One Kingdom, One King

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 37:15-28

 

Ezekiel 37:21-22

“Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; ²² and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.”

(NKJV)

 

To say we live in a world divided would be an understatement, but divisiveness in the world should not be surprising to believers, for division has been the tool of the devil since the Garden of Eden. The first thing the serpent told Eve was to question the one command God gave her and Adam, causing them to believe God was lying to them (Genesis 3:1-5). Once Satan planted this seed of doubt, it became easy for Adam and Eve to justify disobeying God, causing separation from God. Thankfully, God is merciful and gracious and has provided a path to reconciliation with God in Christ (Romans 5:10).

 

Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord, telling Him to take two sticks and inscribe on them with one stick representing Judah and the other Israel (Ezekiel 37:15-16). Ezekiel is then to join the sticks together so they become one in his hand (Ezekiel 37:17). When he is asked what this means, Ezekiel is to tell them the sticks represent the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah that will be united into one nation (Ezekiel 37:18-20).

 

The Lord intends to unite Judah and Israel into one nation returning to their land (Ezekiel 37:22). No longer will Israel and Judah defile themselves with idols, detestable things, or transgressions with God delivering them from the places where they sinned (Ezekiel 37:23). David shall be king over them and they shall have one shepherd, walking in God’s judgments and observing His statutes (Ezekiel 37:24).

 

The united nation shall live in the land given by God to Jacob with David as prince forever (Ezekiel 37:25). God will make an everlasting covenant of peace with them with God establishing and multiplying them and set His sanctuary there forever (Ezekiel 37:26). This means God will be Israel’s God with them His people (Ezekiel 37:27). The nations shall also know that the Lord sanctifies Israel (Ezekiel 37:28).   

 

This prophecy from Ezekiel is a word from the Lord telling Israel that the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah will unite with David as their king. When Samuel served as judge over Israel, the nation asked for Samuel to appoint a king over them so they could be like the other nations (1 Samuel 8). After the failure of Saul as king, David was made king over Israel, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22; 1 Samuel 13:1-15). While David’s son Solomon was considered wise with Israel thriving under his leadership, he turned from God, leading to the division of the kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 11:1-13, 12:1-24). This division of Israel led to a succession of kings, some good and some bad, with both Judah and Israel turning to idolatry and going into exile. This is the state of Israel and Judah when Ezekiel gives them a word from the Lord telling of the unification of the nations with one king, David, ruling over them. Since David had died, this prophecy could foretell of David as king over Israel during the Millennial reign of Jesus or a descendant of David, Jesus reigning as king. Whatever the interpretation of this prophecy, its words would have brought comfort to those in exile.

 

Revival will not come to a divided Church but to a Church united behind God’s word with the Lord as its shepherd. This is why the Church must guard against such divisiveness. Paul spoke harshly to the Church in Corinth regarding divisions over which Church leader they followed (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). These divisions made them carnal and unable to receive the solid food of the word of God, and still needing to feed on the milk of the word (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). A Church unified behind Christ that lives obediently to the new commandment of love for one another is a Church ready to bring revival to a hate-filled world (John 13:31-35).

 

Revival will also not come through a lukewarm Church that believes it is self-sufficient and comfortable in its wealth and prosperity, like the Church in Laodicea that left Jesus outside the door knocking (Revelation 3:14-22). A Church that brings revival is a Church empowered by the Holy Spirit, equipped with the Word of God, and the armor of God that encourages one another, unified with Christ. Please join me in praying for the Church to become ready to be the vehicle through which God will bring revival.

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to make Jesus your savior or have grown lukewarm or cold in your walk with the Lord, I invite you to either commit your life to the Lord for the first time or rededicate your life to the Lord by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and follow through with baptism as a public confession of your faith in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10). May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post. 

Jesus, the I AM

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 8:48-59

 

John 8:58

Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

(NKJV)

 

Tomorrow is Memorial Day in the United States, a national holiday set aside to honor those who gave their lives in the defense of the nation. If you are reading this and know someone who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country, I want to honor their service to our country and how it contributes to maintaining the freedom I have to share what I share in this blog. May God bless the friends and families of these brave men and women.

 

Jesus’ previous statement that the Jews He was speaking with at the temple are not of God leads to them telling Jesus He is a Samaritan and has a demon (John 8:48). Jesus reminds them He does not have a demon but honors His Father, while these Jews dishonor Him (John 8:49). Jesus once again reminds them that He does not seek His glory but reminds them there is One who seeks and judges (John 8:50). Jesus then makes a profound statement, saying that anyone keeping His word shall never see death (John 8:51).  

