Paul Preaches Jesus to the Jews First

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 13:13-41

 

Acts 13:23

From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a^[d] Savior—Jesus—

(NKJV)

 

Paul and his entourage have arrived in Antioch, with Paul going to the synagogue on the Sabbath and invited to share with those there. He takes this opportunity to share with them by sharing their history and how Jesus is the promised Savior and Messiah. This is a custom Paul would practice wherever he went and would often be rejected by the Jews and share the Gospel with the Gentiles.

 

Paul and those with him set sail from Paphos and arrived in Perga in Pamphylia, with John departing from them and returning to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). After departing Perga, they arrived in Antioch in Pisidia and sat down in the synagogue on the Sabbath (Acts 13:14). After the reading of the law, the prophets and rulers of the synagogue asked Paul and those with him if they had a word of exhortation for the people (Acts 13:15).

 

Paul then stood up and asked the men of Israel who fear God to listen, beginning by telling them the God of Israel chose their fathers and exalted the people while they were strangers in Egypt, bringing them out with His mighty arm (Acts 13:16-17). God put up with their ways for about forty years in the wilderness and then destroyed seven nations in Canaan, distributing the land to them by allotment (Acts 13:18-19). Judges then ruled Israel for about four hundred and fifty years, after which they asked Samuel for a king, and God gave them Saul for forty years (Acts 13:20-21). After the removal of Saul, David became king, a man after God’s own heart who would do God’s will (Acts 13:22). From David’s descendants, God raised up a Savior, Jesus, coming after John first came preaching the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel (Acts 13:23-24). As John was finishing his ministry, he asked those following him who they thought he was, telling them he was not the one and that the Savior would come after him and that he was unworthy to loosen His sandals (Acts 13:25).

 

Paul then addresses the sons of the family of Abraham, telling them that the word of salvation is sent to them but that they have fulfilled the words of the prophets by condemning Jesus to death (Acts 13:26-27). Even though there was no reason to execute Him, they asked Pilate to crucify Jesus, fulfilling all that was written about Him. Then they took His body down and laid it in a tomb (Acts 13:28-29). However, Jesus did not remain in the tomb, but resurrected from the dead, with many witnesses seeing Him for many days (Acts 13:30-31). Paul then declares the good news to these Jews that the promise of God to their fathers is fulfilled in Jesus in fulfillment of Psalm 2:7 (Acts 13:32-33). In raising Jesus from the dead, Jesus is the holy one of the lineage of David who will not see corruption (Acts 13:34-37; Isaiah 55:3; Psalm 16:10).

 

Paul then concludes by letting these Jews know that through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is preached, providing justification with God that could not be done by the law of Moses (Acts 13:38-39). Paul then warns these Jews to beware lest what was spoken by the prophets come upon them, that they would not believe even though one would come and tell them (Acts 13:40-41).

 

Paul arrives in Antioch and begins his ministry by starting something that will become his custom when entering a new city; he goes to the Jews first and shares Christ (Acts 14:1, 17:10, 17:17, 18:4, 18:19). In this passage, we see Paul, a Pharisee, telling the Jews in the synagogue that.

 

• They are chosen of God (Acts 13:16) – As children of Abraham, this is promised in Genesis 12:1-7, 15, and 17.
• Delivered from Egyptian bondage (Acts 13:16-17) – Paul then reminds these Jews of how God sent Moses to them as a deliverer to be used by God to free them from the oppression of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 1-14).
• They were established in the land of Canaan (Acts 16:18-22) – The book of Joshua records the crossing over of the Israelites into the Promised Land, recording the conquests of the Canaanites through Joshua. The book of Judges records the tumultuous establishment of the people in the land, with the people asking for a king in 1 Samuel 8.
• They were promised an eternal kingdom through David’s seed (Acts 13:22) – While David was not the one to build the temple, God does promise an eternal kingdom through his descendants (2 Samuel 7:1-17)
• Jesus is their promised Messiah (Acts 13:23-26) – The descendant of David that will rule for eternity is Jesus Christ, the one who died and resurrected from the grave (Matthew 28:1-8). Jesus is the one sitting at the right hand of God making intercession for God’s people (Acts 7:55). Jesus is the one who is coming back to reign for eternity (Revelation 20:4-6).

