When the Moravian missionaries first began working with the Eskimos, they had trouble finding a word in the native language for forgiveness, so they made one up. They assembled a long list of letters that looked impossible to pronounce: “Issumagijoujungnainermik.” But to the Eskimos it was easily understood. It really was a combination of words which had a beautiful meaning: “Not-being-able-to-think-about-it-anymore” (Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, Assurance Publishers, 1979, p. 456).
That is a great word for forgiveness. True forgiveness results in a total loss of memory. If you have truly forgiven someone, you will never again recall anything about it. Never again will the matter even be brought up. It is gone. It is no longer remembered in any way. And that is what Paul has asked of Philemon in his short letter recorded in Scripture. He wanted Philemon to forgive his runaway slave Onesimus and forget all about it. He wanted him to begin a whole new relationship with Onesimus as brothers in Christ.
When we forgive someone we need to be like Stephen, who when he was being stoned to death for his faith, prayed, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” (Acts 7:60). That is the kind of attitude that is behind Paul’s final push to move the heart of Philemon to forgive Onesimus. In the final verses of the book of Philemon, Paul gives insight into the motives of forgiveness.
First, we forgive because we recognize our own debt which we cannot pay. In verse 18 Paul offered to pay any debt Onesimus may have owed because he had run away. In verse 19 Paul says, “I will repay.” And he adds a parenthetical note: “not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.” Paul shared the gospel first with Philemon, as he now has with Onesimus, and with similar results. Both men have come to trust in Christ for their salvation. So Philemon owes Paul a spiritual debt he could never repay. Therefore the two debts cancel each other out. Philemon’s spiritual debt should motivate him to forgive Onesimus.
We also forgive because we realize the possibility of being a blessing to others. Philemon has been a blessing to others (v. 7). Now Paul asks to receive that same blessing. The word “have joy” or “benefit” (v. 20a) is from the same root word in the Greek as the name Onesimus, which means “useful.” Here is another play on words. By forgiving Onesimus, Philemon would benefit Paul “in the Lord,” by bringing him joy through his example of obedience. And so Paul tells him to “refresh my heart in the Lord” (v. 20b) by forgiving Onesimus.
We forgive because we know that obedience to the faith requires it. Paul adds, “Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say” (v. 21). Paul reminds Philemon of the necessity of obeying Christ, knowing that to be obedient to Christ means forgiving others as He has forgiven us.
We forgive because we acknowledge our own need for accountability. Paul asks Philemon to “prepare a guest room…for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you” (v. 22). He expects to be released from prison and he plans to visit Philemon to check up on him and to see how he has forgiven Onesimus. Accountability! We all need it. It motivates us to forgive.
We forgive because we understand the importance of maintaining fellowship. Five men send their greetings along with Paul’s letter in verses 23-24. Five men well known to Philemon. Men who are a part of the fellowship. Philemon is accountable to all, and to forgive Onesimus would set a great example for these men and for all the church. Failure to forgive would break the bonds of their fellowship, because fellowship is established on and built upon forgiveness.
Finally, we forgive because we believe it is required of us by grace. That is why Paul concludes his letter to Philemon with the words: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen” (v. 25). By now Philemon was undoubtedly convicted of his need to forgive. Likewise, we too should be so convicted and motivated. The strength to forgive comes only from the grace of God, the same grace with which Christ forgave us. By God’s grace, forgive! Amen.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Friday, October 16, 2015
The Action of One Who Forgives
Perhaps no other book of Scripture can teach us more about forgiveness than Philemon. In just twenty-five verses Paul applies forgiveness to a specific situation: the return of a runaway slave, Onesimus, to his Christian owner Philemon. In the first seven verses Paul spoke highly of Philemon’s Christian character and how his integrity laid the foundation for forgiveness. Now in verses 8-18 Paul challenges Philemon to act upon his Christian character by receiving Onesimus back into his home, forgiving him, and restoring his relationship with him as a brother in Christ.
Nowhere in this book does Paul build a theological treatise on forgiveness. He doesn’t even use the word “forgiveness.” He simply assumes that Philemon knew the biblical principles that led Christians to forgive. He doesn’t appeal to law or principle, but to love, as he says, “Though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you” (vs. 8-9a). He could make his appeal for forgiveness in this manner because he knew Philemon to be a godly, spiritually mature man whose heart was right with God. For such a person, forgiveness is a way of life.
Paul tells Philemon that the first step of forgiveness is to receive back the one who offended. Philemon needed to take Onesimus back into his life because he has repented and now seeks restoration with Philemon whom he had wronged. “Whom I have begotten while in my chains” (v. 10) tells us that Paul, while imprisoned, led Onesimus to faith in Christ. Because of his spiritual rebirth his life has been transformed. A new man was returning to Philemon. He who “formerly was useless” had been so radically changed by Christ that he “now is useful” (v. 11). Onesimus means “useful.” Literally verses 10-11 make a play on words: “Useful formerly was useless, but now is useful.” He was so useful to Paul it was like sending his “own heart” (v. 12). He “wished to keep” him (v. 13), but wanted Philemon’s consent (v. 14). So he sent Onesimus back, asking Philemon to do what is right and receive him back.
The second step of forgiveness is to restore fellowship with the one who offended. Paul asks Philemon not only to welcome Onesimus back, but to restore him to service. Though not trying to mitigate his guilt, Paul suggests that God’s providence was at work. He tells Philemon that “perhaps he was for this reason parted from you for a while, that you should have him back forever” (v. 15). Onesimus left as a slave, but returned “no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother” (v. 16). By receiving him back and restoring him to service, Philemon would enjoy fellowship with Onesimus “both in the flesh,” as they worked together, and “in the Lord,” as they worshiped and ministered together. Oh, the difference forgiveness makes in our lives and in the lives of those being forgiven!
The third step of forgiveness is to reconcile accounts with the one who offended. It is likely that Philemon had been wronged by the flight of Onesimus. Not knowing if he would ever return, Philemon likely had to purchase a replacement for him. It may be that Onesimus took money or possessions from Philemon to finance his flight (v. 18a). Biblically restitution must be made (Numbers 5:6-8). Paul deals with this issue by asking Philemon to “receive” Onesimus “as you would me”; “as a partner” (v. 17). The thought here is for Philemon to be gracious and to forgive the debt. But again, Paul wants to put Philemon under no compulsion to do that, so he writes, “But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account” (v. 18). Paul’s willingness to meet Onesimus’ debt to restore his relationship with Philemon is a marvelous picture of the work of Christ. Christ paid the price to reconcile us to God and so Paul was willing to pay the price to reconcile Onesimus to Philemon.
Never are we more like God than when we forgive. Never are we more like Christ than when we pay someone else’s debt so that reconciliation can take place. Like Paul, stand in the gap and make your forgiveness complete in Christ. Amen.
Nowhere in this book does Paul build a theological treatise on forgiveness. He doesn’t even use the word “forgiveness.” He simply assumes that Philemon knew the biblical principles that led Christians to forgive. He doesn’t appeal to law or principle, but to love, as he says, “Though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you” (vs. 8-9a). He could make his appeal for forgiveness in this manner because he knew Philemon to be a godly, spiritually mature man whose heart was right with God. For such a person, forgiveness is a way of life.
Paul tells Philemon that the first step of forgiveness is to receive back the one who offended. Philemon needed to take Onesimus back into his life because he has repented and now seeks restoration with Philemon whom he had wronged. “Whom I have begotten while in my chains” (v. 10) tells us that Paul, while imprisoned, led Onesimus to faith in Christ. Because of his spiritual rebirth his life has been transformed. A new man was returning to Philemon. He who “formerly was useless” had been so radically changed by Christ that he “now is useful” (v. 11). Onesimus means “useful.” Literally verses 10-11 make a play on words: “Useful formerly was useless, but now is useful.” He was so useful to Paul it was like sending his “own heart” (v. 12). He “wished to keep” him (v. 13), but wanted Philemon’s consent (v. 14). So he sent Onesimus back, asking Philemon to do what is right and receive him back.
The second step of forgiveness is to restore fellowship with the one who offended. Paul asks Philemon not only to welcome Onesimus back, but to restore him to service. Though not trying to mitigate his guilt, Paul suggests that God’s providence was at work. He tells Philemon that “perhaps he was for this reason parted from you for a while, that you should have him back forever” (v. 15). Onesimus left as a slave, but returned “no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother” (v. 16). By receiving him back and restoring him to service, Philemon would enjoy fellowship with Onesimus “both in the flesh,” as they worked together, and “in the Lord,” as they worshiped and ministered together. Oh, the difference forgiveness makes in our lives and in the lives of those being forgiven!
The third step of forgiveness is to reconcile accounts with the one who offended. It is likely that Philemon had been wronged by the flight of Onesimus. Not knowing if he would ever return, Philemon likely had to purchase a replacement for him. It may be that Onesimus took money or possessions from Philemon to finance his flight (v. 18a). Biblically restitution must be made (Numbers 5:6-8). Paul deals with this issue by asking Philemon to “receive” Onesimus “as you would me”; “as a partner” (v. 17). The thought here is for Philemon to be gracious and to forgive the debt. But again, Paul wants to put Philemon under no compulsion to do that, so he writes, “But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account” (v. 18). Paul’s willingness to meet Onesimus’ debt to restore his relationship with Philemon is a marvelous picture of the work of Christ. Christ paid the price to reconcile us to God and so Paul was willing to pay the price to reconcile Onesimus to Philemon.
Never are we more like God than when we forgive. Never are we more like Christ than when we pay someone else’s debt so that reconciliation can take place. Like Paul, stand in the gap and make your forgiveness complete in Christ. Amen.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
The Character of One Who Forgives
Philemon is a book in the New Testament that is often overlooked, yet it is a book of great consequence. Understand the central message of Philemon and you will understand what it truly means to be Christian. Though the word itself does not appear in any of the twenty-five verses of the book, the central theme is forgiveness. Paul takes the truth that Christians are to forgive each other and applies it to a specific situation.
The Bible clearly teaches the wonderful truth that God is a forgiving God. In Exodus 34:6-7 God described Himself to Moses as “the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin.” That theme runs throughout Scripture. We could say, in a sense, that God is never more like Himself than when He forgives. Therefore we are never more like God than when we forgive. Proverbs 19:11 says, “A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.” We are to forgive as God has forgiven us.
Slavery forms the backdrop to Philemon. Slavery was a normal part of life in the ancient world. Slaves were the sole property of their owner to do with as they pleased, but by New Testament times conditions were improving for the slaves as owners came to realize that a contented slave worked better. Slaves often shared deep friendships with their masters, holding out the hope of being set free. Philemon owned at least one slave, Onesimus. Philemon was also a Christian who was serving the cause of Christ, even hosting the church in Colosse in his home (v. 2). Onesimus had run away and was with Paul in Rome where Paul had led him to faith in Christ. Paul sends him back to Philemon along with this letter which encouraged Philemon to live up to his Christianity by forgiving.
Paul appeals to the virtuous character of Philemon. He makes his Christian character the foundation of his appeal to forgive Onesimus. The first characteristic of one who forgives is a certain faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. One who forgives is one who is concerned with the things of the Lord and who desires to please Him above all else. Paul tells Philemon, “I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints” (vs. 4-5). Philemon loves God and his fellow believers, which now includes Onesimus.
The second characteristic of one who forgives is sharing your faith with power. To share your faith with power is to exercise your faith in such a way that it brings everyone together in Christian fellowship. Paul prays that “the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus” (v. 6). Forgiving one another sends a powerful message to the church concerning the importance of fellowship. It sets a standard of peace and harmony in the church.
The third characteristic of one who forgives has to do with using your faith for others. Philemon had a reputation for love, a fact that brought Paul “much joy and comfort” (v. 7a). Through Philemon “the hearts of the saints have been refreshed” (v. 7b). “Refreshed” in the original Greek is a military term that speaks of an army resting from a march. Philemon brought troubled people rest and renewal; he was a peacemaker. When your faith in Jesus is certain and you share your faith with others in a manner that brings them together in Christ, you become a peacemaker and God can use your faith to refresh others who are troubled and need renewal. Let your faith shine like a beacon for others to follow. Amen.
The Bible clearly teaches the wonderful truth that God is a forgiving God. In Exodus 34:6-7 God described Himself to Moses as “the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin.” That theme runs throughout Scripture. We could say, in a sense, that God is never more like Himself than when He forgives. Therefore we are never more like God than when we forgive. Proverbs 19:11 says, “A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.” We are to forgive as God has forgiven us.
Slavery forms the backdrop to Philemon. Slavery was a normal part of life in the ancient world. Slaves were the sole property of their owner to do with as they pleased, but by New Testament times conditions were improving for the slaves as owners came to realize that a contented slave worked better. Slaves often shared deep friendships with their masters, holding out the hope of being set free. Philemon owned at least one slave, Onesimus. Philemon was also a Christian who was serving the cause of Christ, even hosting the church in Colosse in his home (v. 2). Onesimus had run away and was with Paul in Rome where Paul had led him to faith in Christ. Paul sends him back to Philemon along with this letter which encouraged Philemon to live up to his Christianity by forgiving.
Paul appeals to the virtuous character of Philemon. He makes his Christian character the foundation of his appeal to forgive Onesimus. The first characteristic of one who forgives is a certain faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. One who forgives is one who is concerned with the things of the Lord and who desires to please Him above all else. Paul tells Philemon, “I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints” (vs. 4-5). Philemon loves God and his fellow believers, which now includes Onesimus.
The second characteristic of one who forgives is sharing your faith with power. To share your faith with power is to exercise your faith in such a way that it brings everyone together in Christian fellowship. Paul prays that “the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus” (v. 6). Forgiving one another sends a powerful message to the church concerning the importance of fellowship. It sets a standard of peace and harmony in the church.
The third characteristic of one who forgives has to do with using your faith for others. Philemon had a reputation for love, a fact that brought Paul “much joy and comfort” (v. 7a). Through Philemon “the hearts of the saints have been refreshed” (v. 7b). “Refreshed” in the original Greek is a military term that speaks of an army resting from a march. Philemon brought troubled people rest and renewal; he was a peacemaker. When your faith in Jesus is certain and you share your faith with others in a manner that brings them together in Christ, you become a peacemaker and God can use your faith to refresh others who are troubled and need renewal. Let your faith shine like a beacon for others to follow. Amen.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
When You Understand God
It has been far too long again. I am working on posting more often. Things just seem to overtake my time. No real excuse. Just returned from Oklahoma where I performed yet another funeral, this time for a family that is dear to Barb and I, and with whom we have a unique bond. It was an uplifting time of spiritual renewal and looking to Jesus for comfort, refuge, and strength.
God is a God of mercy and compassion. He told Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion” (Romans 9:15, quoting Exodus 33:19). Understanding this truth about God should lead us into an even deeper commitment to Him. It should cause us to live more fully for Him and to serve Him better by sharing the gospel with others, including the importance of trusting Jesus with all your heart. Yet, so often we fail to truly understand God. Though we believe in God’s mercy, we often do not really want Him to be merciful to certain people that we judge as particularly evil. That was precisely the problem that Jonah experienced in the final chapter of his prophecy.
