

God’s Righteousness (Romans 3; 6-29-2024)

In chapter 1 the Gentiles didn’t have an excuse for their sin.  In chapter 2 the Jews don’t have an excuse for their sin.  In chapter 3, Paul says that “all ya all” don’t have an excuse for your sins.  Even though we’re sinners in need of a savior, God is still righteous.  We see the word “righteous” (and its related forms 66X within these mere 16 chapters  of Romans).  If we’re all sinners, then what advantage do Jews have over Gentiles?  If ethnicity doesn’t matter, what advantage does the Jew have? They were blessed to receive God’s law.  Circumcision, for example, is a healthy procedure lessening the chance of bacteria growing (Genesis 17:10-12).  These “oracles” (v 2) refer to the entire Old Testament (Mosaic Law and the Prophets).  God’s precepts tell us how to be righteous.  We’d get lost in unrighteousness left to our own devices.  The people of Noah’s day didn’t want to hear his preaching.  The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah didn’t have God’s precepts.  Look where they ended up.  What if some were unfaithful (v 3)? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?” Note: “If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him? And if your transgressions are many, what do you do to Him? 7  If you are righteous, what do you give to Him, Or what does He receive from your hand?” (Job 35:6-7).  God is the ultimate in righteous, and we’re the ultimate in unrighteousness.  Thus, is it all futile?  Paul’s phrase “By no means” (v 4) is “the strongest negation possible in Greek” (Roper 199).   Verse 4 quotes from Psalm 51:4.  David wrote that after the prophet Nathan rebuked him being with Bathsheba (he was unfaithful).  If unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness better (a good thing?), then the Gentiles are doing a better job than us Jews (v 5)!  Following the argument: “one might assume that He would condemn those who tried to be righteous, because they took away some of the glamour of God’s holiness” (Petrillo 8).  Paul answers his own question in the negative again; God will be just.  Abraham asked: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:25).  Through verses 9-20, Paul quotes from the Old Testament detailing how unrighteous humanity is.  We read: “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).  “None is righteous, no, not one.”  Theses verses (10-18) are quotes from Isaiah and the Psalms.  This is called a “string of proof texts” (this one being the longest in the New Testament).  The nine New Testament writers use this formula surprisingly often.  Verses 10-12 quote from Psalm 14:3; 53:3.  Notice all the words associated with our mouths: “’Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.’ ‘The venom of asps is under their lips.’ 14 ‘Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness'” (vs 13-14).  This  quotes from Psalm 5:9 and Psalm 140:3.  Our mouths can have a lot to do with unrighteousness.  God’s mouth is quite the contrast.  Verse 14 quote is from Psalm 10:7.  Lots of these chapters being quoted also make mention that the fool doesn’t believe in God (Psalm 10:4; 14:1; 53:1).  “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16  in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18’There is no fear of God before their eyes'” (vs 15-18).  These verses quote Isaiah 59:7-8.  Pain is where a life of unrighteousness leads.  The further we wander from God’s righteousnesses, the less joy we’ll have in life.  Most people fall into this camp.  They don’t know of God’s righteousness.  Verse 18 is a quote is from Psalm 36:1.  The word “fear” refers to respect or awe as oppose to being terrified.  Seeing God in His righteousness should encourage us into it.  Lot, Abraham’s nephew, stayed righteous: “for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard” (2 Peter 2:8).  With the Mosaic Law, God is displaying just how far unrighteous man is from God’s righteousness.  For “through the law comes knowledge of sin” (v 20).  Law exposes wrongdoing, but it doesn’t excuse wrongdoing.  “[T]he law can illuminate, but it cannot eliminate” -Rogers (Roper 213).  “in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:3-4).  

See 21-26 The word “righteousness” is seen in 4 of these 6 verses.  God’s righteousness has been: made known, manifested, and witnessed.  The “Law and the Prophets” is a common way to refer to the whole Old Testament.  The Mosaic Law led us to Christ: “the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).  There is much foreshadowing in the Old Testament telling about Jesus and His church.  Even if the Law was kept perfectly, you wouldn’t be saved (v 22).  It’s “through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.”  The word “believe” is in the present tense, indicating continued action.  All have sinned (v 23): “Forms of the word ‘sin’ are used fifty times in the first eight chapters of Romans” (Roper 219).  The word sin means: “missing the mark.”  A Chinese proverb says: “There are two good men: One dead, the other unborn.”  In our helpless state, we needed a gift of grace, and redemption in order to be justified.  The word “propitiation” (v 25) means: “appeasing of God’s wrath” (Roper 224).  God was gracious and “passed over the sins previously committed.”  Note: “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30; Hebrews 9:15; 10:4).  For example, it seems that God “winked at” King David having eight wives.  A male and a female was God’s ideal, but the full mystery of the gospel wasn’t revealed until Jesus.  Jesus’ sacrifice made people righteous in God’s sight- folks in the past, present, and those who will be in the future.  We have the same choice that the first century Christians in Rome had: live unrighteously, or live righteously.  One leads to eternal life, the other to eternal; separation from God.  Which will you follow today?  

Orbison, Guy. Petrillo, Denny. Workshop In The Word: Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Durango, CO, 2005.

Roper, David L. Romans 1-7. Searcy, AR: Resource Publications, 2002.

Roper, David L. Romans 8-16. Searcy, AR: Resource Publications, 2002.

Calming The Sea (6-22-2024)

At times life can seem like a storm tossed sea.  You’re on deck trying to hold onto the ropes or railings, and everything aboard is sloshing here and there.  The rain keeps pounding your face, and seems like it won’t ever let up.  What if we fell overboard?  How cold is the water?  How long can we tread water?  Will we find some driftwood?  Those waves are really high and look overcoming.  The prophet Jonah surely had a scary time while God was trying to steer him in the right direction (Jonah 1:15).  He even requested to be thrown overboard (See Matthew 14).  I read that the Mayflower: “was damaged by a bad storm halfway to America.  The storm cracked one of the massive wooden beams supporting the frame of the ship.  Fortunately, the passengers had brought along a ‘great iron screw,’ which helped raise the beam back into place so the ship could continue.  In another storm, a young passenger, John Howland, was swept off the deck of the ship and into the ocean!  He was saved because he grabbed onto one of the ship’s ropes” (plymouth.org).  

See 22-23 “Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone”

(22) Jesus had just fed the 5,000 and healed the sick.  The crowds at this time thus want to make Him king by force (John 6:15l)!  Maybe he’s the one to drive the Romans out!  He could supply a whole army.  

(23) Oftentimes we see Jesus alone praying (temptation for the kingship?).  Yet Jesus was focused on spiritual concerns.  “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.” -C.S.Lewis.  Jesus’ focus was on God.  That promotion to being king isn’t really what its all about.  Feeding the poor is great to do, but God’s will for us doesn’t end there.  

See 24-26 “but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 

26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!; and they cried out in fear.”

(24) The Sea of Galilee is about 4-5 miles wide (Blomberg 234).  The disciples are said to be “straining” at the oars (Mark 6:48).  Walking four miles would be difficult, how about going against the wind and the waves for four miles?

(25) The fourth watch of the night according to Roman time would be 3-6 am.  Surely the disciples are tired after a long day of helping the poor (v 22).  Can we just reach our destination and go to bed?   Are we going to survive the night?  Is that all she wrote?  Are we to die in our twenties?  Things seem very perilous.  Jesus is the guy who told us to get into the boat.  Didn’t He know there’d be a storm?  

(26) Yet then they saw something on the water.  When we look out into the storm, do we just see all our problems?  Do we see everything not working?  Do we see nothing but ghosts and threats?  Or do we see Jesus as the lighthouse guiding our way?  What we sail after in life will direct our whole course.  With God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).  

See 27-31 “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’ 28 And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ 29 He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’”  

Jesus says to Peter: “It is I” reminiscent of Him being the great “I am.”  Moses asked God who he should say sent him: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob . . . Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:6, 14).  

(27) Jesus said: “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35).  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).  This Jesus guy sounds pretty important!  He’s in fact comparing Himself to God.  The One who created the world has no fear of the things in it.  In the New Testament we see Him commanding: “Do not be afraid” more often than He commands to love others.  

(28-29) Peter had faith that Jesus would keep him safe “if” (v 28) is better translated “since”).  

(30) Why did Peter begin to sink?  He saw the wind and the waves.  The distractions of this life got in the way.  Some obstacles can look so big, but no problem is too big for God.  

(31) Peter’s rescue was immediate.  He didn’t have swimming classes as a kid.  That experience must have been terrifying for him.  Yet God is right there with us every step on the water.  Jesus said to Peter: “You of little faith.”  The real reason that Peter began to sink was because He took his eyes off Jesus.  Folks take their eyes off Jesus every day.  Many don’t even want to see Him in the first place.  Yet if we don’t see Jesus, there’s no purpose in life.  We have no north star to guide us.  We’re just ships of the sea being tossed here and there by every wind of teaching.  Might really would make right.  I think of all the enslaved women in Vegas, New York, and Salt Lake.  Satan wants to keep us focused on ourselves.  What can I get out of life?  What’s in my best interest?  That’s not what we should focus on.  

Son Of God

See 32-33 “And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”

(32) It wasn’t that a counter wind came up.  It wasn’t that the moon’s gravitational pull had something to do with it.  The sea’s temperature didn’t suddenly drop or rise.  Jesus has control over mankind (healing the sick), the physical world (calmed the storm), and even over the spiritual world (forgiving sins).  We have no better captain in life.  

(33) The disciples worshipped Him, and Jesus didn’t stop them!  He knows He’s God.  He knows that He’s deity.  He’s part of the Trinity.  The angels in Revelation did some pretty incredible things, and John was tempted to worship one of them- he said to John: “You must not do that” (Revelation 19:10).  Are any of our daily problems we face a match for the power of God?  Is anything oo difficult for Him?  Our problems aren’t near as big as God dealing with the problem of sin.  

Father’s Day (6-15-2024)

George Herbert said: “One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.”   One of the reasons there are so many fatherless homes in America is, you guessed it- the government.  The idea started off with good intentions, as they always do.  Let’s help single mothers by giving them money!  Won’t that be great?  Yet what was the result?  The result was more single mother households in America.  Around 1900, 6% of households had single mothers (Institute For Research On Poverty).  Yet in 2008, 40% of births in America were to single women (post.ca.gov).   Where are the fathers?  That was one of Larry Elder’s main concerns.  God created Adam and Eve to raise Able and Cain.  Both parents are ideal for a child’s upbringing.  Dad’s are usually more on the logical side, while mom’s are usually on the emotional side.  It takes both.  Maybe its just human nature, but I don’t particularly like having responsibilities.  That comes with a cost.  You have to be relied upon.  Criticism often goes with that road.  However, how would you like a Father who never lets you down?  He’ll always come through and be there.  He always wants what’s best for you.  He’ll never break His promises.  God led the Hebrew’s out of Egypt after being slaves there for around 215 years (Exodus 12:40; Galatians 3:16-17).  That’s not ultimately where He wants His children to be.  People need freedom to grow, mature, and learn from their mistakes.  For those of us today, we read: “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives” (Hebrews 12:5-6).  I imagine God had a purpose behind the Hebrew’s slavery.  If God didn’t give us freedom in Eden to sin, we’d just be mindless AI machines.  Yet if you overcome one temptation, you can overcome the next even easier.  God allowed His Son to be tempted (Matthew 4; Luke 4).  He endured and was the better for it.  “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin” (1 Peter 4:1).  God fed the Israelites in the wildernesses with the Manna (Exodus 16).  He would even feed them with quail a short time later (Exodus 16).  He wants to provide for our needs.  He doesn’t lead us into the desert and then drop us off.  He has a purpose behind every action.  Jesus told us not to worry about food or clothing.  If He takes care of the birds, He’ll take care of us as well (Matthew 6:31-33).  We all own a lot more than just food and clothing.  There’s hunger in America, but I don’t know anyone who’s starving.  “His kingdom” (Heaven) will be much better than anything we could eat of drink on this earth.  Being clothed in His righteousness is better than anything your earthly father can clothe you with.  We also get to be with that great Father forever.  He’s the wisest.  He knows it all.  I imagine those 4 in 10 children would love to spend even just a little bit of time with their father.  What advice could he give?  What life lessons would be learned?  God promised to be with the Israelites and Joshua when they went into Canaan.  He parted the Jordan river, and so long as Israel was obedient, He promised to be with them.  God never breaks His promises.  He promised Abraham roughly 600 years earlier that His descendants would take possession of the land he himself traveled on.  Abraham’s descendants were indeed like the sand by the seashore.  For we as Christians, there’s a great promise the Father has given us: “’I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ 6 So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).  Sometimes its hard to believe God’s promises, but they are true nonetheless.  He was faithful with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  He’ll be faithful toward us as well.  We have the same faith as Abraham, and therefore share in the promise.  When Jericho’s walls fell, no Israelites died during that battle.  Jericho is the oldest known city to have walls.  That must have been quite the miracle.  Dr. Garstang (the main finder) saw that the wall did actually `fall down flat.’ The wall was double . . . being 15 feet apart; the outer wall, 6 feet thick; the inner wall, 12 feet thick; both being about 30 feet high.  I bet we could think of several times when God has protected us throughout our lives.  I was born over 3 months premature, but God let me have my sight, and allowed me not to be disabled.  How many of my parents prayers were answered?  We also have peace: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).  With some fathers there’s no peace and rest.  Yet with our Father, the Promised Land is pictured peaceful as a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8).  The Israelites finally had rest from their enemies.  God rested on the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:2).  That’s why we have a seven day week (Exodus 20:11).  The Hebrews writer in chapter 4 mingles God’s rest with the Israelite’s rest in Canaan, and our eventual rest in heaven.  God doesn’t want us to worry about death and taxes, He wants us to rest with Him.  He wants our lives to be a joy even when trials and sufferings come (James 1:2).  “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).  The majority of the world doesn’t know that peace.  Let’s strive to be more like God the Father every day of our lives.  We’ll meet Him face to face one day, and we can be ready for it.  Eternity is nothing to disregard out of hand.  

Instruments? (6-8-2024)

In ancient Greece, sheep and bulls would be killed for worship.  The inners would be separated and burned by themselves while the rest would be eaten by the people.  Apparently Greek comedies would pick up on this thinking: Is this really for the gods or for us?  Some religious groups have rock concerts accompany their worship.  Some even have soloists and choirs.  The thinking is: If its from the heart, does God really care?  Can’t I have a fireworks show for worship?  Wouldn’t that be inspiring?  For the first several hundred years of the early church, we don’t see instruments being used in worship.  Even in the 1500’s folks like Martin Luther and John Calvin didn’t approve of the organ.  God is the one who is deserving of our worship, so who gets to decide how worship is to be done?  What book can we go to for God’s will on this matter?  Looking at the New Covenant, its stark that all we see is singing.  Notice: “when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26); “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25); “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name” (Romans 15:9); “What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also” (1 Corinthians 14:15).  Among the more famous and controversial verses concerning singing includes: “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” (Ephesians 5:19).  These “psalms” were songs from the Book of Psalms.  In the Old Testament, Psalms were accompanied by instruments, but by the 1st Century (New Testament) the word didn’t carry that meaning: As someone noted: “Tediously researched studies of the use of psalms in the Temple, synagogue and church demonstrate clearly that chanting of a psalm had lost any necessary connection to mechanical instruments in the days of the N.T. church” (White 13).  “It was perhaps in the Synagogues where Psalms were first recited without instruments” -Everett Ferguson (White 14).  Hymns are a praise to God.  Spiritual songs are exhortations to fellow believers.  This “making melody” (5:19) can mean to pluck in the Greek (So . . . a guitar)?  No, what’s being plucked is the “heart” (Ephesians 5:19).  The Jews in Acts were “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37).  Today we might say: “My heart throbs.”  Even the early Greek Orthodox church didn’t have instruments.  If Paul meant psallo to ‘include mechanical instruments with singing of psalms, then the early church apparently did not obey him.  The church’s practice was called “a capella” meaning: “As in the chapel.”  Notice: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16); “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise” (Hebrews 2:12); “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise” (James 5:13); “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God'” (Revelation 5:9); “they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth” (Revelation 14:3); “they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb'” (Revelation 15:3).  The book of Revelation shows harps used symbolically (Revelation 14:2; 15:2).  Revelation 5:8 says: “when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”  So, the incense is symbolic for the “prayers of the saints”, does it then make sense to say that the harps are literal!?!  In the Old Testament, God commanded instruments to be used: “And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king’s seer and of Nathan the prophet, for the commandment was from the Lord” (See 2 Chronicles 29:25).  God also commanded animal sacrifices, resting on the Sabbath (Saturday), and not eating pork.  As Christians today, we’re not bound to the Old Covenant.  We see a more spiritual aspect in New Testament worship over the rituals of the Old.  But it doesn’t say not to!  When Jesus was discussing marriage, He quoted Genesis 2:24: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’” (Matthew 19:5).  Jesus didn’t have to also list everything not to do: incest, polygamy, beastiality, homosexuality, etc.  Similarly, we only see singing mentioned in the New Testament for worship.  If I bought a hat online, and the package showed up with: a hat, a sprinkler head, and some medicine, I’d say: “This is bad, I’ll have to ship some of this back.  I only commanded a hat to be sent to me.”  Similarly, God has only ordered singing in the New Covenant.  Everyone agrees that singing is acceptable to God.  Therefore, why cause an unnecessary barrier to unity by using instruments?  If for no other reason, unity is a pretty good one.  The church of Christ had a big split over this around 1900.  Someone will respond: “Well then shouldn’t we get rid of all our kitchens for the sake of unity?”  I think not.  Just as its obvious that singing is the correct doctrinal way of worship, its also obvious that the early church sometimes met in peoples homes (that had kitchens).  As someone commented: “we may exercise our own judgement in matters where God authorizes action but leaves unspecified the how, when, where” (White 3).  For example, the church met on Sunday, but sometimes it was in a building, a home, or down near a river.  We shouldn’t give to the poor, pray, or fast, for the sake of show.  Couldn’t this principle be applied to “bands” as well?  The attention should be on God, not the performers.    Jesus rebuked the audience of His day: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8-9).  Is it too much to ask for a certain way to be worshiped?  The universe doesn’t revolve around us but Him.  The church encourages us, but the glory belongs to God.  Are these matters about what we want, or about what He wants?  

Psalm 22 Messianic Prophecies (6-1-2024)

Introduction 2024: If I told you the writings of Shakespeare were from God, you’d ask for proof.  Bill was a good writer, but he was just a man trying to make a living in the world.  One of the ways that we know the Bible is from God, is the fact that it foretold the future hundreds of years in advance.  The prophecies found in the Bible aren’t just generalities (there’ll be a war one day/ joy will come to somebody), but are always very specific and timely (See Psalm 22).  King David lived around 1010-970 BC (3,000 years ago).  He reigned while the united monarchy was still in place (Israel and Judah).  His own struggles foretold specific struggles that would happen to the Messiah (God’s Anointed One).  In Psalm 22, David is going through some tough times.  He writes: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?” (v 1).  Jesus would quote verse 1 while He was being crucified (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).  Jews of Jesus’s day saw Psalm 22 as speaking about the Messiah, and Jesus is making it clear who He claims to be.  From eternity, the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit were all one.  Jesus said: “I and the Father are one” (John 10:31).  A three cord rope isn’t quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12).  God separates from Peter for a time due to his denials, but He also separated from Jesus?  God helped Him through Satan’s temptations, and the Spirit helped in healing the sick.  Yet on the cross Jesus was alone.  David was not only a king, but a prophet: “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet . . . “ (Acts 2:29-30).  The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, was written around 200 BC, and it contains Psalm 22.  So, even if one were to try and say that Psalm 22 wasn’t written a 1,000 years before Jesus’ life and death, there’s at least 200 years between the prophecy and the fulfillment.  Jesus took the sins of the world upon Him (past, present, future), and was thus “forsaken” by His Father.  A holy God can’t have contact with sin.  We’ve all chosen to forsake Him at one point or another in our lives.  At least Jesus was willing to die for a good cause, what should we be willing to do?  

See 6-7 “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;”

(8) Many of the Jews in Jesus’ day wanted Him dead.  The Jews mocked Him at His crucifixion: “He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God’” (Matthew 27:43).  I don’t know about you, but I don’t expect to be mocked when I die.  I’ll probably be laid up in a hospital bed somewhere and die of old age.  Yet once again we see the accuracy of these prophesies concerning Jesus’ death.  

See 14-15 “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.”  Some wonder if David writing: “I am poured out like water” is in reference to the Roman soldiers piercing Jesus’ side with a spear after He died.  We recall how blood and water flowed out confirming that He really did die (John 19:34).  Only God can be this accurate a 1,000 years in advance.  The regular Jewish way of killing someone was by stoning.  There’s no blood and water being poured out there.  What could David possibly be writing about?  We also read: “my tongue sticks to my jaws” (v 15).  Jesus asked for a drink right before His death (Matthew 27:48).  Jesus’ death didn’t have to happen that way, it could have been over quickly and yet it did.  

See 16 “For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.”  In King David’s day when he wrote this, crucifixion wasn’t even invented yet.  We see this piercing death for Jesus in all the gospel accounts.  The Persians mention something like it around 400 BC.  We’d be impressed if someone knew I’d die by getting hit by a bus in the next 30 years!  How could David have known this would be the type of death the Messiah would die?  We have to wait at least 600 years until something like crucifixion is even a means of execution (Herodotus; Histories, ix.120–122).  How many forms of death involve something cutting into your hands and feet?  Not being beheaded?  Not being impaled on a post?  Not dying in battle?  Only through God’s foreknowledge could David have written such an accurate statement.  The Bible must be from God.  

See 17 “I can count all my bones”  Despite all the flogging, torture, and crucifixion, none of Jesus’ bones were broken (Psalm 34:20; John 19:36).  During the feast of Passover, the lamb’s bones weren’t to be broken either (Exodus 12:46).  

See 18 “they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”  We read: “When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.’ This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, ‘They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.’ So the soldiers did these things” (John 19:23-24).  Maybe the murderous thieves will steal my wallet, but my shirt is almost certainty not their size!  Who’s to say its a plural amount of thieves, and not just one?  

See 24 “For he has not despised or abhorred the . . . afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.”  God heard and answered Jesus’ cries in a marvelous way: “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption [decay]” (Psalm 16:10).  Jesus died and was buried, but the tomb couldn’t hold Him.  Death is not something we have to fear.  God also hears our cries today and is eager to help.  If He cares about the birds of the air, surely He cares about us humans (Matthew 6:26).  He will give us justice and quickly (Luke 18:8).  

See 27-28 “All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.”People’s from far lands came and heard Peter’s first gospel sermon: Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians, Judean’s, folks from Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya, Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians (Acts 2:9-11).  From modern day Iran to Italy, people came to Jerusalem.  God granted Jesus all authority in heaven and on earth for overcoming (Matthew 28:18).  He indeed rules over the nations.  Thank goodness He’s in control, and not the puppeteers.  

See 29 “All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.”  The faithful get to be resurrected just as Jesus was.  Paul would write in Philippians 2:10 how everyone will bow before Jesus one day.  We just want to make sure we’re the sheep and not the goats.  

(30-31) The gospel spread across the world.  We today can partake of this great blessing.  Good news is hard to come by these days, but the fact that Jesus rose from the dead is the greatest news of all.  Perhaps there’s a connection in the last phrase: “he has done it” (v 31) with Jesus’ final words on the cross: “It is finished” (John 19:30).

Pacifism? (5-25-2024)

Ideally as a nation, we only want to participate in just wars.  We don’t want to go to war for merely land and gold.  Helping the oppressed in China or North Korea would be a good and noble reason to go to war.  If a nation is attacked, they have the right to defend.  When thinking about various wars going on in the world, sometimes the question is brought up: Should Christians be pacifists?  Is there ever a time when a christian can kill?  

First Thought

Against War: Some ponder Exodus 20:13 which says: “Thou shalt not kill” (KJV).  That’s one of the Ten Commandments!  It sounds pretty final.  

For war: Yet a better translation is: “Thou shalt not murder” (ESV).”  There’s a difference between murdering someone out of anger, and killing someone as a soldier (a duty to your country).

Second Thought

Against War: What about Jesus saying: “Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Mathew 5:39).  That sounds pretty pacifist.  Jesus also said to: “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44).  When you’re at war with someone, they’re your enemies.  So, should Christians not fight in wars?   

For War: Keep in mind that Jesus says these things with the individual follower in mind, not a group under a government.  Individual citizens can’t declare war on another country, governments can (See Luke 3:14).  “Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what shall we do?’ And he said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.’”  These soldiers wanted to follow Jesus, having been baptized by John, and they ask Him what they should do.  Jesus didn’t say: “quit your job.”  Jesus didn’t say: “You’re sinning!”  Christians can follow Jesus and be a soldier.  

Third Thought

Against War: What about when Jesus told Peter in Gethsemane: “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).  

For War: Previously, Jesus had said: “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one” (Luke 22:36).  Jesus was not defining His ministry as one of warfare, but speaking of the result of His ministry (some people aren’t going to like the gospel).  Some are going to have us martyred.  Moreover, Jesus used this example as a teaching moment to show Peter that the kingdom isn’t about revolting against the Romans.  In the garden Jesus told him: “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?’” (John 18:11).  Warfare is not the way His Kingdom would be spread.  

Fourth Thought

Against War: If we don’t go to war, enemy soldiers, who are most likely not Christians, are spared.  Don’t we want to give everyone the best shot at going to heaven?  Don’t we want them to have the most time they can to repent?  

For War: Yet what then would become of the victims of those enemy soldiers?  Some in our army aren’t Christians either!  We’re not in the Garden of Eden anymore.  We’re not yet in Heaven where there’ll be no more death.  We have to work to stop evil and murder- otherwise, it will take over.  

Fifth Thought

For War: On the flip side, one may try to argue erroneously for war today by saying: “God commanded Israel to go to war in the Old Testament against Canaan.”  Let’s go on a tenth crusade!  

Against War: The church’s business isn’t religious jihad.  The Old Testament did all sorts of things that we don’t find in the New (Animal sacrifices, Polygamy).  Many things in the Old Testament were not God’s ideal will, but only His permissive will.  Moses permitted the Israelites to divorce their wives (Deuteronomy 24:1-4; Matthew 19:8), but this was far from the ideal.  

Sixth Thought

For War: Didn’t Jesus say: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).  

Against War: Yet when we look at the context: “For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household” (Matthew 10:35-36).  It’s not that Jesus is advocating we go on a conquest, but simply stating that the gospel will divide people.  A nation’s war may be fine, but spreading the gospel through arms is not.  Again, as a nation, we should only participate in “just wars.”  One shouldn’t be a soldier working for the atrocities of the Nazis; however, America’s fight against the them, can rightly be called a just war.  God has given the government the role of giving justice and dishing out vengeance on the wicked (Romans 13:3-4).  During the US Civil War, we wanted to keep the Union together, but we also wanted to abolish slavery.  We recall that there’s: “a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace” (Ecclesiastes 3:8).  Even God hates sin.  Sin is definitely an enemy to go to war with.  When America was attacked at Pearl Harbor December 7th 1941, we had every right to strike back.  We need to fight against evil with the truth of God’s word.  We need to fight spiritually as individuals, and only under the authority of the government physically.  Hamas attacked innocent Israelis, and Israel rightly wants to get rid of the threat.  “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord'” (Romans 12:19).  In Florida during my grandfather’s memorial, the army gave Mi-ma an American flag for his honorable service.  However, it is the Christian’s good fight for the faith that grants us the crown of life (2 Timothy 4:7-8).  We are not ignorant of Satan’s designs (2 Corinthians 2:11).  He wants our souls to be weighed down with sin.  He wants us to suffer the same torment as him.  Paul’s letter to Ephesus talks about the armor of light that we can put on (vs 10-17).  Sin will always leave you feeling empty and guilty.  Being so deadly, its the noblest fight to take up spiritual weapons against.  Thankfully, we know God will give us the victory.  

Isaiah 55  (5-18-2024)

Food And Water

Introduction God Provides 2024: People like free. Of course there’s no such thing as a free lunch, someone pays (your friend, the manager, etc).  A man once said: “When people want the impossible, only lying politicians will do.” -Thomas Sowell.  Satan also wants to promise us that everything will be find.  Don’t you find this activity so liberating?  There won’t be a cost for your sins, do whatever feels right (See Isaiah 55).  God invites everyone to share in His free gift of life.  However, this gift is only found in the church (Chapter 54:1-10).  

God Provides Satisfaction

(1) See 1-3 We also see this thought of the thirsty coming in the last chapter of the Bible: “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price” (Revelation 22:17).  We have the responsibility to “come.”  Joseph Stalin didn’t want the free waters of life, so Jesus didn’t give it to him.  He didn’t make it to heaven.  We’re to buy without money.  Salvation can’t be bought, there’s no golden ticket to heaven.  We read: “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).  When we’re looking for just a sip of water to quench our thirst, God provides us with a jug of milk.  In the wilderness we were sustained by the manna wafers, but God wants to give us a land flowing with milk and honey.  

(2) I take a fancy toward concrete.  Those Roman roads and temples are still standing today.  Yet all physical matter will decay eventually.  Eternal considerations should take precedent.  For my generation, government Social Security probably won’t even be there, we’re 34 Trillion in debt!  That hope won’t be satisfied.  Many spend their money on alcohol and other substances, but they never leave you satisfied.  You can’t find fulfillment at the club, it will leave you wanting.  The all encompassing love of God isn’t found in any of those places.  If we “listen diligently” to God’s word, that’s where good and rich food is to be found.  Jesus said: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).  Only in Him do we find meaning and purpose during our few years of existence.  The average life span for those in the Medieval Period was 31.

(3) In verse 3 we have to “incline” and “come.”  We can’t sit back and think God will do it all.  God’s bread and water allows our souls to live, not just our physical bodies to live three more days.  God made a covenant with King David (ca 1000 BC) speaking of one of his descendants: “He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:13).  This was ultimately fulfilled in the church during the first century (it will last forever).  Paul will actually quote verse 3 while at Antioch in Pisidia (southern Turkey) relating it to Jesus and the church (Acts 13:34; Jackson 92).  That’s how we know we’re speaking of the church here in Isaiah.  The inspired apostle Paul said so.  Indeed, what else could this “everlasting covenant” be talking about?  

God Provides Leadership

(4) In verse 4, God will make Jesus a witness of God’s promise to David.  Jesus is our king and “commander” having all authority from God (Matthew 28:18).  Even the “peoples” (Gentiles/ non-Jews) will be among God’s saved (Greeks, Romans, Canadians).  

(5) The nations saw the glory of the church, and ran to it.  They saw that shining light on a hill.  The church has a leader that will never let us down (hard to imagine).  He’s always the Good Shepherd, not merely half of the time.  

God Provides A Way

(6) See 6 When Jesus came in the flesh, that would have been the most opportune time to seek Him.  In Him is found that narrow path leading to life.  Its not the most obvious way, but it is the right way.  My parents love hiking, but once we lost track of where the path back was.  We could see where we needed to go, so we just bush whacked our way out.  

(7) If the wicked repented, God would “abundantly pardon.”  Us humans have responsibilities when it comes to salvation (Romans 1:4; 16:26).  We’re not just let out of jail, but allowed into His palace!  

(8-9) See 8-9God’s thoughts go the correct way.  My thoughts go to being impatient.  God’s ways show HIs abundant love.  My ways tend toward my desires.  God is the one who knows all thing, I don’t know all things.  We seek for so much in life (wealth and health).  Yet even the birds of the air don’t plant and harvest, or save for retirement (not that those things are bad in and of themselves), but God provides.  Instead of our minds being focused on the physical world, we want our minds to be on the spiritual world.  

God Provides His Word

(10-11) See 10-11 Just as sure as the rain and seed produces crops, God’s word will produce a harvest.  Jesus told His disciples: “the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35).  He was probably looking at the crowd coming toward Him.  God’s word shouldn’t just bounce off of people, it should take root in their hearts.  What book has more wisdom?  What book has better life lessons?  What other book has foretold the future as the Bible has?  How could the prophet Micah have known that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem?  

God Provides Eternal Life

(12) See 12-13 Joy and peace will abound for the Jews when they leave Babylonian captivity.  Yet moreover, we see a picture of God delivering us from sin.  The mountains are seen singing and the trees will applaud.  Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).  He’s our way out of slavery in Egypt.  He’s out guide away from the punishment of captivity.  

(13) Adam’s curse in the garden of Eden was that thorns would grow in the fields.  No longer would planting and sowing be a breeze.  Only God can turn the thorn cursed garden back into Eden.  Mighty Cyprus trees would grow.  Pleasant flowering myrtle trees will take root.  You can’t log and glean from thorns.  We’ll be with God forever just as we were always created to be.  

1. Only in God can you find the satisfaction of knowing why anything exists at all, and where we’re going in the hereafter.  

2. God provides the best leadership– particularly this time of year when we have to endure all the lying commercials.  

3. Only God can provide a way to heaven.  The Pope can’t wish us well there.  The astrologers can’t chart a course there.  

4. Lots of people like hearing themselves talk, but only God’s word can be taken as 100% trustworthy.  If its not in the Bible, don’t listen to my words.  

5. Society can’t provide these gifts for us.  Your family can’t promise eternal life.  God is always faithful.  God always keeps His promises.  These blessings are freely given, but we also see this aspect of being obedient.  We read in the New Testament to hear and believe, repent of our sins, confess Jesus as Lord of our lives, and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.  

Lois and Eunice (5-11-2024)

A Jewish proverb says: “A mother understands what a child does not say.”  Someone else said: “A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.” —Cardinal Mermillod.  Timothy left behind a great legacy, and in large part, it was due to his mother’s guidance.  We first see him mentioned in the book of Acts: “Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium” (Acts 16:1-2).  Even though his parents had different religions, he turned to the good path.  Eunice, Timothy’s mother, had converted to Christianity from Judaism.  She was: “probably converted to Christianity during Paul’s first missionary trip (Acts 14)” (Elwell Vol 2 1346).  Timothy helped Paul: “And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while” (Acts 19:22).  Timothy was willing to be of service.  Where did he learn to have such a servant heart?  In Acts 16:3, Timothy was willing to be circumcised according to Paul’s advice in order to better convert their Jewish audience.  What kind of dedication do you have to have in order to agree to such a thing?  I wonder where he learned such dedication.  We read a lot about Timothy even outside the book of Acts.  Timothy is called a: “fellow worker” (Romans 16:21), a “beloved and faithful child” (1 Corinthians 4:17), he is said to be “doing the Lord’s work” (1 Corinthians 16:10), he’s called “our brother” (2 Corinthians 1:1), he helped “proclaim” the gospel to (2 Corinthians 1:19), he was sent to Thessalonica to “establish and exhort” (1 Thessalonians 3:2), and we also read how “Timothy has been released.”  He was even willing to be imprisoned for Jesus’ sake (Hebrews 13:23).  Where did Timothy learn to have this kind of faith (See 2 Timothy 1:1-5)?  Throughout history, mothers stick out in our minds as those who are closest in relation to their children.  They’re the ones who are often best at showing: care, protection, and love.  Timothy is called a “beloved child” by Paul.  Paul surely had many people looking up to him during the first century.  Yet he gives praise to Timothy.  How would you feel if one of the apostles honored you in such a way?  Paul speaks about serving God with a clear conscience: “as did my ancestors” (v 3; Abraham, Moses, etc).  Abraham is called the father of believers (Romans 4:11).  Moses was the most humble man (Numbers 12:3).  This mention of “ancestors” will flow well into talking about Timothy’s “foremothers” in verse 5.  They say behind every great man is a better woman, and Timothy has his mother and grandmother!  If a close friend and fellow-worker like Paul prayed for Timothy, and Timothy prayed for Paul, how much more did Timothy’s mother pray for him?  Paul held Timothy in high regard writing: “For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare” (Philippians 2:20).  Paul also mentions that he recalls Timothy’s tears.  Perhaps he’s remembering the time when he left Ephesus: “And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him” (Acts 20:37).  Paul, however, told Timothy to: “remain at Ephesus” (1 Timothy 1:3).  Perhaps these tears came while enduring persecution together.  Paul mentions Timothy’s “sincere faith” not just a belief, but the actions coming from his heart.  We saw that Timothy’s Jewish mother was called a “believer” (Acts 16:1), unfortunately his father was simply called a Greek.  Give extra points for Eunice and Lois for steering Timothy the right way!  I imagine the father usually steered his son whichever way he wanted.  Yet instead of worshipping the Greek gods, Timothy worshiped the true God.  These women trusted in the Old Testament prophets when they spoke about the Messiah and their “sincere faith” followed after Him.  Timothy’s mother and his grandmother taught him.  “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:14-15).  Who doesn’t want their children to be wise?  Reading God’s word is the way to do that.  Who doesn’t want salvation?  Obedient faith is the way to do that.  Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother.  Her mother, Ann Jarvis, had around 12 children, but only four survived into adulthood.  Children’s health became one of her life’s goals.  During the US Civil War, she cared for Union and Confederate Soldiers.  This time period was when West Virginia (Union sympathizers) broke away from Virginia (Confederate sympathizers).  Ann died in 1905.  “Ann Jarvis had been a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War, and created Mother’s Day Work Clubs to address public health” (Wikipedia).  Anna also said a mother is: “the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world” (Wikipedia).  Where would we be without these good examples to learn from?  Congress originally rejected the proposal to make Mother’s Day an official holiday, joking that they would also have to proclaim a “Mother-in-law’s Day.”  Yet, by 1911 all U.S. states observed the holiday, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother’s Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday.  We recall the well known general rule: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).  This isn’t always the case, but generally it is.  Jesus was always obedient to His parents, but nevertheless,’I’m sure Mary was a great mother.  Where would the world be without wonderful motherly examples?  

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. Lois. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 1988.

Revelation Introduction (5-4-2024)

Revelation is a neglected book of the Bible.  Nevertheless, God gave it to us.  Let’s look at a quick introduction.  John is stated as the author (See 1:1, 4, 9; 22:8).  No further title is given so it appears to be a well known John (The Apostle).  A similar style of Greek words and phrases are in John’s Gospel.  The phrase: “Lamb of God” is only found in the Gospel of John, and the specific connection of the Lamb with God is only in John’s Gospel and Revelation (22X in Revelation Roper 4).  Jesus is also called the Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1; See Revelation 19:13).  John is the only writer of the gospel accounts to mention that the side of Jesus was pierced: “But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water” (John 19:34), a fact also given only in (1:7).  Also: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37; See Revelation 22:17).  Finally: “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:18; See Revelation 2:27).  The book also uses many different words from John’s Gospel, but this is only due to the figurative language.  The early Church Fathers say John wrote it: Papias (ca AD 135), Justin Martyr (AD 140), Clement of Alexandria (AD 200), Tertullian (AD 220), Origen (AD 240).  As someone wrote: “Irenaeus (A.D. 180), a student of Polycarp (disciple of the Apostle John), wrote that the apocalyptic vision ‘was seen not very long ago, almost in our own generation, at the close of the reign of Domitian’” (Jackson, Against Heresies 30).  John wrote Revelation (1:11; 19; 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14; See 10:4; 14:13; 19:9; 21:5).  When did John write?  Revelation speaks about persecution, either under Emperor Nero (54-68 AD), or Domitian’s (AD 81-96) reigns.  Why not Nero?  Nero had a local persecution at Rome, not an Empire wide persecution stretching to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor (Chapters 2-3).  The destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (AD 70) isn’t alluded to in Revelation, which would be odd if having an early date (AD 60’s).  However, if John is writing about 25 years after the destruction of the Temple, why bring it up?  Everyone knows that history!  Domitian was the first to impose Emperor worship on the Roman Empire.  Laodicea is said to be rich (3:17), yet around AD 60 there was an earthquake that destroyed the city.  This argues for a later date because they would have needed time to rebuild.  Ephesus has “left its first love” (2:4), yet in the AD 60’s Paul wrote his letter to the church of Ephesus commending their love: “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints” (Ephesians 1:15).  Jackson commented: “internal evidence of a late date is that this book was penned while John was banished to Patmos (1:9).  Domitian had a fondness for this type of persecution.  If, however, this persecution is dated in the time of Nero, how does one account for the fact that Peter and Paul are murdered, yet John is only exiled to an island” (Jackson: Eusebius III.18; II.25)?

Jackson, Wayne. When Was the Book of Revelation Written? ChristianCourier.com. Access date: February 3, 2017.

Genesis 3 The Fall (4-27-2024)

John wrote: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).  We read that: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  We’ve all eaten of that forbidden fruit.  Yet the broad story of the Bible concerns God redeeming mankind to Himself.  God didn’t create sin, He gave His creation free will.  God created the trees which are good, but wood may be used as a club to beat someone to death (bad).  You recall who was the biggest sinner in the Bible don’t you?  Moses, he broke all the commandments at once (See Genesis 3)!  

(1) The serpent is mentioned as “crafty” and this verse doesn’t mean glue and popsicles sticks.  He twists God’s words saying: “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?'”  Satan then lies saying that Eve won’t die if she eats from the tree of life, but will have knowledge (of good and evil).  This is no ordinary snake: “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (Revelation 12:9).   God spoke to Balaam through a donkey (Numbers 22:28).  Satan speaks here through a serpent taking on its form.  Spiritual beings are seen as being stronger than us humans.  

(2-3) God commanded them not to eat from the “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (2:17).  He knows what that fateful decision will entail.  Its like opening pandora’s box.  The fall will come, and I don’t mean pretty leaves and pumpkin spice.  

(4) Satan relies on Eve’s desires enticing her over God’s command.  Eve is perhaps thinking: “Hey, Adam and I are the only two humans God created in His image, He surely wouldn’t want to kill us!”  We’re so special!  

(5) Satan tells Eve only the good things that would come from disobeying God.  His lie is hidden with some truths.  Why don’t you just give into the DEI agenda?  That will further your career.  That their eyes will be opened to know good and evil is correct, and while they don’t fall dead immediately, they die spiritually and about 900 years later die physically.  Adam lived to be 930 (5:5).  This was before the global flood.  Isn’t God holding you back Eve?  Isn’t God just putting a bunch of restrictions on you?  This class is oppressing me!  That race is victimizing  me (See vs 6-7)!  

(6) It looked “good for food.”  Satan makes sin look so good and harmless.  Whatever the consequences, surely it’s worth it (a lie)!  The fruit was a “delight to the eyes.”  That shiny object catches your eye, and it’s hard to look away.  The fruit was “desirable to make one wise.”  You can be like God (you can be like the Jones’s)!  Indiana Jones?  What an adventurous life that would be!  

(7) They went from God’s perfect creation to letting sin enter the world.  For the first time, they felt guilt and embarrassment not having needed clothes before (Matthews Vol 1a 237).  

(8-11) God then walks in the garden and finds Adam and Eve hiding.  He asks: “Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” (3:11).  God knows what they’ve done, but will they increase their guilt by lying (See vs 12-13)?  

(12) Adam blames God and then Eve.  You “gave” me her, and she “gave” me fruit.  

(13) Eve then blames the serpent.  Aren’t we quick to play the blame game as well?  Its always someone else’s fault.  If Adam and Eve just didn’t sin . . . well, we have.  If Israel just listened to God in the Promised Land . . . well, we don’t listen either usually (See vs 14-15).  

(14-15) God curses the serpent to move on his belly.  Did he lose his legs and wings?  I wonder if he looked something like a dragon previously.  There are penalty of Chinese and medieval European art depicting dragons.  We do read of some sort of beast: “Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth. 20 Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke” (Job 41:19-20).  Someone commented how: “‘Eating dust reflects Eve’s temptation to ‘eat’ of the tree and the couple’s subsequent fall by eating” (Matthews 244).  We also recall Adam being made from the dust (v 19).  There’s “enmity.”  This pictures a life and death struggle: “or in enmity struck him down with his hand, so that he died, then he who struck the blow shall be put to death. He is a murderer” (Numbers 35:21).  Many take verse 15 here as the first prophecy in the Bible.  The word “seed” refers to one of Eve’s descendants.  Jesus’ genealogy indeed goes all the way back to Adam (Luke 3:38).  Also: “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as referring to many, but rather to one, ‘And to your seed,’ that is, Christ” (Galatians 3:16).  Paul compares that “seed” to Jesus.  

God told Abraham: “in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 22:18).  Abraham was in Jesus’ genealogy (Matthew 1:1).  Satan’s head was hurt by Jesus’ resurrection.  Yet only Jesus’ heel was hurt by His crucifixion.  “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).  Do you want to be with the winners or the losers?  Heaven is eternal life, earthly trophies are just shiny plastic.  One side is bliss, the other damnation.  God expects us to be obedient: Hear (Romans 10:14), believe (John 8:24), repent (Luke 13:3), confess (1 Timothy 6:12), and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  

Satan’s Characteristics (4-20-2024)

Solomon wrote: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).  Judah did well until sinning, and then Babylon took them away.  Rome did well until sinning, and the barbarians came.  Moral pillars keep a nation strong.  It’s best that we know the real enemy we’re up against.  We read at the end of the historical creation account: “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day” (Genesis 1:31).  We also read: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth . . . when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God [angles] shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4, 7).  Also, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them” (Job 1:6).  So, we have the creation of angels, and then we have the creation of the world and the angels giving praise.  Thus, the being we know as Satan was once good (everything created was).  There is also no evidence that he was God or a human.  Jesus said: “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning'” (Luke 10:18).  If Satan fell from heaven, he must have been an angel.  What other beings are up there?  Or anywhere for that matter.  Someone commented: Satan in Hebrew means “accuser.”  The word “Devil” is the Greek translation of Satan (Elwell Vol 2 1908).  The serpent is described as crafty in Genesis 3.  He twists God’s words saying “any tree” instead of “the” tree of life when speaking to Eve.  Then he flat out lies saying: “You surely will not die!” (Genesis 3:4).  God allowed Satan to inflict Job’s possessions for the first time: “And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand’” (Job 1:12).  Later, Satan took away his: kids, health, and wealth all in an effort to try and take away his soul.  Around 1000 BC: “Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel” (1 Chronicles 21:1).  There, it was an act of pride on David’s part: Hey, look how vast my army is!  We also read: “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him” (Zechariah 3:1).  Sometimes in the Old Testament the word is just translated as: “accuser” or “adversary” and left at that (1 Samuel 29:4; 1 Kings 5:4).  If folks today were to call you a transphobe, we’d feel some weight from that accusation.  Don’t use the wrong pronoun or we’ll fine you!  God allowed Satan to tempt Jesus: “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1).  Being in the flesh, God was able to be tempted.  I wonder how long Satan plotted and schemed for a fool-proof temptation to use on God.  Jesus rebuked the Jews of His day saying Satan was: ” . . . He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).  That’s all Satan does.  He does it to entice.  How is Satan a murderer?  He brought physical and spiritual death to mankind in Eden, and helped in murdering Jesus when entering into Judas (Luke 22:3).  We look around the world, and it appears that Satan is winning.  “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).  Satan has soldiers and servants all over the place!  Atheists particularly want to expel God from the universe and unknowingly exalt the tempter.  The DEI push wants us to not discriminate, but God wants us to discriminate against sin.  Satan also tempts us today working through our own desires.  We read concerning married couples: “come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you “ (1 Corinthians 7:5); “each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire” (James 1:14).  We have to fight Satan even today, he’s not just an ancient superstition.  At least I’m not a murderer!  I’ve been good for so long.  What can a little sin hurt; it only effects me!  “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).  That’s quite the trick he has up his sleeve.  He wants to make that fruit look so crisp and juicy- even though it’s really eternal separation from God and unending suffering.  We don’t want to look like the righteous Pharisees, and be a roaring lion on the inside: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).  When Daniel was in the lion’s den he didn’t have to fear physical death or even death in the hereafter.  The Devil wants to make everything look rosy.  Live for today!  A man named Herbert Wells once wrote thinking the future was grand: “Can we doubt that presently our race will more than realize our boldest imaginations, that it will achieve unity and peace, and that our children will live in a world made more splendid and lovely than any palace or garden that we know, going on from strength to strength in an ever-widening circle of achievement?”  He later wrote just a few years later: “The cold-blooded massacres of the defenseless, the return of deliberate and organized torture, mental torment, and fear . . . has come near to breaking my spirit.”  The first quote he wrote in 1937, the second in 1946.  Thankfully, we’re “not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs” (2 Corinthians 2:11).  Jesus is there to help: “who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).  He was tempted to have: “lust of the flesh” (immorality, gluttony), “lust of the eyes” (coveting attitude), “boastful pride of life” (arrogance).  We read: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man [kind]. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).  We’re equipped with the “helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17).  In Revelation we see Satan’s final doom: “the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (Revelation 12:9); “and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).  We know our enemy.  Even though he’s been around for a long time, and knows where to get us, Jesus has been around since eternity.  Every day, we can take our stand in God’s army and show Satan for the hollow fraud he is.  We don’t have to be afraid, for we know Jesus has all authority.  If you’ve been struggling with the temptations Satan lobs at you, know that God is there to help.  If you have a need, please come forward as we stand and sing . . . 

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. Satan. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 1988.

Keller, Timothy. The reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. Penguin Books. 2018.

Foundation (4-6-2024)

Once, I was trying to fix several cracks in our building’s parking lot.  Some were thin, and some were fairly wide.  I read that you can use sand as a filler for such a fix, and for the cheap price of sand, that’s what I did.  It even lightly rained the next day so as to be nice and compacted.  Then all you have to do (as the youtube guy says) is put that squeeze bottle tar down and you’re done.  Well, sure enough, it didn’t take but a few months for the sand to sink, and the tar to crack.  You don’t want to build on shifting sand, you want to built on a solid foundation.  What we build our lives on is important.  Some build their lives on a person who inevitably let’s them down.  Some build their lives on money thinking that’s the surest foundation (at least gold is more stable right?).  In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus could have concluded His Sermon on the Mount anyway He wanted (See Matthew 7).  He chose to exhort and warn His audience to not just listen to His words, but to act upon them.  Jesus’ Jewish audience needed a solid foundation- and not the Pharisees’ thousands of added laws and traditions.  We start with a picture of the Judgment Day scene (See vs 21-23).  Merely looking righteous isn’t what gets us into heaven.  Being obedient to God’s will is.  It was probably these false teachers who were saying: “Lord, Lord.”  It kind of sounds like they’re overdoing it.  Isn’t once enough?  It heightens their hypocrisy by making a show of it.  We also see that Jesus draws a distinction between Himself and them in verse 21 saying “My Father” instead of the usual “our Father.”  It would be pretty cool to foretell all that’s going to happen in a year.  It’d be something to live in Jesus’ day and cast a demon out of someone with a screech (you’d certainly remember that!).  It’d be awe inspiring to miraculously heal cripples and remove diseases.  Yet as someone commented: “even the greatest religious accomplishments done in His name will not compensate for the negligence of following truth” (Orbison 48).  These folks were hearers but not followers.  Someone may be the nicest person in the world, but if that isn’t coupled with the truth found only in the Bible, that’s not going to matter.  As someone said: “Predicting rain doesn’t count, building arks does” -Warren Buffet.  Many go their whole lives thinking they’re pleasing God, but then they’ll have Him say on Judgment Day: “I never knew you.”  How many billions of people in the world say that they follow God, but by their actions deny Him (See vs 24-27?  Here, Jesus concludes His Sermon on the Mount that started back in chapter 5.  Jesus had stated throughout: “you have heard it said” (in the Mosaical Law that God Himself gave), “but I tell you” (He gives the intent behind the Law).   Who does this guy think He is?!  The wise man will not only hear Jesus’ words, but also act on them.  The word: “rock” here is petra (Greek), bedrock.  This builder dug past the sand, mud, and pebbles starting with a solid foundation.  This is a more solid word that Simon “Peter” (petros) meaning: “stone.”  The “rain fell” so we have problems above.  The “floods came” so we also have problems below; and the “winds blew” we even have problems from all sides.  In 2018, Hurricane Michael hit the Florida panhandle with 160 mph winds (A Category 5).  The damage was estimated at $25 billion.  This house in chapter 7 is going through a massive endurance test (yet because of the wise man’s foundation, it stands).  Jesus’ word is like that.  It can be depended upon.  God made promises in the past to Abraham and David thousands of years ago, and all of them have been kept.  That’s a good foundation to build your life on.  The foolish man’s house, however, was built on the sand.  As kids, my brother and sister and I would build sand castles in Florida while visiting our grandparents.  Yet even clad in sea shells, the calmest wave could wash it away.  With the foolish man’s house, the rain is leaking through the unkept roof; we see him scrambling to put buckets everywhere.  Yet then there’s water coming in through the floor boards overtaking the buckets.  Maybe we even have some nasty fish flopping around the living room.  Finally, the wind caves in the walls, and what little is left slides off to sea.  I love how Jesus ended His sermon: “and great was the fall.”  The destruction is utter and complete.  They tell us in preaching school to end on a positive note, but Jesus didn’t do so here.  He wants His audience to heed His words and act upon them.  He ends on a warning to not be like the foolish man.  Jesus, all throughout His sermon, turned the world’s apparent solid foundations upside down.  We can live righteously even through persecution back in 5:10.  That doesn’t sound like a blessing.  The “wisdom” of the world says to avoid pain, and take as much pleasure as you can.  In 5:21 the intent before murder is anger, so strive not to be angry.  The “wisdom” of the world says: He deserves it!  Pay him back!  That thinking may get you a solid prison foundation, but that’s not the kind of foundation you want.  In 5:27 we’re told not to look with lust, the deed that comes before adultery.  The “wisdom” of the world would say: We’re just propagating the species!  If it feels right, why not?  That can end the foundation of a family quickly.  Jesus also talked about letting our yes be yes, and our no, no (5:37); a person’s words should be solid like Jesus’ word.  That person said he’d pay me back, and he always pays me back.  The “wisdom” of the world says: Lie to get on top!  Lie during a test, lie with your taxes.   Yet Jesus said to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (5:43-44).  There are parts of the world where it’s thought that the one who can get away with the most is the wisest (they were the most cunning and crafty and thus deserve admiration).  “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them” (6:1).  How many companies only give to charity to advance their own product?  Worldly wisdom says: “It’s a good trade off, we’ll make it up in sales!”  Yet Judgement Day, some will say: “Lord, Lord” (7:21-23).  Many were hearers, but they failed in doing.  Their foundation was build on exalting themselves and not exalting God.  The prophet Daniel wrote around 500 BC: “In the days of those kings [the Romans] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever” (Daniel 2:44).  That solid kingdom is the church.  They say nothing is certain but death and taxes, yet God’s foundation can’t even be moved by hades (the realm of the dead).  That kingdom will last forever.  The only way to get into that kingdom is by having obedient faith (Acts 2:38).  What foundation are you building on?

Orbison, Guy. Petrillo, Denny.  Matthew Chapters 1-13.  Workshop in the Word 2015

Resurrection Myths? (3-30-2024)

There are several stories from the ancient world that at first glance appear to parallel Jesus’ resurrection.  This has led to many thinking that Christianity is just a piggyback on former religions.  Did the New Testament writers simply copy from other religious practices?  Many of these stories are based on the decay that happens in the winter, and then the revival that happens in the spring.  Yet the New Testament, in contrast, is filled with eyewitnesses and accurate historical events that have been confirmed.  This differs greatly from the myths of having gods mixing sperm and blood to create humans; an outlandish notion on the face of it.  As someone commented: “The earliest Jewish and pagan critics of the resurrection understood the Gospel writers to be making historical claims, not writing myths or legend” -Craig Bloomberg (Geisler, Turek 312).  When people picked up Mark’s gospel account and read it, they had to decide to believe it or not.  They didn’t immediately toss it out as the comic section of a newspaper.  They didn’t think: Oh!  That’s a nice fairytale.  Nonbelievers in our modern age can say what they want, yet the evidence of first century folks points to Jesus’ resurrection actually taking place.  I doubt that it was even 50% of ancient citizens who always fell for superstition.  We in the modern age like to think we’re so smart.  So, what about ancient mythology?  What about these supposed dying and rising gods that seem to parallel Jesus?  First, no Greek or Roman myth spoke of the literal physical birth of a god into human form.  Yet concerning Jesus: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (John 1:14).  As someone wrote: “Greeks believed in a reincarnation into a different mortal body; New Testament Christians believed in resurrection into the same physical body made immortal (cf. Luke 24:37; John 9:2; Heb. 9:27)” (Geisler, Turek 312).  Paul wrote: “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).  We don’t become blue smerfs when we get to heaven.  Remember that Peter could recognize Moses and Elijah during Jesus’ transfiguration.  Jesus said during His sermon on the mount that we’ll eat at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (We’ll recognize them).  Further: “The only known account of a god surviving death that predates Christianity is the Egyptian cult god Osiris . . . Osiris does not actually come back to physical life but becomes a member of a shadowy underworld . . . Star Trek preceded the U.S. Space Shuttle program, but that doesn’t mean that newspaper reports of space shuttle missions are influenced by Star Trek episodes” (Geisler, Turek 312).  If dying and rising gods were so common, why is it said concerning Greeks: “Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:22-23).  Many of the gods in mythology never die, and thus cannot be resurrected.  

1. Hermes, the Greek herald of the gods never dies.  

2. Horus, the Egyptian god of protection never dies.  

3. Mithras, the Persian god of the sun never dies.  

4. Adonis, the Greek lover of Aphrodite, is gored by a bull.  There was nothing special about his death.  He didn’t die as the savior of the world.  

5. Attis, the Greek god of vegetation, committed suicide by cutting off his nether regions.  He doesn’t physically rise from the dead to appear back on earth.  At most, he goes on to live in the underworld.  

6. The Canaanite weather god Baal is slain in battle by another god: Mot.  He isn’t raised from the dead.  At most he’s pictured as helping spring to come.  

7. Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, is cooked and devoured by the Titans, who leave only his heart.  Zeus then kills the Titans with a lightning bolt, and brings Dionysus back to life by his heart.  There is no historical basis or evidence for such an account.  Why is everyone agreed that Dionysus’ resurrection is a myth, but people are split when it comes to Jesus’ resurrection?  One has evidence.  

8. Osiris’s brother Seth drowns him in the Nile, and then dismembers his body into 14 pieces.  Osiris is left as ruler of the underworld and never rises from the dead (The Non-Crucified Saviors of the World; apologeticspress.org).  

We should point out that none of these gods were given as a sacrifice for humanity’s sins.  They usually die due to dynastic struggles like ancient royal’s fighting for the throne amongst each-other.  Mythology is filled with many details of folklore, unlike the gospel accounts.  Some gods are half monsters.  Some swallow up their relatives because of envy.  Some give birth to the sky and sea.  They don’t parallel the gospel accounts.  Luke mentions that he’s writing from what eyewitnesses have told him.  He mentions historical people: Augustus and Tiberius (emperors), Quirinius, Pilate, Philip, and Lysanias (governors).  He also notes King Herod, and the High Priest’s Annas and Caiaphas.  Scattered throughout are several historically verifiable cities.  Jesus’ genealogy notes an abundance of people who actually lived (Not Thor and his son Magni).  When it comes to Jesus’ resurrection, the evidence is clear.  There wasn’t a more significance event in all of history.  For 2,000 years, no topic has been under greater scrutiny.  We read that: “[He] was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).  God raising Jesus from the dead was the final proof He gave to humanity that Jesus really was deity.  Peter wrote of: “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).  Just as Jesus was buried in a tomb, our old man of sin is buried in that watery grave.  Just as Jesus rose from the tomb, we’re raised up out of the water to walk in newness of life.  Hosea wrote: “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him” (6:1-2).  The first witnesses were women- that can’t be made up (Matthew 28:1).  Jesus appeared to individuals and groups, so it couldn’t have been a hallucination (John 20:17; 1 Corinthians 15:6).  Would the disciples be willing to be martyred for a lie?  The darkest tomb couldn’t keep in the brightest light.  Everyone has to ask themselves what they think of Jesus’ resurrection.  Do they believe or disbelieve?  Was it just a myth, or an actual historical event?  Answering that question will either give: dread or devotion, lostness or the Lord, lies or life.  It makes all the difference in the world.  The vast majority of humanity fear death, but as Christians, we can face that day with boldness knowing who’s waiting to see us on the other side.  

Geisler, Turek. I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist Wheaton: Crossway, 2004. 

www.apologeticpress.org

Contentment (3-23-2024)

It can be hard to be content.  If you have perfectionist tendencies like I do, it can be very hard to be content.  Things could always be better, right?  The books on the shelf could always be less tilted.  There’s always a newer appliance, a self cleaning toilet, or a better acquaintance to know.  The grass always seems greener on the other side.  It can be easy to not be content with housing.  There can always be more insulation, or a better roof.  There’s estimated to be 650,000 homeless people in America.  That’s 70,000 more than in 2020 (endhomelessness.org).   We complain when we have a small crack in the wall.  There are an estimated 30 million refugees worldwide (www.statista.com).  They’re lucky if they get a tent to sleep in for the night.  Where do we find the water closet?  It’s surprising how easy it is to not be content with food.  Mexican?!?  I wanted Italian!  Around 50% of child deaths in the world today are related to hunger (actionagainsthunger.org).  When French King Louis XIV sat down for dinner, he had an estimated 30 dishes to choose from.  Today, we go to the grocery store, and we have hundreds of dishes to choose from!  Maybe weather is a little easier to be content with.  We know we can’t do anything about it.  Its hardly ever in the 70’s year round and sunny.  Los Angeles comes close, but they’re the ones to complain about the climate the most.  People say: “Oh, it’s a tad nippy.”  Or  “It’s a little warm.”  It’s hardly ever “just right” or “perfect.”  My goldilocks zone needs a little more gold!  Contentment has been defined as: “Internal satisfaction which does not demand changes in external circumstances” (Brand 335).  David was anointed King of Israel as a boy, but Saul didn’t want to give up the crown (1 Samuel 16).  When Saul sent men to kill him, David wrote: “Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me” (Psalm 59:1).  David was content, and waited for the Lord.  He didn’t take matters into his own hands.  He was content to be commander instead of king for a time.  He didn’t force his way into power.  King Solomon, one of the riches people to ever live, wrote: “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 5:10).  If you were to become a billionaire tomorrow, there’s still one more car to buy, or one more company to take over.  Then there’s at least three mansions to own like Bernie Sanders in order to protect your wealth.  Paul certainly didn’t have a cake walk through his life (See Philippians 4:10-13).  God said: “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16).  Why is he the one we always compare ourselves to?  Why not Bartholomew?  Paul is unjustly in prison at Rome under Emperor Nero.  It’s not hard to imagine prisons in the ancient world being dreary, dark and damp.  One article said: “The prisons were filthy, poorly ventilated, and were underground.^[17] The prisons would be divided into outer and inner areas. The inner parts of the prison were more secure and darker. Prison would not have had individual cells . . . Prisons would often times be very crowded” (Wikipedia Prisons In Ancient Rome).  Yet because of the contentment Paul found in Christ, he could even endure jail.  He was looking forward to his home in heaven.  Jesus said: “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33).  When God promises us food and clothing, there’s really not too much more we physically need in life.  If every homeless person sought after His kingdom and righteousness, their needs would be met.  Paul wrote to Timothy: “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8). We’re really small when standing next to the universe.  But considering that all we deserve is death because of our sins, God has been more than fair (Romans 6:23).  We hardly notice the many great amenities we have: running water, traffic lights (unlike Cairo), etc.  “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you’ 6 So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).  There are a multitude of things to be content in more than money: God’s promises, His mercy, in the hope He provides.  Someone said: “If you are content, you have enough to live comfortably” -Palutus (Roman playwright).  Jesus never married, yet He was content. Jesus often didn’t have a place to call home: “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20).  Yet He was content.  While in the garden of gethsemane, Jesus prayed: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).  Jesus was content even to the point of death.  He was being submissive to God, and murdered by mankind.  Do we have that same attitude of contentment?  A man once went to a minister for counseling. He was in the midst of a financial collapse. “I’ve lost everything,” he bemoaned.  “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve lost your faith.’  “No,” the man corrected him, “I haven’t lost my faith.”  “Well, then I’m sad to hear that you’ve lost your character.”  “I didn’t say that,” he corrected. “I still have my character.”  “I’m sorry to hear that you’ve lost your salvation.”  “That’s not what I said,” the man objected. “I haven’t lost my salvation.”  “You have your faith, your character, your salvation. Seems to me,” the minister observed, “that you’ve lost none of the things that really matter.”  Living or dying, we can be content knowing Jesus is in control and was raised from the dead.  

Brand, C., Draper, C., England, A., Bond, S., Clendenen, E. R., & Butler, T. C. (Eds.). Contentment. In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers. 2003.

Blessings (3-16-2024)

We’ve probably heard the hymn: “Count Your Many Blessings.” The first stanza reads: 

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

When I was an infant, I had a high chance of being blind.  Thankfully, there was a new surgery out, and I’ll always remember something mom told me about what the surgeon said: “I didn’t help your son, God did.”  What a blessing sight is!  What a blessing to have plenty of food, and a roof over our heads.  In eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa many can’t say that.  God wants to bless us, and particularly in the spiritually.  Peter said to the Jews of his day: “God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness” (Acts 3:26).  Its a blessing to turn from: strife, anger, and worry.  Just as the first Psalm says: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers” (v 1).  Someone wrote that the words: “’happy is,’ or ‘blessed is,’ is a common declaration in the Book of Psalms (used 26 times)” (Houston Vol 1 272).  Look with me at Matthew chapter 5.  