 

This profound statement causes the Jews to believe without a doubt that Jesus has a demon because Abraham and the prophets are dead. By saying that anyone not keeping His word will see death, Jesus is saying that Abraham and the prophets did not keep His word (John 8:52). The Jews then accuse Jesus of claiming to be greater than Abraham and the prophets (John 8:53). Jesus replies by reminding them that if He honors Himself, His honor is nothing but that it is God who honors Him, the same God they claim is their God (John 8:54). Jesus again accuses them of not knowing God the Father, reminding them that He knows God the Father and would be a liar if He claimed not to know Him (John 8:55). Jesus makes another profound statement, saying that Abraham saw His day and was glad (John 8:56)

 

This profound statement causes more discord among the Jews with them wondering how Jesus, who is not even 50-years old could have seen Abraham (John 8:57). Jesus makes one final profound statement, saying that even before Abraham existed, I AM (John 8:58). What makes this statement profound is Jesus is claiming to be the one Moses encountered at the burning bush (Exodus 3). This angers the Jews to the point of wanting to stone Him, but Jesus hides himself from them and walks through them and out of the temple in another miracle, demonstrating He is I AM (John 8:59).

 

The Jews still do not understand who Jesus is, now accusing Him of having a demon (John 8:48). These Jews claim to be children of Abraham, which they are by birth, but Jesus is not speaking of their biological lineage but their spiritual lineage. Their spiritual lineage is not of God because God is standing in front of them, and they do not understand that Jesus is God manifested in the flesh. Abraham did see Jesus and rejoiced at seeing the Lord’s day which is to come when Jesus dies for humanity’s sins and resurrects from the dead (Genesis 22:11-14). Because these Jews do not understand who Jesus is, they cannot understand how someone not yet fifty could have seen Abraham (John 8:57). Jesus makes one more attempt to identify who He is by telling them he is the I AM, the one Moses spoke with at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). Jesus has presented His credentials to this group of Jews and yet they do not believe and seek to stone Him.

 

Everyone reading this must ask themselves, do I know in my heart who Jesus is? It is not enough to know Jesus existed, for even the devil believes at this level (James 2:19). The Jews in this passage believed in Jesus’ existence because he was right in front of them. The question we all must ask is not whether we believe Jesus existed but rather, do we believe he is I AM (John 8:58). Do I believe Jesus is the way, truth, and the life (John 14:6). Do I believe, like Peter, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:15-16). Most importantly, we must ask ourselves if our relationship with Jesus is what we treasure most in our hearts (Matthew 6:21). If your answer to any of these questions is not a definite yes, I encourage you to search your heart and ask God to help you identify who Jesus truly is in your heart.

 

If you believe in your heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the grave but have not made a public confession of this belief, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision, especially anyone who has been praying for you, or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and follow through with water baptism. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post. 

The Dry Bones Live: Turning an Upside-Down World Right-Side Up

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14

 

Ezekiel 37:5

Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.

(NKJV)

 

The woke world in which we live is a world woke with an ungodly philosophy wanting is to become woke to the idea that abortion is not murder but a choice. We are to become woke to the idea that there are more than two genders and that one unhappy with their gender at birth can change it. This is an upside-down world that is dead like the dead bones of Ezekiel 37:1-14. It is time for the dead bones to come alive.

 

The Spirit of the Lord comes upon Ezekiel, and he is set down in the Spirit in a valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1). As the Lord takes Ezekiel through the valley of dry bones that are numerous, the Lord asks Ezekiel if the bones can live. Ezekiel answers with, “O Lord God, You know.” (Ezekiel 37:2-3). The Lord then commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, telling them to hear the word of the Lord (Ezekiel 37:4). The word of the Lord to the dry bones is that they will live and have sinews, flesh, and skin on them, so they will know the Lord is the Lord God (Ezekiel 37:5-6).

 

Ezekiel did as the Lord commanded and heard the noise of the bones coming together (Ezekiel 37:7). Then sinews, flesh, and skin covered the once dry bones, but they had no breath of life yet (Ezekiel 37:8). The Lord then commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath, telling it to come from the four winds and breath on those slain that they may live (Ezekiel 37:9). Ezekiel did as commanded by the Lord and the bones lived, becoming an exceeding great army (Ezekiel 37:10).

