Boldness, Unity, and Charity

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 4:23-37

 

Acts 4:31

     And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

(NKJV)                                                

 

The ministry of the apostles now threatens the same religious leaders that Jesus and his ministry threatened, as they see miracles performed by them. In an effort to stop things before they get out of hand, they have told Peter and John to stop preaching in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18). However, instead of cowering, the Church prays for boldness, with the place where they assembled shaken (Acts 4:31). The question for the Church today is would we have the same boldness.

 

Peter and John are released and go to their companions, giving a report of what the chief priests and elders said to them (Acts 4:23). Upon hearing the news, everyone raised their voices to God in one accord, praising God and quoting Psalm 2:1-2, which tells of the rulers gathering together against the Lord and His Christ (Acts 4:24-26). They continue to tell how Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel gathered together against Jesus to do what God had determined (Acts 4:27-28). They then pray for boldness to speak God’s word and that signs and wonders would be done through the name of Jesus (Acts 4:29-30). After praying for boldness, the place where they prayed shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).

 

The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul, believing that what they possessed was not his or her own, with them having all things in common (Acts 4:32). Their prayer was answered with the apostles powerfully giving witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ with great grace upon them (Acts 4:33). They were also charitable to each other with anyone in need receiving from the proceeds of those having land selling it and sharing the proceeds (Acts 4:34-35). One of those who sold land he owned was Joses, a Levite of the country of Cyprus (Acts 4:36-37).

 

We are beginning to see the persecution of the Church by the Jews, with the Church praying for boldness, acting in unity, and caring for each other’s needs. This is the foundation of the early Church and why they were able to accomplish great things that impacted their world (Acts 17:6).

• Boldness when threatened with persecution (Acts 4:23-31) – When Peter stood up to address the crowd on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:14-39, he was addressing some of the same people who cried for the crucifixion of Jesus. This man, who was once afraid to admit being a disciple of Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75), now speaks boldly. He also prays that all would have this boldness (Acts 4:29).
• Unity (Acts 4:32-33) – One of the signs that one is a follower of Jesus Christ is their love for one another (John 13:34-35). The disciples in the early church understood that all they owned belonged to the Lord (Psalm 50:10). Minus an obsession for worldly possessions, they had a unity of purpose to focus on being witnesses for the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
• Charity (Acts 4:34-37) – Knowing that being in need could distract someone from a focus on witnessing for the Lord Jesus, they were charitable and shared their possessions with those in need. When one is charitable, giving to the needs of others, it is like doing it to the Lord (Matthew 25:31-46).

 

The evil in the world today differs little from the evil in the Roman world of the time of the apostles. This means that the Church today needs boldness to speak the truth without compromise, unity in Christ to fulfill its God-given mission (Acts 1:8), and love for one another demonstrated by the willingness to care for one another’s needs. This requires,

• No compromise in declaring God’s word empowered by the Spirit of God – Jesus told the Samaritan woman that true worshippers worshipped the Lord in Spirit and Truth (John 4:23). The Truth is the Word of God, which the Church must boldly declare, ignoring what others may say about them, or do to them. Unfortunately, pastors focused on the numbers may become distracted from declaring components of the Word of God that may offend someone, concerned that they may leave and take their contributions with them. This must never be the case.
• Unity of purpose – Jesus gave his bride, the Church, a clear mission to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). The unity in the church is not a unity where everyone shares the same opinions, but a unity behind declaring Truth from Scripture with a lost and dying world. However, the word of God is a two-edged sword with one end giving hope to those hurting, but the other edge is like a surgical scalpel, convicting one of sin in their lives. It is this part of declaring truth that can be painful and may cause some to leave the Church.
• Caring for one another without bickering – People in need will have difficulty focusing on the things of God, becoming focused on the physical needs of the flesh. The Church should be a hospital for those in need, but if people come to the Church for help and see people bickering with each other, they will have difficulty believing this is a place to go to for help. Imagine if you went to the ER and saw the staff arguing with each other instead of caring for the patients. I know I would go somewhere else.

If you are reading this and have never prayed for the forgiveness of your sins and to make Jesus the Lord of your life, 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.

 

If you just prayed, let someone know of your profession of faith or comment on this post. I also urge you to find a church of truth, teaching from the Bible that is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Jesus, Messiah, a Refuge and Conqueror of Nations

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 45-46

 

Psalm 45:17

I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations;
Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever.