(3) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”   That is, those who aren’t “rich in spirit” (prideful).  Yeah, but the prideful get to be in charge!  The prideful get to be on top (he looks blessed to me).  Because of this, it’s easier for a poor man than the rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (19:24).  Matthew’s Gospel has a special emphasis on “the kingdom of Heaven.”  The kingdom of heaven is a blessing.  Life isn’t all about appearance, but what our spirits display.  

(4) “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”  Certainly this wouldn’t be a sorrow over getting caught, or having to face punishment.  Jesus is speaking of a godly sorrow over sin: “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10).  Those weeping don’t look blessed.  The Stoic Philosophers would say: “Just get a hold of your emotions!”  If we realize our sorry state drowning in sin, that may lead us to Jesus.  The first step is to admit you have a problem.  

(5) “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”  Blessed are the “gentle” (meek/ humble).  Really?  Don’t be like the apparently blessed leading Rabbi’s?  This would be very countercultural for Jews and Romans in Jesus’ day.  Someone commented: “The Greek word [gentle] was used to refer to wild animals that had been tamed . . . Meekness is a will that has been tamed by God” (Orbison 34).  Jesus may even be quoting from an Old Testament scripture here: “But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant peace” (Psalm 37:11).  In what way do they “inherit the earth”?  Certainly in one sense we inherit the eternal realm of the righteous: “the new heavens and the new earth” (Heaven; Isaiah 65-66; 2 Peter 3; Revelation 21).  But it’s probably spoken in a different sense here by Jesus.  When God created the earth in Genesis 1, the goal wasn’t for selfish people to abuse it.  If there were no meek and humble people seeking God, God would have no use for the earth.  Thus, they’re the ones who “inherit” the earth.

(6) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”  We’ve all been really hungry at some point in our lives; maybe it was right past the lunch hour because of an appointment, or after a busy day at work.  Yet here, it also has an idea of desperation about it- like we’re at the point of starvation.  You sure we shouldn’t hunger and thirst for wealth and women Jesus?  Isn’t that what life is all about?  The teachings and traditions of the Pharisees and Sadducees left people starving.  Yet living righteously (doing right) is really what will leave you satisfied.

(7) “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”  If we’re not merciful, how can we expect God to be merciful to us?  “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).  Similarly, if you’re kind to other people, they’ll most likely be kind to you.  Yet this sin’t a blind mercy.  God says the murderer deserves execution.  If we don’t repent He won’t forgive.  God gives second chances, but He doesn’t always give thirds (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).  

(8) “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”  That is, your heart doesn’t have any dross in it.  It’s unblemished like pure gold.  It’s set on one purpose: serving God.  We don’t want our hearts half on: gold,, and half on God (Orbison 35).  The Pharisees and Sadducees took pride in their ceremonial washings, but their hearts were far from being clean before God.  The verse says: “for they shall see God.”  Certainly we’ll see Him when we pass from this life, but in another sense we see Him in each-other by being pure in heart.

(9) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sonsof God.”  The Jews though of the Messiah as a conqueror, so Jesus’ words here are quite shocking.  That doesn’t sound like the plan we’ve heard of!  In the Roman Empire, it’s usually the generals who become Emperor; those who can fight their way to the top.  Yet Jesus is about bring peace and freedom from sin.  Peacemakers will be called “sons of God” for they reflect their Father’s character and the Prince of Peace.

(10) “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  These people have stood up for something in their lives.  The squeaky wheel gets the grease.  This: “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” repeats verse 3 which acts like a bookend.  It’s not something worthless like the Taj Mahal, or Buckingham Palace.

(11-12) “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  It sounds like Jesus is off His rocker here!  Yet the prophets were exalted to heaven for taking their stand on the truth.  To have these blessings, do everything opposite of the Pharisees and Sadducees (the world).  People with these traits are those who will “inherit the kingdom of heaven.”  Not that we can earn salvation, but we must be obedient to Him in baptism.  Thus, we can be the salt and light of the world showing these traits (vs 13-14).  Who doesn’t want to be blessed in life?  Jesus has promised us an abundant life here, and eternal life after death.  The first stanza of “Count Your Many Blessings” reads:

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, ev’ry doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by.

Houston, J. M. Beatitudes, The. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 1988.

Isaiah 26 (3-9-2024)

They say smell is your best memory.  It can be relied upon.  Surprisingly, I don’t mind the smell of a skunk because it reminds me of Colorado Springs where my grandparents used to live.  I don’t even mind cigarette smoke because it reminds me of when we visited the British museum in London.  In fact, the shampoo I use smells like sunscreen, but that’s ok- it reminds of the sunny beaches of Florida.  In Isaiah 26, God is the one who can be relied upon.  God will give a righteous judgment and overcome the wicked (See Isaiah 26).  Chapter 24 saw God’s judgment on all the nations, and chapter 25 saw death swallowed up forever.  We can rely on the Lord (See Isaiah 26:1-6).  He’ll protect us.  

(1-2) The phrase “in that day” usually has reference to the church.  In contrast with Moab’s cities, God will protect spiritual Jerusalem.  We read of a “new song” of Moses and the Lamb (Revelation 5:9; 14:3; 15:3).  The righteous and faithful find salvation- a mighty wall of defense.  We read of a “heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22).  He can be relied upon when all the public schools teach lies.  

(3) Only God can give our minds that peace which surpasses understanding.  When the disciples were afraid of the storm, Jesus was sleeping.  He made the sea calm (Mark 4:39).  His power and protection can be relied upon.  

(4-6) The “Lord God” is an everlasting stronghold unlike the wicked.  Let’s not trust in the strength of carriers and our cleverness before trusting in God.  Yet the wicked are brought low, and the faithful walk over them (See vs 7-11).  We can rely on the Lord’s path.

(7) The path of righteousness is smooth and level.  Yet it is also narrow, and few find it (Matthew 7:14).  Some people hike mountains for the fun of it, but why not take God’s chairlift (40:3)?  His path doesn’t have pot-holes and roots to trip you up.  

(8) We read: “your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul.”  Its at the name of Jesus that every knee will bow (Philippians 2:10).  God’s name is to be revered and relied upon- it isn’t in Obamacare we trust.  The long dead are destroyed and forgotten.  For over 2,000 years, the name of Jesus has been the focal point of history.  

(9) Our souls trust in His Name, not the idols.  Even at night when thieves roam about, our souls can rely on Him.  We should learn the lessons of history: the Ten Plagues, freedom from Babylonian captivity, God’s salvation through the cross.  His path in life is the most reliable.  

(10) The wicked, if even having favor, can’t see the majesty of the Lord.  Most murders don’t turn over a new leaf.  Laken Riley was a 22-year-old nursing student who recently was murdered by an illegal immigrant in Georgia.  If only they knew the life God offers them.  He’s that ever flowing stream, the bread of life, the great I AM.  

(11) The Lord raises His hand, but the wicked take no notice.  He pounds nations into the ground, but many simply pass on by.  All nations need to heed His warning of the broad road (See vs 12-15).  We can rely on the Lord’s providence.

(12) The Lord works toward peace (He’s: love, light, and the way).  After a resolute judgment in the last couple of chapters, we can rest assured that God will give us peace.  God is the one working behind the scenes like He does through baptism.  

(13-14) The idols can do nothing.  Wood and stone can’t see, speak, or act.  Yet God can be relied upon like when Elijah called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel.  

(15) God’s people will increase in population and extend their territory.  He doesn’t talk about no borders, He talks about “enlarged” borders.  His kingdom will expand from horizon to horizon (See vs 16-18).  We can rely on the Lord to pay attention.

(16) The righteous learn from God’s judgements, and in their distress merely needed to whisper a prayer.  Its as if we’re merely sighing.  When Elijah fled from Jezebel to Sinai, the Lord wasn’t in the: wind, earthquake, or fire.  He was heard by a gentle small whisper.  Today, we can read His word found only in the Bible.  

(17-18) Like a woman in labor, we bow and humble ourselves before God.  By ourselves we can produced nothing.  The Jews couldn’t overcome the enemy nations on their own.  Some nations think they can police the world and tell them what to do.  Yet the reality is: Russia sells oil to India, which then sells it to Europe in order to get around the sanctions (See v 19).  We can rely on the Lord in passing.

(19) The Jews would be restored by God from captivity and danger.  Yet moreover, the dead will live (our souls go on).  The earth is pictured as giving birth to us, we were after all made from dust (Genesis 3:19).  We also think of Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones coming to life (Ezekiel 37).  Daniel wrote: “many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (12:2; Jamieson 459).  What or who do you rely on?  Having money in the bank, and friends to help you is good, but God will never disappoint us.  Jesus died so that we might live.  All He wants is for us to be obedient ending in baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Colossians 2:12).  

Grace Motivation (3-2-2024)

When you order something online and you’re impatient like me, you might be motivated to pay that extra $5 in shipping to get it quicker.  When you think about how the tax code and its regulations are 77,000 pages long, you’re motivated to just get it over with.  That’s the equivalent of reading through all 66 books of the Bible- 64X!  I don’t know anyone who’s done that.  Yet because of the grace we’ve received in Jesus, that should be the greatest motivator of all for us to follow God.  That’s also a positive motivator instead of a negative one.  As a preacher, its easy to fall into the “more” trap.  More isn’t all bad, yet in the end we’re saved by God’s grace.  We should read God’s word more, and glean from it encouragement; but even if we know more, does that cleanse us from our sins?  No.  They say knowledge is power, but its only so powerful.  Helping the poor is good, but even if we accomplish many righteous acts, does that cleanse us from our sins?  No. “They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3).  While it’s wonderful to read the Bible, pray more, and share the good news, what’s our motivation for doing so?  We still can’t buy a golden ticket to heaven.  We’ll never measure up to the perfect standard.  Only because of what God has done for us in Jesus can we measure up. “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).  The story of the Bible is about man not being good enough, but God interceding for us.  We fell in Eden, and by ourselves, we’re hopelessly far off from God.  We need to rely on the grace found only in Jesus.  Note: “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2); “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).  That’s something to be thankful for.  Our lives can have ultimate meaning because of what God has done.  In the past, America was a: “Do it yourself kind of society.”  Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps.  That’s great, and I wish we had more of that.  Yet when it comes to our sins, that dark valley isn’t something we can cross over ourselves.  Many think: “Surly God will be pleased if I do X.”  If I pray this many times, and count beads, then I must be pleasing to God.  God will love me if I do XYZ.  However, we also know He loved Judas and Delilah.  “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness” (Titus 2:11-12).  We don’t “renounce ungodliness” in order to receive grace; we renounce ungodliness because of God’s grace.  We’re thankful for God’s grace.  The slave who had his debt of 10,000 talents cancelled should have been appreciative.  He should have went on his merry way rejoicing.  Instead he wanted his fellow servant to pay him back a small debt.  Christ forgave us far more than any credit card debt- He doesn’t even charge us interest!  He’s granted us something far better than the fountain of youth.  Us humans don’t realize how utterly awful sin is.  We’ve all chosen that rebellious broad road against God.  Hell can motivate us in a selfish way: I don’t want to go to Hell.  Pain, darkness, and forever is beyond our imaginations.  The stick can be quite the motivator.  Heaven can motivate us in a selfish way:  I want a reward in Heaven.  That abode is pictured as care free and bliss.  The carrot can be quite the motivator.  Or: Because God loved me, I will love God.  Because of God’s forgiveness, I will forgive others.  Because of God’s grace to me, I want to share His grace with others.  Jesus said: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).  Notice what Jesus didn’t say: “Keep my commandments so that I will love you.”  Yet this is a pitfall I think we often find ourselves in.  Do we to do right for God’s acceptance, or do we do right because of God’s acceptance?  Let’s not put the cart in front of the horse.  We’re not all that significant in and of ourselves.  We were all at one point in our lives slaves to sin, and God has dictated that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).  Thankfully, Jesus took our place.  He took us from certain death to certain life.  It wasn’t a 50% chance with treatment that we’ll beat the disease.  What kind of thankfulness should that show in our lives?  Whatever the Master wants me to do, that’s what I want to do.  If He calls us to an uncomfortable situation, will we say like Isaiah: “Here am I send me!” (6:8).  Imagine the most hopeless situation you can think of.  Maybe you’re an astronaut in outer space, and while fixing a problem outside the shuttle, you accidentally let go.  You drift further and further from the shuttle into the dark recesses of space.  The crew forgot you came with them . . . but then God rescues you.  Paul encouraged us: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice” (Romans 12:1).  Not: Offer your bodies as living sacrifices and then you’ll get the mercies of God (He is speaking to Christians in the context).  Animals never walked into the Temple saying: “sacrifice me,” but Christians do.  This word, “spiritual” interestingly is our word logos meaning: word or logic.  Perhaps the word should be translated: reasonable or reasoned (Roper 246).  Its reasonable to serve the creator.  God offered for us the body of Jesus as a living sacrifice; therefore we also ought to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to Him.  What’s our motivation?We don’t do good deeds to earn salvation, we act out of thankfulness.  Someone said the goal of preaching is to get people to do what they don’t want to do.  On the contrary, we should do things because we want to do them (in light of God’s grace).  Paul wrote to certain Jews in Galatia: “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace” (Galatians 4:5).  Are we trying to be justified by our works instead of leaning upon His grace?  God forgave all of our sins on the cross.  We don’t have to “earn” forgiveness.  While we should have more good deeds than bad, its not a ledger that’s weighed on Judgment Day.  We should live faithfully because of God’s forgiveness.  Because we’re thankful for God’s forgiveness.  Let’s keep our fallen condition in mind, and lean upon God’s grace to motivate us, not in the things that we can do.

Roper, David L. Romans 8-16. Searcy, AR: Resource Publications, 2002.

Death Penalty? (2-24-2024)

Everyone wants justice for something.  Some want so-called “social justice.”  Yet what is society but several individuals?  Stalin and Mao thought they knew what was good for society.  No group, no matter how many degrees, can know what each individual wants at any given moment.   We want true justice in the courts.  One interesting concept in the Bible is that God is all for the death penalty.  Further, it wasn’t wait 50 years until seeing justice done.  Wise King Solomon wrote: “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11).  We heard of that 11 year old Texas girl being found dead in the woods recently.  Who doesn’t want vengeance seen upon the perpetrator?  Once he’s found guilty by the courts, lets execute him that very day!  We read: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image” (Genesis 9:6).  God gave the death penalty for lots of people just prior to that command during His global flood.  In 2023, 21 states have the death penalty, 23 have no death penalty, and 6 are in limbo.  I imagine the crime statistics were in ancient Israel were very low.  In the 1400’s BC, Moses couldn’t do all the judging, so there were to be 70 leading men acting as judges (Numbers 11:16).  This would become the Sanhedrin we know so well.  Today, if you murder someone, you might get the death penalty.  Yet the far more likely outcome is that you get to live out your years while someone’s family is left grieving.  Its been my experience that executed murderers don’t go on to murder again.  In the Old Testament, there were sixteen crimes that carried the death penalty -Dave Miller (Capital Punishment and the Bible; apologeticspress.org).  Murder is the prominent one we all think of: “You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it” (Numbers 35:33).  Other crimes that carried the death penalty included: Adultery (Exodus 20:10), Striking your parents (Exodus 21:15), Kidnapping (Exodus 21:16), Sorcery (Exodus 22:18), Beastiality (Exodus 22:19), Idolatry (Exodus 22:20), Sabbath breaking (Exodus 35:2), Homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22), Human sacrifice (Leviticus 20:2), Incest (Leviticus 20:11-12), Premarital sex (Leviticus 21:9), Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16), False prophecy (Deuteronomy 13:1-5). Being a rebellious son (Deuteronomy 17:12), and Rape (Deuteronomy 22:25).  We’d have to execute half of America!  Yet admittedly, the problem would be solved.  Moral uprightness takes precedent over a large population and a good GDP.  This penalty wasn’t done willy nilly.  God isn’t just angry all the time, and wanting to kill off His creation.  God set in place many parameters to avoid shedding innocent blood.  At least two witnesses were necessary in order to put someone to death: “On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness” (Deuteronomy 17:6).  The person who hates you can’t say you did something and then have you executed.  That person would have to at least get one of their buddies to go along with the plot.  Being made in God’s image and having a sense of morality, surely one of the two’s hearts would be picked, and you wouldn’t be executed.  If one were found to be a false witness: “then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother” (Deuteronomy 19:19).  If you knew you’d be hanged if found to be a false witness, that would be a pretty good motivator.  Also, if someone was accused of murder (although being an accident), they could flee to a city of refuge where they’d be safe until a trial was carried out: “the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he had fled, and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest” (Numbers 35:25).  This also helped insure that innocents weren’t put to death.  If I’m going to be stuck in a city of refuge for how ever many years until the High Priest dies, I’ll be extra careful to not cause an accidental death in the first place.  My favorite law in this discussion is the law that the accuser was to be the one to throw the first stone.  “The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people” (Deuteronomy 17:7).  Someone commented: “Stoning was the most common Hebrew death penalty. The first stones were thrown by the prosecution witnesses, who were then joined by spectators” (Perkin Vol 1 554).  This would be a great safe guard against malicious actors.  You, the accuser, have to throw the first stone!  Are you willing to take another’s life if it really was merely for your own selfish ends?  Yet for the truly guilty, I’d imagine we’d surround the murder, or throw him in a pit.  You’d have to have some pretty big stones, and even then it would be quite the process.  Maybe we’re near a mountain quarry.  No steak and quiet injection here (See Romans 13:1-4).  !Ideally, the government executes justice.  If the authorities don’t rule with justice, the mob will rule with their own.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the murderer feared American justice?  The person doing right knows he has truth on his side.  So even if he’s treaded unjustly, he has the goodwill of the people.  The government “does not bear the sword for nothing.”  The word maxaira indicates a Roman sword.  We recall that Emperor Nero was in power when Paul wrote the in the AD 50’s.  Governments innately have order and justice.  Otherwise, there’s anarchy.  Wickedness must be punished, sometimes through capital punishment.  A sword isn’t used for slapping your hand, it’s for chopping heads off.  “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Romans 12:19).  Yet far worse than any physical death penalty is the spiritual death penalty.  Jesus spoke the most about hell describing it as: “outer darkness” and “unquenchable fire.”  That penalty never ends.  Thankfully, Jesus also said: “I did not come to judge the world but to save the world” (John 12:47).  All He wants from us is to be obedient to Him: hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, and being baptized for the forgiveness of sins.  

Miller, Dave. Capital Punishment and the Bible; apologeticspress.org

Perkin, H. W. Criminal Law and Punishment. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 1988.

Sometimes obstacles seem too big for us to overcome.  Sometimes life throws problems our way that look so daunting.  Yet we need to remember what God has done for us (See Joshua 4).  Moses had said to Joshua: “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. 8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8).  In Joshua’s day, the Israelites had just crossed the Jordan river.  We’ll see (Howard Vol 5 133):

Crossing Memorialized: Stage One (4:1–10)

Crossing Completed: Stage One (4:11–14)

Crossing Completed: Stage Two (4:15–18)

Crossing Memorialized: Stage Two (4:19–5:1)

Joshua had been an aid to Moses: “Moses rose with his assistant Joshua” (Exodus 24:13).  He was the man who would lead the people into the Promised Land (See vs 2-3).  A memorial is to be set up commemorating God halting the Jordan river similarly to how He parted the Red Sea for Moses.  Yet instead of God helping His people run away, He’s helping His people take possession.  God is also making it obvious who He’s chosen to replace Moses.  Almost the exact same miracle was accomplished.  A man from each of the twelve tribes is to take a large stone from where the priests with the Ark had stopped in the middle of the river (3:12).  Everything is done according to God’s instructions.  God was with us in Egypt, He’ll be with us in Canaan.  The men were then to “lay them down” on the west side of the Jordan as a remembrance.  Of course the original “river to the sea” for Abraham was from the Euphrates to the Mediterranean.  We read: “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours. Your territory shall be from the wilderness to the Lebanon and from the River, the river Euphrates, to the western sea” (Deuteronomy 11:24).  Abraham had traveled from Ur north to Harran, and down into Egypt crossing the Promised Land (Genesis 11:31).  One author commented: “Surprisingly . . . ‘put them down’ is literally ’cause them to rest.’ The word choice—“rest” rather than the more common “set” or “place”—may be intentional, tying even the memorial stones into the theme of “rest” in the book (Howard 134).  Just as God rested (stopped) His work of creation (Genesis 2:1), so also we’ll rest with Him in heaven: “Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it” (Hebrews 4:1).  The stones mentioned are big enough that they’re placed on the twelve men’s shoulders.  Remember, we had just wandered in the wilderness for 40 years!  We finally have a land to call our own.  Its as if we’re “staking our claim.”  America has plenty of monuments to the Civil War.  We remember the fight to preserve the Union and end slavery.  If that’s worthy of commemorating, then how much more an act by God (crossing the Jordan).  This memorial will be asked about by the Israelite’s children.  The significance is that God brought His people through the river and was with them.  “So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever” (v 7).  The Promised Land can seem so far off at times, but maybe its just a few steps through the river.  The stones will be set up on the west side of the Jordan (vs 8-10).  When we don’t know the right way to go, God will show us the way.  The stones are said to be “there to this day.”  The book must have been written around Joshua’s time, and almost certainly during his time.  The crossing and the stone gathering was all done while the river floor was dry.  God can make our way smoother than we ever expected.  Isaiah pictured the Messiah’s coming with a straight highway: “A voice cries:‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.'” (40:3-4).  Some of the people are said to be ready for war.  The people were getting closer to the famous walled city of Jericho- only 6 miles away.  Yet remembering that God is with us should give us courage to face any opponent.  God hadn’t abandoned His people, but Joshua is seen to be exalted.  He’ll help show God’s presence with His people, and guide them the right way.  God had promised this to Joshua: “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you” (3:7).  This crossing and memorial are all according to God’s plan.  God commanded Joshua who then commanded the priests to finally walk out of the river.  Everything’s done according to His precepts.  When the priests with the ark of the covenant moved, the river returns to its flowing.  Not only is it flowing, but its said to have been “overflowed” as before.  Even mighty waters have nothing over their Creator.  These events happened on the tenth day of the first month (Nisan, March/ April).  This was the same day the people were to select lambs for their Passover meal (Exodus 12:3).  They will have their first Passover in the Promised Land in 5:10.  Paul would write how: “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7).  He’s made a way for us to heaven.  He’s passed over our sins.  He was that unblemished lamb given for the sins of the world.  We learn that the twelve stones were set up near Gilgal.  Gilgal would be where Samuel judged (1 Samuel 7:16), and where Saul would be crowned King (1 Samuel 11:15).  The meaning behind this is again emphasized.  Its a remembrance for all future generations.  Don’t forget what He did to Egypt- the ten plagues.  Don’t forget how he cared and fed the people in the wilderness.  Don’t forget how He can make the raging Jordan river halt (See vs 23-24).  God is the mighty One.  He’s the One to be feared.  Surely those in Jericho wanted their walls to be sturdy as a memorial to their great city, but God’s memorial is the one that will stand.  The Canaanites and Philistines look intimidating, but God’s people were not to be afraid.  They needed to remember: If God is for us, who can be against us?  Do we as Christians remember what God has done for us?  We talk about Jesus so much, that He sometimes loses His luster.  He didn’t have to come to earth, and leave His father for a time bemoaning: “Why have you forsaken me?”  He didn’t have to humble Himself as a servant, and be tempted as we are.  He didn’t have to die an excruciating death on the cross.  Yet just as God raised Him from the dead, He’ll raise us up as well.  Peter mentions how if someone doesn’t have such things as: faith, godliness, and love, then he’s: “nearsighted [and] blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins” (2 Peter 1:9).  When we’re obedient to God in baptism, He washes us white as snow.  Our dark sin stains are taken away.  We’re washed in the blood of the lamb.  Let’s remember that.  Jesus didn’t have to die for us.  He could have turned His back on us like many often do to Him.  Yet His love and His willingness to obey God led Him to being the sacrifice for the world.    If that isn’t good news, I don’t know what is.  Jesus instituted communion for His church so that we remember every single Sunday what He did on our behalf.  We have forgiveness of sins, and an eternal abode in heaven with Him.  Let’s be sure to remember that.

Citizens of Heaven (2-10-2024)

In the Roman Empire, you could be a “full” citizen, or a “partial” citizen.  They had a class system of: Roman citizens, conquered peoples, and slaves.  In the Soviet Union, you could be imprisoned for being homeless (Must have been a major problem there).  You don’t feel like an equal citizen without a home to call your own.  You could also go to prison for not clapping long enough during one of Stalin’s speeches.  You surely don’t feel like a free and full citizen there!  A bell would be rung to let the people know they could stop clapping.  In America, we have many rights that former nations didn’t.  We’re called the land of the free, and the home of the brave.  American citizens can: vote, protest, and bear arms.  For all her faults, America is still the best country to be a citizen of.  Many throughout the world settle for the citizenship they have.  In Qatar, you have to be a Muslim in order to be a citizen.  There’s a lack of freedom there, and a feeling of subject and overlord.  The spiritual realm only has two countries.  One is lush pastures with good laws to live by.  The other is a parched hard desert with guilt and worry.  Many unfortunately miss out on the freedom of being one of God’s citizen’s.  The Hebrews were slaves for a time in Egypt; they were by no means citizens.  After the Exodus, and the 40 years of wandering in the desert, they finally had liberty, land, and a law.  A nation could be formed.  To be a citizen of Israel, you had to play by the rules.  It wasn’t everyone and anyone who could join.  If you were a gentile, you had to convert like Ruth the Moabite, and like Rahab who said: “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16).   What we really look forward to is heavenly citizenship.  In the Bible we see heaven described as having golden streets.  They’re not paving with mere asphalt or even concrete up there!  There are no potholes in heaven.  Heaven’s twelve gates are open wide in every direction.  All repentant males and females are welcome.  The twelve gates are each a different colored pearl- maybe we’ll will get to go in by our favorite color (Emerald?).  That abode of citizenship will be like the garden of Eden.  There isn’t any working the soil and laboring up there.  Adam’s curse was hard work, and Eve’s curse was hard labor pains.  The trees are pictured as always bearing in their season right on time.  On a mission trip to Vanuatu, they had the sweetest orange skinned, pink fleshed fruit you ever tasted.  We’ll be free from the cares of this world.  God will have justly separated the saved from the non-believers, and we’ll see the big picture.   We won’t need a health plan, for we’ll have indestructible bodies: “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52).  We’ll also be free from sin.  There are no temptations as citizens of Heaven.  We’re never tempted to lie or be quick to anger.  For our time in the here and now in the church, we don’t have to worry about who’s in charge because the King is perfect.  He’s made us royalty along with Him; we’re not even mere aristocrats.  He always does what’s best for us.  He makes commandments better than Rome or even Greece- the cradle of western civilization.  They gave us: democracy, philosophy, and even the olympics.  Almost surprisingly, heaven is still better than Athens.  We can even follow Him as slaves of righteousness because that’s the best path in life to take (Romans 6:18).  Slavery isn’t bad if you have a good Master.  We can ask to have our ears pierced like the Israelites would if they wanted to stay with their kind masters (Exodus 21:6).  The families were around each other all the time and would (in this case) grow in fondness (See Hebrews 11).  This chapter showcases several examples of those who lived by faith.  We see that by faith Abraham obeyed and went to a foreign land not his own.  “For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10).  This “looking forward” is an eager expectation (Jamieson Vol 2 472).  Even though being in the Old Testament, Abraham seemed to know that there was something beyond this life.  “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:14).  There’s another city that’s better than aqueducts, grand arches, and even heated floors.  As someone mentioned: “In this faith it made little difference to him when the promise regarding the earthly Canaan was fulfilled. What if he himself never lived to see this fulfillment? He expected a far greater, an eternal fulfillment” (Lenski 392).  Humanity has made some pretty impressive structures.  There are ancient Greek temples like the Parthenon still standing today.  China has over 28,000 miles of high speed rail.  Yet Jesus’ kingdom is what can’t be prevailed against (Matthew 16:18).  Even something mightier in the spiritual realm (Hell) can’t overcome God’s kingdom.  His kingdom lasts forever and will never decay.  How many things in life can you say that about?  Lasting 2,500 years for a temple is good, but that’s a far cry from forever.  We see God’s design throughout creation, but lets also consider His care when forming the church.  Jesus is the head with elders to watch for wanderers.  A Deacon’s main role is some form of service.  Satan tried His best to kill God on the cross, but He was raised from the dead.  No doctor or scientist can do that!  Once you’re dead on earth, you’re no longer a citizen of an earthly country.  Citizenship in Jesus’ church comes with a passport to the greatest vacation ever.  People talk about wanting an experience!  It comes with a family that loves and cares for you (free of charge).  It comes with relief from worry, sorrow, and stress.  We don’t have to be trapped by the drudgery life throws at us.  We also find meaning and purpose that actually makes hope and change.  Yet this is only found by having obedient faith in Jesus.  We need to turn from our sins.  Jesus said: “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).  We need to see Him as Lord of our lives confessing Him: “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).  We also need to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.  Ananias had told  Paul: “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).  

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. 1997.

Lenski, R. C. H. The interpretation of the Epistle to the Hebrews and of the Epistle of James. Columbus, OH: Lutheran Book Concern. 1938.

Genesis 37 Family, Dreams, Slavery (2-3-2024)

They say familiarity breeds contempt, and we’re often around our families.  Jesus said: “I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law” (Matthew 10:35).  Going with God’s family pits us against the world.  Reading through some of the infamous American family wars, I found that most of them happened in Arizona and Texas- must be the heat (See Genesis 37:2-4).  There are some who are even betrayed by those closest to them.  Do we ever feel like we’ve been treated unfairly?  We ask: “Why me?”  Joseph was a man who must have felt much the same way throughout his life.  Jacob’s name was changed to “Israel” in chapter 32, and he had 12 sons.  He’s giving our neighbors a run for their money!  Joseph was a mere 17 years of age when he brought back a bad report about his older brothers.  He’s the youngest, what does he know?  It was him against eleven!  Joseph could have joined in whatever wrong his brothers were doing, but he chose to take the high moral ground.  Even though being young, he knew what was right and good for the family.  This family had a history of rivalry.  Jacob’s wives had competed at bearing sons.  Rachel gave her maid Bilhah to Jacob for more sons, and Leah gave her maid Zilpah.  Joseph was the “son of . . . [Jacob’s] old age.”  We recall how Rachel wasn’t able to conceive for a while, but then: “God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb. 23 So she conceived and bore a son and said, ‘God has taken away my reproach.’ 24 She named him Joseph” (30:22-24).  God has an active roll in marriage.  In the good ol’ days, children were viewed as a gift from God.  Today they’re just an inconvenience.  That’s a sad commentary on the state of our nation.  Joseph received a gift from his father: “a robe of many colors.”  Why does the youngest always get the special attention!?  Youngsters do like breaking the clothing norms.  Whereas Jacob showed favoritism, God doesn’t.  He wants everyone to be apart of His family.  Jacob shouldn’t have shown favor, but that’s no excuse for Joseph’s brothers to hate him.  Will we take the right path even when it may be unpopular in our family?  Peer pressure is bad among friends, but how much more so with the folks you have to live with (See vs 5-8)?  God communicated to His people and the prophets through visions and dreams.  Joseph didn’t choose to have this dream, but it must have been quite something for him to be bold enough to tell his brothers about it!  Certainly today, God doesn’t reveal things to us in dreams, for we have: “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).  We can choose to accept God’s will for our families just as Joseph did.  Joseph’s bundle is exalted while his brother’s sheafs bow down.  God is the one  working behind the scenes in order to not only keep their family together in the end, but also to keep them alive through a famine!  Little do we know that we depend on God every step of the way.  Eventually, they’ll settle in the land of Goshen (Northern Egypt).  This is the Nile Delta, the most fertile part of all Egypt!  Someone wrote: “Goshen has been associated with Egyptian bull cults and as being important for animal husbandry” (Elwell 891).  God doesn’t want to just give our families a mediocre life, but one with abundance.  Surprisingly, most people don’t seem to want that.  They want to punch a brick wall and walk in circles.  They want to roll the stone up a hill just to watch it roll down again- then they can play the victim card.  There are lots of people out there that want to hate on the Christian family.  “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you” (1 John 3:13).  I read that around 40% of Christian face persecution in Asia, which of course includes the middle east (opendoors.org).  That’s four in 10.  Many in America have this notion that family isn’t all that important.  Why can’t we just have a tribal community and all get along?  Isn’t the family structure just supporting a male dominated society anyway?  There are a couple of sad statistics out there: around 50% of blacks don’t grow up with a father, 30% of hispanics, and 20% of whites.  But woe to us if we miss out on our heavenly Father (See vs 9-11).  Israel, Joseph’s father, sees the meaning of the dream.  The “Sun” is himself, the “Moon” is Joseph’s mother (Rachel), and the “Stars” are his eleven brothers.  Well that seems a bit odd . . . Usually, we think of the father having a reputation better than his son, but Joseph has a much cleaner record than deceiver Jacob when we recall Esau’s birthright.  Thankfully: “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son” (Ezekiel 18:20).  Joseph’s brothers are unfortunately still jealous: “a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).  “Great!  Now Joseph thinks he’s better than all of us!”  Little do they know that both dreams predict the future.  God is planning ultimate good for this family.  Paul wrote how we are: “fellow heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).  When we join God’s church, we’re adopted as part of His family.  We become part of royalty.  We get to start with a clean slate, and Jesus’ blood continually covers over His faithful ones.  God’s family never ends.  We get to spend eternity together in heaven with Him.  Our heavenly Father never packs up and leaves.  He’s promised to provides for our needs while on earth (Matthew 6:26).  He disciplines us for our good (Hebrews 12:10).  We can follow Joseph, and the example he lived because Joseph was following God.  If you aren’t apart of God’s loving family, you can make that right today.  

Every Good Work (1-27-2024)

People have a choice everyday whether to do good or to do evil.  Most think anything goes, and if God doesn’t exist, that’s true.  It would come down to society telling us what good is.  God said we could be ready for every good work in the first century, and He tells us the same today.  Even though the high ups say they’ll take care of the homeless, the hungry, and all our medical ailments, we can still be ready for every good work (See Titus 3).  Paul wrote this letter to Titus who preached on the island of Crete.  Crete is southeast of Greece (Acts 27:12, 16).  Cretans were among those listed there on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:11).  They heard Peter’s first gospel sermon.  Perhaps that’s how this church started.  Chapter three of the letter continues to address Titus setting in order what remains, just as he did in chapter two.  Encouragement is brought up concerning “every good work.”  In the first three verses, seven qualities are listed.  We are to be subject to the authorities so long as they don’t go against God.  That’s a good work.  It means we don’t have to do jail time.  Emperor Nero was reigning when Paul wrote that (Romans 13:1; 1 Peter 2:13-15).  We would say martyrs did a good work.  Even being under Christ’s rule, we still have to live under human rules- we still have to pay taxes.  Being “ready” for good deeds suggests that opportunities come unexpectedly (Petrillo 45).  “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).  Its surprising how often good deeds present themselves. Someone wrote: “This extends the Christian’s responsibilities from a mere passive posture (obeying laws) to an active, positive involvement” (Leo Vol 34 318).  A year or two ago, our neighbor had fallen just as I was looking out the window- there’s an opportunity.  We are of course the “salt” and “light” of the world (Matthew 5:13-16).  If we aren’t, who will?  Its not the jihadis’s spreading light.  Its not the politicians who taste savory like salt.  When we display common courtesy, people look at us weird (Did you want a tip or something?).  What are you smiling about?  What do you have that I don’t have?  We want to be Christ like who, Himself did many good works.  Our former life was: “disobedient.”  We like going our way and being the ones in charge of our lives.  What good deed can I do for myself?  We were “deceived.”  The Romans believed in their own pagan gods of marble and gold (Jupiter/ Venus).  Isn’t cutting ourselves next to an altar and sacrificing a cow a good work?  They would say that conquering neighboring nations was a good work- instead of just trading with them.  Spiritually, sin deceives and makes people slaves (Romans 6).  It looks like a good thing to join that parade, and glue ourselves to the street!  Malice wishes ill will upon another.  Envy is dissatisfaction with our own possessions, and a desire for someone else’s.  Those attributes don’t lead to every good work.  Micah preached against Judah saying: “Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand” (2:1).  We were “hating” and “being hated.”  Some families wake up spewing insults at each-other.  Some live everyday wanting to fight anything in sight. Some don’t see a purpose in life and wake up hating themselves.  Yet then our strongest contrast in the Greek is seen: “But” (alla).  God has granted salvation to all men, but men have to take hold of it.  That phrase: “loving kindness” is one word in Greek: pilanthrōpia where we get our word “philanthropy” from.  Andrew Carnegie was one of the richest American’s who ever lived.  He made his fortune in the steel industry during the late 1800’s.  He’s also said to be the largest charitable giver of all time- something like 95% of his wealth he gave away during his last couple decades living.  God of course gave 100% of Himself.  We can’t work our way into heaven.  We needed mercy.  Mercy is not getting what we do deserve (death).  Grace is getting something we don’t deserve (life).  C. H. Spurgeon rightly stated: “Works of righteousness are the fruit of salvation, and the root must come before the fruit. The Lord saves His people out of clear, unmixed, undiluted mercy and grace, and for no other reason” (Leo 322).  This “washing of regeneration” is baptism (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Petrillo 46).  The word “regeneration” only occurs here and in Matthew 19:28 looking toward the end of the world.  A preacher wisely said: “My faith is not in the water, but in Him who said: ‘get in the water'” (Petrillo 47).  We’re also guaranteed a helper to aid in every good work.  We think of the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy peace, patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Those are all helping bear every good work.  Eternal life is very motivating.  We’re grateful for God’s grace, and therefore we want to do every good work.  Some good works lead you to save with a coupon.  Other good works lead you to aid a cause you really believe in.  Doing God’s good works show our appreciation for having the promise of an eternal home with Him (See v 8).  Knowing God exists means anything and everything doesn’t go.  We can live daily doing every good work, or live doing bad works.  How would your friend characterize your life?  Jesus accomplished the best work of all when He died for our sins on the cross.  He was perfect!  He didn’t have any of His own sins to atone for.  He didn’t have to go through that sham trial, the flogging, and those nails being driven through His skin.  But He loved you, and He loved me, so He did that good work.  What should we be willing to do for Him?  

Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P.  1, 2 Timothy, Titus. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1992

Orbison, Guy, and Denny Petrillo. Titus. Workshop In The Word, 1997.

Gentiles Allowed In The Church (1-20-2024)

It can be easy to look down on others- particularly if you’re short like me!  We all probably have that one area where we think we know the most about a topic, but as has been said: “I know that I know nothing.”  The Jews looked down on: Samaritans, Gentiles, and even the Jewish poor.  The Romans were their current overlords during the First Century.  In Acts 10 we see the first official Gentile converts to Christianity.  God wants to make it clear that everyone can be saved in Jesus.  We remember how in Caesarea there was this man named Cornelius.  He was in the Roman army in charge of 100 men (being a Centurion).  If anyone could have looked down on another, he has the resume to back him.  Yet Cornelius is said to be: devout, giving, fearful, praying continually, and seeking after God.  But, he was a Gentile.  Culture is making it very hard for this man to enter into the church.  Surely he knew about Judaism and their exclusiveness.  What do the gentiles have to do with God?  In chapter 9, Paul was a surprising convert to Christianity.  He persecuted them zealously thinking he was doing God’s will.  Yet God loves the unlovable.  At our first “ninth hour” of the chapter, Cornelius had a vision.  If Cornelius was a proselyte, then he was probably praying, for the ninth hour was the “hour of prayer” (3:1).  Perhaps Cornelius was praying to be more connected with God’s people.  He’s told by an angel that Peter will be able to help him.  In Joppa, where Peter was, he was staying with a Jewish tanner.  That profession involved dead animals, and was looked down upon by Jews in general.  At least Peter isn’t staying with some unclean Gentile!  There is no caste too low where Jesus cannot reach.  I’d bet Peter converted that tanner in Joppa.  Maybe God is giving him a friendly nudge in the right direction before the big test with Cornelius.  Peter, while in Joppa, also has a vision from God of several unclean animals according to Jewish law (bats, insects, mice, pigs).  Being lowered in a sheet three times shows the Jewish superlative- it can’t get any higher.  That its lowered by “four corners” may indicate the universality of what God’s trying to communicate to Peter.  Don’t just set your mind on Jews in Israel proper.  See those with different skin colors as souls needing salvation.  Peter is said to be hungry, which surely strengthened God’s command of him to: “kill and eat” (Orbison 44).  As a quick side note, the Old Law mustn’t have been still binding; for this would make God tempting Peter to sin.  Peter is so set in the Mosaical Law that he doesn’t obey God’s command at first (Leviticus 11).  What, you’re telling me that not all Russians are part of the KGB?!?  “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy” (v 15).  He said this in regard to food, but moreover in regard to Gentiles (Romans, Persians, Germanic Tribes).  There were at least six Jewish believers that then accompany Peter to Caesarea (11:12).  I wonder what they were originally thinking.  Can we trust Peter anymore?  Maybe we should give up on this Christianity thing.  God’s being a bit too inclusive here.  Peter makes it to Caesarea saying in verse 28: “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.”  The Gospel isn’t just for the Jews, God’s chosen people of the past, but for Gentiles as well!  Many Jews had in their mind that the Messiah would kill or enslave all those sub-human Gentiles.  A Jew associating with a Gentile looks bad enough, but Peter doesn’t even know why he’s there yet.  God is the director behind this scene.  When we don’t see a way for others, God can provide a highway.  Verse 30 has Cornelius saying: “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing . . .”  We see our ninth hour again.  The Holy Spirit is working behind the scenes to further emphasize this great day.  Peter and Cornelius’s visions apparently happened at the same time.  Just as God had the Jews as His people, He now officially accepts the Gentiles also as His people.  Of course we have some Old Testament Gentiles like: Ruth the Moabite, Naaman the Syrian, and the Nineties Jonah preached to who were saved.  Peter then spoke to the gentiles concerning Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.  That’s good news (the gospel), and its nice to see here that some people actually want it!  Not everyone is a lost cause.  “To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (43).  Belief always carries with it this idea of obedience.  Jesus wrapped up His conversation with Nicodemus saying: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life” (John 3:36).  Paul also started and ended his letter to Rome with obedient faith: “bring about the obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5; 16:26).   Peter will soon command Cornelius and his household to be baptized (See vs 44-48).  This coming of the Holy Spirit, is in the same sense as the tongues of fire in Acts 2.  There as well, the Jewish believers were able to speak in languages they had never learned before.  Peter was the first to convert Jews into the church at Acts 2 just as he’s the first to convert Gentiles (Acts 10).  This seems to be how God gave him the: “keys of the kingdom” (Matthew 16:19).  Yet some will say: “See!  These people have the Holy Spirit before being baptized!”  So why do you all connect baptism with salvation?  Isn’t it just an outward sign of an inward faith?  In this instance, its merely the miraculous aspect of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  They still needed to be baptized in Jesus’ name to come in contact with His blood: “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16; Galatians 3:26-27; 1 Peter 3:21).  The only two ways we see the Holy Spirit given with miraculous powers in the early church is here in Acts 10 (like Pentecost in Acts 2), and through the laying on of the Apostles’ hands (Acts 6:6, 8; 8:17-20; 19:6; 2 Timothy 1:6).  Back to chapter 10, perhaps these Gentiles started miraculously speaking in Hebrew and Aramaic!  It took a couple of visions, and a miracle, but God finally brought Peter around to accept the gentiles as brethren.  Peter then orders them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (v 48).  If this miraculous baptism of the “Holy Spirit” was good enough, why did Peter command (not suggest) for them to be baptized in water?  Every saved person throughout the book of Acts was baptized.  Cornelius’s obedience to Peter’s command for water baptism was necessary for him to be saved. As someone put it  (Orbison 44): Cornelius was devout and feared God, but not saved.  Cornelius was generous and prayerful, but not saved.  Cornelius was visited by an angel, but not yet saved.  Cornelius had this miraculous aspect of the Holy Spirit, but was not yet saved.  Baptism in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins was necessary.  God: “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).  Rich or poor, male or female, eternity is at stake, and its worth gaining knowledge about the truth.  Do you know someone who seems hopelessly lost?  Let’s not write them off too quick.

Orbison, Guy. Petrillo, Denny. Working in the Word a Study of Acts. 2013.

Jesus As Our High Priest (1-13-2024)

We’ve weak in our flesh, and need a way back to God.  We’re sinful, and He is the Holy One.  Can we get there with 1,000’s of offerings?  Can we slave away our whole lives and make it to redemption?  There’s no fountain of youth in South America, and we can’t buy a golden ticket to heaven.  For the Old Testament Israelites, they needed a middle man between themselves and God.  Jesus hadn’t come yet, so what was to be done?  God worked through a High Priest.  The Levitical priests could intercede on behalf of the sins of the people.  Yet only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place within the Tabernacle once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).  This “covered” over the people’s sins (including those secret or done in ignorance; See Hebrews 7).  We also can’t reach up to God on our own.  We need help to get there.  Yet Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, not Levi.  So how can he be called our High Priest?  At the beginning of Hebrews 7, we see the greatness of a lesser known priesthood: the Melchizedek Priesthood.  We read about this man named Melchizedek who lived in the time of Abraham (2,000 BC).  Salem, where Melchizedek was king, is Zion, that is, Jerusalem: “His tabernacle is in Salem; His dwelling place also is in Zion” (Psalms 76:2).  Being King and priest would often be the same person among ancient nations.  Certainly: “David set up the temple worship (1 Chronicles 22-32) . . . [and] wore an ephod (2 Samuel 6:14)” (Pickup 118).  Yet:”Though the king might be said to have had, in some sense, a ‘sacral’ position, he was not a priest, could not function in the temple as one, and was certainly not viewed as the [High] priest . . . apart from Psalm 110:4, there is no place in the Old Testament where the king is called a kohen [priest]” (Pickup 118).  King Uzziah of Judah foolishly burned incense in Solomon’s Temple, and was struck with leprosy for doing so (2 Chronicles 26:16-20).  Abraham had rescued his nephew Lot by defeating a few kings, and then we read: “Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!’ And Abram gave him a tenth of everything” (Genesis 14:18-20).  The name “Melchizedek” means: King of Righteousness, and “Salem” means: King of Peace.  When Joshua invaded Canaan about 600 years after Melchizedek, Salem (Jerusalem) was a pagan city (Joshua 10:1).  Thus, unfortunately: “Melchizedek’s efforts had failed to endure beyond his lifetime” (Pickup 121).  Maybe that’s why we read so little of him.  At verse 3, Melchizedek doesn’t have any genealogical records (Genesis 14; Psalm 110).  Melchizedek’s priesthood didn’t depend on lineage like the Levitical priesthood.  Melchizedek is thus mentioned to be like “the Son of God” (v 3).  Melchizedek is seen superior to even father Abraham!  Further, we read in verse 9: “through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes.”  As someone portrayed: “The portrait of a living man can be seen on the canvas, yet the man is very different from his picture” (Jamieson 456).  Petrillo commented on verses 5-7: “Abraham was the father of the Levitical priests, and that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek.  The law of God commanded the Israelites to pay tithes to the tribe of Levi, and the tribe of Levi had to pay tithes to the family of Aaron” (Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:21-32; Petrillo 31).  The writer’s argument is: Abraham is greater than the special Levites, but Melchizedek was even greater than special Abraham!  The “lesser is blessed by the greater” (Melchizedek blessed Abraham).  Whereas Melchizedek received tithes (one individual), the Levites were several in number.  Abraham had Isaac, Isaac had Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel), and one of Israel’s 12 sons was named Levi.  So, seeing that Abraham paid Melchizedek, its kind of like the Levities did.  Melchizedek’s Priesthood is seen to be better than the Levitical Priesthood starting at verse 11, for the Levites couldn’t cleanse sin.  The Mosaical Law made nothing perfect (v 19).  Just as new leaders mean new laws, this was true with Jesus as a new High Priest.  Jesus was from the tribe of Judah (non-priests).  He wasn’t from the tribe of Levi (priests).  As a side note (v 14) indicates that the silence of the scriptures isn’t a green light to do whatever you want: “For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.”  Jesus is a Priest forever: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’” (Psalms 110:4).  First century Jews viewed Psalm 110 as Messianic.  That Melchizedek’s priesthood didn’t have a genealogy makes it (in a sense) eternal.  Does “forever” mean Melchizedek is a supernatural being serving as a Priest eternally?  No.  If this were the case, how could Christ assume his priesthood?  This Hebrew word “forever” sometimes means within a person’s lifetime.  For slaves who wanted to stay with their masters: “he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever” (Exodus 21:6); “Aaron was set apart to dedicate the most holy things, that he and his sons forever should make offerings before the Lord” (1 Chronicles 23:13).  Melchizedek’s priesthood must have lasted a long time for the author to even make such a comparison.  Jesus lives forever, so He is our High Priest forever.  Verses 18-19 say that the Law was: weak, useless, and made nothing perfect.  “For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise . . . Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions . . . until the seed [Christ] would come to whom the promise had been made” (Galatians 3:18-19).  Jesus allows us to draw near to God.  The Temple veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place tore in half when He was crucified (Matthew 27:51).  No longer is it only the High Priest that can go in.  Because of Jesus, we can enter into God’s throne room.  Jesus’ priesthood is quite a contrast.  It was promised, eternal, confirmed by an oath, didn’t require a sacrifice for Himself, and doesn’t require several sacrifices again and again.  Jesus is a better High Priest with a better priesthood.  The Jewish historian, Josephus, wrote that there were 83 High Priests from Aaron to the destruction of the Temple in AD 70 (Antiquities 20.227).  They held office until they died.  Yet Jesus always lives, and thus will always be there for us as our High Priest (See Hebrews 7:25-28).  The former High Priests had to offer sacrifices year after year.  Yet Jesus’ sacrifice is one and done.  He’s always before God in the Most Holy Place- not just on the Day of Atonement.  He gave Himself, and thus was exalted.  Thankfully for us Gentiles, Jesus isn’t just a Jewish High Priest.  He’s one to all who have obedient faith.  Hebrews 4:14 calls Jesus our: “great high priest.”  If you want to get to heaven, you have to go through Him.  This obedience culminates in being baptized for the forgiveness of sins.  

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. 1997.

Orbison, Guy. Denny, Petrillo. Workshop In The Word. 1999.

Scriptural Authority (1-6-2024)

People today want their moral authority to come from their feelings.  Yet what if one’s feelings say: “Kill all the Jews” and another says: “love your neighbor as yourself?”  Does authority come from creeds and so-called modern day prophets?  Does it come from Papal Primacy from a human in Rome?  Is the whole Bible authoritative?  The whole Bible is God inspired; yet true, we only live under the New Testament today (Romans 7:1-6).  Several times, the Bible says that it is the “Scripture” (God’s word).  Jesus talked about the “Scriptures” which must be fulfilled (Matthew 26:54).  As we know, fulfilled prophecy can only come from God.  That was the main way God distinguished His prophets from false prophets, and His word from mankind’s word.  Some Sadducees asked “what if” concerning a woman who legitimately married seven men throughout her life.  So, who would she be married to if there really is a heaven?  The Sadducees didn’t believe in the spiritual realm (Matthew 22:24).  They took this thought from Deuteronomy 25:5.  Jesus answers by telling them: “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).  There is no marriage in heaven.  However, to our point today, Jesus includes the Mosaical Law (Deuteronomy) as Scripture.  Jesus also said: “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” (John 7:42).  Jesus includes Micah chapter five’s prophecy as Scripture (v 2).  On another occasion: “Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken . . .'” (John 10:34-35).  Jesus quoted there from Psalm 82:6 and includes that book among the “Scriptures.”  Paul wrote: “For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer deserves his wages’” (1 Timothy 5:18).  The first quote “You shall not muzzle an ox” is from Deuteronomy 25:4.  Interestingly, the second quote: “The laborer is worthy of his wages” is from Luke 10:7 (you can’t find it anywhere else).  So, the Apostle Paul is saying that Doctor Luke’s writings are among the Scriptures (Luke wrote Acts as well).  Peter commented how: “Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him . . . There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:15-16).  Peter said that Paul’s writings are among the Scriptures, and Paul wrote almost half of the New Testament!  Further: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Its not the US courts that lead to every good work.  Jesus told His disciples: “If they kept my word, they will also keep yours” (John 15:20).  Jesus’ word has authority.  “Open up in the name of Jesus!”  Is more important than: “Open up in the name of the law!”  Paul said concerning the gospel: “I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:12).  Paul didn’t have to second-hand his revelation like a certain man from the AD 600’s.  Jesus and the New Testament writers cite 18 of the 22 Old Testament books (Hebrew Bible; Geisler, Turek 361).  They trusted in those writing’s as accurate.  The world wants to just let the Bible gather dust and be thrown in the dustbin of history.  They want to trample it down, and say its outdated.  Yet as Christians, do we really believe the words of this book?  Is it just some artifact with good advice in it?  Or does it contain elements that only God could have accomplished?  The evidence is in favor of the Ten Plagues actually happening.  How else could a million or so slaves escape the most powerful country of the time without fighting?  Why do we find Egyptian chariot wheels at the bottom of the Red Sea?  Egypt’s wars happened almost exclusively in the Levant (North).  The estimated 1,800 prophecies within the Bible were given hundreds of years in advance of their fulfillment (J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy).  No human being can know the future- only God can.  Jesus is the best example to consider.  Who in all world history was (Geisler, Turek 335-336): 

1. Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).  There’s only so many towns by that name.  

2. From the seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:3, 7).  Who was also a Jew.  

3. From the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10).

4. In the line of David (Isaiah 11:1).  Not everyone has royal blood in their veins.  

5. Was both God and man (Isaiah 9:6-7).

6. Had a messenger and visited Jerusalem’s Temple (Malachi 3:1).  The Temple was destroyed in AD 70, so He couldn’t have come after that point.  

7. Died around AD 30 (Daniel 9:25-26).

8. Rose from the dead (Isaiah 53:11).

We can trust this book in all its aspects.  Being from God, it doesn’t have any contradictions, is historically accurate, and agrees with science (God created the Law of Gravity).  We also have a responsibility to obey the authority of God and what He says in His book.  If God told you to make a Pilgrimage to Moscow every year in order to get into heaven, then that’s what you should do.  Thankfully, Jesus died for our sins.  He took our place on the cross.   It was our blood that should have been spilt.  We read from His authoritative word to: hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.  

Geisler, Norman L., and Frank Turek. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist. Crossway Books, 2007.

Psalm 23 Goodness, Protection, Life (12-16-2023)

When we look at the Book of Psalms, of the 150, David wrote at least 73 of them.  They concerning: history, distress, joy and praise.  God gives us: goodness, protection, and life.  If we have those three things, what more could one want in life (See Psalm 23:1-3)?  David was a shepherd before becoming King of Israel (1 Samuel 16:11).  Surely he knew how to feed and take care of his father’s flock.  He remembers his former days of being a lowly shepherd.  He was the youngest of seven brothers.  Sheep are very lowly animals. They don’t have any claws, sharp teeth, or quick movement.  Wolves, in contrast, have all those things.  I imagine you could get bitten by a sheep, but that’s far better than by a wolf!  David looks to God as His shepherd.  Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).  This “good” is more than just “nice” or “kind” for it leads to Jesus giving His life. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).  Jesus names His sheep, knows their ailments, and built a history with them.  Followers of Jesus hear His voice.  The Jews couldn’t hear His voice because of their preconceived notions (a conquering Messiah).  Today, many don’t hear His voice because of their preconceived notions (faith only, instruments, etc.). “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep . . .” (Hebrews 13:20).   God is called a “God of peace” (Not: wrath? anger? a consuming fire?).  “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).  We as sheep tend to wander off and get into trouble.  Whats at the bottom of this steep embankment?  Some may call Jesus “a” shepherd, but for each of us He is “my” shepherd.  Compared to God, we are like sheep.  We can’t help out all that much, we can’t protect very well.  Yet God gave His life for us.  We get to lie in “green pastures.”  God doesn’t just love us half heartedly- He loves us more than we can comprehend.  When Jesus healed the blind man, you know he had 20/20.  The lush cool grass on a spring day is always refreshing.  He also provides “quiet waters.”  I’ve heard sheep won’t drink from a quick running stream- they’re too scared (not the brightest animals).  We see physical refreshment, but Jesus is the water of life (John 4:14).  On these hot days in Israel, where the temperature can reach in the 120’s; the dry dusty desert seems to offer no relief, a well of water is a welcome sight.  God doesn’t just provide for our physical needs (Matthew 6:25), but also gives our souls peace and comfort.  Paul wrote while in prison: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).  God wants to lead us on the right path.  Knowing all things, He is the best one to listen to (See vs 4-5).  Someone mentioned this “valley of the shadow of death” as: “a ravine overhung by high precipitous cliffs, filled with dense forests, and well calculated to inspire dread to the timid, and afford a [cover] to beasts of prey” (Jamieson Vol 1 354).  There were several points in David’s life when he was face to face with death (Goliath, Philistines, Saul).  Yet he didn’t worry like king Herod about having several hideout fortresses.  He didn’t stockpile more food than necessary.  He didn’t kill off his family for fear they would take the crown.  David trusted in the Lord.  We too can “fear no evil.”  His rod and staff are at our side- like His mighty right hand is.  Perhaps one is used for protection, and the other is used to aid in guiding.  If folks could have just those two things in life, that’d be pretty good.  Many wander through life looking for their next great experience.  They want to talk about how their grand trip was the best ever.  You “prepared a table before my enemies.”  When David’s son Absalom made a coup attempt, David fled east from Jerusalem.  A man named Ziba came: “. . . with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine” (2 Samuel 16:1).  Perhaps this was the memory David had in mind.  Saul hurled a spear at David twice while David played the harp trying to calm him (1 Samuel 18:11).  Even though there are more people in the world against us, God protects us every step of the way.  Concerning this “anointing oil” one commentator mentioned that this is a symbol of gladness.  Anointing would be done for prophets, priests, and kings; this oil accompanied a glad situation.  “My cup overflows” Luke wrote: “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38; See Psalm 23:6).  God gives “goodness and lovingkindness.”  This term is often used of God Himself (being good, loving, and kind).  Goodness provides for our needs, and mercy provides for our sins.  Living with God as our Great Shepherd, these things “follow” us.  We also get to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever” not just as a servant.  We’re called in the New Testament: “fellow heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).  We see a few hints of eternity in the Old Testament.  When David’s son died, he said: “I shall go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23; Job 19:25-26).  “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead” (Isaiah 26:19).  “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2).  Jesus went to prepare a place for us (John 14:2).  We get to dwell in His house forever (pearly gates, golden streets).  Is anything too hard for the Lord?  The famous Bible commentator, Matthew Henry, wrote: “If God be as a shepherd to us, we must be as sheep, inoffensive, meek and quiet, silent before the shearers, nay, and before the butcher too” (Lange 183-184).  We detailed: God’s goodness, that providence protects, and that the Lord is Life-giving.  

Male and Female (12-9-2023)

After creating the stars and the animals: “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).  In the garden of Eden, God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Trans-Steve.  He finished His work of creation on the sixth day, and called it “very good” (Genesis 1:31).  Yet mankind has drifted far from God’s ideal.  Man doesn’t want lush Eden, they want a cage of their own making.  Lamech foolishly took two wives.  He was the first man to be polygamous (Lexham Bible Dictionary).  Unsurprisingly, he didn’t have a happy fulfilling life.  He himself said: “hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. 24 If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold” (Genesis 4:23-24).  Sounds like a nice chap.  We recall that God “winked” at some of the sins in the Old Testament, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).  Righteous King David had six wives, but still that wasn’t God’s ideal.  When God destroyed the whole world through the global flood (notice He didn’t just tell Noah to migrate), one of the main sins mentioned was sexual immorality (Genesis 6:2).  God’s ideal was perverted, and humanity suffered for it.  When God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah including the whole valley, it was because of sexual immorality (Genesis 19).  They weren’t marrying only males and females like they were supposed to.  Paul detailed the world’s sins witting that “God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts” (Romans 1:24).  They wanted to serve themselves instead of the creator.  They wanted a lie over the truth.  They thought they were smarter than God.  Thus, God “gave them up” we see that phrase 3X in chapter 1.  Women were with women, and men were with men.  He writes that such things are: “contrary to nature” (Romans 1:26).  It ended with: “receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error” (v 27).  Humanity should have stuck with males and females.  For thousands of years, people have understood that there are only two genders.  Its not until our modern age that people have tried blurring that line.  You can hear it now: “I want to be different, just like everybody else!”  If I said I was a 6′ tall Asian, that assertion wouldn’t be true no matter how much I believed it.  It wouldn’t even be true if all the government school books should say so.  I can’t wish that I was 25 years old when in fact I’m 35.  The Mosaical Law says: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey . . . ” (Exodus 20:17).  He didn’t have to write down more than male and female.  The Israelites were warned not to make idols in the image of creatures or looking like males and females.  Moses didn’t have to list the alleged 74 different genders people have made up today.  Don’t cancel Christian’s free speech and say its your right to speech.  Solomon detailed the loving passionate relationship a male and female can have together (Song of Solomon).  Solomon went into all sorts of obvious anatomy through that book.  He wasn’t confused on how many genders there were.  He had too many wives, but gender confusion wasn’t an issue for him.  There are male and female singers mentioned at the temple (Nehemiah 7:67).  God said there are only males and females in Genesis, and Jesus reiterated that point in Matthew 19.  Love isn’t what joins people together, God is (v 6).  Its not your feelings that matter the most, but what the creator says.  People have murdered Jews in the name of loving god.  Let’s make some peoples lives miserable for the greater good!  Yet God is not a god of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).  He’s not trying to trick us.  He doesn’t speak one way and then change His mind.  His overarching will has always been.  Mankind is trying to say a crooked road is straight.  They’re grasping for any sort of cause because they refuse to find it in God’s word.  If people choose to reject God, He has no choice but to reject them.  In the animal kingdom there are only males and females.  Why should it be any different for humans?  We all live on the same planet and breath the same air.  It was only male and female animals that entered Noah’s Ark.  Yeah, but what about when Paul wrote: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).  Notice first off that Paul didn’t list 72 other genders.  Also note that this doesn’t remove the fact that there are males and females.  The apostle is just making the point that all can be forgiven in Christ (which as it happens, is only males and females).  He isn’t saying sweep gender under the rug.  I’m surprised that even naturalists are holding onto this gender-fluid notion.  If its all about survival of the fittest, and propagating the species, that can only happen through- you guessed it: males and females.  Peter, noting that males are stronger than females, wrote: “husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel” (1 Peter 3:7).  Females are indeed weaker physically, but that being said, some of the smartest people I know are women.  Considering strength: Lia Thomas, a male who’s confused, beat the women’s swimming record by 8 seconds!  There’s no 8 seconds in swimming.  Folks beat a swimming record by milliseconds.  So, lets make up the thought that the earth is overpopulated.  It must be a good thing to not continue the human race!  Haven’t us humans only done harm to the planet anyway?  What good are males and females in our modern age?  I’ve driven through Kansas several times back and forth from college, and I can tell you- we have plenty of space.  America and China have the same amount of territory (3.7 million square miles), but China has over 4X the population.  I can also guarantee you that they all those people came from males and females.  What about those born with both parts?  Didn’t God just create me that way?  Besides, who are you to judge?!  Only .01% of the American population is born with this mutation.  It isn’t God’s doing, but nature taking its course.  The hurricane may come, and one may get cancer over another.  Mutations are almost always a bad thing.  You don’t get bitten by a spider and have a superpower- you swell up and possibly die.  If you’re born with an extra arm, the doctors are quick to cut it off.  For these unfortunate individuals, at least let them wait until they’re teenagers to decide on surgery.  Let them figure out which of the two genders they’re attracted to.  Don’t be convincing kindergartners that they need to change their gender.  That only leads to regret, and not being everything God has made us to be.  Both are needed: “for as woman was made from man [Adam’s rib], so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God” (1 Corinthians 11:12).  Adam said: “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man” (Genesis 2:23).  God designed women to be more nurturing, and men to be more competitive.  If you’re a female and you want Adam’s curse of working the soil- go for it, but a lot of out of wedlock pregnancies happen while the kids are in their parents home.  I wonder if there’s something to the inspired apostle Paul’s words when he wrote: “So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander” (1 Timothy 5:14). An American poet (William Ross Wallace) wrote: “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Rules the World” (1865).  Whether male or female, we can all bring praise to God.  He didn’t create us to be depressed and confused.  He made us for His glory.  We can become all that He’s created us to be.  Moses led the people out of Egypt (Exodus 12:50-51), and Mariam sang after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20).  God used Joshua and Deborah for His glory (Joshua 1:1; 4:4).  The Holy Spirit enabled Mary to conceive and give birth to the Savior of the world (Luke 2:11).  Jesus is the one who brings light to all humanity.  He spoke the truth that can set men free.  The Bible gives us everything for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).  Any question you can think of can be better answered through the lens of God’s word.  Jesus died for everyone, and everyone is either male or female.  People would do well to remember the phrase: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  We have the promise of everlasting life because He rose from the dead.  Given who God has created you to be, let be sure to live our lives in service to Him. 