 

As Paul was sharing with the Jews in Antioch, he did not have access to the gospels or epistles in the New Testament of the Bible, so he shared what he knew as a Pharisee. This is like what Stephen shared in Acts 7, minus the stoning. Like the Jews in the time of Paul, the church often needs a reminder of what Jesus did to save us from our sins, and why we should often observe communion. Communion reminds us that,

 

• Jesus’s body was broken for us – The breaking of Jesus’s body was severe through a beating (Luke 22:63-65), severe head wounds from a crown of thorns (Matthew 27:29), and piercing of nails.
• Jesus’s blood was shed for the remission of our sins – Scourging with a cat of nine-tails, bleeding from a crown of thorns, and the piercing of his hands and feet with nails would have caused severe blood loss.

 

All reading this have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard and face a death penalty for their sins (Romans 3:23, 6:23). However, we can have an acquittal from our penalty by confessing our heartfelt belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for our sins (Romans 10:9-10). Our good works cannot save us (Ephesians 2:8-9), but only the grace of God demonstrated on the cross. If you are reading this and have never made a heartfelt confession in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, 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.

 

This prayer is not some magical prayer but must be a genuine expression of your heart. If that is why you prayed, rest assured, your sins are completely forgiven, and you have eternal life. I now encourage you to let someone know of your decision. I also urge you to find a church of truth that teaches from the Bible and is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

A Plea for Relief from Oppression

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 74

 

Psalm 74:1

O God, why have You cast us off forever?
Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?

(NKJV)

 

When facing a struggle or oppression, most of those reading this can probably relate to Asaph wondering if God has forgotten them, and how long He will allow the struggle of oppression to continue (Psalm 74:1). One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Isaiah 40:31, which reminds us that as we wait upon the Lord, our strength is renewed. We also find comfort in knowing that while in a struggle or oppression, the Lord is with us (Psalm 23:4). However, Psalm 74 can also be viewed as a warning of oppression if one is disobedient to the Word of God or falls away from following the Lord.

 

Asaph begins this psalm with a plea to God, wondering why it appears he has cast them off and is angry with them (Psalm 74:1). He then pleads with God to remember His congregation He has purchased, the tribe of His inheritance that He has redeemed, and Mount Zion where He dwells (Psalm 74:2). He then asks the Lord to come to the sanctuary because the enemy is there damaging everything and has set up his banners for signs (Psalm 74:3-4). The enemy appears like men with axes among thick trees, using axes and hammers to break down the carved work of the temple (Psalm 74:5-6). The enemy has set fire to the Lord’s sanctuary, intending to destroy all the meeting places of God in the land (Psalm 74:7-8).

 

The children of Israel no longer see their signs and no longer have any prophet to let them know how long the oppression will last (Psalm 74:9). Asaph continues his plea to God, wondering how long the adversary will reproach and blaspheme, asking why the Lord has withdrawn his right hand, asking Him to take it out of his bosom and destroy the adversaries (Psalm 74:10-11). Asaph praises God as his King from of old who works salvation in the midst of the earth (Psalm 74:12). God is the one who divided the sea by his strength, who broke the heads of sea serpents, and broke the heads of leviathan in pieces, feeding them to the people living in the wilderness (Psalm 74:13-14). God also broke open the fountain and flood, drying up mighty rivers with the day and night belonging to Him, having prepared the light and the sun (Psalm 74:15-16). God also sets all the borders of the earth, making summer and winter (Psalm 74:17).

 

Asaph then continues by asking the Lord to remember that the enemy has reproached, with a foolish people blaspheming the name of the Lord (Psalm 74:18). He continues by asking the Lord not to deliver the life of His turtledove to the wild beast, and not to forget the lives of His poor forever (Psalm 74:19). He asks the Lord to respect the covenant, because the earth is full of dark places, the haunts of cruelty, and not to allow the oppressed to return ashamed and to let the poor and needy praise His name (Psalm 74:20-21). Asaph concludes by asking God to arise and plead His cause, remembering the daily reproaches of foolish men, and not to forget the voice of His enemies, because the tumult of those rising up against the Lord increases daily (Psalms 74:22-23).

 

Psalm 50 and Psalms 73-83 are attributed to Asaph, so to place their writing in context, we must determine who Asaph was and when he lived. Asaph is believed to have lived around the 10^th century BC. He was a Levite from the family of Gershon (1 Chronicles 6:39), serving under King David as a chief musician and worship leader (1 Chronicles 15:16-19). He was appointed to lead music before the Ark of the Covenant, and recognized as a seer or prophet, who provided spiritual insight along with his musical duties (2 Chronicles 29:30). Since he lived well before the Babylonian invasion of Israel and the destruction of the first temple, his mention of the breaking down of the carved work of the temple and its burning it down are likely prophetic warnings (Psalm 74:6-7).