(NKJV)

 

In these two psalms, the psalmist gives glory to the Messiah and His bride, the one who is a refuge of His people and conqueror of nations. However, as we observe world events, it can be difficult to find glory in the Lord as a conqueror of nations. This is where we, as believers in Jesus Christ, must be patient and learn to wait on the Lord, so our strength is renewed (Isaiah 40:31). The Lord is returning to straighten out this messed-up world with us, his bride, given the mission of letting the world know about Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).

 

The psalmist’s heart is overflowing with a good theme and his tongue, the pen of a ready writer (Psalm 45:1). He praises the one who is fairer than the sons of men, full of grace, girded with His sword on his thigh and full of glory and majesty (Psalm 45:2-3). The King rides with majesty and prosperity because of truth, humility, and righteousness, teaching awesome things (Psalm 45:4). The King’s arrows are sharp in the heart of His enemies, and people fall under Him (Psalm 45:5).

 

The throne of the King is eternal, with Him ruling with a scepter of righteousness, hating wickedness and loving righteousness, and anointed with the oil of gladness (Psalm 45:6-7). The King’s garments are scented with Myrrh, aloes, and cassia coming from ivory palaces made glad by the King’s presence (Psalm 45:8). The King’s daughters are among His honorable women with the queen standing at His right hand, adorned in gold from Ophir (Psalm 45:9).

 

The psalmist then urges us to listen and incline our ear, forgetting our own people and our father’s house, so the King will desire our beauty, with us worshipping Him because He is our Lord (Psalm 45:10-11). The daughter of Tyre will lavish gifts with the rich among the people seeking our favor (Psalm 45:12). The royal daughter is all glorious in the palace adorned with clothing of woven gold (Psalm 45:13). She shall come to the King adorned with robes of many colors accompanied with virgins, her companions as they enter the King’s palace (Psalm 45:14-15). The King will make his Sons princes in the earth with the Lord’s name remembered in all generations, forever and ever (Psalm 45:16-17).

 

In Psalm 46, the psalmist declares God as his refuge and strength in times of trouble, with him not having fear even though chaos is all around him (Psalm 46:1-3). He knows that God dwells in His tabernacle and will not be moved with God helping His people just in time (Psalm 46:4-5). The nations raged, and the kingdoms were moved, and when the Lord uttered His voice, the earth melted (Psalm 46:6). The Lord of hosts is with us, and the God of Jacob is our refuge (Psalm 46:7).

 

The psalmist then invites us to come and behold the works of the Lord who has made desolations in the earth (Psalm 46:8). He is the Lord who makes wars cease to the end of the earth, breaking the bow, cutting the spear in two, and burning the chariot in the fire (Psalm 46:9). We must be still and know God is God and will be exalted among the nations and in the earth (Psalm 46:10). The Lord of hosts is with us and the God of Jacob our refuge (Psalm 46:11).

 

The psalms are a collection of emotional praise and worship of God. Since we live in a fallen world full of evil and sin, they begin with someone crying out to God in anguish over what is happening in their life. Psalm 45 represents a contemplation of the glory of the Messiah and His bride. For the psalmist, it is a desire to look forward to the coming Messiah foretold in scripture beginning with Genesis 3:15. For believers living today it is a look forward to the second coming of Jesus, the Messiah, who has already come to save us from our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21) and is coming again to transform this fallen world (Revelation 20:11-21).

 

In Psalm 46, the psalmist praises God as the refuge for His people and the conqueror of the nations. The psalm is also a vow by the author to remain solid in his faith, no matter what was going on around him. While we do not know the circumstances and context in which this psalm was written, its words provide encouragement for anyone in trouble, reaching out to God for help.

 

The world in which we live has not changed much from that of the psalmist and is still a world full of trouble, something Jesus warned us would happen (John 16:33). However, Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead in victory. The Church, the bride of Christ has one simple mission, take this message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to a fallen world (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 10:9-10). To help with this, we have two things at our disposal. First, the Bible, the Word of God, to validate what we say. It is also a love letter from the bridegroom to the bride and something a good bride will read and cherish. However, you do not need to be a great theologian to share Christ, you simply need to share your testimony like the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42). This is the second tool a believer has at his or her disposal and is something many may relate to and want to experience what you have experienced.