Algie, B. Lamech, Son of Methushael. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press. 2016

Be Ready (12-2-2023)

A horrible blizzard struck Eastern Europe this past week.  Winds were recorded around 50 mph.  Thousands of vehicles became stuck.  At least ten people lost their lives.  It pays to be in the know, and it pays to be ready.  In Matthew 24, we see no preparation with Noah’s generation (vs 36-44), and delayed preparation with the wicked slave (vs 45-51).  In Matthew 25, we see partial preparation with the virgins (vs 1-13), improper preparation with the talent (vs 14-30), and final results (vs 31-46; Petrillo 55).  In Matthew 25, the kingdom of heaven is like ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom.  We’re waiting late until the evening for the bridegroom to come (Who knows how long the pictures will take!).  God spoke through Hosea: “I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion, 20 and I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord” (2:19-20).  We need to be ready with our lamps.  Someone commented that we have the: “‘lamps’ as outward preparations [let your light shine] and the ‘oil’ as . . . the inward [what’s producing our fruits]” (Orbison 56).  In the ancient age, after the marriage ceremony, the couple would be escorted from the bride’s home to the groom’s.  “Torches light the way in the darkness, so all the bridesmaids have to take enough oil to keep them burning for as long as might be necessary” (Blomberg 369).  Five are foolish, and five are wise (ready).  Even in the church we need to be prepared for Jesus’ second coming and stay alert. The wise take their oil not knowing when the bridegroom will come, but the foolish do not.  We shouldn’t view this “drowsiness” in verse 5 as laziness, for the wise themselves even get drowsy.  We’re just getting tired of the wears and tears of this life.  We have a longing to finally be with the Lord.  Well, the bridegroom is said to be coming, and the wise light their lamps. The foolish, however, are running low on oil.  They’re told to buy some in the market.  That they still have some time to prepare means that Jesus’ second coming hasn’t happened yet.  “And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.”  We need to be ready whether together or by ourselves.  We don’t know when Jesus’ second coming will be; or if we’ll be in a car crash tomorrow.  While the gates of heaven are seen as always being opened, when the door shuts, we’ve lost our opportunity.  Maybe we thought we were friends of the bridegroom, but in practice were we really that concerned?  We didn’t have enough oil (fruits of the spirit).  They say: “Lord, lord, open up for us” but, as someone wrote: “such intensity of effort was needed earlier” (Orbison 57; Matthew 7:23).  Jesus says He doesn’t know them.  Is being prepared important?  Is truly knowing Jesus more important than lip service?  Those prepared are those who are wise.  Saying: “be on the alert” in verses 13 is in the imperative mood (command).  Thinking of the lookout on the Titanic- he didn’t have binoculars, it was nighttime, the Atlantic was calm that night so that one couldn’t see waves splash against the iceberg.  Yet we like to think he was on the alert.  We now turn to see a parable concerning our responsibility to be ready as good stewards.  God has granted all of us skills to be used for His glory.  We’re being ready in “soul making.”  Differing abilities were given the same chance of blessings.  A silver talent equaled about 6,000 denarii.  Since a denarius was a day’s wages, one talent is 16 years of labor.  Yet what if they were gold talents instead of silver?  Jesus often used exaggeration.  The good slaves take the blessings that have been given, and double the share.  However, one of the slaves didn’t do anything with his master’s money.  The Master lets us live life, and what are we accomplishing for His kingdom?  The first slave grew his Master’s profits, and is called “good and faithful.”  He had a good character, and a willing heart.  The second slave is also faithful, living his life for God’s purposes.  If one is trustworthy in small matters, how much more will he be trustworthy in great matters?  Two of the servants had a 100% gain.  The third slave tries to shift the blame on the overbearing and frightful Master.  Isn’t it your fault that I only buried the money!  “See, you have what is yours.”  No harm no foul?  We’re square right?  However, the Master could have buried the money himself.  Yet he gave it to this slave for some reason.  Someone wrote: “to make no commitments on religious matters is really to make a damning commitment by default” (Blomberg 372).  The slave’s own words betray his knowledge of his Master wanting to profit.  Even keeping it in a bank would have been better than a hole in the ground!  Thus, the lazy slave’s share is given to the prudent slave’s care.  “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous” (Proverbs 13:22).  We want to be ready with our lights shining, and ready with our fruits increasing.  That is how we can be ready for Judgement Day (See Matthew 25:31-46).   The angels appear to be gathering up and separating the saved from the lost.  The sheep are placed on His right, and the goats on His left.  Notice that He gathered “all the nations” not just a few raptured souls.  Being a part of God’s royal family makes us blessed indeed!  Sheep, for their wool, would be more valuable than goats.  Whereas sheep stick together in the field, goats will wander off individually.  The sheep enter: “the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”  God’s heavenly kingdom was before the creation of the world!  It was a part of His eternal plan, not a “Plan B.”  Sitting on someone’s right at a feast was the honored position in the ancient age.  Not that we have to check off every one of these items on the list, they simply show acts of kindness in our lives.  Needs were met: food, shelter, clothing (bread, a tent, a blanket).  Someone commented: “these are not works/ righteousness because those who preformed them are ignorant of their value” (Orbison 60).  We don’t work to earn, we work because we’re grateful.  Often, the “least of them” can be the hardest to want to help.  Helping the high up’s puts you on par with them, but helping the lowly doesn’t give any visible reward.  Having these fruits is what God desires.  Hell really is unending.  Us earthlings can hardly fathom it.  Why forever?  Why not just a year per sin?  Or ten years per sin?  Perhaps the best answer is: just as these folks didn’t honor God in their earthly lives, so too, they continually sin and rebel against Him in the afterlife (They continually go against Him).  Its said to be a “place prepared” instead of a non existent place.  They followed after their father of lies, Satan.  Jesus, in contrast, went to prepare a place for us (John 14:2).  These wicked ones are also ignorant thinking they’ve done their bit of good in life.  However, was it according to God’s will?  One author commented: “The same mouth that spoke of ‘eternal punishment’ said ‘eternal life.’  One endures as long as the other” (Orbison 60).  Thankfully, there is a way for us to be ready on Judgment Day.  Jesus’ blood covers us when we’re baptized for the forgiveness of sins.  Just as He loved us, He wants us to love others.  Just as He did many good works, so too, we should show our gratitude.  Are you ready?

Blomberg, C.Matthew. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1992.

Orbison, Guy. Petrillo, Denny.  Matthew Chapters 14-28.  Workshop in the Word 2016

Die To Self (11-25-2023)

America used to be that shining city on a hill.  We used to send Christian missionaries abroad.  Now America has a “Me” problem.  Without God, young Americans in particular are struggling with having a sense of purpose.  They protest for terror groups, because what else should we do in life?  In general, people like being self-sufficient.  We don’t like depending on other people.  Others will inevitably let you down.  During Covid in 2020, food banks nationwide distributed 6 billion meals (feedingamerica.org).  Around 40% of those folks early on were there for the first time.  It heightened our so-called “fight or flight” mentality over spiritual concerns and church.  We like to put ourselves at the top of the list.  In Hollywood, its all about “Me.”  How can I stand out (Let’s strike!  Everybody else is doing it!).  It comes as no surprise that celebrity musician’s divorce rates are somewhere between 60-70%.  We know our inner selves the best: “For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him?” (1 Corinthians 2:11).  We know ourselves inside and out.  The government doesn’t know what I prefer for dinner; or what kind of insurance plan I want.  Service members and charities give their lives for someone else, so too should we.  Jesus didn’t just call a few folks to love their neighbors.  We all have God given gifts that he expects us to use (some 1 talent, some 5, and some 10).  We need to serve Him instead of self.  We remember how the one talent man hid his Master’s money (Matthew 25:18).  He wanted to stay out of trouble: “You’re a hard man, and you reap where you did not sow.”  He thought: I only have to not be that guy without any talent.  Man is quite small when compared to the universe.  There are an estimated one septillion stars out there- 24 zeros (who knows how many there really are).  What are we on this one tiny planet called earth?  He’s the potter and we are merely the clay.  Let’s let Him shape us.  He gave us the breath of life, not some random accident.  He holds the world in His hands, not the President.  While nothing is impossible with God, 65% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.  The company doesn’t stop just because of one person.  My grandfather lived to be 95.  I read that some aquatic creatures today can live 200-500 years (I’m not sure how they measure that though . . . ).  We are but a mist that appears and then vanishes.  In northern Californium, there’d be fog in the morning, but by noon . . . it was still there.  King Solomon wrote how we may be wise, and build great palaces while we live, but we’ll be forgotten nonetheless.  We can drum up ourselves all we want.  There’s nothing new under the sun; what has been done will be done again (See Galatians 2:20).  We who live in the modern age think we’re so smart.  Some of the ancients thought the earth was flat!  We have so many scientific break throughs!  However, we’re still all human.  We all live on God’s green earth, and experience fear and courage, sorrow and joy.  “I have been crucified with Christ . . .”  Jesus said: Take up your cross and follow me (Matthew 10:38).  There is no nobler a death to die than to die as a Christian.  The First Century martyrs are revered even to this day.  Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great, was the opposite of selflessness.  He lived extravagantly, and was often in debt early on (The Lexham Bible Dictionary).  He was friends with Claudius, the future Emperor, and would become king over Judea.  He also had the apostle James beheaded with the sword (Acts 12:2).  You don’t want to be lethally injected as a murderer or thief.  There’s no praise in that.  The wicked reap what they sow.  The Roman Emperor, Caligula, was also a bad dude.  He sold his own sisters to other men.  He had some spectators thrown into the pit of the amphitheater for the wild beasts because he was bored during intermission.  Thankfully, he died at the age of 28.  In contrast, Paul detailed how he: labored, was imprisoned, beaten, flogged, in danger along the roads, hungry and thirsty (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).  He didn’t endure those things because it was a great job opportunity.  He didn’t suffer because he was trying to reach the top.  He suffered not for his own sake, but for the sake of Christ.  “It is no longer I who live . . . ”  Its not that we’re schizophrenic.  We die daily for Christ’s sake.  He’s the One in charge of life.  His way is the only way.  Why dabble in the way Satan wants us to live?  That path only leads to death.  Its quite the hotbed in Syria, but admittedly, we wouldn’t like Chinese troops in Texas either.  Moses wrote in Psalm 90: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (v 12).  The body is temporary, the soul is eternal.  “but Christ who lives in me . . .”  Jesus had compassion on the crowds teaching them the right way to go.  He was kind in healing the lame and blind.  He stood up against the leaders of His day even when it wasn’t popular.  In Romans 7, Paul described how he was torn between his covetousness, and obeying God’s Law (v 8).  Half of him wanted one way, and half of him the other.  The conclusion was to give all of self over to God.  Don’t just give Sundays.  Don’t just like half of the verses.  Don’t just give half of your willpower to Him.  Paul lived his life following Christ’s example.  He went on three missionary journeys, and had a harrowing trip to Rome.  Go preach over in Iran or China!  Yet whether in prison or free, he was a Christian.  He set aside his wants for God’s will.  “And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God . . .”  We walk by faith, not by sight.  The creation points to a creator.  Whether speaking before Roman governors or kings, Paul put himself aside and exalted Christ.  Paul would let that person merge into traffic.  He’d volunteer to do the dishes.  We know that he made tents so as to not be a burden to the churches.  Yet we also recall: “In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. 15 But I have made no use of any of these rights” (1 Corinthians 9:14-15).  Paul concluded Galatians 2:20 saying: “[He] loved me and gave himself for me . . .”  Jesus also loved us and gave Himself for us.  Jesus didn’t give only half of Himself.  He gave everything He had- even to His dying breath.  He said of His life: “I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:18).  Jesus could have actually done something about his coming death if He chose to.  Jesus is the supreme example of someone living a selfless life.  Throughout the gospel accounts He’s always seen talking with someone or helping others.  He taught in order to bring people closer to God.  He helped in order to encourage people in being more helpful themselves.  Working as the security director for Morgan Stanley for many years, Richard Rescorla was a stickler for the safety of the bank’s employees. As soon as the first plane hit the North Tower during the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, Rescorla immediately jumped into action and calmly instructed more than 2,500 employees that he was responsible for to evacuate the South Tower, where they worked. He was killed by the impact of the plane that hit the South Tower just as he managed to get everyone out (bamail.com).  Someone wrote: “On the cross Christ suffered alone forsaken by his friends, his followers, and . . . even his Father . . . a God-forsaken death for God-forsaken people” -Moltmann (George Vol 30 199).   Let’s be sure to give all of ourselves to Christ.

Dicken, F. E. Agrippa I. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press. 2016.

George, T. GalatiansNashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1994.

God Is Love (11-18-2023)

God has: mercy, justice, compassion, and even wrath.  However, if we were to try and sum up God in one word, it would be “love.”  The first fruit of the nine fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5 is also love (God’s Love apologeticspress.org).  Love has been a word badly misused in American society.  People say they love all sorts of things (politics, sports), but would they be willing to lift a finger to show true love?  Once . . . there was a couple on a date, and they decided to go to a very fancy restaurant.  After the nice meal, the woman tells the man to say something to her that will really get her heart racing.  The man looked her in the eye and said . . . “I forgot my wallet.”  We read that: “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8).  An orphan could just about say that they don’t know nor have experienced what love is.  Does anyone out there want me?  I’ve never had any children, so I don’t know what that parent type of love is like.  Both of my siblings have had a son and a daughter.  I can imagine their joy when each one was born into the world.  God loves all His children.  Jesus prayed: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).  Someone wrote: “Because his very nature is love, mercy and goodness flow from God like a beautiful river, as sunlight radiates from the sun” (Akin Vol 38 178-179).  God is not only loving, but is love itself.  Not only is He loving whenever He acts, but He is love.  There are lots of people out there who don’t care to love.  They ask: “Whats in it for me?”  What if I was treated unfairly in the past?  Doesn’t that give me the right to make my kids go through it to?  I’m suffering, so I want others around me to suffer.  That’s the opposite of love.  People can disguise it all they want (society’s fault/ addiction’s fault).  Instead of merely having a friendship kind of love, or even a parent’s love for their children, here another term is used: this love seeks the highest good for another.  God’s love is for all.  In America, we say: “I love my mom” and “I love this cheesecake.”  Well, there’s a difference between the two.  Jesus was willing to lay down His life for His friends; His love even reached His enemies- just as He instructed us to do (Matthew 5:44).  That’s no easy task.  We can all think of one or two politicians that aren’t very lovable.  Would we be willing to help them (love them)?  God loved His creation: “God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day” (Genesis 1:31).  We have essentials like food and companionship: “It is not good that the man should be alone.”  He also blessed us with beauty all around to enjoy.  He didn’t have to do that.  God loved us enough to give us free will.  If we don’t want to love Him, He won’t make us love Him.  If some want to be separated from him forever, God allows that.  A Jedi mind trick forcing people to do something can hardly be called loving on their part.  God delivered His people from slavery.  He gave the Israelites a good and noble Law to live by.  He didn’t give them a serpent when they expected a fish.  He rained down manna from heaven.  If a parent lets their kid do anything they want, they don’t really care about their child.  You want what’s best for your children- not what’s easiest, and certainly not what will make them quit complaining.  Far too often, I’ve seen parents try to be friends before being parents.  God is also willing to discipline His people for their good.  “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives” (Hebrews 12:6).  Today, you discipline your child and people call it abuse.  Sure enough, God calls it love.  I’m going to go with God on that one.  We were once: “hated by others and hating one another” (Titus 3:3).  Hamas has no  love for the Jews.  Nothing of that terrible ordeal is part of God’s characteristics.  The only thing He hates is sin (Proverbs 6:16).  Yet there we were.  Not wanting to be bothered by any inconvenience of other life.  Not wanting to have our boat rocked in our man-made lake.  Its no surprise that Jesus said: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  We’re great at loving ourselves (See 1 Corinthians 13:4-7)!  Love is “patient” and “kind” even under persecution.  That love is “kind” seeks the best for others.  Love is not “nice” by the way, its “kind.”  Sometimes the kind thing to do is rebuke someone.  It does “not envy” (resentfulness toward another’s luck or possessions).  Love is content instead of bragging and being arrogant like some of those at Corinth.  The things we have and do are only possible because of God’s great love for us.  Love “is not rude” (acting dishonorably).  It “does not insist on its own way.”  How can I help others today and not just myself?  Love “is not irritable” (easily angered).  Nor resentful (bitter).  Love “does not rejoice at wrongdoing.”  Someone mentioned: “Love will put away the hurts of the past instead of clinging to them” -David Guzik.  Mankind want’s to flee from the truth because the truth can hurt.  Truth says we’re sinners in need of a Savior, but un-righteousness wants to say everything is ok (homosexuality, abortion, etc).  Love bears all things (its trustworthy): “like a watertight vessel [reliable]” (Jamieson 288).  Love “believes all things” that is, has good faith.  Love continues to hope even when a person has given up hope.  How wonderful that love also endures- unlike so many things in this physical world.  One may very well read these verses as: God is patient, God is kind, God does not envy or boast, God isn’t arrogant or rude, God isn’t irritable or resentful.  God doesn’t rejoice with wrongdoing, but with the truth.  God is reliable.  God has good faith.  God hopes/ has the victory.  God endures.  “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).  French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself have founded empires, but upon what do these creations of our genius depend? Upon force. Jesus alone founded His empire upon love: and to this very day millions would die for Him”. Paul gave the thought in Romans 5: One may die for the good charity owner (he’s been nice to the community).  Yet for the preacher- na, he’s already good to go!  Note: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (v 8).  When Jesus obeyed God’s will for His life, it showed that He loved God: “I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father” (John 14:31).  God’s love went as far as dying a horrible death on the cross . . . for you and for me.  We were spitting in His face, and beating Him with our fists- we can’t blame it all on the Jews.  Christ still died on our behalf.  What kind of love should we be willing to show toward Him and toward others?  

Akin, D. L. 1, 2, 3 John. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 2001.

Obedience Is Blessed (11-11-2023)

Introduction: The Egyptian Pharaoh, in the 1500’s BC (Probably Amenhotep I), had seen how the Hebrew people increased after Joseph and his family moved there.  He didn’t want them to join their enemies if war should come.  So, he made them slaves and treated them harshly (See Exodus 1).  Despite this, the Hebrews continued to increase in number.  What was Pharaoh to do?  He commanded the Hebrew midwifes, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill any male babies born, but to keep alive the females.  Curiously these two midwives are named.  There were plenty of other midwives around.  They would have been considered on the lower end of society.  Yet they’re named so as to be remembered.  They’re the early heroes of choosing to obey God over man.  Someone noted: “The honor thus given is all the more evident when one realizes that neither Pharaoh nor his magicians nor the elders of Israel nor any other characters save . . . [for two] families are named in the first five chapters of Exodus” (Stuart Vol 2 74-75).  We recall Jesus saying of the woman who anointed His feet with perfume: “wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her” (Matthew 26:13).  The midwives could have caved in.  Pharaoh is the most powerful man on earth!  He could kill us!  Maybe we could kill every other male, and appease both sides.  That way it won’t be as obvious to Pharaoh.  Surely Pharaoh offered them a reward for obeying him, and threatened death if they didn’t.  What were the midwives to do?  Verse 17 says: “But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.”  Pharaoh is pretty powerful, but God is even greater.  The government can send you to jail for a peaceful and patriotic protest, but God has control over the kingdom’s of this world.  These Hebrew women knew between right and wrong without having studied any scriptures.  They knew the right way to go with probably only limited knowledge of the Patriarchs.  Well, Pharaoh learns of their resoluteness, and calls the midwives to account.  That would be a scary day.  We have to go before the big guy.  He may do all sorts of harm to us!  Fearing God shone through in their obedience to Him, we don’t have to fear any earthly ruler.  Now, its not that the midwives lie to Pharaoh in verse 19.  Hebrew women may well indeed vigorously give birth before the midwives have time to arrive.  They know they’re in the right.  Similarly, Paul could have taken a beating in Damascus, but instead escaped in a basket through the wall (Acts 9).  “So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families” (vs 20-21).  The Egyptians tried beating the Hebrews into submission, but it only made them stronger.  Pharaoh tried to shut them down, but God raised them up.  Some have wondered if these midwives were a bit older and were miraculously granted children.  Pharaoh turns his ugly head again, and now commanded his own people to kill the sons of the Hebrews.  Those children aren’t strong enough to resist.  Who will stop our power against them?  Throwing them into the Nile river would be easy clean up, and wash away any evidence.  Perhaps there’s a sense of nature just taking its course to relive the consciences of the murderers.  Indeed, the Egyptians viewed the Nile as a god, so it was up to him to decide the new-born’s fate (Stuart 83-84).  Don’t hold me accountable!  It must be society’s fault!  We recall later how God will have justice through the ten plagues, and drown Pharaoh’s male army in the Red Sea.  Perhaps there’s some scales being weighed there.  In chapter 2, we don’t yet have the priestly tribe of Levi, and yet there’s a hint of them being special.  We read of a Levite who took a wife from the same tribe, and they bore a “fine child.”  This woman also feared God over Pharaoh, and hid him for three months.  A mother would do anything for her son, and when she could hide him no longer, she made a basket covered in pitch, and put him in the Nile.  That was the last time she was to see him.  Is this really your will for me God?  How could you allow this to happen?!  Interestingly, the same word used here for “basket” is the same used as “ark” back in Genesis 6 in the global flood.  God has the power to save anyone (Stuart 88).  Surely there’s some shadowing back to that past event.  As it happened, the baby’s sister watched from a distance as he was in the river.  Sure enough, Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the river and saw the son crying.  What will she do?  Is the jig up?  Will she obey her father and have the child handed over to Pharaoh’s henchmen?  Cast into the hands of the Egyptians was not where we wanted the child to go.  Will Pharaoh’s daughter turn him over to the Egyptian Gestapo?  However, God is working behind the scenes.  He’s the one in charge.  God wants our obedience and will see that we have a way to do so.  Pharaoh’s daughter has pity on the Levite’s son and decided to raise him within Pharaoh’s household.  The child’s sister steps forward and offers to find a nurse for him.  Who does she go to other than the child’s mother?  We can only imagine the mother’s reaction to have her son back.  It was the worst of times, it was the best of times.  She obeyed God and was blessed to raise him for a few years.  She was also blessed to be paid in doing so.  Not only does her child get to live, but he gets to live in the upper crust of society!  He’s not just going to be a slave his whole life.  He’s not going to have to hide away in Pharaohs daughter’s shed (See 2:10).  How many people get to say that they’re the mother of such a great man as Moses?  The name comes from an Egyptian word meaning: “son.”  His real mother didn’t live to see God’s ten plagues and the Exodus, for Moses was 80 years old when he first told Pharaoh: “Let my people go!” (Exodus 7:7).  Yet how proud she would have been.  Moses’ sister, of course, was Miriam who watched him in that basket.  We learn that Moses’ mother’s name was Jochebed (Exodus 6:20).  Their family would indeed be blessed for their obedience.  Someone wrote: “Although this portion of the overall narrative features Moses, it is also the story of how God used three women to save a baby from death” (Stuart 85).  God can use anyone, great or small- all He asks for is obedient faith.  “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict” (Hebrews 11:23).  Are we going to let culture determine what we do?  Just because a minority of Americans make the most noise, doesn’t mean that we should be brow beaten into their ideology.  It doesn’t mean that God needs to change, or that His word needs to be rewritten.  Are we going to let God determine our actions?  A nation’s laws are surely no higher than God’s laws.  They can say certain marriages are acceptable, but God said one man and one woman for life.  Apart from death, Jesus gave one and only one exception.  They can say we have a phobia of Islam, but the Quran instructs the killing of infidels.  They’re certainly no friend of women’s rights.  Ignorance is bliss.  Just as Noah was saved through the flood waters, Moses was saved through the Nile.  Just as the Israelites were saved crossing the Red Sea, so we’re saved through baptism. Paul detailed in Romans 6 how we’re buried like Christ was, and raised up to walk in newness of life.  Just as God raised Jesus from the dead, He’ll raise us up as well.  “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).  

Testing (11-4-2023)

As a student I hated tests.  It seemed like the teacher was always trying to trick you.  They’d phrase the question in a certain way to make you think along a certain path, but of course the correct answer was the other way.  I’d fall for it every time overthinking it.  Paul said: “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).  To get to heaven, we must take up our crosses and follow Him.  Jesus said: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20).  While God may test us, He doesn’t tempt us: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one” (James 1:13).  Its the Devil or ourselves tempting.  God tested Abraham when He commanded Isaac to be sacrificed: “After these things God tested Abraham” (Genesis 22:1).  God tested the Israelites in the wilderness when He rained the manna from heaven.  He wanted to see if they would obediently gather only enough for the day: “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not” (Exodus 16:4).  Peter wrote: “do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you” (1 Peter 4:12).  We’re having our faith purified like gold in a furnace having all dross removed: “the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold” (1 Peter 1:7).  We’ve all experienced the loss of a loved one.  Could it be a test that we’re being put through?  Is our reliance on God?  Or is it on a person?  Our perseverance builds character, and character leads to hope.  In college, my friend was spotting me on the bench press, and as I was struggling to lift it up, one of his sweat drops landed right in my eye.  Thankfully, I didn’t drop the bar . . .  They always say: “No pain, no gain!”  You have to push yourself in order to get a better result.  What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger (unless you lose an arm).  Folks that want to pay off their debt need to persevere and test themselves: “Do I need this, or do I want it?”  Seeing the big picture helps in enduring testing (See Deuteronomy 13:1-5).  We know that we have an eternal home in heaven with God.  No matter how much testing we may have to endure- its worth it.  If we had to slave away like the Hebrews in Egypt our whole lives, it’d be worth it knowing that God is on the other side.  For many American families, situations don’t start off the way we wanted.  There are addictions, words said, and strife.  How can these difficulties ever be overcome?  Thankfully we have a loving family in the church.  Deuteronomy 13 is one of those sections that is hard for me to get my mind around.  It was through a dream or vision that God would speak to His prophets.  Thus, in verses 1-2, Moses is careful to write: “dreamer of dreams.”  This false prophet was just making ideas up out of his own mind.  Yet, what about this “sign” or “wonder’ that’s given?  One possibility is that the false prophet preformed a magic trick, and thus led the people astray.  The other thought is that God allowed this prophet a sign or wonder as a miracle.  I think not, yet even if that were the case, God still demands that only He be worshiped.  This was only a test.  Even if the whole world believes one way, we have to endure that test like Noah did.  There were probably a few billion people alive in Noah’s day before the flood.  They bad mouthed Noah throughout his life.  God may be testing us.  A school test shows whether a student understood the information or not.  God wants to see where our hearts are at.  We’re to love Him with all our hearts and souls.  Deuteronomy 6 adds: “with all your might.”  Jesus also added “all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).  We need to: walk, fear, keep his commandments, obey, serve, and hold fast (all in verse 4!).  That’s the ultimate test in life.  Will we do God’s will?  Is His cause worth dying for?  God was the one who led His people out of Egypt.  He’s the one worthy of all the glory.  This false prophet failed the test.  He’s to be put to death.  Yeah, but he didn’t steal anything!  He didn’t murder anyone!  Leading people away from God is the greatest harm one can do.  We read: “whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).  What good is it to gain the whole world and forfeit your soul?  If righteous folks in the Old Testament can endure testing for 900 years, then surely we can endure during the 70 years of our lives.  Joseph endured being mocked by his own brothers, being sold as a slave, and resisted Potiphar’s wife’s advances.  The Judges always seemed to have the odds set against them, but if God is for us, who can be against us?  Ruth lost he father, her husband, and moved to a foreign country.  She was even willing to change her mind about her former religion.  Who does that these days?  Jesus is the best example of enduring and passing life’s test.  He was baptized, for: “thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).  It fulfilled prophecy “you are my beloved Son” (Psalm 2:7), and confirmed Jesus was God’s Son.  The Spirit also descended on Him allowing Him to do miracles.  He was ready to take on all the tests of this life.  Jesus also passed Satan’s temptations.  It was God’s will to worship Him alone, and Jesus (God) passed with flying colors; a term that apparently comes from victorious ships sailing home with their flags raised.  He passed the Pharisees and the Sadducees: questioning, traps, and testing.  He always had a truthful and brilliant response to His opposition.  He didn’t let pride get in the way.  He didn’t sin like the religious leaders often did.  Before Pilate Jesus didn’t rebuttal.  Before the false accusations of the Chief Priest He didn’t point out all of his faults.  Even when crucified, He didn’t talk back to the insulting criminals.  John wrote: “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done” (Revelation 20:12).  What test might you be going through?  It isn’t near as bad as what Christ endured on our behalf.  Yet God raised Him from the dead, and will do the same for us if we have obedient faith in Him.  

Supper And Servanthood (10-21-2023)

In John’s gospel, from Chapters 1-12 (about 3 years), from chapter 13-17 (4 hours), and from chapters 13-20 (one week).  Within chapters 13-17 the chapters all seem to take place in the upper room (See John 13).  Only at chapter 18:1 do we read: “When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden.”  This is even despite Jesus saying: “Get up, let us go from here” (14:31; Orbison 24).  Jesus just kept on talking.  Some have called this Jesus’ “private” ministry (See 1-4).  Passover began with the eating of a Lamb, and then seven days of eating unleavened bread.  The Twelve disciples are with Jesus: “Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples” (Matthew 26:20).  Satan doesn’t want to be a servant.  He wants to call the shots.  “Hey Judas, you could be rich and live like a prince!  You don’t need to live your life like this Jesus fellow.”  The father had “given all things into His hands” (See 3:35; 5:27).  Jesus knew how His life would play out.  Consider: “The sea is His, for it was He who made it, And His hands formed the dry land” (Psalm 95:5).  Its amazing what this all powerful being is about to do with His hands: wash His disciple’s feet (Philippians 2:6-7).  Someone wrote: “although Jesus knew that all things were in his hands in these hours of hastening toward his death, he did not smite the traitor and the foes in league with this son of perdition but followed his course of love” (Lenski 912).  The dispute that arises about which of the disciples is the greatest isn’t in John’s gospel (Luke 22:24).    Jesus, although having “all things” didn’t boast that He was the greatest.  Jesus put on a towel like a slave to show who really was the greatest.  All the disciples had the same opportunity to wash the others feet, but they didn’t take it (See 5-11).  Jesus washed the disciple’s feet “during” the meal (v 2), not on arrival as was the custom.  Washing was a matter of courtesy within homes, but this act was a deliberate example-  not just a formality by Jesus.  The term “Rabbi” was common, but “Lord” was rare, and may show divine appreciation by Peter.  If Peter can’t accept a foot washing Lord, how will he accept a crucified Lord?  Will we stand with Jesus as a servant?  The disciples didn’t understand that there was something more to the foot washing.  Almighty God, the soon to be Savior was washing their feet!  The majority in the world see the rich Hollywood stars and presidents as successful.  Who does God see as the successful?  Peter’s “you” is emphatic in verse 8 perhaps with the “my” in contrast.  Peter needed to accept Jesus’ servanthood, not dictate it.  He needed to take a step back and (ideally) appreciate the gravity of the situation.  A servant listens before speaking.  Well, Peter was now ready for a bath, not just a foot washing!  Again, Jesus tries to redirect him to the spiritual emphasis and not just what he was physically seeing.  Peter was more less clean, but he was also ignorant (See 12-17).  Consider that Jesus even washed Judas’s feet (Jesus knew what was going to happen).  I don’t know if I could wash my enemy’s feet.  Yet the real issue is being morally “clean” not merely physically clean.  When we have a servant attitude, its not only easier to accomplish something, but to pursued others to do the same.  It is interesting to note the reverse: “Teacher and Lord” with “Lord and the Teacher” (vs 13-14)  Jesus is the best at either job.  He’s the best Rabbi, and the best Master.  Yet no matter what role, He also was a servant.  By Him all things were made: “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:2).  He created the universe which paved the way for upper rooms and kingdoms.  He’s the great I AM.  Through His design and hands the universe holds together.  The word “one sent” is apostolos (apostle).  If we do things because Jesus wants us to, this is much better than doing things for status.  We’re not in the business of loudly proclaiming out good deeds, but showing them with a humble spirit.  The apostles would go on to heal the lame and sick.  They’d preach the good news with servant hearts, and not as reigning overlords.  Peter would be humbled after his three denials of Jesus.  He needed to carry a servant attitude everywhere he went.  People like having the last word, but when all is said and done, the one serving Jesus gets to enter into rest.  Its not about being right, its about being right with God.  Its not about the last word, its about Jesus’ word.  The one being served may think: “Hey!  What else can I get out of this deal?”  Yet the servant knows his place.  We’re not entitled to anything but death: “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  We’ve all committed plenty of sin in our lives.  Remember that Jesus said: “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).  If you’re a rancher, you want to get your oxen to plough your field.  You want them working hard.  While Jesus does want us to work hard, His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  His grace gets us to heaven, and its easy to be His slave.  That’s a pretty good deal.  Often when we see the word “servant” in the New Testament, its better translated “slave.”  In America we think about abusive slave owners, but in the Bible, if one loved their master, they could get their ear pierced showing that they’er slaves for life (Exodus 21:6).  We all have a choice this morning.  Are we going to be slaves to God, or slaves to ourselves?  Are we going to do Jesus’ will, or our own?  Does our day belong to us or to God?  It almost sounds easier to be a slave of God than a slave to each other.  We can’t see God, but He also wants us to serve one another.  “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).  “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20).  Let’s be sure to have a humble servant attitude in us throughout life.  

Giving (10-14-2023)

It feels good to give.  Our mood improves, and it creates a connection with others.  Its shown to lower one’s stress.  The giver sees all the blessings that he has, and the less fortunate fellow is helped (https://health.clevelandclinic.org).  God designed the church to be giving.  Many ponder: “Well, how much should we give?” Some groups say we should give 10%.  They get this idea from the Old Testament: Melchizedek blessed Abram who defeated a few kings, and rescued his nephew Lot.  He said: “blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything” (Genesis 14:20).  Abraham didn’t see himself as the victor, but God as the one winning the day.  He thus gave to the Priest of God (Melchizedek).  After Jacob had a dream of a ladder reaching to Heaven, with the angels ascending and descending on it: “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you’” (Genesis 28:20-22).  I love how Jacob merely asked for the necessities (food and clothing).  He’s had this amazing dream, and realizes that there’s more to life than just the physical world.  God is worthy of honor.  Under the Mosaical Law, the Lord said to Moses: “every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman’s staff, shall be holy to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:32).  That giving assisted in the temple sacrifices and worship.  Back in that day, God actually dwelt in the Tabernacle.  The pillar of cloud, and at times a bright flashing light showed that God was with His people.  I imagine it being a little easier to give when God was so close to the Israelites.  Paul spoke a lot about giving (See 1 Corinthians 16:1-2).  This instruction that Paul gave Corinth, he also directed other churches to do as well.  This instruction wasn’t just specific to the Corinthians.  Having organization is a lot better than being haphazard and caught off guard.  Some prosper more than others, and God knows that.  Rich or poor, everything we have is from God.  Our talent that got us high in that career is a gift from God.  Our knowledge of being wise with money- that’s a gift from God.  In America, we’ve been blessed so much.  We have clean drinking water.  We’re not caught up in a civil war.  According to a few websites irememberthepoor.org, and balleralert.com if you have $2,200 you’re richer than 50% of the world.  We should also give out of our trust in God (See Mark 12:41-44).  The poor widow gave 2 small copper coins equalling about 1/64 of a denarius (a day’s wages) everything she had.  She could have kept one of them.  She knows she can’t make it on her own (probably old, can’t work).  Trust’s in God, her heart is in the right place.  Once upon a time: “A poor blind woman was attending a missionary meeting in Paris.  When an offering was taken, she dropped 27 francs into the plate.  Later, one of the elders of the church, who knew her quite well, approached her and said: ‘You can’t afford to give as much as you did.’  ‘Yes sir, I can.’  she replied.  On being pressed for an explanation she said: ‘I earn my living by making brooms in my home.  Sometimes I have to work far into the night to earn enough to live on.  Some of my friends who are not blind do the same kind of work.  When they work at night, they have light to help them.  I found out that they have to pay 27 francs a year for oil in their lamps.  So you see, I am blind, so I do not need to spend that money for oil for light.  Therefore, I can afford to give to shed light in a world of spiritual darkness” -Author Unknown (Orbison 75).  Hypothetically, what if you gave your: checking account, savings, and retirement money, would you still have the same trust in God as this widow had?  Even if we gave, let’s say a whopping 20% of our income to God’s we still keep 80% for ourselves.  We should also give out of appreciation (See 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, 14-15).  A farmer doesn’t mind spending money on sowing the seeds, for the crops will then produce more seeds.  Our heart condition is what matters, not the value.  Nevertheless, if we cheerfully give only a dollar, what does that say about our heart?  What does that say about our priorities?  We need to be appreciative.  Jesus told the woman who wiped His feet with her hair: “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47).  God is the best giver.  He can offer us grace.  Note: “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).  Someone commented: “The scene is the purchasing of a commodity of some sort where the amount measured out is not short, skimpy, or even fair but a ‘good’ measurement.”  The seller is being far more generous than is anywhere need necessary.  It is “Pressed down” and “shaken together.”  The container is filled; perhaps we should think of grain.  There’s no space left, it is completely full.  I wonder if this basket isn’t one of those big containers we can strap onto our mule.  It is “Running over.”  Our now rounded heap of grain on top is falling around the container.  We were expecting a basket half empty, but God can give us a basket overflowing!  It is also poured “into your lap” having the idea of carrying even more grain in the hem of your cloak- there’s just too much of it!  Where can I put it all??  I’ve filled my pockets, the backseat, and the trunk!  That is what God’s grace is like.  We were sinking in the miry clay with no hope of being rescued.  The flood waters were overwhelming us up to our necks.  Yet then God gave us a firm place to stand.  He can part the Red Sea, making our path smooth.  In reality, He’s saved us from an eternity of torment that we rightly deserve.  We’ve all rebelled against HIm.  We’ve all taken that broad path leading to destruction.  We couldn’t be righteous enough.  Our blood isn’t enough to secure haven in heaven.  Give out of prosperity.  Give out of trust.  Give out of appreciation.  God gave you and me the most anyone could give in Jesus.  He’s instructed us to be obedient to Him: Believing what we’ve heard (John 8:24), repenting of our sins (Luke 13:3), confessing Him as Lord (Romans 10:10), and being baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).  

Orbison, Guy. Petrillo, Denny.  Workshop in the Word: A Study of the Gospel of Luke. 2010.

Acts 12 Expectations (10-7-2023)

We’ve all had that time when our expectations weren’t fulfilled.  Conversely, we’ve all known a time when our expectations were realized far more than we expected (See Acts 12).  In Acts 12, the early church is facing persecution primarily from the Jews.  The chapter starts with “Herod” that is, Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great.  Luke writes: “about this time” which would be in the early 40’s AD.  Someone wrote: “Why persecution of the Christians was particularly pleasing to them at this time is not stated. Perhaps it was the acceptance of uncircumcised gentiles” (Polhill 278).  Perhaps some of the early Christians had an expectation of never facing any bad thing now that they’ve joined the church.  Doesn’t He just want to make us happy all the time?  In verse 2, this James that’s beheaded by Herod was the brother of John, the Apostle (Luke 5:10).  The Jews are all for killing off this new Jesus sect.  Herod also has Peter arrested as well.  A “squad” of soldiers was made up of four men.  Thus, we have 16 soldiers for just one chained individual.  The Jewish guard couldn’t hold the Apostles back in chapter five, will Herod’s guard do any better?  Will prison or prayer be more powerful?  We have several soldiers, sturdy chains, and a heavy locked door; there’s no way he’s going to escape.  Verse 6 says: “Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night.”  I wonder if Herod was planning on killing Peter almost immediately.  He is after all the main ringleader of these troublers.  Then God does the unexpected.  A bright light shines in his cell even though its the darkness of night.  The angel is instrumental in directing Peter out of the prison: struck, woke, get up quickly, dress yourself, sandals, wrap your cloak, and follow.  Your expectation wouldn’t be that the chains just fall off miraculously.  Peter’s expectation probably was: “I’m going to die today.”  At least I get to be with the Lord!  He thought what the angel was doing was a dream or vision (v 9).  He didn’t realize his packing up was actually happening.  There are times when we don’t see the path God has laid out for us, but then in retrospect we see why He did so.  Its just our expectations that didn’t match up with His.  Peter and the angel pass two of the guard squads miraculously unnoticed.  The gate opens by itself without alerting any of the other Roman; good thing Peter thought it was a dream, he might have screamed or something.  We read of this: “iron gate that leads into the city.”  Someone commented: “Most likely the place of Peter’s confinement was the Tower of Antonia, where the Roman troops were barracked. Located at the northeastern corner of the temple complex, its eastern entrance led into the streets of the city” (Polhill 281).  If so, this “prison” was really a fortress.  The Romans knew how often the Jews like revolting, and thus made a substantial four towered castle right next to the temple in Jerusalem.  We might wonder why is it that James is killed, and Peter isn’t?  Why would God allow such a thing?  He said in Isaiah: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord” (55:8).  “The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; 2 he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness” (Isaiah 57:1-2).  Our expectations often aren’t the same as God’s plan.  We’d be content with a few loaves of bread in life, but God wants to give us life abundantly.  We see a trial, He sees an opportunity to overcome.  We see death, He sees a home in heaven.  John Mark will be with Paul on his first missionary journey (Next chapter).  He was a cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10), and was the one to write the second gospel (Orbison 50).  Since Mary is Mark’s mother, Barnabas and Mary must be siblings.  The Christians were praying for Peter’s release.  He’s one of our main leaders.  We don’t want to lose him!  What will happen to the church?  It was only two chapters ago when we started getting the Gentiles in.  In verse 13, Rhoda is specifically mentioned in Luke’s account so that doubters can go and ask her for themselves.  It can be hard to believe in the power of prayer.  We don’t hear a voice talking back to us, or see some bright golden plates.  The Christians here have doubts, saying that its Peter’s angel . . . to their credit though, maybe they have in mind Peter’s guardian angel: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14).  God works on His time, not based on our expectations.  The Christians are praying, but surely God can’t work that quickly!  It even seems that Peter was freed before these particular prayers were offered (God knows all things).  Well, they finally open up the door, and their previous expectation turns into amazement.  What can God do through our prayer lives?  When we’re down on our luck, God doesn’t need luck.  There are almost 600,000 homeless Americans in the US.  They’re not expecting much from life.  Yet God is able to turn their situation upside-down.  How will I ever get back on my feet?  How will I break this addiction?  Where we see chains and darkness, God can provide freedom and light.  Before we were Christians, the world set a pretty low bar.  The expectation was: be tolerant, be nice, and then do whatever you want.  Yet God offers us a life that goes far beyond anything we could ask or imagine.  Today, America has around: 13,000 military aircraft, 300 ships, and 6,000 tanks.  During our 5 years in WW2, America produced around: 300,000 aircraft, 9,000 ships, and almost 90,000 tanks.  America made over 60% of all allied equipment.  I wonder what Japan’s expectations were.  The world didn’t see much in Jesus.  He was born poor and lived poor.  He stayed in a single parent home.  He pushed all the wrong buttons with all the wrong people.  Yet God raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand.  He gave all authority to Him in heaven and on earth.  Let’s strive to see the life God has planned for us, and not focus on the life we think we can make for ourselves.

Orbison, Guy. Petrillo, Denny. Working in the Word a Study of Acts. 2013.

Polhill, J. B. Acts. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1992.

Kingdom?

The Bible talks a lot about the Kingdom, but what is it referring to?  The Church?  Heaven?  An earthly kingdom?  The word “Kingdom” Basileia occurs 162 X in the New Testament (See Mark 9).  When was the kingdom said to come?  In Jesus’ day it was at hand: “The kingdom of God has come near to you’” (Luke 10:9).  That is, it’s near.  It was coming soon: “And Jesus was saying to them, ‘Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God when it has come with power’” (Mark 9:1).  Some in that Jewish crowd there during the first century would live to see the kingdom come.  In Acts 1:6-8 the disciples asked: “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).  Jesus answers: “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8) on the day of Pentecost (very next chapter!).  Fifty days after Jesus’ last Passover meal (the Last Supper) was when the church started: “When the day of Pentecost [fiftieth] had come, they were all together in one place” (Acts 2:1); “And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).  Jesus uses the terms “kingdom” and “church” synonymously: “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom” (Matthew 16:18-19).  Remember back when the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, had a dream of a statue: golden head (Babylon), silver chest (Persia), belly/ thighs of bronze (Greece), and legs of iron (Rome).  We read concerning the iron: “in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever” (Daniel 2:44).  That was 30 AD on the day of Pentecost when the Roman Empire ruled the known world.  Paul wrote to the church in Colossae (Asia Minor/ Western Turkey) during the 60’s AD: “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).  The kingdom was in Paul’s day, not something in the future.  John the Apostle was part of the Kingdom writing in the 90’s AD: “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus” (Revelation 1:9).  The Kingdom was in John’s day.  Its quite unfortunate that some don’t believe the kingdom has come yet.  Some don’t even  believe that the Messiah has come yet!  Jesus gave several glimpses of what the kingdom would be like in Matthew chapter 13.  The kingdom is like a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32).  It starts small and grows big (3,000 on the Day of Pentecost Acts 2:41).  The kingdom is like leaven through bread (Matthew 13:33).  It spreads everywhere.  The kingdom is like great treasure (Matthew 13:44), or a Pearl of great value (Matthew 13:45-46).  It gives the waters of life.  The kingdom is like a dragnet cast into the sea (Matthew 13:47-48).  It catches all sorts of fish (Jew and Gentile: everybody).  Sometimes the kingdom refers to heaven.  Notice: “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm’” (John 18:36).  Jesus also gave a Judgment Day scene: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness'” (Matthew 7:21-23).  “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11).  Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have long been dead, so it can’t be an earthly kingdom (spiritual).  What about this thought of an earthly kingdom?  Jesus declined an offer of an earthly Kingdom: “Jesus, aware that they intended to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself, alone” (John 6:15).  People go to Revelation 20:1-6 to try and say that there will be a Thousand year reign and an earthly kingdom.  Yet in the context we have a figurative key (spiritual realm), a figurative chain (binding), and a figurative Dragon (called Satan).  So why would we think that the thousand years are literal?  Indeed, every single number in the book of Revelation is symbolic; even the seven churches is a symbolic number (Revelation 2-3).  What about the church at Hierapolis (Colossians 4:13)?  That church was in the area of Asia Minor as well.  These few verses have unfortunately spawned the theory of premillennialism.  They claim Jesus will set up an earthly Kingdom in the future because the Jews confounded God’s plan by putting Jesus to death (of course that was God’s plan of salvation all along; 1 Peter 1:20).  There are plenty of third world folks who would love to be apart of America.  Many try to get here anyway they can.  They’re motivated to enter that physical kingdom; look at all the free stuff that’s handed out like candy!  You subsidize anything you get more of it.  Just before Jesus’ crucifixion, He said: “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out” (John 12:31).  Although there are 195 countries in the world, we really only have two options: God’s kingdom or Satan’s.  We can be part of the church of Christ (Romans 16:16), or we can be part of a group that doesn’t follow the Bible.  Those are the only two options.  There are an estimated 4,000 religions in the world.  Yet we know there’s only two ways to go.  Many in the world are indifferent about which kingdom they belong to.  Yet one leads to eternal death, and the other to eternal life.  That’s a big difference.  The mob may rob from a store in ten minutes, but if caught, they may have to spend years in jail.  So too, only God knows the terribleness of sin, and the proper time for the crime.  We see in the Bible, this ongoing picture of God and His angels fighting against Satan and his fellow angels who choose to join with him.  The two kingdoms are at war.  Jesus said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).  He then said in the last verse of that chapter: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (v 36).  One must be baptized in order to enter the kingdom.  Jesus said: “of the water and the Spirit.”  Every person in the Book of Acts (history of the early church) is saved when they are washed in the blood of the Lamb through baptism.  Peter said: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).  

Babylon’s Fall (9-23-2023)

Wayne Jackson had a very interesting article concerning Babylon’s fall.  The specific prophecies are accurate and were given over a hundred years before the events.  Jeremiah wrote in the 600’s BC (Jeremiah 1:1).  This would be like someone in the late 1800’s predicting the Twin Towers would fall.  Only God can foretell the future.  The prophecies are specific and not generalizations.  The city of Babylon was built over the Euphrates river, 50 miles south of Baghdad (Jackson 519).  Herodotus says the city was an exact square 15 miles on each side.  It had a moat over 260 feet wide, walls 75′ thick with a height of 300′ high, and gates of brass.  Babylon had one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world: The Hanging Gardens.  Apparently, the Babylonian king’s Median wife missed her lush homeland (Pyramids, Colossus of Rhodes, Statue of Zeus/ Olympia, Temple of Artemis/ Ephesus, Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, and the Great Lighthouse of Alexandria).  The father of history, Herodotus (400’s BC), wrote concerning Babylon: “in magnificence there is no other city that approaches to it” (Jackson 519).  Babylon is called the: “great” (Daniel 4:30), “the mistress of kingdoms” (Isaiah 47:5), “rich in treasures” (Jeremiah 51:13), and the “praise of the whole earth” (Jeremiah 51:41; Jackson 520).  “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her gods he has shattered to the ground” (Isaiah 21:9).  “Fallen” is said twice for emphasis.  This is another example of the prophetic perfect (Hebrew perfect tense).  The God given word is so certain that its spoken as already happening.  Of course the Jews would have never added Jeremiah to the Hebrew Bible if his prophecies didn’t come true.  The Jews hated him in his day.  Babylon’s (v 5) pride would bring them low (Isaiah 47:7-9; Jeremiah 50:2; Jeremiah 50:18).  Babylon’s power over Mesopotamia would last 70 years/ Jewish captivity (Jeremiah 25:1; 11-12).  Notice at verse 12 that “after” the 70 years Babylon would be punished.  The 70 years is from Babylon defeating Assyria’s last king (609 BC) to Babylon’s fall in 539 BC to Persia.  God even foretold that the Persian Empire would be the conquerers.  In Isaiah 21:9, the context is speaking of Babylon.  Note: “Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end” (Isaiah 21:2).  We often see mention of the “Medes and the Persians” (Esther 1:19; Daniel 5:28).  The reason Isaiah says “Elam” instead of Persia, is because back in the 700’s BC, that was what the people of that area were called: “Persia would have been a designation alien to them at the time of Isaiah’s writing” (Jackson 523).  This prophecy would be similar to us saying that Canada would conquer America in the 21st century.  How could that ever happen?  A specific Persian king’s name is also given (Isaiah 45:1).  That was written around 100 years before Cyrus was even born!  Jeremiah also mentions the “medes” who would be subjugated by Persia (51:11), and that the invader would come from the north (50:9).  Persia would be north of Babylon.  The attack could have come from the east (Asia) or the west (Egypt).  While the Babylonian king Nabonidus (556-539 BC) was conducting a military campaign, his son Belshazzar was left in charge of Babylon.  The city would fall in 539 BC.  Herodotus (400’s BC) tells of Babylon’s fall to the Persians.  Xenophon (400’s-300’s BC), a student of Socrates, joined in the Persian army, and wrote Cyropaedia detailing Babylon’s fall.  Babylon was foretold to not come out and fight the Persians (Jeremiah 51:30).  Xenophon said that Cyrus was at first perplexed on how to take the city, for: “the Chaldean soldiers ‘do not come out to fight'” (Jackson 525).  It is also prophesied how Cyrus would eventually take Babylon.  The Euphrates river ran under the center of Babylon.  “Just to the west of the city was a huge lake basin, some thirty-five feet deep and covering forty square miles [marsh]” (Jackson 525).  Herodotus records how Cyrus diverted the Euphrates thus giving enough room for his soldiers to enter Babylon under the city walls where the river would have flowed through.  We also read of God: “who says to the deep, ‘Be dry; I will dry up your rivers’; 28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose” (Isaiah 44:27-28).  Jeremiah spoke also against Babylon (v 35).  Note: “A drought against her waters, that they may be dried up!” (50:38).  “‘The violence done to me and to my kinsmen be upon Babylon,’ let the inhabitant of Zion say. ‘My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea,’ . . . I will dry up her sea and make her fountain dry'” (Jeremiah 51:35-36).  The city would be taken during a drunken feast.  Shouldn’t we all be alert to the army just outside out walls (Jeremiah 50:24)?  A “snare” is unexpected and catches one by surprise.  The citizens of Babylon would be caught off guard (Jeremiah 51:39; 57).  “Herodotus recorded that the citizens of the central section of the city did not know that Babylon had fallen for a good while [drunk, reveling]” (Jackson 526).  Of course the city would be plundered, but even here specific details may be gleaned.  God was saying to Cyrus: “I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places” (Isaiah 45:3).  Perhaps there’s a hint here of Solomon’s Temple treasures being restored.  Herodotus described one temple within Babylon containing 20 tons of gold (Jackson 526).  Babylon certainly had her fill of treasure as the Bible depicts.  Xenophon recorded that Babylon had enough food to last for 20 years (Jeremiah 50:26).  Babylon would never rise again as a great power (Isaiah 13:19-20; Jeremiah 50:39; 51:26).  Surely God must have inspired these authors to write such specific events regarding the future!

Bibliography

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. Babel. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 1988.

Jackson, Wayne.  The Prophets An Old Testament Commentary IV. Christian Courier Publications, 2015.

Mathews, K. A. Genesis 1-11:26. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1996.

Matthew 12 House Divided (8-15-2023)

Thomas Sowell said: “The next time some academics tell you how important diversity is, ask how many Republicans there are in their sociology department” (fee.org).  Abraham Lincoln said in 1858: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”  Little do many know he was quoting from the Bible.  Unity is needed, but seems impossible with the current narrative (See Matthew 12:22-25).  In the Old Testament we see mention of the idolatrous Israelites sacrificing to demons- yet the demon actually being inside someone, is something we see only in the New Testament.  They were trying to divide people from the light to the darkness.  Even when we read about King Saul having an “evil spirit” this seems to be a psychotic issue for it says he “raved” or was insane (1 Samuel 18:10).  He was divided in his mind.  He liked David as a great warrior, but was also scared of his popularity.  Sometimes a demon only made a person mute (9:32).  Here, this demon possessed man was mute and blind!  I wonder how long this man wasn’t able to see or speak.  Satan divided this man’s life up horribly.  We live every minute wanting to see or say something.  God wanted to display His power through Jesus in order to point people to Him: curing diseases, walking on water, and even having authority over the spiritual realm.  He can also preform the miracle of unity.  Multitudes, or “all the people” see the miracle and connects it with the foretold Messiah, the descendant of King David.  You know, in the Old Testament there are lots of miracles that happened, but never is it recorded that the blind gained their sight.  That was a specific act foretold to be by “My Servant” a reference to the Messiah (Isaiah 42:6-7; Zechariah 3:8).  In verse 24, the Pharisees quickly say the exorcism must have been by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons in order to cast out this demon.  Notice that they don’t deny that the miracle happened- that’s very telling.  The word Beelzebul means: “Lord of the flies.”  The Jews gave him the most disgusting name they could think of.  Flies would certainly be around the manure pile down the street.  There’s some first century propaganda for ya.  “And knowing their thoughts . . . ” (that’d be a handy trick), Jesus talks about division.  From a large Kingdom to a single household, division spells catastrophe.  In the 1860’s, fifteen of the 34 states were slave states.  They would go on to break away from the Union.  Having different mindset’s lead to disunity (See vs 26-30).  Satan had enough on his plate when Jesus walked the earth.  I wonder what all was happening behind the scenes in the spiritual realm.  We can all think of someone that has a horrible division in their life.  Jesus replied: “If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out?”  Isn’t Jesus great with His responses?  The Pharisees had claimed to cast out demons themselves.  You can’t have your cake and eat it too . . . If you eat it, there’s no more cake.  Jesus then says that they will be your judges.  The Pharisees’ own words have condemned them.  Jesus often said: “The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”  Its time for the Pharisees and Sadducees to stop dividing the truth with their traditions, and come to the only truth found in Jesus.  Since Jesus isn’t working for Satan, the only other possibility is that He’s working for God.  In verse 29, Jesus was in the process of binding the “strong man” (Satan), and will of course decisively defeat him through the cross.  We read concerning Jesus how He: Came to earth in the flesh like we are.  He rose from the dead conquering sins greatest sting.  The Devil was defeated, so that Jesus: “might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives” (Hebrews 2:15).  Jesus is freeing souls from Satan.  Fear doesn’t have to keep us divided.  Today, we don’t have to be divided between IRS agents and slaves.  We’re either united with Jesus, or fighting against Him.  There’s no middle ground, no grey area, no sitting on the fence.  There’s actually a Law for it called the Law of the Excluded middle: “either that proposition is true or its negation is true” (Wikipedia).  Either there is a God or there isn’t.  Either the Bible is His word or its not.  Either Jesus can unite people or He can’t.  Jesus is a unifier.  He wants Jew and Gentile to dwell together in harmony.  He healed a Canaanite’s daughter, and a Roman officer’s slave.  He spoke with the political elite, and the beggars.  Jesus designed the church to be accepting of everyone who has repented of their sins.  He wants everyone to come to know Him.  He’s the light of the world.  He wants to be found.  He’s not hiding behind the clouds.  We know that Sunday school song: “Red and Yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.”  Adam and Eve were probably darker skinned.  Jesus Himself was a Jew living in Judea.  Anyone can come to Him, and everyone should.  Paul said he was the “foremost” sinner (1 Timothy 1:15): “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience” (v 16).  So long as you’re not dead, you can come back to Jesus.  He wants us with Him.  Jesus can unify families.  Just as Christ cares and is the head of the church, He wants husbands and wives to live at peace in Him.  Love is mentioned 6X there in Ephesians 6:22-33.  Agapē love is a love we have a choice in.   We can choose to love our enemies.  Thats a key aspect of unity.  The question we’re all wondering though, is: “Can Jesus unify America.”  Well, nothing’s impossible with God.  When the Persian king Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem from Babylon, they all took part in rebuilding the wall (daughters, Levites, merchants, and a goldsmith is even mentioned; Nehemiah 3).  The migration back from Babylon saw the disobedient perish along the way like during the Exodus.  They had to trust God’s way instead of their own way.  Only He can divide the Red Sea for us.    Jesus unifies people in the church.  We all have the same goal of getting to heaven.  Every person in Acts is baptized in order to be saved.  Paul said: “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God” (Colossians 2:12).  You know the only verse in the Bible where we read “faith alone?”  “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24).  We can’t earn the winning million dollar check, but we do have to sign it and deposit it in the bank.  He’s shown us the path to take: hearing and believing that He is the Son of God, repenting of our sins, calling on His name, and being baptized for the forgiveness of sins.  What areas do you need unity in your life?  

Anxiety (9-9-2023)

Introduction: Earlier this month, Nate Blaine from Mantua UT, lost his wife, two daughters, and his son-in-law to a car wreak.  One can only imagine the worry and stress he must be feeling.  As we know, there’s been over 100,000 Americans who died of drug overdoses in 2022.  Around 50,000 Americans committed suicide.  Together, that’s 40,000 more than US WW1 deaths.  Our nation has an anxiety problem.  People can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Judas didn’t see anywhere to turn to.  He pilfered from the disciple’s money box throughout Jesus’ three and a half year ministry (John 12:6).  He accepted 30 pieces of silver for the promise of betrayal (Matthew 26:15).  He wasn’t even able to spend it, and was overcome with remorse.  Instead of taking the hard step of coming back to Jesus, he took the so-called “easy way” out.  He hung himself: “Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out” (Acts 1:18).  From the Bible we know that sin is the real culprit.  It could be: pleasure, greed, or pride.  If we only see the small worries around us: inflation, wars, cheating; those aren’t looking at life from the big picture.  David, the son of Jesse, had reason to be anxious in the 1,000 BC.  His brothers made fun of him when he brought them food to the front lines (1 Samuel 17:28).  He was just trying to help, but his brother unjustly judged that he only wanted to see some of the action.  Goliath, being over 9 feet tall would be intimating.  It says that the Israelites were: “dismayed and greatly afraid” (1 Samuel 17:11).  David was just a youth.  What could he do?  He’s not politically experienced or a trained general.  Later he would fight with the Philistines time and time again (1 Samuel 17 through 2 Samuel 23).  Saul was trying to kill him off because he feared his popularity.  It wouldn’t surprise me if David was almost always outnumbered.   In another account, Saul tried piercing David to the palace wall- twice (1 Samuel 18:11)!  He hunted David and his followers down as they trekked across Palestine (1 Samuel 21:10).  Sweet dreams!  We have to camp in the open again.  What a great burden of anxiety he must have felt.   After David became king, he committed adultery with Bathsheba.  You know his heart was racing in more than one way there.  He knew he sinned.  She became pregnant.  His plans A and B didn’t work with her real husband Uriah.  David thus made the choice to have Uriah murdered.  Then, David’s infant son through Bathsheba would become sick and die.  You just know that would weigh heavily on his heart.  He never was able to see him grow up and play on the team.  David’s son Absalom would start a coup attempt against his father, and David would have to flee for his life.  One of the first things that he did was pray (2 Samuel 15:31).  Yet David recognized that something bigger than his brother’s chiding, and Goliath’s great strength was at work.  The Lord would bring victory.  Even our medical problems and insecurities are as nothing to Him.  The mighty Philistine armies with their swords and chariots were no match for what God could accomplish.  David relied on God throughout his life.  He didn’t get his name in the history books by going solo.  When we’re sinking in Galilee, God’s hand is there to life us up.  In the cave, David had his chance to kill King Saul, but he wouldn’t lift up his hand against the Lord’s anointed.  God’s rules were more important than man’s schemes.  He recognized God’s way as the best way.  If you go your own way, as much as I like that song, tough times are ahead.  While David made a big mistake in sleeping with another man’s wife, he at least didn’t make the even bigger mistake of kicking the bucket.  He repented, worshipped, and put his trust in God (2 Samuel 12:20).  Getting back to the light instead of hiding in the darkness lifted his burden.   Absalom rode on his mule, and had his head stuck in an oak tree.  David’s commander, Joab, would be the one to kill him.  God is the one who will give us justice at the right time.  David wrote at least 73 of the 150 Psalms.  All throughout, it was God who aided him.  God lifted him out of the miry clay, and gave him a firm rock to stand on.  God delivered him from his enemies.  God was like a shepherd guiding his path beside quite waters (See Philippians 4:11-13).   There are around 13 million Americans who experience depression (www.who.int).  One can’t help but wonder if the number isn’t higher.  Satan would love nothing more than to keep people focused on their problems instead of being focused on God.  Paul was in prison at Rome in the early AD 60’s.  He had been unjustly arrested.  He was surely uncomfortable and probably hungry.  Yet Paul didn’t say just a few thing he could do.  He didn’t say some challenges are just to great.  Jesus can overcome any struggle we may face.  Throughout John’s gospel, he points out all the areas where Jesus has control.  Seven signs are highlighted with Jesus as the master over: quality (water to fine wine), distance (healing the nobleman’s son far away), time (lame man had been that way for 38 years), quantity (5,000 fed), nature (walked on water), misfortune (healed a man born blind), and over death (raising Lazarus).  Surely God is strong enough to help us.  Living or dying, Paul was fine because he knew God was in control.  Nothing on this earth could move him.  Eternal life with God is worth more than a long earthly life.  Peter was to be executed the next day by Herod Agrippa (Acts 12).  He’s imprisoned, and I imagine anxious.  Yet an angel rescued him.  The locked door opening by itself.  Peter thought he was dreaming.  Trust in God, not in yourself.  Peter encourages us to pray (1 Peter 5:7).  Casting our cares on Him hands the baton to someone who can do more abundantly beyond for our situation.  Life may look hopeless at times, but Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden is light.  Jesus told us to not worry about our material needs or even about tomorrow (Matthew 6:25-26).  Jesus was poor while on earth, but He didn’t let the trifles of this life get Him down.  He relied on God for His daily bread.  He said: “My Father is working until now, and I am working” (John 5:17).  He: “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).  How anxious would you be if you knew you were going to be crucified tomorrow?  I know I wouldn’t be able to sleep the night before.  Yet Jesus had authority to take up His life or lay it down (John 10:18).  He chose the hard path for us, but didn’t let worry defeat Him instead saying: “Thy will be done.”  What worries do you have today?  Get rid of them.  The situation will turn out one way or another.  As Christians, we know that God has it all under control.  

Modern Apostles (9-2-2023)?