 

When this Psalm is viewed as a prophetic warning of coming oppression for Israel, and that scripture warns of oppression for disobedience, its warning applies to the church today. Scripture warns of a great falling away or apostasy in the last days (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1). Therefore, Psalm 74 has application in the church age as a warning of the oppression that comes with disobedience to the Lord and why the Church must remain true to the principles of the Bible. Granted, methods of delivering the Gospel message change as technology advances and more tools for delivering the message are available, but the church must adhere to biblical principles when using these new methods. My prayer is that the church does not forget its mission from the Lord to spread the gospel message to the world (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20) and adopt new methods of doing so when they are available.

 

This blog represents a modern method of spreading the Gospel message, so I invite anyone reading this who has never prayed for the forgiveness of their sins 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.

 

If you meant what you just prayed, know God has forgiven all your sins and that you now have a relationship with God and are a child of God (Romans 8:16). Like any relationship, it grows as we get to know each other. While God already knows all about us, we must study the Bible, the word of God, to learn more about Him. If you just prayed, I encourage you to find a Church that teaches the truth of the Bible so you can learn more about the Lord. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.  

Power Over Deception

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 13:1-12

 

2 Timothy 4:3-5

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. ⁵ But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

(NKJV)

 

Paul wrote the epistle of 2 Timothy to his protégé, and it contains the warning of 2 Timothy 4:3-5, warning of a time that would come when people would not endure sound doctrine, falling for deceptive teaching. Deceptive teaching and interpretations of God’s word have always been present, but in the information age in which we live, deception can spread rapidly. The good news, however, is that sound teaching can also spread rapidly.

 

The church at Antioch had many prophets and teachers, with Barnabas and Saul among them (Acts 13:1). One day, as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit told them to separate Barnabas and Saul for the ministry to which the Lord had called them (Acts 13:2). In obedience to what the Holy Spirit told them, they laid hands upon them and sent them away (Acts 13:3).

 

After being sent out by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus (Acts 13:4). Upon their arrival at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, along with John their assistant (Acts 13:5). As they went through the island pf Paphos, they encountered a sorcerer and false prophet who was a Jew named Bar-Jesus (Acts 13:6). Bar-Jesus accompanied the proconsul, an intelligent man who called for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God (Acts 13:7). However, Bar-Jesus did not want the proconsul to hear the word of God, lest he become a believer (Acts 13:8).

 

Saul, who was also called Paul, looked intently at Bar-Jesus and called him a fraud, deceitful, a son of the devil, and an enemy of righteousness, asking if he would cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord (Acts 13:9-10). Paul then told Bar-Jesus that the hand of the Lord was upon him and that he would be blind for a time, unable to see the sun. At saying this, a mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand (Acts 13:11). At seeing this occur, the proconsul believed, astonished at the teaching of the Lord (Acts 13:12).

 

Barnabas and Saul, now known as Paul, are sent out to minister, and after preaching to the Jews in Salamis, encounter a sorcerer and the proconsul. The sorcerer was with the proconsul, possibly as a spiritual advisor who did not want the proconsul exposed to the truth of God's word. It is also possible that this sorcerer profited from spreading his deception and was seeking the proconsul's endorsement. This is because proconsuls at that time were usually governors over a province, having great influence. Barnabas and Paul were a threat to his plans, something the Holy Spirit revealed to Paul (Acts 13:9-10). The mighty hand of the Lord fell on the sorcerer, and he became blind, with this demonstration of God’s power causing the proconsul to believe (Acts 13:11-12). The word of God preached under the power of the Holy Spirit can accomplish great things and overcome deception.

 

In the information age in which we live, the Bible is readily available on many digital platforms with many translations and versions. However, one must use caution in selecting a translation or version to study, as not all of them present the genuine truth of God’s Word. Accuracy of a translation involves its adherence to the original Hebrew and Greek, translating it into readability into the language it is translated into. This translation is accomplished either through word-for-word accuracy or thought-for-thought accuracy. The New King James Version (NKJV) I use in these postings represents a word-for-word translation from the original Greek and Hebrew that attempts to preserve the feel of the original King James Version.