 

I now want to invite anyone reading this who has not prayed to receive the gift of grace, a full pardon and forgiveness of your 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 just prayed, rest assured that God has totally forgiven you and that you are a child of God (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 1:12). Find a Church where teaching the truth of the Bible is so you can learn more about the Lord. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Peter and John Arrested

By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

Text: Acts 4:1-22

Acts 4:19-20

But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” 

(NKJV)

A great and undeniable miracle has occurred with a forty-year old man born lame from birth, able to stand up, run, and walk through the temple praising God with five thousand coming to believe in Jesus as Messiah (Acts 4:4). This is a threat to the teaching and the religious stranglehold of the religious leaders in the temple, especially the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection from the dead. However, they could not kill Peter and John due to the multitude coming to believe on account of the miracle. Left with no choice, they arrest Peter and John and question them in an attempt to end their teaching through intimidation. The question is, will they? 

While Peter and John are speaking in the temple, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them (Acts 4:1). Their point of contention with the teaching of Peter and John was preaching about Jesus and the resurrection from the dead, putting them in custody until the next day, since it was evening (Acts 4:2-3). However, many came to believe because of their teaching, and about five thousand were added (Acts 4:4). 

The next day, the rulers, elders, scribes, and the high priest. Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the family of the high priest gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 4:5-6). Those of the Sanhedrin then asked them by what authority and by what name they had done the miracle of healing of the man born lame (Acts 4:7). Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, began to speak and asked if he and John were being judged for a good deed done to a helpless man (Acts 4:8-9). Peter lets them know that it was by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the one they crucified, that this man stands whole (Acts 4:10). Peter continues by letting them know that Jesus Christ is the stone rejected by them, the builders which has now become the chief corner stone (Acts 4:11). Peter concludes by telling them that the name of Jesus Christ is the only way for salvation under heaven (Acts 4:12). 

Those gathered marveled at the boldness of Peter and John because they were uneducated and untrained, realizing they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). They also could not deny what had happened because the healed man was with Peter and John (Acts 4:14). After asking Peter and John to leave so they could confer among themselves, wondering what to do with them since a notable miracle had occurred (Acts 4:15-16). They were threatened by word of this miracle spreading and decided to threaten Peter and John to no longer speak in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:17). 

Peter and John are brought back in and told to no longer teach in the name of Jesus, to which they ask if it is right in the sight of God to listen to them more than listening to God (Acts 4:18-19). Peter and John then tell the religious leaders they can only speak of what they have seen and heard (Acts 4:20). The Sanhedrin further threatens them, but cannot find a way of punishing them because the people were glorifying God for what had been done (Acts 4:21). The man healed was over forty years old (Acts 4:22). 

The religious leaders who handed over Jesus for crucifixion have witnessed a great miracle done through uneducated men who had been with Jesus. These religious leaders are threatened but cannot do anything because of the crowd glorifying God for what was done to a forty-year-old man born lame. All they can do is reprimand Peter and John, who vow to continue speaking of what they have seen and heard. These men are New Testament Joshuas who have seen the risen Lord and the miracles He performed, like Joshua, who saw what God did through Moses. Although fearful, he is commissioned by God and told to be strong and courageous, like Peter (John 21:15-19; Joshua 1:9). These men may be uneducated, but they are filled with the Spirit of God and mighty through God (Acts 1:8). 

The Church today needs men and women filled with the boldness of the Spirit of God who do not fear being reprimanded, even by religious leaders. While having education about the scriptures is important, knowledge of the scriptures without the power of the Holy Spirit is useless for even the Deamons know the Word of God (James 2:19). The word of God preached with the power of the Holy Spirit pierces the hearts of men, convicting them of sin (1 Corinthians 14:24-25). Please join me in praying for a revival in the Church, beginning with each believer being filled with the Holy Spirit, empowering the Church to go out into the community and declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you feel convicted of your sin and want to receive forgiveness, please 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 just prayed, let someone know of your profession of faith or comment on this post. I also urge you to find a church of truth, teaching from the Bible that is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Prayer and Redemption

By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 43-44

 

Psalm 43:5

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The ^[b]help of my countenance and my God.