Does God’s word need to be updated?  Does it change with our modern times?  Catholics would say that the Pope receives modern day revelation.  Mormons would say that their prophets and apostles still receive new information from God (See Matthew 16:15-19).  Peter says that Jesus is the “Christ” (Greek: Anointed One); “Messiah” (Hebrew: Anointed One).  Simon Peter was the “Bar” (son) of Jonas.  Any human is “blessed” when they come to the conclusion that Jesus is the Anointed One.  Peter was willing to look at the evidence.  Jesus said: “you are Peter [petros (stone)], and upon this rock [petra (bedrock)] I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”  Upon the truthfulness of Peter’s statement, the church will be built: Jesus is the Christ (Anointed One).  Peter is just the “stone” or “rock,”  Jesus is the bedrock (foundation).  It says that Peter was given the “keys” to the church.  On the Day of Pentecost, after his first sermon, many Jews converted to christianity.  He’s also the first to convert Gentiles into the church (Acts 10:44, 48).  It is in this sense that he’s given the keys of the kingdom- allowing Jews and Gentiles to enter.  Notice that Peter isn’t making up the rules, he’s following what has already been decreed in heaven.  Peter, being inspired, only dictates what God has already decreed.  Peter doesn’t get to make it up as he goes like Popes want to do today.  Someone wrote: “the Greek uses the perfect passive and should be translated ‘will have been bound/loosed in Heaven’” -Dave Miller PhD (Are There Modern Day Apostles? apologeticspress.org).  What about modern day so-called “apostles” (See Luke 6:12-13).  The word “apostles” just means “one sent.”  While Barnabas is also called an “apostle” (Acts 14:14), in the context, its merely because he was sent on a missionary journey with Paul.  Barnabas wasn’t part of the official Twelve.  Notice that Jesus specifically chose these 12 to spread the gospel in the first century.  Without the Bible being fully written yet, He had to make sure the church got off to a correct start.  Someone will ask: “But what about Acts 1?”  This happened after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to heaven (See Acts 1:15-26).  Some will argue: Peter replaced an apostle, so shouldn’t we replace them as well?  No.  These men had to have seen Jesus from John the baptizer to His resurrection.  The quote is from Psalm 69:25; 109:8.  Note: “These statements referred to what must be done to the enemies of the Messiah, of which Judas became” (Orbison 8).  Matthias was to be the one to fulfilled that prophecy in the Psalms.  God did the choosing: “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord” (Proverbs 16:33).  As someone wrote: “It was necessary to replace Judas because he had abandoned his position. His betrayal, not his death, forfeited his place in the circle of Twelve. Even after death James continued to be considered an apostle” (Polhill 93).  No one today has seen the risen Lord.  We have what we need laid out in the Bible.  “As such, the role of apostle was limited to the Twelve” (Polhill Vol 26 93).  Note that the church was: “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 2:20).  We don’t have any apostles today.  Consider: “the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:14).  We don’t need a modern 12 apostles today like our neighbors have.  You know, there were 14 Apostles: the 12, Matthias (who replaced Judas), and Paul.  Paul saw the risen Lord on the road to Damascus (1 Corinthians 9:1), and being a good Jew, must have visited Jerusalem three times a year.  Being zealous, surely he saw John the Baptizer at some point (See 1 Corinthians 15:7-8).  Paul said he was “last of all” concerning the apostles.  Another mark of an apostle was the fact that they could lay their hands on someone allowing them to do miracles.  In Acts 6, some Greeks were being overlooked in favor of the Jews concerning food aid (See Acts 6:6, 8; Acts 8:14-19; 19:6).  Also: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6).  There are no miracles today (See 1 Corinthians 13:8-10).  These miraculous gifts had their place, but once the Bible was completed there was no more need for them.  The primary reason for miracles was to confirm the word: “So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands” (Acts 14:3); “how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders ” (Hebrews 2:3-4); “For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:18-19).  This “perfect” is better thought of as “complete” (neuter gender, so not Jesus).  The Bible is the completed word of God.  We read: “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds [ . . . ] teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Ephesians 4:11-13).  The temporary visions and miracles were partial until the completed word was fully written.  In the first century, these positions were necessary.  “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).  If we have everything, then there’s nothing more that we need.  Ah!  Someone will say: “But Peter wrote that in the AD 60’s, and we still have John’s letters to be written in the AD 90’s.  So how can you say that God really gave us ‘everything’ while Peter was alive?”  The gospel is everything we need.  Peter had it, and John didn’t change it.  The main tenants of Christianity were known and not subject to change.  The church of Christ at Ephesus was commended: “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false” (Revelation 2:2).  Let’s trust in the Bible and not false teachers.

Miller, Dave. Are There Modern Day Apostles? 2002. apologeticspress.org https://apologeticspress.org/are-there-modern-day-apostles-1226/

Polhill, J. B.Acts. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1992.

Orbison, Guy. Petrillo, Denny. Working in the Word a Study of Acts. 2013.

What Do We Give To Jesus (8-26-2023)?

We can all think of a person we respect who we want to aid their cause.  Maybe its a friend we know.  Maybe its a leader in one field or another.  Perhaps you’d even be willing to donate to this individual.  In the 1st and 2nd centuries, Rome was having its golden age.  The Roman Emperors were viewed as gods.  There were even some barbarian tribes that wanted to become Roman (Ostrogoths, Vandals).  Look at all the things we can gain by being Roman (baths, aqueducts, etc . . .)!  Occupied by the Romans, were the Jews in Judea.  Among them, the Rabbis (teachers) wanted to be respected.  Jesus detailed how they walked in their fancy robes, and for show made large contributions (Matthew 23).  They’ve studied the scriptures so much!  They gave their tithes and keep the festivals.  Really, they just wanted to take and not give.  Look over with me at Matthew 17.  This will be Jesus’ last visit to Capernaum, His main home base of operation while on earth (Petrillo 19).  Capernaum was north of the Sea of Galilee.  The Jews had a temple tax that was to be given apart from Rome.  This would help upkeep the temple and its services.  Jesus has something important to teach Peter, the kings of the earth, and even us today (See Matthew 17:24-27).  In another instance, the Pharisees used a similar question to try and trap Jesus (Matthew 22).  Over there it concerned a Roman tax, but the answer given by Jesus was the same.  Someone made clear: “[This] is the two-drachma tax, also known as the half-shekel tax.  One shekel equaled four drachmas, and a drachma was approximately equivalent to the Roman denarius—the standard wage for a day laborer.  Hence, this tax involved two days’ wages” (Blomberg Vol 22 269).  The two drachma tax was paid by Israelites 20 years and older (Exodus 30:13; 38:26).   Interestingly: “ordained rabbis (which Jesus was not) were already exempt from the tax” (Blomberg 270).  Jesus, you don’t have our special Rabbi certificate do you?  You didn’t graduate Yale, so you’re not one of us (thank goodness).  Back in verse 25, Jesus knows Peter’s question before he even asks (God knows more than the collectors).  A “toll” would have been a general tax, whereas the poll “tax” was on individuals.  The Emperor’s children don’t have to give taxes- they’re the ones who benefit from them!  Jesus is also a Son, but not just any Son.  He’s the King of everything.  If anyone shouldn’t have to pay taxes, the Creator of all things shouldn’t!  Peter, as a close follower of the King should be exempt as well.  Jesus is higher than the Mosaical Law and its taxes.  We ourselves are called: “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).  He paid the cost for us.  He’s raised us up farther than we ever could on our own.  He’s the one who’s given us so much.  In verse 27, Jesus is wise in not wanting to offend the tax collectors of His day.  Yet they should be taking His word more seriously than their own.  They look like the ones in charge, but Jesus holds more treasure than they ever will.  This account is no figurative fairytale.  Peter didn’t just catch a fish and sell it for four drachmas.  It was Peter’s first fish that literally had the tax money in its mouth.  Wow.  Can I pay taxes that way?  Too bad I’m not fond of fish . . .  Jesus provides for our needs.  One author wrote: “If Jesus and his disciples refused to pay the Temple tax, the people, unable to understand the true reason, would conclude falsely that Jesus and the disciples despised the Temple and its worship and would thus reject them and their gospel message” (Lenski 675).  Jesus knows just the right answer to give for the collectors, the crowds, and the Rabbi’s.  Maybe He holds the answer for us as well.  They say knowledge is power, and Jesus knows all things.  If the Rabbi’s can demand payment for an earthly temple, what should we be willing to give to Jesus; who makes us a: “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19).  Jesus’ Father owned the Temple in Jerusalem- little did the jews know.  He’s greater than the temple.  Destroy this temple and I’ll rebuild it in three days (John 2:19).  He can give more than fancy marble and gold lampstands.  Jesus didn’t have to bow the knee to these collectors, yet He came to earth as a humble servant.  Are we willing to bow the knee before Him?  If Jesus has control over the fish, what else does He have control over?  It wasn’t four Drachmas, or a talent that was found in the fish’s mouth, it was exactly what was needed for the given situation.  Jesus knows what’s just right for your situation too.  When we wake up in the morning, we have a whole day to do something with.  The Psalmist wrote: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (118:24).  We might as well serve the Master who is in heaven.  Jesus gives us the bread, and water of life.  He gives us meaning and purpose.  He gives us the road map of the best way to go.  There may be plenty of people we can help in life, but Jesus can help the most.  He took our place on Golgotha; taking the flogging and the nails that we deserved.  He rose from the dead to give us that same hope.  He even wants to give us a home in heaven eternally with him.  Yet we must have obedient faith being baptized like all those saved in teh book of Acts were.  

Blomberg, C. Matthew. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1992

Lenski, R. C. H. The Interpretation of St. Matthew’s Gospel. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House. 1961

Orbison, Guy. Petrillo, Denny.  Matthew Chapters 14-28.  Workshop in the Word 2016

Sunday (8-19-2023)

Muslims worship on Friday.  Hindus worship different gods every day of the week.  Buddhists don’t have a specific holy day during the week.  The Israelites offered sacrifices every day of the week.  Some of their festivals would last a whole week.  The Sabbath (Saturday), was when they’d have a day of rest on which no work was to be done.  Some ponder if the day we worship on matters at all, we read: “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5).  So why is it that in the first century, Christians worshiped on Sunday?  Why not Tuesday?  What made that day so special?  The sun rises every day of the week, and sets just as it did the day before.  “Ignatius wrote in his letter to the Magnesians (believed to be penned around A.D. 110) how Christians ‘have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord’s Day’” (apologeticpress.org Did Paul Want Christians to Come Together on Saturday or Sunday?).  For one, Jesus rose on the first day of the week: “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb . . .” (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1).  Jesus meet with His disciples on Sunday: “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you’ . . . Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you’” (John 20:19, 26).  Remember, a Jewish day started at sundown.  The day of Pentecost and the start of the church also happened on Sunday.  We know this  from Leviticus: “You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath [so Sunday], from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. 16 You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the Lord” (23:15-16).  Thus, Pentecost (the Feast of Weeks “new grain offering”) happened on a Sunday.  The start of the church of Christ was a big deal (Romans 16:16).  God’s kingdom would reign in the hearts of people.  Recall also that the phrase “break bread” can mean the Lord’s Supper or just having a common meal:  “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread [communion] and the prayers . . . And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread [common meal] in their homes” (Acts 2:42, 46). The early Christians met on Sunday to partake of communion.  Jesus had instructed to do this in remembrance of Me.  “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight” (Acts 20:7).  Paul was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem: “For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost” (Acts 20:16).  If Paul is in a hurry, why stay seven days at Troas (Acts 20:6)?  He did so to meet with the church on Sunday.  Again, a Jewish “day” began at sundown the day before.  Some have objected that Acts 20:7 does not specify every single week . . .This is true, just as the command to observe the Sabbath did not specify every Sabbath.  The command was simply: “remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8).  The Jews correctly understood that to mean every Sabbath.   Sunday also shows a direct contrast with Judaism.  Christianity wasn’t just a warmed over Jewish thing.  It was a new covenant that God made with humanity.  Isn’t it curious that God could have shown His visions to John on Patmos any day of the week?   He chose the Lord’s day: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet” (Revelation 1:10).  With John unable to meet with the church during his his exile, it was fitting for God to encourage him.  We’re also warned in Hebrews: “let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some” (Hebrews 10:24-25).  Those in the world aren’t going to encourage us.  They want us to join them on the evil path.  I imagine God designed Sunday so that we all start the week off right.  God knows whats best for His church.  If God told you to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem three times a year in order to have eternal life, you’d do that.  Obviously, we can’t earn our way to heaven, but my point is, the Creator knows whats best for His children.  If God’s 12 inspired Apostles thought meeting on Sunday was a good thing to do, shouldn’t we?  For 2,000 years the church has met on Sunday.  It’s been said: “Don’t wait for the hearse to take you to church.”  Sunday’s aren’t just an Easter thing.  Five water buffalo can stand against a lion, but only if they stand together.  When the Devil wants to devour us, we can lean on each other to overcome him.  You can’t have that kind of encouragement on a mountain top by yourself.  If the average American lives 76 years, and you were converted in your teens, that’s roughly 3,000 Sundays God wants us to be there for.  That’s 125 full days if each Sunday is counted as an hour.  Is that too much to ask?  Certainly, He wants our devotion every day of the week, but He’s also set aside Sunday as special.  If a doctor you trusted told you a way to fix your problem, you’d obey him; he knows the human body so well!  When God tells us to gather together as a church, consider that He knows all things- even the number of hairs on your head.  God designed the church for us, and appointed Sunday as the day to worship Him.  One day, He’s promised us a rest in heaven just as He rested (stopped work) on the seventh day of creation.  Yet this is only true for those who have been obedient to Him in baptism having their sins washed away.  That’s the only way we come in contact with the blood of the Lamb, and find the forgiveness of our sins (Titus 3:5).  

Sanctification (8-12-2023)

In the 1950’s, 90% of Americans identified as “Christian.”  A full 9 out of ten people cared at least a little about what the Bible said.  Today, 70 years later, that number is around 60% (npr.org).  It seems to me that people delight in getting as muddy as they can.  Surely God can’t forgive me now, but at least I don’t have to be bothered by Him!  Why not take bribes from foreign nations and take away free speech from your opponents?  Jesus, however, calls us out of the world.  He makes a clear distinction between non-believers and His holy ones.  My college professor bemoaned the fact that the world is looking more like the church, and the church is looking more like the world.  Groups have given into worshiping with rock bands, and centering in on what people want instead of what God wants.  They’ve turned religion into a Rotary Club instead of a redeemed church.  I’ve actually heard of a preacher giving a questionnaire to the members asking what could be better.  He then proceeded to do everything they recommended.  The sinner and the sanctified sometimes look similar.  We all look like humans.  We all make mistakes.  Yet one group is growing toward completeness.  God’s Spirit works behind the scenes in our lives.  There should be a difference between the two groups.  You will know them by their fruits.  We’re the “called out” and named “the elect” in Romans.  The world should be able to say that there’s something different about those who call themselves Christians.  Sanctification means to “set apart.”  God sanctified the seventh day after His six days of creation.  He also told Israel: “I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44).  Before Moses went up Mount Sinai, the Israelites were to set themselves apart for three days (Exodus 19:15).  They needed to be ready to have the holy God come close to them.  Their usual grumbling and backsliding was the order of the day.  We all have certain items in the water closet, but wherever your wife keeps the jewelry box is where set apart items can be found.  The two groups are like night and day (See 2 Thessalonians 2:13).  You know, the word “Saint” comes from the word sanctified.  All Christians are saints, its not a title you only receive after your death (1 Corinthians 14:33).  God can work the wonder of leading us out of the world.  Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy thank the saints of Thessalonica for making the right choice in their lives.  They could have just gone with the flow.  They could have rushed headlong in with the world.  Obviously, it’s not that we have predestination in mind in these verses.  The thought is that God has chosen this “group” of people who do His will to be the saved.  Those who are sanctified make it to heaven.  In the Old Testament, the “firstfruits” were the best of your crops.  These were to be offered first to the Lord.  What a blessing that God has made us to be among the firstfruits!  We’re not that rotting potato with a million eyes.  He’s transforming us into a colorful grapefruit.  He writes that we were saved through sanctification.  When we were obedient through baptized following up our belief, God gave us His Holy Spirit and salvation.  Yet sanctification doesn’t stop there.  If you’re not growing, you’re either stagnating or declining.  I’m sure there are some Christians in the world who act like Sisyphus in Homer’s Iliad.  Cheating death, his punishment was that he had to roll a large stone up a hill only for it to keep rolling back down just when he was about to reach the top.  God wants us on top.  He wants us to be the best humans we can be during our few short years on earth.  “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).  People want to advance in their careers, and there’s nothing wrong with that.  If you want to make six figures and be the CEO, more power to ya.  However, lets not lose sight of life’s main goal; we want to advance in being more like God.  Putting Him first in everything should come naturally.  He’s the King, so He gets the firstfruits.  He’s the one worthy of our loyalty and respect.  He’s shown us the right way to go.  Noah took two of each animal, but seven pairs of the clean animals in order to offer them to God (Genesis 8:20).  We recall Jesus praying at the last supper: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17).  Feeding off of the living word of God aids in us becoming sanctified.  The Church of Satan says: “If it feels good, do it.”  They don’t believe in Satan, but view humans as animals and pride as a good thing.  That’s not where one can learn how to be sanctified.  There are some really good self help books out there, but nothing comes close to the Bible.  It tells us the sanctified way to go with 100% accuracy.  One prominent example I think of is Paul.  He was set apart as a chosen instrument by God to take the gospel to the Gentiles (Galatians 1:15).  God had a specific plan for his life.  Since Saul, before he was Paul, abused Christians, God ordained that he should have a little extra suffering during his journey toward sanctification: “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16).  Paul took his mission by the horns.  Instead of His comfortable life with the Pharisee’s, he wasn’t afraid to tell them when they were wrong.  While they agreed that there was going to be a future resurrection of the righteous, Paul took insults and flogging for saying that Jesus had risen from the dead.  Paul also gave a curious thought: “For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy” (1 Corinthians 7:14).  It not like spouses can tag-team it to heaven like our neighbors believe, but that the unbeliever and children have access to the truth.  They have a better shot than most to eventually be sanctified.  I imagine there are different areas we can all grow in.  For someone it may be in steadfastness; sticking up for the Bible when co-workers mock it.  For another, it may be concerning purity.  America is no stranger to all sorts of addictive things.  An estimated 107,000 Americans died of fentanyl last year.  That’s almost as much as US casualties in WW1.  Jesus is the best example of one who lived a life set apart.  “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect [complete], he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him” (Hebrews 5:7-9).  We should strive to “Be holy as I am holy.”  Only Jesus’ blood can make us white as snow.  Baptism washes our sins away (Acts 22:16).  Where are you in your walk with the Lord?

Acts 17 Bump Into Him (8-5-2023)

People search for: fulfillment, an experience, or to find love.  Everyone’s looking for something.  If one of the nation’s of the world wants to look for a way to build nuclear weapons, the others will make it as difficult as possible.  Yet this is not the case with God.  He wants to be found.  He’s not hidden deep in some vault of a basilica.  He’s not far away only in Heaven to where none can find Him.  He’s clearly seen if people would just open their eyes (See Romans 1).  However, the majority of humans do everything they can to not see God.  It must have been aliens that created the world!  Earth must have been just really lucky!  Who’s to say we can know anything at all, so why try?  Paul wrote: “For what can be known about God is plain to them [mankind], because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19).  The creation cries out for a designer: “On earth, oxygen comprises 21 percent of the atmosphere . . . If oxygen were 25 percent, fires would erupt spontaneously; if it were 15 percent, human . . . would suffocate” (Geisler, Turek 98).  What about the moon’s gravitational effect on the earth?  “If the interaction were greater than it currently is, tidal effects on the oceans, atmosphere, and rotational period would be too severe.  If it were less, orbital changes would cause . . . instabilities” (Geisler, Turek 100).  How about the carbon dioxide level?  “If the CO2 level were higher than it is now, a runaway greenhouse effect would develop (we’d all burn up).  If the level were lower than it is now, plants would not be able to maintain efficient photosynthesis (give off oxygen for us humans)” (Geisler, Turek 101).  “If Jupiter were not in its current orbit, the earth would be bombarded with space material.  Jupiter’s gravitational field acts as a cosmic vacuum cleaner, attracting asteroids and comets that might otherwise strike earth” (Geisler, Turek 105).  Don’t forget about earth’s tilt: If earth’s tilt wasn’t 23 degrees, the temperatures (hot and cold) would become too extreme (Geisler, Turek 106).  Among the roughly 20 types of galaxies, only the spiral galaxy is know to support life.  Elliptical galaxies don’t have the interstellar material, and are too hot for life.  Barred-spiral galaxies and irregular galaxies have problems; a planet orbiting oblong would cause the planet to move close to a star (very hot) and then far away (very cold).  The type of star a planet orbits is also important, our sun is small and relatively cool.  Someone mentioned: “only a very small number [of stars] have the right mass, size, age, kinds of radiation, and the like, to support any kind of life” -Clayton.  Many attributes have to be right in this so called “goldilocks zone:”  We need: the right kind of galaxy, the right place within that galaxy, the right kind of star, the right distance from a planet, the right sized planet, the right planetary spin, not to be near a black hole, have a proper magnetic field, a high composition of carbon, and a high water content.  Consider: “To draw the ace of spades out of a shuffled deck four times in a row . . . would be: 1 in 7,311,616” -Clayton.  Yet when thinking of a life supporting planet, the probabilities build on each other.  What good is a spiral galaxy, if the planet isn’t close to a cool star?  Having a life supporting planet is: “one chance in ten to the 800th power” (Clayton).  That’s a 1 with 800 zeros after it.  A trillion only has 12 zeros.  A Googol has 100 zeros after it.  Apparently, a Googol is roughly the estimated grains of sand on the earth’s seashores.  That kind of luckiness for earth doesn’t have a chance in reality.  A supernatural designer must exist.  If you won the lottery in one state, you’s say you were lucky, but if you won the lottery in all 50 states, there must have been a design.  We all have that sense that there’s something more to us than what the animals have.  Not only are we smarter, but we sense a moral “ought to” or “ought not.”  The lion kills the zebra, but he does not murder the zebra.  C.S. Lewis wrote: “If there was a controlling power outside the universe, it could not show itself to us as one of the facts inside the universe- no more than the architect of a house could actually be a wall or staircase or fireplace in that house.  The only way in which we could expect it to show itself would be inside ourselves” (McGrath 107).  “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world” -C.S. Lewis (See Acts 17).  God has stamped His spiritual image on us.  We’re fearfully and wonderfully made.  We all have a sense of guilt and mercy.  We also read: “[H]e made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:26-17).  One should hardly be able to wake up in the morning without realizing that God exists.  Our breath of life came from a former life; and on and on we go until the buck has to stop somewhere.  Where did your parents come from?  Where did your grandparents come from?  Where did the first life come from?  Life can only come from life.  The verse mentions their “allotted periods.”  Maybe God knew that a famine would help bring the Moabite Ruth to the truth.  Maybe God knew that the Centurion at the cross would need to see the darkness and the earthquake in order to fully see the crucified Savior.  Maybe that Tibetan monk will be convinced from seeing the glory of the Himalayas.  Maybe an astronomer will be convinced after seeing all the numerous galaxies: “the heavens are telling of the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1).  Perhaps that tornado was just what someone needed to get them to look up.  The picture given in Acts is one of barely reaching out in order to touch God.  We’re like a blind man reaching for anything to feel and grab onto.  If you touch a plant, you can see design from the designer.  If you reach out toward a house, someone must have built it- but God is the builder of all things.  God isn’t far from any of us.  

Clayton, John. Does God Exist? doesgodexist.org

Craig, William Lane. Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth And Apologetics. Wheaton: Crossway, 2008.

Geisler, Turek. I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist Crossway, 2004.

McGrath, Alister E. Mere Apologetics: How To Help Seekers And Skeptics Find Faith.  London: SPCK, 2016.

Mounce, R. H. Romans. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1995.

Imprecatory Psalms (7-29-2023)

Of the 150 Psalms, meaning “praises” several are looked to for encouragement.  Often times you flip to a random one and think: “That was exactly what I needed!”  However, there are six main imprecatory Psalms, that is, punishment Psalms within the book: Psalms 55; 59; 69; 79; 109; 137.  As much as we may want to deal out retribution, God knows the right punishment for the crime.  What are we to do with these Psalms?  Someone mentioned: “[The] average Bible student is far more sensitive to moral difficulties than chronological or geographical problems . . . it is not simply a case of missing a date by a year or two . . . but it is a case of God ordering, inspiring, or at least approving of actions that are seemingly unjust” (Jenkins 207).  Note: “Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive” (Psalm 55:15 ESV);  “cast them down into the pit of destruction” (Psalm 55:23); “consume them in wrath” (Psalm 59:13); “Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually” (Psalm 69:22-23).  In Psalm 106 a prayer is given against an enemy.  It asks to give him: a wicked accuser, be found guilty, his prayer considered sin, his days few, his children fatherless and begging, his wife a widow, his house a ruin, that there be no love for him or his children, for God to remember his sins, and to cut off the family’s memory (vs 6-15).  We also see a pattern of: the request for punishment. a showing of guilt, and God executing His justice.  He is a loving God in the Old and New Testaments, but lets not forget that He’s also just (See Psalm 137).  These requests for punishment were because of the people’s wickedness.  Jesus spoke similar words in Luke 19:44 about Jerusalem: “[They’ll] tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”  Many Jews didn’t recognized Jesus as the Messiah.  The harsh language of the Old Testament is found in the New just as love is found in the Old: “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18).  God didn’t change over the mere 1,500 years that the Bible was written.  In verse 9 of Psalm 137, it sounds too harsh toward the Edomites (v 7) and Babylonians (v 8).  Verse 9 is the atheist’s favorite to cast against Christianity.  There are a few possibilities: As someone mentioned: “‘little ones’ . . . does not specify age, for it may mean a very young or a grown child.  The word focuses on a relationship and not on age; as such, it points to the fact that the sins of the fathers were being repeated in the next generation . . . One thing Babylon was devoid of was rocks or rocky cliffs against which anything could be dashed.  In fact there were not any stones available for building . . . Therefore when the psalmist speaks of ‘dashing [little ones] against the rocks,’ he is speaking figuratively and metaphorically” -Walter Kaiser Hard Sayings (174; Jenkins 218).  That’s one possibility.  A better explanation for this specific punishment in verse 9 is that it is not first and foremost a request for vengeance, but a prophecy.  Note: “How blessed will be the one who repays you” (Psalm 137:8).  The Jews were looking forward to the end of their 70 years of Babylonian captivity.  Other prophets foretold similarly and with the same degree: “Their little ones also will be dashed to pieces before their eyes” (Isaiah 13:16); “Their little ones will be dashed in pieces” (Hosea 13:16); “Yet she became an exile, she went into captivity; also her small children were dashed to pieces at the head of every street” (Nahum 3:10).  “Modern critics must be careful that they do not impose modern conventions of what is graphically violent on the literature of an entirely different age” (Jenkins 214).  The Babylonians impaled people, Americans hardly poke criminals with an injection.  Moreover, that’s after living out your years, and eating a steak!  Fifty years ago, almost everyone wore a suit and tie to the office.  Today, you’re lucky if you can get people out of their pajamas!  Often the Psalmists note that if they’er wicked, they’ll suffer the same way.  There’s no bias against their enemies: “Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you” (Psalm 137:6).  Someone wrote: “The overarching principle that resolves alleged moral discrepancies is the sinfulness of man” (Jenkins 219).  Why would God do these horrible things?  As justice because of humanity’s sin.  Why is there suffering in the world?  Because humanity fell away from God.  Why does God allow people to be killed off?  Because of His justice.  Jesus spoke of a far greater consequence: “I say to you . . . do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:4-5).  There’s no reason to fear the Gestapo.  If we’re thrown in prison for not going along with the world, that’s ok.  If they confiscate our homes, in God is where safe shelter is found.  God wants to give us what is good, its merely that what we perceive as good may not align with His will.  He wants to give us the waters of everlasting life.  He wants to point us in the right direction and make our path straight.  “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God . . . turn, and live” (Ezekiel 18:32).  

Jenkins, Ferrell, editor. A tribute to Melvin D. Curry, Jr. Florida College Bookstore, 1997.

Johnathan’s (God’s) Victory (6-15-2023)

When we think of great warriors throughout the Bible, maybe we think of David, Joshua, or Gideon.  These people were willing to stick their necks out trusting in God.  Yet God is the hero of every story.  With Him, victory is assured.  King Saul reigned around 1000 BC, but having gone after evil, the Lord wasn’t giving him victory.  His son Jonathan, David’s friend, would (See 1 Samuel 14).  The Philistines during this time have the upper hand.  We read in chapter 13 that they had: “30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and people like the sand which is on the seashore” (v 5).  We also read about how the Israelites would have to go to the Philistines for blacksmiths (v 19).  Do the majority of us just have pointed sticks?  What are we fighting with?  Jonathan tells his armor bearer that winning is assured against the Philistines.  He doesn’t tell his father Saul though, for he may discourage them.  Jonathan knows that in God is where victory is found, not in kings.  The 31 kings that Joshua defeated weren’t stronger than God (Joshua 12:24).  Later, we know that mighty Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon won’t be stronger than God.  He was the one in fact behind their conquests in order to bring about repentance.  Saul’s army only has 600 men.  That’s somewhere between a company and battalion in US military jargon.  What can we do with so few?  Gideon only had 300 men against the Midianites (Judges 7).  There’s no way Israel can beat even just the Philistine horsemen!  How will this be possible?  With God, all things are possible.  When Saul and the other soldiers seem timid to attack, Jonathan showed courage.  Saul is probably trying to gain favor with God through Ahijah the priest (who is a descendant of Aaron).  Saul knows that God isn’t with him; as we read later: “When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets” (1 Samuel 28:6).  However, our two God trusting men move toward the Philistines: “Jonathan and his armor-bearer encountered a Philistine outpost overlooking a narrow pass in the Wadi Suweinit flanked by two steep rock outcroppings” (Bergen Vol 7 156).  This area was just northeast of Jerusalem.  In verse 6, Jonathan is conscience of God’s will and power.  The Philistines taunt Jonathan and his armor bearer to come up to them.  With God on our side, no adversary can stand against us.  They may have 2 million men in their army, and the most destructive weapons, but if God is for us, who can be against us?  The armor bearer is devoted to Jonathan’s plan.  By all accounts it doesn’t sound like a good plan.  We’re going to let ourselves be seen by the enemy spoiling the element of surprise (v 8).  The enemy has the high ground.  A sign is given (v 10).  If the Philistines taunt them to come up, the Lord will deliver them into Jonathan’s hand.  Only in having the Lord with you is victory assured.  There’s no reason to trust in our wisdom and strategy if we’re not on God’s team.  In Joshua’s day, they were able to conquer the great walled city of Jericho because God was with them.  They weren’t able to conquer the small town of Ai right after because God wasn’t with them (Achan sinned).  In verses 13-15, twenty Philistines are killed at their outpost.  That’s not bad for two guys at a disadvantage considering the steep terrain.  The Philistines knew the two were coming.  Surely they’re throwing rocks at them the whole time!  That the “earth quaked” shows that God had His hand in this skirmish.  We recall Mount Sinai shaking when Moses received the Ten Commandments.  God’s presence has an effect.  Its not our double edge swords or better bow strings that will make the difference.  Saul and the men with him see that the Philistines are running away.  Did 50 or so men leave the camp?  Who ordered this detachment of soldiers?  Saul learns that it was just two men: Jonathan and his armor bearer.  What a difference one man can make!  Of course, from Saul is also missing God.  The ark of the covenant was with the army.  Too bad God isn’t inside like a Genie in a bottle.  Back in chapter 4 the Israelites should have learned not to bring the ark with them into battle.  We were fighting the same enemy there too!  We can trust in horoscopes and good luck charms, but if God isn’t with us, we’ll be defeated.  God is far bigger than our bribes or vows.  You can’t sway God to see things from a human point of view.  In verse 19 Saul told the priest to “withdraw your hand” (God was to be consulted through the Priest before battle- Saul apparently interrupts him to get to the battle having seen the commotion).  The king only does this priest inquiry out of ritual.  Again, Saul wasn’t trusting in God.  I can do this all by myself!  I don’t need help from anyone.  Its ok to ask for help, and when it comes to God, He should be relied on daily.  Jonathan’s faith encourages the small Israelite army to join in the battle.  When they finally arrived, there was a “sword against his fellow” (Philistine against Philistine).  God is the one aiding in causing this confusion.  Israel regains confidence and everyone pitches in (vs 21-22).  Some Hebrews that had joined as mercenaries in the Philistine army now turned against them.  The main point is found in verse 23.  God gave Israel the victory; not Saul, the generals, or even Johnathan.  God’s the hero of every story.  Gibeah was just north of Jerusalem, and Beth-aven was several miles from there.  There’s no pyrrhic victory here where we win, but its only with the last man standing.  Israel didn’t take 50% casualties in this battle.  With God, the enemy was conquered soundly.  As someone wrote, Gibeah to Beth-aven: “passed over the forest . . . on the central ridge of Palestine, then over to the other side from the eastern pass of Michmash (1 Sa 14:31), to the western pass of Aijalon, through which they escaped into their own plains” (Jamieson Vol 1 184).  When we have to deal with Philistines in our lives: medical issues, stress, or strained relationships, it only takes one strong faith for God to give the victory.  The earth also shook when Jesus died on the cross.  It looked like Satan and the world won, but God was victorious over death.  He went to hades, the realm of the dead, not hell (Acts 2:27).  On the third day, God raised Him from the dead.  The worst the world could throw at Him wasn’t too much for God.  God didn’t bring Jesus back in a coma.  It wasn’t just a rejuvenation of the brain and heart.  God will give us a completely new body.  “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).  Have you shown obedient faith (Acts 2:38; 22:16)?

Bergen, R. D. 1, 2 Samuel. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1996.

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. 1997.

One God (7-8-2023)

For the Jews to claim that there was only one God around 1400 BC was pretty remarkable.  What other nation did that?  Someone mentioned: “If there is only one God, it follows that the Deity is personal, sovereign, infinite, eternal, perfect, and almighty” (Elwell Vol 2 1484).  We didn’t need the strength of 10 gods to create the world.  In Egypt, where the Hebrews spent over 200 years in slavery, they learned about many gods.  Egypt had perhaps over 2,000!  If the gods can reproduce (as they believed), there’s going to be a lot.  The Hittites in modern day Turkey worshiped 1000’s of gods during this same time period.  The Canaanites, whom the Israelites fought had over 230.  From an ignorant human perspective this makes sense; you don’t want to accidentally forget any of the gods.  You don’t want a flood, earthquake, or a bad harvest.  So, all the deities over those phenomena must be appeased.  Paul saw an altar in Athens to an “unknown god” just to make sure they didn’t miss anyone.  At the Rodeo, the announcer did something very politically correct (at least for Utah standards).  He said a prayer, but mentioned that it didn’t matter what god you prayed to.  “We might all call you by a different name, but we know you watch over all of us.”  That sounds so right doesn’t it?  It has a unity and loving vibe.  It sounds so tolerant and accepting (alleged virtues).  Yet there is only one God, and it does matter which one we pray to.  If one person bows before a golden statue of Buddha, and I bow before God, there’s a difference there.  God condemned Israel for bowing before wood and metal.  If one person bows before Allah, who hates those who hate him (Surah 3:32), and I bow before the true God who loves everyone- there’s a difference there.  You can’t say they’re the same god having such a different personal attribute.  Well, maybe there’s a difference among western and eastern gods, but what about “Christendom” as a whole (Catholics, Anglicans, Protestants)?  At least we all go by the same book, so don’t we worship the same god?  No.  When Nadab and Abihu worshipped differently, God consumed them with fire coming from the tabernacle (Leviticus 10:1-2).  When the Jewish Christians wanted to get back to some of the statues of the Mosaical Law, Paul said they had been: “severed from Christ . . . fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4).  Nadab and Abihu were the right people at the right place with the right censors, but it says they offered “strange fire before the Lord” (Leviticus 10:1).  Many Christian churches worship in ways we don’t see in the New Testament.  They’re not worshipping the true God, and God isn’t accepting their worship.  We read all throughout the New Testament to sing and worship in “spirit and in truth” (John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 14:15).  In Galatia, the Jewish Christians who went back to forcing people to be circumcised were adding to Christ’s Law.  They weren’t following God’s new covenant, and thus weren’t following God.  God has always wanted our hearts, but has required different standards whether living under the: Patriarchal, Mosaical, or Christian ages.  King Solomon tried worshipping God along with his 300 wive’s pagan gods; God thus raised up nations against him.  Israel and Judah would often try to worship all the gods including the true God.  The thinking was that if we try to please all of them, surly one of them will be with us!  In the Old Testament, harps and sacrificing sheep was what God wanted.  In John the baptizer’s day, a baptism for repentance was what God wanted.  In Acts 19:1-6, Paul came across some believers who (after Jesus’ death) only had John’s baptism.  He instructed them that in order to receive the Holy Spirit, they had to be baptized in Christ’s name.  Someone said: “Don’t you get tired of seeing so many ‘non-conformists’ with the same non-conformist look?” -Thomas Sowell.  We’ve all heard: “I want to be different just like everybody else!”  People want to mesh all the religions of the world into one.  We see those “Coexist” bumper stickers with the cross and the crescent.  The non-believers are united in their disbelief, why can’t all the religions be united?  This would lead to contradictions.  Is doing penance the way to heaven?  Or having obedient faith (Romans 16:26)?  Is partaking of communion an annual thing, or a weekly observance (Acts 20:7)?  What does the one God say?  The Gnostics in the 1st Century would say you could do anything you wanted with your body because only a person’s spirit counts.  Yet the two are intertwined.  Your body affects your spirit, and your spirit affects your body (1 Thessalonians 5:23).  Notice some of these verses: “He is God; there is no other besides Him” (Deuteronomy 4:35);  “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4); “Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. ‘I, even I, am the Lord, and there is no savior besides Me'” (Isaiah 43:10b-11); “God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one” (Romans 3:30); “there is no God but one” (1 Corinthians 8:4).  Jesus said: “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).  The Trinity is one God in three personhoods.  Jesus is the only way to heaven, and baptism for the forgiveness of sins is the only way to come in contact with His blood (Acts 2:38).  The world says to go worship alone on a mountain.  They say to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca.  Yet the truth that there is only one God can’t be changed.  There’s only males and females- everyone else is just confused.  There was a California teacher, Jessica Tapias, who was fired this year for not going along with the school’s transition policy.  Folks can write as many books against the truth as they want, but the truth doesn’t change.  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).  There’s only one book that’s God’s word.  Muhammad mostly stole from the Talmud.  Joseph Smith’s book is 22% straight out of the King James Version.  Hinduism is more of a philosophy or way of life than a religion.  The truth by its very nature is exclusive.  Either he murdered the guy or he didn’t.  Either there is a heaven or there isn’t.  The person’s shirt may be red or burgundy, but it doesn’t change the truth that it is colored.  The world has twisted the Bible and science so much that it can be hard to stand up for the truth.  It would be so much easier to just give in and go with the flow.  Being a people pleaser, it’d be nice to agree with everything anyone said.  Yet there is one God, one word, and one way to salvation.  Nothing else matters in life.  If we don’t get eternity correct, then what are we doing here?  If we don’t have a proper relationship with God, all other relationships might as well fall by the wayside.  If there were many gods, would there be many ways to salvation?  Would there be many heavens?  Half your family would be in Nirvana, the other half in paradise.  That doesn’t sound very blissful.  The whole thing just wouldn’t make sense.  There’s a reason that in mythology the gods are always fighting each other.  If one god conquered another, then I guess that opponent really wasn’t god.  He wasn’t all-powerful.  The world may hate us for not accepting all their gods, but God loves us.  They may aim at us, but God will aid us.  They may call our good evil, and their evil good, but our God will bring justice.  The one God calls us to be separate from the world.  Do you believe God is one?

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. Monotheism. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 1988.

Heart (7-1-2023)

People rely on all sorts of things.  Some look to horoscopes, and others look to their own power.  If it sounds great, it must be the case.  We know that you can’t believe everything you hear.  In the 1930’s, many Germans thought they were going the right way: “Hey, those WWI reparations are too harsh!”  The allies would respond: “It’s not as harsh as your treaty of Brest-Litovsk against Russia!”  That: “treaty took away territory that included a quarter of the population . . . and nine tenths of its coal mines” (Wikipedia).  In the middle ages, banking was frowned upon being seen as a greedy non-christian business.  Thus, Jews were usually the ones to become bankers.  They quickly had a bad image with the public- whether true or false.  People like to follow themselves and their “hearts.”  For the Hebrews, they didn’t picture the brain as where thinking came from, but from the heart.  People like this concept of following your heart because you get to be the one to make the rules.  The physical heart is quite remarkable.  I read that: “Your heart pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood each day. That’s enough to fill an 8-by-10-foot swimming pool” (cleavlandclinic.org).  In ancient times, you’d have a shield protecting your heart.  In the medieval period, you’d have a breastplate.  Today, I wouldn’t want to go anywhere near combat without a bulletproof vest.  If you lose an arm or an eye, at least it wasn’t your heart!  The Egyptians would embalm organs including the heart.  For them, the heart was the key to the afterlife.  During the weighing of the heart ceremony: “If the heart weighed more than the feather of Maat [god of truth], it was immediately consumed by the monster Ammit” (National Institute of Health).  If it feels good, it must be right!  That song by Sheryl Crow: “If it makes you happy,” then why not?  Surely people are usually good, right?  Surely the whole crowd can’t be wrong.  Yet the Bible has a lot to say about the heart.  The word: “‘Heart’ . . . occurs approximately 1000 times” (Elwell Vol 1 938).  People get their feelings confused with their heart, and thus think it must be the right way to go.  Well the Bible has news for such folks.  “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25).  People think certain lifestyles lead to freedom and happiness, but its just unfulfillment and disease.  People think throwing money at Ukraine with make the problem go away.  Yet, we ourselves wouldn’t want Mexico to be allied with China would we?  “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).  About a decade ago, when we were all young and in love, lots of faults could be overlooked.  Humans tend to find any and every excuse to make what they want fit the facts.  Jesus said: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. 20 These are the things which defile the man” (Matthew 15:19).  True, there are good things that can come out of the heart, but its not always good things.  Don’t forget this big list of terrible things that may crop up.  Our hearts don’t always push toward rainbows and unicorns, sometimes we desire sin.  Peter said to Ananias after lying about the price of his land: “‘Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’ 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last” (Acts 5:4-5).  His heart gave him a spot of death.  He thought he could give some to church and also get ahead in the rat race.  Their plan was to give a little, but say that it was all of the money.  We’ll have the best of both worlds!  Yet Jesus said: “You cannot serve both God and wealth” (Matthew 6:24).  Jesus said: “Eat my flesh and blood”, “hate your father and mother”, “leave everything and follow me”, “take up your cross.”  We must be talking about a different Jesus!  What happens when someone’s heart tells them that its good to kill the unborn?  Another person’s heart will go the opposite way.  How are we to decide on who’s right?  God’s word enlightens us in the way to go.  Each individual’s heart can’t be the final arbiter in a situation.  There’s a reason the justice system and courts have laws to go by.  One judge’s heart may feel angry that day because he spilled his coffee.  You wouldn’t want his own personal feelings dictating your jail time.  We need to go by the Bible to see the right way to go (not a map to Eldorado . . . Hotel and Casino).  Recall: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).  God’s word tells us the way to eternal life (not fame or a monument to our name).  Jesus said: “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48).  It isn’t your feelings that will get you past the finish line.  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).  He didn’t say the nice people, or those who can best win a pity party.  One of the fruits of the spirit is “kindness” not niceness.  Sometimes the kind thing to do is to tell someone they’re going to hell.  Far too many fall into the camp of: “This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me” (Matthew 15:8).  The Israelites didn’t want to be obedient, and instead “in their hearts turned back to Egypt” (Acts 7:39).  Some hearts will say: “Well, this sin only hurts me so its ok.”  Yet we recall David’s sin with Bathsheba having far reaching effects.  Sadly, most humans are just in it for themselves anyway- who cares how many I hurt?  Many hearts will say: “I must have God on my side because of X.”  I have all this stuff, so God must be pleased with me.  You know the Pope has lots of “stuff” too.  Just because you won the lottery, doesn’t mean everything is hunky dory.  American hearts will say: “Oh!  It’s another holiday.”  Yet the Bible says to not be gluttonous.  Apparently, America has 12 Federal holidays, but then we have to add in our own birthdays, anniversaries, and pie day.  Wealth isn’t the fail proof sign that God is with you.  Only through the Bible do we know that.  Its not a whisper in your ear, nor a supposed vision.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).  When our enemy stumbles, perhaps they did deserve it, but we should really be hoping that they repent.  We want them to make it to heaven one day.  We’re in need of a Savior just as they are.  Obviously, the heart has its good aspects “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good” (Luke 6:45).  Yet we shouldn’t follow our own desires over what the Bible tells us.  Jesus followed God’s will.  When Satan was tempting Him, He could have gave into His heart’s desire for bread.  Yet following God was more important than following His feelings.  When the Pharisees were trying to entrap Jesus, you know He could have called fire down from heaven to consume them.  Yet He loved His enemies as His Father would have Him do.  In Gethsemane, Jesus said: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).  He prayed that same prayer three times!  His heart broke for you and me.  Which way is your heart going?

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. Heart. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 1988.

Husbands and Wives (6-24-2023)

God designed marriage from the beginning.  People have all sorts of unfortunate views regarding marriage today.  I recall someone once describing marriage like a deck of cards: It starts with a heart and a diamond, and ends with a club and a spade.  From the start, God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.  Or even for that matter: Adam, Eve and Penelope.  After His six days of creating, He called everything He had made “very good” (Genesis 1:31).  It’s a very important union.  Marriage is the very building block of society.  God designed societies to function this way.  Without strong marriages, culture becomes like Sodom and Gomorrah.  It takes a dark turn toward kidnapping and abuse.  Surely the abuser lives in a psychological prison of sin himself.  Strong marriages start with a strong devotion to God (See Ephesians 5).  He’s the One who joins the two into one flesh, so it makes sense that He should be at the center.  Only good things flow from Him, for that is His nature.  In Genesis 4:19 Lamech (a descendant of Cain) took two wives.  He’s the first human to mess up God’s marriage design by being polygamous.  Surely there was strife and jealousy between the three of them.  We think also of Jacob’s wives, Leah and Rachel, who had a procreation competition.  Even the Law hints at the hardship: “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, 16 then it shall be in the day he wills what he has to his sons, he cannot make the son of the loved the firstborn” (Deuteronomy 21:15-16 See Ephesians 5:22-24).  God gave Adam the authority to name Eve.  The “head” pictures an authority position.  Wives are to be subject to their own husbands.  “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18).  Matthew Henry had a good quote: “The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved” (Goodreads.com).  Otherwise, the wife would have one vote, the husband would have one vote, and (obviously) nothing would get done.  We also read that wives are: “to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands” (Titus 2:5); “wives, be submissive to your own husbands” (1 Peter 3:1).  Just as God designed authority in government, He designed a best way to live in harmony within the home.  I’m sure many a man wishes Paul stopped writing at that verse, but he didn’t (See Ephesians 5:25-28).    Husbands are to agapē love their wives.  Its a choice we can make.  Its easy to love in other ways, but when there’s anger in a marriage, that’s when Jesus’ command needs to especially kick in.  Someone wrote: “Cavalry was not a tragic story of Roman jurisprudence.  It was the story of love . . .” (Petrillo 41).  Christ sacrificed greatly for His church.  It was built by His shed blood.  What should we be willing to do for our wives?  Peter wrote: “You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker” (1 Peter 3:7).  Physically we have different builds, but the women I know are far smarter than I’ll ever be!  Jesus died that we might be sanctified (set apart as holy).  He does this through the washing of baptism after hearing the word: the good news.  We then appear “white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18).  Someone commented how in the first century: “the bride passed through a purifying bath before marriage” (Jamieson 355).  We too want what’s best and pure for our wives.  We also notice a reoccurring word throughout this section: “He might sanctify . . . that He might present . . . that she [might] be holy and blameless.”  People have to choose to join Jesus’ team.  If a couple are always down on each other, that’ll make a clean marriage difficult.  Don’t sweat the small stuff.  With some spouses, it seems like anything said has to become a hill to die on.  That’s no way to live life.    Not only should husbands love their wives as Christ loved the church, but we should also care for them as our own bodies.  Happy wife, happy life.  When we’re hungry we eat, and when we’re cold we put a jacket on (See Ephesians 5:.29-33).  We should have a similar concern for our wives as we do for ourselves.  Jesus was willing to do anything for His church.  He’s’ the best example of showing concern for others.  He taught the right way to go, and was even willing to take the bullet.  Verse 31 said: “a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife” (Genesis 2:24).  We’ve heard the phrase “leave and cleave.”  There’s a healthy distance between parents and their married child.  They’re starting their own household, and are no longer under their parent’s roof.  As usual, this mystery is God’s plan of salvation.  We now have the same goal and purpose as members of the body.  That same closeness that a married couple has, is a similar closeness that Christ has to His church.  If one spouse suffers, the other shares in that suffering.  If one spouse has success, they both rejoice.  Paul mentions how he had this daily concern for the churches.  He didn’t want any of them (many he planted) to split or turn away from sound doctrine.  In verse 33, Husbands are encouraged a third time to love their wives (vs 25, 28).  Seems like he’s trying to tell us something.  Paul apparently knows that husbands need lots of repetition.  The word “respect” here is literally “fear” just like we’re to live in the “fear of Christ” (vs 21).  When this relationship functions the way God planned it, unity and joy follow.  Remember that God called marriage “very good.”  It shouldn’t be viewed as a shackled situation.  It doesn’t have to play out like all the non-Hallmark movies do.  I’d say Paul gives lots of good advice here for not being married.  Apart from our relationship with God, marriage is the second best relationship a human can have.  Jesus died on the cross in order to restore a relationship with us, what should we be willing to do to keep our marriage relationships strong?  Someone said: “Love at first sight is easy to understand; it’s when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle.” -Sam Levenson

Abraham’s Faith (6-17-2023)

Someone said: “One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters” -George Herbert.  “By the time a man realizes maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong” -Charles Wadworth.  When we think of great father’s, maybe we think of someone who was always there for us.  A father wants what’s best for his children.  If the child asks for a fish, he won’t maliciously give him a snake will he?  From what I’ve read: Valentina Vassilyeva and her husband Feodor hold the record for the most children a couple has had.  She gave birth to a total of 69 children – sixteen pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets – between 1725 and 1765 (Wikipedia).  He has to be a proud father- he’s in the Guinness Book of world records!  In the Old Testament, having children was considered one of the greatest blessings from God.  If you could have sons, your family line would continue.  We read in Genesis 17 how God promised Abraham He’d bless his descendants among many nations.  A little later in Genesis 22, God said that Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the starts of heaven and the sand by the seashore.  You know Abraham must have traveled along a good number of beaches from Ur to Harran to Egypt in his day.  I wanted to look at a few verses found in Romans 4 this morning concerning father Abraham.  Surely Abram and Sarai had been trying to have children for a couple decades.  Did he go through life thinking he didn’t have God’s blessing?  He had heard of God closing the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarai (Genesis 20:18).    What makes a great father (See Romans 4:16-17)?  This “For this reason” refers to the Law bringing wrath (v 15).  We all have a choice: Law and wrath, or faith and grace.  If we’re to receive such a wonderful spiritual cleansing, it must be through faith.  Sacrificing bulls isn’t going to cut it today.  Abraham’s physical descendants only stretch so far through history.  The Jews thought God was pleased with them because they had Abraham as their forefather.  Jesus rebuked them saying some stones would be just as good as their hard hearts (Matthew 3:9).  The faith Abraham had is for Jew and Gentile so that: “all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 22:18).  If we have that same faith- that same belief that Abraham had, then we’re following in his footsteps.  “Nations” can be translated “Gentiles.”  One could say: “A father of many Gentiles have I made you.”  Hopefully the Jews were getting used to their new brethren by the AD 50’s during this time.  Who else can call nations into existence but God (the Kingdom called Christianity)?  Who would have thought that God’s chosen people would be those having faith?  Surely it would have been those who conquer the most enemies, or build the tallest towers!  Great fathers are fathers of faith.  With God is where greatness is found.  I forget how old we were (fairly young), but our parents would have us read a few verses every day.  It turned into reading something at least 15 minutes a day, so I figured it’d be easiest to just stick with the Bible (See 4:18-21).  Abraham’s faith led to hope.  Abraham was old enough to know that the elderly can’t have children.  He must have lived several decades knowing that!  Nevertheless, he “grew strong in faith.”  He could have chosen to disbelieve.  He could have just lived out the rest of his 75 years with Sarai if he wanted (Genesis 25:7).  Yet he took God at His word.  When Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, he still held fast to his faith.  The Hebrews writer noted: “He [Abraham] considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him [Isaac] back as a type” (Hebrews 11:19).  The question isn’t “Can God?” but “Will God?”  Abraham was “assured” (NASB), “convinced” (ESV) and “persuaded” (NIV).  God fulfilled His promise.  Everyone needs justification through the same faith that Abraham had.  Jesus said: “All things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23); “if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you” (Matthew 17:20).  When God says that our sins have been forgiven, do we have faith that His word is true?  When He says there’s an eternal land of bliss on the other side, is that thought more abstract to us or concrete?  Since the Bible is God’s word, we know these things are so (See 4:22-25).  Abraham believed God, we need to believe Jesus.  Abraham had to believe God would give him a son, we have to believe that Jesus is the Son.  Trusting in God is the right and righteous thing to do.  Some people get high marks in life for their political achievements, but it is faith that leads to righteousness.  Obviously, we’re not “credited” (owed) by God anything, but He’s granted to us this path that leads to life.  Our transgressions (sins) only have justification in Jesus, and our obedient faith is the only way to get there.  Abraham had to believe to even get in the game.  He had to be obedient in almost sacrificing Isaac.  We can all think of some pretty great fathers out there, but father Abraham has to be close to the top.  God the Father wants to have a relationship with us through faith.  He wants what’s best for us spiritually.  His Royal line from David to Jesus will last forever.  Tell me that’s not a successful family!  A father would do anything for his children.  What a love Jesus had, and what a love the Father had to willingly give up His only Som.  Let’s be sure to live faithfully just as our father of faith Abraham did.

Joy (6-10-2023)

Its easy for life to get us down.  Maybe there’s that coworker we always seem to butt heads with.  Monday seems to keep coming around every week.  Where is it all going?  With so many influences outside of our control, it can feel hard to get ahead.  Folks these days are forced to put off marriage and buying a home till they’re much older.  Homelessness is up in America because of high rent due to inflation.  Think of the thousands of homes that have water damaged from Ukraine’s dam breaking.  Over in India, around 300 people died from a massive train crash recently.  Yet despite all the worry and sorrow we may face in the world, a Christian’s life should be characterized by joy.  Jesus told us not to worry about our needs (Matthew 6:25).  We can’t make one hair white of black.  We can’t do anything about tomorrow, today is all we have to work with.  Joy has been defined as a: “Positive human condition that can be either feeling or action.” (Elwell Vol 2 1224–1225).  The shepherd who found his one lost sheep rejoiced (Luke 15:5).  The disciples returned to Jerusalem rejoicing after Jesus’ ascension (Luke 24:52).  The church at Antioch had joy when the Jerusalem council confirmed that they didn’t have to be circumcised (Acts 15:31).  As an action, Jesus said: “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).  Mockery doesn’t sound like a joyful thing.  Yet if its for the sake of the Eternal King of the universe, that’s something to be proud of.  This temporary life can’t compare with the eternality of heaven.  When we’re persecuted, it means we’re living for something.  Lot of folks don’t have that.  It shows that we’re willing to stand up for something.  The disciples, after being flogged: “went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41).  James wrote: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (1:2-4).  Like so many things, Jesus’ way of life turns the world on its head.  Trials build perseverance and strengthen our faith.  We should react with joy toward our trials, respond with endurance, and reap perfection.  The word “perfect” just means: complete.  Problems can be good for us.  They build character and make us more able to take on the next challenge.  Having endured that mission once, we know we can do it again.  Having made it through, we know what to do the next time.  The prophets in the Old Testament had it rough.  They must have had joy in God to be able to persevere.  “Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16).  Does God’s word give us joy?  The Apostle Paul wrote: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).  He wrote that while in prison at Rome.  Circumstances don’t have to affect our joy.  We may not be able to rejoice in the economy, or the fact that America has been at war for over 220 years out of 247 years.  Yet Christ gives us an enduring joy.  Knowing that this world is not our home encourages joy for the next one.  We hear of all these mood changing drugs people are taking in order to hopefully find joy.  However, the joy Jesus gives doesn’t even come with bad side-effects!  There’s no fine print that’s 18 pages long with Christianity.  Wise Solomon wrote “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).  It seems often that when one spouse passes, the other’s not far behind.  Did their health really fail that quickly?  Or do they feel there’s nothing left living for and give up?  Of course among the nine fruits of the Spirit, is joy (Galatians 5:22).  Great love and peace are also among that list.  Who wouldn’t want to drink of the life that is truly life?  The Psalmist wrote: “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).  Waking up is a blessing we often take for granted.  Having a roof over our heads, and food to eat isn’t guaranteed.  There’s an estimated 1.6 Billion people in the world who don’t have proper shelter.  Many would say that Jesus had a sorrowful life.  He faced Satan’s temptations.  The Pharisees were yapping at His heels constantly.  The crowds tried to stone Him to death.  At one point they tried pushing Him off a cliff.  Yet He always had joy in His character.  He faithfully served God and relied on Him.  Praying and telling His burdens to His Father allowed Him to have joy.  The small trifles of the world seemed small compared to the glory He had with God at the beginning.  He is where meaning and purpose are found.  He’s where promises never fail.  Even in the face of death- a horribly painful death at that, we read: “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).  We can’t see the afterlife on earth like Jesus did, but we can trust that our pioneer knows the way.  He’s blazed the trail for us, all we have to do is obediently trust in Him.  Lots of people in the world don’t have any guide, and foolishly trust their feelings.  Jesus told His disciples: “Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you” (John 16:22).  In the parable of the talents, we get a picture of heaven: “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master’” (Matthew 25:21).  Do you have this kind of joy in your life?  Only Jesus can offer this, not self-help books or presidents.  Joy is found in knowing we’re right before God; being washed in the blood of the Lamb.  We must hear and believe that Jesus is God, repent of our wrongdoings, confess Him as Lord of our lives, and be obedient in baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). 

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. Joy. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 1988.

Saul’s Conversion (6-3-2023)

Saul’s conversion was remarkable, and that’s what we need today.  Wouldn’t it be amazing if folks in America converted in droves like in the past?  Perhaps we think back to whats called “The Restoration Movement” where people diligently sought for what the Bible said instead of what councils dictated.  Of course the church of Christ started on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.  This morning we’ll look at Acts chapter 9.  Saul, or as we know him as Paul, was converted around AD 36 (McGarvey, Orbison 2).  This happened a mere three or six years after Jesus rose from the dead.  We recall Saul’s zeal for Judaism and the great lengths he went to in order to stamp out any opposition (See vs 1-2).  Saul goes to the top of the Jewish hierarchy, to better carry out this persecution.  The High Priest was probably still Caiaphas (Polhill 233).  This was a whole Jewish backed persecution, not just a lone wolf attack.  Deuteronomy 13:6-11 commanded people to be stoned to death for preaching false gods.  It isn’t hard to picture Saul being frustrated by his fellow Jews converting to Christianity.  People hold strong views.  We know of two groups at each other’s throats.  Both are convinced that their way is the best way to go, and nothing short of a miracle will make them change their mind.  This is the first time we see Jesus’ followers called “The Way” probably from John 14 “I am the way, the truth, and the light” (Petrillo 40).  Someone noted how the city of: “Damascus was a good six-day foot journey from Jerusalem” (Polhill 233).  Unfortunately, many people like throwing themselves headlong into evil- not caring about the afterlife.  We need to get people to slow down and think about more than just the latest TV show.  Death isn’t the most popular subject, but knowing that its eternal should cause folks to give it a glance (See vs 3-9).  This light flashing around him outshined the sun.  We read in his other recounting that it was “noontime” and “midday” (Acts 22:6; 26:13).  When we’re wandering in the darkness, only Jesus can truly enlighten us.  Saul will heard the good news shortly from Ananias.  He then fell to the ground from shock and blindness.  The famous philosopher and atheist, Anthony Flew, finally believed in God toward the end of his life.  I don’t know if he made it any further though.  What a shock to realize that everything you believed about life was wrong!  Jesus said: “Saul, Saul” getting his attention.  Similarly: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you” (Luke 22:31).  He’s also having a change of heart leading to repentance.  He realizes Jesus is Lord instead of a false prophet.  His actions will shift dramatically.  Saul was persecuting Jesus’ followers, and thus was persecuting Jesus Himself.  Jesus said: “The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me” (Luke 10:16).  Saul’s also surely shocked to learn that Jesus is alive.  He’s been told by his fellow Jews that the opposite was the case.  It seems that Saul also saw Jesus at this moment, not just heard Him: “and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also 9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Corinthians 15:8-9).  Saul will be told what he “must do.”  God’s house, God’s rules.  Persecuting Jesus is not what God has in mind for Saul’s life.  Just as in the Old Testament, God said the priests must be Levites, today He says in order to be saved we must be obedient.  Paul’s traveling companions also saw the light, and heard Jesus’ voice, but didn’t understand it: “And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me” (Acts 22:9).  Saul came in power with signed letters, but left powerless in the face of God’s word.  Saul was blinded for three days in order that he might see the light of the world.  We can’t help but wonder if these three days aren’t somehow connected to Jesus being in the tomb three days.  In verse 10 and following, we recall how the disciple Ananias is told by God to help guide Saul.  Ananias is called to go to Paul on Straight Street which can still be seen today in Damascus running east-west.  Saul was meanwhile praying wanting to follow God.  It would have to be something this shocking to convert staunch Saul.  God also gave Saul a vision of Ananias coming to him.  We may plant and water, but God causes the growth.  God is the One who can aid us more than a: therapist, psychologist, or any pill.  Ananias is understandably hesitant knowing how terrible Saul’s been.  I want you to take a trip, and meet up with this Islamic State member.  Yet God had chosen Saul to be the one in bringing the gospel to the gentiles.  God had plans for Saul as a chosen instrument to bear Jesus’ name before all.  Saul will now suffer as he had made others suffer.  Yet that makes him a die hard disciple.  Jesus said: “he who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47).  Saul will be forgiven much.  Ananias doesn’t call Saul “brother” in verses 17 because they’er both believers, but because they’re both Jews.  Indeed, Saul hasn’t been saved through baptism yet (See vs 18-19).  What about these scales?  Note: “This shows that the blindness as well as the cure was supernatural. Substances like scales would not form naturally in so short a time” [Webster and Wilkinson] (Jamieson Vol 2 184).  Keep in mind that Luke wrote Acts who was himself a doctor (Colossians 4:14).  Saul’s baptism shows his confession that Jesus is Lord- not the Jewish Chief Priest.  Peter would write: “baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience” (1 Peter 3:21).  It wasn’t Saul earning salvation, but God working through his obedience in baptism.  Paul would later write: “having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God” (Colossians 2:12).  Salvation isn’t a faith only thing.  Paul wrote in the first chapter of Romans: “we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith” (v 5), and in the last chapter of the same book: “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ . . . has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith” (vs 25-26).  Saul now eats physical food, having found the bread of life.  Saul’s conversion was remarkable.  If God can turn a murdering, fanatic, religious zealot around, He can save anyone.  There’s no sin too big that God can’t make white as snow.  Yet it takes a change of mind, leading to a change in heart, resulting in a change in action.  

Orbison, Guy. Petrillo, Denny. Working in the Word a Study of Acts. 2013.

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. 1997.

Polhill, J. B. Acts. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1992.