Jesus told Zacchaeus, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). That is the message Jonah preached in Nineveh. He told the people of that great city, “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). He told them this disaster was coming upon them because “their wickedness has come up before (God)” (1:2). The purpose of his preaching was obviously intended to bring them to repentance. They did repent (3:5) and God had mercy upon them (3:10). So what was the problem?
God is a God of mercy and compassion. He told Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion” (Romans 9:15, quoting Exodus 33:19). Understanding this truth about God should lead us into an even deeper commitment to Him. It should cause us to live more fully for Him and to serve Him better by sharing the gospel with others, including the importance of trusting Jesus with all your heart. Yet, so often we fail to truly understand God. Though we believe in God’s mercy, we often do not really want Him to be merciful to certain people that we judge as particularly evil. That was precisely the problem that Jonah experienced in the final chapter of his prophecy.
Jesus told Zacchaeus, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). That is the message Jonah preached in Nineveh. He told the people of that great city, “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). He told them this disaster was coming upon them because “their wickedness has come up before (God)” (1:2). The purpose of his preaching was obviously intended to bring them to repentance. They did repent (3:5) and God had mercy upon them (3:10). So what was the problem?
When God showed mercy on the people of Nineveh, we are told that “it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry” (4:1). He even admits that the problem is that he did not really want God to spare the people of Nineveh. He said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I knew that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm” (v. 2). He even asked God to take his life (v. 3).
He did not want God to forgive these people whom he considered to be evil, though he knew He would. He wanted God to make them an example by destroying them instead. He wanted their destruction to be used by God to reach the people of Israel and bring them to repentance. After all they were the ones Jonah saw to be fit for the kingdom.
How often we judge people by our own prejudices. How often we want God to show mercy only to those people that we deem worthy. God asked Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry?” (v. 4). But Jonah only fled the city to the east and made a shelter for himself and watched “till he might see what would become of the city” (v. 5). Somehow he hoped he would still see this city destroyed.
God never gave up on Jonah. He caused a plant to grow up and give him shade (v. 6). Then, just as quickly, He sent a “worm” to damage the plant so that “it withered” (v. 7). Then God sent a wind that would take your breath away, along with the scorching hot sun. Together they made Jonah grow faint and wish to die (v. 8). Finally God chastised Jonah for his lack of understanding. If Jonah can have mercy on a plant (v. 10), cannot God “pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons?” (v. 11).
As I said at the start, understanding God’s mercy and compassion should lead us into an even deeper commitment to Him. If Jonah truly understood that God was “gracious and merciful” and filled with “lovingkindness” (v. 2), then he should have been fully committed to bringing that message to these people and seeking their welfare. He should have rejoiced in their repentance and in God’s show of mercy toward them. That is the level of commitment to God that comes from a true understanding of God. That is the level of commitment to God that He wants each of us to experience. Understanding God will bring that deeper level of commitment. Amen.
Monday, August 3, 2015
When You Follow God
Hi folks! As I indicated I will try to add a new post at least once a week, twice if possible. I have updated the pages on the drop down menu and will soon add a new page for Bethel Baptist Church, Stanzel, complete with pictures of the estate, along with the church, parsonage, and missionary house, as well as the lake. Watch for it. Now on to Jonah chapter 3.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’… For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matt. 6:31-32). Instead He said that we should “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (v. 33). Rather than running from God as Jonah had done, we are told to follow God and live by His righteousness. When we live as God wants us to live and do as God wants us to do, then we shall receive “showers of blessing” (Ezekiel 34:26), just as Jonah and the people of Nineveh experienced.
Jonah, having quit running from God and having repented of his rebellion against God, was approached a “second time” by God’s Word and was told, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you” (Jonah 3:1-2). “So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord” (v. 3). Having entered the city, Jonah “cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’” (v. 4). Jonah was blessed by God with a second opportunity and with the fruits of his labor, as he obeyed God.
The people of Nineveh received God’s blessings as well. Verse 5 tells us that “the people of Nineveh believed God.” They proved their faith through the symbols of their repentance. They “proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them” (v. 5). Even the king repented and led the people in repentance before God: “He arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes” (v. 6). Throughout the land he proclaimed that everyone should fast and repent, putting on sackcloth, and that everyone should “cry mightily to God” (vs. 7-8). In fact, he said specifically, “Let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands” (v. 8). He added, “Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?” (v. 9). Either way, regardless of what God may do, we will repent, said the king of Nineveh.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’… For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matt. 6:31-32). Instead He said that we should “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (v. 33). Rather than running from God as Jonah had done, we are told to follow God and live by His righteousness. When we live as God wants us to live and do as God wants us to do, then we shall receive “showers of blessing” (Ezekiel 34:26), just as Jonah and the people of Nineveh experienced.
Jonah, having quit running from God and having repented of his rebellion against God, was approached a “second time” by God’s Word and was told, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you” (Jonah 3:1-2). “So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord” (v. 3). Having entered the city, Jonah “cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’” (v. 4). Jonah was blessed by God with a second opportunity and with the fruits of his labor, as he obeyed God.
The people of Nineveh received God’s blessings as well. Verse 5 tells us that “the people of Nineveh believed God.” They proved their faith through the symbols of their repentance. They “proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them” (v. 5). Even the king repented and led the people in repentance before God: “He arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes” (v. 6). Throughout the land he proclaimed that everyone should fast and repent, putting on sackcloth, and that everyone should “cry mightily to God” (vs. 7-8). In fact, he said specifically, “Let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands” (v. 8). He added, “Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?” (v. 9). Either way, regardless of what God may do, we will repent, said the king of Nineveh.
What a great attitude! Here we see true repentance. The king of Nineveh did not tell God, “I will follow you, if you do such and such for me.” No, what he did say is, “I repent of my evil ways because they are wrong. I must turn away from them and follow you, Oh God, with no strings attached.”
The people of Nineveh were an evil and violent people (v. 9). Yet they recognized that the disaster that was about to befall them was the discipline of God because of their rebellion against Him. Therefore, they turned away from their evil ways and chose to follow God. As a result, they received God’s blessings as He “saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it” (v. 10).
When you follow God and live as God wants you to live and do the things God wants you to do, you receive His blessings. Actually, God’s blessings are literally showered upon you. Those blessings begin with His forgiveness and restoration to fellowship with Him. They continue through His many provisions in your life. He sees you through your times of trouble and meets all your needs as you follow Him. He even showers you with the blessings of the fruits of your labor for Him. The bottom line is that He cares for you and wants you to follow Him. Amen.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
When You Turn to God
It has been all too long since my last post. We still have unpacked boxes in the basement from our move. I have been quite busy here in Stanzel. I have been visiting the people, preparing messages, unpacking, getting settled; I even performed a wedding already, Saturday, July 18. Things are going well and we absolutely love it here. It is beautiful with hills and trees, a lake, and wildlife passing through our yard; deer, turkeys, geese, and big and beautiful turkey buzzards soaring over head and perching on top of the church. You might recall that last time we started with the first chapter of Jonah. So let's jump into chapter two.
We all from time to time have problems enter our lives, problems that seem way beyond our ability to cope. Those great problems may be financial. They may be health issues. Maybe it is a physical injury you are dealing with. For some it is a moral problem. For others perhaps a problem with stress. Whatever problem you may be facing, there is no question that it is beyond your knowledge or ability to cope. God says, “That’s alright. Just turn to Me and trust Me. I will see you through whatever it is.” The key is turning to God.
In Jonah chapter 2 we find Jonah inside the belly of a “great fish” (1:17). Talk about a problem that is beyond your ability to cope! What did Jonah do? “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God form the fish’s belly” (2:1). The rest of this chapter (vs. 2-9) relates the content of Jonah’s prayer, along with the results in verse 10.
Jonah began with confession. “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,” he prayed (v. 2a). Jonah knew why he ended up where he did. He fully understood that the Lord God was disciplining him for his rebellion against God. He was in the belly of the great fish because he had tried to run from God and His will. He had hoped to hide from God, though that proved to be impossible. Recognizing God’s purpose for the problem he faced, he did the right thing. He turned to God.
We all from time to time have problems enter our lives, problems that seem way beyond our ability to cope. Those great problems may be financial. They may be health issues. Maybe it is a physical injury you are dealing with. For some it is a moral problem. For others perhaps a problem with stress. Whatever problem you may be facing, there is no question that it is beyond your knowledge or ability to cope. God says, “That’s alright. Just turn to Me and trust Me. I will see you through whatever it is.” The key is turning to God.
In Jonah chapter 2 we find Jonah inside the belly of a “great fish” (1:17). Talk about a problem that is beyond your ability to cope! What did Jonah do? “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God form the fish’s belly” (2:1). The rest of this chapter (vs. 2-9) relates the content of Jonah’s prayer, along with the results in verse 10.
Jonah began with confession. “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,” he prayed (v. 2a). Jonah knew why he ended up where he did. He fully understood that the Lord God was disciplining him for his rebellion against God. He was in the belly of the great fish because he had tried to run from God and His will. He had hoped to hide from God, though that proved to be impossible. Recognizing God’s purpose for the problem he faced, he did the right thing. He turned to God.
Jonah cried out, “I have been cast out of Your sight; yet I will look again toward Your holy temple” (v. 4). He went on, “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple” (v. 7). He made a commitment proving his repentance and the fact of his turning back to God. In verse 9 he said, “But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.”
Jonah turned to God and God restored Jonah to Himself. Jonah said, “And He answered me… And You heard my voice” (v. 2b). Later Jonah wrote, “Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God” (v. 6b). And most importantly, the end result in Jonah’s life: “So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” (v. 10).
When you face problems that seem beyond your ability to cope, remember the lesson Jonah learned. First, it may very well be from God. Perhaps you have been running from Him and He is bringing discipline into your life to turn you back toward Him. Second, if so, repent. Turn to God and He will restore your relationship with Him as He intended it to be from the start. God loves you and He wants you to live your life for Him. He can empower you for just such a life, but you must first quit running from Him and turn back to Him. Do this and He will renew His fellowship with you. He will also see you through the problem you face, no matter what it is. Amen.
Friday, May 29, 2015
When You Run from God
It has been a long time. I should do better now at making entries. Barb and I have moved to Stanzel, Iowa where I am the new pastor of Bethel Baptist Church. The church and parsonage sit on a quiet thirty acre estate with a private lake on the property just down the hill from the parsonage. There are often geese on the lake and there is great fishing. The lake has lots of Bass, Carp, and Hybrid Bluegill. Deer are often seen running through our yard. It is a great setting. But now let's begin to look at Jonah.
Still, so many continue to run and try to hide from God. Like the prophet Jonah, we do not want to do as God directs us, but instead we flee from God and hide. The story goes something like this: God told Jonah to “arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me” (1:2). Instead, Jonah fled “from the presence of the Lord” (v. 3) and ran away from God and all that God wanted him to do. He boarded a ship and headed for Tarshish. He even went to the lowest part of the ship thinking that God could not find him there, and fell asleep. His conscience was so seared that he slept right through a great storm that rocked the boat and threaten to sink it along with all aboard (vs. 4-5).
The Scripture tells us that the sailors did not know the true God, so they cried out in fear to various false gods and they threw the cargo overboard “to lighten the load” (v. 5). As the storm continued, they discovered that perhaps Jonah could enlighten them as to the nature of the problem (vs. 7-8). Jonah confessed that His God was the true God, the maker of “the sea and the dry land” (v. 9), and that he was running “from the presence of the Lord” (v. 10). Jonah told them to “throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me” (v. 12). They tried not to do it, but in the end they gave in and threw Jonah overboard, and indeed the sea became calm again (v. 15).
The end result for these sailors was a new found faith in the true God (v. 16). For Jonah, however, it was three days and three nights in the belly of a “great fish” which had swallowed him (v. 17). The lesson learned from Jonah is that it does not pay to run and hide from God. He will find you and He will discipline you in whatever way necessary to secure your repentance and bring you back to Him.
How many times and in how many ways do we try to run from God or to hide from Him? We don’t attend church because we “have better things to do.” We avoid certain people because they remind us of the Lord, or perhaps even talk to us about God. We see the pastor or a deacon coming and, because we haven’t been in church lately, we turn and go the other way. We avoid God and hide from Him in any way we can. We simply turn and flee “from the presence of the Lord” (v. 3) in hopes that He won’t find us.
Psalm 139:7-12 tells us clearly that there is no place we can go where God will not find us. As He did with Jonah, He may bring hardship into our lives in some way because we are running from Him. The purpose is to bring you to repentance and to bring you back to Him. Let God into your life and follow Him. That is what Jonah learned and we should learn it too. Amen.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
The Chariot of Israel and Its Horsemen!
In 2 Kings 2:1-15 we have what might be called the changing of the guard. It speaks of faith. It shows faith in action. God leads and we follow by faith. As we walk by faith and do everything out of faith, we are also blessed by faith. In Hebrews 11:1 faith is defined: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (NASB). Faith is not dead or idle; faith is living and active.
In our text here, we see this “faith principle” at work in the relationship between Elijah and his understudy Elisha. In this time of transition, as the torch is passed from Elijah to Elisha, we see how our faith is built.
Elisha’s faith is tested as he and Elijah make their way to the Jordan. The text says simply, “When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal” (v. 1).
As they walked along, “Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.’ But Elisha said, ‘As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel” (v. 2). Elijah was following the path the Lord set for him and Elisha followed Elijah's lead. The faithful do not turn back from following the Lord.
Twice more the same scenario was repeated. Elisha responded the same each time. At every turn, Elijah and Elisha passed the test. Would you turn back, given the chance? Is God testing your faith? When He directs your path, do you follow and go where He leads and do what He says? Or do you tend to turn back and stay put? Do you stick with the familiar, even though you know that God is leading you to step out for him? Perhaps He wants you to talk with a neighbor about Jesus. Are you faithful to do so? Do you pass the test?
At each city they met with “the sons of the prophets.” They met with them at Bethel (v. 3) and at Jericho (v. 5). Note verse 5: “Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, ‘Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?’ So he answered, ‘Yes, I know; keep silent!’”
Twice these students challenged Elisha, both at Bethel and twelve miles downhill from there at Jericho, about a half day’s journey. So these challenges from “the sons of the prophets” likely occurred on consecutive days. Twice Elisha responded positively. He fully accepted God’s challenge for him.
Elijah, who is still our main character in this study, was also tested. And he, likewise, accepted God’s challenge. “And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground” (vs. 7-8).
Elijah stepped out in faith and God acted. When you step out in faith and follow His lead, God acts. He may even perform a miracle to accomplish His will. He just wants you to accept His challenge, step out in faith, and follow His lead.