 

The Lord then lets Ezekiel know what this vision symbolizes. The bones represent the whole house of Israel who are in the dryness of exile with no hope (Ezekiel 37:11). The symbolism of the bones coming to life is God opening up their graves of exile and hopelessness and returning them to the land of Israel (Ezekiel 37:12). It is this restoration of life to Israel that will cause them to realize the Lord is the Lord God (Ezekiel 37:13). The breath represents the Spirit of God that will be put in them so they will live in the land of Israel. This is a word from the Lord that will come to pass (Ezekiel 37:14).

 

After seventy years of exile, the house of Israel is feeling dead and hopeless. This imagery is a prophecy illustrating the miracle of the return of the exiles to their land. The imagery of dead bones coming to life seems to be a scene out of a horror movie, but to the people in exile for seventy years, the thought of life back in their homeland was comforting. Not only will they return to their land, but they will thrive in it (Ezekiel 36:33-36). In hindsight, we know this prophecy was fulfilled when King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree permitting the exiles to return, providing all they would need to rebuild (Ezra 1). The dead dry bones of exile did come back to life.

 

The Church that teaches the whole Bible is in exile in a fallen world, serving as ambassadors for Christ (Ephesians 6:19-20). The mission of the Church is to bring the message of life through freedom from sin to a world ruled by sin, making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 8:2). Unfortunately, many modern churches are like the Church of Laodicea, a lukewarm Church comfortable in their wealth and not believing they need anything (Revelation 3:14-17). Like all of us, this Church needs Jesus and the fire of the Spirit of God to bring it out of its lukewarmness. Fortunately, there is a remnant in the Church that worships God in Spirit and truth, the truth of God’s Word with the fire of the Holy Spirit within them (John 4:23-24). This was how the Church in the book of Acts worked, and they were accused of turning their world upside down (Acts 17:6). Our world today is already upside down and needs a Church of Spirit and Truth, committed to its mission of spreading the Gospel to turn it right side up.

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to make Jesus your savior or have grown lukewarm or cold in your walk with the Lord, I invite you to either commit your life to the Lord for the first time or rededicate your life to the Lord by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and follow through with baptism as a public confession of your faith in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10). May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post. 

The Source of Truth

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 8:31-47

 

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

(NKJV)

 

Truth in a fallen world ruled by Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44), is a rare commodity. When Pilate asked Jesus. Jesus not only claimed to be the truth (John 14:6), He told Pilate He came to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37). Pilate’s response to Jesus was asking what is truth but immediately went out to the Jews instead of waiting to hear the answer from the one claiming to be the truth. This is like many in the world who reject the source of truth, Jesus Christ.

 

Jesus is speaking to a group of Jews who believe in Him, instructing them to be disciples by abiding in His word, the source of truth that will set them free (John 8:31-32). However, instead of accepting this truth, they are hung up on being children of Abraham who are not in bondage to anyone and as such do not understand the need to be made free (John 8:33). Jesus reminds them that anyone who has sinned is a slave to sin (John 8:34). A slave cannot live in the house of the master forever, only a son or daughter who is in the family (John 8:35). When one accepts Jesus the Son of God as savior they are accepted into the family of God and set free (John 8:36; 1 John 3:1).

 

Jesus then acknowledges knowing they are Abraham’s descendants but since they seek to kill Him, His word has no place in them (John 8:37). Jesus then tells them He speaks what He has seen with His Father with them doing what they have seen with their father (John 8:38). They once again claim to be children of Abraham to which Jesus asks why they do not do the works of Abraham (John 8:39). Jesus reminds them that seeking to kill Him is not something Abraham would do (John 8:40). Jesus tells them they do the deeds of their father to which they claim they have one Father, God (John 8:41), not understanding they are saying this to the Son of God.

 

Jesus once again reminds them of the truth that He came from and was sent by God and does not speak His own words (John 8:42). They do not understand what Jesus says because they are not able to listen to His word (John 8:43). Jesus tells them their father is the devil, a murderer and liar which is why they are unable to believe Him (John 8:44-45). Jesus then asks which of them convicts Him of sin and why they do not believe Him if he tells the truth (John 8:46). Those who are of God hear God’s words, but since these Jews are not of God but the Devil, they cannot hear (John 8:47).  