 

After selecting an accurate translation that truthfully presents Scripture from its original form, one must seek interpretation of Scripture from the counsel of the Holy Spirit and teachers full of the Holy Spirit. Bar-Jesus in this text encountered a Spirit-filled man exposing his deception, with the proconsul coming to believe upon hearing the word of God and witnessing God’s power at work. Our churches must present God’s truth from his word with the power of the Holy Spirit within them, for this will cause people to believe like the proconsul.

 

God’s word is indeed powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). If you are reading this and, like the proconsul, now believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead in victory over sin and death (Romans 10:9-10), I invite you to pray 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.

 

This prayer is not some magical prayer but must be a genuine expression of your heart. If that is why you prayed, rest assured, your sins are completely forgiven, and you have eternal life. I now encourage you to let someone know of your decision. I also urge you to find a church of truth that teaches from the Bible and is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Tragedy and Blessedness

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 73

 

Psalm 73:27-28

For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
²⁸ But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord God,
That I may declare all Your works.

(NKJV)

 

One of the things about living in a fallen world is that evil is rewarded, while righteousness is looked down upon. The psalmist, Asaph, in this passage almost stumbled when he observed this. But when he entered the sanctuary of the temple, he realized the reward of righteousness outweighed the rewards of evil living. This is because the rewards in this world for living wickedly are only temporary, with the rewards of living righteously eternal.

 

Asaph begins this psalm by declaring God is good to Israel and to those who are pure in heart (Psalm 73:1). Asaph then confesses to almost stumbling upon observing the boastfulness and prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 73:2-3). Asaph observed that the wicked had no pain in their death but had firm strength without being troubled or plagued like other men (Psalm 73:4-5). The wicked wear pride as a necklace, and violence as a garment, with eyes bulging with abundance, possessing more than a heart could wish (Psalm 73:6-7). Their speech is lofty, with them scoffing and speaking wickedly regarding oppression, speaking against the heavens as they walk through the earth (Psalm 73:8-9).

 

The wicked return to Israel, draining it of its full cup, asking “How does God know?” questioning if there is knowledge in the Most High (Psalm 73:10-11). These are Asaph’s observations of the wicked, with them always at ease and increasing in riches (Psalm 73:12). From these observations, Asaph concludes that he has cleansed his heart in vain and washed his hands in innocence, because he continues to be plagued all day long and chastened every morning (Psalm 73:13-14). However, Asaph knows that if he had spoken this way, he would have been untrue to the generation of Israel’s children, with understanding that this too painful for him (Psalm 73:15-16). Then Asaph went into the sanctuary of God and understood the end of the wicked (Psalm 73:17).

 

Asaph now understood that God sets the wicked in slippery places, casting them down to destruction, with their destruction coming in a moment, and them consumed with terrors (Psalm 73:18-19). When the Lord awakes, He will despise the image of the wicked (Psalm 73:20). Knowing this, Asaph is grieved of heart and vexed in his mind, now understanding that he had been foolish and ignorant, like a beast before the Lord (Psalm 73:21-22). Asaph is continually with the Lord who holds him in His right hand, guiding him with His counsel and afterward receiving him into glory (Psalm 73:23-24).

 

Who does Asaph have in heaven but the Lord with none upon the earth that he desires besides the Lord (Psalm 73:25). His flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of his heart and his portion forever (Psalm 73:26). Asaph now knows that those far from the Lord shall perish with Him destroying those who desert Him (Psalm 73:27). Asaph now knows it is good to draw near to God and put his trust in the Lord God so he can declare the good works of the Lord (Psalm 73:28).

 

We live in a fallen world where it appears evil succeeds and righteousness fails. Asaph struggled when observing this until he went into the sanctuary of God and gained understanding of the end state of the wicked. In the account of Jesus walking on the water, we must remember that Jesus was not the only one walking on the water, with Peter also walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-33). However, Peter’s time of walking on the water was shortened when he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the turmoil around. Asaph almost sank when he saw the prosperity of the wicked in his world but gained understanding when he observed that their prosperity was only temporary (Psalm 73:17). While he saw them prospering in this world, he now realized their end was destruction (Psalm 73:18-19). Asaph learned the importance of maintaining his focus on the Lord.