“And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?’ Elisha said, ‘Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.’ So he said, ‘You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so’” (vs. 9-10). His request runs deep. It came straight from the heart. What Elisha wanted more than anything else in life was to serve the Lord with all of his heart.
By asking for a double portion of the spirit of Elijah, he was not asking for twice as much of the Holy Spirit or for a ministry that was twice as great as Elijah’s. He was asking for a greater measure of the inner spirit that Elijah had. What he felt he needed above all else was more of the inner strength, courage, and faithfulness that Elijah had.
Suddenly Elijah found himself looking straight into the face of Jesus. He was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind being accompanied by chariots and horses of fire. “Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (v. 11). Elijah’s faith was rewarded.
Elijah was transported to heaven without seeing physical death. Only Enoch had a similar experience: “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Gen. 5:24); no one else either before or since. It is a picture of the rapture spoken of by Paul when many more believers will be “caught up…in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:17).
What an exciting time that will be! Enoch “walked with God” and received this reward. Elijah was faithful and he received this reward. If you believe in the Lord and walk with him, you too will be raptured one day and “be caught up…in the clouds” to see Jesus face to face. Oh how marvelous!
Elijah was raptured and saw Jesus face to face. Elisha saw him go and was rewarded with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. “And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, ‘My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!’ So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces” (v. 12). One day he too would see Jesus. For now he is empowered for his work in the Lord.
Rending his clothes (v. 12) is a way of acknowledging that he is a new man. “He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan” (v. 13). To receive Elijah’s mantle or his cloak was a sign of adoption. Elisha was the heir to Elijah’s ministry and he was endowed with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. He went on to perform twice as many miracles as did Elijah.
Taking up Elijah’s mantle, Elisha showed that he was ready to take up Elijah’s ministry as well. He began by using Elijah’s mantle in performing his first miracle—parting the waters of the Jordan to cross over again on dry land: “Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, ‘Where is the Lord God of Elijah?’ And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over” (v. 14).
This is the fourth time God parted the waters—the second time that day! And the point was not missed. The God of Elijah still lives. God is not dead. Those who say He is have simply got it wrong. The God of Elijah still lives and the parting of the water proved it. It also proved that God rested in Elisha.
God’s people recognize when God is with you and they acknowledge it. “Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, ‘The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.’ And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him” (v. 15).
The faithful walk with God. Elijah walked with God and he was raptured to meet Jesus in the air. Elisha has taken up Elijah’s mantle and he is walking with God, as seen in his parting of the Jordan. “The sons of the prophets” follow their lead and they are walking with God. So we too must follow after Elijah and walk with God, all the while looking to the sky as we go in anticipation of that great and glorious day when we will be raptured, when we will be “caught up…in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” Amen.
In our text here, we see this “faith principle” at work in the relationship between Elijah and his understudy Elisha. In this time of transition, as the torch is passed from Elijah to Elisha, we see how our faith is built.
Elisha’s faith is tested as he and Elijah make their way to the Jordan. The text says simply, “When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal” (v. 1).
As they walked along, “Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.’ But Elisha said, ‘As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel” (v. 2). Elijah was following the path the Lord set for him and Elisha followed Elijah's lead. The faithful do not turn back from following the Lord.
Twice more the same scenario was repeated. Elisha responded the same each time. At every turn, Elijah and Elisha passed the test. Would you turn back, given the chance? Is God testing your faith? When He directs your path, do you follow and go where He leads and do what He says? Or do you tend to turn back and stay put? Do you stick with the familiar, even though you know that God is leading you to step out for him? Perhaps He wants you to talk with a neighbor about Jesus. Are you faithful to do so? Do you pass the test?
At each city they met with “the sons of the prophets.” They met with them at Bethel (v. 3) and at Jericho (v. 5). Note verse 5: “Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, ‘Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?’ So he answered, ‘Yes, I know; keep silent!’”
Twice these students challenged Elisha, both at Bethel and twelve miles downhill from there at Jericho, about a half day’s journey. So these challenges from “the sons of the prophets” likely occurred on consecutive days. Twice Elisha responded positively. He fully accepted God’s challenge for him.
Elijah, who is still our main character in this study, was also tested. And he, likewise, accepted God’s challenge. “And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground” (vs. 7-8).
Elijah stepped out in faith and God acted. When you step out in faith and follow His lead, God acts. He may even perform a miracle to accomplish His will. He just wants you to accept His challenge, step out in faith, and follow His lead.
“And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?’ Elisha said, ‘Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.’ So he said, ‘You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so’” (vs. 9-10). His request runs deep. It came straight from the heart. What Elisha wanted more than anything else in life was to serve the Lord with all of his heart.
By asking for a double portion of the spirit of Elijah, he was not asking for twice as much of the Holy Spirit or for a ministry that was twice as great as Elijah’s. He was asking for a greater measure of the inner spirit that Elijah had. What he felt he needed above all else was more of the inner strength, courage, and faithfulness that Elijah had.
Suddenly Elijah found himself looking straight into the face of Jesus. He was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind being accompanied by chariots and horses of fire. “Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (v. 11). Elijah’s faith was rewarded.
Elijah was transported to heaven without seeing physical death. Only Enoch had a similar experience: “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Gen. 5:24); no one else either before or since. It is a picture of the rapture spoken of by Paul when many more believers will be “caught up…in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:17).
What an exciting time that will be! Enoch “walked with God” and received this reward. Elijah was faithful and he received this reward. If you believe in the Lord and walk with him, you too will be raptured one day and “be caught up…in the clouds” to see Jesus face to face. Oh how marvelous!
Elijah was raptured and saw Jesus face to face. Elisha saw him go and was rewarded with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. “And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, ‘My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!’ So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces” (v. 12). One day he too would see Jesus. For now he is empowered for his work in the Lord.
Rending his clothes (v. 12) is a way of acknowledging that he is a new man. “He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan” (v. 13). To receive Elijah’s mantle or his cloak was a sign of adoption. Elisha was the heir to Elijah’s ministry and he was endowed with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. He went on to perform twice as many miracles as did Elijah.
Taking up Elijah’s mantle, Elisha showed that he was ready to take up Elijah’s ministry as well. He began by using Elijah’s mantle in performing his first miracle—parting the waters of the Jordan to cross over again on dry land: “Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, ‘Where is the Lord God of Elijah?’ And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over” (v. 14).
This is the fourth time God parted the waters—the second time that day! And the point was not missed. The God of Elijah still lives. God is not dead. Those who say He is have simply got it wrong. The God of Elijah still lives and the parting of the water proved it. It also proved that God rested in Elisha.
God’s people recognize when God is with you and they acknowledge it. “Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, ‘The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.’ And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him” (v. 15).
The faithful walk with God. Elijah walked with God and he was raptured to meet Jesus in the air. Elisha has taken up Elijah’s mantle and he is walking with God, as seen in his parting of the Jordan. “The sons of the prophets” follow their lead and they are walking with God. So we too must follow after Elijah and walk with God, all the while looking to the sky as we go in anticipation of that great and glorious day when we will be raptured, when we will be “caught up…in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” Amen.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Go and Tell!
"From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised" (Psalm 113:3). I hope all of you experienced an Easter Sunrise Service this morning. It is so invigorating, so exiting to worship right at sunrise, knowing it was early in the morning that first Easter Sunday that Jesus rose from the dead, defeating even death.
Because of the resurrection we have life. In fact, without the resurrection, we would have nothing. The Bible says, "If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty" (1 Cor. 5:14). But Christ did rise from the dead. The proof is overwhwelming; the witnesses plentiful.
Paul states plainly: "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time." (1 Cor. 15:3-8)
Follow the evidence of Scripture and you will know the truth and you will praise the Lord "from the rising of the sun to its setting" (Psalm 113:3) every day. Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph, but soon the scribes and the Pharisees turned the people against Him. Refusing to believe the truth that He was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, they had Him crucified. A horrible death!
But that wasn't the end of the story. There was hope; an unbelievable and certain hope for all who believe. And that hope is Jesus. He isn’t dead. He’s alive! He rose from the dead the third day and He now lives inside of everyone who believes. He is there to empower you to live a life of righteousness. By faith you are saved. By faith you live the resurrected life in Jesus Christ.
When Mary and the other women came to the tomb early that first Easter morning they encountered an angel. He told them to "come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matt. 28:6b). They looked into the tomb. It was empty. They had witnessed the crucifixion. They had seen Jesus die on the cross. They watched the centurion pierce His side with the sword, proving He had died. Yet, now the tomb was empty! What did it all mean?
The angel said, "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said” (v. 6a). "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold I have told you" (v. 7).
First, the angel told the women to "come, see the place where Jesus lay" (v. 6b). They were to come and see where Jesus was not. He did "lay" there but not any longer. He wasn’t in the grave because He had risen from the dead! The tomb was empty!
I am reminded of that great Christian song Because He Lives, which says, "An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives." And then the chorus continues, "Because He lives I can face tomorrow; Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living just because He lives." Life. That is what both the cross and the empty grave are all about. The cross provides forgiveness which allows you to live life as God designed it. The resurrection provides life, abundant and eternal. And that life is yours by faith.
The angel told the women, "Come, see" (v. 6b). "Come, see" that Christ has risen. "Come, see" and experience the fact that Jesus is alive. Believe. Place your faith in Him, His death on the cross, and His resurrection. And then live by that same faith. That means telling others. So the women were told to take the truth of the resurrection to Jesus’ disciples so that they too would "come, see" Jesus. In Galilee they would "see" Him (v. 7). Then they too would believe unto salvation. They too would have faith in Jesus. They too would live by that faith.
That’s what the women did. They ran to tell the disciples (v. 8). And when the women saw Jesus Himself (v. 9), He also told them to take the truth to His disciples (v. 10). When the disciples heard the good news they went to Galilee (v. 16) and there they "saw" Jesus, alive! (v. 17). But take note of one thing. When the women saw Jesus they "worshiped Him" (v. 9b). Also, when the disciples saw Jesus they too "worshiped Him" (v. 17). When you meet the risen Christ by faith you will worship Him and He will give you new life!
When your life has been changed by Jesus you can’t help but tell others. The angel told the women to "go quickly and tell His disciples that He (Jesus) is risen from the dead" (v. 7a). Then Jesus Himself told the women, "Go quickly and tell" (v. 10a). Later Jesus told the disciples, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations" (v. 19a). All who believe are to "go quickly and tell." Whatever you do, "go quickly and tell."
Matthew 28:18-20 is known throughout the church as The Great Commission. Starting with the women, Jesus has commanded all of His people to "go quickly and tell." Tell your family, friends, and neighbors about Jesus and the power of the cross. Tell them about the resurrection and the life He gives to all who believe. Tell everyone you come in contact with. And tell them in the power and name of Jesus. He has "all authority…in heaven and on earth" (v. 18). He gives that authority to you and He empowers you, as you give witness to Him. Amen.
Because of the resurrection we have life. In fact, without the resurrection, we would have nothing. The Bible says, "If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty" (1 Cor. 5:14). But Christ did rise from the dead. The proof is overwhwelming; the witnesses plentiful.
Paul states plainly: "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time." (1 Cor. 15:3-8)
Follow the evidence of Scripture and you will know the truth and you will praise the Lord "from the rising of the sun to its setting" (Psalm 113:3) every day. Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph, but soon the scribes and the Pharisees turned the people against Him. Refusing to believe the truth that He was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, they had Him crucified. A horrible death!
But that wasn't the end of the story. There was hope; an unbelievable and certain hope for all who believe. And that hope is Jesus. He isn’t dead. He’s alive! He rose from the dead the third day and He now lives inside of everyone who believes. He is there to empower you to live a life of righteousness. By faith you are saved. By faith you live the resurrected life in Jesus Christ.
When Mary and the other women came to the tomb early that first Easter morning they encountered an angel. He told them to "come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matt. 28:6b). They looked into the tomb. It was empty. They had witnessed the crucifixion. They had seen Jesus die on the cross. They watched the centurion pierce His side with the sword, proving He had died. Yet, now the tomb was empty! What did it all mean?
The angel said, "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said” (v. 6a). "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold I have told you" (v. 7).
First, the angel told the women to "come, see the place where Jesus lay" (v. 6b). They were to come and see where Jesus was not. He did "lay" there but not any longer. He wasn’t in the grave because He had risen from the dead! The tomb was empty!
I am reminded of that great Christian song Because He Lives, which says, "An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives." And then the chorus continues, "Because He lives I can face tomorrow; Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living just because He lives." Life. That is what both the cross and the empty grave are all about. The cross provides forgiveness which allows you to live life as God designed it. The resurrection provides life, abundant and eternal. And that life is yours by faith.
The angel told the women, "Come, see" (v. 6b). "Come, see" that Christ has risen. "Come, see" and experience the fact that Jesus is alive. Believe. Place your faith in Him, His death on the cross, and His resurrection. And then live by that same faith. That means telling others. So the women were told to take the truth of the resurrection to Jesus’ disciples so that they too would "come, see" Jesus. In Galilee they would "see" Him (v. 7). Then they too would believe unto salvation. They too would have faith in Jesus. They too would live by that faith.
That’s what the women did. They ran to tell the disciples (v. 8). And when the women saw Jesus Himself (v. 9), He also told them to take the truth to His disciples (v. 10). When the disciples heard the good news they went to Galilee (v. 16) and there they "saw" Jesus, alive! (v. 17). But take note of one thing. When the women saw Jesus they "worshiped Him" (v. 9b). Also, when the disciples saw Jesus they too "worshiped Him" (v. 17). When you meet the risen Christ by faith you will worship Him and He will give you new life!
When your life has been changed by Jesus you can’t help but tell others. The angel told the women to "go quickly and tell His disciples that He (Jesus) is risen from the dead" (v. 7a). Then Jesus Himself told the women, "Go quickly and tell" (v. 10a). Later Jesus told the disciples, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations" (v. 19a). All who believe are to "go quickly and tell." Whatever you do, "go quickly and tell."
Matthew 28:18-20 is known throughout the church as The Great Commission. Starting with the women, Jesus has commanded all of His people to "go quickly and tell." Tell your family, friends, and neighbors about Jesus and the power of the cross. Tell them about the resurrection and the life He gives to all who believe. Tell everyone you come in contact with. And tell them in the power and name of Jesus. He has "all authority…in heaven and on earth" (v. 18). He gives that authority to you and He empowers you, as you give witness to Him. Amen.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Infallible Proof of the Resurrection
The burial of Jesus is a story in itself that guarantees proof of the resurrection on Sunday. His disciples attended to the burial on Friday evening before sundown, but His enemies took care of the critical details on Saturday. They saw to it that there could be no deception. If the body was gone on Sunday morning, then Jesus had risen indeed!
With Jesus lying in the grave on Saturday it would seem that not much was happening that day. But nothing could be further from the truth. A lot was happening. Scripture tells us that while Jesus' body was dead He was very much alive in the spirit and He was quite busy. In 1 Peter 3:18-19 we read, "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison."