 

A group of Jews claiming to believe in Jesus are challenged by Jesus, saying the truth shall set them free. They believe they are the children of Abraham who have never been in bondage to anyone, but Jesus is not talking about slavery to an individual, but freedom from sin. Their entertaining the thoughts of killing Jesus is the sin of murder according to the words of Jesus (Matthew 5:21-22). Therefore, even though the Jews claiming to believe in Jesus are children of Abraham, they are enslaved by sin and need the truth, Jesus, to set them free (John 14:6). The desire to kill Jesus does not originate from the Jews being children of Abraham but from their father the Devil who is a liar and murderer (John 8:44,10:10). The truth is these religious leaders are not of God because they do not heed the words of God.

 

I live in the United States where it is illegal for someone to own another person as his or her slave, but everyone born in the United States is a slave to sin (Romans 3:23). Freedom from slavery to sin I not granted by any law or government but comes by one professing a genuine belief from their heart in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10). When Jesus said He was the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), he was not saying He was a way but the way. When Peter told the rulers and elders of Israel that salvation was only in the name of Jesus, he was declaring this truth (Acts 4:8-12). This is the truth that sets us free from slavery to sin.

 

If you believe in your heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the grave but have not made a public confession of this belief, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and following through with baptism. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post. 

Renewal From Sin’s Exile

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 36:16-38

 

Romans 6:4

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

(NKJV)

 

Anyone living as a believer in a fallen world can relate to how some in Israel may have felt when living in exile. The truth is that each of us is born into the exile of sin (Romans 3:23) and in need of God’s gift of grace to deliver us from sin and death so we can experience renewal from sin in our lives (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23). The return of Israel and Judah from seventy years of exile is an illustration of God’s grace and something available to everyone reading this post no matter how vile your sin.

 

Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord that begins with a reminder of why they are in exile and how vile their uncleanness and idolatry were to Him (Ezekiel 36:16-17). This is why the house of Israel now finds themselves in exile, scattered among the nations and countries (Ezekiel 36:18-19). Even when going into exile, the house of Israel continued to profane the holy name of God causing the nations into which they were exiled to say these are the people of the Lord and have gone out of His land (Ezekiel 36:20). However, the Lord had concern for His holy name that Israel profaned among the nations (Ezekiel 36:21).

 

Therefore, what the Lord is about to do is not for the sake of the house of Israel but for the sake of His holy name (Ezekiel 36:22). The Lord will sanctify His holy name among the nations in which Israel is exiled by gathering Israel from out of these nations (Ezekiel 36:23-24). The Lord will cleanse Israel from her filthiness and idolatry, remove their hearts of stone, replacing them with a heart of flesh, and put His Spirit within them (Ezekiel 36:25-27). Israel shall once again live in the land God has given them (Ezekiel 36:28). Not only will they return to their land, but they shall prosper in it (Ezekiel 36:29-30). Israel shall remember their evil ways and have loathing for their iniquities and abominations (Ezekiel 36:31). Once again, the Lord reminds them that He is not doing this for their sakes, but to sanctify His holy name (Ezekiel 36:32).

 

The cleansing from the Lord will enable Israel to once again live in their cities that are no longer desolate but rebuilt (Ezekiel 36:33). The desolate land will be tilled and become like the Garden of Eden with its once ruined cities inhabited and fortified (Ezekiel 36:34-35). This renewal will be a witness to the nations around Israel, causing them to know the Lord as God and that He will do what He says (Ezekiel 36:36). The people living in Israel will also increase and populate the once ruined cities (Ezekiel 36:37-38).

 

Not only will Israel return from exile to the land given to them by God, but they will also experience cleansing from their sins and total renewal. It was never the intention of God for His people to experience destruction for their sin but to bring them to repentance through exile (Jeremiah 29:11). During the seventy years of exile, a new generation of Israelites is born into which the Lord places a heart of flesh and not stone with His Spirit within them (Ezekiel 36:26). The nations surrounding Israel will see God’s mercy and grace on display with the desolate land becoming fruitful, the cities inhabited, and ruins restored. Instead of them profaning the name of the Lord, the Lord’s name is praised.

 

In Romans 3:23, we are reminded that we come from the exile of sin in our lives. The consequence of this sin is death, but through Christ, one can experience total renewal and eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). Like the desolation of the land of Israel because of the uncleanness and idolatry in the land, our sin and seeking peace in created things as opposed to the creator leaves our lives desolate. When Jesus said it is finished from the cross, he was declaring the debt of sin that makes one’s life desolate paid in full (John 19:28-30). However, this gift is not one forced upon us as seen in the reactions of the two crucified with Jesus on the cross (Luke 23:39-43). One thief blasphemed Jesus, telling him that if He were the Christ, He should come down from the cross and save Himself. Had Jesus done this it would have been selfish and a failure to surrender to the will of God as he stated in the Garden (Matthew 26:39). The other thief rebuked the blasphemous thief and asked Jesus to remember him when he came into His kingdom to which Jesus promised they would be together in paradise (Luke 23:40-43). One thief blasphemed Jesus and died in his sins, while the other sought forgiveness and received a life with Jesus for eternity in paradise.