 

Like Asaph, we live in a fallen world where the wicked seem to prosper, and the righteous seem to struggle. Jesus even tells us that in this world we will experience trouble, but with the promise that he overcame the world (John 16:33). Add to this the presence of social media where one can quickly be put down for his or her faith, and tempted to either remain silent or abandon their faith altogether. This emphasizes the vital importance of spiritual disciplines and spending daily time with the Lord in prayer and study of the word of God. Remember, we have an eternal reward in heaven that far outshines any reward of prosperity on this earth. While God may bless us with prosperity on this earth, treasures in heaven are eternal and what we must focus on (Matthew 6:19-21).

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to accept the greatest reward one can receive, eternal life with the Lord (John 3:16), I urge 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.

 

If you meant what you just prayed, know God has forgiven all your sins and that you now have a relationship with God and are a child of God (Romans 8:16). Like any relationship, it grows as we get to know each other. While God already knows all about us, we must study the Bible, the word of God, to learn more about Him. If you just prayed, I encourage you to find a Church that teaches the truth of the Bible so you can learn more about the Lord. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Herod’s Violence and Peter’s Deliverance

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 12:1-25

 

Acts 12:24

But the word of God grew and multiplied.

(NKJV)

 

In this passage, the persecution of the church comes not from the Jews, but from a government official, Herod the king. He begins with the execution of James, the brother of John, and since this gains political points for him with the Jews, he arrests Peter, intending to execute him as well but after the Passover. This new source of persecution for the church requires determination of whether it is time to back off until the heat blows over, or to continue preaching the Gospel in obedience to the Lord (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).

 

The beginning of Herod’s harassment of the church begins with the execution of James, the brother of John (Acts 12:1-2). Since this execution is pleasing to the Jews, Herod arrests Peter during the Days of Unleavened Bread, intending to bring him before the people after Passover (Acts 12:3-4). However, while imprisoned, constant prayer is offered by the church for Peter (Acts 12:5).

 

On the night before Herod was going to bring Peter out, Peter was sleeping, chained to two guards with guards watching the door (Acts 12:6). Then an angel of the Lord stood by Peter with a light shining in the prison. The angel struck Peter on the side, telling him to arise quickly with the chains falling off his hands (Acts 12:7). The angel told Peter to get dressed, put on his sandals, and follow him, which Peter did, but he thought he was seeing a vision and that what was happening was not real (Acts 12:8-9). After getting past the first and second guard post, they came to the gate leading to the city, and it opened. Then they went down the street, and the angel immediately departed (Acts 12:10).

 

Peter now realized this was not a vision and went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, where many were gathered praying (Acts 12:11-12). Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhonda answered, but when she recognized Peter’s voice, she got excited and went in to tell everyone without opening the door for Peter (Acts 12:13-14). Those inside told Rhonda she was crazy, and as she kept insisting it was Peter, they told her it was his angel (Acts 12:15). Peter continued knocking. When they opened the door, they realized it was Peter and were astonished (Acts 12:16). Peter then motioned with his hand to keep silent, explaining how the Lord had delivered him from the prison, and instructed them to tell James and the brethren. Peter then departed for another place (Acts 12:17). Then there was quite a stir among the soldiers, wondering what had happened to Peter, and when Herod could not find him, he questioned the guards and had them executed, then departing for Caesarea (Acts 12:18-19).

 

Herod had been angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. Still, they came to Herod, having made Blastus the king’s personal aide their friend, asking for peace because they received food from the king (Acts 12:20). Herod came out, arrayed in royal apparel, and sat on his throne, giving the people an oration (Acts 12:21). The people kept shouting he was the voice of a god and not a man, with an angel of the Lord striking him dead because he did not give glory to God. Still, the word of God grew and multiplied (Acts 12:22-24). Meanwhile, Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem after completing their ministry, taking John, surnamed Mark with them (Acts 12:25).

 

Out of anger and to appease the Jews, Herod the king begins persecuting the church, executing James, the brother of John, and imprisoning Peter. After a miraculous angelic deliverance of Peter from prison, Herod executes the guards but suffers a violent death when he allows the people to elevate him to the status of a god. In this passage, we see persecution of the church shift from something done by the Jews (Acts 4:1-3, 5:17-18, 6:8-12) to something coming from a government official (Acts 12:1-4). This passage also shows the delivering power of God with the freeing of Peter from prison, where he waited for a sure death like what happened to James. We also see the justice of God with the violent death of King Herod because of his pride (Acts 12:21-23).