Habakuk 3 “Yet” (5-20-2023)

Life throws us lots of bumps in the road.  Yet there was a man in the Old Testament who faced even greater struggles.  The prophet Habakuk wrote his scroll before the Babylonian captivity during the reign of wicked king Jehoiakim of Judah (600’s BC; Jackson 445).  He’s the only king of Judah that’s said to have killed a prophet (Jeremiah 26:23).  King Jehoiakim didn’t look to God.  He instead taxed the Jews heavily in order to pay Egypt for an alliance (2 Kings 23:35).  I personally don’t think we should rely on Egypt today either.  During his reign the Babylonians invaded Judah.  Habakuk starts off his writing by asking God a question: “How long, O Lord, will I call for help, and You will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save. 3  Why do You make me see iniquity, and cause me to look on wickedness? Yes, destruction and violence are before me; strife exists and contention arises. 4 Therefore the law is ignored and justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous” (Habakuk 1:2-4).  It’s not hard to see that violence is up across the nation (especially coast to coast).  So far in 2023, we’ve had on average more than one mass shooting a day (four people or more).  Of course people are the problem- not the pointed sticks.  Innocent people are out there suffering every day.  It doesn’t look like God is saving anyone.  Wickedness no longer hides in the shadows and is instead paraded about.  All these things that used to be shameful are now out in the open.  In many of America’s largest cities you can hardly go out for a walk- even during the day!  Sounds a lot like Habakkuk’s day: destruction, violence, strife, contention.  Justice and righteousnesses give way to bribes and wickedness.  In chapter 1 we saw Habakuk’s question.  In chapter 2 is seen God’s answer.  In the last chapter, we see a prayer Habakuk’s makes.  Even though tough times were about to come on the nation, the prophet had reason to hope (See Habakuk 3:16-19).  Habakkuk is distressed and fearful concerning the coming Babylonian slaughter.  You thought you had stress in your life!  War breeds: starvation, shortages, and sorrow.  When you have that task hanging over your head, what do you wish for?  “I wish I could just get this over with!”  “Let’s get on with the event, and make it snappy!”  It would be like knowing that the mob of thieves you dread were coming to break into your home tonight, and no police would be able to help you.  Sweet dreams . . . War will destroy the figs, olives, crops, sheep, and cows.  The severity is seen increasing as each item is listed.  Losing figs wouldn’t be too bad.  Oil was used for cooking and for lighting lamps.  Yet Sheep and cattle were the main economic drivers  of the land.  They were used for clothing and for food.  When we go our way instead of God’s way, we’re really going the Devil’s way.  Thankfully, there’s a “Yet.”  Doom and gloom isn’t the end of the story.  Things may look bad, but joy comes in the morning.  Similarly, after detailing our former evil walk in the world, Paul wrote in Ephesians 2 “But God.”  Here’s this horrible situation we find ourselves in . . . “But God.”  Habakkuk knows God is in the right, even though it looks like He doesn’t care for His people.  How could God allow that flooding to happen which killed 14 people in Northern Italy?  Where is God when children in Afghanistan die of starvation?  Doesn’t the One who has control over the universe care?  God cares and will keep us safe.  Praise is what the Creator deserves.  God will strengthen the righteous even during terrible times.  Who else shows such concern?  Who else has our well being in mind when parents turn to eating their offspring because of Babylon’s siege (Jeremiah 19:9)?  The fig tree may fail, but Jesus said: “do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink” (Matthew 6:25).  There may be a deeper recession soon, but we read that there’s a: “peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, [which] will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).  Thus, Habakkuk will leap like a deer; sure footed and balanced.  The internet says that, deer can leap 7 foot tall fences- impressive.  With God as our strength, it will be all right.  The invading army may look large and powerful, but our God is even stronger.  God is the One who allows us to walk on the high places.  My parents like hiking Fourteeners (14,000 ft), which of course made me not like hiking.  I remember one of those times it seemed like it took forever.  We marched up the steep dusty road, and on the way back there was a downpour.  I don’t even remember the view at the top!  In the Bible, God is pictured at treading on the high places: “The mountains will melt under Him and the valleys will be split, like wax before the fire, like water poured down a steep place” (Micah 1:4).  “For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind and declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness and treads on the high places of the earth, The Lord God of hosts is His name” (Amos 4:13).  When it seems that the burdens of the world are piling up against us, God is able to move mountains.  If God can pass through the steadfast mountains, a bump in the road is no problem for Him.  Times may look desperate, but God has it all under control.  He’ll protect us through the storm.  He’ll give a just judgement at the end of the day.  Jesus had His share of bumps in the road.  He was willing to leave glory and come to this dirty mud ball.  He was willing to deal with the limitations of flesh instead of being entirely Spirit.  He was tempted as we are yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).  He stood with God (the Father) even though the leaders opposed Him.  He was willing to suffer the most cruel death on behalf of you and behalf of me.  However, His resurrection gives us that “Yet.”  

Jackson, Wayne.  The Prophets An Old Testament Commentary IV. Christian Courier Publications, 2015.

Mother’s Day Mary (5-13-2023)

Throughout the ages, there’s been what’s called the battle of the sexes.  When we were all youngsters in school, the class was divided between boys and girls.  Who would win?  The girls of course were smarter, but the problem was they were also taller!  Paul wrote: “in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God” (1 Corinthians 11:11-12).  Yet there is one particular woman who stands out in the Bible.  She became pregnant by the Holy Spirit: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).  The word “Immanuel” means: God with us.  For the previous 400 years, God wasn’t with Israel.  They didn’t receive visions and prophecies like in former times.  God declared a period of silence for His people.  They refused to listen to Him, so He refused to speak to them.  Gabriel said to Mary: “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28).  For all that Mary was about to deal with, this salutation would be very encouraging (See Luke 1).    Mary accepted God’s plan for her.  She could have said: “But Lord, this looks really bad because I’m not married yet.”  Her fiancé’ (as we would say) Joseph, initially planned to send her away: “And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly” (Matthew 1:19).  She could have been stubborn and said: “Well I’m not raising this child, it’s not even Joseph’s!”  “This child isn’t part of my husband’s Dynasty.”  She could have been unconcerned: “I have other things I wanted to do in life.”  Yet what did she say?  “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:38).  God has a plan for all our lives: “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers” (Acts 13:36).  When we live God’s way, praise is fitting to give Him.  We too need to listen when God speaks through His word to us (See Luke 1:46-50).  A person’s “soul” is their inner being.  The soul is the eternal part that we all have.  It mentions how she “exalts” God.  Other versions have “magnifies” (ESV) or “glorifies” (NIV).  Mary didn’t put the spotlight on herself, but on her Creator.  She also recognized that it wasn’t her good deeds that merited God’s favor.  When someone wins the lottery, its hard not to imagine them thumbing their nose at everyone else.  They get to be among the elite now!They have the power and finances to see what they want done.  Yet this was not the attitude Mary had.  Verse 47 essentially repeats the previous verse, using slightly different wording.  When God works wonderful things in our lives, He is the one only one worthy of praise.  Out talents and gifts that brought about that promotion came from God (as do all things).  God could have chosen any person he wanted, but he chose Mary.  She showed an obedient and humble character.  She’ll thus be counted as “blessed.”  She’s been told the child will be a King from David’s lineage and that His kingdom will never end.  God can make this “nobody” into royalty.  There’s a reason all the Madonna and Child paintings are among the most famous.  Mary was an outstanding individual.  One particular religious group has: Santa Maria, Our Lady, The Blessed Virgin.  Yet Mary said: “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name” (v 49).  One author commented: “God’s holiness here refers not simply to his moral perfection but even more to his acts of righteousness and justice by which he fulfills his covenantal promises” (The New American Commentary).  Through Mary, God didn’t abandoned His people nor His promises.  Mary’s child would be the Savior of the world.  I wonder if the Jews ever lost heart looking for the Messiah.  When will He finally come (See vs 51-55)?  God worked in the past through Mary, today God can still work though us.  We’re the light of the world shining in the darkness.  When so many in the world simply don’t care, we’re called to take the high road.  God kept His promise to Abraham: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice” (Genesis 22:18).  Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise, and the coming of the church.  God kept that promise working through Mary to accomplish it.  Mary would also be obedient to her righteous husband Joseph when they packed up immediately and fled to Egypt while King Herod was after the Child (Matthew 2:13).  She was obedient to the Mosaical Law of which they lived under at that time.  She’s seen at the Temple when Jesus was 12 year old (Luke 2:42).  At 12, a boy was ready to enter the religious community.  She’s seen raising Him well.  She’s also seen helping some friends at a marriage ceremony where Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1).  She didn’t have to help them out in this way.  Joseph had almost certainly died off at that point which makes her deed all the more impressive.  We see Mary concerned for her Son: “Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him” (Mark 3:31).  A mother has your best interest at heart.    We even see her standing and watching while Jesus was being crucified (John 19:25).  What a difficult day that must have been!  Is this what “God with us” means?  How is He to be the savior?  Just as Mary was obedient and humble, so today we too can serve God in our lives.  What makes a great person is being devoted to God.

John 1 Converts (5-6-2023)

Every congregation wants more converts, whether having 10, 100, or 1,000 members.  Heaven could always use one more soul.  While the Word is where the true power lies, we can do certain things to aid people in converting.  I wanted to look at the last few verses of John chapter 1 this morning.  Unfortunately, many get the two backwards thinking that our human efforts are more powerful than the Word.  We’ll see a few different ways that were employed in order to bring their conversions about.  We’ll see that the converts were aided by the person’s (A, B, C’s: attitude, bloodline, care, and discernment (See John 1:35-37).  John the baptizer had many followers during his call to repentance.  Yet even he wanted his disciples to now follow Jesus.  What a selfless attitude he had!  He recognized his humble position, and exalted Jesus.  He said he wasn’t even worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals (v 27).  Someone mentioned that this was something: “only non-Jewish slaves had to do for their Jewish masters, for Jewish slaves were exempt from this demeaning act” (Stein Vol 24 135).  John had a talent in his character and demeanor.  He knew when to preach boldly, and when to let Jesus take the reins.  He didn’t point people to himself, but pointed people to Jesus (See vs 40-42).  Whenever we see Andrew in the Bible, he’s always seen bringing people to Jesus (v 40).  He’s the one who will find the boy with five loaves and two fish (6:8).   He’ll also help some Greeks who became Jews and wanted to see Jesus (12:22).  Here in chapter 1, Andrew finds his brother Simon.  If you saw that famous person the whole nation was talking about, your family would probably be the first folks you would tell.  Andrew, after being with Jesus one day (v 39), believed He was the Messiah.  He had a talent for evangelism.  A person’s name summed up the whole man.  Queen Jezebel’s name means something like: “Baal is prince.”  A person changing another’s name shows authority over that person.  The name “Peter” means stone.  God had big plans for Peter’s life, and knew he would become an elder one day (1 Peter 5:1).  I wonder what name Jesus would give us.  Peter had a talent for getting things done.  He had the gun-ho action type personality among the group (See 43-46).  Jesus seeks out Philip who seems to immediately follow Him.  In 1st Corinthians 3, Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.  We all have our part to play in winning souls to Christ.  Bethsaida means: “house of fishing” and was on the northeastern side of the Sea of Galilee.  People today like to say they’ve “found” Jesus, but as we all know, He’s not the one lost.  While Nazareth isn’t mentioned in the Old Testament, Moses spoke of a coming prophet: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him” (Deuteronomy 18:18).  Nazareth was a small little nothing slum town.  The words: “Come and see” encourages people to make the choice themselves.  It also indicates that the problem has a solution.  Today, we can’t physically see Jesus, but the Word has power.  It seems that Philip had a talent for wanting the truth (See vs 47-51).  Nathanael is an “Israelite indeed” he’s honest and trustworthy.  Nathanael is a great contrast to the deceiving Jacob (who was named Israel).  Jacob stole his brother’s blessing (Genesis 27:35).  Jesus knows Nathanael, who must have been under a fig tree earlier in the day.  We can almost picture him praying that day about the Messiah: “Lord, let me see your Messiah.”  Perhaps that was what made him into such a sudden believer.  Nathanael had a talent for obedience.  He held fast to God’s laws.  We see immediate responses from these converts.  They realized Jesus was God’s Anointed One and didn’t dilly dally.  They didn’t put off what they knew was the right thing to do.  If we’re humble and point others to Jesus (come and see), then they also may: marvel, believe, and follow.  Jesus wasn’t only the king of Israel, but of the Chinese and Canadians as well.  The angels “ascending” and “descending” brings to mind Jacob’s vision (Genesis 28:12), and here probably references Jesus’ Second Coming.  Angels will be with Jesus at His Second Coming (Matthew 25:31).  We know today that Jesus is our ladder to heaven.  He’s the only way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).  The phrase “The Son of Man” has its origin in (Daniel 7:13).  The term was ideal not having any “political complications” with the Jewish expectations of the Messiah.  Jesus was able to use it how he wanted.  It also expressed Jesus’ humanity.  In keeping with our theme, I bet Jesus’ title aided in converting people.  He didn’t call Himself: “Supreme Leader” or “His Holiness.”  That probably would have turned people off.  “[God] desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge [not feelings] of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).  We all have different types of gifts.  In Romans 12, several gifts seen are: being spokesmen, serving, teaching, encouraging, being generous, leading, and showing mercy.  In 1 Corinthians 12, we see several miraculous gifts that were given during the first century: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguished between spirits, and tongues.  Augustine wrote: “The Son of God became the Son of man that you who were sons of men might be made sons of God” (Polhill Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary).

Unjust Manager (4-29-2023)

Jesus talks a lot about wealth in Luke 16: Rich man’s manager (1-13), the Pharisees being “lovers of money” (14), and the Rich man and Lazarus (19-31).  In the first three verses, Jesus, is speaking to His disciples.  Yet we know that the Pharisees are listening in the background: “Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him” (v 14).  This “squandering” is the same word used for the Prodigal son who: “gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there . . . squandered his estate with loose living” (Luke 15:13).  The Rich man gives the manager a chance to “give an account.”  What do you say against these accusations?  Yet it sounds like he’s already made up his mind.  The manger isn’t strong enough to dig, and he’s ashamed to beg.  What is he to do?  He sees a third option: its time to act shrewdly.  In verses 4-8, the manager decides to secretly discount the bills that were owed his boss.  His thinking is that the grateful debtors will: “welcome me into their homes.”  Note: “Many will seek the favor of a generous man, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts” (Proverbs 19:6).  So he does just that- slashing people’s debts.  He cuts the customer’s 100 measures of olive oil by 50%, and the customer’s 100 measures of wheat by 20%.  Who doesn’t like a discount?  Anyone would agree to this loan repayment!  Surprisingly, the Rich man praises the unrighteous manager.  Why would he do such a thing?  Its possible that the manager and the Rich man knew of their excessive fees.  Thus, canceling some of the debt just makes the boss look good.  Its a good public relations campaign!  Yet as someone pondered: “If it is not a matter of usury . . . [crazy interest rates], we must feel that the master appreciated the fact that he had been outwitted by a smart rouge and paid his tribute to the wisdom, though not the morality, of the act” (Morris 266, Petrillo 59).  People in the world are plotters and often can’t be trusted.  People in general aren’t good- they need to be brought in line.  We were all once rebels that needed to surrender to God.  In verses 9-13, Jesus is not saying to be a cheater.  He’s not encouraging us to be devious.   Yet we should be aware of the worldly aspect and use of wealth.  Whatever we have in this life, we should be using it to help us get to the next life: Jesus said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20).  Paul painted a sad picture of: “those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it . . . the form of this world is passing away” (1 Corinthians 7:31).  Certainly, don’t cheat and lie, but we can be shrewd with the things of this world.  Worldly people are often more wise with their money than Christians because they think this life is all there is.  Christians have to live in this world, and though not being like the world, we can sometimes “fight fire with fire.”  Someone commented: “We should be just as wise in the way we use money (for spiritual purposes) as the unrighteous use it for selfish ends” (Petrillo 59).  How much you gained isn’t as important as how much you gave.  Greed is never as good as generosity.  What are you doing with your wealth?

Orbison, Guy. Petrillo, Denny.  Workshop in the Word: A Study of the Gospel of Luke. 2010.

Colossians 3 New Life (4-22-2023)

His ministry only lasted 3-1/2 years.  He only lived to be 33 years old.  He only had 12 so-so followers.  He died as an allege criminal.  Yet when Jesus came to earth, He turned the world upside-down.  The world says might makes right.  The world says get ahead in the rat race any way you can (See Colossians 3:1-4).  God not only turned the world upside down, He can also reshape our lives as well.  One author commented: “No other epistle is as [Christ centered] as this one” (Melick 162).  This “if”  of verse 1 is better translated “since” like: “If you have died with Christ” (Colossians 2:20).  We’ve been raised to a new life through baptism.  There are loftier thoughts than tomorrow, patriotism, or even family.  Jesus is next to God full of power and authority.  We recall Peter’s first sermon saying Jesus: “has been exalted at the right hand of God” (Acts 2:33).   Stephen, the first Christian martyr said: “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56).  How does the mocker in front of you compare to Jesus on His throne?  I can’t help but picture a medieval orb in His one hand and a scepter in His other.  When our minds are on spiritual things, we’re not focused on earthly pains.  View breakfast as a gift from God.  View that time you were cut off in traffic as an opportunity to build character, view old age as one step closer to heaven.  King David seemed to have some sense of an afterlife.  After his child died he said: “I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23).  He would also write in the Psalms: “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (23:6).  Someone said: “[we] live now no longer existing on the earthly level” (Orbison 11).  People want to go to National Parks to say they’ve had an experience.  In Jesus, it’s no longer us living, but Christ living through us.  Our sinful self wasn’t redeemable, it had to die.  Christ cared for us, so we want to show concern for others.  Jesus justified us, so we want to help justify others.  We want to be so caught up in Christ’s way of thinking to where: “Stephen can forgive those chucking rocks at him . . .Paul can prefer not to remain on earth . . . and John can write, ‘Come, Lord Jesus!'” (Orbison 11).  This earth had no draw for those men (See vs 5-8).  Verse 5 and following gets into the practical side of things.  Immorality, porneian, is the general word for sexual sin.  Impurity has the idea of uncleanness.  Passion is letting your desires run wild.  That way of life didn’t lead anywhere good.   Greed is covetousness (putting anything before God).  Folks desire material things in life, but the peace found in Jesus is really what they’re searching for.  Three extra cars isn’t going to cut it.  Self help books can only go so far compared to the word of God.  Psychologists only know some thinking skills and pushing pills.  Jesus is where true help comes from.  God can be full of wrath (v 6): “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).  We ourselves were once foolish enough to be on the team that opposed God.  People walk after all sorts of things: money, fame, power.  Yet Jesus is all we need.  We read: “Be angry, and yet do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26).  God was angry with the Israelites, and Jesus was angry with the Pharisees.  Malice is the intention or planning to do harm.  All one has to do is read the Chicago Times to know that’s alive and well.  Slander against God is blasphemy, slander against men are insults.  Obscene speech is being foul mouthed: “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue . . . this man’s religion is worthless” (James 1:26).  Our old path in life didn’t lead to the streets of gold.  We read that it is: “impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18).  Don’t we want to be like God?  The truth has nothing to hide.  Let people have free speech- the truth will always win.  We find that there’s no reason to lie, for we’re after His will and not our own.  Our new self is being made more Christ-like through true knowledge- not the garbage being taught in schools today.  We were made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).  After sin latched onto us, God wanted to renew us once again.  The Scythians were nomads who lived north of the Black Sea.  They pair with “barbarians” (uncivilized).  We read in one of the extra biblical books: “Without any investigation or trial they attempted to destroy them, displaying a cruelty more savage than the barbarians from Scythia” (3 Maccabees 7:5).  For today, its easy to look down on homeless people, but Jesus can make us all heirs.  If we were free, we’re now slaves to God, and if we were slaves, Christ makes us free.  Jesus is the true melting pot (Poles, Russians, Americans).  Christ is all, and in all.  He’s where the buck stops.  He holds the keys of life and death.  He’s the only One who’s judgement we should fear (See vs 12-14.  Those at Colossae were “chosen by God, holy and beloved.”  Who needs the approval of the false teachers?  Listed are: “compassion” (emotional), “kindness” (action), “humility” (proper perspective), “gentleness” (meekness not weakness), and “patience” (long-suffering; Orbison 13).  God’s willing to forgive the sins of the whole world.  Chairman Mao Zedong pushed socialism murdering around 60 million of his own countrymen.  Yet if he had repented, God would have forgiven him.  Surely we can forgive a small squabble we have with someone.  Love agapē is what keeps unity.  This word for love is the most often used in the New Testament.  Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  C. S. Lewis wrote: “Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised.   But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. William Collins, 2012.

Melick, R. R. Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1991.

Orbison, Guy. Denny, Petrillo. Worship In The Word A Study Of Colossians 1996.

Burning Fire Within (4-15-2023)

There’s a youtube video that’s been viewed over 12 billion times, and there’s only 8 billion people on earth.  It’s estimated to have been 5 billion Bible’s printed; the most of any book.  We all have our million dollar idea.  If only the company did things this or that way.  If only everyone held to this reasoning or way of life.  There are plenty of groups trying to push their agendas on the rest of us.  They have a fire within, but are without knowledge.  The prophet Jeremiah had no cake walk in his day.  If there was one prophet I wouldn’t want to be, it was him.  He lived around 600 BC, and spoke God’s word to make the best of a bad situation: Surrendering to the Babylonians was the right decision.  That wasn’t the message the Jews in Judah wanted to hear.  The Jews wanted to hear that they could fight and win.  There was no cause for alarm whatsoever.  Everything is sunshine and rainbows!  God’s judgment was nevertheless about to come on Judah through Babylon.  We call Jeremiah the “weeping prophet” for a reason.  He was told by God not to marry because of the coming destruction (16:2).  That would make for a lonely life.  He spoke against Judah for over 40 years (4 decades!).  The poet, Edgar Allen Poe, only lived to be 40.  Jeremiah had a tough preaching job.  Not that any of the prophets had it easy; maybe Haggai had it the least bad.  God comforted Jeremiah at the beginning of his ministry: “‘They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,’ declares the Lord” (1:19).  A struggle would happen, but by God’s word, Jeremiah would stand tall.  Do I get an Olympic metal at the end?  Do I get to live a comfortable retirement at least?  He would have his fill of hard times.  The Jews wouldn’t listen to God’s word: “You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you; and you shall call to them, but they will not answer” (7:27); ‘they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart’” (18:12).  The Jews wouldn’t turn back to God’s word.  They were prideful having God’s temple.  They were addicted to drugs and wine.  They went after immorality and bowing before wood.  They had His words that led to life.  His commandments showed them the blessed road.  Obeying Him would ensure a right relationship with the creator.  Yet being short sighted, the Jews didn’t want any of that.  The prophet warned: “He who dwells in this city will die by the sword and by famine and by pestilence; but he who goes out and falls away to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live” (Jeremiah 21:9).  Jeremiah gave the Jews two options: death or life.  Jeremiah often preached the opposite of what the daily newspaper was saying.  He was beaten and put in stocks (20:1-2).  The leaders in Jerusalem plotted to put Him to death (26:11).  Judah’s king burned Jeremiah’s scroll at one point (36:23).  Jeremiah was once left to die in a muddy well (38:6).  The people wanted to run away to Egypt, but God warned them not to do so, and Jeremiah was called a liar (43:2).  Jeremiah himself would be forced to go to Egypt with some of the stubborn Jews (43:6-7).  They were kicking the can down the road.  Disaster was inevitable.  Nevertheless: “But if I say, ‘I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name,’ Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it” (Jeremiah 20:9).  Someone commented: “No other passage in the Bible reveals so clearly the divine compulsion to speak God’s word” (Huey Vol 16 192-193).  Perhaps the closest phrase we see is: “A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:8).  Jeremiah had a burning fire within, and it wasn’t heartburn.   He knew there was nothing more important in life than sticking with God’s word.  If we’re not on God’s side, nothing matters (in this life or the next).  God is often pictured throughout the Bible being clothed in fire.  He has an effect.  You don’t ignore the fire on your roof.  What about God’s word?    “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).  Jeremiah was even willing to preach the bad news because it was God’s word.  He wasn’t one of these televangelists preaching only the good times.  Paul said to the Ephesians: “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27).  The Psalmist wrote: “The sum of Your word is truth” (119:160).  We can’t just cherry pick the verses we like, and ignore the rest.  God’s word tells us the good news and the bad.  We were all caught up in the debt of sin at one time (Romans 3:23).  We don’t deserve anything for free except death (Romans 6:23).  We couldn’t work our way out of debt, or offer a good enough sacrifice to atone for our sins.  We can’t live righteous enough to earn God’s grace.  We can’t merely use our words to get out of our sin problem.  Our words are often the ones to get us into trouble: “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. 20 These are the things which defile the man . . .” (Matthew 15:18-20).  It only takes one sin, and God could justly keep us separated from Him forever.  How many thousands of sins have we committed throughout our lives?  Thankfully, that ins’t the end of the story.  The good news is that God sent His Son to pay for our sins: “and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).  That word propitiation means the: “Turning away of anger by the offering of a gift” (Elwell Vol 2 1784).  Jesus is called the “Word” (John 1:1).  In Him is life and light (v 4).  He shows us the way to become children of God (v 12).  The Word became flesh and was full of glory (v 14).  “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).  Paul shared a similar thinking to Jeremiah: “I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16).  We have a word concerning eternal life- what everybody wants (Jeremiah didn’t have that to preach)!  Many get too caught up in this world with wars and politics that they don’t see the next.  People are often shortsighted in several aspects of life.  Yet we too, like Jeremiah, can have God’s word as a burning fire within.

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Propitiation. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

Huey, F. B. (1993). Jeremiah, Lamentations. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Governing Authorities (4-8-2023)

We certainly hope the government doesn’t start locking up political opponents like China.  In Romans 13, Paul continues to speak on Christian living since chapter 12.  He writes concerning a Christian’s relation to government.  Freedom in Christ doesn’t mean complete freedom from worldly authorities, as much as we may wish.  You know the difference between death and taxes?  Congress doesn’t meet every year to make death worse (See Romans 13:1-2)!  Jesus said to the Roman Governor Pilate: “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above'” (John 19:11).  Jesus was in control at the Sanhedrin’s trial.  He was in control at Gethsemane.  There is also authority in the home; man had a: “helper” (Genesis 2:10), “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22).  Yet God doesn’t approve every home.  There’s authority in the church: “He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets [spokesmen], and some as evangelists, and some as [shepherd] . . . teachers” (Ephesians 4:11), yet God doesn’t approve every church.  He didn’t have anything nice to say to the church at Laodicea; and was about to spit them out of His mouth (Revelation 3:16)!  There’s also authority in Government, but God doesn’t approve of every government.  He never approves of evil governments, but He can use them.  If Paul wasn’t inspired to write this, would he say to obey Emperor Nero?  Nero murdered his wife and his own mother.  We certainly have the right to protest, but do we have the right to revolt (Geisler 239)?  Should the government be disobeyed because it supports an evil?  Unfortunately no, think again back to Nero or Domitian.  Should the government not be obeyed if they tempt us to do evil?  Well no, because temptation isn’t a sin.  What we do with temptation may be.  For example: Creation can’t be taught in the classroom, but it can be taught elsewhere.  Are revolutions ever justified?  We revolted against the British in 1775 because of high taxation and no representation.  Yet as Christians- no.  Christians endured several Roman persecutions without revolting.  Revolutions throughout the Bible were condemned: Korah’s Rebellion (Numbers 16:11), Absalom against his father David (2 Samuel 15:10), and Rehoboam against Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:21-24).  We recall how David didn’t raise his sword against King Saul even though he was given the perfect opportunity in a cave (1 Samuel 24).  The Hebrews didn’t escape Egypt by taking up arms, but by waiting for God’s deliverance.  However, the government should be disobeyed if it commands individual Christians to do evil (sacrifice to Jupiter, don’t worship on Sunday).  “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).  He just had to use the word never didn’t he (See Romans 13:3-7)?  Ideally, the government practices justice.  If the authorities don’t rule with justice, the mob will do as it pleases.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the murderer feared getting caught?  In California, stealing $950 isn’t as bad as stealing $951.  The government: “does not bear the sword [machaira- Roman sword] for nothing.”  Governments need order and justice.  Without government, there’s anarchy.  Its the lesser of two evils.  Wickedness must be punished, sometimes through capital punishment.  A sword isn’t used for slapping hands, but for chopping off heads.  Christians are to obey the government unless they go against God.  The leading Jews in the first century said: “’We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men'” (Acts 5:28-29).  No one wants to be punished, but we’re also conscience of our duty to God.  Wrath from the IRS is one thing, but wrath from God would be surprisingly worse.  If your were to lie to a friend, your conscience would bother you.  Yet if you were to lie on your taxes, get ready for a couple years of pain.  Taxes allow governments to function which, of course, makes me a PAYtriot (Orbison 55).  Jesus paid taxes: the shekel in the fish’s mouth, and in saying: “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” (Matthew 17:27; 22:21).  Governments exist to maintain order.  This “fear” is better translated “respect” (Roper 315).  Yet it is also good to fear God in an afraid way (Exodus 20:20).  Fear can keep us from sin (Matthew 10:28).  Those worthy of honor, if they can be found in the legislature, deserve honor (See Romans 13:8-9).  Notice that Jesus was fine with loans: “do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42).  Yet, He wouldn’t want us to default.  Let your yes be yes and your no be no.  While we have these earthly concerns, there’s an authority even above the most powerful governments.  Paul mentions some of God’s laws.  The first four of the 10 Commandments are related to God, the last six are related to man: honor father and mother (Exodus 20:12), don’t murder (Exodus 20:13), don’t commit adultery (Exodus 20:14), don’t steal (Exodus 20:15), don’t bear false witness (Exodus 20:16), and don’t covet (Exodus 20:17; See Romans 13:10-12).  Love is a year round payment, not just April 15th.  We don’t know when we’ll pass on from this life, or when the Lord will come back, but one of those is closer today than it was yesterday.  When we have Christ on, we don’t have that black stain of sin.  We’re in a spiritual battle, but we can overcome through Jesus. Even if the government were to make us all martyrs like the first century Christians, He rose and we will too.  Thankfully, God doesn’t give us the death penalty we deserve.  He allows us to come to his mercy.  That’s only possible through His Son’s sacrifice in our stead.  We read: “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27); “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name'” (Acts 22:16).  Let’s be sure to follow God’s word in all aspects.

Geisler, Norman L. Christian Ethics:. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1990.

Orbison, Guy. Petrillo, Denny. Workshop In The Word: Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Durango, CO, 2005.

Restoration (3-25-2023)

Judah was in a sorry state.  Instead of holding fast to God and His commandments, the Jews took on the pagan practices of the nations they conquered.  God had led them out of Egypt, gave them victories, and words of life.  Yet now their sin demanded punishment.  The end of the Book of Kings (2 Kings 24:10–17) describes the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar in 587 BC, and the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity.  Jeremiah prophesied: “Then it will be when seventy years are completed I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,’ declares the Lord, ‘for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it an everlasting desolation;” (Jeremiah 25:12).  Imagine having to grow up in a foreign nation.  Generations of Jews grew up in Babylon.  They hadn’t seen Jerusalem or the temple.  They hadn’t seen the priests offering the sacrifices.  They didn’t have that sense of joy at the three main festivals annually in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16).  God will now work through another nation.  In 539 BC, Cyrus the great conquered Babylon making Persia the dominant world power.  The prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied during this period, and would encourage work on the Temple (Ezra 5:1).  Restoring back to proper worship would aid in restoring people back to God (See Ezra 1:1-4).  Reading: “in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia” (Ezra 1:1) puts the date of these events in the mid 500’s BC.  We returned to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel (538 BC), under Ezra (458 BC), and under Nehemiah (445 BC).  God can work through any nation to bring about His will.  He has not abandoned His people.  Everything worked just as God’s timetable dictated.  Concerning the 70 years: Babylon’s defeat of Assyria was in 605 BC (Battle of Carchemish) and counted down to around the 530’s BC when Persia defeated the last main Babylonian army.  Cyrus was the most powerful man on earth in his day, yet the Lord was over even his ways.  The first year of Cyrus king of Persia over the Jews would be 538 BC although Cyrus’s reign began earlier.  Perhaps this “first year of Cyrus” is in reference to his official Empire now having dominance over Mesopotamia with Babylon out of the way.  The Jewish restoration’s first steps have begun.  God said: “It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.’ And he declares of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built,’ And of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid’” (Isaiah 44:28).  Isaiah wrote that over 150 years before Cyrus began to reign- and certainly before he was born.  Usually the term “shepherd” is reserved for the Messiah, yet Cyrus is the only other specific individual given this term.  Cyrus, unlike the nations before him, tolerated other nation’s religions.  Jerusalem is singled out.  Cyrus would even give God the credit for this grand idea.  Restoration requires worshiping the right way.  Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem, not that he was a devout believer in Yahweh, but that he wants all the “god’s” favors.  For the Jews, this was a wonderful thing, but: “would result in insecurity, hardship, and suffering as the returnees started a new, precarious community” (Breneman 69).  God never promised us life would be easy.  With Cyrus now controlling the Middle East, he allowed the Jews from throughout his empire to return and restore Jerusalem.  Freewill offerings (giving from the heart) are always better than something like taxes (not from the heart; See vs 5-8).  The mention of “Judah and Benjamin” encompassed those from the southern Kingdom of Judah.  The tribe of Simeon was also assimilated into the former kingdom of Judah.  The priests and Levites would be particularly interested in re-establishing God’s worship in the city which He chose that: “My servant David may have a lamp always before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen for Myself to put My name” (1 Kings 11:36).  Not being God-centered led Judah to captivity, but now being God-centered brought them back.  This movement wasn’t about silver or gold, but about God restoring His people.  Apparently the timeout in Babylon worked to bring the Jews back to God.  In this time-period, as someone mentioned: “When a king captured a nation, he would take that nation’s gods (images) and cult objects to his own capital” (Breneman 72).  This showed the strength of their god over the conquered ones.  The treasurer, Mithredath, has a very Persian name pointing also to this time.  When the Philistines captured the Ark, they did the same thing- setting it before their god Dagon in Ashdod (1 Samuel 5:1-2).  Babylon had previously used some of the Temple’s sacred utensils for their own festivities: “Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them” (Daniel 5:3).  It would be that very night when Babylon was taken.  Various items are mentioned in verse 9-11 (dishes, bowls, various articles) used in the priestly rituals, but interestingly not the Ark.  Surely it would have been mentioned if it was there!  We lose it somewhere during the Babylonian captivity.  Perhaps it was melted down.  Other items are listed in verse 11, perhaps verses 9-10 were just the most important ones.  From a seemingly hopeless situation of captivity, God restored His people, the priests, and the Temple furnishings back to the Promised Land.  When we don’t see a way of restoration, God: “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Ephesians 3:20).  They weren’t just going to have their synagogues to meet in- they’d have a temple once again!  We see restoration in other examples.  Abram and Sarai, when they were young, surely wanted to have children- she is described as “beautiful” (Genesis 12:11).  Imagine the decade’s that go by as their hope fades.  Yet it was in their old age that God restored that hope through the promise of Isaac.  The Jews, when they were enslaved in Egypt, didn’t think they’d be free.  Back in Joseph’s day, they were in the richest part of the land: Goshen (north).  Yet God displayed ten great wonders and parted the Red Sea.  In God is where restoration and true freedom are found.  During the 400 years of silence between Malachi and Matthew, I picture the faithful wanting a dream or a word from God.  Amos wrote: “‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord God, ‘When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the Lord'” (8:11).  Paul said he was the “foremost of all” sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).  If God can restore him, He can restore anyone.  God is stronger than our temptations.  “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also” (1 Corinthians 10:13).  He promised us a way out.  Don’t picture this not as a small dirt path through a thicket, but a highway to restore us back to Him.  Jesus restored sight to the blind, and allowed the lame to walk.  Even concerning us: “though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).  He will bring the restored of mankind one day before God’s presence.  When our path seems wayward, God can provide a way.  When we feel restless, God is the One able to restore.  “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6); “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).  To be fully restored to God, we must be obedient to Jesus: believing the gospel (John 3:16, repenting of sin (Acts 2:38, confessing Him as Lord (Romans 10:9), and being baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 22:16).

Breneman, M. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1993.

New Body (3-18-2023)

I imagine the majority of Americans would love a new body.  Something could always be better.  We could always use less weight here, and more muscle there.  We all know why the skeleton was afraid to cross the road.  He didn’t have the guts (See 1 Corinthians 15)!  I wonder what the new body we’ll have in heaven will feel like.  This will be no superman body, or transformer.  We’ll actually get to experience a different body one day.  We read: “But someone will say, ‘How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?’” (v 35).  Some Christians at Corinth were worried about their physical body after death.   What if someone was beheaded in a battle?  How could God resurrect that?  What if someone was burned at the stake?  Yet moreover, it is a spiritual body that will be raised.  A farmer may plant several seeds that look the same, but when they are grown you have a stalk of wheat or an orange tree.  So too, we Christians (when we’re brought back to life) don’t know what we’ll look like, but we do know we’ll be resurrected with an immortal body.  Verse 39 reads: “All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish.”  Yet some are so caught up in thinking physically, that they don’t even see the spiritual kind.  There’s a difference between the foliage of plants, the flesh of animals, the soul in humans, and the majesty of the stars.  The appliances in your home will wear out and break down.  Yet if you need a robotic arm, that would be a jolly bit more difficult to replace.  That would entail trying to mix a kind of machine with a kind of flesh.  God created them after their “kinds” (Genesis 1:11, 25).  So too, at the resurrection, the physical kind gives way to the eternal kind.  Hindus wanted a sense of immortality and believed it was through reincarnation.  Solomon wrote of mankind: “[God] has also set eternity in their heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  Christians will go from: perishable to imperishable, dishonor to glory, weakness to power, and natural to spiritual.  Everything will be better!  If we could have just one of those in the future that would be amazing.  Our church family here are no strangers to aches and pains, but those will all be done away with.  Without sin, there will be no reason for tears.  The old things will have passed away.  There will also be no worries.  God is pictured as providing for us.  We won’t have a care in the world, for we won’t be in the world.  Heaven is a place of everlasting joy and bliss.  We may have to deal with this body for a few decades, but we continually look forward to heaven.  Verse 45 says: “So also it is written, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living soul.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”  This quotes from: “man became a living person [soul]” (Genesis 2:7).  Here in Corinthians the word denotes the breath of life, for verse 46 will speak of life through Jesus’ Spirit.  Having a spiritual life is much better than a physical life.   It is one thing to compare an Abram’s tank to a Russian T-72.  Yet if you were to compare a toy tank to a real tank, there’s no comparison.  The real tank wouldn’t even have to fire, but merely run over the other one!  So it is with the spiritual realm over the physical.  The name “Adam” means “red earth” (Jamieson 295).  Adam came from the dust of the earth, Jesus came from heaven.  I wonder if Adam had a reddish skin color.  We all take the same physical path of Adam, but Christians are transformed to be Christ-like.  Jesus was that second “Adam.”  Adam allowed sin to come to everyone, Jesus allows forgiveness to come to everyone.  Not only are you: “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2), but when we die we’ll be like Him.  I wonder if we’ll have a certain brightness about us like Jesus did on the mount of transfiguration.   Jesus said that we’ll be like angels (Matthew 22:30).  In the New Testament, they’re often pictured as gleaming white.  Verse 50: “Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.”  So we must be speaking of the eternal heavenly kingdom.  We’re still in the flesh and yet part of His kingdom, the church (Colossians 1:13).  Christians won’t all die (fall asleep), but we will all change.  Paul tells of Jesus’ second coming, as a “mystery” divinely revealed to him.  “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).  Jesus’ ascension to heaven was how His second coming will appear (Acts 1:9-11).  We will be changed from “mortal” to “immortal.”  If you dive in a deep part of the ocean, you need to change.  You need the right clothing, a suit for oxygen, and in order to avoid water pressure.  An atmospheric diving suit can go to a depth of 2,300 feet.  So too, our physical bodies will be made ready for heaven; to stand in God’s holy presence.  We read: “Be holy for I’am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).  We needed some preparation before getting from earth to God’s presence.  Christ’s blood clothes us so that God doesn’t see our sins, and we’ll be able to stand before Him (Isaiah 43:25).  We needed to be washed in the blood of the Lamb.  As someone wrote: “What a chemist and an artist in one is this Jesus! He uses bright red to get a pure white out of a dead black” (Roper 314).  Jesus conquered death, yet currently Christians still have to face physical death.  At the second coming and final resurrection: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”  Isaiah foretold as much: “He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken” (25:8).  Instead of death swallowing people, victory will swallow up death.  We see here another Old Testament quote: “O death were is your sting” (Hosea 13:14).  Satan’s bite stung us for awhile, but will do so no longer.  Jesus delivered us from death, but after His second coming, death will no longer be.  Because of the victory we have in Jesus: we don’t have to worry about the toil in this life, we’ll have an eternal rest just as God rested Himself on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2).  We can be steadfast (knowing sin is conquered).  We can be unmovable not listening to those in verse 12 saying there is no resurrection.  We can abound in the work of the Lord (knowing its worthwhile).  The logic in verse 14 is: “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain” (Jamieson 296).  What a joy for those who have gone on before us to receive a new body.  God created us in a physical temporary state, but one day He’ll give us an eternal body.  Yet this promise of our resurrection is only for those who: hear (Romans 10:17), believe (John 3:16), repent (Luke 13:3), confess (Romans 10:9), and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. 1997.

Roper, David L. Revelation 1-11. Searcy, AR: Resource Publications, 2002.

Romans 1 Ashamed? (3-11-2023)

It’s easy to be ashamed of politicians.  Apart from often making bad choices, they’re in the camera’s eye so much that they’re bound to make some sort of mistake.  People even threaten to move to Canada, or say: “I wouldn’t be caught dead with that person!”  Certainly there are times when it’s appropriate to be ashamed.  God rebuked His people by saying: “Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?  No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush” (ESV Jeremiah 6:15).  Sin should bring shame.  That behavior isn’t natural from the way God created us.  We recall how in Eden, Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and only then realized that they were naked.  They were ashamed and hid themselves.  Once, a rich man dies and his three sons inherit his estate.  One’s a doctor, one’s a lawyer, and one’s a priest.  His dying request to the three of them is that, to show their gratitude for all the money he’s leaving them, he wants each to take out $10,000 and put it in his coffin.  The day of the funeral comes, and each of the sons dutifully puts a paper bag in the old man’s casket.  They then met up later. The priest shamefacedly confesses: “I couldn’t sleep a wink last night, thinking of all the good our church could do with $10,000.  Finally I decided to just put some wadded-up newspaper in there. Surely dad would understand!”  The doctor sighs in relief. “I’m so glad you said that! I couldn’t stop thinking about the life-saving equipment our hospital could buy for $10,000, so I also just put some newspaper in the bag.  He’ll never know the difference.”  The lawyer frowns. “I’m ashamed of you both.  Really, I can’t believe you guys!  It was dad’s last request!”  My bag contained my personal check for $10,000!”  Jesus was executed with criminals.  Surely He did something terrible!  Maybe He was the ringleader!  Being crucified was held only for the worst of criminals.  The smart Rabbi’s who’ve memorized the whole Old Testament were against Him!  The chief priests and religious leaders were against Him!  The crowd before Pilate was against Him.  Who would want to be associated with this Jesus fellow?  He was accused of having a demon in the past (Matthew 9:34).  His public image is so tarnished, we might as well avoid Him completely.  He just has a lot of history of brushing up against the authorities.  He talked and associated with the tax collectors and prostitutes.  Those will work well as attack ads!  You probably wouldn’t want your name in that light.  He’s easily painted as crazy: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves . . . As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore” (John 6:53, 66).  I was fine with you talking about love and compassion, but this is going too far.  I’d be ashamed to stand by you on that subject.  We read: “He has no stately form or majesty that we would look at Him, nor an appearance that we would take pleasure in Him. 3 He was despised and abandoned by men, a man of great pain and familiar with sickness; and like one from whom people hide their faces, He was despised, and we had no regard for Him” (Isaiah 53:2-3).  He looked like just another person who would die and be forgotten.  Why be willing to stand with Him?  He doesn’t look like some great warrior.  It doesn’t look like He’s a great leader with His small carpentry business.  He doesn’t look successful sleeping in the fox holes and among birds.  Paul wrote: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).  Paul wasn’t ashamed of the gospel “good news” about Jesus.  Paul was often: in prison, beaten, or either speaking to the crowds and authorities.  Paul wrote: “I am under obligation” (v 14) and “I am eager to preach” (v 15) and “I am not ashamed” (v 16).  Paul’s ready and rearing to go get them.  He has the motivation and courage.  The good news about Jesus is the “Power” of God.  The Greek word “power” is dunamis, where we get our word dynamite from.  One stick of dynamite doesn’t look like much, but if you were to light one and put it on the communion table, we wouldn’t be sticking around for long.  Dynamite was invented by Alfred Nobel: “[Yet] In 1888, the death of his brother Ludvig caused several newspapers to publish obituaries of Alfred in error.  One French newspaper published an obituary titled . . . ‘The merchant of death is dead’ . . . Nobel read the obituary and was appalled at the idea that he would be remembered in this way.”  He then went on to donate most of his wealth to found the Nobel Prize (Wikipedia).  Alfred Nobel was ashamed of his invention, but he turned his life around to leave behind a legacy of peace.  Many today view the gospel as bad news.  I’d have to change my life and probably lose friends over it.  What if they ask me a loaded question that I don’t know the answer to?  I’d have to wake up on Sunday morning and go to church.  What will others think if I associate with that group?  I’d have to stand up for something instead of just being tolerant of everything and going with the flow.  Yet seeing Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection from God’s viewpoint (instead of the Jewish viewpoint), is one of victory, not shame.  Jesus lived His life as a great example.  He always had a witty response, displayed great wisdom, helped others, and never broke His word.  That’s nothing to be ashamed of!  He has a clean track record.  Jesus’ is our King and Creator: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: 16 for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything” (Colossians 1:15-18).  That’s nothing to be ashamed of!  Can the clay pot say to its maker: “Why did you make me like this?”  Who are we compared to Him?  God Himself isn’t ashamed of believers.  We read: “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers” (Hebrews 2:11); “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:16).  God isn’t ashamed of us weak sinful humans who stumble often.  How much less reason do we have to be ashamed of Him?  Is it because we can’t see Him that we’re tempted to be ashamed of Him?  Out of sight out of mind?  If we could but take one glimpse of God in all His glory, I can’t imagine we’d be ashamed of Him.  He’d appear so powerful and majestic.  Ezekiel’s description in chapter 1 is of a: great wind, a bright cloud, fire, and four great angels.  These four hold up an expanse like crystal, and on this platform is a massive polished blue throne.  The One sitting on it appears from His waist upward as glowing metal, and from the waist down as fire.  It mentions a radiance around Him like a rainbow.  Not surprisingly, Ezekiel then fell on his face.  Many Jews in Jesus’ day were ashamed of Him.  We see some irony in Matthew’s account (Jackson): “When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.’ 25 And all the people said, ‘His blood shall be on us and on our children!’” (27:24-25).  Jesus’ blood was on their hands, but what they didn’t realize was that for the obedient, it would later cover their hearts as well.  Isaiah the prophet pictured happy times when he wrote: “Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, everlasting joy will be theirs” (61:7).  Why be ashamed of Jesus and the gospel?  There’s no need to be ashamed!  If this morning you aren’t a Christian, you don’t have to bear any shame.  You can make that right by: believing Jesus is God’s Son, having a change of heart that wants to avoid sin, confessing Him as Lord, and by being baptized for the forgiveness of sins Acts 2:38; Colossians 2:12).

Dying Daily (3-4-2023)

Yesterday, Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife and son.  That’s a good 20 or so years for him to think about what he’s done.  Mozart, was one of the world’s most famous musicians.  He started composing at the age of five and wrote over 800 compositions, but only lived to be 35.  The Roman Emperor Caligula could be said to have died every day (in a negative sense).  He murdered whom he wished, and took what or whom he wanted.  He planned to make his horse a senator.  After losing several battles and wanting a victory, he pretended to fight the sea god Neptune commanding his soldiers to strike the waves.  He only lived to be 28 years old before he was assassinated by the Praetorian Guard.  He endured many days of insanity throughout his life.  Samson, while having his faults, was constantly being led by the Spirit to attack the wicked Philistines over his 20 years as a judge.  After they solved his riddle, he killed thirty of them for their clothes as payment (Judges 14:19).  I wonder if he knew he’d be successful in attacking the Philistines and not die that day.  After burning their grain with the aid of foxes, it says he: “struck them ruthlessly with a great slaughter” (Judges 15:8).  We read that he killed a 1,000 of them with the jawbone of a donkey (Judges 15:15).  I wonder what age all those Philistines were when they died (also dying daily in a negative sense).  In a final act, Samson avenged himself on the Philistines for blinding him by collapsing their great building.  It says: “the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed during his lifetime” (Judges 16:30).  Samson himself also died on that occasion.  He was ready to die daily.  I picture the mindset of the prophets as one of facing death every day.  Elijah feared Jezebel would put him to death.  Surely Isaiah feared the wicked king Ahaz of Judah.  John the baptizer had to preach day in and day out against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.  He was eventually beheaded by King Herod.  Steve Jobs, the former founder of Apple who lived to be 56 said: “If you live each day as it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.”  While speaking of the resurrection to the Christians at Corinth, Paul wrote: “I affirm, brothers and sisters, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, that I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31).  Would we be willing to die daily?  We usually wake up and think about all the things that need to get done that day.    Some people make bucket lists of things they want to do before they die: If only I could visit here or see that monument there, then I’d be ready to die.  People say: “I’m so happy I could die.”  If it came to it, would we be willing to be crucified tomorrow?  Jesus said: “I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matthew 10:16).  Alright!  Where do I sign up?  Sheep are helpless.  They don’t have sharp teeth or claws.  They can’t out run wolves, they just try to not be the slowest.  Nations and kingdoms of the past had symbols for their countries: a ferocious lion, a soaring eagle, or maybe a powerful dragon.  Yet what if your army’s banner was a fluffy sheep?  Maybe there’s a stream of water with some green grass in the background.  We’re being called to march into the meat grinder, but not for the sake of having a warm water naval base (Sevastopol), nor for the sake of our own glory.  We’re called to live and die as Christians.  We read: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered” (Romans 8:36).  In a sense, we’re all in the slaughterhouse line awaiting our day to come.  Back in Roman Empire times, around 2 million Christians died as martyrs by the year AD 200.  Nero started the first persecution in and around the city of Rome.  Domitian in the 80’s and 90’s called himself: “Lord and God.”  John wrote Revelation during his reign.  All of this was before the main persecutor of Christians: Diocletian from AD 303-311.  We were all dead spirituality in the past, for the wages of sin is death.  No kind of mask, or makeup could conceal the fact that we were rotting corpses.  While walking in the world, we might as well see most people dead.  Adam and Eve introduced sin into the world back in Eden.  The Pharisees were described as whitewashed tombs, looking righteous, but being full of dead man’s bones.  They were dying every day, but in a negative sense  Peter spoke of the false teachers: “their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep” (2 Peter 2:3).  They were living, but on the inside they were dying.  However, as Christians, we can face that day with boldness.  Death isn’t something we have to worry about day in and day out.  We can be prepared unlike most of humanity.  We read: “For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living” (Romans 14:7-9).  Live or die, rich or poor, well or sick, it’ll be alright because Jesus is our Master.  Jesus holds the keys of death and hades- the underworld (Revelation 1:18).  Christ conquered the worst the world can throw at us.  Being insulted, or losing everything you own is one thing, but being hung drawn and quartered kicks it up a notch.  He has control over flesh, nature, the stars, but He also has control over people’s souls.  In Greek mythology, it was believed that the god Hermes would ferry souls across the Acheron (river of woe), and the Styx (river of hate).  The destination would be a gloomy underworld.  Yet in reality, for the faithful, we get this picture of the angles carrying Lazarus to a place of paradise.  It is pictured as a banquet feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Eternal life is described as a lush garden which never fails to bear fruit every month.  It is a dazzling diamond studded city with streets of gold, and no night is lighted by the brightness of God.  Do we die everyday to: sinful passions, selfishness, and needless worry?  Only Jesus can: “free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives” (Hebrews 2:15).

Medical and Scientific Foreknowledge (2-25-2023)

The Bible is a fascinating book.  It has marks that set it apart from any other.  Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet.  Tolstoy wrote over 1,200 pages of War And Peace.  Moses, through God’s inspiration, wrote the first five books of the Bible.  He lived in the 1400’s BC, and was brought up in the learning of the Egyptians after being found as an infant by Pharaoh’s daughter (Acts 7:22; Exodus 1-2).  The Egyptians themselves didn’t have writings like Moses even though they lived during the same period.  The Ebers Papyrus (1550 BC) contains the longest Egyptian medical text discovered.  Some medical advice involved dung of a crocodile (unsanitary), and reciting spells to cast spirits away.  That’s not going to cut it.  Yet God through Moses spoke about health benefits that actually worked.  He didn’t speak about the things he learned from Egypt.  He was 80 years old before the Exodus even happened (Exodus 7:7).  “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians” (Exodus 15:26).  God gave instructions in Leviticus 13-14 concerning: leprosy, quarantining, burning clothes, and destroying pots the sick had eaten off.  Too bad Europe didn’t read this during the Bubonic plague (1346-1353).  In less than seven years, at least 30% of Europe’s population had died.  God commanded people to wash with the water of purification.  At first glance it sounds like a magic potion: “The priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet material and cast it into the midst of the burning heifer. 7 The priest shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward come into the camp, but the priest shall be unclean until evening” (Numbers 19:6-7).  Water containing the ashes of a heifer (female cow), hyssop (plant), cedar wood, and scarlet wool turns out to have the same common elements as modern day soap!  The ashes would make a consistency like “lye” used in soaps.  Hyssop has antiseptic’s preventing bacteria from multiplying.  Oil from the cedar wood or cow’s fat would have helped the skin not be irritated.  The scarlet wool’s fibers would help “cling” onto the bacteria and remove it.  Similarly, during the Medieval age, soap was made from ash and lime mixed with oil and mutton fat.  The people were told not to eat blood because of disease: “For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood'” (Leviticus 17:14).  Blood can spread malaria (fever symptoms), HIV (attacks the immune system), and Hepatitis (liver inflammation).  Ancient pagans and even the Aztecs in mesoamerica during the 1500’s drank blood in their religious rituals.  George Washington in 1799 died by blood letting because the thought was that there was “bad blood” that had to be disposed of.  No, life is in the blood.  I imagine there was a similar reason for commanding the Israelites not to touch dead bodies.  He wanted what was best for His people.  For us Christians, health is still important, but spirituality trumps the physical.  Moses told the people to bury their waste and do so “outside the camp” (Deuteronomy 23:12-13).  Yet even in the Middle Ages people were still tossing their waste into rivers, not burying it.  God commanded all Israelite males to be circumcised on the eighth day (Genesis 17:12; Leviticus 12:3).  Not the seventh day?  Doesn’t God like that number more?  Vitamin K (which helps blood to clot) is formed from the 5th to 7th days.  This would greatly aid in your son not bleeding to death.  Not having the foreskin also helps stifle spreading disease.  The historian, Karl Sudhoff wrote: “Had Judaism given nothing more to mankind than the establishment of a weekly day of rest, we should still be forced to proclaim her one of the greatest benefactors of humanity” (Wikipedia).  When you have a day of rest, your body can recuperate, and be better able to fight off sickness.  Surely it is good mentally as well- everyone looks forward to Friday!  Greeks thought atlas held up the earth.  In Hindu mythology, they pictured elephants holding up the earth.  Yet we have recorded correctly in the book of Job, probably the first of the 66 Bible books written: “He stretches out the north over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing” (Job 26:7).  We haven’t even sailed to the new world yet, and seen the sails slowly dip below the horizon.  They certainly didn’t have satellites back in the day in order to see the big picture.  In the 600’s or 500’s BC, the Ionian mathematician Thales hypothesized that the earth was a disk that floated on the ocean.  In the 700’s BC, when many thought that the earth was flat, and floated on water, Isaiah correctly wrote: “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers” (40:22).  The ancients thought there was a big lake below the earth keeping the rivers flowing.  They didn’t understand evaporation.  Yet we read: “He causes the mist to ascend from the ends of the earth, He makes lightning for the rain; He brings forth the wind from His treasuries” (Psalm 135:7); “He draws up the drops of water; they distill rain from its celestial stream, 28 which clouds pour down” (Job 35:27-28); “The One who builds His upper chambers in the heavens and has founded His vaulted dome over the earth, He who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth, the Lord is His name” (Amos 9:6).  The Ark was given the ideal seaworthy dimensions- not speed mind you (Genesis 6:15).  It was: 300 cubits in length, 50 cubits in width, and 30 cubits in height (450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high). In 1844, a man named Isambard Brunnel built, the Great Britai using almost the exact ratio of the ark (apologeticspress.org). American Liberty ships during WW2 had similar ratios.  Leviticus 18 gives laws against incest (including: siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins).  It gives a much higher chance of children being born with genetic disorders.  King Tut’s tomb was found with several canes, and his left foot was found to be bent.  He carried on the practice of his parents marrying his half-sister who’s two daughters had spinal deformities, and died young.  Aristotle (300’s BC) thought the universe was eternal. In the 1900’s, Fred Hoyle, an Astronomer thought of the universe being eternal.  Yet “In the beginning God created” (Genesis 1:1).  Physical matter wears out and decays.  If the universe really was eternal, how would we ever have reached today?  Go back a trillion years, then a quadrillion, then a quintillion years, then forever.  We’d never have arrived at today.  Do you see the Bible as being Divinely written?

Unhindered (2-18-2023)

Tax season can make one feel very hindered.  It is estimated that in 2022, Americans (individuals, accountants, lobbyists) spent 6.5 billion hours doing nothing but tax paperwork (taxfoundation.org).  That’s the equivalent of 742,000 years!  It can also feel hard at times to spread God’s word.  Paul had spoken to countless people around the Mediterranean world in  small towns like Berea, and metropolises like Corinth.  He was then held in a barracks in Jerusalem away from a Jewish mob that was trying to kill him (Acts 23:10), yet he spoke before them.  He was then kept in prison at Caesarea for two years (Acts 23:33-35).  While standing on trial before a few governors and a king, he went right on talking about Jesus (Acts 24-25).  While traveling to Rome, after appealing to the emperor, he encouraged his fellow travelers to trust in God through a storm.  Verse 16 of Acts 28 says: “When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him” (Acts 28:16).  Someone commented: “the Praetorian Prefect, to whose custody, as commander of the Praetorian guard, the highest military authority in the city, were committed all who were to come before the emperor for trial. Ordinarily there were two such prefects; but from a.d. 51 to 62, one distinguished general—Burrus Aframus, who had been Nero’s tutor—held that office” (Jamieson Vol 2 220).  The church was established in Rome before Paul arrived, for he wrote his letter to the Romans in the mid AD 50’s, but only now reached Rome in the early AD 60’s.  Perhaps some believers from Pentecost established it (Acts 2:10), or maybe Priscilla and Aquila spread the good news there (Acts 18:2).  Pricilla and Aquila kept on converting people after being kicked out of Rome.  In verses 17-22, Paul is seen again speaking to the Jews wanting to persuade them.  Richard Lenski wrote that there were at least 11 synagogues in Rome at the time (1115).  Paul would often speak with the Jews first, and then to the Gentiles (Acts 13:42; 18:7; 19:8).  They must have met in Paul’s rented quarters with his soldier next to him.  Paul tried to paint himself as very similar to the Jews, and in many respects he was.  His goal was simply more converts (1 Corinthians 9:20).  He tried to find any similarity in order to better convert people.  That’s not to say we should water down the gospel, but to try to make it appealing.  He says he’s chained for the “hope of Israel.”  Maybe the reference looks all the way back to Abraham: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 22:18).  That hopeful blessing was fulfilled in Jesus. The Jews in Jerusalem hadn’t yet warned the Synagogues in Rome about Paul.   This shows how little evidence they really had.  To the credit of these Jews in Rome, they were at least willing to listen to what Paul had to say.  That there were large numbers from morning to evening in verses 23-24 reveals great interest.  This was despite the fact that he wrote about his public speaking to Corinth: “I . . . was with you in weakness and fear, and in great trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom” (1 Corinthians 2:3-4).  Paul didn’t let the weariness of the day stop him from preaching.  He spoke till midnight at least once (Acts 20:7).  He didn’t let his situation in jail hinder him.  Moses and the Prophets also pointed to Jesus (Acts 26:22).  Yet at the end of the day, some believed, and some disbelieve.  We can’t win everyone.  In 1522, Luther translated the New Testament into German while hiding at Wartburg castle.  The Catholics would have liked nothing better than to silence him.  They controlled all religion in western Europe at the time.  Yet even they couldn’t silence the scripture.  This quote in verses 26-27 from Isaiah 6:9-10 is also found in Romans 11:8, and was what Jesus quoted (Matthew 13:14-15).  Whether their ears would listen or not, Paul spoke God’s word all the same.  Whether they would turn or not, the message was unhindered.  Paul slights the Jews by appealing to the gentiles (v 28).  He wanted to arouse jealously in them (Romans 11:14).  Then we read: “Now Paul stayed two full years in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching . . . about the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered” (vs 30-31).  A rented quarters would be the correct type of imprisonment while appealing to caesar (Geisler, Turek 259).  The churches must have supported him, for he isn’t going to people, but people are coming to him.  This is Paul’s first of two imprisonments at Rome.  Luke, writing Acts, knew that Paul was imprisoned in Rome for “two full years” showing that he was released afterward.  It wasn’t three or four years.  God’s word would then be all the more free to spread.  We see hints in some of his prison letters (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon) that Paul would be released (Philippians 1:25-26; Philemon 1:22).  Paul would go on to write 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus after his first Roman imprisonment.  God still had work for him to accomplish, and his way would be unobstructed.  Many think that Paul made it all the way to Spain.  He had written to the church at Rome in Romans 15:24 “I have had for many years a longing to come to you 24 whenever I go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing.”  Paul started his preaching all the way in the eastern Roman Empire at Jerusalem, and perhaps he made it all the way to the western Roman Empire as well.  Over 2,400 miles couldn’t hinder the gospel.  Paul “welcomed all.”  Everyone needs to hear the good news, not what most denominations are peddling.  Jesus too, wants to welcome all into His kingdom (the church).  Paul was “preaching” and “teaching.”  He motivated toward love and good deeds, and gave instructions concerning this new life.  The “Lord Jesus Christ” was the focus.  That is: the Master, Savior, Anointed One.  Paul spoke with all “openness.”  The truth has nothing to hide.  The facts can’t be changed.  Paul himself had a clear conscience with a love for the lost.  The last word in the book of Acts that Luke writes is “unhindered” (even in the Greek text- not just NASB).  The gospel is unhindered.  When so many things in life try to hinder us, God’s word never is.  “The grass withers, and the flower falls off, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:24-25).  At the start of Acts, we had 120 believers.  At the end of Acts, there were surely 10’s of thousands.  What will you do with the gospel?

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. 1997.

Lenski, R. C. H. The Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House. 1961.

Gospels Reliable (2-4-2023)?