(NKJV)

 

Charles Spurgeon was once asked which was the most important thing in a Christian’s life, the study of the Bible or prayer. He answered the question with another question, which is more important, inhaling or exhaling? Study of the Bible is God speaking with us inhaling what he says. Prayer is us speaking to God or exhaling, but it can seem that God does not hear our prayers.

 

Psalm 43 begins with the psalmist asking for vindication from God from an ungodly nation that is deceitful and unjust (Psalm 43:1). He makes his plea to God who is the source of his strength asking the Lord why he is cast off and continues to mourn because of the oppression of the enemy (Psalm 43:2). He asks God to send out his light and truth for he wants the light of God’s truth to lead him and bring him to God’s tabernacle (Psalm 43:3). The psalmist vows to go to the altar of God with exceeding joy and to praise Him (Psalm 43:4). The psalmist concludes by asking again why he is cast down and disquieted with the reminder to place his hope in God (Psalm 43:5).

 

Psalm 44 is also a prayer, but it is a heartfelt prayer of pleading to God, remembering how God has delivered Israel in the past (Psalm 44:1-3). He then affirms his belief in God as king, the one who pushes down their enemies and not the power of his bow or sword (Psalm 44:4-8). However, the psalmist has doubts God hears his pleas, with it seeming the Lord has cast Israel off and puts them to shame (Psalm 44:9-12). Israel is no longer feared by their enemies and instead has become a reproach to their neighbors (Psalm 44:13-16). However, they have not forgotten the name of their God nor dealt falsely with His covenant (Psalm 44:17). Israel’s heart has not turned back from the Lord, yet they are severely broken and in the shadow of death (Psalm 44:18-19). The psalmist confesses to understanding their circumstances if they had forgotten the name of their God and worshipped foreign gods, for God would know this (Psalm 44:20-21). Israel has not done this, and yet they are killed and accounted as sheep for the slaughter (Psalm 44:22). The psalm concludes with a fervent plea for the Lord to awake and come to Israel’s help for His mercies’ sake (Psalm 44:23-26).

 

Psalm 43 is a brief prayer to God in a time of trouble and serves to remind us to pray when trouble comes. The author of this psalm is unknown but written by someone who is under oppression from an enemy. This oppression is troublesome to him, but despite the trouble, he vows to go to the altar with joy, despite feeling cast down. This psalmist knew about casting his cares on the Lord and trusting him for the answer (1 Peter 5:7).

 

Psalm 44 is a heartfelt plea with God, recalling past redemption with the Lord and pleading for His deliverance during Israel’s current time of trouble. It is a contemplation of the sons of Korah and begins with his reflecting on how the Lord has delivered in the past and affirming his faith in God as his king and deliverer. However, in his present anguish, he wonders why he is cast down and put to shame (Psalm 44:9). The psalmist is a man of faith reaching out to God, but God seems absent. He knows God is his redeemer and deliverer, with his prayer a pleading for the Lord to awaken to his help for his mercy’s sake. While the timeframe of the writing of this Psalm is uncertain, and the psalmist may not have been able to refer to the words of Isaiah (Isaiah 59:19), the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against the enemy. Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead to save all who call upon Him (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10).

 

In a fallen world, we will experience trouble with Jesus Christ Himself not exempt from trouble but overcame it through his resurrection from the dead (John 16:33). Our first reaction when trouble comes should be to pray and make our pleas known to God. In each of these psalms, the author is experiencing trouble in his life, wondering if God hears him. We all experience times in our lives when it seems God does not hear us, but we have the promise that God hears every prayer and that our prayers are effective (James 5:16). Like Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9:1-19, our prayers are heard but the answer is hampered in reaching us because of the enemy (Daniel 10:12-13). Harboring unconfessed sin in one’s heart can also cause God not to hear our prayer (Psalm 66:18). God may also have us wait for the answer to renew our strength (Isaiah 40:31), but we must continue praying.

 

However, there is one prayer God will answer immediately, and that is the prayer of someone confessing their belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for their salvation (Romans 10:9-10). If you have never prayed to make this confession of faith, 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.