 

Restoration to the Lord begins with one making Jesus their Lord through confessing Jesus as their Lord with a genuine belief that Jesus died for their sins and was resurrected from the dead in victory over sin and death (Romans 10:9-10). This is not optional for all of us have sinned (Romans 3:23) and live under a death sentence for our sins (Romans 6:23), but as the second half of Romans 6:23 tells us, God’s gift to humanity is eternal life through Jesus Christ. If you have never done so or if you have drifted away from God, I invite you to experience restoration by praying with me now.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post. 

Head Knowledge of Jesus Versus Heart Knowledge

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 8:13-30

 

Isaiah 6:10

“Make the heart of this people dull,
And their ears heavy,
And shut their eyes;
Lest they see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart,
And return and be healed.”

(NKJV)

 

In the information age, information about the historical accounts of Jesus is now available in the Bible and through archeological evidence. However, the evil and sin prevalent in our world also provide evidence that many do not understand who Jesus was, the Messiah, the Son of God, and God in the flesh, who came to save us from sin. Head knowledge of Jesus is important, but it takes believing in the death, burial, and resurrection in one’s heart to be saved (Romans 10:9-10).

 

The Pharisees attempt to discredit Jesus' witness, claiming He only bears witness of Himself, making his witness untrue (John 8:13). Jesus defends the credibility of His witness by claiming His witness is true because He knows where He came from and where He is going, something the Pharisees do not understand (John 8:14). Jesus continues by saying they judge according to the flesh but that He judges no one (John 8:15). Jesus claims that if He were to judge, the judgment would be true because it would not be His judgment alone but in agreement with God the Father who sent Him (John 8:16). Jesus reminds them that scripture states that the witness of two men is true (Deuteronomy 19:15) with Jesus bearing witness of Himself and God the Father also bearing witness of Him (John 8:17-18). The Pharisees then ask Jesus where His Father is to which He tells them they do not know Him or His Father for if they knew Him they would know His Father (John 8:19). Jesus spoke these words in the treasury and no one laid hands on Him because His time had not yet come (John 8:20).

 

Jesus once again spoke of His going away and that they would seek Him but could not go where He was going (John 8:21). This caused the Jews to wonder if Jesus intended to kill Himself (John 8:22). Jesus continues by telling them that they are from beneath but that He is from above and that He is not of this world (John 8:23). They will die in their sins if they do not believe that Jesus is He, the Messiah (John 8:24). This prompts the Pharisees to ask Jesus who He is to which He answers with who He has said He is from the beginning (John 8:25). Even though Jesus has many things to judge concerning the Pharisees, He only speaks what He has heard from the Father (John 8:26).

 

The Pharisees did not understand that Jesus spoke to them of God the Father, with Him telling them that when they lift up the Son of Man, they will know, a reference to his crucifixion (John 8:27-28). Jesus concludes by telling them God, who sent Him, is with Him and will not leave Him alone because Jesus always does what pleases Him (John 8:29). Because of these words of Jesus, many came to believe in Him (John 8:30).

 

One can know about Jesus academically through the study of scriptures, but belief that brings salvation comes when one understands who Jesus is and that He is the Son of God sent from above. In previous conversations with the religious leaders, they could not believe Jesus was the Messiah because He did not come from Bethlehem (John 7:40-43). They were unaware that Jesus was born in Bethlehem because Mary accompanied Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem because of the Roman census (Luke 2:1-7). The religious leaders also believed they knew Joseph was Jesus’ father meaning Mary was not a virgin and could not have been the one to give birth to the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14). These religious leaders had academic knowledge of scripture telling them where the Messiah would be born and that He would be born of a virgin but could not connect Jesus with these prophecies. They knew about the Messiah but could not connect Jesus as the Messiah in their hearts because their eyes were blinded as foretold by Isaiah (Isaiah 6:9-10).