 

Even though there is religious freedom in countries like the United States, a day may come when this liberty disappears. The question the church must ask is: will it stand strong, continuing to preach the gospel, trusting God to deliver it and judge the persecutors, or cower in fear? I pray the church will learn from the church in the Book of Acts share what is true from the word of God, knowing fear is not from God (2 Timothy 1:7). To accomplish this, we must be like the Bereans, daily searching the scriptures (Acts 17:11), allowing the word of God to be a light to our feet and a light guiding our path (Psalm 119:105).

 

The dark world in which we live needs the light of the one who said He was the light (John 8:12). If you are reading this and want to have a relationship with the one who said He was the light, I encourage 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.

 

This prayer is not some magical prayer, but must be a genuine expression of your heart. If that is why you prayed, rest assured, your sins are completely forgiven, and you have eternal life. I now encourage you to let someone know of your decision. I also urge you to find a church of truth that teaches from the Bible and is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

The Glorious Reign of Messiah

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 72

 

Psalm 72 :18-19

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!
¹⁹ And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen.

(NKJV)

 

 

In 1 Thessalonians 4:18, we are reminded to comfort one another with anticipation of the return of Christ. In Revelation 19:11-21, John sees a vision of what this return of Jesus on a white horse will be like and how the Antichrist and his armies will be defeated. Unfortunately, many in the world do not know or believe this, which is why the Church must be diligent in bringing the gospel to the world.

 

Psalm 72 begins with the psalmist asking God to give the king His judgments and His righteousness to the king’s son (Psalm 72:1). The king will judge the Lord’s people with righteousness and His poor with justice (Psalm 72:2). The mountains and hills of the land will bring peace by righteousness, with the king bringing justice to the poor, saving the children of the needy, and breaking the oppressor in pieces (Psalm 72:3-4).

 

The people shall fear the Lord throughout all generations as long as the sun and moon endure (Psalm 72:5). The Lord shall come down like rain on the grass, like showers watering the earth, with the righteous flourishing and an abundance of peace until the moon is no more (Psalm 72:6-7). The Lord shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth, with those in the wilderness bowing before Him and His enemies licking the dust (Psalm 72:8-9). The kings of Tarshish and the isles will bring the King presents with the kings of Sheba and Seba offering gifts, and all kings falling down before Him and all nations serving Him (Psalm 72:10-11).

 

The needy, poor, and those with no helper will be delivered and the poor and needy spared and their souls saved (Psalm 72:12-13). The Lord will redeem their lives from oppression and violence because their blood is precious in His sight (Psalm 72:14). The Lord shall live and the gold of Sheba will be given to Him with prayer made for Him continually and with Him praised daily (Psalm 72:15). There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, and on the mountains, with its fruit waving like Lebanon, and those in the city flourishing like the grass of the earth (Psalm 72:16).

 

The name of the Lord shall endure forever with His name continuing as long as the sun, with men blessed in Him and all nations calling Him blessed (Psalm 72:17). The psalmist then blesses the Lord God of Israel who only does wonderous things with His glorious name blessed forever, and the whole earth filled with His glory (Psalm 72:18-19). The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended (Psalm 72:20).

 

This is believed to be the last prayer of David in the psalms and offers a prayer for his son Solomon who will ascend to the throne (Psalm 72:1-4) but also gives glory to the coming Messiah (Psalm 72:5-20). As David nears the end of his life, his son Solomon is about to take over as king. Since the word king is not capitalized in Psalm 72:1, this is not speaking of God as King but instead a prayer for an earthly king. Since it mentions the kings Son, it is probably a prayer for Solomon who will be king after David’s death. From verse five forward, the references to the king are capitalized like the word You in Psalm 72:5, leading to the belief that the psalmist is shifting gears to the Messiah. These passages also speak of a King who rules the world and not just the king of Israel, offering a glorification of the reign of Messiah.

 

The glorification of the Messiah offered in this psalm speaks of Jesus’ second coming, something the disciples of Christ should still anticipate. However, we are impatient individuals and with the ascension of Christ almost two thousand years in the past, the preaching of the return of Christ is not mentioned in some churches today. This is sad and a failure to offer hope to people as the church is instructed to do in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. It is also important to understand that a thousand years to God is like one day (2 Peter 3:8), and that the Lord is giving people an opportunity to choose Him (2 Peter 3:9).