In Ephesians, Paul quotes Psalm 68:18, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men" (Eph. 3:8). He then continues, "Now this expression, 'He ascended,' what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things" (vs. 9-10).
Peter then sheds light onn the phrase, "He also descended into the lower parts of the earth" with the words, "He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison" (1 Pet. 3:19). During His three days in the tomb, Jesus did not preach the gospel, but He made a triumphant announcement to the demons being held in Sheol, the place of torment. These are the angels that sinned in Genesis 6:2-5 and were then cast into hell to await judgment (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). To them Jesus proclaimed His victory over sin and death.
Jesus then opened the doors to another part of Sheol known as "Abraham's bosom" (Luke 16:22-23) or "Paradise" (Luke 23:43), releasing the godly captives and leading them to heaven where they are now with Jesus (Eph. 3:8). So Saturday was a busy time for Jesus and a time of great triumph. But it was also a busy time among men in Jerusalem.
"Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed." (Matt. 27:57-60)
Joseph of Arimathea, a follower of Jesus, saw to it that Jesus received a proper burial before sundown that Friday. It was imperative by Jewish religious law that He be buried before the Sabbath began at sundown. Some of the women were there observing where He was laid to rest so they knew where to come after the Sabbath, first thing Sunday morning: "And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb" (v. 61). Everything was done by the book on Friday evening, and that was a good thing.
On Saturday the chief priests and the Pharisees got busy. They understood that Jesus claimed He would rise from the dead the third day. They wanted to prevent any deception by His disciples and try to keep Him in the grave, so they went to work: "On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, 'Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, "After three days I will rise." Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, "He has risen from the dead." So the last deception will be worse than the first.' Pilate said to them, 'You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard." (Matt. 27:62-66)
By sealing the tomb with the Roman seal and by setting a Roman guard they provided infallible proof of the resurrection of Jesus on Sunday morning. Whether by special detachment of Roman sooldiers or by use of the guard already at their disposal, the guard that was set was made up of well trained, combat ready Roman soldiers making it impossible for the disciples to steal the body. The Roman seal also guaranteed that no one would steal the body because to break the seal was punishable by death. So the empty tomb on Sunday morning left no doubt that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. Everyone knew it. It was not hidden. Let us rejoice in Jesus, our risen Savior! Amen.
With Jesus lying in the grave on Saturday it would seem that not much was happening that day. But nothing could be further from the truth. A lot was happening. Scripture tells us that while Jesus' body was dead He was very much alive in the spirit and He was quite busy. In 1 Peter 3:18-19 we read, "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison."
In Ephesians, Paul quotes Psalm 68:18, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men" (Eph. 3:8). He then continues, "Now this expression, 'He ascended,' what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things" (vs. 9-10).
Peter then sheds light onn the phrase, "He also descended into the lower parts of the earth" with the words, "He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison" (1 Pet. 3:19). During His three days in the tomb, Jesus did not preach the gospel, but He made a triumphant announcement to the demons being held in Sheol, the place of torment. These are the angels that sinned in Genesis 6:2-5 and were then cast into hell to await judgment (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). To them Jesus proclaimed His victory over sin and death.
Jesus then opened the doors to another part of Sheol known as "Abraham's bosom" (Luke 16:22-23) or "Paradise" (Luke 23:43), releasing the godly captives and leading them to heaven where they are now with Jesus (Eph. 3:8). So Saturday was a busy time for Jesus and a time of great triumph. But it was also a busy time among men in Jerusalem.
"Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed." (Matt. 27:57-60)
Joseph of Arimathea, a follower of Jesus, saw to it that Jesus received a proper burial before sundown that Friday. It was imperative by Jewish religious law that He be buried before the Sabbath began at sundown. Some of the women were there observing where He was laid to rest so they knew where to come after the Sabbath, first thing Sunday morning: "And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb" (v. 61). Everything was done by the book on Friday evening, and that was a good thing.
On Saturday the chief priests and the Pharisees got busy. They understood that Jesus claimed He would rise from the dead the third day. They wanted to prevent any deception by His disciples and try to keep Him in the grave, so they went to work: "On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, 'Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, "After three days I will rise." Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, "He has risen from the dead." So the last deception will be worse than the first.' Pilate said to them, 'You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard." (Matt. 27:62-66)
By sealing the tomb with the Roman seal and by setting a Roman guard they provided infallible proof of the resurrection of Jesus on Sunday morning. Whether by special detachment of Roman sooldiers or by use of the guard already at their disposal, the guard that was set was made up of well trained, combat ready Roman soldiers making it impossible for the disciples to steal the body. The Roman seal also guaranteed that no one would steal the body because to break the seal was punishable by death. So the empty tomb on Sunday morning left no doubt that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. Everyone knew it. It was not hidden. Let us rejoice in Jesus, our risen Savior! Amen.
Friday, April 3, 2015
One Thief to Another
Philippians 2:6-11 lays out the core of the gospel of Christ. That work of Christ culminated at the cross on Good Friday. Verses 6-7 tell us that God’s provision for man’s salvation began at Christmas when God became a man: “Christ Jesus…being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”
That work of God was finished at the cross when Jesus died for the sins of men, your sins and mine. The penalty you deserved to pay, was paid for you by Jesus at the cross. Going on, Paul writes, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (v. 8).
The capstone of our salvation occurred on Easter morning: “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (vs. 9-11). God raised Jesus from the dead, defeating even death, and He ascended into heaven from where He will return and everyone will have no choice but to bow before Him and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!
Place yourself for a moment at the foot of the cross. On that Good Friday, as we stand looking up at Jesus who is there on the cross, we notice that He is not alone. There are two others, two thieves hanging on crosses beside Him: “There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left” (Luke 23:32-33).
A conversation that takes place between these three on the crosses. That conversation reveals the truth of the cross. That conversation reveals the fact that the cross divides all people into two groups. The two groups are defined by the two thieves and their response to the cross of Christ. One responds with mocking, the other with praise. All people since respond in one of two ways, with mocking or with praise. The question is, in which group are you?
To mock Jesus is to reject Him, and it didn’t begin with the thief on the cross. It began with the leaders of the people and the soldiers. Both Jew and Gentile alike joined together to crucify and then to ridicule and mock Jesus. “And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, ‘He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.’ The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, ‘If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself’” (vs. 35-37). It even spread to the people: “And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross’” (Matt. 27:39-40).
The people were “wagging their heads,” sneering at Jesus on the cross. They were looking down their noses at Him assuming He was finished. But He wasn’t. Only the work He came to do was finished, as He later declared from the cross, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). They derided Him and mocked Him. They made fun of Him and told what they thought were jokes because they thought the joke was on Him. But it wasn’t.
Even one of the criminals joined in and “blasphemed” Jesus (Luke 23:39a). He even spoke about salvation: “If you are the Christ, save Yourself and us,” (v. 39b). To blaspheme God means to use words or conduct that injures God’s honor and holiness. That is what this criminal did. He was not repenting or seeking God’s grace and mercy in any way. He was using these words flippantly in direct ridicule of Jesus. He was announcing to all the fact that he did not believe in Jesus. That would be his final undoing.
As we see at the foot of the cross, so many people refuse to understand the gospel of Christ and believe. They choose instead the way of destruction as they openly rebel against God and Christ. So many people reject Jesus and the way of the cross. So many people only mock Jesus with their words, their lifestyles, and in so many ways. These are the real blasphemers, because they deny Jesus’ messianic claims. They revile and mock Him instead, like the people at the cross.
The other thief took a much different approach, both in how he acted and in what he believed. One thief to another: “But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong’” (vs. 40-41). He recognized who Jesus was and he responded accordingly.
This thief knew he was a sinner and that Jesus was without sin. He knew that he deserved to die for his sin and that Jesus did not. So it seems he understood why Jesus was dying. He understood that Jesus was dying for him, that he might be forgiven and have eternal life with Jesus. So he turned to Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (v. 42).
This thief sought salvation in terms of repentance and mercy. He understood what was happening and he responded in faith. He believed on Jesus and was saved. Salvation literally at the cross! This is what Good Friday is all about. Note Jesus’ promise to this believing thief: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (v. 43).
It was then that Jesus cried out, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit’” (v. 46, quoted from Psalm 31:5). And He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30b). Then “bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:30c). At that point Luke tells us, “When the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, ‘Certainly this was a righteous Man!’ And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned” (Luke 23:47-48).
There are still but two responses to the work of the cross. The centurion “saw” and believed and “glorified God” (v. 47). The rest of the crowd of people “seeing what had been done” (the earthquake, the darkness, and the sufferings of Jesus), “beat their breasts” (v. 48), a sign of alarm, fear, and anguish. But they did not repent. We are told they merely “returned” (v. 48b). They went home and said, “Oh, well. Who cares?” They certainly did not. They refused to believe and they continued in their attitude of mocking Jesus. A few praised God for the cross of Christ, but many more did not.
As we stand at the foot of the cross, this redeemed thief turns to us and asks, “What about you? Which side are you on? Are you with that other thief who rejects Jesus and His cross? Are you with those people who ridicule and mock Jesus? Do you blaspheme Jesus with your words or your lifestyle, with what you say or with what you do?
Or do you stand with the few who believe? Do you recognize who Jesus really is? Do you realize that He is the Savior? Do you understand why He died? Do you believe that Jesus died for you? Do you believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sin so that you might have life in His name, abundant life now as well as life eternal? Have you repented? Have you turned away from your sin and sought God’s mercy at the cross of Jesus? I pray you have. Amen.
That work of God was finished at the cross when Jesus died for the sins of men, your sins and mine. The penalty you deserved to pay, was paid for you by Jesus at the cross. Going on, Paul writes, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (v. 8).
The capstone of our salvation occurred on Easter morning: “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (vs. 9-11). God raised Jesus from the dead, defeating even death, and He ascended into heaven from where He will return and everyone will have no choice but to bow before Him and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!
Place yourself for a moment at the foot of the cross. On that Good Friday, as we stand looking up at Jesus who is there on the cross, we notice that He is not alone. There are two others, two thieves hanging on crosses beside Him: “There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left” (Luke 23:32-33).
A conversation that takes place between these three on the crosses. That conversation reveals the truth of the cross. That conversation reveals the fact that the cross divides all people into two groups. The two groups are defined by the two thieves and their response to the cross of Christ. One responds with mocking, the other with praise. All people since respond in one of two ways, with mocking or with praise. The question is, in which group are you?
To mock Jesus is to reject Him, and it didn’t begin with the thief on the cross. It began with the leaders of the people and the soldiers. Both Jew and Gentile alike joined together to crucify and then to ridicule and mock Jesus. “And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, ‘He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.’ The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, ‘If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself’” (vs. 35-37). It even spread to the people: “And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross’” (Matt. 27:39-40).
The people were “wagging their heads,” sneering at Jesus on the cross. They were looking down their noses at Him assuming He was finished. But He wasn’t. Only the work He came to do was finished, as He later declared from the cross, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). They derided Him and mocked Him. They made fun of Him and told what they thought were jokes because they thought the joke was on Him. But it wasn’t.
Even one of the criminals joined in and “blasphemed” Jesus (Luke 23:39a). He even spoke about salvation: “If you are the Christ, save Yourself and us,” (v. 39b). To blaspheme God means to use words or conduct that injures God’s honor and holiness. That is what this criminal did. He was not repenting or seeking God’s grace and mercy in any way. He was using these words flippantly in direct ridicule of Jesus. He was announcing to all the fact that he did not believe in Jesus. That would be his final undoing.
As we see at the foot of the cross, so many people refuse to understand the gospel of Christ and believe. They choose instead the way of destruction as they openly rebel against God and Christ. So many people reject Jesus and the way of the cross. So many people only mock Jesus with their words, their lifestyles, and in so many ways. These are the real blasphemers, because they deny Jesus’ messianic claims. They revile and mock Him instead, like the people at the cross.
The other thief took a much different approach, both in how he acted and in what he believed. One thief to another: “But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong’” (vs. 40-41). He recognized who Jesus was and he responded accordingly.
This thief knew he was a sinner and that Jesus was without sin. He knew that he deserved to die for his sin and that Jesus did not. So it seems he understood why Jesus was dying. He understood that Jesus was dying for him, that he might be forgiven and have eternal life with Jesus. So he turned to Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (v. 42).
This thief sought salvation in terms of repentance and mercy. He understood what was happening and he responded in faith. He believed on Jesus and was saved. Salvation literally at the cross! This is what Good Friday is all about. Note Jesus’ promise to this believing thief: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (v. 43).
It was then that Jesus cried out, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit’” (v. 46, quoted from Psalm 31:5). And He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30b). Then “bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:30c). At that point Luke tells us, “When the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, ‘Certainly this was a righteous Man!’ And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned” (Luke 23:47-48).
There are still but two responses to the work of the cross. The centurion “saw” and believed and “glorified God” (v. 47). The rest of the crowd of people “seeing what had been done” (the earthquake, the darkness, and the sufferings of Jesus), “beat their breasts” (v. 48), a sign of alarm, fear, and anguish. But they did not repent. We are told they merely “returned” (v. 48b). They went home and said, “Oh, well. Who cares?” They certainly did not. They refused to believe and they continued in their attitude of mocking Jesus. A few praised God for the cross of Christ, but many more did not.
As we stand at the foot of the cross, this redeemed thief turns to us and asks, “What about you? Which side are you on? Are you with that other thief who rejects Jesus and His cross? Are you with those people who ridicule and mock Jesus? Do you blaspheme Jesus with your words or your lifestyle, with what you say or with what you do?
Or do you stand with the few who believe? Do you recognize who Jesus really is? Do you realize that He is the Savior? Do you understand why He died? Do you believe that Jesus died for you? Do you believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sin so that you might have life in His name, abundant life now as well as life eternal? Have you repented? Have you turned away from your sin and sought God’s mercy at the cross of Jesus? I pray you have. Amen.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Lord, Is It I
History is strewn with people whose lives were left in shambles because they chose to oppose God. History is strewn with people whose lives were left in shambles because, though they glibly claimed to “believe in God,” they actually followed Satan by choosing to live a life of sin and rebellion against God.
On Thursday of that week things took an interesting twist. Judas Iscariot had plotted with the chief priests to betray Jesus (Matt. 26:14-16). Everything was already set in motion by the time Jesus and His disciples entered the upper room and prepared to eat the Passover meal together (vs. 17-20). Good and evil were about to collide in historic proportions. Everything about this week points to the cross and the cross represents the triumph of good over evil.
Even before Judas plotted his evil deed with the chief priests, Jesus prepared His disciples for the work He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. He was headed to the cross (Matt. 26:2).
Early on Thursday morning, Jesus gave specific instructions to His disciples concerning where they should make ready for Him to eat the Passover meal (vs. 17-19). They were to “go into the city” and find “a certain man.” From the other two synoptic gospels we learn that the man would be carrying a pitcher of water (Mark 14:13; Luke 22:10). That would have set him apart noticeably, because it was highly unusual for a man to do that kind of work.