 

One can know about Jesus academically through the study of scriptures, but belief that brings salvation comes when one understands who Jesus is and that He is the Son of God sent from above. One advantage to living in the information age is easy access to information, including the Bible. Anyone with a smartphone has access to numerous translations of the Bible on their phone, but information is useless unless one accesses it and applies it to their lives. The Bible contains all the information one needs to understand that Jesus is the Messiah sent to save the world from sin and the coming King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus Himself challenged the religious leaders of His time to search the scriptures for if they did, they would discover they speak of Him (John 5:39). I challenge everyone reading this to search the scriptures and settle in your heart that Jesus is the Messiah, the Lamb of God, the soon and coming King, and Prince of peace bring salvation to this fallen world (Isaiah 9:6).

 

If you believe in your heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the grave but have not made a public confession of this belief, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and follow through with baptism. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post. 

Blessing on Israel: Correction, not Destruction

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 36:1-15

 

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

(NKJV)

 

It has been said that Christianity is one generation away from extinction. The Book of Judges illustrates the tumultuous history of the nation of Israel and what happens when a new generation arises that does not know the Lord (Judges 2:7-10). However, the nation of Israel is still God’s people and the nation through which the Messiah will be born. During the time of Ezekiel, Israel and Judah were in exile, an exile that lasted 70 years, coming to an end. Ezekiel 36:1-15 is a word of encouragement to the exiles, reminding them that God intends to return them to their land.

 

The Lord commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 36:1). The reason for the prophecy is that the enemies occupying Israel believe the land is their possession (Ezekiel 36:2). These enemies have made the land desolate and swallowed it up, causing Israel to be slandered by the other nations (Ezekiel 36:3). This word is to let Israel know that the Lord is speaking in His burning jealousy against these nations, and is the purpose for the word of the Lord Ezekiel is going to speak (Ezekiel 36:4-5).

 

The Lord speaks out in Jealousy because the nation of Israel has borne the shame of the nations, promising Israel that He will raise His hand in an oath, causing these nations to bear their own shame (Ezekiel 36:6-7). While these nations bear their own shame, the mountains of Israel shall shoot forth with branches yielding fruit for God’s people returning to the land (Ezekiel 36:8).

 

The Lord promises He is for them and will turn towards them with the land tilled and sown (Ezekiel 36:9). Men will multiply in the land with the cities inhabited, and ruins rebuilt, making Israel better than before so they will know the Lord God is God (Ezekiel 36:10-11). The people of Israel will once again walk on the land and be fruitful (Ezekiel 36:12).

 

The accusations against Israel that they devour men, bereaving Israel of children will end (Ezekiel 36:13-14). Israel will no longer hear the taunts of the nations nor the reproach of people. The nation will not stumble anymore, says the Lord (Ezekiel 36:15).     

 

The people of Israel, including Ezekiel, are in exile and experiencing disappointment. Many exiles may have believed the situation was hopeless, even though the reason for their exile was in accordance with Deuteronomy 28:15-68. The prophet Jeremiah prophesied that the exile would only last 70 years (Jeremiah 29:10). This word of the Lord through Ezekiel is a confirmation to a disappointed and hopeless people in exile that they would return to their land. We also know Micah had prophesied Messiah would come from Israel in the town of Bethlehem, something not possible with the people of Israel in exile (Micah 5:2). Therefore, God will return His people to their land so the Prophecy about the length of the exile and the birth of Messiah can be fulfilled.

 

Like the people of Israel, the people of the Church live in exile in a fallen world. Even Jesus reminds us we will have trouble in this world, but also promises Jesus overcame the world (John 16:33). Jesus proclaimed in Matthew 16:18 that the gates of hell would not prevail against His Church. The rock upon which the Church stands and why the gates of hell will not prevail against it is Peter’s proclamation of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:15-16). The true Church, the Church standing on the proclamation of Peter, will prevail, but through persecution, tribulation, and trouble. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 promises that those in Christ who have died, along with those alive in Christ, will be caught up and meet the Lord in the air. This is a promise to the Church that its exile in a fallen world will end with the Church forever being with the Lord. Like the comforting words of the Lord to Ezekiel for the Jewish exiles, these words are a comfort to the Church.

 

If you are reading this and unsure if you are ready to meet the Lord in the air to live with Him for eternity, I invite you to make a profession of faith like Peter. Romans 10:9-10 tells us that anyone expressing a heartfelt belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ shall be saved. I invite you to pray with me and make this profession of faith.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and follow through with baptism as a public confession of your faith in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10). May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.