 

However, God does not expect his church to sit around anticipating his return, but to be diligent in sharing the gospel with the world (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 29:19-20). As ambassadors for Christ, we must extol the benefits of becoming a citizen of the Kingdom of Christ by sharing the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:20). If you are reading this and are not yet a citizen of the Kingdom of Christ, I invite you to do so 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.

 

If you meant what you just prayed, know God has forgiven all your sins and that you now have a relationship with God and are a child of God (Romans 8:16). Like any relationship, it grows as we get to know each other. While God already knows all about us, we must study the Bible, the word of God, to learn more about Him. If you just prayed, I encourage you to find a Church that teaches the truth of the Bible so you can learn more about the Lord. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Persecution Brings Church Growth

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 11:19-30

 

Acts 5:41-42

So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. ⁴² And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

(NKJV)

 

The Bible reminds us that fear is not from God in 2 Timothy 1:7. However, out of fear, many Christians fail to share their faith, fearing persecution. This persecution may come in the hard form of threats to life, injury, or property, or a soft persecution leading to loss of friendship or relationship. Jesus commanded us three times to share our faith with others (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20), so we must not allow fear to prevent us from obeying this command from our Lord.

 

After the martyrdom of Stephen, many disciples scattered, traveling to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word as they went, but to Jews only (Acts 11:19). However, some of the men were from Cyprus and Cyrene who went to Antioch, preaching the Lord Jesus to the Hellenists (Acts 11:20). The hand of the Lord was with these men with a great number turning to the Lord (Acts 11:21).

 

When news of what was happening in Antioch reached the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch (Acts 11:22). Upon his arrival in Antioch, Barnabas saw the grace of God and was glad, encouraging the disciples there to have purpose of heart and to continue with the Lord, because he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith with a great many people added to the Lord (Acts 11:23-24). Barnabas then departed for Tarsus to find Saul and, upon finding him, brought him to Antioch, where they spent an entire year, teaching many disciples, with the disciples first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26).

 

Then, Abagus, one of many prophets, came to Antioch from Jerusalem, and stood up, showing by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout the world, which happened during the reign of Claudius Caesar (Acts 11:27-28). This prompted the disciples to send relief to the brethren living in Judea, with each disciple contributing according to his or her own ability (Acts 11:29). Barnabas and Saul were then commissioned to deliver the relief to the elders in Judea (Acts 11:30).

 

Persecution has come to the church and could have silenced the disciples, but instead, as they scattered, they took the gospel with them (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 6:15). In this passage, we see the disciples taking the gospel with them as they scattered to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch (Acts 11:19). Instead of stopping out of fear and sheltering in place, the disciples venture out in boldness as they scattered. While the church's outreach at this time was predominantly to the Jews, we also see the beginning of the ministry of Saul and Barnabas, who will be instrumental in taking the gospel to the Gentiles. The church in this passage also demonstrates its love for each other by sending relief to fellow disciples in Judea during a worldwide famine (Acts 11:27-30).

 

Persecution is not a thing of the past for the church, but is alive and well, coming in two forms.

·         Hard Persecution – According to Opendoors.org, 380 million Christians face high levels of persecution, with 4,473 killed between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. For Christians living in these areas, being a disciple of Christ can mean losing business, property, or even one's life. Yet, like the church in the Book of Acts, the churches in these areas thrive, perhaps because these disciples see this as an opportunity to testify about Jesus to their persecutors (Mark 13:9).

·         Soft Persecution – Those who do not live in an area of hard persecution do not escape persecution but instead suffer a more deceptive form of soft persecution. This is persecution that leads to loss of friends or even relationships with family members. The reason I say this is deceptive is that if someone really is our friend, would they unfriend us due to our faith? Even Jesus was alienated by family, but they came around after his resurrection, with his two half-brothers writing the books of Jude and James (Mark 3:30-31, 6:4). Jesus did not let this soft persecution stop him and continued to be obedient to his heavenly Father. We should also remember to pray for those unfriending us for our faith.

 

I urge everyone reading this not to alienate themselves from a relationship with Jesus Christ but to join me now in prayer for the forgiveness of sin and to enter into a relationship with God through belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins.

 

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.

 

This prayer is not some magical prayer but must be a genuine expression of your heart. If that is why you prayed, rest assured, your sins are completely forgiven, and you have eternal life. I now encourage you to let someone know of your decision. I also urge you to find a church of truth that teaches from the Bible and is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.