When they found him, they were to “say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples”’” (Matt. 26:18). In the phrase, “My time is at hand,” “time” is not the Greek word which refers to a general space or succession of time, but rather the word which refers to a specific and often predetermined period or moment of time.
Jesus’ “time” was also, of course, the Father’s time, the divinely appointed time when the Son would offer Himself as the sacrifice for the sins of the world. It is time for good and evil to clash in the battle of all battles and for good to triumph over evil, bringing you salvation.
Early on Thursday morning, Jesus gave specific instructions to His disciples concerning where they should make ready for Him to eat the Passover meal (vs. 17-19). They were to “go into the city” and find “a certain man.” From the other two synoptic gospels we learn that the man would be carrying a pitcher of water (Mark 14:13; Luke 22:10). That would have set him apart noticeably, because it was highly unusual for a man to do that kind of work.
When they found him, they were to “say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples”’” (Matt. 26:18). In the phrase, “My time is at hand,” “time” is not the Greek word which refers to a general space or succession of time, but rather the word which refers to a specific and often predetermined period or moment of time.
Jesus’ “time” was also, of course, the Father’s time, the divinely appointed time when the Son would offer Himself as the sacrifice for the sins of the world. It is time for good and evil to clash in the battle of all battles and for good to triumph over evil, bringing you salvation.
Until now that monumental time had not come and could not have come because Jesus‘ work on earth had not yet been finished. But at this particular Passover it could not fail to come, because it was divinely ordained and fixed. That last Passover supper would set in motion the final, irreversible countdown, as it were, for the crucifixion.
Imagine that day at the cross and what the disciples must have been going through. The things they must have thought! The Lord Jesus hanging on the cross, dying. The fear of being arrested and perhaps even crucified themselves. Peter denied Him three times (Matt. 26:69-75). The others scattered and fled (Mark 14:27). Only John (John 19:26-27) and some of the women (Matt. 27:55) remained near the cross.
The disciples likely thought about the events of the week: the joyous entry into Jerusalem, clearing the temple of the money changers, all the teaching, and then the Passover celebration and sharing in the first Lord’s Supper.
Oh, the Lord’s Supper! That is where the trouble all began. Jesus said someone would betray Him; they did. He said He would be crucified; He was. If they only knew what was coming first thing Sunday morning! What they did know was that Jesus said, “One of you will betray me” (Matt 26:21). Taken by surprise, they all thought, “Surely, not!” Yet each disciple searched his heart and one by one they all asked, “Lord, is it I” (v. 22).
But Judas! He was surprised too, surprised that Jesus knew! He pretended to be pious like the others and asked, "Rabbi, is it I?" "Rabbi," not "Lord?" He simply did not believe. To him Jesus' response was pure and simple, "You have said it" (v. 25).
A question has been posed over and over again throughout the ages: Who killed Jesus? Was it the Jews? Was it the Romans? Certainly they were all involved. But when I think about this, I have to ask one question: "Lord, is it I?" And the Lord would have to answer, "Yes, it is you." Not because I oppose God; I do not. And not because I give assent to His claims while not really believing; I do believe! It is because of my sin. Jesus died because of my sin!
Each of you must ask the same question, "Lord, is it I." And to each of you Jesus would answer, just as he did me, "Yes, it is you." It was because of your sin that Jesus died on the cross. He died in your place, for your forgiveness. He died to give you eternal life through faith in Him. Trust Him and you will have life in His name. Amen.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
A Day of Silence
The Gospels say little to nothing about what happened on Wednesday during Holy Week. Luke, however, indicates that Jesus was in the temple teaching that day just as He did the day before: "And He was teaching daily in the temple" (Luke 19:47a). Again Luke 21:37 adds, "And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet."
As Jesus settled in, quietly teaching in the temple, Satan went out to play. The chief priests and the scribes were busy right along with Satan as they "sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people" (Luke 22:2). With the leaders of the people on board, Satan went to work on Judas Iscariiot: "Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude" (vs. 3-6).
So Wednesday was a busy day for Satan and for Judas. All the while, Jesus continued to teach in the temple throughout the day. Nothing is said as to what He taught that day, but a great deal was said about His many teachings on Tuesday. What people do not always realize is that it was in this context and at this time that Jesus taught concerning "the first and great commandment" (Matt. 22:38).
This teaching is found in Matthew 22:34-40: "But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?' Jesus said to him, '"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself"' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.'"
Jesus quoted Moses twice: Deuteronomy 6:5 for "the great commandment" and Leviticus 19:18 for "the second" commandment that "is like it." In the greater context in Deuteronomy 6, Moses instructed the people to let the words he commanded them, that is, the word of God, "be in your heart" (v. 6). If you truly love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and strength, God’s word will dwell inside of you. You will study it, learn it, memorize it, and live by it. Your whole life will be governed by God’s word. Everything you do and say will be guided by God’s word.
Moses went on to tell God’s people that if they truly love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and strength, they will "diligently" teach God’s word to their children and to all who will listen. He says they are to talk of God’s word "when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" (v. 7). If you truly love the Lord you will talk of Him and His word wherever you are, anytime of day. You will seek His guidance in all that you do, and you will speak openly and freely of Jesus with all you come in contact with.
After commanding us to love God above all else and with all we are, He quickly applies that truth to loving your neighbor (Matt. 22:39). In the context of Leviticus 19, Moses, "while telling the people to "not hate your brother in your heart" (v. 17), he added, "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (v. 18).
When referring to this commandment, Jesus said that this was one of only two commandments that, if kept, would fulfill all of the Law (Matt. 22:40). In Luke 10:27, where a lawyer recites these same two commandments in answer to the question of how to inherit eternal life, Jesus commends him for answering correctly and tells him, "Do this and you will live" (v. 28).
So eternal life depends on the fulfillment of these two commandments in your life. If you want to spend eternity in heaven and you want to live a truly full life now, you must first love the Lord Jesus with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Then you must love your neighbor as yourself. The first involves a change of heart, an inward change that comes through faith. The second involves a change in action, an outward change that is the result of that faith.
As Jesus settled in, quietly teaching in the temple, Satan went out to play. The chief priests and the scribes were busy right along with Satan as they "sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people" (Luke 22:2). With the leaders of the people on board, Satan went to work on Judas Iscariiot: "Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude" (vs. 3-6).
So Wednesday was a busy day for Satan and for Judas. All the while, Jesus continued to teach in the temple throughout the day. Nothing is said as to what He taught that day, but a great deal was said about His many teachings on Tuesday. What people do not always realize is that it was in this context and at this time that Jesus taught concerning "the first and great commandment" (Matt. 22:38).
This teaching is found in Matthew 22:34-40: "But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?' Jesus said to him, '"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself"' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.'"
Jesus quoted Moses twice: Deuteronomy 6:5 for "the great commandment" and Leviticus 19:18 for "the second" commandment that "is like it." In the greater context in Deuteronomy 6, Moses instructed the people to let the words he commanded them, that is, the word of God, "be in your heart" (v. 6). If you truly love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and strength, God’s word will dwell inside of you. You will study it, learn it, memorize it, and live by it. Your whole life will be governed by God’s word. Everything you do and say will be guided by God’s word.
Moses went on to tell God’s people that if they truly love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and strength, they will "diligently" teach God’s word to their children and to all who will listen. He says they are to talk of God’s word "when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" (v. 7). If you truly love the Lord you will talk of Him and His word wherever you are, anytime of day. You will seek His guidance in all that you do, and you will speak openly and freely of Jesus with all you come in contact with.
After commanding us to love God above all else and with all we are, He quickly applies that truth to loving your neighbor (Matt. 22:39). In the context of Leviticus 19, Moses, "while telling the people to "not hate your brother in your heart" (v. 17), he added, "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (v. 18).
When referring to this commandment, Jesus said that this was one of only two commandments that, if kept, would fulfill all of the Law (Matt. 22:40). In Luke 10:27, where a lawyer recites these same two commandments in answer to the question of how to inherit eternal life, Jesus commends him for answering correctly and tells him, "Do this and you will live" (v. 28).
So eternal life depends on the fulfillment of these two commandments in your life. If you want to spend eternity in heaven and you want to live a truly full life now, you must first love the Lord Jesus with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Then you must love your neighbor as yourself. The first involves a change of heart, an inward change that comes through faith. The second involves a change in action, an outward change that is the result of that faith.
When you trust in Jesus for your salvation, He changes you. Everything about you begins to change. Not only does what you believe change, but how you live your life changes. That is the power of the gospel.
That change involves how you treat others. You begin to truly love your neighbor. You begin to reach out to your neighbor. Jesus goes on to explain that your neighbor is anyone in need that you come in contact with. So you begin to help others with whatever need they have. That is how you love your neighbor, and that is the outward change in your life that results from your faith in Christ. It is that outward change that proves you are a child of God. Amen.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
The Way of the Fig Tree
It was Holy Week. It was a week of preparation for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. After the triumphal entry on Sunday and the cleansing of the temple on Monday, Tuesday was a day for learning. Jesus spent the day in the temple teaching His disciples, speaking to them in parables. The topics were many and varied, culminating in the second comiing of Christ.
The day began with a second encouter with a fig tree as Jesus and His disciples made their way from Bethany to Jerusalem first thing in the mornning. The first encounter was on that same road the day before. Let's begin there.
On Monday morning, as Jesus and the disciples made their way from Bethany to Jerusalem, Jesus "was hungry" (Mark 11:12b). "And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, 'Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.' And His disciples heard it" (vs. 13-14).
This is a difficult story to understand. Why would Jesus use His incredible power to cause a fruit bearing tree to whither because it did not bear fruit two or three months before its time? A clue is found in the position this story holds in the text. The story is actually divided into two parts and is sandwiched around the cleansing of the temple, which we considered yesterday because it was the big event that occured on Monday. Like the cleansing of the temple, the story of the unfruitful fig tree has to do with judgment.
Jesus was hungry, and seeing the fig tree He went to see if it had any figs on it (v. 13a). Of course it did not because, though fig trees around Jerusalem usually leafed out in March or April, they did not produce figs until June. This tree was no exception. Though it had leafed out it had no figs as Mark said because "it was not the season for figs" (v. 13b).
This is the only miracle of destruction performed by Jesus. But why? Perhaps it is best to view this miracle as an acted-out parable. Just as the cleansing of the temple denounced Israel's worship, the withering of the fig tree denounced Israel as a nation for walking away from God.
You would expect to find fruit on a tree that is fully leafed out, but that is not the case. It is the same with Israel. Mark describes the hypocrisy of the people in Mark 7:6, where he quotes Isaiah 29:13, "The people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." They are like a tree with an abundance of leaves but no fruit.
Skip ahead to Teusday morning when Jesus and the disciples come across that same fig tree. "Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tre which You cursed has withered away'" (Mark 11:20-21).
Jesus in reply gave no commentary about the coming judgment on the temple and on Israel. That was obvious. Instead He turned it into a lesson on faith and prayer. He said, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them" (vs. 22-24).
God is the source of the power and He must be the object of our faith. And faith here is a faith that prays. The power of faith is found in prayer. When by the power of prayer, faith is joined to the purpose and will of God, amazing things can happen, because that is when you see the great and awesome powers of God at work. Pray believing and you will be bleesed. Amen.
The day began with a second encouter with a fig tree as Jesus and His disciples made their way from Bethany to Jerusalem first thing in the mornning. The first encounter was on that same road the day before. Let's begin there.
On Monday morning, as Jesus and the disciples made their way from Bethany to Jerusalem, Jesus "was hungry" (Mark 11:12b). "And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, 'Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.' And His disciples heard it" (vs. 13-14).
This is a difficult story to understand. Why would Jesus use His incredible power to cause a fruit bearing tree to whither because it did not bear fruit two or three months before its time? A clue is found in the position this story holds in the text. The story is actually divided into two parts and is sandwiched around the cleansing of the temple, which we considered yesterday because it was the big event that occured on Monday. Like the cleansing of the temple, the story of the unfruitful fig tree has to do with judgment.
Jesus was hungry, and seeing the fig tree He went to see if it had any figs on it (v. 13a). Of course it did not because, though fig trees around Jerusalem usually leafed out in March or April, they did not produce figs until June. This tree was no exception. Though it had leafed out it had no figs as Mark said because "it was not the season for figs" (v. 13b).
This is the only miracle of destruction performed by Jesus. But why? Perhaps it is best to view this miracle as an acted-out parable. Just as the cleansing of the temple denounced Israel's worship, the withering of the fig tree denounced Israel as a nation for walking away from God.
You would expect to find fruit on a tree that is fully leafed out, but that is not the case. It is the same with Israel. Mark describes the hypocrisy of the people in Mark 7:6, where he quotes Isaiah 29:13, "The people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." They are like a tree with an abundance of leaves but no fruit.
Skip ahead to Teusday morning when Jesus and the disciples come across that same fig tree. "Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tre which You cursed has withered away'" (Mark 11:20-21).
Jesus in reply gave no commentary about the coming judgment on the temple and on Israel. That was obvious. Instead He turned it into a lesson on faith and prayer. He said, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them" (vs. 22-24).
God is the source of the power and He must be the object of our faith. And faith here is a faith that prays. The power of faith is found in prayer. When by the power of prayer, faith is joined to the purpose and will of God, amazing things can happen, because that is when you see the great and awesome powers of God at work. Pray believing and you will be bleesed. Amen.
Monday, March 30, 2015
A Day of Cleansing
Yesterday we all celebrated Palm Sunday, a day of triumph, a day of celebrating Jesus, “the author and of finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). But all is not as it seems. Jesus knew exactly what was happening. He is in complete control! He came for a purpose and that purpose would be fulfilled at the end of week. On Monday Jesus walked into the temple with one thing on His mind—to cleanse it and consecrate it unto God once again.
This solitary act got the week started off in great fashion—certainly in a way that no one would forget, especially His enemies. For them it was more fuel for the fire. For Jesus it was a symbol of what He would accomplish in all who would believe on Him. His death and resurrection would mean everything. We experience three things through faith—to be cleansed, changed, consecrated.
“Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” but you have made it a “den of thieves”’” (Matt. 21:12-13).
It was a scandal of epic proportions! This Jesus who had the whole city in a huge uproar with His arrival, now stormed into the temple and created chaos. I can almost see it! Doves flapping their wings as they fly out of the courtyard, men shouting, women beside themselves, and children scrambling after the rolling coins. This fellow from Galilee was once again stirring up trouble!
But stirring things up is always what Jesus does when He enters the scene. The cleansing of the temple has its parallel in our lives. When Jesus comes, priorities are overturned, old sins are swept aside. The first thing He did when He entered Jerusalem is the first thing He does when He enters a life—He goes straight to the temple, to the place where we worship, and cleans out whatever is not part of God’s design.
Your body is a holy temple. “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God?” (1 Cor. 6:19). Ephesians 2:21 speaks of our life as a building that “grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” When you trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you and your body is now “a holy temple.” And Jesus comes to stir things up—to cleanse that temple. He casts out anything that does not honor God.
“Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them” (Matt. 21:14). In an instant these people’s lives had changed. All of a sudden they could see or they could walk. They had been made whole. And that is what Jesus does for us when we receive Him. He cleanses us from all sin and He changes us. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).
There are two actions here—the cleansing of the temple and healing miracles. Together they declare what Jesus was all about. He came to save sinners. He came to cleanse us from our sin and to change us and make us holy. We were designed to be holy. His work on the cross, along with His resurrection, makes us holy.
“But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ they were indignant and said to Him, ‘Do You hear what these are saying?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Yes. Have you never read, “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise”?’” (Matt. 21:15-16)
“The chief priests and scribes…were indignant” (v. 15) because they simply did not like Jesus. But everyone else was simply surprised. Jesus knew what stood between the people in those days and God. “Astonished” is how Mark describes the people’s reaction to that original cleansing (Mark 11:18), and astonished is how we feel when God cleanses us. It is an amazing experience.
Prejudice, old hurts, all our sins, whatever is blocking our relationship with Him must go! God is at work making us holy, making us like Jesus. By faith we are cleansed; by faith we are changed; by faith we are consecrated. To be consecrated is to be declared holy or to be set apart as sacred. That is what Jesus did for the temple in Jerusalem, and that is what He is doing in us.
“Out of the mouths of babes” praise is “perfected” (Matt. 21:16). Like the children, we should respond with praise to what Jesus did for us. As Hebrews 12:1-2a says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” Amen.
This solitary act got the week started off in great fashion—certainly in a way that no one would forget, especially His enemies. For them it was more fuel for the fire. For Jesus it was a symbol of what He would accomplish in all who would believe on Him. His death and resurrection would mean everything. We experience three things through faith—to be cleansed, changed, consecrated.
“Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” but you have made it a “den of thieves”’” (Matt. 21:12-13).
It was a scandal of epic proportions! This Jesus who had the whole city in a huge uproar with His arrival, now stormed into the temple and created chaos. I can almost see it! Doves flapping their wings as they fly out of the courtyard, men shouting, women beside themselves, and children scrambling after the rolling coins. This fellow from Galilee was once again stirring up trouble!
But stirring things up is always what Jesus does when He enters the scene. The cleansing of the temple has its parallel in our lives. When Jesus comes, priorities are overturned, old sins are swept aside. The first thing He did when He entered Jerusalem is the first thing He does when He enters a life—He goes straight to the temple, to the place where we worship, and cleans out whatever is not part of God’s design.
Your body is a holy temple. “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God?” (1 Cor. 6:19). Ephesians 2:21 speaks of our life as a building that “grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” When you trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you and your body is now “a holy temple.” And Jesus comes to stir things up—to cleanse that temple. He casts out anything that does not honor God.
“Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them” (Matt. 21:14). In an instant these people’s lives had changed. All of a sudden they could see or they could walk. They had been made whole. And that is what Jesus does for us when we receive Him. He cleanses us from all sin and He changes us. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).
There are two actions here—the cleansing of the temple and healing miracles. Together they declare what Jesus was all about. He came to save sinners. He came to cleanse us from our sin and to change us and make us holy. We were designed to be holy. His work on the cross, along with His resurrection, makes us holy.
“But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ they were indignant and said to Him, ‘Do You hear what these are saying?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Yes. Have you never read, “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise”?’” (Matt. 21:15-16)
“The chief priests and scribes…were indignant” (v. 15) because they simply did not like Jesus. But everyone else was simply surprised. Jesus knew what stood between the people in those days and God. “Astonished” is how Mark describes the people’s reaction to that original cleansing (Mark 11:18), and astonished is how we feel when God cleanses us. It is an amazing experience.
Prejudice, old hurts, all our sins, whatever is blocking our relationship with Him must go! God is at work making us holy, making us like Jesus. By faith we are cleansed; by faith we are changed; by faith we are consecrated. To be consecrated is to be declared holy or to be set apart as sacred. That is what Jesus did for the temple in Jerusalem, and that is what He is doing in us.
“Out of the mouths of babes” praise is “perfected” (Matt. 21:16). Like the children, we should respond with praise to what Jesus did for us. As Hebrews 12:1-2a says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” Amen.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
This Is Jesus
The palm branch was a symbol of triumph and victory in pre-Christian times. The Romans rewarded champions of the games and celebrated military successes with palm branches. The Jews followed a similar tradition of carrying palm branches during festive times. Early on in the history of the Christian church Palm Sunday celebrations have involved the waving of palm branches.
Matthew 21:8-9 says that as Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, “a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Hosanna in the highest!’”
Matthew 21:8-9 says that as Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, “a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Hosanna in the highest!’”
Early Christians used the palm branch to symbolize the victory of the faithful over enemies of the soul. In Christian art, martyrs were usually shown holding a palm branch, representing the victory of spirit over flesh. It was widely believed that a picture of a palm on a tomb meant that a martyr was buried there.
With this in mind note Revelation 7:9-10. “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’” The palm branch being held by the Christians in heaven is the sign of spiritual victory in the presence of Christ.
As the people covered the road before Jesus with palm branches in Matthew 21:8-9, note the direction this celebration turns in verses 10-11: “And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, ‘Who is this?’ So the multitudes said, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.’” Notice the question: “Who is this?” And the answer: “This is Jesus.”
This is precisely the question Jesus proposed to His disciples in Matthew 16:13-16. “Who do men say that…I am?” (v. 13). The answers are varied and interesting: “John the Baptist…Elijah…Jeremiah…one of the prophets” (v. 14). Then He asked again, “But who do you say that I am?” (v. 15). And Peter confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v. 16).
Following the transfiguration, Luke tells us, “Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). From this time on Jesus headed straight for Jerusalem to fulfill His mission. He headed straight toward calvary to die for our sin and rise again. As He did so, the people began to wonder if perhaps now was the time He would set Himself up as King? So the people were excited as He came again to Jerusalem.
In Matthew 21, as He approached the city He sent a couple of His disciples ahead to secure a colt for Him to ride, along with a donkey (vs. 1-3). The two disciples did as Jesus requested (v. 6) and the owners of the donkey and colt did just as Jesus said they would (v. 3). It seems that people were ready and willing to help. Then Jesus road the colt into Jerusalem, weeping as He saw the city: “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it” (Luke 19:41).
The multitude cried and sang, “Hosanna!” (Matt. 21:9), which means “save now!” They spread their garments on the road before Him (v. 8a), as if receiving a king home. They used palm branches as well (v. 8b). It is a picture of a conquering king returning home in victory. And this is how we are introduced to Jesus. "This is Jesus." He is our king and our Lord. He is our conquering Savior. He came for this purpose. He came to die on the cross and to rise again. He came to be our Savior. Amen.
Friday, March 6, 2015
Sinner in the Hands of the Living God
It has been awhile since my last post. Sorry for the delay. I have been busy fillling pulpits and sending out resumes. I have been in communication with two churches in particular concerning their pastoral opening. One nearby in Oklahoma; the other far away in northwestern South Dakota. It is an exciting time as we wait on God to find the church He has for me to serve.
Picking up where we left off in the life and times of Elijah, prophet of fire, we find that there are times when God gives us what we think we want, especially when it is not His will, but only our will in defiance of Him. It is His way of disciplining us in order to get our attention and call us back to Himself.
God judges those who rebel against Him and persist in defying Him. Ahaziah (Ahab’s son) had a brief rule (1 Kings 22:51-53) and his death (2 Kings 1:17) illustrates this principle. He died as a part of the prophesied destruction and death of all of Ahab’s household (1 Kings 21:17-29).
Ahab repented (1 Kings 21:27), but it was only a partial repentance. It was only on the outside, yet God delayed His judgment, though He did not eliminate it. The message for us is that God judges all who persist in defying Him, and while partial repentance for the wrong reasons may delay God’s judgment, it does not totally vindicate God’s wrath. True repentance, on the other hand, will result in salvation.
The Bible says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). And that is exactly what happens here in 2 Kings 1:1-18. Sinners who ultimately refuse God, who refuse to trust in Jesus the Messiah, are judged by fire—ultimately the judgment of eternal hell-fire.
The Lord is in charge. When He is not allowed to rule in our lives, He overrules. The sins of idolatry, pride, and disobedience caused God to take action against the unrepentant sinners in our text. After much longsuffering, the Lord brings judgment. But God’s people, those who walk with the Lord Jesus, experience things the unrepentant sinner never knows and never sees.
First of all, God directs the paths of His people, those who love Him. Unbelievers, on the other hand, do not experience this godly guidance because they do not love God and they do not follow Him or seek His face. They do not turn to God.
Note Ahaziah's character: “He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin; for he served Baal and worshiped him, and provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger, according to all that his father had done.” (1 Kings 22:52-53)
He was an evil man—an evil king. Moab rebelled and Ahaziah could not care less! His attitude was to let Moab rebel. It mattered not to him! The text simply says, “Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab,” (2 Kings 1:1). It makes no mention of any reaction from the king. He concerns himself only with himself: “Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, ‘Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury’” (v. 2).
Ahaziah worshiped Baal, and that fed his bent toward all things evil. He persisted in rebelling against God. Meanwhile Moab took advantage of this week, self-centered king and broke the bonds that had chained them to Israel since David first conquered them (2 Sam. 8:2). Under Ahaziah the tribute went away.
About ten years or so before Ahaziah “fell through the lattice” (v. 2a) and injured himself, Elijah had won a great victory. He defeated Baal on Mount Carmel when he called down fire from heaven (1 Kings 18). Neither Ahab nor Jezebel were convinced or converted. So Ahaziah, in following suit, turned not to the Lord God of Israel, but to the false god Baal for guidance concerning his injury.
“Baal” means “lord” (small “l”) and “Baal-Zebul” means “Baal is prince.” But the devout remnant in Israel, who worshiped the true God, changed the name and ridiculed the false god of their neighbors. “Baal-Zebel” (one such name) means “lord of the dung,” and “Baal-Zebub” (the name used here) means “lord of the flies.” It was one of the names Jesus’ enemies used to insult Him. (Matt. 10:25).
Leave God out and He overrules in your life. Ahaziah was persistent in rebelling against the Lord by ignoring the God of Israel, so the Lord overruled in his life. He intervened by sending His servant Elijah. “But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, ‘Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?” Now therefore, thus says the LORD: “You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.”’ So Elijah departed.” (vs. 3-4) and did as instructed.
When you ignore God and leave Him out of your life, He will overrule at some point and you may not like what happens. When you persist in rebelling against God and refusing to believe on the Lord Jesus for your salvation, eventually judgment will fall, as it did with Ahaziah. He persisted in rebelling against Christ. He refused to believe. Only judgment remained. God overruled in his life.
Follow God and He will direct your path. The Lord wants to direct your path much like he did Elijah’s. Look at how He directs Elijah in this passage: “the angel of the LORD said to Elijah” (v. 3a). He spoke to his heart and brought the king’s name to his mind. The Lord even laid on his heart the words to speak. Elijah followed God and He directed Elijah’s path.
When God lays someone on your heart, He likely wants you to pray for them and talk with them about Jesus. That is how God led Elijah, and He does the same with us. And what did Elijah do? “So Elijah departed” (v. 4b). He went and spoke with Ahaziah. We are quick to talk with people about all sorts of things that are dear to us, but what about Jesus? God wants us to tell others what Jesus means to us. When He leads, He will direct you and give you the words to speak.
Second, God protects His people. King Ahaziah tries to arrest Elijah and have him killed. But God protects him from such evil. Elijah gave God’s message to the king’s messengers and they relayed it to Ahaziah: “And when the messengers returned to him, he said to them, ‘Why have you come back?’ So they said to him, ‘A man came up to meet us, and said to us, “Go, return to the king who sent you, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.”’”’ Then he said to them, ‘What kind of man was it who came up to meet you and told you these words?’ So they answered him, ‘A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist.’ And he said, ‘It is Elijah the Tishbite.’” (vs. 5-8)
Ahaziah knew immediately it was God’s man, God’s servant Elijah. It wasn’t rocket science. Evil men, unbelievers, recognize God’s people. They see the difference God makes in our lives. When you live for Christ, it does not escape notice. People know when you have been with Jesus. Luke reported: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
Ahaziah sought to arrest and likely even kill Elijah: “Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: ‘Man of God, the king has said, “Come down!”’ So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, ‘If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.’ And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty." (2 Kings 1:9-10).
Then the king sent a second "captain of fifty" (v. 11) with his men and the same fate awaited them (vs. 11-12). These two displays of God’s judgment by fire were dramatic messages that the people had better repent or they would all taste the judgment of God’s wrath. And notice how, even with fire from heaven crashing down on these men, the Lord protected his servant Elijah, who was standing nearby. God’s people, those who trust in Jesus, may be persecuted by ungodly men, but God fully protects His own.
Third, God saves His people. A third “captain of fifty” (v. 13) was sent by the king. However, this time things are different. This third captain proved to be both wise and humble. He showed true respect for Elijah, the “man of God.” This man submitted himself to the Lord and to His servant. He pleaded with Elijah in such a way as to endear himself to Elijah and to God as he acknowledged the full authority of God’s servant.
“The third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and pleaded with him, and said to him: ‘Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight” (v. 13). He pleaded for his own life and the lives of his men. He understood both who Elijah was and who God is. He humbled himself, kneeling down before God’s man as a way of bowing before the Lord Himself.
He pleaded for mercy as he added, “Look, fire has come down from heaven and burned up the first two captains of fifties with their fifties. But let my life now be precious in your sight” (v. 14). Humbled before Elijah and God, his request was granted. His life was spared, along with the lives of his men.
It is interesting to note the Lord’s response as He again directs His servant Elijah. Verse 15 reads, “And the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, ‘Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.’ So he arose and went down with him to the king.” It was the captains who were to be feared as much as the king. It may be that they were not only instructed to arrest Elijah, but on the way to the palace, to kill him! But God said there was nothing to fear. God had his backside!
Ahaziah was anything but a godly man. He had everything to fear. While the godly knows God’s grace, the ungodly will know God’s wrath. The king was in bed when Elijah confronted him with the words, “you shall surely die” (v. 16). All hope was gone! He was on his death bed! Still, he refused to obey the Word of God.
“So Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. Because he had no son, Jehoram became king in his place, in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?” (vs. 17-18).Thus the Word of the Lord to the ungodly king was fulfilled.
An ungodly and unrepentant world awaits the fire of God’s wrath. It will come upon them suddenly “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thess. 1:7-9).
God “commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Those who do will know God’s grace, not his wrath. It is by faith in Jesus that the godly escape the wrath that is to come. God saves His people. The gospel is both a message to believe and a mandate to obey. Amen.
Picking up where we left off in the life and times of Elijah, prophet of fire, we find that there are times when God gives us what we think we want, especially when it is not His will, but only our will in defiance of Him. It is His way of disciplining us in order to get our attention and call us back to Himself.