There are lots of writings in the world today that you can’t trust: The 1619 Project, woke ideology, and many religious books.  Yet concerning the four gospels, we know those four accounts are accurate.  They say history is just “his story” but when you pile enough evidence, you can know its true.  There have been enough writings and archaeological finds that have been discovered, that we can know the Roman Empire split in two under Diocletian (AD 286).  You know how he cut it in two- right?  With a pair of . . . Caesar’s!  The four gospels (accounts of Jesus) we have are: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  Further, we know it was these four even though their names aren’t attached to their writings.  If men made these stories up several years later, why not mention the more notable names like Peter and James?  Someone wrote: “In the ancient world the idea of writing dispassionately, objective history merely to chronicle events, with no ideological purpose, was unheard of.  Nobody wrote history if there wasn’t a reason to learn from it” (Strobel 32).  Eyewitnesses of Jesus were still alive when these four gospels were written (ca AD 40″s-60″s; John 90’s).  Further, even many of Christianity’s critics didn’t deny that many of these events recorded actually happened.  Consider that there were only two historians of Alexander the Great (Arrian and Plutarch), and they didn’t write his life down until 400 years after Alexander’s death.  Yet historians trust them!  The earliest records we have of Julius Caesar were written over 900 years after his death.  Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers . . . most of whom remain until now” (15:3-6).  Paul’s daring his readers to go ask folks about Jesus’ resurrection.  If all the gospels were identical this would lend weight to a conspiracy among the authors.  Yet each of the four gospels has their own specific details.  Did the gospel writers bend the story?  Then why would the Apostles proclaim Jesus even under the threat of death?  Did the Apostles conveniently forget some details that didn’t fit their story?  No, they’re embarrassingly shown as self seeking and dim witted: “Jesus said, ‘Are you still lacking in understanding also'” (Matthew 15:16); “And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand?'” (Mark 8:17); “But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them” (Luke 9:45); “This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them” (John 10:6).  Who likes sharing their embarrassing stories?  Let’s look at Matthew to start.  Irenaeus in the 100’s wrote that Mark recorded Peter’s account of Jesus, and that Matthew had preserved the teachings of Jesus.    Someone commented: “No one in the early centuries ever attributes . . . Matthew to anybody other than the apostle” (Orbison 1).  Matthew was a hated tax collector (Matthew 9:9).  If Matthew was making stories up, he’d probably like to change what his true occupation was, or downplay its negativity- which he doesn’t in his gospel (ring of authenticity).  There are unique details in Matthew: The Beatitudes “blessed are the . . . You have heard it said . . . but I say” (Matthew 5), seven woes (Matthew 23), etc.  He wrote as an eyewitness, and didn’t just copy someone else’s account.  When we then look at Mark, we see the same points.  Tertullian (around AD 150-240) wrote that Mark published a gospel (Against Marcion; Orbison ii).  Mark wasn’t even one of the twelve apostles.  This lends credibility to the writer actually being Mark.  Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey (Acts 12:5).  Mark also gives unique details in his gospel.  Jesus had a “cushion” while asleep in the boat before calming the storm (Mark 4:38).  The grass was “green” when Jesus fed the 5,000 (Mark 6:39).  Luke is famous for his historical content.  The Muratorian Canon (ca AD 170-180) connects one of the gospels with Luke.  Irenaeus (AD 130-200) and Tertullian (around AD 150-240) also attributed it to Luke.  The book of Acts, which Luke also wrote, mentions: 32 countries, 54 cities, and 9 islands without mistake (Strobel 105).  Surely Luke was also accurate in telling of Jesus’ resurrection.  Luke’s Gospel also has many historically confirmed details: Emperor Tiberius, Governor Pilate, King Herod, Philip, Lysanias, and the High Priests Annas and Caiaphas (just to name a few).  There are also plenty of things John wrote in his gospel that point to its authenticity.  As someone mentioned: “Irenaeus (ca 185) states that John wrote a gospel after Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written and that he wrote it while in Ephesus” (Orbison i).  Given the early Christians teachings about purity, Jesus changing the water to wine (John 2:9) is unlikely to be made up (Geisler, Turek 263-268).  We read of Jesus saying: “If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true” (John 5:31).  Someone writing after Jesus’ death would probably want to give Jesus as much credit as possible.  This not being the case, lends credence to that being what Jesus’ actually said (Jesus only said this because of the Jews demand for 2 or 3 witnesses- of course His testimony is true, He’s Jesus.  Jesus telling His followers to eat His flesh and blood would not have been a later addition (John 6:53).  Many of Jesus’ followers then deserted Him (John 6:66)!  A dying Messiah is weird enough already!  Did John not want to just highlight the successes?  John recalls the crowds saying that Jesus was “a good man” and others saying he “leads the people astray” (John 7:12).  If John made it all up, is that what you’d write about your hero?  Let’s just record the good times!  Once, Jesus’ almost got stoned to death (John 8:59).  That doesn’t sound like good advertising or public relations.  The immoral woman wiping Jesus’ feet with her hair would hardly be something you’d make up (looks like an advance; John 12:3).  The leader, Jesus, washed the disciples feet (John 13:5).  The Rabbi’s of Jesus’ day wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing!  Someone mentioned: “It was a task not even Jewish slaves were required to do” (Geisler, Turek 265).  Jesus said: “the Father is greater than I” (John 14:28).  This was only because Jesus was temporarily in the flesh, but to the point: is this something John would have said if it didn’t actually happen?  You want to make your leader look as good as you can!  The Jewish Chief Priests, supposedly the most devout religious leaders you could find said: “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15) in order to get Jesus killed.  This would be like New Yorkers saying: “We have no King but Osama Bin Laden!”  You couldn’t even make this stuff up- unless that’s the way it really happened.  John also gives specific details showing an eyewitness account.  He’s the only one who mentions that 153 fish were caught.  The number seems irrelevant unless that’s the way it actually happened.  The Gospels are either true or false.  Craig commented: “the style of writing in the Gospels is simple and alive, what we would expect from their traditionally accepted authors (Reasonable Faith 334).  In contrast, the so-called Gospel of Thomas says Jesus made clay pigeons come alive, and that He killed a boy who spilled His water.  It also says: “for any woman who makes herself male will enter the Realm of Heaven.”   Celsus was a Greek philosopher (AD 100’s) who wrote against Christianity.  Yet even he admitted that the gospels were written by the disciples (Craig 336).  Bear in mind that: “the Gospels could not have been corrupted without a great outcry on the part of orthodox Christians” (Craig 337).  We don’t read about any such outcry in history.  At least ten of the eleven apostles died as martyrs.  Surely one of them under threat of death would have admitted that it was all made up if that’s what actually happened.  What do you think of these accounts of Jesus?

Craig, William Lane. Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics. Wheaton: Crossway, 2008. 

Geisler, Norman L., and Frank Turek. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist. Crossway Books, 2007.

Who Is Jesus? (1-28-2023)

People can paint others however they want.  Who was Einstein?  Some would say he was a traitor towards Germany.  Other’s that he was extremely smart for his theory of relativity.  Who was Julius Caesar?  Some may say a brilliant General.  Other’s would say a greedy dictator.  What about Jesus (See Mark 8)?  In verses 27-28, Jesus asked: “Who do people say that I’am?”  Jesus want’s to help the disciples better understand who He really is.  They’ve seen Him heal many.  So, they at least know that He’s a great prophet.  They’ve seen Him calm the storm.  They asked: “Who, then, is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (Mark 4:41).  They’ve been sent out to preach, and heal others: “they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them” (Mark 6:13).  Some say: “John the baptist.”  In Matthew 14, Herod Antipas, King of Judea, had John beheaded.  Herod’s thinking was that John had risen from the dead and thus could do miracles.  Interestingly, John the baptizer never did any miracles: “And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He stayed there. 41 Many came to Him and were saying, ‘While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true.’ 42 And many believed in Him there” (John 10:40-42).  It seems that these folks deliberately tried to deceive people.  They lived during this time and knew what John and Jesus looked like.  Maybe they’re in with Herod doing a smear campaign.  Still others say “Elijah.”  The Jews would have said as much because of this prophet like Elijah who was to come before the Messiah: “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5).  Yet as Jesus said: “John himself is Elijah who was to come” (Matthew 11:14).  They viewed Jesus as someone great, but not great enough to be the Messiah.  Others said: “one of the prophets.”  The people could have thought Jesus was just another prophet (like Muslims believe), but they should have viewed Jesus as The Prophet: “I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you [Moses], and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19).  Matthew’s account of Jesus questioning His disciples says: “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets” (Matthew 16:14).  As someone wrote: “It would be natural to think of Jesus also as a kind of Jeremiah, a preacher of judgment and repentance who was widely rejected by the leaders of his nation” (Blomberg Vol 22 250).  Some view Jesus as just a traveling magician.  His ambition got the best of Him, and He ended up dead.  People today might view Him as “tolerant” Jesus.  Since Jesus loves everyone and wants everyone to go to heaven, then surely He doesn’t care about your lifestyle (so they say . . . ).  Several view Him as just a good moral teacher.  He was important like Elijah or Jeremiah, but surely He wasn’t God.  Yet the correct answer is given in verse 29.  Peter stated: “You are the Christ.”  Matthew’s account adds: “And Jesus said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven'” (16:17).  The word “Christ” means Anointed One in Greek, “Messiah” means Anointed One in Hebrew.  He’s not just any anointed individual like in the Old Testament: Prophets, Priests, Kings . . . but The Anointed One.  Indeed, Jesus is all three for us as Christians today.  He’s our anointed: Prophet, Priest, and King.  It’s not every day God comes knocking on your door.  Yet those first century folks were able to see God in the flesh.  He’s the savior of all those who have obedient faith.  Jesus viewed Himself as God.  Jesus spoke with authority.  He didn’t have to appeal to anyone but God himself (Matthew 7:29; 21:23; Mark 1:22; 11:28; Luke 4:32; 20:2).  Jesus rewrote God’s 10 Commandments during His sermon on the mount: “You have heard that the ancients were told . . . But I say to you” (Matthew 5:21).  Who does this guy think He is?!?  Jesus said He was the Messiah: “The woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.’ 26 Jesus said to her, ‘I am He'” (John 4:25-26).  Jesus claimed to be perfect: “Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?” (John 8:46).  Jesus claimed to be alive before Abraham in the 2000’s BC: “before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58).   Who else could claim such a thing?  Jesus told the Jews that He and the Father [God] are One (John 10:24-25, 30-33).  Jesus’ word carries eternal weight: “The one who rejects Me and does not accept My teachings has one who judges him: the word which I spoke. That will judge him on the last day” (John 12:48).  The rabbi’s couldn’t say that.  Jesus said: “But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Luke 11:20).  Jesus believed that in himself the kingdom of God had come.  Jesus saw Himself as the one fulfilling Old Testament prophecy: “all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44).  There’s over 300 of them!  Jesus forgave sins: “And seeing their faith, He said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven you.’ 21 The scribes and the Pharisees began thinking of the implications, saying, ‘Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, except God alone?'” (Luke 5:20-21).  Even Moses didn’t do that!  Even the Chief Priest at Jesus’ trial admitted that Jesus claimed to be God: “Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ 62 And Jesus said, ‘I am’” (Mark 14:61-62).  Instead of “our Father” Jesus always started His prayer with: “My Father.”  What’s your view of Jesus?

Blomberg, C. Matthew. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1992.

Faithfulness (1-21-2022)

People like it when others can be relied upon.  Among the 45% of Americans who get married, 50% end up divorced.  Not that divorce is always wrong, but I’m sure the usual cause is a lack of faithfulness.  The world tries to smear the Bible at every possible turn.  In the movie: The Da Vinci Code, they’re trying to convince you that Jesus was married.  Yet it falls apart on their first premise- that Leonardo who painted his “Last Supper” during the 1490’s knew more than First Century folks knew.  With all the smears it can be hard to remain faithful (See Genesis 22).  There was a man who lived 4,000 years ago in the land of Canaan who showed great faithfulness to God during his lifetime.  In chapter 21, we had the birth of Isaac, the son of promise.  From chapters 12-21, we see 10X God telling Abraham that he would be a great nation (Genesis 12:2; 13:16; 15:5; 16:10; 17:2, 5, 16, 20; 18:18; 21:18; Matthews Vol 18 283).  Now we reach a climax after being told that Abraham’s descendants would be a great nation.  In verses 1-2, I imagine Abraham saying: “Pull the other one!”  Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born (Genesis 21:5).  Abraham had to wait about 14 years after God made that promise to him being 75 in Genesis 12:4.  Isaac was the son of God’s promise.  Abraham was formerly called to go from Haran (modern day southern Turkey) to Canaan (modern day Israel) in chapter 12.  Now he’s called to “go” to Moriah, he is once again faithful to God.  Many have wondered if Mount Moriah is the same mountain that Jerusalem’s temple was built on.  We read: “Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah” (2 Chronicles 3:1).  Isaac is called Abraham’s “only son.”  True, Abraham had another son, Ishmael, through his servant Hagar, but Isaac is the only son God promised Abraham.  Remember that Ishmael had been sent away with Hagar (Genesis 21:14).  Here, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice the son of promise.  Abraham could have made several excuses:    You’ve never commanded human sacrifice before!  Isn’t this the child that you’ve promised will become a great nation?   I’d doubt that God was really talking to me!  Are you sure this is what you want me to do?  Think about the most precious earthly thing to you.   Would you be willing to sacrifice that in order to remain faithful to God?  There’s an emphasis seen when Abraham is said to take: “your son, your only son, whom you love” (Isaac).  In verses 3-8, we recall how Abraham then rose early in the morning.  It says that he journeyed until the third day.  Verse 5: “Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey, and I and the boy will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.’”  We have the wood, fire, and a knife, but then Isaac asks where the lamb is.  Abraham said: “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (v 8).  How did Abraham not just break down after saying that?  He “rose early in the morning” Abraham didn’t delay in fulfilling God’s command to him.  Can’t I wait a week?  These are the last days with my son!  Abraham had prepared everything having been faithful to God in every detail.  Verse 4 mentions the “third day.”  They travel for three days, I wonder what they talked about.  You have three days to tell your son all you’d wanted to say to him.  I wonder if Abraham was ever tempted to turn around.  Interestingly, verse 5 says: “we will worship and return to you.”  Did Abraham expect his son to come back with him?  He did.  We read: “[Abraham] considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type” (Hebrews 11:19).  Abraham answered Isaac’s question of where the sacrifice was.  Abraham knew God would be faithful, although he didn’t know all the ins and outs.  If I was Abraham, I don’t know if I could make any sense of it.  God told me one thing, and now He’s telling me another thing.  How can this be?  We see the climax in 9-14.  Think of a really dramatic scene in a movie.  Is Abraham crying the whole time?  Is Isaac struggling?  He doesn’t know what’s happening.  It notes that Abraham “bound” him- did they wrestle?  That’d be difficult.  Yet unlike the dramatic movie with the samurai slowly falling on his sword, if I were Abraham, I’d want to get this ordeal over with as quickly as possible.  Let’s get the deed done and over with- then I have to go home and explain it all to my wife.  Abraham was going to follow through with God’s command, but the angel of the Lord stopped him at the last second.  What a twist in the plot!  When we have a hard time seeing the big picture, God sees everything crystal clear.  He knows the past and the future.  I’m sure Isaac was relived to see the angel as well.  God then provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice instead of his son.  Not a lamb?  He had all the other materials ready to go.  Abraham was faithful to God, and He provided everything that was necessary.  But there’s One who’s faithfulness stands out even more than Abraham.  There’s no better example of faithfulness than God.  While the word is often used in the Old Testament concerning the faithful, it is most often used in relation to God being faithful toward humanity.  His faithfulness trumps all others.  How did Isaac know to say a lamb and not a goat?  We don’t have the Mosaical Law for another 600 years that prescribes such things!  John the baptizer said of Jesus: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).  Little did Abraham know that Isaac was a type of Jesus, who’s blood would save him and his son eternally.  God’s faithfulness reaches even to us today.  Paul wrote: “the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith” (Romans 4:13).  We’re children of Abraham when we demonstrate that same faith and faithfulness that he displayed.  God promised us a Promised Land as well.  That land is far better than a physical region flowing with milk and honey.  God sent His only Son in our stead so we wouldn’t have to be crucified near Mount Moriah.  When God makes a promise, He’s always faithful in keeping it.  God’s love and faithfulness are beyond words.  Someone wrote: “Could I with ink the ocean fill; were the whole earth of parchment made; were every blade of grass a quill, and every man a scribe by trade; to write the love of God above, would drain the ocean dry; nor could the scroll contain the whole, though spread from sky to sky” (Lanier 73).  Are you faithful to God?

Lanier, Roy H. The Timeless Trinity For The Ceaseless Centuries. R.H. Lanier, Sr., 2008.

Mathews, K. A. Genesis 1-11:26. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1996.

Colorblind (1-14-2023)

In 1963, Martin Luther King gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.  There were at least 250,000 in attendance, and that one speech reached the whole world.  Some may question whether or not God is colorblind.  The Hebrews were His chosen people out of all the families of the earth.  He gave them special promises and the law.  He didn’t do that for the Sumerians.  God was with them instead of the foreign nations while conquering the Promised Land.  Yet God instructed Israel to destroy those nations based on their deeds, not their ethnicity.  The bad part wasn’t that they were Canaanites, the bad part was that they were murdering their children.  The bad part wasn’t even merely because they weren’t God’s chosen people, but because of their wicked lives.  Someone mentioned: “One of the earliest known references to the people of Canaan is in a tablet from Mari (15th century bc) in which a military officer reported his surveillance of “thieves and Canaanites” (Elwell Vol 1 406).  They sound like a cheery bunch.  God needed a nation to work through in order to have everything come about concerning the Messiah.  What about Rahab the Canaanite?  While in Jericho, the first hit on Israel’s list, she heard of what God had done to the Egyptians.  She had faith saying: “He is God in heaven above and on earth below” (Joshua 2:11).  She turned from her pagan gods to the true god.  She then: “lived in the midst of Israel” (Joshua 6:25).  She was even blessed to be among Jesus’ ancestry (Matthew 1:5).  We read: “By faith the prostitute Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient” (Hebrews 11:31); “In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works” (James 2:25).  Ruth the Moabite was also in Jesus’ genealogy.  She left her Moabite gods, and journeyed to a land not her own.  God was pleased with her obedience, and blessed by it.  God through Elijah helped Naaman, the commander of Syria’s army.  Surely God wouldn’t want to help this guy out!  He’s against the chosen people- on paper.  Yet because of his faith, as far as we know, he was a son of Abraham.  Jesse, David’s father, didn’t even think of putting him in the lineup for king among his other seven sons.  God even said to the great prophet Samuel: “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature . . . for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7).  Whenever we see paintings of famous Biblical scenes, they’re usually white folks in 1600’s European dress.  Yet we know that’s not the case.  Even Adam and Eve must have looked Middle Eastern.  We know that God is Spirit (John 4:24).  So, even though in Revelation He’s pictured as having: white hair (1:14), giving white stones (2:17), white garments (3:5), riding a white horse (19:11), washing people white in the blood of the Lamb (7:14), sitting on a white cloud (14:14), and having a white throne (20:11), that doesn’t mean God is white.  It means God is pure.  Jesus helped a Roman Centurion, a military official over 100 men.  He didn’t worry about him being on the “enemy’s” side.  The vast majority of Rome’s conquests weren’t just wars.  Yet Jesus didn’t let those things get in the way of seeing the Centurion’s faith.  Jesus talked with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well.  In ancient times women were way down on the ladder: “Women’s testimony was regarded as so worthless that they weren’t even allowed to serve as legal witnesses in a Jewish court of law” -William Lane Craig.  She was also of a different sect of Judaism.  The Samaritans only believed in the first five books of Moses.  They intermarried with the gentiles.  They thought Mount Gerizim was the proper mountain to worship on.  Yet Jesus saw what she could be, and didn’t let all life’s cultural norms get in the way.  He cast a demon out of a Canaanite woman’s daughter.  In that account Jesus told her: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24).  True, Jesus’ main focus during His life was on giving the Jews one last chance, but He knew through His apostles the gospel would reach the whole world.  Jesus didn’t look at how rich or charming people were.  He certainly didn’t care for the so called “smart” people of His day.  Jesus was concerned with what kind of fruit people bore, not their titles and surely not their skin color (James 2:1).  Jesus didn’t die just for the Hebrews.  He didn’t die just for His family.  He didn’t even die just for those who loved Him.  He died for all.  Everyone can come to Him in obedient faith and receive eternal life- which is much better than the other ending. Cuban’s aren’t worse sinners than Canadians.  We’ve all done horrible deeds in the past.  Our deeds can’t be paid for by ourselves.  We needed an innocent sacrifice in our place.  He spoke frankly to His audience: “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:4-5 ESV).  When we see folks who aren’t Christians, I’ve heard it said that we should see them as zombies.  That’s in fact what they are.  They’re sinners in need of a Savior.  They’re the walking dead.  They’re slaves being led down the broad road.  True, we shouldn’t assess people based solely on what they look like.  Nevertheless, if you see someone down that dark alley, it is not a bad idea to walk along the other side.  You can ask to see the fine print before signing that paper for the handyman.  The Bible says: “Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning” (Titus 3:10).  We don’t have to keep beating our heads against a brick wall.  In fact, we know that most people won’t want the gospel.  Only one of the four types of soil bore a crop (Matthew 13:8).  While we shouldn’t judge people based on the color of their skin, it’s an error to try and push this thinking into all the religions of the world.  Jesus said He was the only way to heaven.  That’s very exclusive.  Even Moses and Adam needed Jesus’ blood to cover over their sins.  You ask: “Yeah, but what about all the religious folks in the middle ages?  Surely some of them went the right way.”  I’m sure some did.  There must have been a few who were baptized for the forgiveness of sins.  Yet Protestants erred by saying faith only.  Catholics erred by baptizing infants who can’t believe yet.  Anglican’s have so many high-up councils I can’t keep track of them all.  Methodists, like Baptists only baptize as an outward sign of an inward faith- that is to say, incorrectly.  For us today, the only religious group that actually follows the Bible is the church of Christ.  MLK said during his speech: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”  Thankfully, racism isn’t a big problem in America today.  How else do you explain the millions of africans who have moved here over the past decade?  They didn’t move to China.  There’s only one race, the human race.  We all go back to Noah and then back to Adam and Eve.  What do you see when looking at other people?  A means to an end?  Merely a physical acquaintance?  Or do we see someone who’s made in the image of God?

Craig, William Lane. Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth And Apologetics. Wheaton: Crossway, 2008.

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. Canaan, Canaanites. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 1988.

Jesus Was Perfect (1-7-2023)

When we talk about the perfect vehicle, a busy mom might say a van with foldable seats.  Another might think of an efficient car that can go 1,000 miles until filling up again.  Those who are famous probably think of a fancy two seater sports car.  Have you heard of the perfectionist who walked into a bar?  Apparently, the bar wasn’t set high enough.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:48: “you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Many commentators mention this thought as being “complete” or “mature.”  One of them wrote: “While sinless perfection is impossible, godliness, in its biblical concept, is attainable.”  -Walvoord (Blomberg Vol 22 115).  We read similarly: “like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written: ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16).  Peter quotes Moses from 1,500 years earlier in Leviticus 11:44.  People saw Jesus’ perfection.  Mark’s gospel mentions in chapter 1 that: “John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (v 4).  So, John the baptizer must have recognized Jesus as being perfect when he said: “I have . . . need to be baptized by You, and yet You are coming to me?” (Matthew 3:13).  John knew Jesus didn’t have anything to repent of.  The Jews of Jesus’ day didn’t want the truth, but nevertheless couldn’t find sin in Him.  In John 8, Jesus said “Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?” (v 46).  You know the Jews were searching hard to pin something on Jesus.  During Jesus’ trial, the educated Jewish priests had trouble finding fault: “Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. 60 They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward” (Matthew 26:59-60).  Even the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, couldn’t find fault with Him while conducting Jesus’ trial: “Pilate came out again and said to them, ‘Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him’” (John 19:4).  The Centurion at the cross woke up thinking it was going to be just another day at the office.  Here’s another foreigner who’s a thief and needs to be executed.  Yet even he, when he saw how Jesus died, said: “Certainly this man was innocent” (Luke 23:47).  Jesus was and is perfect: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:14-15); “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:21-22); “You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5).  When He was a child, Jesus never stole a cookie from the cookie jar.  He never disrespected His parents.  On the contrary, we read about Him being obedient and submitting to Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:51).  We don’t read about His teenage years, but everyone knows what a trying time that can be.  Nevertheless, Jesus wasn’t prideful at work or at play.  He never looked with lust at a woman.  He didn’t give into peer pressure by getting drunk at a party.  I imagine there was a time during His 20’s that He was tempted to rub an answer in a Pharisee’s face, but He didn’t.  He spoke the truth like it is, always having that person’s highest good in mind.  While it is the case that we know we’ll never be perfect, it’s something we can try for.  That’s a hard pill to swallow.  If I’m fairly certain I can’t do something, it’s very tough for me to motivate myself and do it.  Yet today is what we have to work with, and God wants us to live like Jesus lived.  I’ve heard the question asked once: “How much should each spouse contribute to the marriage?”  30%?  50%?  No, 110%.  We recall Jesus saying: “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).  Sounds like He’s asking for quite a lot, but He is the One who has authority over all things.  How do we work on perfection?  One way is to avoid the bad.  Don’t hang out with the bad company that corrupts good character.  Many college students go in as Christians but are led astray by Bible hating professors.  The Barna Group says that 70% of Christians lose their faith while in college (https//helenair.com).  Another thought is to not worry about what people think and concern yourself with what God says.  Christians are the only ones who can really: “Don’t worry, be happy” in life.  The many distractions around us don’t amount to anything of true importance.  We don’t want to just avoid the bad, we want to also do good.  Everyone can grow from milk to solid food.  When it comes to spiritually maturing we’re never quite done.  Peter encouraged the churches writing: “in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love” (2 Peter 1:5-8).  Faith is the foundation of these seven attributes, and leads us toward them.  By faith Moses told Pharaoh to “Let my people go” and parted the red sea.  The heavens are telling of the glory of God.  Our faith is described as being more precious than gold.  Faith is what motivates us to get up in the morning and do good in the world.  Faith helps us on the way to holiness.  Self-control and perseverance are easier said than done.  I think of all the times David could have killed Saul, but he didn’t.  He waited on God.  That would take a large helping of self-control and perseverance.  Saul tried to kill me with his spear- twice (1 Samuel 18:11)!  Godliness and brotherly kindness go hand in hand as well.  If you don’t love your fellow Christian whom you can see, how can you love God whom you have not seen?  When Doctor Luke would visit Paul in his Roman prison, that would take some brotherly kindness.  You’re associating with a prisoner.  You have to get through all that paperwork at the capital.  It takes time out of your busy schedule.  Those attributes are a part of holiness.  Agapē love is the catch all.  This is a love we can choose to act on, a love that reaches even to our enemies.  It seeks the highest good of another.  Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13), and Jesus laid down His life for the whole world!  That includes all the evil dictators we can think of whom we were hoping would come to the truth.  The Bible tells us the path to get there.  By: hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, and being baptized.  We read: “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16).

Jesus’ Birth/ Perspectives (12-17-2022)

Our perspective matters. The sinking of the Titanic was a miracle to the lobsters in the ship’s kitchen.  Everyone has their own perspective about Jesus.  Muslims say He was just a prophet.  The majority of people would say Jesus was just a good teacher.  There are some who don’t even believe He ever existed (See Luke 2).  When Jesus was born in Bethlehem around 4 BC, we read about people in Bible times also holding various views concerning Jesus.  Just as a hymn says: “What will you do with Jesus?”  It is a question we all have to ask ourselves.  Imagine you were one of the shepherds watching your flock near Bethlehem at night.  It was probably during the spring, and certainly not in December.  Maybe you’re talking with your fellow herdsmen chumming around.  The moon is shining brightly with no light pollution as our modern day cities do.  Then all of a sudden, there’s a light that far outshines the biggest light in the sky.  Luke 2:9 says: “the glory of the Lord shone around them.”  It wasn’t the spotlight of a helicopter.  It wasn’t even your eye doctor’s blinding flashlight.  This brightness was God’s glory.  As usual, whenever angels visited people in the Bible, the people were afraid.  Thus: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12).  We recall how the shepherds then saw a multitude of angels praising God (think a stadium big- not 50 people big).  The shepherds hear and are obedient going straight to Bethlehem.  They didn’t doubt the Lord’s word.  They didn’t ask for more evidence- as if they needed more.  Thus, they were blessed to see Jesus, the savior of the world lying in an animal feed box.  Many put off Jesus waiting as long as they can to come to grips with Him.  We don’t always have tomorrow.  Today is the day to decide what to do with Jesus.  Joseph is recorded as being righteous.  When Joseph learned Mary was pregnant, he thought Mary had cheated on Him.  What was he supposed to think?  Yet Joseph planned to divorce her quietly not wanting to bring extra disgrace upon her.  Yet: “an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit'” (Matthew 1:20).  Joseph was afraid of this angel as well.  Yet he does exactly as the angel had instructed him.  The child’s name will be Jesus, as much as Joseph may have wanted to name him Joe.  Joseph could have held a different perspective about this child: “Well, he’s not my son why should I care for Him?”  Instead, he trusted God’s word to him.  For Jews, you would get stoned to death if you committed adultery.  What are all the people going to think of me and my wife Mary?  What if she tarnishes my righteous record?  Mary was also righteous.  The angel Gabriel visited her in the city of Nazareth, just southwest of the sea of Galilee.  He tells her not to be afraid as well- I wonder what these angels must have looked like.  In Luke 1 she’s said to have favor with God, she’ll have a son, and: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (vs 32-33).  Mary didn’t think: “Hey, alright, we’re gonna be rich!”  She didn’t think: “Nice!  I’m gonna be famous!”  No . . . her perspective was: “What a blessing to be part of God’s plan.”  This child wasn’t to be born like anyone else who ever existed, this child was to be conceived by the Holy Spirit.  To her credit, Mary didn’t try to solve God’s promise herself like a certain well known patriarch.  She humbly submitted to His will saying: “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).  She didn’t say: “Wait a minute, I’m not ready to have kids and all that responsibility.”  Could we wait a few years Lord?  Nope.  No complaints, grumbling, or even excuses from Mary.  The wise men, also called Magi (not Kings) also came to see Jesus.  They were almost certainly from the Parthian Empire (modern day Iraq/ Iran; 200’s BC- AD 200’s), for they saw the star while in the east (Matthew 2:2).  Perhaps they came from the city of Babylon.  The prophet Daniel was there in the 500’s BC, and wrote concerning the coming Savior.  They could have held onto their homeland’s pagan gods, but like the foreigner Ruth, they were searching for the truth.  They could have said: “Oh, it’s pretty far to travel all the way to Judea.  We’ll just wait and read about it in the newspaper.”  These non Jewish wise men travel first to Jerusalem, the ideal spot where a King would be born.  It is also the main city on the way to Bethlehem.  If I was them, I’d be thinking: “Well, we see the star a little further yonder, but surely this King’s birth will happen in the capital, Jerusalem!”  While in the city, the wise men learn from some scribes quoting Micah 5:2, that the child is to be born in Bethlehem of Judah.  To their credit they don’t dilly dally, and depart immediately for the town 5 miles away.  It is interesting that Matthew 2:11 says the wise men “came into the house.”  Should we have in mind the nativity feeding trough scene where the shepherds went?  Or should we think: no room at the inn (Luke 2:7), born in the stable seen by the shepherds (Luke 2:16), and then moved to a house, and seen by the Magi?  That’s how we see it play out when we put Matthew and Luke’s accounts together.  We read about the angel telling the shepherds that they would see Jesus in the feeding trough (Luke 2:12), but the wise men came a little later.  Also, whereas we read of Joseph and Mary in the stable, we only read of Mary in the “house.”  Joseph’s probably at work.  We don’t know how many wise men there were, we think of three because there were three gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh).  Gold would be a wonderful gift, raw frankincense looks like little pebbles, myrrh has a sappy like texture.  Those two last ones would be pleasing to the smell.  King Herod had a very different perspective on Jesus.  He hears of this one who’s to be born King of the Jews: “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him” (Matthew 2:3).  Herod wanted to hold on to power at all costs.  He’s only famous for two things: his building projects and murdering people.  Herod and the Magi both heard the scribe’s words, but whereas Herod want’s to kill the Child, the wise men want to honor Him.  I wonder if Herod didn’t have a spy trail the wise men as they went to Bethlehem.  We recall how an angel then warned Joseph to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt for a time (Matthew 2:13).  Around a year or year and a half passes, and Herod ponders what to do about this so-called King.  Let’s see, I want to hold onto power.  I want to continue eating the best of the land.  I like making all the decisions.  “Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent men and killed all the boys who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity who were two years old or under” (Matthew 2:16).  This is historically called the slaughter of the innocents.  Unfortunately, the majority of humanity couldn’t care less about Jesus.  They take the same perspective as Herod.  I don’t want to deal with that God stuff.  My life is busy as it is.  I’d rather do what I want to do, not what God wants me to do.  What’s your perspective of Jesus’ birth?  Is it all just a big hoax?  Did Joseph make it all up like the one in the 1800’s?  Did the virgin birth actually happen?  Did Micah’s prophecy concerning Bethlehem really come to pass?  We can confidently affirm that these things really did take place.  Jesus was and is “Immanuel” (Meaning: God with us).  He’s that: “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” whom Isaiah spoke about (9:6).  When it comes to Jesus, the creator of all things, who will help us if we have the wrong perspective?

Where Is God? (12-10-2022)

Introduction (2022): Where is God when people die of diseases?  Where is God when the murderer goes free?  Several people in the Bible struggled with this very question, I wanted to look at one of them this morning (See Judges 6).  Here in the 300 year period of the Judges, we see a cycle of: Sin leading to servitude, and God leading to grace.  This cycle happens at least 12X within the book.  Funny how God is always there, it is the people that seem to leave Him.  Because of Deborah’s and Barak’s victories in the previous chapter, the Israelites had peace for forty years.  Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so He let the Midianites oppress them for seven years.  Someone commented: The Midianites, descended from Abraham, were persistent enemies of Israel.  God was disciplining His people in order to lead them back on the right path.  We see God’s pronouncements of curses in Deuteronomy 28 come to pass once again.  Israel is so oppressed in fact, that they run and hide in caves when they hear of the Midianites coming.  They’re running from God and from mankind!  The Midianites would apparently wait for the Israelites to do the harvesting for them, and then come and steal their crops.  Doesn’t God care about us?  We need to at least have food if nothing else!  Why won’t He do something?  I wonder how long it took for Israel to cry out to God in verse 6.  This must have been a very desperate situation for Israel.  They didn’t mind worshipping the Canaanite gods.  I wonder if they cried out to their pagan gods first.  Wood and stone won’t be there for you, they needed the great I AM with them.  God then sent a prophet to Israel reminding them of how He brought them up from Egypt with a mighty hand.  The people needed to be reminded that God was with Israel in the past.  Surely He’d be with them through their present distress.  It may take some patience, but God wants to be with us.  Gideon’s call by God is the longest within the book of Judges.  In verse 11, God sends a divine messenger to him at Ophrah (northern Israel).  Gideon is surprisingly called by this messenger a “valiant warrior” as he cowers hiding and threshing his wheat in a wine press to keep it from the Midianites.  Usually, you’d thresh your wheat in a high and windy area so that the chaff would blow away, and the kernels would fall to the floor.  We read that God “is with” Gideon, present tense, and “will be with” him, future tense (v 16).  Gideon dismisses the messenger’s words of comfort, and instead focuses on Israel’s horrible situation.  Where are the miracles we’ve heard that you did in Egypt?  How long until these wars come to an end?  God commissioned Gideon, yet just like Moses and Paul, he was hesitant.  God will be with us, but He often calls us to uncomfortable situations.  Gideon doesn’t view himself as worthy of such a calling.  He was from Manasseh, a half tribe of Joseph’s sons, not even one of the twelve, and he’s the youngest in his family (like King David was).  “[H]ow am I to save Israel?”  The Midianites are better armed and more numerous!  Gideon forgot the God factor.  God can be there for anyone to work His will.  “I will certainly be with you, and you will defeat Midian as one man” (v 16).  Gideon wouldn’t have to defeat them all by himself, he’d have help from fellow Israelites.  When we feel all alone, God is still right there with us.  He also often sends others to strengthen us as well.  Yet Gideon still isn’t sure where God is.  He tests God asking for a sign.  He wants to be certain if he’s going to accomplish this great deed.  It is nice however, to see Gideon preparing a good sized offering.  A goat would take a bit of time to prepare.  An ephah of flour is about six gallons- a large amount considering the Midian raids on their food supply.  Obedience is required if God is to be with us.  In verses 20-21, the offering is presented, and a marvelous sign is given: fire from heaven consumes the offering (Like Elijah on Mount Carmel).  For as hesitant as Gideon was, we see God’s favor still resting on him.  Gideon asked for a sign, and God didn’t disappoint.  Gideon builds an altar naming it: “The Lord is peace.”  Defeating Midian would stop their raids and indeed bring about peace.  God wants His people to be with Him.  In verse 25, that very night God instructed Gideon to destroy the altar of Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole (Baal’s counterpart).  Being on a spiritual high from the fire offering, perhaps this motivated Gideon to do the deed.  Knowing God is with us, we can do great things as well.  Gideon obeys God in tearing down Baal’s altar, but does so at night because he was afraid of the people.  God’s putting him through boot camp for the upcoming battle.  Thankfully, God is willing to hold our hand along the way.  What Gideon did at night becomes a statement in the morning.  These heathens find out Gideon was behind it and demand that he be put to death.  Who’s the real criminals in this situation?  God is pushing Gideon to action.  Gideon’s father wisely says that if Baal is so insulted with his altar being torn down, let Baal rebuke his son.  Someone commented: “The irony is obvious. Instead of people needing deliverance from a hostile god, the god requires deliverance from the people” (Block 269).  In verse 33, apparently the Midianites and their allies heard of Gideon’s revolt.  Uh-oh!  Someone’s trying to pop their head out, time to play wack-a-mole!  God’s tried time and again to get Israel to do what they did under Joshua- executing the wicked inhabitants of the land.  What a pretty image to be clothed with God’s Spirit (vs 34-35; Judges 3:10; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14).  Several tribes were called together to make a stand, and they surprisingly showed up.  Things must be really bad!  Its unfortunate how often people have to hit rock bottom before looking up to God.  Although having God’s Spirit, and an army, Gideon wants another sign as if the fire from heaven wasn’t good enough.  He’s getting nervous about the coming battle, and wants another confidence booster.  Will God really be with me?  He asks for a fleece to be wet with dew in the morning, but for the ground to be dry.  Thus it happens- a whole bowlful of water is wrung out from the fleece.  God doesn’t give us partial victories.  Still not satisfied, Gideon now wants the fleece dry and the ground wet in the morning.  God grants this sign as well.  God can be found if we just take the time to look for Him.  “Despite the nation’s spiritual disaffection, he [God] is obviously more interested in preserving his people than they are in preserving themselves” (Block 274).  When we ask the question: “Where is God?”  He is closer than we think.  Paul told the Greek pagans of his day: “[God] made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and exist” (Acts 17:27-28).   God is always there, sadly many refuse to see Him.  When we look at the earth and the stars above, they cry out for a creator.  Although many view Him as bloodthirsty and throwing tantrums, God is merciful and loving.  God even came down to dwell among us in the flesh.  When we couldn’t make a way back to God, God provided a way back to Him for us.  “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me'” (John 14:6).  Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, it gives us the hope of overcoming death, and living eternally with Him.

Psalm 148 (21-3-2022)

We’ve all experienced that feeling of awe in our lives.  We see tall majestic mountains, the vast expanse of the sea, a sunset, and the stars in the night sky.  It moves us to a sense of praise and adoration.  In Psalm 148, we see that the powerful are to praise God (See vs 1-6).  The author moves the Psalm in the order that God created everything (Genesis 1): The “heavens” and “heights” are synonymous.  Even the greatest place we humans can imagine is in submission to God.  The “angels” and “hosts” are synonymous: Angels are indeed great, they had the power to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.  The “sun, moon” and “stars” are similar.  While we haven’t seen angels, we’ve seen these heavenly bodies.  There are 2 trillion galaxies estimated to be within the universe.  More than a million earth’s could fit into the sun.  Stephenson 2-18 is the largest known star- which makes our sun look like a dot. Verse 4 is similar to: “God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so” (Genesis 1:7).  In verses 5-6, God is the only one worthy of praise.  Man was God’s crowning achievement in creation being created last (animals, sun, angels).  Consider forever: “‘Do you not fear Me?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do you not tremble in My presence? For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, an eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it. Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over” (Jeremiah 5:22).  Indeed the heavens and earth will all be burned up in the end (2 Peter 3:10).  Do we give God the praise and glory He deserves?  Jesus said to worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).  Do we focus on the words of the hymns we sing?  Or do we zone out and think about what’s for lunch?  The weak are also to praise God.  In verses 7-10, even non-living things attest to God’s greatness and in this sense “praise” Him.  Whales are quite impressive and even ships need to steer clear of them.  Blue whales can reach up to 100 ft long, and weigh 180 tons.  The Bible speaks of Leviathan in the book of Job and Psalms (perhaps a dinosaur).  We read of the greatness of the weather: hurricanes, volcanos, earthquakes.  I’ve never gone hunting, but if you came across a bear you show respect and awe toward it.  Verses 11-12 tell us that Presidents and Supreme Court justices need to praise God.  As honorary as we treat these people, there’s someone above them.  In verses 13-14, some names may give you cause for alarm like: “Open up in the name of the law!”  God’s name is the One who can lift us up.  God is worthy of our praise.  Those’s of us who’ve been forgiven through baptism have all the more reason to praise Him (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

Joseph and Optimism Genesis 41 (11-19-2022)

Winston Churchill said: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”  George Bernard Shaw said: “Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society. The optimist invents the aeroplane, the pessimist the parachute.”  Being optimistic or pessimistic both have their advantages.  Optimism encourages you to pursue your dreams and see the good in everything.  Pessimism sees problems for what they are and can usually solve them better.  In Genesis 41, Joseph has every right to be pessimistic: his own brothers hated him, and sold him as a slave, Potiphar’s wife lied about him and now we find him here in a dark prison.  Yet because of his hope in God, Joseph didn’t let those outward events get him down.  He used to be the head slave under his master Potiphar.  He could have just called it quits, and settled for being the top slave.  He had it pretty good under his master.  Why not give in to Potiphar’s wife?  God wouldn’t be displeased that much would He?  Joseph could have just cried in a corner of the prison, yet we see him put in charge of the other prisoners.  While Joseph had big changes physically, he didn’t have a dramatic change on the inside.  He kept to the spiritual path.  Thomas Edison said: “I have not failed.  I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”  I’m sure there were plenty of times Edison thought about quitting, but he was optimistic that his invention would work.  Joseph’s been in prison for two years, and it is only now that Pharaoh has his dream: seven thin cows by the Nile eat up seven fat cows, and seven scorched heads of grain eat seven full heads of grain.  I wonder if God wasn’t putting Joseph through a period of testing during those years in prison.  No pain, no gain.  The rainbow only comes after the storm.  The Cupbearer, whom Joseph foretold freedom to, didn’t remember Joseph. Yet now he remembered how he gave him the interpretation for his dream and for the baker.  Joseph is brought from the prison, shaved, clothed and interpret’s Pharaoh’s dream giving credit to God (Genesis 41:16).  There will be seven years of abundance, and then there will be seven years of famine.  The pessimist may say: “We’ll never make it a whole seven years!  Maybe one or two . . . ”  Yet Joseph saw the good that can be done in the seven good years.  God doesn’t change Joseph’s inward life, but He certainly will change his outward life (See Genesis 41:38-45).  Joseph is made second only to Pharaoh, and is given Pharaoh’s signet ring.  He’s able to seal documents with Pharaoh’s authority.  Joseph is given fine linen instead of his prison clothes- or even the clothes he wore coming before Pharaoh.  He’s given a gold necklace (same as what the Babylonian King did for Daniel), he rode in Pharaoh’s chariot, and the people were told to bow the knee before him.  He’s also given an Egyptian name- Zaphenath-paneah meaning something like: “the god said, let him live.”  Joseph also marries Asenath, the daughter of an Egyptian priest.  Potiphera seems to be Joseph’s father in law (this Priest is different from Potiphar the Capitan of the Guard).  One author commented: the city of On: “was the prestigious religious center of Re[a] and Atum, the Egyptian solar deities.”  When Joseph could have just been pessimistic, he trusted in God through the previous dreams he had.  He had assurance that God was with him.  Joseph was 30 years old when he came before Pharaoh (Genesis 41:46) and he was 17 in Canaan so he’s been living in Egypt for 13 years.  Do we have God’s seal on us?  Has God clothed us in white garments?  We get to ride with the King of Kings!  In Revelation, we read: “I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it” (v 17).  We get to be married to the Lamb.

Orbison, Guy, and Denny Petrillo. The Gospel of John. Workshop In The Word, 1997.

John 17 Unity (11-12-2022)

Unity is what everyone wants, but hard to come by.  Ralph Emerson said: “The reason why the world lacks unity, lies broken and in heaps, is, because man is disunited with himself.”  The apostle Paul detailed this struggle writing: “I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good” (Romans 7:21).  His desire was to serve God, but sin was always lurking in the corner.  Two heads are better than one.  “And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).  I don’t know if only one of David’s mighty men could break through the Philistine garrison, but three mighty men did (2 Samuel 23:16).  About 63% of Americans identify as Christian.  That’s 210 million people.  How wonderful if all Christians were unified.  How inspiring, if we all held the same beliefs, and had a common purpose (See John 17:13-24).  After the Last Supper, and before His death, Jesus prayed about unity.  He could have prayed about: faith, evangelism, hope.   Some have titled this the “High Priestly Prayer” before the coming sacrifice.  In verses 13-14, Jesus said He wanted: “My joy made full in themselves [that is, the disciples]”  Jesus, “for the joy set before Him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2).  Jesus was greatly anticipating having that unity with His Father once again.  Unity is far better than strife and stress.  God’s Word makes us unified- not the tall and imposing King Saul.  The world hates us because we’re righteous.  It sets us apart.  Being like the world leads to broken families and broken relationships.  At versers 15-16, in the Old Testament, Moses (Numbers 11:15), Elijah (1 Kings 19:4), and Jonah (Jonah 4:3, 8) all prayed to be taken out of the world, yet none of their requests were granted.  God doesn’t promise physical peace on earth, but He promises us inward peace.  A peace: “which surpasses all comprehension” (Philippians 4:7).  There are lots of addicts who could use that today.  This kind of peace brings unity.  When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, He said: “and deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13).  Unity helps us to resist all of Satan’s flaming arrows- and he’s shooting to kill.  There’s a reason the 70 disciples were sent out in twos.  Roman shield walls would cover the: front, side, and even the tops of the soldiers.  It took everyone being unified.  There’s also unity because of sanctification.  In verse 17, the word “sanctify” hagiazō means “to set apart” and is very close to the word “holy” hagios (v 11).  We’re to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:16).  Jesus not only spoke the truth, but is the truth (John 14:6).  He’s the reality.  He’s the best rallying point to unify around.  Everything else we strive for is dust in the wind.  If the truth of the matter is that your ally isn’t unified with you, you’d like to know that before a battle.  It does no good to be united if we’re united in evil and plotting.  In verses 18-19, the word “sent” apostellein is where we get our word “apostle” from.    We have a unified goal in showing people the way to heaven.  Its not like we’re pushing to sell a 50 lb. vacuum, but telling others the good news.  Jesus was also sanctified “set apart” for His mission on the cross.  He said earlier: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 ESV).  Two-thousand years later, Jesus is still the focal point of love or hate.  In verses 20-21, Jesus prayed for unity among future disciples.  A unity that encompasses several areas: “one body . . . one Spirit . . . one hope . . . one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:4-5).  If everyone believed the same doctrine, unity is the result.  In Acts, the apostles preached the same message wherever they went.  Earlier in John’s gospel, Jesus said: “I and the Father are one” (John 10:31).  When we try to think of the oneness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it can be hard to grasp.  Yet that’s the oneness the Creator wants to have with us; united in: thought, deed, and purpose.  When my dad’s around his father, he’ll have the same chuckle, and when I’m around my dad, I suspect I do the same.  There’s a unity that’s evident to all.  We see Jesus’ divine perspective in verse 21 moving from: Father to Son to Christians, and then we see Jesus’ human perspective in verse 23 moving from: Christians to Son to Father.  Jesus had glory on the cross and at His resurrection (v 22; Orbison 34).  A Christian can glory in baptism- becoming like Jesus imitating His death and resurrection.  There’s a famous French painting called: The Christian Martyrs’ Last Prayer in which is seen the Christians huddled together as one in a Roman colosseum.  They were all unified in thought and purpose.  Christians are “one” just as Jesus and God are one (v 23).  We don’t have to wait for a later date.  Our unity is one of the main ways the world knows we’re Christians.  The minute a worldly person sees two Christians bickering, no amount of Bible will convince them to join.  Our unity also bears witness to Jesus’ love for us.  He’s the One who makes unity possible in the first place.  Where else do you find such meshing among: rich/ poor, male/ female, worker/ scholar.  America’s melting pot does a great job, but Jesus does an even better job.  Not only do we have unity with Jesus on earth, but we’ll be with Him for eternity in heaven (v 24).  We think of meek and lowly Jesus on earth, but there’s a glory about Him that we’ll understand when we get to the next world.  He’s the great I AM who’s eyes are pictured as flames of fire, who has the double edged sword, and who’s brilliance outshines the sun (Revelation 1:12-16.  There was a disunity for a time that Jesus willingly took on for us when He said on the cross: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).  Yet we’ll see Him one day as He is- united and in the love of the Father.  Indeed, for God to be “love” before creating humans, He had to have someone to love.  We see this play out in the unity of the Trinity.  “When spiders unite, they can tie down a lion.”  Jesus rightly said: “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25).  When all the Greek city states united under Alexander, they changed the world under his short 13 year reign.  He’s once to have said: “Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.”  All that being said, we shouldn’t have unity at all costs.  We can’t give in on doctrinal principles for the sake of unity.  Yet learning from God’s word, and obeying its precepts leads to a wonderful unity.  Let’s continually strive for that kind of a unity.

Orbison, Guy, and Denny Petrillo. The Gospel of John. Workshop In The Word, 1997.

Discipleship (11-5-2022)

Jesus startled His listeners by saying: “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26).  He had just given two parables emphasizing the need to be ready: The Parable of the Wedding Guests, and The Parable of the Banquet Dinner.  He’ll now talk about discipleship as the way to do this.  Many wonder if the Bible contradicts itself here.  Maybe we should just throw it out.  No.  For as logical and reasoned as Jesus is in the gospel accounts, He’s certainly not contradicting Himself.  We read the same idea elsewhere: “So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years. 31 When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren” (Genesis 29:30-31).  So what is Jesus saying?  He wants us to not put anything above Him.  Jesus should be more important to us than even our jobs or hobbies.  He often used exaggeration to get His point across.  For the vast majority of people, there’s no greater virtue than caring for your family.  Yet, your family can’t cleanse you of your sins.  Your family will make mistakes- unlike Jesus.  Your family doesn’t hold the keys of death and hades.  They’re not the way, the truth, and the life.  This kind of discipleship that Jesus wants us to have is bigger than even important earthly concerns.  Jesus then says: “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26).  Whoever does not carry his own electric chair and come after Me cannot be My disciple- and those can be heavy!  Jesus wants quite a bit from people, but He is after all the One who created everything.  We’re not to carry a bomb vest (something we do to others), but a cross (something that’s done to us).  He also gives an example: “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’” (Luke 14:28-30).  Starting your own business would take planning.  You’d have to read thousands of pages of tax code.  You’d have to take a loan out from the bank.  You’d sit down and consider your target audience carefully: ranchers or beachgoers?  It does no good to be halfway into Christianity.  Don’t start and then quit in the middle of the race.  Peter warned: “For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them” (2 Peter 2:21).  The worst part would probably be the ridicule.  It is one thing to fail, it is another thing to fail and have people mock you for it.  Proverbs 27:3 says: “A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, but the provocation of a fool is heavier than both.”  Jesus continues: “Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace” (Luke 14:31-32).  You know, when the Nazi’s invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, they had 3.5 million soldiers along a 1,800 mile front line.  Putin invaded Ukraine with less than 200,000 soldiers along a wide 1,500 mile front line.  There’s also plenty of times when America should have considered the cost in the middle east . . . “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions” (Luke 14:33).  Now before you have a heart-attack, Jesus isn’t telling us to sell everything tomorrow.  He’s telling us that nothing in this world should be more important to us than Him.  He’s using exaggeration again.  If we lost our homes and families, that’s ok.  We have a place prepared and an even bigger family in heaven.  Someone commented: “The present tense emphasizes that this renunciation must be continual” (Stein 398).  That’s every morning when we wake up.  Just like: “hate your father and mother” the idea is that we have our focus on God with all our possessions.  He’s the one who gave us our talents in the first place.  If we’re not following Him, nothing matters in life- even if we cure cancer.  Becoming a Christian also isn’t something to be taken lightly.  It is something worth considering the cost.

Stein, R. H. Luke. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1992.

Think Extraordinarily (10-29-2022)

It is easy to think about what needs to be done tomorrow.  We live in the world, experience the world, and see it every day.  Many, unfortunately, believe this world is all there is.  We’re constrained by hunger, shelter, and physical desires- this is all the more apparent for those who lose homes to natural disasters.  With the pressures of this world, it can be hard to see beyond our own eyes (See John 5).  Sometimes we face situations in life where it seems that there’s no way out.  The pressures of this world weigh so heavily upon us.  Yet while we may not be able to see a way, our God is strong enough to provide a way (See John 5:1-3).  According to the Mosaical Law, the Jews had three feasts they were to attend every year (Deuteronomy 16:16).  Which feast was this one?  The Feast of Booths is clearly stated in John 7:2.  The Passover (Unleavened Bread) is clearly stated in John 2:13; 6:4; 12:1.  The Feast of Dedication that began under the Maccabees is stated clearly in John 10:22.  We know that the Feasts of Purim, Trumpets, and the Atonement didn’t require a trip to Jerusalem.  Perhaps this unnamed feast is Pentecost (Feast of Weeks; Exodus 23:14-17).  The name of this particular pool, Bethesda, means “house of mercy.”  Sounds like a good name for a hospital!  These “five porticoes [porches]” would be a nice shaded area.  We see all sorts of folks laying here whom we wouldn’t want to have on main street (See vs 5-7).  This man’s illness seems to be that he’s a cripple.  He’s been this way for thirty-eight years!  Similarly, the wilderness wanderings probably felt like an eternity lasting 40 years (Exodus 16:35).  How tough it would have been to be unable to walk- especially in the ancient world.  I picture my thoughts being: I’m not going to amount to anything in life.  What can I accomplish that will have an impact?  Jesus asks the lame man: “Do you wish to get well?”  Little did the man know Jesus can make us spiritually well.  The man’s answer to Jesus is one of hopelessness and focused on the physical world.  He’s not looking at the big picture.  He probably doesn’t even know that there is a big picture.  Many today miss out on the whole wide realm of the spiritual world.  He just wants today to be a little better than yesterday.  There was a superstition going around that when the waters were stirred, that is, the spring bubbling it up a little, people who touched it were healed.  The man should have been thinking of the extraordinary.  Not that medicine is bad, but God is more powerful than any medicine (See vs 8-9).  The man stood up immediately.  We were kind of expecting him to be wishy washy and say: “Pull the other one!”  In Isaiah 35, seen by Jews as being Messianic, we read: “Then the lame will leap like a deer” (Isaiah 35:6; Morris 302).  Jesus of course said that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  Man’s rules can sometimes get in the way of doing God’s will.  Jesus turned a hopeless situation into a hopeful one.  He turned what would be perceived as a doubtful question into a divine quest.  In verse 1, Jesus had His mind on God and what He could do.  He went up to the feast as God had instructed.  God’s the One from whom all blessings flow.  Do we wake up thinking about God’s will for us?  In verses 2-3, Jesus didn’t have to go around to that end of town, but He did.  The world would say: “Doesn’t He have something more important to do?”  Why would you want to go to all these sick people?  We don’t discriminate, we’re all sinners in need of a savior.  Whereas most people would stop at the 38 years in verse 5 and say: “Oh isn’t that a shame . . .” Jesus can see beyond his mere physical ailment.  He starts with an enquiry, but ends with something extraordinary.  In verse 7 and following, Jesus isn’t there just for a day to help the man into the pool.  He doesn’t just want to give you a fish, but teach you to fish.  He doesn’t want to just heal your for life, but eternally.  Jesus allowed this man to go on a hike!  He can go into any pool he wants now.  He doesn’t need his pallet to sit on anymore, he can carry it on his merry way!  He can finally live a normal life; but having been healed by Jesus, his life will never be normal again.  Jesus did something extraordinary in that man’s life, is He able to do the same with our lives?

Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to John; the English text with introduction, exposition and notes.. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971.

Fought The Good Fight (10-22-2022)

We all want to live a fulfilling purpose driven life.  We all want to say at the end of the day that what we did mattered.  When people think about their jobs, they think of the bigger impact their jobs have.  You can hear the mechanic saying: “I’m practically keeping the American automotive industry running!”  We want that sense of accomplishment: “I know it was your idea . . . but it was my idea to use your idea!”  I think of the apostle Paul when I think of people who lived a fulfilling life.  After Paul saw the light, he completely turned his life toward God.  He preached to countless people, went on three mission trips, suffered for Christ, and ended up in a Roman prison for a second time.  During this imprisonment, Paul writes to a preacher friend the letter of 2nd Timothy (See 2 Timothy 4:1-8).  Someone commented how these first few verses of chapter 4 are the climax of the letter (Orbison 24).  Paul writes “I solemnly charge you” spoken as a strong urging.  Here’s a few really fulfilling things to fight for in life.  He notes how we’ll be judged by Jesus’ word, writing elsewhere that we’ll all stand “before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10).  If you had a court hearing tomorrow, you’d be nervous.  You’d probably make sure your clothing was pressed and clean for the occasion.  You’d get your facts in order to make your case.  We’ll stand in God’s courtroom one day.  While the “Kingdom” often refers to the Church, here Jesus’ “Appearing” is His Second Coming, and the kingdom we should have in mind is heaven.  So, in view of God’s presence, Jesus coming on the clouds with His angels of fire (2 Thessalonians 1:7), and the majesty of heaven; how ought we to live a fulfilling life?  Paul writes to preach, that is: herald the word “In season and out of season.”  Seeds can only be planted during certain seasons, but the seed of God’s Word can be planted even in winter- in any circumstance.  While at work, we can drop a quote from proverbs and sound wise.  We can comment to the checkout person how we’ve had a blessed day.  I read once that: “Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but no one can count the apples in a seed” (Stewart 4).  Sometimes our words are to be gentle.  Sometimes it’s to be done with a stern word.  Sometimes all that’s needed is an encouraging word.  Each one is to be done with patience.  Don’t be the one to pray: “Dear God, please help me have patience . . . and make it quick!”  For as often as Paul wrote to be steadfast, its like he knows we need to hear it over and over again.  People hear what they want to hear.  It would be great to have sound doctrine in America, but they can’t even get sound science.  Saying that there’s more than just males and females is crazy talk.  Saying men can get pregnant is just itching someone’s ear.  “Be sober in all things.”  Is it important for us today to be even minded as well?  Don’t just side with your friend if the Bible says that’s the wrong way to go.  When we make it through hardships, we know the next time we can do it again.  The word “evangelist” just means: one who preaches the good news.  We all have opportunities to share the good word with those we see day by day.  Whereas the elites don’t know what kind of car you’d prefer to drive, we know everyone needs Jesus.  In Him is where fulfillment is found.  In the Old Testament, “Following the death and burning of the sacrifice, wine was to be poured out” (Orbison 25; Numbers 15:5-6, 10).  Paul fulfilled God’s purpose in this life, will we?  If God could use Paul, he can use anyone!  Paul knew his time was short.  It’s curious that even Peter wrote: “knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me” (2 Peter 1:14).  Paul and Peter’s lifetime’s were getting short as they inched closer to being killed by Emperor Nero, but their lives were fulfilled.  The fight Paul speaks of isn’t taking up arms and going on jihad.  It isn’t about always ending up on-top.  Its about doing God’s will every day: looking to Him instead of culture, following Him instead of following our own heart’s desires.  He kept the faith.  You know, if we don’t believe, we’re wasting our time.  Yet Paul knew who was in charge.  He didn’t give up on the miracles in the Bible, or Jesus’ resurrection like many Christian colleges are.  He fulfilled his course.  Athletes want first place.  Everyone gets a trophy these days, but even then they know who the real winner is.  It takes perseverance to keep running.  It takes training, and time commitment to wake up and do it again.  I read that before the marathon, runners aim to hit 50 miles a week.  This “crown” (stephanos) is the term used for athletic contests- more like a wreath, not a king’s crown (diadem).  Paul’s finally made it past the finish line in the marathon of life.  We may have fallen down on the way, and had to give water to our fellow runners, but finally heaven has come.  During the American revolutionary war, Nathan Hale said: “I regret that I have only one life to give for my country” (Orbison 26).  He died in 1776 at the age of 21.  We also have only one life to give for heaven’s call.  The way you face death will determine the way you approach life.  Far too many live for the moment, or for the experience.  They see this life as all there is, and thus try to take all they can out of it.  We know that there’s a life beyond this one- an eternal life with our Creator.  

Petrillo, Orbison. Workshop In The Word A Study Of 2nd Timothy 2009.

Stewart, Ivan Robert. Go Ye Means Go Me. Arlington, TX: Ivan Stewart, 1974.

Brought Out Of Egypt (10-15-2022)

We’re all young enough to remember 9/11.  None of us will ever forget that day.  Maybe a few would remember the Cuban missile crisis in the 1960’s.  That would be a memorable event.  Those long gone would never forget our independence day from Britain.  Yet mankind is quick to forget history; the Israelite’s were no exception.  They forgot the Lord their God who brought them out of Egypt.  It is interesting to see this phrase God used throughout the Old Testament. “Let an omerful of it [the Manna] be kept throughout your generations, that they may see the bread that I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus 16:32).  Remember that God provides.  Before God gave the Ten Commandments, He said: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Exodus 20:2; Numbers 15:41; Deuteronomy 5:6, 15).  Remember that God makes the best rules to live by.  The priests would be a blessing for Israel, and: “They shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God” (Exodus 29:46).  Remember, God is with us.  The Israelites weren’t to eat unclean animals: “For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45).  Remember that God wants what’s best for us.  “You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin; I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 19:36).  God knows how to give justice.  God’s name wasn’t to be used in vain for: “I am the Lord who sanctifies you, 33 who brought you out from the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 22:32-33).  Remember to respect God.  The feast of Tabernacles was: “so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 23:43).  The Passover is also mentioned (Deuteronomy 16:1).  God was the One who freed them.  The Israelites weren’t to charge 21.6% interest rates because: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan” (Leviticus 25:38).  God is the One who gave milk and honey, not our own talents.  Every seven years slaves were to go free in the year of Jubilee (Jeremiah 34:14): “For the sons of Israel are My servants; they are My servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 25:55).  God freed all 2 million of them.  God, “who brought you out of the land of Egypt” would bless obedience (Leviticus 26:13; Deuteronomy 6:12; 26:8).  If He’s willing to free us, what else is He willing to do?  God had promised to make sure the Israelites were never completely destroyed: “I will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 26:45).  God has made promises to us as well.  God loved His chosen people so: “the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh” (Deuteronomy 7:8).  Don’t fear the mighty people of Canaan: “remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh . . . [and] brought you out” (Deuteronomy 7:18-19; 20:1).  Is God still mighty today to deal with our problems?  The false prophets were to be put to death because: “the Lord your God . . . brought you from the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 13:5, 10).  God gets the final say, not man.  The freed slave was to be furnished liberally for: “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you” (Deuteronomy 15:15).  Joshua famously said: “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15) after recalling how God: “brought your fathers out of Egypt” (v 6).  While: “the angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim . . . he said, ‘I brought you up out of Egypt'” (Judges 2:1), nevertheless, the people were disobedient, so He wouldn’t drive the Canaanites out.  Israel was subsequently oppressed by the Midianites, God reminded them of the same phrase (Judges 6:8).  Even in Samuel’s time, the last Judge, Israel was still disobedient even though: “I brought them up from Egypt” (1 Samuel 8:8; 10:18).  They forgot a memorable event in their history.  When David wanted to build a temple to God, he’s told: “I have not dwelt in a house [of cedar] since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt” (2 Samuel 7:6; 1 Kings 8:16).  God doesn’t require anything.  Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, fell: “because the sons of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt” (2 Kings 17:7).  King Solomon completed the temple, but God warned them that if the Temple was ever destroyed: “they will say, ‘Because they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers who brought them from the land of Egypt'” (2 Chronicles 7:22).  Asaph recalled God’s glory and how: “I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt” (Psalm 81:10; Ezekiel 20:10).  Asaph was a Levite in Solomon’s day (2 Chronicles 5:12).  That means Asaph recalled the Exodus 400 years after it happened.  Isaiah pictured the glorious time when the Jews would come into the church: “And there will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant of His people who will be left, just as there was for Israel in the day that they came up out of the land of Egypt” (Isaiah 11:16).  Jeremiah bemoans Judah’s sin, for not remembering: “the Lord who brought us up out of the land of Egypt” (2:6; 7:22; 11:4, 7; 34:13).  Yet God would make a new covenant with His people: “not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt” (Jeremiah 31:32).  Maybe we should heed His new covenant.  Daniel prayed on behalf of the Jews noting the 70 years of captivity had passed which Jeremiah had spoke about: “And now, O Lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked” (Daniel 9:15).  Hosea reminded Israel that: “by a prophet the Lord brought Israel from Egypt” (Hosea 12:13; 13:4).  Amos did likewise (2:10; 3:1).  He gave them a harsh rebuke: “‘Are you not as the sons of Ethiopia to Me, O sons of Israel?’ declares the Lord. ‘Have I not brought up Israel from the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir?'” (9:7).  Through Micah, God asks how He had burdened His people.  He saved them from Egypt.  He gave them good leaders like Moses.  He blessed them far more than they deserved (Micah 6:1-4).  Why would you not want to be on God’s team?  After captivity, the people under Zerubbabel were encouraged to rebuild the temple of the Lord.  Remember: “the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!” (Haggai 2:5).  Do we believe God led His people out of Egypt 3,400 years ago?  Does that have any bearing on how we view God?  On how we obey God?  On how we trust in God?