God judges those who rebel against Him and persist in defying Him. Ahaziah (Ahab’s son) had a brief rule (1 Kings 22:51-53) and his death (2 Kings 1:17) illustrates this principle. He died as a part of the prophesied destruction and death of all of Ahab’s household (1 Kings 21:17-29).
Ahab repented (1 Kings 21:27), but it was only a partial repentance. It was only on the outside, yet God delayed His judgment, though He did not eliminate it. The message for us is that God judges all who persist in defying Him, and while partial repentance for the wrong reasons may delay God’s judgment, it does not totally vindicate God’s wrath. True repentance, on the other hand, will result in salvation.
The Bible says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). And that is exactly what happens here in 2 Kings 1:1-18. Sinners who ultimately refuse God, who refuse to trust in Jesus the Messiah, are judged by fire—ultimately the judgment of eternal hell-fire.
The Lord is in charge. When He is not allowed to rule in our lives, He overrules. The sins of idolatry, pride, and disobedience caused God to take action against the unrepentant sinners in our text. After much longsuffering, the Lord brings judgment. But God’s people, those who walk with the Lord Jesus, experience things the unrepentant sinner never knows and never sees.
First of all, God directs the paths of His people, those who love Him. Unbelievers, on the other hand, do not experience this godly guidance because they do not love God and they do not follow Him or seek His face. They do not turn to God.
Note Ahaziah's character: “He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin; for he served Baal and worshiped him, and provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger, according to all that his father had done.” (1 Kings 22:52-53)
He was an evil man—an evil king. Moab rebelled and Ahaziah could not care less! His attitude was to let Moab rebel. It mattered not to him! The text simply says, “Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab,” (2 Kings 1:1). It makes no mention of any reaction from the king. He concerns himself only with himself: “Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, ‘Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury’” (v. 2).
Ahaziah worshiped Baal, and that fed his bent toward all things evil. He persisted in rebelling against God. Meanwhile Moab took advantage of this week, self-centered king and broke the bonds that had chained them to Israel since David first conquered them (2 Sam. 8:2). Under Ahaziah the tribute went away.
About ten years or so before Ahaziah “fell through the lattice” (v. 2a) and injured himself, Elijah had won a great victory. He defeated Baal on Mount Carmel when he called down fire from heaven (1 Kings 18). Neither Ahab nor Jezebel were convinced or converted. So Ahaziah, in following suit, turned not to the Lord God of Israel, but to the false god Baal for guidance concerning his injury.
“Baal” means “lord” (small “l”) and “Baal-Zebul” means “Baal is prince.” But the devout remnant in Israel, who worshiped the true God, changed the name and ridiculed the false god of their neighbors. “Baal-Zebel” (one such name) means “lord of the dung,” and “Baal-Zebub” (the name used here) means “lord of the flies.” It was one of the names Jesus’ enemies used to insult Him. (Matt. 10:25).
Leave God out and He overrules in your life. Ahaziah was persistent in rebelling against the Lord by ignoring the God of Israel, so the Lord overruled in his life. He intervened by sending His servant Elijah. “But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, ‘Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?” Now therefore, thus says the LORD: “You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.”’ So Elijah departed.” (vs. 3-4) and did as instructed.
When you ignore God and leave Him out of your life, He will overrule at some point and you may not like what happens. When you persist in rebelling against God and refusing to believe on the Lord Jesus for your salvation, eventually judgment will fall, as it did with Ahaziah. He persisted in rebelling against Christ. He refused to believe. Only judgment remained. God overruled in his life.
Follow God and He will direct your path. The Lord wants to direct your path much like he did Elijah’s. Look at how He directs Elijah in this passage: “the angel of the LORD said to Elijah” (v. 3a). He spoke to his heart and brought the king’s name to his mind. The Lord even laid on his heart the words to speak. Elijah followed God and He directed Elijah’s path.
When God lays someone on your heart, He likely wants you to pray for them and talk with them about Jesus. That is how God led Elijah, and He does the same with us. And what did Elijah do? “So Elijah departed” (v. 4b). He went and spoke with Ahaziah. We are quick to talk with people about all sorts of things that are dear to us, but what about Jesus? God wants us to tell others what Jesus means to us. When He leads, He will direct you and give you the words to speak.
Second, God protects His people. King Ahaziah tries to arrest Elijah and have him killed. But God protects him from such evil. Elijah gave God’s message to the king’s messengers and they relayed it to Ahaziah: “And when the messengers returned to him, he said to them, ‘Why have you come back?’ So they said to him, ‘A man came up to meet us, and said to us, “Go, return to the king who sent you, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.”’”’ Then he said to them, ‘What kind of man was it who came up to meet you and told you these words?’ So they answered him, ‘A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist.’ And he said, ‘It is Elijah the Tishbite.’” (vs. 5-8)
Ahaziah knew immediately it was God’s man, God’s servant Elijah. It wasn’t rocket science. Evil men, unbelievers, recognize God’s people. They see the difference God makes in our lives. When you live for Christ, it does not escape notice. People know when you have been with Jesus. Luke reported: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
Ahaziah sought to arrest and likely even kill Elijah: “Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: ‘Man of God, the king has said, “Come down!”’ So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, ‘If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.’ And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty." (2 Kings 1:9-10).
Then the king sent a second "captain of fifty" (v. 11) with his men and the same fate awaited them (vs. 11-12). These two displays of God’s judgment by fire were dramatic messages that the people had better repent or they would all taste the judgment of God’s wrath. And notice how, even with fire from heaven crashing down on these men, the Lord protected his servant Elijah, who was standing nearby. God’s people, those who trust in Jesus, may be persecuted by ungodly men, but God fully protects His own.
Third, God saves His people. A third “captain of fifty” (v. 13) was sent by the king. However, this time things are different. This third captain proved to be both wise and humble. He showed true respect for Elijah, the “man of God.” This man submitted himself to the Lord and to His servant. He pleaded with Elijah in such a way as to endear himself to Elijah and to God as he acknowledged the full authority of God’s servant.
“The third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and pleaded with him, and said to him: ‘Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight” (v. 13). He pleaded for his own life and the lives of his men. He understood both who Elijah was and who God is. He humbled himself, kneeling down before God’s man as a way of bowing before the Lord Himself.
He pleaded for mercy as he added, “Look, fire has come down from heaven and burned up the first two captains of fifties with their fifties. But let my life now be precious in your sight” (v. 14). Humbled before Elijah and God, his request was granted. His life was spared, along with the lives of his men.
It is interesting to note the Lord’s response as He again directs His servant Elijah. Verse 15 reads, “And the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, ‘Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.’ So he arose and went down with him to the king.” It was the captains who were to be feared as much as the king. It may be that they were not only instructed to arrest Elijah, but on the way to the palace, to kill him! But God said there was nothing to fear. God had his backside!
Ahaziah was anything but a godly man. He had everything to fear. While the godly knows God’s grace, the ungodly will know God’s wrath. The king was in bed when Elijah confronted him with the words, “you shall surely die” (v. 16). All hope was gone! He was on his death bed! Still, he refused to obey the Word of God.
“So Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. Because he had no son, Jehoram became king in his place, in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?” (vs. 17-18).Thus the Word of the Lord to the ungodly king was fulfilled.
An ungodly and unrepentant world awaits the fire of God’s wrath. It will come upon them suddenly “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thess. 1:7-9).
God “commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Those who do will know God’s grace, not his wrath. It is by faith in Jesus that the godly escape the wrath that is to come. God saves His people. The gospel is both a message to believe and a mandate to obey. Amen.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Enough Is Enough!
At this point in our story on the life and times of the prophet Elijah, Ahab and Jezebel have been given every opportunity to see God’s work and recognize His reality. They have been given every opportunity to respond in faith and repentance, but they refused, especially Jezebel. Ahab feigns acceptance, but in truth they both refuse to believe and they just walk away from God.
Let’s follow Ahab for a moment: In 1 Kings 20 Ahab defeats Syria twice. The first time the Lord promised Ahab victory through an unnamed prophet (v. 13) and Ahab indeed won the battle (vs. 19-21). The prophet then told Ahab to be ready in the spring for round two (v. 22).
The second time the Syrians brought the battle “in the plain” (20:25) and Israel was greatly outnumbered (v. 27). Another “man of God” came and declared that God would again deliver the Syrians into their hand so that “you shall know that I am the LORD” (v. 28). And again the victory was won (vs. 29-30). Both times God did as He said He would.
Then Ahab entered into a treaty with the Syrian king Ben-Hadad and let him live (20:31-34). As a result, a “man of the sons of the prophets” (v. 35) confronted Ahab and delivered God’s message: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people’” (v. 42). Ahab stands condemned.
After this, Ahab gives way to Jezebel and gets himself into more hot water in 1 Kings 21:1-16. It is all over a piece of real estate: namely, Naboth’s vineyard. Enter Elijah to confront Ahab (vs.17-29).
In this passage, three principles are revealed concerning the power of sin. These principles are at work in the life of Ahab as he is confronted by Elijah. But our series is all about the life and times of Elijah. So alongside of God’s confrontation of Ahab concerning his sin, we will follow a parallel outline concerning Elijah’s spiritual walk and God’s work through him.
The first principle from Romans 6:23 is that “the wages of sin is death.” As to Elijah's spiritual walk, here we see Elijah receive God's Word (1 Kings 21:17-19).
Concerning sin, the unrepentant sinner faces death, eternal spiritual death. In 1 Kings 21:1-16, Jezebel, in Ahab’s name, commits murder and steals a vineyard. For that heinous act, Ahab faces God’s judgment, and thus faces the prophet Elijah again. Elijah finds him in the garden that had belonged to Naboth, just as God had said.
Elijah delivers God’s Word to Ahab, saying, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Have you murdered and also taken possession?’" (1 Kings 21:19a). And he added, “Thus says the LORD: ‘In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours’” (v. 19b).
Ahab, an unrepentant sinner, faced certain judgment. His sin would not go unpunished, and neither will our sin. Romans 6:23 pronounces God’s judgment on sin: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” A faithful servant like Elijah surely held out to Ahab the prospect of life, but the sinner with an unrepentant heart still reaps death, eternal separation from God, every time.
Elijah is a faithful servant. He received God's Word and delivered it to the king. It saddened Elijah’s heart to hear that the king had not yet repented and believed in the Lord. In fact, the word was that things had only gotten worse for Ahab. Now judgment had to be proclaimed. The time had come for God’s sentence to be handed down.
We had not heard from Elijah for some time. But now he is back in center stage. God gave him the message to deliver and even told him where to find the king: “Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who lives in Samaria. There he is, in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it’” (1 Kings 21:17-18). Elijah heard God’s Word and was faithful to do God’s Word. The faithful servant hears the Word of God, listens to it, and is certain to live by it.
The second principle concerning the sinner, found in Genesis 6:5, is that "every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." As to Elijah's spiritual walk, here we see Elijah deliver God's message (1 Kings 21:20-26).
The unrepentant sinner simply does evil. It is his way of life. Ahab once called Elijah “O troubler of Israel” (18:17). Now he makes it more personal. He calls Elijah, “my enemy” (21:20a). “Have you found me, O my enemy?” asked Ahab. His guilt weighed so heavy on his conscience that he knew Elijah had come to condemn him. After all, he was a sinner who did only evil all the time.
Elijah replied, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin’” (vs. 20b-22).
By fighting against God, he was his own worst enemy. He had brought down on himself the very sentence Elijah had come to pronounce. He would die for his sins in a most dishonorable way. Even the dogs would lick up his blood. And the same would go for Jezebel (v. 23) and all his household (v. 24). Ahab and Jezebel enjoyed many years of doing whatever they felt like and running roughshod over the people. Now those days were over. Judgment awaited.
For Elijah, everything was different. God gave him a special message for Ahab (vs. 19-22). Elijah was faithful to deliver the message exactly as God intended, and he did so in a timely manner.
While “the intent of the thoughts of” Ahab’s “heart was only evil” all the time, “the intent of the thoughts of” Elijah’s “heart was only” seeking to please God and to do the Father’s will. The faithful servant seeks to do the works God has prepared for him to do.
The third princicple concerning the power of sin is that "unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3, 5). As to Elijah's spiritual walk, here Elijah see's God's mercy (1 Kings 21:27-29).
The unrepentant sinner will certainly perish. “So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning” (21:27). Ahab reacted rather strongly to the Lord’s rebuke through Elijah. He put on sackcloth, fasted, and went into mourning. He humbled himself before the Lord.
Ahab actually repented! “And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house’” (vs. 28-29).
The judgments were not canceled, just postponed until the reign of his son Joram. (You can find the story in 2 Kings 9:14-37). Ahab, however, was killed on the battlefield and the dogs licked his blood at the pool of Samaria (1 Kings 22:37-38). Because the judgment was postponed, it was his son Joram’s blood that the dogs licked up on Naboth's property, just as Elijah said (cf. 2 Kings 9:14-37).
Ahab's repentance proved to be short-lived. He put on a good front but his repentance was on the surface. HIe never trusted the Lord. Speaking with Jesus, some people sought to name events where someone’s sin was greater and more deserving of punishment than their sins (Luke 13:1-2). Jesus then suggested another scenario (Luke 13:4). In both cases His answer was the same, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). Apart from repentance no man can be saved.
When there is repentance coupled with genuine faith, salvation occurs—a sinner is saved by grace. We cannot see into the heart of the sinner. Only God can do that. The faithful servant presents the Word of God, seeking repentance, and lets God take it from there, because He knows the heart and He will act according to the heart of the repentant sinner.
The faithful servant receives God’s Word, delivers God’s message, and when a sinner repents, he sees God’s mercy at work—another sinner saved by grace! It is a beautiful thing to behold, as well as a blessing to experience. Repent. Believe. Seek to be that faithful servant. Amen.
Let’s follow Ahab for a moment: In 1 Kings 20 Ahab defeats Syria twice. The first time the Lord promised Ahab victory through an unnamed prophet (v. 13) and Ahab indeed won the battle (vs. 19-21). The prophet then told Ahab to be ready in the spring for round two (v. 22).
The second time the Syrians brought the battle “in the plain” (20:25) and Israel was greatly outnumbered (v. 27). Another “man of God” came and declared that God would again deliver the Syrians into their hand so that “you shall know that I am the LORD” (v. 28). And again the victory was won (vs. 29-30). Both times God did as He said He would.
Then Ahab entered into a treaty with the Syrian king Ben-Hadad and let him live (20:31-34). As a result, a “man of the sons of the prophets” (v. 35) confronted Ahab and delivered God’s message: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people’” (v. 42). Ahab stands condemned.
After this, Ahab gives way to Jezebel and gets himself into more hot water in 1 Kings 21:1-16. It is all over a piece of real estate: namely, Naboth’s vineyard. Enter Elijah to confront Ahab (vs.17-29).