Money (10-8-2022)

Introduction: About 60% of American families live paycheck to paycheck (prnewswire.com).  Stress is most evident when it comes to a person’s finances.  If it’s a trial like depression, the person can fake contentment.  If one’s had a bad day, they can still put on a smile.  Yet if a person is in destitute poverty, it is obvious.  How should the Almighty Dollar be viewed?  Solomon wrote from a worldly perspective (given the context): “Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything” (Ecclesiastes 10:19).  Even the greedy like that Bible verse!  Jesus said: “You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matthew 6:4).  Obey God, or cheat on our taxes.  Lie to get that handsome promotion, or suffer for the truth.  An African proverb says: “He who tries to walk two roads will split his pants.”  God’s worth far more than money.  How many people wake up worrying about money?  Money is a necessity, but Jesus promised that our needs would be taken care of.  If you lose everything tomorrow, God will find a way for you.  Some of the Christians in the first century were close to being destitute, but God gave them their daily bread.  Work for God before money.  Have Him and His promise of heaven at the forefront of your life.  We recall how Jesus once sat near the Temple treasury watching the rich put in very large sums (Mark 12:41-43).  You can almost hear the jingle of coins being dropped.  A poor widow then came and put in two small copper coins, the smallest of Jewish coins.  She could have kept at least one of them!  I wonder if the clanking sound was even heard.  Yet Jesus said she put in more than all the rest; that was everything she had- whereas the rich put in out of their abundance.  Surely God knew that poor widow.  He made sure she wasn’t going to starve in the streets.  Her faith and trust in God outshined all the copper in the world.  Paul wrote to Timothy: “the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:10).  It’s always easier to love the people and items we see rather than the ones we don’t see.  It feels easier to love cash than God.  Yet Jeff Bezos’s wife divorced him in 2019.  Money can only get you so far.  Money can’t buy morality.  Money can’t buy wisdom.  Money can’t buy you a ticket to heaven.  John D. Rockefeller had three rules for anyone who wanted to become rich: Go to work early.  stay at work late. find oil.  The Hebrews writer summed up his letter by saying: “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).  With God by our side, what have we to worry about?  He’s the One who provides for our needs.  There are sentences far worse than jail and death . . . like the love of money.  No matter how rich the young ruler was, he could not: ride in a car, have any surgery, watch TV, use running water, send an email, fly in a plane, sleep on a mattress, or text.  Putting God first results in true riches.  Sometimes its physical blessings, but moreover its spiritual blessings:  It’s knowing you’re worth something.  You’re not just a hairless ape.  You’re not just a bag of atoms bumping into each-other.  You’ve been made in God’s image.  Mankind was the sixth day’s crowning achievement.  It’s knowing that life has meaning, and we’re not just destined to fade into oblivion.  There really is something on the other side, and for Christians, it is greener.  It’s knowing that just as Jesus rose from the dead, God will raise us up as well to dwell eternally with Him.

Hebrews Introduction (10-1-2022)

The author seems to have been a Jew mentioning “the fathers” (Hebrews 1:1-2).  The writer knew his recipients saying: “I may be restored to you the sooner” (Hebrews 13:19).  The writer and recipients all knew Timothy “our brother Timothy has been released” (Hebrews 13:23).  The writer is writing from Italy, probably Rome (Hebrews 13:24).  There seems to have been only one author writing: “I urge you” (Hebrews 13:22).  What about the: “we have much to say” (Hebrews 5:11), “let us press on” (Hebrews 6:1), “But, beloved, we are convinced” (Hebrews 6:9), “let us draw near” (Hebrews 10:22), and “let us hold fast” (Hebrews 10:23).  This is probably an “editorial we.”  We know the author is not one of the twelve apostles: “how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard” (Hebrews 2:3).  This someone had the gospel confirmed by “those who heard” (the apostles).  Just as in English we can tell poor writing from formal writing, the same is true with the Greek.  John has an elementary writing style, Paul moderate, Luke formal, but Hebrews is very formal.  He was also very well versed in the Old Testament.  Perhaps it was written by Apollos.  Apollos is the name of a Greek god, so it would make sense that when writing to the Jews “Hebrews” he would not want his name mentioned.  We also know that he was: “a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24).  Jewish christians are the recipients (Hebrews 1:2; 3:1, 6, 14).  Gentiles aren’t mentioned in the letter.  These Jews seem to be “second generation” christians “Remember those who led you” (Hebrews 13:7).  Nevertheless: “The use of Greek rather than Hebrew is doubtless due to the Epistle being intended, not merely for the Hebrew, but for the Hellenistic Jew converts, not only in Palestine, but elsewhere” (Jamieson Vol 2 440).  The destruction of Jerusalem’s Temple is not mentioned.  Therefore, it was written before AD 70.  Also, when speaking about the Temple and the Priestly services it is in the present tense pointing to the fact that the Temple was still standing (Hebrews 5:1-3; 8:4).  Hebrews gives a glimpse of how the Old Testament shadowed the New.  It details how Jesus is far better than the priests, sacrifices and the Mosaical Law.  Have you been encouraged by Hebrews lately?

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. 1997.

Prayer (9-24-2022)

Once, there was a man in church.  After the sermon, the preacher asked if anyone with needs to be prayed over to come forward.  The man stood in line, and when it was his turn, the preacher asked: “What do you want me to pray about for you?”  The man said: “Preacher, I need you to pray for my hearing.”  The preacher put one finger in the man’s ear, and he placed the other hand on top of the man’s head and prayed and prayed.  After a few minutes, the preacher removed his hands, stood back, and asked: “How is your hearing?”  The man replied, “I don’t know, it’s not until next Wednesday.”  Prayer can be a curious thing.  Why pray in the first place?  God already knows what you’re going to say before you say it.  He knows about your need or that friendship you’ll be praying for.  Why tell your wife you love her?  She already knows!  First, prayer is persistent.  Cyrus, king of Persia, the most powerful ruler in the world, made a decree.  He ruled that none should pray to any god but him for thirty days.  What would we think?  Well, 30 days isn’t that long of a time I’ll just take a break.  Its only one month, I’m sure God would understand.  He wouldn’t want me to be killed would He?  We read: “Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house . . . and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously” (Daniel 6:10).  There was no question in Daniel’s mind what to do.  I wonder how long Daniel prayed.  Thirty minutes?  An hour?  Elijah prayed that the rain would stop on Ahab and Jezebel’s wicked territory.  When three and a half years of drought had passed, Elijah had his contest with the prophets of Baal (rain/ lightning god), where the fire of heaven consumed Elijah’s sacrifice.  Yet let’s not forget what also happened at the end of 1 Kings 18: Elijah went back up Mount Carmel and prayed that the rain would come.  “He said to his servant, ‘Go up now, look toward the sea.’ So he went up and looked and said, ‘There is nothing.’ And he said, ‘Go back’ seven times” (1 Kings 18:43).  Elijah would pray, and then ask his servant: “Are there any clouds coming?”  Did Elijah start to doubt on his fifth round of prayer?  Yet Elijah was persistent.  If work is weighing us down, do we think to pray?  When the medical report doesn’t look good, do we ask God about it?  That relationship we want mended could probably use a prayer.  Second, prayer is powerful.  Daniel was thrown in the lion’s den for praying to God in defiance of the Persian king.  Yet a prayer to God is even more powerful than mighty lions!  Their mouths were shut, and Daniel was kept unharmed.  In contrast, the conspirator’s bones were crushed before hitting the den’s floor.  God wanted to punish Ahab and Jezebel for their sin of idolatry.  James mentions how “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit” (5:17-18).  Elijah’s prayer was heard and acted upon.  It says back in 1 Kings: “In a little while the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy shower” (18:45).  Third, prayer is personal.  Paul writes about how God has granted to us the Holy Spirit who helps us in prayer: “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:15).  God loves it when we cry out to Him.  That’s when we’re the most genuine in heart- when we’re in need.  The word “Abba” means “father” in Aramaic.  He’s saying: “Father, father!”  Some have mentioned that it carries the idea of “daddy” (an intimate loving relationship).  Don’t let the Air Force tell you you can’t say “daddy.”  He’s someone we can depend on.  Also note: “for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).  The whole reason God created us was in order to have a relationship with Him, and bring Him glory.  We all have several relationships in our lives, but none is greater than our relationship to the creator.  People may hang up on God, but He never wants to hang up on you.  There’s no putting you on hold for an hour with God.  He won’t just talk about the weather, but give us words of eternal life.  Jesus encourages us to pray for our enemies.  He wants us to pray, but not for show.  He wants us to think about the words we’re saying, and not use meaningless repetition.  When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, we see: Reverence: “Father, hallowed be Your name”, reliance: “Give us each day our daily bread”, recognition: “And forgive us our sins”, and resolve: “lead us not into temptation.”  The four ideas all go back to God.  A professor in college once said: “Imagine you’re standing in Heaven before God.  He takes you down the golden street where you see a door off to the side.  He turns and says: ‘Behind this door is everything I would have given you if you had only asked.'”  How much help would be behind that door?  God is for us, He’s not against us.  In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed three times that the crucifixion might pass Him by.  Didn’t God listen?  Doesn’t He care?  He loves more than we’ll know.  Sometimes God’s answer to our prayer isn’t what we want to hear, but we’ll be the better for it.  Jesus was obedient to God, and exalted to His right hand.  How much time do you spend talking with your Father?

Ahab’s Covetousness (8-27-2022)

Ahab, king of Israel, had defeated Ben-Hadad of Aram (Syria) in the 800’s BC.  God had promised to give this wicked king victory.  We’re making evil Hitler and evil Stalin bash their heads together.  Yet, Ahab didn’t kill Ben-Hadad as God instructed him.  Ahab coveted an alliance with Syria against the Assyrians.  Coveting is a selfish desire that threatens the rights of others, and the soul of the erring one.  The tenth of the ten commandments says: “You shall not covet . . . anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Exodus 19:17).  Coveting is defined as: to desire earnestly, to set the heart and mind upon anything . . . to desire unlawfully.  One may want that promotion, so they lie about the other employees because they covet that position.  In the first three verses of 1 Kings 21, we’re near Jezreel just southwest of the sea of Galilee.  Perhaps this palace is Ahab’s winter palace.  If you own a palace, what don’t you have?  The king has plenty of stables, cities, forts and . . . vineyards.  Ahab seems reasonable at first offering Naboth a better vineyard, or a gracious price.  Yet he only has his desires in mind.  He has his heart set on Naboth’s vineyard, and nothing will turn him away.  Coveting is bad, but it also often leads to lying, stealing, or . . . murder.  Naboth replies that he can’t do such a thing because its the: “inheritance of his fathers” a thought which may come from: “Thus no inheritance of the sons of Israel shall be transferred from tribe to tribe, for the sons of Israel shall each hold to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers” (Number 36:7); “If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman is to come and buy back what his relative has sold” (Leviticus 25:25).  Naboth has his mind set on God’s will.  Throughout verses 4-16, Ahab’s wife, Jezebel has a plan.  The quickest way to get rid of a problem is to remove it.  She uses the King’s seal which was unalterable (Esther 8:8; Daniel 6:17).  The highest authority in the land is declaring this proclamation.  Ahab and Jezebel must be back in Samaria, for the letters to Naboth’s city elders are being “sent” (v 8).  Fast’s often showed repentance from wrongdoing, yet here it is just for show (2 Chronicles 20:3; Ezra 8:21; Jonah 3:5).  Two false witnesses are gathered to say Naboth has cursed God (blasphemy) and the King (treason).  Blasphemy brings death (Leviticus 24:16).  Ahab knows how his wife works.  He’s not going into this plan innocently or ignorant.  Ahab wasn’t willing to stop the wrongdoing even though he’s king.  Indeed, his covetousness lies behind Jezebel’s plot.  In verses 11-16 Jezebel’s plan is carried out.  Naboth’s city fasts as if we’re looking for the evil one among us, and two worthless witnesses are brought forward.  Deuteronomy says: “On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness” (17:6).  Yet these folks are false witnesses breaking the ninth of the ten commandments (Exodus 20:16).  In verse 14, Naboth is then stoned to death after being “found guilty.”  He was just a righteous man wanting to keep the inheritance of his father’s.  One man’s coveting brought about an innocent man’s death, and eventually the fall of the capital city.  Ahab is just happy to get his heart’s desire.  Yet he just murdered someone.  Doesn’t that mean anything?  Not to the father of lies and his children.  Then the word of the Lord comes in verses 17-23.  What condemnation!  Apparently, Elijah trusts in God more, after running away from Jezebel in chapter 19.  The dogs will lick up Ahab’s son’s blood and Jezebel’s blood in Samaria (2 Kings 9:25-26, 33).  Elijah tells Ahab that all his males will be cut off.  Not having successors was a very great dishonor for ancient peoples.  Yet even Ahab’s slaves would be cut off.  His sin of coveting didn’t affect just himself.  The dogs would also eat Jezebel.  You know, for as poor as Jesus was working as a carpenter, and having no place to lay His head, He never coveted.  The Pharisees had fine food and clothing.  I’m sure there were a few mansions in Jerusalem during Jesus’ time.  Similar to Naboth, Jesus died at the hands of wicked men.  He was our innocent sacrifice who willingly followed the Father.  Will we do likewise and not covet?

Fruit of the Spirit (8-20-2022)

We all get to choose whether we walk the spirit’s way, or the flesh’s way.  In Galatians 5, Paul shows two paths we’re able to take (See vs 19-21).  Paul starts by showing the fleshly way one can take.  Interestingly, the sins listed are very similar to Revelation 21:8.  We see forms of sexual sins: “immorality” (all types), “impurity” (uncleanness), and “sensuality” (no restraint).  I think of all the divorces that happen among Hollywood stars- they’re not happy.  Jacob thought several wives was a fine idea, but it only “brought grief” (Genesis 26:34-35).  We see forms of Godlessness: “idolatry” (idols/ greed; Colossians 3:5) and “sorcery” (witchcraft).  The Canaanite gods only brought trouble, slavery, and death to Israel.  Saul followed the fleshly path of sin, and ended up consulting a medium because he couldn’t consult God.  We see forms of hostility: “enmities” (being opposed), “strife” (quarrelsomeness), “jealousy [the bad sense]” (wanting someone’s things) and “outbursts of anger” (rage).  The Jews were very hostile to the early church wanting to destroy it.  There’s forms of  divisiveness: “disputes” (rivalries), “dissensions” (literally “standing apart”), “factions” (where we get the word “heresy”) and “envy” (resentment).  They say two heads are better than one for a reason- cooperation is a good goal.  Finally we see forms of wanton living: “drunkenness” (excess in drink) and “carousing” (excess in lust; Orbison 37).  Cake is good, but if you have too much you become sick.  The spirit’s fruit and the flesh’s fruit have very different results.  We’re told to: “worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).  Paul said he’d “pray with the spirit and . . . sing with the spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:15).  If living according to the “Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body” (Romans 8:13).  We read in Galatians 5 that we can “walk by the spirit” (v 16), that we’re “led by the spirit” (v 18), and that we “live by the spirit” (v 25).  As christians, following God’s ways, His will, and His character leads to a bountiful harvest (See vs 22-23).  While the “fruit” here is singular, it bears nine different ways.  Its like a prism when light shines through it one way, it radiates colors in every direction.  Its as if this fruit not only gives us grapes, but jam, and wine as well.  The fruit of the spirit can be nicely divided into groups of three.  The fruit concerning Attitudes are: love, joy, and peace.  When we choose to think of things in a spiritual sense, it reflects in our manner.  Having the right attitude toward a flogging will help us endure through it.  The fruit concerning Actions are: patience, kindness, and goodness.  How else do we know a person except by what they say or do?  The fruit concerning associations are: faithfulness (toward God), gentleness (toward others), and self-control (toward self).  When we have the right association with God, we’ll also have it towards others and self.  Love is our Greek word agapē.  This is a self sacrificing love that looks to the best interest of another.  It is not merely a friend love, a family love, or even love for a spouse- although it should permeate all those relationships.  No, agapē love is: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  Interestingly, joy and grace are from the same root word in Greek.  The word is often found accompanied with a person’s response to the gospel like the prodigal son (Luke 15), or like the “good and faithful slave” (Matthew 25:21).  Happiness is momentary, but joy is continuous.  You’re happy when you get something you really want, but you’re joyful every day when you know heaven is on the other side. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” (James 1:2; Hebrews 12:2).  Being whipped doesn’t sound joyful, but with God all things are possible.  Peace is defined as: “Total well-being, prosperity, and security associated with God’s presence” (Elwell 1634).  When that individual you really look up to is by your side, there’s a peace knowing they’re there.  Paul wrote that we can have the: “Peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension” (Philippians 4:7).  Stress may weigh us down, but Jesus took the biggest stress away us on the cross.  Jesus said not to worry because He’s in charge (Matthew 6:34).  Physical death only leads to the next life.  Patience is easier said than done, especially in our fast-food thinking society.  Patience is staying calm when you get cut off in traffic.  Patience involves thinking before acting.  “God’s patience waited in the days of Noah” (1 Peter 3:20 ESV).  You know He wanted to send the flood on those wicked people, but Noah had to complete the ark first.  Many think kindness is not hurting another’s feelings; don’t offend anyone (be tolerant of everything).  Yet the “kind” thing to do is to correct people who are on the broad road.  It might seem kind at the moment to not offend someone, but when Judgement Day comes- they’re going to wish you were kind to them by warning their souls.  I wonder if that person will look over at us on judgement day.  You yourself wouldn’t want to be the one left in the dark concerning the good news and eternal life.  The word goodness or generous is very different from: “good morning” and “good luck” and “good work.”  There’s an action to be taken.  Are we willing to go that second mile?  Jesus called the woman’s deed of washing His feet with perfume a “good deed” (Matthew 26:10).  We might also ponder that it was a “good” thing for Jesus to drive the moneychangers out of the temple courts.  Faithfulness means maintaining faith or allegiance; showing a strong sense of duty (Elwell 764).  When the going gets rough, will we keep keeping on?   Gentleness (Humility/ Meekness) is unfortunately associated with weakness.  As an expression of the fruit of the Spirit, gentleness is strength under control.  Jesus was beaten and spat upon, but He was the strongest man there.  He gave no answer to the mighty governor, or the influential high priest.  He knew who was really in charge.  When people resort to insults and shouting, will we take the high road and be gentle?  “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).  It is surprising how just a few wise words can calm a bad situation.  Self control helps in a lot of areas: emotionally, in our desires, and in our words.  When we’re insulted, are we going to have self control over our mouths?  When we see a blatant commercial, are we going to have self control over our eyes?  Jesus bore tons of fruit in His life.  He loved the world, was joyful being devoted to His Father, brought peace to men, was patient with the Pharisees, was kind toward outsiders, was good to the crowds, faithful to God, gentle in heart, and self-controlled during temptations.  Going the spirit’s way, Jesus lived an amazing fulfilling life.  We can too, if we follow in His steps.  Reading in the New Testament we see to: hear and believe, repent and confess Him as Lord, and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. Patience. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 1988.

Orbison, Guy.  Petrillo, Denny. Working In The Word A Study Of The Epistle To The Galatians: 2012

Light, Momentary, Affliction (8-6-2022)

In 2nd Corinthians 4, Paul has been talking about the victory we have in Jesus (vs 13-15), and continues in verse 16: “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.”  The previous verses confirmed the fact that Paul never lost heart.  Verses 16-18 show why Paul never lost heart.  When we think of our outward man “decaying” we’re quick to think of our physical body.  However, instead of our physical flesh decaying, its probably the idea of crucifying sin in our lives because verse 17 mentions our: “momentary, light affliction” leading us to heaven.  It is easy to feel downcast as if the whole world is against us, but whereas the world wants to rebuke God, He’s a God that renews.  When we’re tempted with an addiction or other sins, we don’t have to lose heart because of what God has said.  We’re being renewed when our minds and our actions become more Christ-like.  A change in thinking leads to a change in behavior.  Our sufferings for Christ builds character and solidifies our resolve to be on His team.  Our thinking, and what we put in our minds has a great effect on our lives.  Let’s be sure to fill it with God’s promises, provision, and peace.  If we’re mocked like the apostles, we can rejoice for being counted worthy.  God promised to provide us with: food, clothing, and shelter.  If you have God, food, clothing, and shelter, what more do you need?  Moreover, we can grow stronger spiritually even though the world sulks in sin.  Do we feel renewed and refreshed “day by day” or do we feel the weight of sin day by day?  We read in verse 17: “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.”  If we were fired from our jobs, I bet God would open a door of opportunity for His faithful ones.  Does He not care for the birds of the air?  The Seer Hanani said in 2 Chronicles 16 that: “the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (v 9).  Small and temporary can’t compare with glory and eternal.  Even if we live our 76 average years, that’s nothing compared to eternity.  Abraham lived 175 years (Genesis 25:7).  Methuselah lived 969 years (Genesis 5:27).  Jesus lived to be 33.  Eternity is hard to grasp.  It is hard to ponder a trillion, what about a Centillion (a 1 followed by 303 “0’s”).  That many zeros would take up five lines in my notes!  What about eternity?  Whatever we have to endure on earth is worth it.  Even if we spent every day being tortured for Jesus- hey, that’s better than being in pain for eternity.  Someone wrote that heaven will make earth’s afflictions: “look like a tiny storm in a teacup” (Garland 243).  Verse 18 says: “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  This “while we look” is a contemplative stare- not just a passing glance.  Heaven isn’t just something to ponder about on Sunday.  Heaven is worth thinking about every day- every morning we wake up.  All our gold, steak, and clothing will eventually come to nothing.  Those possessions that we can touch and see need to be kept in their proper perspective.  We have to see heaven and God through the eyes of faith.  Let’s not miss the forest for the trees.  Let’s not put the cart before the horse, or fail to see beyond our own nose.  If we set eternity with God as our goal in life, a lot of other things will fall right into place.  Noah didn’t lose faith when everyone around him said he was crazy for building a boat.  Abraham believed God would raise up his son Isaac after he was to sacrifice him.  It would have been easy for Moses to lose heart while constantly hearing the Israelites grumble, but instead he graciously prayed for them.  Joshua saw God’s promise land instead of the peoples lies.  Ruth could have served her family’s Moabite gods, but instead she followed the mighty God.  King David could have lost heart in his life, but instead he was a man after God’s own heart.  Queen Esther could have tried keeping her Jewishness a secret, but instead she saved hundreds of thousands of people by taking a just stand.  The prophets could have viewed their momentary, light persecution as not worth it, but instead they maintained their loud proclamations.  Jesus’ suffering was designated for Him: “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10).  We’re encouraged to fix: “our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2).  He set His eyes on getting back to the Father.  Things look bad in this world, but we get to look forward to the next.  Because of the fact that Jesus died and rose again, He’ll raise us up one day to be with Him forever.

Garland, D. E. 2 Corinthians Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1999.

The Word (7-30-2022)

Jesus is a lot more than we often realize.  In the Prologue to John’s gospel (1-18) is seen creation (1-4, 10), the manifestation (5-10), rejection and reception (11-13).  There’s also eight relationships surrounding Jesus are seen: deity, the word, creation, life, the world, men, flesh, revelation, and John the baptizer (See John 1:1-5).  The word “beginning” can denote a cause, not just a starting point.  The “Word” logos means: “word” or “reason.”  A Jewish reader would understand the Word in connection with creation: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host” (Psalm 33:6).  Someone mentioned: “The Word of God is His thought (if we may put it so) uttered so that men can understand it” (Morris 75).  Words reveal who we are.  The Word was in the beginning; “was” is timeless existence: “The continuous imperfect is used of Him again and again (John 1:1-2, 4, 9-10), a way of speaking which puts some stress on His continuing existence” (Morris 108).  The word “was” also shows prior existence from the beginning.  At the beginning, Jesus already “was.”  The term “with” connotes the idea of being “face to face” that is, the closest possible relationship (Orbison v).  It denotes fellowship and relationship.  The creation account has similar terms: beginning, light, life, darkness (Genesis 1).  The Word was involved in creation.  We read time and again how: “God said” (Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 14, 20, 24, 26, 28-29).  He also spoke a covenant with Abraham, told of the Law, warned the Kings, and declared through the prophets.  Jesus, being the Word (vs 14), said that His words are from God (John 3:34, 8:16; 14:10, 24; 17:8).  The Word is light and life.  Jesus is the source of “life” (36X).  This life is the light of men (the effect), its powerful because darkness cannot overcome it, and it has scope- it is true life.  The “life” is invisible, but the “light” is seen (See vs 9-13).  Jesus’ light enlightens man.  Jesus is the “true [genuine] light” not just a foreshadow, like the Old Testament.  Jesus “made” the world and it owes its existence to the Word.  Our first group: “the world did not know Him.”  They didn’t know Him intellectually, acknowledge Him, or receive Him.  The world didn’t know Jesus (John 1:10), the Spirit (John 14:17), or the Father (John 17:25).  The second group: His own (the Jews) didn’t receive or know Him.  They were the ones that should have known having the oracles of God!  The third group receives Him and knows Him.  In verse 13 Jesus gives believers the right to become sons.  Notice that believers aren’t yet sons.  This isn’t by “blood” (physical descent/ Abraham), the “will of the flesh” (desires), or the “will of man” (arranged marriages).  This adoption is by God (See vs 14-18).  This is one of the main points John is trying to convey in his gospel: the Word (spirit) became something it was not (flesh).  Jews and Gentiles wouldn’t think of the divine logos becoming flesh.  God’s Word took human form and spoke through Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-2).  That He “dwelt” means that He “tabernacled” among us, and is a temporary state (physically).  Witnesses “saw His glory” physically sand contemplative.  One wonders if this glory is similar to when God came down on the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34).  Orbison wrote that this glory: “may designate the radiance of the infinite love that dwelt in Christ, the breaking forth again and again in word and in deed; the heavenliness of his grace, or his mercy, or his compassion; the divine depth and comprehension of his wisdom and knowledge (xi).  This human being was unlike any other.  The word begotten means: “one of a kind” or “unique” (Luke 7:12; 8:42; Hebrews 11:17).  The word “truth” is found 25X in John, and “always denotes reality or genuineness” (Orbison xii).  John says Jesus existed before him, yet John was born 6 months before Jesus (Luke 1:34-36).  The Word was being revealed.  This “grace upon grace” is blessing upon blessing (it never runs out).  There’s grace in the Old and New Testaments, but only realized in Jesus.  The Law was merely given, but grace and truth actually came (the shadow is revealed in Jesus).  The Tabernacle and sacrifices foreshadowed the Church and Jesus’ sacrifice.  The climax of the prologue is that Jesus can tell us about God.   Jesus isn’t just that flannel graph figure we remembered from Sunday School.  He’s not just a good teacher who may or may not be heeded.  No.  He’s the almighty being who created all things.  He’s the One seen in many places throughout the Old Testament.  He’s the One who took on flesh and taught compassionately.  He was willing to obey God’s will in being horribly abused and murdered.  He’s God, who wants to have a relationship with you.

Emmaus (7-16-2022)

On the Sunday when Jesus’ rose form the dead, He walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24).  The two were prevented from recognizing Him as they walked, and were doubtful about the women’s tale of the resurrection.  “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27).  Let’s look at a few of these.  Jesus was at the beginning: “Let Us make” (Genesis 1:26).  Satan would bruise His heel, but he’d bruise Satan’s head (Genesis 3:15). Abraham said: “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (Genesis 22:8).  A scepter from Judah called “Shiloh” would come (Genesis 49:10).  Jesus is our passover lamb (Exodus 12:5; 1 Corinthians 5:7).  Jesus was the water from the rock (Exodus 17:6; 1 Corinthians 10:4).  The sin offering was sent outside the camp just as Jesus died outside Jerusalem (Leviticus 16:27; Hebrews 13:11-12).  Balaam prophesied concerning a: “star from Jacob” (Numbers 24:17; Matthew 2:2; Revelation 22:16).  A Prophet like Moses would come (Deuteronomy 18:18; Matthew 17:5).  He’d be from David’s seed (2 Samuel 7:12; Matthew 1:1).  He’d have an everlasting kingdom (2 Samuel 7:13; 2 Peter 1:11).  Job talked about a redeemer who lives (19:25).  The Psalms picture Jesus often: the rulers would be against God’s Anointed (Psalm 2:1-2), He has a only “begotten” Son (Psalm 2:7), He’d receive praise from children (Psalm 8:2; Matthew 12:16), all things would be placed under His feet (Psalm 8:6; Hebrews 2:8), God would not: “allow [His] Holy One to undergo decay” (Psalm 16:8-10; Acts 2:27), His hands and feet would be pierced, He’d be forsaken, HIs garments divided (Psalm 22:18; John 19:34), He’d thirst on the cross (Psalm 22:15; John 19:28), “Into Your hand I commit my spirit” (Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46), not one bone would be broken (Psalms 34:20; John 19:32-33), betrayed by a friend (Psalms 41:9; Matthew 26:23), He’d have Vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:21; Matthew 27:34), speak in parables (Psalm 78:2; Matthew 13:10), and sit at God’s right hand (Psalm 110:1; Ephesians 1:20).  Isaiah also has several thoughts concerning Jesus: He’d judge the nations (Isaiah 2:4; John 5:22), be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Jeremiah 31:22?), Nazareth would be exalted (Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 2:23), a branch would come from king David (Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Zechariah 3:8-10; 6:12; Matthew 1:20), He’d be anointed by the Spirit- baptism (Isaiah 11:2; 61:1; Matthew 3:16), He’d be the cornerstone (Isaiah 28:16; Ephesians 2:20), a light to the nation’s (Isaiah 42:6; John 8:12), a teacher (Isaiah 48:16-17; Matthew 8:9), He’d be struck, slapped, and spit upon (Isaiah 50:5; Matthew 26:67), His blood would be spilled for the nations (Isaiah 52:15; Hebrews 9:14), atone for sin (Isaiah 53:6; Daniel 9:24; 1 Peter 2:24), He’d be buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60), and be an intercessor (Isaiah 59:16; 1 Timothy 2:5).  He’d establish a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:13).  He came before the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13-14).  He was called from Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:15).  He conquered death (Hosea 13:14; 1 Corinthians 15:55).  He’d be three days in the tomb (Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:40; 16:4).  He’d be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1).  He’d enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:7).  He’d be sold for 30 silver coins (Zechariah 11:12-13; Matthew 26:15).  What do we think when we hear about Jesus’ resurrection? 

God’s All Surpassing Love (7-9-2022)

They say there’s only two things for sure in life: death and taxes.  Thankfully there’s a third thing that lasts as well.  There are lots of things in life that don’t last.  Americans on average spend only 4 years at a job before switching (Bureau of Labor Statistics).  Earthly elements decay over time.  Friendships lose contact.  Marriages break down.  Family members pass on.  What if there was something good that always lasted?  Wouldn’t that be something?  How great a value would that thing be?  You would always be able to rely on it!  In Romans 8 we read: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, ‘For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered’” (vs 35-36).  The apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome during the first century.  They were facing persecution prominently from the Jews.  In less than 10 years, they’d have to suffer under Nero’s persecution.  Thus, Paul writes them these comforting words.  Will: “tribulation, or distress” separate us?  If you were ever fired from a job, that would distressing.  Yet God still loves us!  Being deserted by friends because of our religious beliefs by saying men aren’t “birthing people” might be hard.  Yet God still loves us!  When we’re tempted, and it seems like there’s no way out, God still loves us!  Will “persecution” separate us?  In 2019, the British Foreign Secretary said: “In the Middle East the population of Christians used to be about 20 percent; now it’s 5 percent” (http://ertc.com).  Yet God still loves us!  Last month, on June 26, someone burned down part of a church of Christ in Iowa.  Hey, God still loves us!  Why worry about an earthly flame when we know of that eternal flame?  Will “famine” separate us?  In the 1930’s, the Soviet Union extracted so much grain from Ukraine that an estimated 2-7 million people died.  Hey, God still loves us!  Will “nakedness” separate us?  Food and clothing are among the necessities in life.  How embarrassing it must have been when Paul was stripped to be flogged.  Yet even if all our possessions were taken from us, God still loves us!  Will “peril” separate us?  Another definition of this word could be: “danger.”  The early Christians had to worship secretly in the Roman catacombs.  That’d be a scary time to live in, yet God still loves us!  Will the “sword” separate us?  Under Emperor Diocletian, Christians were left hung, burned, crucified, boiled in oil, and beheaded.  That’d be a good time to remember that God loves us!  Tradition says that Paul was beheaded, for he was a Roman citizen and not liable for crucifixion.  Verse 36 quotes from Psalm 44:22.  Further: “in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (vs 37-38).  Through God’s love we: “overwhelmingly conquer.”  You might say we: “prevail completely.”  God doesn’t give us a pyrrhic victory.  God gives us victory in “all these things” not just some of them.  In any situation we find ourselves, whether life or death, what do we know?  God still loves us!  Nor: “angels nor principalities.”  In Revelation we get a glimpse of the Archangel Michael battling with Satan and his angels.  They can’t pull us from God’s love!  Nor. “things present nor things to come . . .” Daily worries about inflation, and concern about the coming recession in 43 days could wipe us out.  Yet if we lose our home on earth, we have an eternal home in heaven.  God still loves us!  Do you abandon someone you love?  Are you going to refuse a lending  hand to the one you love?  How much less God?  Neither: “powers, nor height, nor depth . . .”  Tornadoes and hurricanes can’t separate us.  Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can’t separate us.  If the tectonic plates under the earth split America in half, He’s still love us.  Mount Everest in Nepal is 30,000 feet high.  That would feel quite remote.  Yet even there God loves us!  The Mariana Trench near Japan in the Pacific ocean is 36,000 feet below sea level.  God will still love you way down there!  Someone wrote: Perhaps the thought is the height of prosperity, the depth of misery; the height of joy, the depth of sorrow; the height of success, the depth of failure (Roper Vol 2, 83).  Finally: “nor any other created thing . . .” That’s very inclusive!  Paul presses the point to the very limit.  Only God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit weren’t created, and they all love us (Genesis 1:1-2; John 1:1, 14)!   Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God!  Even before we became Christians and lived our lives in sin, He loved us: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  Octavius Winslow, a preacher once said: “Who delivered up Jesus to die? Not Judas, for money; not Pilate, for fear; not the Jews, for envy;- but the Father, for love!”  This morning we can take comfort in knowing God loves us, and that nothing can separate us from His love. 

Roper, David L. Romans 8-16. Searcy, AR: Resource Publications, 2002.

Roe vs Wade (6-25-2022)

God is the creator who makes them male and female (Genesis 1:27).  A woman’s child is a living human inside their womb (Luke 1:41).  What about the baby’s rights?  Aren’t you glad you were born?  Who knows, maybe your child will find the cure for cancer.  Murder is never right, for it is a sin (Exodus 20:13; Revelation 13:10).  You can always put your daughter up for adoption.  Hopefully America continues to make choices in the righteous direction.

Honoring Parents (6-18-2022)

There’s an unhealthy trend going on in America: children “divorcing” their parents.  There hatches enough differences or perceived overbearingness, that the relationship is severed.  The fifth of the Ten Commandments says: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you” (Exodus 20:12).  Paul reiterated this in the New Testament: “Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise)” (Ephesians 6:2).  Not all the commandments come with a promise, but that one does!  Your days will be prolonged.  Being home by 10:00pm helps you not get shot.  It helps keep you from starting a family before you’re ready.  In John 2:1-2, we apparently have a large wedding.  Even Jesus and His disciples were invited.  Did the couple hear some of His teachings?  Joseph isn’t mentioned at the wedding, so he’s probably passed on.  We do however, see Jesus’ mother Mary.  In verses 3-5, Mary must have helped with the preparations showing such concern for the wine.  Mary and Joseph were good parents, but either way, parents should be honored.  They raised and fed you for several years!  While Jesus has a new relationship with His mother, He’s still obedient and gives her honor.  Jesus helps His mother out, and is again obedient to His parents (Luke 2:51).  The servants must have been under Mary or held Jesus in high esteem.  Mother and son work together (even when Jesus is in His 30’s!).  In verse 6-11, Jesus turns the water into wine.  These six water pots held 20-30 gallons each (120-180 gallons total).  Their usual function was for “purification” the common washings that the Jews would do in obedience to the Mosaical Law (Numbers 19:17).  There are several reasons why Jesus helped out.  Someone mentioned: “it was possible to take legal action in certain circumstances against a man who had failed to provide the appropriate wedding gift . . . more than social embarrassment was involved” (Morris 177).  Jesus is doing a great service for the wedding couple keeping them out of legal trouble.  All Jesus needed was plain water.  Usually, making wine requires time to ferment, soil, seeds, sunshine, or at the very least grapes!  Mary says to take some wine to the “headwaiter.”  Jesus cares for His mother in calming her stress.  Stress is no way to live a life, especially if it is between a parent and a child.  Certainly Jesus is not encouraging drunkenness: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18); yet also consider, when Paul wrote to Timothy: “No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine [oinos] for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1 Timothy 5:23).  When we are obedient and honor our fathers and mothers, not only are our days prolonged, but they have a quality about them.  There are few deeper ways to love than between a parent and a child.  When children divorce their parents, it is a terrible thing.  Your friend won’t show more care than your mother.  Your college pal won’t be as wise as your father.  Following God’s way is always the best way.  Later, while Jesus died on the cross, He instructed John to take Mary into his care (John 19:27).  Let’s make sure we honor our fathers and mothers.

Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to John; the English text with introduction, exposition and notes.. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971.

The Throne Room (6-11-2022)

In Ezekiel chapter one, we see a brilliant picture of the God of all.  Starting at verse four, Ezekiel sees this highly symbolic vision.  Notice the words “appearance” (vs 5, 16, 26-28) and “like” (vs 4, 7, 13-14, 16, 22-24, 26-28).  Babylon had invaded from the north, now we see the true power behind them.  God had led the Israelites out of Egypt, by a pillar of “cloud” and of fire (Exodus 13:21).  The flashing makes us think of the lighting on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16).  God appears bright like how His glory filled the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34).  He’s powerful and glorious like fiery glowing metal (Revelation 1:15).  God’s servants appear as four great creatures.  These beings are mentioned as cherubim, that is, angels (See Ezekiel 10:20).  They guarded Eden from re-entry (Genesis 3:24), and were the images over the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:18).  They’re shaped like humans, but the similarities end there.  They have four faces and four wings.  Their legs are straight representing sturdiness.  They’re ready to move in any direction that God dictates: north, east, south, or west.  They each have four faces (man, lion, bull, eagle).  Each type is king of their kind.  Man is over all the beasts, lions are king of the wild, oxen are chief among the domesticated animals, and the eagle is the most magnificent of God’s winged creatures (Revelation 4:7).  Yet God is over all.  Two of their four wings cover their bodies as if out of respect or to shield themselves from the holiness of God.  Underneath each angel is a wheel within a wheel.  They’re upon the earth ready to work God’s will and ways.  The wheels are made of the greenish gemstone beryl.  God owns it all.  The rims of the eight wheels are full of eyes.  God sees and knows all.  Someone commented: “The mobility of the wheels suggests the omnipresence of God; the eyes, his omniscience; the elevated position, his omnipotence” (Cooper 69).  This celestial chariot can move anywhere on earth or heaven (Jackson 251).  The angel’s other two wings hold up the crystal expanse where God’s throne is.  They move or stand in attention.  A great voice is then heard from above.  Did it sound like a packed stadium?  God’s throne is magnificent as if made from lapis lazuli, a dark blue precious stone.  The Babylonians had a fancy for this gem.  God is pictured in human form sitting on His throne.  From His waist up he appears as glowing metal, and from the waist down as a raging fire.  He’s glowing in splendor.  The radiance is like a rainbow around Him.  The glory of God is even more spectacular than an awe inspiring rainbow (Revelation 4:3).  God’s promise to never flood the whole world was kept, as is His promise to deliver the Jews in 70 years from Babylonian captivity.  God’s voice then speaks to Ezekiel, who’s in Babylon, sounding like raging waters.  God is more powerful than our problems.

Cooper, L. E. (1994). Ezekiel Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Jackson, Wayne.  The Prophets An Old Testament Commentary IV. Christian Courier Publications, 2015.

Walking In Truth (6-4-2022)

The truth is important.  Does the enemy have laser weapons that can destroy everything- or do they not?  Is the alleged murderer guilty or innocent?  Is this bottle of pills medicine or poison?  In the shortest book of the Bible, 3rd John, John uses the word “truth” or “true” 7X in a mere 15 verses.  In the first eight verses, John calls himself  the “Elder” which could mean he’s elderly, but tradition says he was an elder at the church in Ephesus.  We read of a “Gaius” from Corinth (Romans 16:23); Macedonia (Acts 19:29); and Derbe (Acts 20:4), but this Gaius is probably a different one.   John loves this brother in the truth.  You have to have both together: love and truth.  Can you really love someone you lie to all the time?  John prays for his health, and that his “soul” would prosper.  That’s really what we want to be healthy.  In our christian walk, we abound more in: kindness, knowledge, and humility.  Gaius is walking in truth.  Truth is part of who he is.  Propaganda doesn’t cut it for Gaius.  He has a desire and drive for the right way to go.  That John calls Gaius one of his “children” just means that he was the one who brought him to the faith.  Perhaps visiting evangelists are the “strangers” welcomed by Gaius.  The word “beloved” occurred 3X, John really knew and cared for Gaius.  The word “love” here is agapē.  It is not just an uncontrollable love like a parent to a child.  It is not a mere friend love- someone you can depend on.  Agapē love moves one to care for an enemy.  It seeks the highest good of another.  These strangers (v 5) were going for “the Name” (Jesus’ Name).  Their focus was truth, not exalting their own name.  Their motives were for good, not gain.  When you support truth tellers, you’re supporting truth.  We don’t want to be on the side that says the homosexual life is fine.  That only leads to AIDs and high suicide rates.  In verses 9-10, we see a bad example.  Here’s one who’s walking in a lie.  The name “Diotrephes” only occurs here in the Bible.  Being a Greek name, perhaps Gaius is also somewhere here in Asia Minor close to Ephesus.  Diotrephes wants to be first.  He wants to be even higher up than the apostles (John).  He wants to be the source of truth instead of listening to Jesus.  If people would heed half the things Jesus said, what a better world this would be.  Diotrephes’ “deeds” were harmful, he was “accusing” the apostles (like Satan does).  They accuse us of being phobic about everything, but the fact of the matter is they have a fear of the truth.  Diotrephes also: “does not receive the brethren” (contrasted to Gaius), and “puts them out of the church” (excommunication?).  The phrase “puts them out” is used in John 9:34–35 of the Pharisees throwing out of the synagogue the blind man Jesus healed (Akin 249).  Verse 11 is the main verse in 3rd John, we can imitate: teachers and parents, friends or enemies, Jesus or Satan.  We can tell a trained carpenter by his product.  We can tell a hospitable person by their actions.  Demetrius is a good example with three witnesses to the fact: “everyone” perhaps even the pagans sees his character and integrity, the “truth itself” Jesus/ apostles words are being followed by this man, and “our testimony” (at least John, perhaps the whole church?).  John testifies to his character, and they know he is trustworthy.  Verses 13-14 are very similar to 2 John 1:12.  The word “soon” is the difference- perhaps to confront Diotrephes.  You won’t get rid of robbery by being nice to robbers.  John concludes with the words: “face to face,” “peace,” “friends,” and “greet” (v 15).  He has such a connection and love for his fellow Christians.  He wants whats best for them, and that’s the truth.  Let’s make sure we’re walking in the truth.

Slavery (5-28-2022)

On Memorial Day, we remember those who died in the service of our country.  They allow us to have freedoms we wouldn’t otherwise.  Freedom is much better than slavery.  When we think of slavery, we think of the 1700-1800’s.  We think of either the 13 colonies bringing over slaves from Africa on that 5,000 mile long journey across the Atlantic, or we think of the Confederate States during the US Civil War.  Yet slavery has been going on since ancient times.  In the city of ancient Rome, it is estimated that around 25% of the population were slaves (factsanddetails.com).  The Greeks had slaves.  The Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians.  What about slavery in the Bible?  When we think of slavery, we think of kidnapping people.  Yet that’s not the way all slavery worked, particularly not in the Old Testament.  In Exodus, if one couldn’t pay back a debt, they were to be sold (22:1-3).  Would simply passing over a debt be fair to the lender?   A criminal may be subjected to prison forced to make license plates.  I read that about 80% of US license plates are made in prisons.  The prisoners are enslaved in a sense, but it is because they’ve done a crime and have to serve the time.  God’s law concerning slavery were just.  We read: “You shall not hand over to his master a slave who has escaped from his master to you. 16 He shall live with you in your midst, in the place which he shall choose in one of your towns where it pleases him; you shall not mistreat him” (Deuteronomy 23:15-16).  Also: “He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death” (Exodus 21:16).  This verse obviously goes against modern day slavery.  If I had my way, making sure every American had life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness would be the top priority.  Forget foreign aid and policing the globe. God’s laws were reasonable: “but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant” (Exodus 20:10).  Also consider: “If a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod and he dies at his hand, he shall be punished. 21 If, however, he survives a day or two, no vengeance shall be taken; for he is his property” (Exodus 21:20-21).  Now, for nations outside the Promised Land, the Israelites were allowed to enslave the people according to Deuteronomy 20:14-16.  God’s laws were much more reasonable and caring: “If a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave, and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye. 27 And if he knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, he shall let him go free on account of his tooth” (Exodus 21:26-27).  God cares about the slave’s welfare- even down to a single tooth!  Further: “If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment” (Exodus 21:2).  For those among the Old Testament chosen people of God, seven years was the max.  In the New Testament, Paul calls himself a “bond-slave” (Romans 1:1).  In the Greek the word is “doulos” (slave).  We read: “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable” (1 Peter 2:18); “Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ” (Ephesians 6:5).  Why would the New Testament instruct slaves to be obedient to their masters; even the harsh ones?  Again, many of these slaves were slaves for a reason like debt.  The early church was born into a culture of slavery.  The goal wasn’t to push social justice, but to save souls.  When we view slavery through the eye of eternity, it is not the worse thing.  See what the Bible says about masters: “And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him” (Ephesians 6:9); “Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven” (Colossians 4:1).  Similar to the Old Testament, just because God doesn’t condemn slavery doesn’t mean that He condones it.  For example, Jesus said: “do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also” (Matthew 5:39).  Does this mean that God likes when people are slapped?  Of course not!  We were all slaves to wickedness in the past, but through Jesus, God grants us freedom.

Trusting The Bible (5-21-2022)

We have many reasons to believe that the Bible is the word of God.  Typology, is a lot more interesting than it sounds.  It deals with Types and Antitypes.  That is, an Old Testament shadow (the Type) representing a New Testament reality (the Antitype). We read: “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light” (Genesis 1:3).  Paul wrote: “For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).  Adam is compared to Jesus (Romans 5:14).  Sin entered the world through one man, Adam (Genesis 3:6), so too, righteousness came to the world through one man.  Noah was saved through the flood (Genesis 6:18-19), we’re saved through baptism (1 Peter 3:20-21).  Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13), his “only begotten” son (Hebrews 11:17), God was willing to sacrifice his son Jesus, His: “only son” (John 3:16).  Jacob had a dream of a ladder reaching to heaven with angels going up and down upon it (Genesis 28:12).  Jesus said: “He said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man’” (John 1:51).  Jesus is our access to heaven (Jackson A Study of Biblical Types).  Just as the Israelites were slaves in Egypt (Exodus 2:23), we were all once slaves to sin (Romans 6:6).  Before the tenth plague on the firstborn of Egypt, God told the Israelites to cover their door frames with the blood of a lamb (Exodus 12:12-13).  Jesus’ blood covers us (Revelation 7:14).  God “passed over” the Israelites houses.  So too, God passed over our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7).  The lamb was to be killed between 3pm-5pm “twilight” (Exodus 12:6).  “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying . . . ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” (Matthew 27:46).  Not one of the Passover lamb’s bones were to be broken (Exodus 12:46).  None of Jesus’ bones was broken (John 19:33).  Paul wrote: “our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.”  (1 Corinthians 10:1-4).  We must pass through baptism to escape slavery to sin as well.  Moses struck the rock and water gushed out (Exodus 17:6).  Jesus is our Rock and living water.  Just as the Israelites were headed to the Promised Land (Exodus 3:8), we’re headed to Heaven (Hebrews 11:16).  There were three types of anointed people in the Old Testament: Prophets, Priest, and Kings:  Moses, a prophet was a type for Jesus: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him” (Deuteronomy 18:15).  Peter quotes that verse relating it to Jesus (Acts 3:22, 26).  The Old Testament had High Priests.  Today, Jesus is our High Priest  We read in Hebrews that: “Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (6:20; Genesis 14:18).  David was a type of King foreshadowing Jesus as our King (Jeremiah 30:9).  Jesus is also our king (Luke 1:69).  Jesus, the bread of life being the manna from heaven(Exodus 16:4; John 6:31, 41).  Consider the Sign of Jonah: “Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights” (Jonah 1:17).  Jesus said: “for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40).  Jesus was lifted up like Moses lifted up the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:8; John 3:14).  Truly, the Bible must have been written by God.

Endurance (5-14-2022)

There’s whispers again of possibly WWIII.  Someone said: “Inflation is taxation without legislation” and that’s at a 40 year high.  We only have to look at our government run schools to see the harm they’re causing children.  These times are going to take endurance.  Jesus never said life would be easy, but to the contrary: “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18).  The Hebrews writer encourages us to remember the former days of trial and overcoming (Hebrews 10:32-33).  The writer had been tactfully saying “we” throughout chapter 10 (vs 10, 19, 21, 26, 30), but now he says the more personal “you.”  As individuals, we all bear our own responsibility before God.  Remember the zeal you first had when your sins were washed away!  Having been written to Jews, most likely somewhere in Palestine, the persecution mentioned was probably from fellow Jews.  All throughout the history of the early church in Acts, the Jews are the ones causing the most trouble for the apostles and the early Christians.  The Hebrews writer also encourages us to see the big picture (Hebrews 10:34).  Being associated with prisoners carried shame with it.  Why would you want to be with the worst of the worst?  Whats your connection to these thieves and law breakers?  There’s a reason Pilate had Jesus crucified between two criminals.  Can you imagine joyfully letting someone take your home?  We should consider trials as joy (James 1:2).  Yeah, but my home is one of the most valuable possessions!  Particularly with homes being in such demand, it would be a tough pill to swallow if someone forcefully took it from you.  Yet even if the mob burned your home down, that wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world- would it?  We have an eternal place prepared by Jesus Himself (John 14:6)!  We’re to have confidence, hope (Hebrews 10:35-36).  Unfortunately, in 2020 there were 46,000 people who committed suicide in America.  Those folks didn’t have something to hold onto.  Judas should have repented, but instead he quit.  He didn’t endure.  Endurance leads to great reward.  Not only is it a confidence booster, but it also aids us in knowing endurance is possible.  It also helps our mental state when we stay on God’s side.  Why deal with the guilt, worry, etc?  After the Sadducees had jailed and mistreated the apostles, we read that: “they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41).  Peter would later write: “But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God” (1 Peter 2:20).  Finally, our struggles are temporary (Hebrews 10:37-39).  This quote is from Habakuk 2:3-4.  There, God’s coming in judgement on Judah who will be taken captive to Babylon, but He wants His faithful ones to endure the onslaught.  Further, it’s just in a “little while.”  We don’t have to endure 950 years like Noah (Genesis 9:29).  Shrinking back seems to carry the thought of being cowardly and slinking back into the darkness.  The Hebrews writer will give several examples of those who persevered by faith in chapter 11.  He concludes: they shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fire, escaped the sword, were tortured, were mocked and scourged, endured chains and imprisonment, were stoned, sawed in two, tempted, murdered, destitute, afflicted, and ill-treated (Hebrews 11:33-37).  Jesus endured so much for us, and He didn’t have to.  He was: spat upon, slapped, insulted, denied His rights, flogged and nailed to a tree.  As we read in Hebrews 12: ” let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (vs 1-2).  Will you endure?

Seven Churches (4-30-2022)

If you had all the good attributes of the seven churches in Revelation, you’d have the perfect church.  Jesus is seen knowing their deeds, afflictions, where they live, and their names.  That should give us motivation to have these good attributes!  In five of the seven letters, persecution is mentioned.  Jesus will reward those who “overcome” nikaō, Nike (the word for “Victory”).  The word is found 17X in chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation.  In Ephesus, Jesus knew their “deeds.”  He knows our deeds as well.  The Ephesians are commended for working hard and not tolerating the false apostles.  Many unfortunately want to give into the world concerning: women’s roles, having communion quarterly, and approving of homosexuality.  Yet Ephesus didn’t grow weary.  Hating the wicked “Nicolaitans” a word meaning: “victorious over people” is a good thing.  We need to balance the truth with love too.  There are some things in life that we should hate.  Smyrna received no rebuke or call to repentance (Philadelphia being the only other one).  Even if persecution resulted in death, Jesus conquered death.  They’re rich spiritually, though poor physically.  Someone commented: “Money can buy medicine, but it cannot buy health.  Money can buy service, but it cannot buy friends.  Money can buy entertainment, but it cannot buy happiness” (Roper 157).  Perseverance leads to the “crown of life.”  Winston Churchill said: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”  Smyrna was sometimes called “the crown city” (Roper 118).  The hill around Smyrna had public buildings on top that looked like a crown.  If we died today, would we get the crown of life?  Pergamum had a library second only to Alexandria, Egypt.  The name comes from a word meaning “parchment.”  The city was also a center for the Roman Imperial Cult.  Hence: “where Satan’s throne is.”  Satan’s influence was indeed broad here with temples to: Zeus, Athena, and Augustus.  A man named Antipas is mentioned.  We don’t know whether he was rich or poor, married or single, successful or unsuccessful, but he is called: “My faithful one” (Roper 134).  Thyatira was known for its trade guilds.  That this city had prominent blacksmith guilds, Jesus is thus shown with flames and appearing as burnished bronze.  He’s the Lord of the forge.  They have: “deeds . . . love . . . faith . . . service and perseverance” (2:19).  In Sardis, a few have “not soiled their garments” (3:4).  White garments are pure and undefiled.  Christians are “clothed” with Christ in baptism (Galatians 3:27).  Philadelphia “kept the word.” (3:10).  They held onto the truth.  The “hour” of testing is an unspecified amount of time, but it was “about to come.”  The idea could be that God didn’t allow these Christians to face persecution.  Then there’s Laodicea . . . Among the seven churches Jesus wrote to in Revelation, Laodicea is the only church that is given no praise.  We saved the worst for last.  With all the rebuke in verses 14-18, the church may have thought Jesus hated them.  Therefore, he says He reproves and disciplines those He loves (3:19).   Thankfully, Jesus gives us second and 300th chances in this life.  Jesus overcame, and we can too.  We can further our Christian walk if we overcome through Him by being: diligent, testing what’s false, hating evil, persevering, focusing on the spiritual, being faithful, loving, maturing, keeping sanctified, and holding fast to the word.

Roper, David L. Revelation 1-11. Searcy, AR: Resource Publications, 2002.

God First (4-23-2022)

Unfortunately, many use God like a parachute: He’s there if you need Him, but you hope you never have to -C.S. Lewis.  Far too often, people use God as a last resort: “Well, I’m down on my luck, I guess I’ll give God a try.  Someone said: “Put God first and you will never be last.”  He knows everything.  He also wants what’s best for us (How many people can you say that about?).  Instead, people turn to relationships to save them, addictions, and their own strength (See 1 Samuel 4).  Israel will make this very mistake time and again.  They wanted Egypt over freedom in the wilderness; they wanted Manna over the commandments; they wanted idols over the One true God.  The cities of Ebenezer and Aphek are on the border between Israelite and Philistine territory.  We go to battle, but 4,000 Israelite soldiers are slain.  I thought we were the people of God!  Why would He let us fail?  We’ve offering the sacrifices at the Tabernacle!  He’s fought for us before.  The elders are confused as to why God wouldn’t give them victory.  Why isn’t everything going smoothly in my life?  Thus, they hatch a plan to twist God’s arm.  We know God sits above the Mercy Seat, the covering to the Ark (Exodus 35:22).  So, if we bring the Ark with us to battle, we know God will be with us, and surely He’ll give us victory!  The Ark was with the army when the walls of Jericho fell (Joshua 6:4).  Yet the Ark isn’t a good luck charm.  They should have asked God whether to go into battle with the Philistines or not (like they often did under Joshua).  Inquiring about God’s will should have been on the top of their minds.  Do we ever try to barter with God?  As if we own anything . . . I’ll do this for you if you do this for me.  Let’s not forget that He owns the entire universe.  We also see two of our main culprits for Israel’s defeat: “the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas.”  They were probably the ones foolishly leading the Ark.  They were priests, but they’ve kept the best meat for themselves, and have been sleeping around (1 Samuel 2:16, 22).  They should put God first.  Not their stomachs.  They should have put God first.  Not their lustful desires.  When one puts God last, slavery is the result (v 9).  Back in the period of the Judges, Israel was enslaved by the Philistines (Judges 3:31; 10:7; 13:1-16:30).  If Israel had put God first and obeyed Him by destroying all the wicked inhabitants of the land, we wouldn’t have this problem.  Folks often deceive themselves by thinking: “I’ve been good here, so God will be good with me there.”  In this next battle that Israel thought they’d win, they instead have over 7X the casualties as the last battle (v 10).  What will it take to teach them that God comes first?  Man’s plans don’t come first.  Programs and coffee don’t come first.  God comes first.  If we don’t get that right, we’re wasting our time.  Sticking with God’s truth is of utmost importance.  Do we put ourselves first when we don’t come to church?  “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7).  Do we put family first when we bend the rules in their favor?  I know they sinned, but God wants us to forgive, so let’s forget about that bit about repentance.  Let’s be people who put God first in our lives- in everything.  “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23); and “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Resurrection (2-16-2022)

For 1,000’s of years, man has tried to find the secret to eternal life.  Yet you can’t pay enough gold or have a powerful enough army to live forever.  You can’t own enough stuff to live eternally.  The first Emperor of a unified China (Qin), in the 200’s BC, thought himself so powerful that he sought an elixir to immortality.  His medicine men thought the element mercury would do the trick.  Being poisonous, the mercury killed him at age 49.  Its quite something to say that Jesus conquered death.  Who else can say that?  You can say you conquered the seas, the New World, and its seemingly unlimited treasures; but death?  How do we go about conquering death?  Concerning Jesus we read: “[David] looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay” (Acts 2:31).  Hades is the realm of the underworld containing Paradise and torment.  Jesus of course told the thief on the cross: “today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).  He didn’t go to hell.  It wasn’t His sins He died for (1 Peter 2:24).  Nearly 841,000 people have died since 1999 from drug overdoses (cdc.gov).  That’s more than all the American soldiers who died in the Civil War and WWI combined.   Folks will give up a whole lot if it means not dying.  I’ll eat scraps from a trash can.  I’ll hide in a muddy hole in the ground to avoid the murderer.  Take my house before you take my life!  Will we recognize people in the afterlife?  David’s child through Bathsheba died, and yet he stated: “But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23).  He saw his son in death.  Jesus taught: “I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11).  Those Patriarchs are long gone.  Yet we’ll recognize them in heaven.  At the Transfiguration, Peter, James, and John recognized Moses and Elijah.  Someone commented: “If this context teaches that those whom we have not personally known on earth can be recognized after death, then surely it must imply that those whom we have known in time will be familiar to us” (Jackson Will There Be Personal Recognition in Heaven?).  In the afterlife, the rich man recognized Lazarus on Abraham’s bosom.  How’d he do that if we’re just disembodied spirits?  They also recalled events and people on earth.  Send Lazarus to warn my brothers for me (Luke 16)!  Many have asked the question: But what if we don’t see a loved one in heaven?  First, that individual chose not to be there.  Second, if God won’t spent eternity with that person, who are we to think that we want to?  We’ll see their heart of sin for what it is.  Do you have this hope in Jesus’ resurrection?

Jackson, Wayne. “Will There Be Personal Recognition in Heaven?” ChristianCourier.com. https://www.christiancourier.com

Jesus’ Existence (4-9-2022)

There are a surprising number of people in the world who try to say Jesus never existed.  Someone commented: [T]here is as much material evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ as any other ancient historical figure” (Oakes 61).  Whether we think of: Cyrus the Persian, Alexander the Great, or Julius Caesar . . . none has more historical evidence than Jesus.  Edwin M. Yamauchi stated (PhD): “we have better historical documentation for Jesus than for the founder of any other religion” (Strobel 92).  Someone wrote: “There are ten known non-Christian writers who mention Jesus within 150 years of his life.  By contrast, over the same 150 years, there are nine non-Christian sources who mention Tiberius Caesar . . . If you include the Christian sources, authors mentioning Jesus outnumber those mentioning Tiberius 43 to 10!” (Geisler, Turek 222).  Tacitus (AD 54-120), a Roman Historian wrote: “Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judæa, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular” (Annals 15.44).  Lucian Samosa (AD 125-180), a writer wrote: “The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day . . . who was crucified . . . it was impressed on them by their original lawgiver that they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws” (Passing of Peregrinus).  The Jewish Historian, Josephus (AD 37-100) wrote: “At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus.  His conduct was good and was known to be virtuous.  And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples.  Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die.  But those who had became his disciples did not abandon his discipleship.  They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive” (Antiquities 18.3.3; Geisler, Turek 221-222).  Suetonius, another Roman historian, writing around AD 120 wrote that Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome because they “were continually making disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus” (Vita Claudii 25.4; Acts 18:2).  Celsus (AD 170’s) was a Greek philosopher hostile to Christianity, but mentioned that Jesus: “invented his birth from a virgin” (The True Discourse recounted by Origen Against Celsus 1.28).  What will you do with Jesus?

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. Talmud. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 1988.

Geisler, Norman L., and Frank Turek. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist. Crossway Books, 2007.

Geisler, N. L. Jesus, Non-Christian Sources. In Baker encyclopedia of Christian apologetics. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. 1999.

Oakes, John M. Reasons for Belief: A Handbook of Christian Evidence. Newton Upper Falls, MA: Illumination International, 2005.

Polhill, J. B. Acts. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1992.

James and Jesus (3-26-2022)

Interestingly, there are several places where James alludes to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  He does this 14X in his short letter.  Do we heed Jesus as much as James did?

1. “let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete” (NASB James 1:4); “you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). 

2. “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach” (James 1:5); “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

3. “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17); “how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him” (Matthew 7:11).

4. “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers” (James 1:22); “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and [does] them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24).

5. “did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom” (James 2:5); “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).  

6. “If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well” (James 2:8); “treat people the same way you want them to treat you” (Matthew 7:12).  

7. “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13); “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7). 

8. “Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs?” (James 3:12); “Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?” (Matthew 7:16). 

9. “And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:18); “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). 

10. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8); “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).  

11. “He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law” (James 4:11); “Do not judge so that you will not be judged” (Matthew 7:1). 

12. “Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten” (James 5:2); “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy” (Matthew 6:19). 

13. “As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We count those blessed who endured” (James 5:10-11); “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets” (Matthew 5:11-12).  

14. “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no” (James 5:12); “But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet . . . 37 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’” (Matthew 5:34-35, 37).

Friend Of The World? (3-19-2022)

We get to choose our friends.  Maybe in high school you found a friend at the gym, or had a class you both really liked.  Co-workers quickly become friends because you both joke about the boss.  When you hang out with your friends long enough, you take on similar attributes.  You laugh the same way, you talk the same way.  While in Oklahoma I picked up saying “y’all.”  There’s peer pressure to be like your friend.  Make sure to choose the right friends.  Bad company corrupts good character.  A friend can take you from good to bad.  We read: “You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:2-4).  James mentions “quarrels” (slanderous language- probably publicly), and “conflicts” (desires- not physically fighting).   The Greek word “waging war” is strateuō where we get our word “strategy” from.  Of course: “man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God” (James 1:20).  We might be tempted into a “little” sin, but we need to view it as a battle for our souls.  Someone commented: “As it is, they are full of the fighting that envy—only superficially masked by the language of faith—irresistibly produces” (Richardson Vol 36 173).  If one can’t get along with others, how’s one to get along with God?  One may be envious or covetous leading to stealing.  Yet if we “ask” (pray), God will provide for our needs.  Our prayers shouldn’t be “me” focused, they should be others focused.  The pagan world viewed the gods as blessing producers if you offered up the right sacrifices.  God called these folks “adulteresses.”  They want to snuggle up with Satan instead of being betrothed to God.  God spoke of Israel similarly (Isaiah 54:5-8).  Any friend of his is a friend of mine.  Here, if it’s a friend with the world, you’re in the wrong group (1 John 2:15-17).  The world wants to say homosexuality is an enlightenment (Romans 1:27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10).  The world wants to say all religions go to heaven.  Jesus said He is the only way (John 14:6).  The world wants to say God doesn’t exist.  Yet: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God'” (Psalm 14:1).  Be a friend of God, not of the world.

Richardson, K. A. James. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1997.

Abortion (3-12-2022)

The American Civil War saw 600,000 soldiers perish.  World War I had 20 million soldiers and civilians die.  World War II saw about 60 million total dead.  Since 1973 after Roe vs Wade, there have been over 60 million abortions just in the United States alone.  Lives that didn’t have the chance to die heroically, for a good cause, or even as martyrs.  That’s the same population as France, Italy, or the United Kingdom.  That’s the equivalent of 27 US states!  We’re all made in God’s valuable spiritual image (Genesis 1:27).  King David wrote that God: “wove me in my mother’s womb . . . Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them” (Psalm 139:13, 16).  God told Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).  In Luke 1:39-44, we see the baby leaping in Elisabeth’s womb.  The word “baby” in verses 41 and 44 speak of pre-born John the baptizer.  In Luke chapter 2:12, 16 the same word for “baby” speaks of Jesus after his birth.  John Rawls, was an American Philosopher who passed in 2002.  He tried to envision what the perfect society would be like. In order to do so, we would need to eliminate our biases: ethnicity, wealth, talents.  If we knew before we were born, that there was a 50% chance that we would be born as slaves, would we all agree to abolish slavery?  Of course we would!  Would you want to be born into a society that has a chance of you being murdered before seeing the light of day?  God condemns abortion as murder.  Will we take our stand against this evil?

Matthew 6 No Worries (3-5-2022)

With many facing tightening budgets, it can be easy to worry.  Someone said: “Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow; it only saps today of its joy.” -Leo Buscaglia.  In the context of where our treasures are (Matthew 6:24), Jesus tells us not to worry about what we’ll have to eat, drink, and clothe ourselves with.  Physical life is the reason we eat food.  Imagine you were goin out to your favorite restaurant; but along the way, you got held up!  You’d forget about that steak pretty quick: “Take the wallet, take the phone, just don’t take my life!”  The body is more important than clothing.  If you had a wound and were bleeding profusely, you’d certainly take your favorite shirt and try and stop the bleeding.  Interestingly, this “do not” in verse 25 is in the imperative mood inferring a command.  Do not worry!  I wonder if God is insulted when we worry . . . Jesus then gives the example of birds that the crowd doubtless saw flying above them.  The birds aren’t worried about retirement!  They don’t gather their possessions in barns.  They don’t have 401K’s.  If God is concerned with lowly animals, surely God is concerned with humans that have souls (Matthew 6:26).  Jesus then went on to say: “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:27).  The Roman Emperor Caligula only lived to be 28.  Yet short time or long, death awaits us all.  In today’s technologically advanced world, medicine can help us live longer.  Worrying can’t.  Prudence is a good thing, worrying isn’t.  Jesus then says to look at the lilies, look at creation.  God put a lot of work into it.  Moreover, God put a lot of work into mankind.  After creating the angels and stars, man was the crowning achievement of His creation.  Man was made in His image unlike chimps (Genesis 1:26).  Even King Solomon (the richest person there ever was), doesn’t compare to God’s handiwork.  There’s some very fancy hotels out there, but none of them compare to a sunset.  Jesus wraps up this section saying even the Gentiles seek material things.  You Jews don’t want to be like them do you?  “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).  People usually do the reverse.  Once life’s peachy, then they’ll seek God.  James also wrote: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).  We can’t do anything about the past.  We can’t reach into the future.  Today is what you have to work with.  A preacher once said: “Go home today and look at everything you have that isn’t food or clothing.”  Forget the trifle of worrying, God has blessed us so much!  Are we worried more about the things in our lives than the righteousness of our lives?  If you’re struggling with worry, God want’s you to rest assured that He’s in control and that He cares.

Natural Disasters? (2-26-2022)

How does God fit into the world when disasters happen?  The coronavirus hit the world, and we wonder why God doesn’t just put an end to it.  Why is disease a thing at all?  Is there a purpose behind it?  We recall the global flood in Noah’s day (Genesis 7), the ten plagues on Egypt (Exodus 7-12), and the earth swallowing up Korah’s Rebellion (Numbers 16).  Yet remember that from the start God made everything perfect: “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day” (Genesis 1:31).  It was only after Adam and Eve sinned that things went awry.  Adam’s punishment was that he’d have to toil for food instead of having the Eden market.  Eve’s pain in childbearing was greatly increased (Genesis 3).  If mankind didn’t sin, we’d still be in Paradise on earth!  There’d be no reason for death (Romans 5:12).  This was also the time when thorns and thistles came up and when natural disasters started (Genesis 3:18).  In the past we saw God working through natural disasters to bring about repentance or justice.  What about today?  Well, there’s certainly an element of chance in the world: “I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all” (Ecclesiastics 9:11).  The race is probably to the swift, but the swift one could break his leg on a rainy day.  The mighty probably win the battle, but it could be foggy and the warrior gets hit by a random arrow.  Perhaps one is just in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Man’s sin caused the flood and tectonic plate movement (earthquakes, etc).  So does God cause natural disasters today?  I don’t know.  He’s certainly powerful enough to do so if He wanted to.  We do read that the earth will all be burned up one day (2 Peter 3).  Yet far above any earthy disaster, we want to avoid a spiritual disaster.  We read that God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).  Because of Jesus, we can be ready for anything life throws at us.

Resurrection (2-19-2022)

If God didn’t raise Jesus from the dead, then Christianity and the Bible are worthless.  If God did raise Jesus from the dead, then we need to completely give our lives to Him.  The claim is made: “Well, maybe Jesus had an identical twin brother!”  There’s zero evidence for this.  Were the disciples, Romans, Pilate, the Jews, Jesus’ family and friends all deceived?  This is like: “saying that Abraham Lincoln wasn’t the one killed next to his wife on that April evening in 1865 at Ford’s Theater.  Was Mary Lincoln mistaken about the man sitting next to her?  Was Lincoln’s bodyguard wrong about whom he was guarding?” (Geisler, Turek 309-310).  Surely we would have heard about an identical twin from a 1st Century manuscript if there was one; the Jews were doing everything they could to deny Jesus’ resurrection.  Did the disciples steal Jesus’ body?  At least this claim was made in the first century (Matthew 28:13).  If the disciples stole the body, how does that square with the Roman guards?  Were they bribed by the disciples (who say you should be honest)?  Keep in mind that the death penalty was imposed on Roman soldier’s who: deserted, mutinied, left the night watch, abandoned their post, etc.  Where would the apostles get such a large sum of money being fishermen?  If this is the case, note that it all happened before everything transpired; before the raised God “gotcha” moment.  How could the stone have been rolled away without the guards waking up?  Would the Jews then have paid the guards to say the very thing that they tried to avoid in the first place?  The issue really isn’t a missing body, but that people saw Jesus alive, dead, and alive again.  Thus, did the disciples hallucinated?  Consider: “given the current [1st Century] Jewish beliefs about life after death, the disciples, were they to project hallucinations of Jesus, would have seen Jesus in heaven or in Abraham’s bosom, where the souls of the righteous dead were believed to abide until the [one time end of the world] resurrection.  And such visions would not have caused belief in Jesus’ resurrection” (Craig 394).  Further, there’s never been an account in all world history of a group of people hallucinating the same thing at the same time.  Which is more probable?  That a group hallucinated the same thing (unheard-of) or that Jesus was resurrected?  Occam’s Razor would ask which is easier to explain: the same hallucination among several people at different times and places, or one resurrection?  Keep in mind that Thomas doubted (John 20:25), the women who saw the empty tomb were “perplexed” (Luke 24:4), and some disciples didn’t believe (Matthew 28:17).  Why write the gospel accounts to start with?  How would they even come to be?  What do we do about the missing body?  How did the Jewish account come about (Matthew 28:13)?  Why would the disciples be willing to die for the belief that Jesus rose from the dead?  Jesus’ resurrection proves He was God.  Paul wrote that He: “was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:4).  What should that mean to you?

Craig, William Lane. Reasonable faith: Christian truth and apologetics. Wheaton: Crossway, 2008.

Geisler, Turek. I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist Wheaton: Crossway, 2004. 

Hope (2-12-2022)

What’s the most valuable thing in life to possess?  Sadly, it’s something the majority of people don’t live with.  Perhaps as Christians we think of forgiveness, or eternal life; the umbrella term we might use is “hope.”  Usually when we say the word “hope” we think along the lines of a wish: “I hope for this on my birthday.”   Yet the Bible uses the word hope, as an expectation.  Peter says it’s a “living hope” and something that’s “reserved in heaven” (1 Peter 1:3-4).  Paul attached hope to the fact that “there shall certainly be a resurrection” (Acts 24:15).  The writer of Hebrews says to: “realize the full assurance of hope” (Hebrews 6:11).  Our hope in God’s promises isn’t wishy washy, it’s a confident expectation.  In the 1800’s, the world’s hope was in: progress, lifting people out of poverty, and technological advances.  The battery was invented, the typewriter, and the telephone.  It seemed like a golden age, and abundantly full of hope.  Yet then we saw the horrible wars of the 1900’s.  That kind of hope ultimately didn’t pan out.  The church at Thessalonica in Asia Minor had more similarities to us today than we might realize.  They too needed hope and steadfastness having endured: “much tribulation” (1 Thessalonians1:6), and “sufferings” (1 Thessalonians 2:14).  That’s exactly what we read happened in Acts 17.  The Jews caused great trouble for Paul when he first preached the gospel in Thessalonica.  Later in a letter to that same church, Paul made it clear that they haven’t missed the train to heaven like some thought.  In 1 Thessalonians 4:16 we see a very noisy verse accompanying Jesus’ second coming: “shout”, “voice of the archangel”, and “trumpet of God.”  There’s still hope!  Death is our enemy, but death is also God’s enemy, and He’s the One we’re with.  Hope gives us a reason to wake up in the morning.  Hope gives meaning to the few years of our lives.  Hope encourages us to press on through the hard times.  Do you have the most valuable thing one can posses?

Coveting (2-5-2022)

We can all think of something someone else has that we want.  One person took the last box of Kleenex, another took the last can of Pringles.  This isn’t always bad, that is, unless the desire becomes covetous.  Coveting has been defined as an: “Inordinate desire to possess what belongs to another” (Falis 360).  Coveting is easy to do.  There’s always someone richer, healthier, or with an alphabet after their name.  Luke 12:13-21 shows a man with an eye for covetousness.  He wanted the share of his father’s possessions, but his brother wasn’t cooperating.   It’s hard to say what exactly the argument was about, maybe he was the oldest and didn’t get his double portion (Deuteronomy 21:17).  Whatever the case, coveting was the heart problem.  Jesus had a much bigger plans than judging between worldly property.  Elsewhere He said: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34).  Hey Jesus!  Would you construct a house for me?  Maybe you could get a few more coins out of that fish?  Perhaps you could lead one battle for us against the Romans?  As Jesus says in verse 15, possessions aren’t everything.  In fact, possessions aren’t most things (See Luke 9:25).  Whenever you meet someone new, there’s one question you typically ask: “Where do you work?”   This question often answers interest, where they live, and social status.  It tells a lot about a person.  Someone said: “It’s not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years.”  We might even ask beyond physical possessions.  What experiences have you had (traveled here, invited there)?  Yet even then, we need to view our short lives in relation to God.  Life is not about accumulation or accomplishment.  God wants us to be His possession (Titus 2:14).  Jesus then teaches a parable in verses 16-19.  Notice how often the words “I” and “my” appear (8X).  There’s a selfishness that screams out.  This man had a problem; he wasn’t using his riches correctly.  What did he do?  Well he could invest it here, get bonds there, or buy property over yonder.  It’s not bad to do those things to a certain degree, but if none of it is returned back to God, it’s really not making our life of higher value.  Being more like Jesus gives us value.  If our hearts aren’t right with God, who cares how healthy our physical hearts are?  Like verse 19, Paul wrote similarly: “If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (1 Corinthians 15:32).  Well, the man finally had enough to retire and was looking forward to it.  That night he died.  Are we as rich toward God as we are toward ourselves?  There once was a King who was safely fortified in his castle.  He was on the ramparts watching an enemy pillage throughout his countryside, and not being able to stop them.  While looking down at the raid, he said to one of his nobles: “At least they can’t take the land.”  We can’t take physical things with us when we die, but we can take a good conscience with us.  One way to do so is by not coveting.  Jesus continues this thought by saying: “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:33-34).  Let us keep our hearts far from coveting!

Fallis, W. J. Covet, Covetous. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers. 2003.

Anxious? (1-29-2022)

With sickness and inflation, it is easy to feel anxious.  Many Americans are stuck at home wondering how long life will feel trapped.  It feels like we’re in a prison.  The apostle Paul was unjustly put in prison several times.  Two of these occasions was at Rome: “All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household” (Philippians 4:22).  While writing his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul was in jail (Philippians 1:13-14, 17).  He was holed up all alone in that cold dark prison, dependent on aid from the brethren.  For all the mission trips Paul went on, you get the feeling that he liked traveling outdoors.  How hard would it have been, hearing the pitter patter of feet on the other side of the wall and not join them?  Yet even in such an anxious situation, he could write: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).  When you don’t know if you’ll have a job tomorrow, food on the table, or a roll of toilet paper, being anxious is easy!  We can all think of hundred’s of things to be anxious about.  Yet prayer is an avenue out of our trapped situation.  Prayer takes us into the throne room of God.  Knowing that God listens and cares should allow us to be thankful and calm.  This is only so however, for Christians.  Are you anxious like the world?  Or at peace in Jesus?

Obedience of Faith (1-22-2022)

The religious world often uses the term “faith” as only an inward belief.  Yet the Biblical use of the term is accompanied with obedience.  Able: “brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions” (Genesis 4:4).  His faith led him to do something (Hebrews 11:4).  Enoch didn’t see death, and is said to have “walked with God” (Hebrews 11:5; Genesis 5:21-24).  Was his faith enough by itself?  No, he “walked” (lived) the way God wanted him to.  Noah was called to believe in rain, something the world had not yet seen (Genesis 2:5).  In his day, there was only a mist above the ground (Genesis 2:6).  Was Noah’s faith in God enough?  No, he had to be obedient and build the boat in order to be saved (Hebrews 11:7).  Abraham was told by God that through Isaac his descendants would become like the stars in the sky (Genesis 17:19).   God then tells Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.  We see his faith being confirmed by his show of obedience- God stopped him (Hebrews 11:17-19).  Walking around a city doesn’t sound like the best military strategy, but obedient faith is what scaled Jericho’s walls (Hebrews 11:30).  What if they hadn’t marched around around the city seven times?  Would God have accepted their faith?  Paul bookended Romans writing about the: “obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5; 16:26).  Consider: “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief“ (Hebrews 3:18-19); “Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven’” (Mark 2:4-5).  Biblical faith is obedient faith.  Have you been baptized for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38)?

Esther (1-15-2022)

We all have tough choices in life to make.  There are many great examples of those who chose to serve God in the Bible even through various trials.  One of those people was a young woman named Esther.  Wicked Haman wanted to destroy all the Jews within the Persian Empire because of Mordecai’s apparent rudeness (Esther 3:8).  Queen Esther, herself a Jew, had to make a choice.  She could throw her people under the bus, or take a stand with them (Esther 4:14).  She had risen from a nobody to being Queen beside King Xerxes, but she was in just as much peril as her fellow Jews.  What would she do?  Try to keep her Jewishness a secret?  Kill those close to her who knew she was a Jew?  No, she took the hard road and risked her life by coming before the King uninvited (Esther 4:11).  Having gained the King’s favor, she then had to stand up to Haman (Esther 5:2; 7:6).  Life throws us lots of choices, but at least it’s usually not life or death.  Another person named Jesus took that hard road for us when He died for your sins and mine.  Will you choose the right road even though it may be hard (Matthew 10:38)?

Blessed (1-8-2022)

We read in Ephesians chapter 1 that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.  This is particularly true in the “heavenly places” (vs 3) which, of course, is really all that matters.  The phrase is seen 5X in the Bible, and only in Ephesians (Ephesians 1:20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12).  Ephesians 1:3-14 is one long statement with hardly a breath.  That “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (v 4) isn’t that God individually predestined Hubert to be saved, and Ivan to be condemned.  It’s that God chose this group of people who do His will are predestined for salvation, and this group who are disobedient to receive condemnation.  Everyone has free will.  Yet to have this blessing of salvation, we need someone with us.  Notice another reoccurring phrase: “in Christ” (vs 3), in Him (vs 4), “in the Beloved” (vs 6), “in Him” (vs 7), “in Him” (vs 9), “in Him” (vs 10), “in whom [Greek]” (vs 11), “in Christ” (vs 12), “in Him” (vs 13).  How do we get into Christ?  Jesus said: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).  That’s how we can have true blessings.

Matthew 6 Treasure (1-1-2022)

We read during Jesus’ sermon on the mount: “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23).  What is Jesus talking about here?  Is it something about having good eyesight?  Is it something about letting our light shine (Matthew 5:16)?  Read the surrounding context (vs 19-24).  What word keeps popping up?  Treasure.  Although the NASB has “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth” (vs 19) the Greek literally reads: “Do not treasure up for yourselves treasures on earth.”  Physical things are temporary.  Moths eat your clothes, termites eat your house, and rust gets on your car.  Further, if nature doesn’t destroy those earthly treasures, thieves may steal them!  What do we set our hearts on (vs 21)?  We can set them on the things of this world, or on the next.  Verse 22 says: “if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.”  A clear eye has a single mindedness set on God.  But what happens if you have an eye that is bad?  There’s never enough!  The house could always have one more improvement, health could always be better, and life could be smoother.  Solomon wrote: “The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear filled with hearing” (Ecclesiastes 1:8).  What do you choose to set your heart on?

Patience And Repentance (12-18-2021)

If someone stole a million dollars and then wanted to become a Christian, wouldn’t they need to give that money back?  If someone falsely accused another in court, wouldn’t they need to go and set the record straight?  Jesus told those in His day: “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:5).  We also read: “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent” (Acts 17:30).  God put up with a lot of Israel’s mischief like David’s polygamy, but now that we have God’s full revelation in Jesus.  He calls us to higher ground.  The sheer seriousness of eternal life or death should cause everyone to consider Jesus’ words concerning repentance.  Peter comfortingly wrote: “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).  Have you repented and turned to God?

Obedience (12-11-2021)

The most famous verse in the Bible is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  God loved us even when we hated Him (Romans 5:8).  God granted us mercy by sending His Son.  He didn’t have to send Him.  Belief in Jesus is an important aspect of being a Christian, but it’s always connected with obedience as well.  A little further down in the chapter we read: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).  We kind of expected that word “obey” to be “believe” again, but it isn’t.  At the beginning of chapter three Jesus was speaking with Nicodemus saying: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).  The context clearly relates to baptism.  Have you obeyed Jesus by being baptized for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Colossians 2:12)?

Did God Command Genocide (6-19-2021)?

Some allege that God commanding the killing of the Canaanites was a sin.  Was it wrong for Americans to kill Nazi’s?  The wicked people got what they deserved.  God will: “by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Exodus 34:7).  If we let the wicked continue to sacrifice their children and behave immorally, or the murderer to keep on murdering, wouldn’t we say that’s not fair?  Wouldn’t you demand justice?  We need to keep in mind that God cares more about the morality of humans over our physical circumstances.  Sometime even the righteous die.  How could God allow that?  Isaiah wrote: “The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart; And devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from evil, 2 He enters into peace; They rest in their beds, Each one who walked in his upright way” (57:1-2).  Maybe, once again, God knows better than we do.

Jailer Saved (6-26-2021)

In Acts chapter 16 Paul and Silas were preaching the good news about Jesus (v 21), but then were rejected by a mob (Acts 16:22-24).  They are subsequently beaten, thrown into an inner jail, and fastened in the stocks.  In this dark gloomy dungeon, it seems like escape is impossible.  In such an uncomfortable and sad situation, what’s one to do?  Give up and stare at a wall?  Was it time to throw in the towel?  Paul and Silas sing and pray to God (Acts 16:25-30).  Being confined in jail, didn’t stop them evangelizing.  The jailer may have fastened their feet, but he didn’t fasten their lips!  Miraculously, God then delivered them (Acts 16:26).  There’s was an earthquake, yet none of the prisoners were injured.  Doors were opened, yet keys weren’t needed.  All the prisoner’s chains and stocks came loose even without the assistance of the guards.  Verses 27-28 is where we see a close call: “When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!”  In Roman times, if the jailer didn’t do his duty in keeping the prisoners locked up, the Romans would execute him.  In Acts 12:19, Herod has his guards executed on account of Peter’s miraculous escape.  The Jailer then comes trembling before Paul and Silas saying: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30).  Having listened to the hymns or awestruck by the earthquake and chains loosened, he realized that these people had God with them.  Being in such a horrible situation, Paul and Silas’ first thought was to sing praises, the Jailer’s first thought was suicide.  What a difference Jesus makes!  In the concluding verses (Acts 16:31-34), whereas the family could have been bereaved of their father, the whole household believed, was baptized, and saved.  The jailer then “washed their wounds.”  They were no longer strangers and enemies, but dear brothers.  If you don’t know the power of truth found in the gospel please email us.

Equality (7-3-2021)

Often times in our world today, we hear the cry of “equality.”  What does the Bible have to say about equality?  From the beginning God created humans male and female (Genesis 1:27).  Of course, I don’t look like your image and you don’t look like mine, so its not a physical image that God has made us all like Him but a spiritual one.  God is Spirit (John 4:24).  We’re also made in God’s image in our inner thoughts and character.  We are able to show love and mercy like God, and we’re also able to show anger and justice like God.  As Christians, we’re equal in forgiveness: “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:27-28).  God’s church family is equal in many respects, but each member has different roles that God has dictated.  Christians are the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12; 1 Timothy 2:12).  Yet each one of us has a different role: one is a foot, an eye, an ear, an arm, with Christ as the head.  We are all valuable to God in many ways.  For a final thought: is God concerned as much with physical equality as with spiritual morality?  When God rebuked the Israelites with the sword of the Babylonians, it was in the interest of their morality, nota fight for equality.  When God blessed the Israelites in the Promised Land, it was on the condition of their morality, not because they were entitled to anything.  There are lots of groups caught up in the world’s problems of “equality” today, let’s be sure to be more caught up in the next; the heavenly one. 

Good Samaritan (7-10-2021)

Perhaps we’ve all had those neighbors who we really wish would move.  Maybe they play their music loud, have roosters that crow at the crack of dawn, or just seem to cause a ruckus.  Yet do these things hinder us from showing love to them as Jesus did?  There was a Lawyer in Jesus’ day who tested Jesus asking: “what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25).  Jesus asks him how he reads the Law and the Lawyer responds correctly quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5, and Leviticus 19:18: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”  Wanting to pry Jesus a little further and ease his own conscience, the Lawyer then asks: “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29).  How often do we try to justify ourselves today as well and say: “Well, I’m not as bad as that person!”  Jesus is the standard we should all be reaching to.  If we could ask one question of God, this may be it: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  Solomon wrote: “I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.  He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:10-11b).  We can’t “do” anything for eternal life, we “do” things because of our gratitude toward God’s grace (we do need obedient faith).  Eternal life is something all humans desire.  Jesus then gives His famous parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37).  A man is beaten, stolen from, and left for dead.  The story continues that it is not the Priest or Levite that help him, but a Samaritan.  We have this man who is in obvious need.  A Priest sees him and passes by on the other side.  These people are the rulers of the Jews, they get to tell the crowds what God says.  They’re suppose to be followers of God!  Possibly the Priest didn’t want to become unclean (blood?), and yet how often does God rebuke the Israelites for keeping sacrifices and neglecting mercy and faithfulness (Hosea 6:6)?  I’m late for Temple service!  I can’t help you.  A Levite also sees and passes by on the other side.  Levites would also be very respected in Jewish society.  All Priests are Levites, but not all Levites are Priests.  Then we have this Samaritan.  Samaritans were Jews who intermarried with the gentiles.  The Jews living in Judah didn’t intermarry with Gentiles and hated Samaritans for doing so.  Jews wouldn’t cross into their territory.  They wouldn’t speak with them.  They wouldn’t even eat from a dish that a Samaritan used.  Isn’t it interesting how often Jesus used controversial situations to make His point?  This Samaritan kept his eyes open and seeing the need “felt compassion” (Luke 10:33).  The Samaritan then does a number of things.  He bandaged up his wounds (went out of his way/ took his time).  He poured oil and wine on him for medicinal use (I could have used that to cook or drink!).  He put him on his own beast (I’ll give you a lift in my car to the hospital, but could you stop bleeding everywhere first).  He brought him to an inn (this Samaritan is really going out of his way- hotels aren’t cheap).  He even paid for any further expenses.  The Samaritan doesn’t take him to the inn and say: “Well, I’ve done my good deed for the day”, he even pays some money to the innkeeper in advance.  Jesus then tells the Lawyer: “Go and do the same” (Luke 10:37).  Do we realize the kind of love God wants us to show toward everyone?  Jesus cared for blind men (John 9:11), ate with hated tax collectors (Luke 15:1-2), and healed people with leprosy (Matthew 8:3).  Are we loving our neighbors?

Exceedingly, Abundantly, Beyond (7-24-2021)

Many times in our lives we feel powerless.  Maybe its tax season, an addiction, or the loss of a lived one.  Yet God promises christians a life that goes far beyond our fears and feelings of inadequacy.  In Ephesians, Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).  This phrase is translated various ways: “immeasurably more” (NIV), “accomplish abundantly far more” (NRSV).  Interestingly, “far more abundantly” and “beyond” are from the same root word.  Paul’s basically repeating himself saying: “abundantly . . . abundantly, abundantly.”  The motto of Spain is: “Further Beyond.”  Perhaps they came up with this sailing 4,444 miles to the New World.  We can learn a lot about God’s plans for us in the Bible, but God has so much more in store for us than we can even comprehend or merely read about.  We could “ask” quite a bit: opportunities to reach the lost, for patience, for wisdom.  We can “think” quite a few things too: Can God really help me through this temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13)?  Is God going to be there through the hard times (Psalm 23)?  Will He provided for my needs (Matthew 6:31-33)?  Finally, the verse in Ephesians says: “according to the power that works within us.”  Its kind of scary to think of God working in us.  We have a boss in Heaven, and He expects us to work for Him!  He’ll help us go far beyond what we can even imagine.   When the Israelites were hemmed in by Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea, God parted the Sea for His people’s safe escape (Exodus.14)  Naaman, the captain of the Army of Aram had leprosy and went to Elisha.  Elisha told him to dip in the Jordan river seven times and he was subsequently healed (2 Kings 5).  God worked on our behalf more than we could ever know in the sacrifice of His Son.  Jesus’ sacrifice grants us forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38), a hope in the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15), and the promise of Heaven (John 3:16).  Jesus said: “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working” (John 5:17).  He also said “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).  Will we let God work in our lives exceedingly, abundantly, and beyond?  Are we working and growing abundantly?  We can do this in our prayer lives, in our love for one another, and even in our relationship with God.  Who doesn’t want an abundant life?

Who Is Jesus? (8-31-2021)

Who was Einstein?  Some would say he was a traitor against Germany.  Many would say he’s extremely smart for his theory of relativity.  Who was Julius Caesar?  Some may say a brilliant general, other’s would say a greedy dictator.  Who was Jesus?  Even in Jesus’ day, people had many opinions about Jesus.  Mark’s gospel says: “He questioned His disciples, saying to them, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ 28 They told Him, saying, ‘John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets’” (Mark 8:27-28).  People today would similarly list several viewpoints of Jesus: tolerant Jesus, Republican Jesus, Democratic Jesus, good moral teacher Jesus.  The disciples mention the crowds saying John the Baptist.  Previously, in Mark 6:14, Herod Antipas, King of Judea had John the baptist beheaded.  Herod thought John had risen from the dead and thus miraculous powers were at work.  Maybe Jesus was the Elijah to come.  We read in the Old Testament: “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5).  Thus, the Israelites were expecting Elijah or one like Elijah to come before the Messiah.  This was John the Baptist (Matthew 11:14).   Another answer the disciples gave was “one of the prophets.”   God spoke through Moses long ago saying: “I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19).  This prophet was of course, Jesus.  Peter then gives the correct answer: “Peter answered and said to Him, ‘You are the Christ’” (Mark 8:29).  Peter’s answer was divinely inspired, Matthew wrote: “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven'” (Matthew 16:17).  The word “Christ” in Greek means “Anointed One” like the Hebrew “Messiah.”  Yet Jesus isn’t just any anointed individual whether a prophet, priest, or King . . . but the Anointed One.  For Christians today Jesus is our Prophet, Priest, and King.  Do you see Jesus as God? 

Are You Ready? (8-7-2021)

In the second half of Matthew 24, Jesus speaks concerning His Second Coming: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone” (Matthew 24:36a).  Jesus here is answering the two questions His disciples asked in verses 1-3 concerning the destruction of the Temple and Jesus’ second coming.  He then compares His second coming to the days of Noah and how unexpected the flood was (Matthew 24:37-39).  The people of Noah’s day had never seen rain before (Genesis 2:5)!  There are a lot of things we can’t be ready for in this life.  Maybe it’s the birth of a child, learning that a family member has cancer, or the death of a loved one.  Yet we can be ready for Jesus’ coming and Judgment Day.  You can be ready!  Jesus exhorts us in verse 44: “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will” (Matthew 24:44).  Yet we all know Judgment Day is coming one day, whether we live to be 116, 80, or 50 years old.  The writer of the Hebrews letter wrote: it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).  This life is the chance we have to get ready.  Paul wrote to the church at Corinth: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).  Do you have someone who will intercede for your sins (Romans 3:23)?  Do you have one who’s washed you “white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18)?  You can be ready today by believing Jesus is God (John 8:24), repenting of your past sins (Acts 3:19), confessing Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9), and being baptized for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:3; Colossians 2:12).  Are you ready?

Sincerity Enough? (8-14-2021)

There are many good people in the world.  There are thousands of religious groups that help the poor, do good works, and sincerely believe they are following God.  Is sincerity enough to make it to Heaven?  Let’s first consider that sincerity doesn’t change the situation in other fields.  In 2006 Eric Cropp, a Pharmacist, at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland Ohio sincerely believed he was giving a life saving injection.  The injection was a chemotherapy solution given to two year old Emily Jerry containing about 20% more salt than it should have.  Emily Jerry died three days later.  Was the patient saved because the Pharmacist was sincere?  Another example is of butchers who were sincere in selling beef during 2013 in the European Union.  The scandal was that horse meat had been added- in some cases 100%.  Will the horse meat turn into beef because the butchers were sincere in thinking they were selling beef?  Sincerity doesn’t change a situation in the Medical Field, Supermarkets, or Agriculture.  Neither does it magically change with religion.  Sincerity is necessary, but not sufficient for salvation.  When God told King Saul to kill all the Amalekites and all their animals (1 Samuel 15), Saul sincerely thought he was doing good by saving some animals as a sacrifice to God.  Yet we remember how the Prophet Samuel later said to him: ” Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams'” (1 Samuel 15:22).  King David was sincere in wanting to do right when he transported the Ark of the covenant (2 Samuel 6:1-7).  He transported it on a brand new cart he had built thinking this was good.  Yet the Ark was supposed to be carried by poles by the Priests (Exodus 25:14).  While traveling to Jerusalem the oxen stumbled and a man named Uzzah reached out his hand to catch the Ark touching it- God struck him dead.  Uzzah was sincerely trying to protect the Ark, and thought he was doing a good thing, but it was disobedience to God’s command.  Saul (Paul) sincerely believed he was doing God’s will as a Jew persecuting the church (Acts 9:1-5).  Yet he was wrong.  Sincerity can sometimes mislead us.  Paul wrote: “For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:4).  Just because Paul viewed himself as sincerely righteous (with a good conscience), didn’t necessarily mean he was.  Solomon taught: “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).  Plenty of good hearted religious people in the 1st Century who sacrificed to Greek and Roman gods, payed tithes, and consulted Oracles were wrong: “What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles [Pagans] sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons” (1 Corinthians 10:20-21).  Finally, there’s the instance where Jesus spoke of the judgement day with people standing there sincerely believing they were saved, but were not (See Matthew 7:21-23).  These people sincerely believed they were following God, but they did not obey God’s will.  Sincerity is necessary, but not sufficient for salvation.  Sincerity needs to be paired with obedience.

“Findus beef lasagne contained up to 100% horsemeat, FSA says”. BBC News. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.

Kita, Joe. “Doctors Confess Their Fatal Mistakes | Page 3 of 7.” Reader’s Digest, 25 July 2017, www.rd.com/health/healthcare/doctors-confess-their-fatal-mistakes/3/.

Medical Mosaical Laws? (8-21-2021)

The Ebers Papyrus (1500’s BC) contain the longest Egyptian medical text ever discovered.  Some of this medical advice involved dung of a crocodile which is clearly unsanitary, and reciting spells to get spirits away.  That’s also not going to work.  Its amazing the contrast seen between what these ancient nations did compared to the contemporary Israelites.  Moses (1400’s BC) was brought up in the learning of the Egyptians: “Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds” (Acts 7:22).  This is recorded in Exodus chapters 1-2.  Nevertheless, God through Moses spoke about medical practices that actually worked.  Moses didn’t speak about the things he learned in Egypt.  God spoke to the Israelites saying: “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer” (Exodus 15:26).  What a promise!  Israel needed to trust what God said to be cleansed.  Leviticus 11 lists several animals which where not to be eaten: camels, pigs, rabbits.  These animals were a health hazard unless cooked thoroughly and carried disease more than others.  Leviticus 13-14 gives instructions for those with leprosy.  The infected were to be quarantined, have their clothes burned, and to destroy their pots that had been eaten off of.  It’s unfortunate Europe didn’t read this during the Bubonic Plague (1346-1353).  In seven years, at least a 30% of Europe’s population died.  Numbers 19 commanded people to wash with the water of purification.  At first glance, this sounds like a magic potion:  “The priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet material and cast it into the midst of the burning heifer. 7 The priest shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward come into the camp, but the priest shall be unclean until evening” (Numbers 19:6-7).  Listed is water containing the ashes of a heifer (female cow), hyssop (plant), cedar wood, and scarlet wool.  Interestingly, this turns out to have the same elements as modern day soap!  The ashes made a consistency called “lye” an Alkaline solution that helps break down elements.  Hyssop has antiseptic thymol (preventing disease from multiplying).  Oil from the cedar wood or cow’s fat would have helped the skin not be irritated.  Finally, the scarlet wool’s fibers would help “cling” onto bacteria and remove it.  Further, the people were told not to eat blood because of the potential of disease: “You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood” (Leviticus 17:14).  George Washington, in the 1700’s died from blood letting- the thought that there was bad blood.  In Deuteronomy 23:12-13, Moses told the people to bury their waste.  Even in the Middle Ages people were still tossing their waste into the streets.  In Leviticus 7:22-25, God told the people not to eat fat.  This is of course heart healthy and keeps the cholesterol down.  Many of these Laws probably sounded strange to the Israelites; they didn’t know about bacteria, or how diseases spread.  Yet God had the physical health of His people in mind.  What else was the Bible right about?

See God’s Power (8-28-2021)

Countries have gone to war with each other since the beginning of time.  But what if your side could know all the plans of the enemy?  What if your side could know the enemy’s movements, supply lines, and number of troops they have?  Interestingly, that’s exactly what happened in the Old Testament in 2 Kings 6.  In verses 8-10, the King of Aram (the Arameans) are fighting against the King of Israel.  Aram was a country North of Israel in what is today modern Syria.  This is the divided Kingdom period where there’s the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.  A man of God, Elisha, as we later learn, keeps warns the King of Israel about Aram’s plans.  Imagine the king of Aram’s frustration: I camped there, and then randomly a night raid by Israel happened.  I choose that route nobody ever takes, and Israel sets an ambush!  How did they know?!  Sometimes we think we can keep things hidden from God- He doesn’t see me!  Yet God is powerful enough to see and know.  He knows what we’re gonna do even before we conceive the idea.  In verses 11-14, the King of Aram is getting very frustrated.  He’s probably taking great pains to keep his plans safe: I only told my one General!  I showed him the plans on a piece of paper!  There was no verbal sound or lip reading to be seen, and then I burned the plans immediately!  Israel knew because of Elisha through God’s power.  Finally, one of Aram’s servant’s discover that Elisha can be found in Dothan, 12 miles South of Samaria, Israel’s capital at this time.  So, Aram sends a huge army to capture Elisha and he does it at night.  Maybe he’s thinking he’ll do the surprising this time!  He sends horses and chariots and presumably a large amount of soldiers.  Indeed, Elisha has cost the King of Aram 1,000 soldiers, and Aram wants to put a stop to this.  Some people go to terrible lengths to not see the power of God.  For example, when Jesus walked on the water, some suggest that maybe it was just foggy and Jesus was walking on the seashore.  Indeed, the text does say they reached shore immediately (John 6:21).  Nevertheless, given greater scrutiny this is not the case.  The account says Peter got out of the boat, started sinking, and then came back into the boat.  That’s not on the shore (Matthew 14:29-32).  In verse 15, Elisha and his servant find themselves trapped in Dothan surrounded by the Arameans.  Elisha’s servant thinks they’re done for.  Either the townspeople will hand us over, or that army will kill us.  The situation looks hopeless, they can’t escape, and there’s only two of them with no weapons.  But then in verses 16-17, Elisha’s servants eyes are opened and he sees God’s chariots and horsemen- of fire!  Aram sent chariots and horsemen, God also sent chariots and horsemen!  Elijah, the prophet before Elisha, formerly showed God’s power by fire.  Fire was seen on Mount Carmel with the 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18).  Fire was seen with Ahaziah, King of Israel who didn’t like Elijah’s word that he was going to die.  Elijah called fire to devour two companies of Ahaziah’s 50 men trying to capture him (2 Kings 1).  Finally, Elijah concluded his life being taken to heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2).  Do we see God’s power in His word?  Lives can change from wickedness to righteousness: “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:15-16).  Do we see God’s power over death?  God raised Jesus from the dead, and he’s able to raise us up as well.  We need to believe in Jesus (John 3:16), repent of our sins (Acts 2:38), confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9), and be baptized for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).  Have you submitted to God’s power?

Who Wrote The Gospel of John? (9-12-2021)

It is true that we don’t have any of the original copies of the books of the Bible.  It is also true that the copies we do have of the four Gospel’s never mention their authors.  Nevertheless, there is good reason to believe that John wrote the Gospel bearing his name.  Internal Evidence: The author seems to be a Jew.  There’s Jewish terms and customs, mentioned (John 1:45; 2:6; 19:31, 40), circumcision and the Sabbath (John 7:23), feasts and not entering a Roman court (John 18:28).  The stated geography points toward a Palestinian Jew: Jerusalem (John 5:2), the Temple (John 10:23), Palestinian cities (John 1:44; 4:5; 11:54).  This gospel was written by an eye witness who knows the Twelve: “next day” (John 1:29, 35, 43), the Twelve “believed” (John 2:11), “remembered” (John 2:17), “came, and they were amazed” (John 4:27), “disciples were saying” (John 4:33), “five barley loaves and two fish” (John 6:9), they rowed “three or four miles” (John 6:19), “next day” (John 6:22), “Jesus said to the Twelve” (John 6:67), “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover” (John 11:12), misconceptions “they thought . . . sleep” (John 11:13), “Ephraim . . . He stayed with the disciples” (John 11:54), “next day” (John 12:12) and “disciples did not understand” (John 12:16), “disciples then said to one another” (John 16:17), visited Gethsemane (John 18:2), “four” soldiers (John 19:23), “disciples were saying’” (John 20:25), and a catch of “fish, a hundred and fifty-three” fish (John 21:11).  It seems the author must have been one of the Twelve to know these things.  Indeed the author is one of the Twelve, for the disciple who wrote these things is called “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20-24), and was at the last supper (John 13:23)!  Seven listed disciples helps narrow down the author (John 21:1-3, 7).  So he’s either: Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, one of the sons of Zebedee (James or John) or one of two other disciples for the “disciple whom Jesus loved” is among them (John 21:7).  Verse seven indicates that it cannot be Peter.  Also, it cannot be James because he died in AD 44 before John’s gospel was written in (Acts 12:2).  We also know this disciple whom Jesus loved was commanded to take care of Jesus’ mother (John 19:26), saw blood and water flow from Jesus at His crucifixion (John 19:34-35), and raced Peter to the tomb (John 20:2-5).  One commentator wrote: “The Beloved Disciple appears to have stood in close relationship to Peter” (Morris 11).  Peter, James and John were the inner circle of Jesus’ Twelve.  They were with Him at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1), healing a girl (Luke 8:51), and pulled aside in the garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:33).  John’s gospel makes no mention of the Transfiguration or Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane, perhaps John left these events out (that he was present at) to focus on Jesus as a servant.  Indeed, John’s Greek readers wouldn’t have seen the significance of the Transfiguration (Jesus better than Moses and Elijah).  The Apostle John is not mentioned anywhere in this Gospel, which makes it all the more likely that “the disciple Jesus loved” is John.  Isn’t it curious that Matthew, Mark, and Luke mention “John the Baptist” while John’s Gospel just says “John” when referring to John the baptist.  Morris comments: “it would have been quite natural for John the Apostle to speak of his namesake simply as “John” (Morris 12).  Consider also the external evidence: The early Church Fathers say John the son of Zebedee wrote it: Irenaeus (130-200 AD) who knew Polycarp, who knew John.  Also: Clement (215 AD), Origen (185-254 AD), and Theophilus of Antioch all say that John wrote it.  Also, “Irenaeus (ca 185) states that John wrote a gospel after Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written and that he wrote it while in Ephesus” (Orbison i).  The Muratorian Canon (ca AD 170) states John among the Gospel writers.  Muratori (1672-1750) was a priest who discovered manuscripts containing the earliest know list of the New Testament books (22 out of 27).  Finally, there is a similar style of Greek and terminology in John’s gospel and Revelation which was written by John (Revelation 1:1).  The term “Lamb of God” is only found in John’s Gospel, with the specific connection of the Lamb with God only in John’s gospel and Revelation.  We see a connection of the “Lamb” and “God” 22X in Revelation (Roper 4).  Jesus is also called the “Word” logos only in John’s writings and Revelation (John 1:1, 14; 1 John 1:1; Revelation 19:13).  John is the only writer of the gospel accounts to mention that the side of Jesus was pierced, a fact also seen only in Revelation (John 19:34; Revelation 1:7).  Other similarities include: “thirsty” (John 7:37; Revelation 22:17) and “authority” (John 10:18; Revelation 2:27).  John, being the “beloved disciple” often spoke about love in his letters.

Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to John; the English text with introduction, exposition and notes.. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971.

Orbison, Guy, and Denny Petrillo. The Gospel of John Workshop In The Word, 1997.

Roper, David L. Revelation 1-11. Searcy, AR: Resource Publications, 2002.

Right and Wrong (9-18-2021)

Is there times right and wrong can be bent?  Is there situations where a little evil brings about a greater good?  Pretend we’re boarding the Titanic, the biggest, fanciest ship of her time.  Then we ship off from Southhampton, Britain in 1912.  However, that same year in the Atlantic we hit an iceberg.  We can imagine the panic because of the water pouring in, the screaming, and frantically running people.  We’re among some of the lucky ones that get on a lifeboat.  Yet some of the lifeboats were overloaded, and in danger of sinking themselves.  So, do we throw some people overboard (murder) so that we and the others will live?  In the Bible Rahab lied to the men sent by the King of Jericho: “But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, ‘Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.’ 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof” (Joshua 2:4-6).  Yet she is praised in the “Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11:31).  Was her sin of lying alright because of the greater good of her faith in Israel’s God?  Is “good” only seen in its ends (result) and not its means (rules)?  Murdering a few out of the lifeboat, at least the majority survives right?  No!  Paul wrote: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin [means] so that grace may increase [result]? 2 May it never be!” (Romans 6:1-2).  Along with this thought, people don’t desire riches, people desire happiness (happiness is a step above riches).  Similarly, people don’t desire virtue to get rich (virtue is a step above riches).  So, the result (riches) are not as important as the means (virtue, honesty).  In our lifeboat, murdering isn’t better just because more people on the boat will be safe.  God’s rules are duty-centered “must’s” and not end-centered.  God’s rule’s “must’s” say that the rule (don’t murder) determines the result.  Situational ethics say that the result (more safe people) determines the rule.  Saul thought not killing all the Amalekite’s sheep was a good thing so as to sacrifice them to God.  But Samuel’s answer to him was: to obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).  The rule is good regardless of the results.  With Situational Ethics, result is sometimes used to break God’s rules.  One author concluded: “In brief, the end may justify the use of good means, but it does not justify the use of any means” (Geisler 25).  But that sounds terrible!  All those people die!  Note: “The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart; and devout men are taken away, while no one understands.  For the righteous man is taken away from evil” (Isaiah 57:1).  God sees the bigger picture.  We see a human death, God may see a soul saved.  Maybe on our sinking lifeboat is: Pharaoh, Judas, Balaam, with the rest being Christians.  In the end God’s will always work out.  Historically, the people  in the Titanic’s lifeboats first asked for: volunteers, then single men, and then those who don’t have “important” jobs.  Rahab is praised for her faith, not her fib.  David isn’t praised for committing adultery, but his continual adherence to God.  Obey God’s rules, no matter what!

Geisler, Norman L. Christian Ethics:. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1990. 

Law Dead? (9-25-2021)

Do we have to follow everything in the Bible?  Are we still under the Old Law?  How about the Ten Commandments?  Do we still have to obey parts of the Mosaical Law today like not working on the Sabbath?  Certainly there’s similarities between the  Old and New Testaments: “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18).  It’s true that we still love today, yet Jesus said: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34).  How is this commandment to love “new”?  Jesus want’s us to love people similarly how He loved His disciples and the world.  Love isn’t “a burden” like under the old Law, but can be intentional.  Those in the Old Testament got to see shadows of God’s love, but those in the New Testament get to see God’s love in Jesus.  The inspired Apostle Paul wrote: “But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound [sin], so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter” (Romans 7:6).  In the Old, the letter of the Law often said: “You sin, you get stoned to death.”  Yet the New says: “You sin, you get a second chance.”  Those in the Old Testament had to keep sacrificing for their sins, but those in the New are covered by one sacrifice, Jesus.  In Galatians chapter three, we see things about the Law and why God instituted it:  “no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, ‘The righteous man shall live by faith’” (See Galatians 3:11).  The writer of Hebrews wrote: “Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins” (Hebrews 10:11).  If we’re hoping in the Old Law, where do we find forgiveness?  Law doesn’t justify, obedient faith justifies.  Continuing on in Galatians: “What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise” (Galatians 3:17).  The Law of Moses didn’t set aside God’s promise to Abraham because of his faith (Genesis 15:6).  Paul is saying that Abraham’s faith trumped the future Mosaical Law (intent over ritual).  So why even have the Mosaical Law?  “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Galatians 3:24-25).  The Law of Moses was a “guardian” (ESV), “disciplinary” (NRSV), “schoolmaster” (KJV) to lead us to Christ.  We had to understand sin and the great gulf that it put between us and God.  The Jews couldn’t keep every sacrifice perfectly: take this organ, wash that, burn a part, sacrifice at this time, keep the incense burning and the festivals.  Humanity couldn’t do enough works to earn God’s forgiveness.  The Old Testament is the character development of a novel, and the New Testament is the climax.  In Ephesians 2:13-15, the Bible says: “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off [Gentiles] have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups [Jew and Gentile] into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace” (Ephesians 2:13-15).  Jesus did away with the Old Law and “abolished” it.  But what about Jesus saying: “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matthew 5:17-18).  Indeed, Jesus’ main purpose was to fulfill what Moses and the Prophets wrote about him: His life, crucifixion, and resurrection.  But as a side effect, grace now trumps over the Law.  When Jesus’ death was accomplished, His Will (if you will) went into effect saying who gets to be heirs getting the eternal inheritance.  Even the writer of the book of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah foretelling the “new covenant” and says concerning the Old: “When He said, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear” (Hebrews 8:13; Jeremiah 31:31).  It disappeared in effect when Jesus died on the cross, but it was “ready to disappear” physically when Jerusalem would be shortly destroyed in AD 70.  Its like cellphones making landlines obsolete.  The old gives way to the new.  Are we still under the 10 Commandments?  It’s  a yes no question.  Throughout Jesus’ sermon on the mount  (Matthew 5-7), Jesus says: “You have heard it said, but I tell you” concerning murder, the 6th Commandment (Matthew 5:22) Jesus tells us to strive not to be angry (prerequisite).  He also speaks on not committing adultery, the 7th Commandment (Matthew 5:27) but He says not to look lustfully (prerequisite).  He says the same concerning: vows, an eye for eye, and love and hate for enemies.  Jesus changes the Old Law of God and holds us to a higher moral standard.  Those in the Old Testament were held to intent and ritual, but those in the New Testament are held to intent and loving.  This is not to say that we don’t need the Old Testament, Paul wrote: “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction” (Romans 15:4).  The Old Testament encourages us, shows us examples, and leads us to Christ.  We are under Christ’s law today: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free” (Romans 8:2).  Paul also spoke of the “law of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:21).  I’m grateful to be under Christ’s Law, and not the Old Law, but you can only be under Christ’s law if you’ve been obedient to Jesus (John 3:36).

Elijah (10-2-2021)

God is still in control.  At the end of 1 Kings 18, Elijah prays and shows God’s power over the storms (rain), not Baal (storm god).  In Chapter 19 Elijah needed to put his trust in God.  Elijah has just slaughtered the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.  Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, threatens to kill Elijah saying: “So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow” (1 Kings 19:2).  Elijah then runs away.  Did he not remember the power God had shown in consuming the sacrifice with fire on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:38)?  What about raising the widow’s son to life (1 King 17:22)?  Or the flour and oil that didn’t run out (1 Kings 17:16)?  Or the drought by God that he prayed for (1 Kings 17:1)?  Elijah runs from Jezebel in Israel to Beersheba in Judah, perhaps he thinks Judah’s army can protect him.  He wants to quit, but God never does.  Elijah thinks he’s done enough, but God has more plans for him.  Elijah had traveled a day’s journey in verse 4 and was exhausted saying: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4).  God then provided him with food twice and he was able to travel 40 days south.  With God’s power we too can accomplish great things: “man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).  The number 40 in the Bible is almost always connected with a trial or testing: Jesus’ temptations (Matthew 4:1-11), Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:18), the Israelites wandered in the wilderness (Numbers 14:33), and spying out Canaan (Numbers 13:25).  In verse 4, is Horeb “the mountain of God.”  I thought the mountain of God was Sinai.  Moses received the 10 commandments on Sinai (Exodus 19:18; 34:1-2), yet in Deuteronomy 4:10-13 it says Horeb is where Moses received them.  Horeb is the mountain range, Sinai is the mountain.  Elijah finds a cave on Horeb after wandering so far south.  God asks him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  (1 Kings 19:9).  Perhaps Elijah thought he’d be safer near the mountain of God, he’s certainly farther away from Israel where Jezebel lives.  Elijah answers that he wants to preserve the name of the God of Israel, but he thinks he can do it running from Israel.  God then gives Elijah a few more signs.  The wind was breaking the rocks apart, but God was not in the wind.  An earthquake happens, but God was not in the earthquake.  There’s a fire, but God was not in the fire.  Perhaps these things would remind Elijah of what God had shown Moses: “Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently” (Exodus 19:18).  Then a gentle blowing or whisper comes.  Elijah doesn’t need to see more miracles or wonders, he needs to start trusting in God’s Word.  So Elijah walks out of the cave, and covers his face like Moses did (Exodus 33:20-23).  God asks him the same question, and Elijah gives the same answer.  Elijah doesn’t seem to get it yet.  God still had work for Elijah to do.  God tells him to go north where Jezebel wants to kill him, and anoint Hazael King in Aram (Syria), Jehu King over Israel (he’ll kill the house of Ahab), and Elisha as a prophet to succeed him.  Elijah’s work was almost complete.  The task sounds daunting, but God encourages Elijah saying: “Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18).  Do these faithful help Elijah navigate through Israel in order to get to Aram?  Elijah isn’t the only one left as he thought.  In the last three verses, Elijah finds Elisha.  Elijah puts his cloak over Elisha symbolically showing his calling.  Elisha will later take up Elijah’s cloak: “He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan” (2 Kings 2:13).  Elisha leaves everything and follows Elijah.  Jesus said: “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).  Fear can lead us away from trusting in God, but God is always trustworthy.  Even through trials, we can trust that God has a plan.  Will we trust God even when he tells us to go to a seemingly hopeless situation?

Worship The World’s Way (10-9-2021)

There once was a man who wanted to worship God his own way.  There are lots of religious groups today that do this.  The period of the Judges happened prior to the first King of Israel, Saul (See Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).  In verses 1-6 of chapter 17, we see a scene of private life among the 12 tribes: Micah of Ephraim.  Micah’s name means: “who is like the Lord.”  Ephraim was located in the middle of modern day Israel.  Yet the story gets bleak after the introduction: Micah stole money from his mother (Breaking the 8th Commandment).  Too bad his name didn’t pan out for good.  Unfortunately many places that call themselves the church don’t follow what God says either.  Micah however, returns the silver in verse two presumably because he legitimately repented.  Micah does some good, but we’ll see a lot of bad.  Micah and his mother decide to make an idol  with the silver (Breaking the 2nd Commandment).  When we think of idols, maybe we think of Roman idols.  These were miniature versions of their gods.  Did Micah make a mini Ark?  This family is able and rich to do so with 1,100 shekels of silver.  Along with the idols, Micah makes a shrine (a small building, sometimes located within a Temple), and an ephod (Robe) for his son who of course isn’t a Levite (Judges 17:13).  There are many who want to have women preachers today, yet Paul wrote: “I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet” (1 Timothy 2:12).  This “quite” is of course in the sense of authority, not in praising God.  Micah thought he had the right to decide how to worship God.  In verse 6 “every man did what was right in his own eyes.”  Many want to do the same today like worshiping God alone on a mountain (without gathering in fellowship with the saints).  Indeed, Israel didn’t have a physical King, but moreover they didn’t have God as their King.  From verse 7-13, we see the entrance of another man to the account, a young Levite.  Someone commented: “The narrator’s portrayal of the man as a youth probably should be interpreted in light of the Mosaic prescription that priestly service for descendants of Aaronite was to begin at age thirty [Number 4:3]” (Block Vol 6 485).  Further, Bethlehem wasn’t one of the 48 cities allotted to the Levites in Joshua 21 (the young man could just be passing through Bethlehem, but it doesn’t look like he’s where he’s suppose to be).  In verse 8 the Levite wants to go wherever he wishes, instead of: “in the place which the Lord chooses in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you” (Deuteronomy 12:14).  As a side note, the Levites had their origins as Priests because they stood up for God against the golden calf in Exodus 32.  This young Levite is fine with staying anywhere and going with the flow, wherever the wind pleases.  Concerning verses 10-11, did Micah have the right to consecrate his own Levite?  No.  Micah was a man not at peace with himself and full of doubts having not followed God’s way.   His faith was in a priest, but not in God’s priesthood.  He later speaks about “my gods which I made” (Judges 18:24) showing his polytheistic attitude.  The young Levite is like a son to Micah, but in his Priestly role, kind of like a father (which we don’t read about Micah having).  Further wrongs are seen in this story; the Levite is there to serve Micah, not God.  Do people today go to church to serve themselves over God?  Well, Sunday eases my conscience a little, but that’s all I’m here to do.  Micah wanted to prosper himself, saying: “Now I know that the Lord will prosper me” (Judges 17:13).  This Levite will be my good luck charm.  I woke up for the early worship service so I know God will prosper me!  Under the new covenant found in the New Testament we read several places where God says how he wants to be worshiped: “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).  The very nature of God dictates the kind of worship He wants.  Also: “I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also” (1 Corinthians 14:15).  If we don’t believe the words we’re singing, then why sing them?  Further, “be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:18-19).  The word “making melody” can mean to pluck, but what’s being plucked?  Your heart (not a guitar).  Let’s be careful to worship the way God wants us to.

Block, D. I. Judges, Ruth. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1999.

Anger Management

If you could change one thing, what would it be?  There’s plenty of things we could think of in our character that don’t need to be there.  You know that feeling when you’re hammering a nail and you hit your finger?  You know that feeling when you’re cut off in traffic?  What about when the wicked mock Christianity?  Anger isn’t a sin, but Christians should be slow to anger.  The Bible says: “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26).  Jesus instructed to avoid anger: “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court” (Matthew 5:21-22b).  Don’t just put a band-aid on the problem, get to the root of the problem of murder: anger.  Jesus was angry, in Mark 3:5: “After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.”   We also think of the time when Jesus drove people out of the Temple Courts who were selling animals and things to be sacrificed (John 2:15).  It’s possible the whip Jesus made was just for the animals, but this isn’t necessarily the case.  God’s Temple was supposed to be a religious prayer place, not a rigorous marketplace!  God was even angry with the Israelites in the Old Testament, and yet He was slow to anger.  God told Moses some of His primary attributes: “Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth'” (Exodus 34:6).  Here, God was about to destroy Israel for making the golden calf (Exodus 32).  I led you by a pillar of cloud that doesn’t even look like a calf!  God had very good reason to be angry.  I  was the one who brought you out of slavery from Egypt (Exodus 20:2; Leviticus 11:45; Numbers 15:41; Deuteronomy 5:6; Joshua 24:17; Judges 6:8; 1 Samuel 10:18; 2 Kings 17:7; 2 Chronicles 7:22; Psalm 81:10; Isaiah 11:16; Jeremiah 34:13; Daniel 9:15; Hosea 13:4; Amos 2:10; Micah 6:4; Haggai 5:2)!  The Exodus was one of the hallmarks that God was God.  Throughout all the stubbornness of Israel, and our hard hearts today, God is still slow to anger: “But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth” (Psalm 86:15); “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness” (Psalm 103:8; also Psalm 145:8).  Sin carries a grievous penalty (death).  If you humans knew how holy I’am; if you knew how great the sacrifice I will make on your behalf!  The prophet Joel wrote: “‘rend your heart and not your garments.’ Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness” (Joel 2:13).  Joel likely lived in the 800’s BC.  God was patient 300 years with Judah until the Babylonian captivity which only lasted 70 years.  Jonah prayer: “Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity'” (Jonah 4:2).  God was going to destroy Nineveh in 40 days because of their sin unless they repented (which they did).  Nahum also preached that Nineveh would be destroyed: “The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Nahum 1:3).  Nineveh was destroyed (ca 612 BC) by the Babylonians and the Medes, but this was 150-200 years after Jonah’s preaching.  God was slow to anger.  Finally, James wrote: “everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).  Often we’re slow to hear, quick to speak, and quick to anger.  When we’re tempted to be quick to anger, let’s remember God’s patience.  God was slow to anger with ancient nations, but also with us individually today.  Our sin deserves death (Romans 6:23), but God doesn’t destroy us outrightly.  God’s anger was appeased in the sacrifice of His Son Jesus.  Have you taken advantage of God’s slowness to anger?

Holy Spirit Before Baptism?

Many groups want to say that Baptism isn’t necessary for salvation.  They say this even among such passages: “Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'” (Acts 2:38); “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16).  How do some interpret these clear verses?  In Acts 10, Cornelius is a Centurion over 100 men.  He is devout, giving, fearful, prayerful, and seeking God.  He is also a Gentile., apparently a proselyte.  In verses 9-16 Peter, in Joppa, has a vision from God of unclean animals for Jews being lowered in a sheet three times.  Peter is told to kill one and eat, which Peter, being a good Jew refuses to do.  Yet God said: “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy” (Acts 10:15).  As Peter is pondering the vision, Cornelius’s servants from Caesarea come to Peter at Joppa saying: “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you” (Acts 10:22).  Then in verses 23-28, Peter makes it to Caesarea.  The gospel isn’t just for the Jews, God’s chosen people of the past, but for the gentiles as well!  Many Jews had in their minds that the Messiah would kill or enslave all the gentiles.  Gentiles were sub-human in Jewish eyes.  This is a major change for the world (See verses 34-35).  Since God fulfilled His plan of having the Messiah come through the line of David, and the prophecies fulfilled, He no longer needs a chosen people (Jews).  Peter preached the good news to them that Jesus died, was buried, and was resurrected on our behalf.  Reading through verses 43-48, someone will say: “See!  These people had the Holy Spirit before being baptized!”  Further, as we know: “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:13-14).  Does having the Holy Spirit mean one is saved?  There are a few differences we see in verses 46-47 between this Holy Spirit that comes on Cornelius and his household, and the Holy Spirit that dwells in us today after baptism (Acts 2:38).  First, we see that these gentiles could do miracles; speaking in tongues (actual languages).  This also happened on the day of Pentecost with Peter and the Apostles as Peter alludes to (verse 47): “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance” (Acts 2:4).  Maybe the Gentiles started speaking Hebrew, and the Jews started speaking Latin.  But the only way that we see the Holy Spirit given with miraculous powers in the early church is here in Acts 10, like the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, and through those whom the Apostles have laid their hands on: “Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, ‘Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'” (Acts 8:17-19).  Also: “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying” (Acts 19:6).  See further (Acts 6:6, 8; 2 Timothy 1:6).  Then in verse 48, Peter orders them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  If the baptism of the miraculous Holy Spirit was good enough, why be baptized again?  Interestingly, every saved person found in the book of Acts is baptized.  Cornelius was a good man, but not yet saved.  Cornelius was a religious man, but not yet saved.  Cornelius was visited by an angel, but not yet saved. Cornelius was baptized in the Holy Spirit, but not yet saved.  Cornelius’s obedience to Peter’s command for water baptism was necessary for him to be saved.

A Cause Or Just Because? (10-30-2021)

There are several great apologetic books out there.  Apologetics are arguments for why we believe what we believe.  I’ve really enjoyed Reasonable Faith by William Lane Craig, and I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek.  One thought goes as follows: (1) Everything that begins to exist has a cause, (2) The universe began to exist, (3) Therefore the universe has a cause.  Objects fall because someone pushed them, the wind, or some other cause.  Volcanic islands don’t just appear out of nowhere, plate tectonics caused them.  So what caused the universe to exist?  Whatever caused the universe must be non-physical, for it brought all matter into existence.  Maybe a Spirit (John 2:24)?  Whatever caused the universe must be extremely powerful is self evident.  Maybe everything is possible for this being (Matthew 19:26)?  Further, this being mustn’t be just a Law of Nature, for Laws can’t cause anything.  This being must be some type of mind to choose to cause the universe.  Maybe it has thoughts (Isaiah 55:9)?

Ahaz and Signs (11-8-2021)

I love signs in airports.  Often the building layout can get you turned around in an instant!  And of course people like me don’t like asking for directions, so the signs need to be big and obvious.  Unfortunately there were several Kings of Israel and Judah, who didn’t see God’s obvious signs.  In 2 Kings 16, we see a wicked King of Judah: Ahaz.  He practiced the abominable acts of the godless nations before him and even “made his son pass through the fire” (NASB 2 Kings 16:3).  He also offers sacrifices seemingly to every god but the true one on the “high places”, “hills” and “every green tree.”  He then loses heavily in battle against Israel and Aram (2 Kings 16:5-6; 2 Chronicles 28:6).  So what does Ahaz do?  Look to God for help?  No.  He asks Assyria for help.  When they help, he plunders the Lord’s Temple to pay them and constructs an Assyrian styled altar in Jerusalem.  Isaiah lived in Ahaz’s day, and told the King that Jerusalem wouldn’t be captured (Isaiah 7:1-7).  God essentially pleaded with Ahaz to ask for a sign that these things would be; don’t go after your worthless gods, come after me!  Ahaz doesn’t want a sign from God because he’s stuck in his idolatrous ways.  Nevertheless, God gives Judah a sign: “Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 ‘Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.’ 12 But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!’ 13 Then he said, ‘Listen now, O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well? 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel'” (Isaiah 7:10-14).  Will we heed God’s obvious signs He preformed in and through His son Jesus?  Or will we be like Ahaz, and ignore them?

Suffering and Evil? (11-20-2021)

How could God allow so much pain and suffering in the world if He’s all loving and all powerful?  We look around us and often hear of terror attacks, broken families, and hopeless people.  Yet we must be careful not to blame God.  God allows suffering, but Satan through man’s free will started it (Genesis 3:1; Revelation 12:9).   Everything God created was good- all of it (Genesis 1:31)!  God doesn’t want people to suffer, but He allows mankind free will.  God doesn’t want to send people to hell for He: “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).  Yet because of the righteousness and justice of God, sin has a price of death (Romans 6:23).  While many suffer because of their wrongdoing, we can rest assured that God is always faithful and wants what’s best for us.  The prophet Isaiah wrote: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. 29 He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary” (Isaiah 40:28-31).  Let’s seek our God who desires a loving and compassionate relationship with us; he can bring us from death to life!

One Church? (11-27-2021)

Is there only one church?  When we look at the world around us we see many religious groups.  Yet we read Jesus saying: “you are Peter [petros (stone)], and upon this rock [petra (bedrock)] I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18).  Jesus said he was only building one church “My church” and that He was building it on Himself.   In Ephesians we read: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).  This “body” that’s being referred to is Jesus’ church.  Notice: “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23.  So, His body is the church.  Furthermore, if one group says that Jesus didn’t die on the cross, and another group says He did, both can’t be right.  Are you part of God’s one true church?  Do you believe in Jesus (John 8:24)?  Have you repented of your sins (Luke 13:5)?  Have you confessed Him as Lord (Romans 10:9)?  Have you been obedient to Him in baptism for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21)?

Truth (12-4-2021)

What is truth?  This is a question that we all ask at least once in our lives.  Pontius Pilate had the opportunity to ask Jesus this question just before handing Him over to be crucified (John 18:38).  Jesus, prayed to God saying: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17).  What is this word of truth?  John also gives us the answer: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).  John then explains this “Word” further.  In verse 14 of the same chapter we read: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  Do we realize that in Jesus one finds the truth?  Winston Churchill said: “Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.”  Don’t stumble on the truth and then cast that treasure away.  We don’t read of Jesus giving a reply to Pilate, but I can’t help but imagine Jesus staring right back at Pilate thinking: You’re looking at the truth!

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