In this passage, three principles are revealed concerning the power of sin. These principles are at work in the life of Ahab as he is confronted by Elijah. But our series is all about the life and times of Elijah. So alongside of God’s confrontation of Ahab concerning his sin, we will follow a parallel outline concerning Elijah’s spiritual walk and God’s work through him.
The first principle from Romans 6:23 is that “the wages of sin is death.” As to Elijah's spiritual walk, here we see Elijah receive God's Word (1 Kings 21:17-19).
Concerning sin, the unrepentant sinner faces death, eternal spiritual death. In 1 Kings 21:1-16, Jezebel, in Ahab’s name, commits murder and steals a vineyard. For that heinous act, Ahab faces God’s judgment, and thus faces the prophet Elijah again. Elijah finds him in the garden that had belonged to Naboth, just as God had said.
Elijah delivers God’s Word to Ahab, saying, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Have you murdered and also taken possession?’" (1 Kings 21:19a). And he added, “Thus says the LORD: ‘In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours’” (v. 19b).
Ahab, an unrepentant sinner, faced certain judgment. His sin would not go unpunished, and neither will our sin. Romans 6:23 pronounces God’s judgment on sin: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” A faithful servant like Elijah surely held out to Ahab the prospect of life, but the sinner with an unrepentant heart still reaps death, eternal separation from God, every time.
Elijah is a faithful servant. He received God's Word and delivered it to the king. It saddened Elijah’s heart to hear that the king had not yet repented and believed in the Lord. In fact, the word was that things had only gotten worse for Ahab. Now judgment had to be proclaimed. The time had come for God’s sentence to be handed down.
We had not heard from Elijah for some time. But now he is back in center stage. God gave him the message to deliver and even told him where to find the king: “Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who lives in Samaria. There he is, in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it’” (1 Kings 21:17-18). Elijah heard God’s Word and was faithful to do God’s Word. The faithful servant hears the Word of God, listens to it, and is certain to live by it.
The second principle concerning the sinner, found in Genesis 6:5, is that "every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." As to Elijah's spiritual walk, here we see Elijah deliver God's message (1 Kings 21:20-26).
The unrepentant sinner simply does evil. It is his way of life. Ahab once called Elijah “O troubler of Israel” (18:17). Now he makes it more personal. He calls Elijah, “my enemy” (21:20a). “Have you found me, O my enemy?” asked Ahab. His guilt weighed so heavy on his conscience that he knew Elijah had come to condemn him. After all, he was a sinner who did only evil all the time.
Elijah replied, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin’” (vs. 20b-22).
By fighting against God, he was his own worst enemy. He had brought down on himself the very sentence Elijah had come to pronounce. He would die for his sins in a most dishonorable way. Even the dogs would lick up his blood. And the same would go for Jezebel (v. 23) and all his household (v. 24). Ahab and Jezebel enjoyed many years of doing whatever they felt like and running roughshod over the people. Now those days were over. Judgment awaited.
For Elijah, everything was different. God gave him a special message for Ahab (vs. 19-22). Elijah was faithful to deliver the message exactly as God intended, and he did so in a timely manner.
While “the intent of the thoughts of” Ahab’s “heart was only evil” all the time, “the intent of the thoughts of” Elijah’s “heart was only” seeking to please God and to do the Father’s will. The faithful servant seeks to do the works God has prepared for him to do.
The third princicple concerning the power of sin is that "unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3, 5). As to Elijah's spiritual walk, here Elijah see's God's mercy (1 Kings 21:27-29).
The unrepentant sinner will certainly perish. “So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning” (21:27). Ahab reacted rather strongly to the Lord’s rebuke through Elijah. He put on sackcloth, fasted, and went into mourning. He humbled himself before the Lord.
Ahab actually repented! “And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house’” (vs. 28-29).
The judgments were not canceled, just postponed until the reign of his son Joram. (You can find the story in 2 Kings 9:14-37). Ahab, however, was killed on the battlefield and the dogs licked his blood at the pool of Samaria (1 Kings 22:37-38). Because the judgment was postponed, it was his son Joram’s blood that the dogs licked up on Naboth's property, just as Elijah said (cf. 2 Kings 9:14-37).
Ahab's repentance proved to be short-lived. He put on a good front but his repentance was on the surface. HIe never trusted the Lord. Speaking with Jesus, some people sought to name events where someone’s sin was greater and more deserving of punishment than their sins (Luke 13:1-2). Jesus then suggested another scenario (Luke 13:4). In both cases His answer was the same, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). Apart from repentance no man can be saved.
When there is repentance coupled with genuine faith, salvation occurs—a sinner is saved by grace. We cannot see into the heart of the sinner. Only God can do that. The faithful servant presents the Word of God, seeking repentance, and lets God take it from there, because He knows the heart and He will act according to the heart of the repentant sinner.
The faithful servant receives God’s Word, delivers God’s message, and when a sinner repents, he sees God’s mercy at work—another sinner saved by grace! It is a beautiful thing to behold, as well as a blessing to experience. Repent. Believe. Seek to be that faithful servant. Amen.
Friday, January 30, 2015
That Still Small Voice
In our text today (1 Kings 19:9-21), God reveals Himself to Elijah and speaks to him. But He does not speak to Elijah out of His omnipotence; He does not speak in a loud and dramatic fashion, calling attention to Himself. Rather He is still and soft. He speaks to Elijah out of the quietness and in “a still small voice” (v. 12b).
The greatest work Christ ever did for you was to die on the cross in your place, to give you new life and eternal life in Him. That was the single most important thing He did for you since sin entered the world. But it was not done out of strength, it was not done out of power, though Christ is the omnipotent, all-powerful God of Creation.
His work of salvation was done out of weakness and suffering. It was done on a cross while the world looked on in disbelief and a total lack of understanding. As they looked on, they saw the weakness and suffering of Christ on the cross as a total defeat. Instead it was a total victory! They were fools. They did not understand.
David said, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.” (Psalm 14:1-3)
Paul quotes from this Psalm when he says, “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.” (Rom. 3:10-12)
Sometimes we are only a step ahead of the fool who denies the very existence of God. We believe in God, but we do not listen to Him. We are afraid to listen to the voice of God. We want to have that “pity party” and feel sorry for ourselves, like we see Elijah doing. It we listen to the voice of God, we will not be able to do that.
To his credit, Elijah did listen to God and he also took action because of what he heard. He did not mind listening for the voice of God, because he made a habit of listening to the Lord and of doing according to His Word.
What Elijah understood and what we need to learn is that God’s voice is friendly. He seeks only our best. We need not fear His voice, but we must listen for His voice with a heart that is ready to obey. That is what Elijah did.
The chapter begins with Elijah on the run, hoping to save himself. When he stops running, he argues with God in an attempt to defend himself. He goes from the mountaintop to the swamp, but in the end his strength is restored, both physically and spiritually, and he obeys God, yields himself to Him, and is returned to his work of service.
In all that he did, Elijah responded to the voice of God. He felt like giving up, but he did not. Instead he listened for God's voice and when God spoke to him, he acted on the Word God spoke. When we feel like giving up and walking away we too need to stop and listen for the voice of God.
The unbelief and fear that the people of Israel showed at Kadesh Barnea caused them to wander for 40 years in the wilderness (Num. 13-14). Elijah's unbelief and fear led to his 40 day trial in that same desert (v. 8). Yet the Lord directed his steps all along the way, using this time in the wilderness to prepare Elijah to meet Him anew.
When he arrived at Mount Horeb, “he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place” (v. 9). He made this cave his home and he waited on the Lord “in that place.” This cave is special. Not only is this Mount Sinai (or Mount Horeb), the very mountain where God met Moses in the burning bush some 400 years earlier and wrote the Ten Commandments with the finger of God, but this is possibly the same cave or “cleft of the rock” where God put Moses while His glory passed by.
The Hebrew literally says, “He came there to the cave” (The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Volume 4. 149). Note the use of the definite article “the.” This is not just “a” cave, this is “the” cave. So it is possibly the very "cleft of the rock" where God had placed Moses as his glory passed by (Exodus 33:22-23).
In this sacred cave Elijah waited on the Lord. He was depressed. He was ready to give up both his calling and his life. Remember verse 4 when Elijah sat under “a broom tree” and prayed, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” What a sad day it was. But Elijah did the right thing: he got away from it all and sought the Lord.
The Lord came and met him, just as Elijah had hoped. But He didn’t come to chastise Elijah or even to instruct him. He came to ask him a question: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (v. 9b)
Elijah avoids the question. He says simply, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (v. 10)
Rather than admit he is hiding, he complains that God’s people have gone astray, killed the prophets, and put a contract out on his life as well! He exaggerates.
He would repeat the question, but first He revealed His power to Elijah in order to let him know that God does not always speak in dramatic form. In fact He rarely does. If you want to hear God’s voice, you have to listen carefully for that “still small voice” of God that comes to us without all the noise.
“Then He said, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.’ And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” (vs. 11-12)
That "still small voice" (v. 12b) shook Elijah to the core. All the Lord wants is for us to listen and let Him guide us by that “still small voice.” Elijah listened. He heard that “still small voice.” And “when Elijah heard it…he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave” (v. 13a). He was ready to hear the Word of the Lord.
Sometimes we too need to find our way through all of the noise and listen for that “still small voice” of God. He is there and He is speaking to our hearts. It’s just that oftentimes we are not listening. We don’t listen because we don’t want to obey. It seems easier to put our nose to the grind and do it ourselves, in our own power. But that doesn't work. We need God's guidance and His power.
Again the question was asked: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (v. 13b). And again Elijah gave the same response: “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (v. 14). Elijah, Elijah! It was time to quit speaking. It was time to listen!
That “still small voice” brings the Word of God to the listening ear and the contrite heart. There is a time and a place for the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, but most of the time God speaks directly to our hearts with that gentle whisper, with a quiet persuasion. God’s Word is like a gentle breeze that cools and refreshes, cleanses and produces life.
The greatest work Christ ever did for you was to die on the cross in your place, to give you new life and eternal life in Him. That was the single most important thing He did for you since sin entered the world. But it was not done out of strength, it was not done out of power, though Christ is the omnipotent, all-powerful God of Creation.
His work of salvation was done out of weakness and suffering. It was done on a cross while the world looked on in disbelief and a total lack of understanding. As they looked on, they saw the weakness and suffering of Christ on the cross as a total defeat. Instead it was a total victory! They were fools. They did not understand.
David said, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.” (Psalm 14:1-3)
Paul quotes from this Psalm when he says, “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.” (Rom. 3:10-12)
Sometimes we are only a step ahead of the fool who denies the very existence of God. We believe in God, but we do not listen to Him. We are afraid to listen to the voice of God. We want to have that “pity party” and feel sorry for ourselves, like we see Elijah doing. It we listen to the voice of God, we will not be able to do that.
To his credit, Elijah did listen to God and he also took action because of what he heard. He did not mind listening for the voice of God, because he made a habit of listening to the Lord and of doing according to His Word.
What Elijah understood and what we need to learn is that God’s voice is friendly. He seeks only our best. We need not fear His voice, but we must listen for His voice with a heart that is ready to obey. That is what Elijah did.
The chapter begins with Elijah on the run, hoping to save himself. When he stops running, he argues with God in an attempt to defend himself. He goes from the mountaintop to the swamp, but in the end his strength is restored, both physically and spiritually, and he obeys God, yields himself to Him, and is returned to his work of service.
In all that he did, Elijah responded to the voice of God. He felt like giving up, but he did not. Instead he listened for God's voice and when God spoke to him, he acted on the Word God spoke. When we feel like giving up and walking away we too need to stop and listen for the voice of God.
The unbelief and fear that the people of Israel showed at Kadesh Barnea caused them to wander for 40 years in the wilderness (Num. 13-14). Elijah's unbelief and fear led to his 40 day trial in that same desert (v. 8). Yet the Lord directed his steps all along the way, using this time in the wilderness to prepare Elijah to meet Him anew.
When he arrived at Mount Horeb, “he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place” (v. 9). He made this cave his home and he waited on the Lord “in that place.” This cave is special. Not only is this Mount Sinai (or Mount Horeb), the very mountain where God met Moses in the burning bush some 400 years earlier and wrote the Ten Commandments with the finger of God, but this is possibly the same cave or “cleft of the rock” where God put Moses while His glory passed by.
The Hebrew literally says, “He came there to the cave” (The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Volume 4. 149). Note the use of the definite article “the.” This is not just “a” cave, this is “the” cave. So it is possibly the very "cleft of the rock" where God had placed Moses as his glory passed by (Exodus 33:22-23).
In this sacred cave Elijah waited on the Lord. He was depressed. He was ready to give up both his calling and his life. Remember verse 4 when Elijah sat under “a broom tree” and prayed, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” What a sad day it was. But Elijah did the right thing: he got away from it all and sought the Lord.
The Lord came and met him, just as Elijah had hoped. But He didn’t come to chastise Elijah or even to instruct him. He came to ask him a question: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (v. 9b)
Elijah avoids the question. He says simply, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (v. 10)
Rather than admit he is hiding, he complains that God’s people have gone astray, killed the prophets, and put a contract out on his life as well! He exaggerates.
He would repeat the question, but first He revealed His power to Elijah in order to let him know that God does not always speak in dramatic form. In fact He rarely does. If you want to hear God’s voice, you have to listen carefully for that “still small voice” of God that comes to us without all the noise.
“Then He said, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.’ And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” (vs. 11-12)
That "still small voice" (v. 12b) shook Elijah to the core. All the Lord wants is for us to listen and let Him guide us by that “still small voice.” Elijah listened. He heard that “still small voice.” And “when Elijah heard it…he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave” (v. 13a). He was ready to hear the Word of the Lord.
Sometimes we too need to find our way through all of the noise and listen for that “still small voice” of God. He is there and He is speaking to our hearts. It’s just that oftentimes we are not listening. We don’t listen because we don’t want to obey. It seems easier to put our nose to the grind and do it ourselves, in our own power. But that doesn't work. We need God's guidance and His power.
Again the question was asked: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (v. 13b). And again Elijah gave the same response: “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (v. 14). Elijah, Elijah! It was time to quit speaking. It was time to listen!
That “still small voice” brings the Word of God to the listening ear and the contrite heart. There is a time and a place for the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, but most of the time God speaks directly to our hearts with that gentle whisper, with a quiet persuasion. God’s Word is like a gentle breeze that cools and refreshes, cleanses and produces life.
With Elijah ready to listen, the Lord God wasted no time in giving instructions: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place” (vs. 15-16). It was time to pass the torch to Elisha to equip a new generation.
He is told that by his words and works Elisha will finish the work (v. 17). He is further told that he is not alone (v. 18). So he did as instructed (vs. 19-21). Elijah listened to God’s “still small voice” and did as the Lord led him.
Elijah had his moments. At times he walked by sight and not by faith, yet he had an ear to hear the “still small voice” of God. Do you hear His voice? Listen carefully and follow Him faithfully. Amen.
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