 

If you just prayed, rest assured that God has totally forgiven you and that you are a child of God (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 1:12). Find a Church teaching the truth of the Bible so you can learn more about the Lord. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

A Miracle in the Temple

By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 3:1-26

 

Acts 3:11-12

Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. ¹² So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

(NKJV)

 

In this passage, we see Peter and John going to the temple at the hour of prayer, something they normally do, but this day would not be an ordinary day and would present an opportunity for them to point people to Jesus. This passage teaches us that the purpose of any miracle occurring in ministry is not to bring praise to the ministry, but rather to point people to Jesus. For genuine revival to happen in the Church, the purpose of any miracles occurring in ministry must be to point people to Jesus, not to garner lavish praise for the ministry.

 

Peter and John go together to the temple at the hour of prayer, along with a man lame from birth to beg for alms from those entering the temple (Acts 3:1-2). When the lame man sees Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asks them for alms (Acts 3:3). Peter and John tell the lame man to fix his eyes on them and he does, expecting to receive alms from them (Acts 3:4-5). However, it is not alms he will receive from Peter and John because they do not have silver or gold, and instead they tell the man to get up and walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Acts 3:6). Peter then takes the man by the hand and strength was restored to his feet and ankle bones with him standing up, walking into the temple where he was leaping and praising God (Acts 3:7-8). The people at the temple were filled with wonder and amazement, knowing this man was the one they had seen begging for alms at the temple gate (Acts 3:9-10).

 

The once lame man held on to Peter and John at Solomon’s porch with the people running to them, greatly amazed (Acts 3:11). Peter and John were alarmed at the reaction of the people and asked them why they were amazed, thinking they had done the miracle by their own power (Acts 3:12). Peter then takes the opportunity to explain that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had glorified His servant Jesus Christ, the one they delivered and denied in the presence of Pilate when Pilate was going to let Jesus go (Acts 3:13). These people at the temple had denied the Holy One of God, the one God rose from the dead, something Peter and John had witnessed when they saw the risen Lord (Acts 3:14-15). Peter lets the crowd know it was not he or John that performed the miracle, but it occurred through faith in the name of Jesus Christ, giving the once lame man perfect soundness in the presence of them all (Acts 3:16).

 

Peter tells the crowd that he now knows they acted out of ignorance when they delivered Jesus up for crucifixion because the prophets foretold what happened to Jesus (Acts 3:17-18). Peter then tells the crowd to repent and be converted so their sins may be blotted out, so they can receive refreshing from the presence of the Lord through God sending Jesus to them (Acts 3:19-20). Jesus will remain in heaven until the time of restoration of all things spoken of by the prophets (Acts 3:21). Jesus is the one spoken of by Moses who would come from the brethren of Israel, whom they are to hear and obey, with those not hearing or obeying destroyed from among the people (Acts 3:22-23). Jesus is the seed of Abraham through whom all the nations of the world will be blessed (Acts 3:24-26).

 

Jesus had told his disciples that after he left them, they would perform miracles in His name (Mark 16:17-18). This is the first recorded occurrence of a miracle of healing after the ascension of Jesus. Like the miracles performed by Jesus during His ministry, this miracle caused quite a stir, with some witnessing the miracle wanting to worship Peter and John as if they performed the miracle. Peter and John would not allow the worship and credit for the miracle to fall on them; instead, they quickly pointed the crowd to the source of the miracle, Jesus Christ. Once again, Peter and John are taking a risk by accusing the crowd at the temple of sending Jesus to His crucifixion, but they tell them they did it out of ignorance (Acts 3:17-18). This incident did not lead to the crucifixion of Peter and John but will lead to their arrest, allowing them to address the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:1-12).

 

The promise of performing miracles in the name of Jesus was not just for the eleven disciples but for all who believe (Mark 16:17). However, the one through whom the miracle occurs must remember that the miracle comes from Christ and is performed in His name and not allow themselves to be worshiped in any manner. Sadly, there are many charlatans in the church who have profited from miracles in their supposed ministries. Whether these miracles are genuine or not comes into question because in many of these ministries, a miracle occurs, and people witnessing it are encouraged to contribute money to the ministry to receive their miracle. Miracles done in the name of Jesus are not for the benefit of the minister but a sign for the minister to use to point people to the source of the Miracle, Jesus Christ.

 

The greatest miracle of the ministry of Jesus Christ was when he resurrected from the dead because this miracle makes it possible for us to be saved from our sins and have eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10). To receive this miracle, one only needs to confess their genuine belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I encourage anyone who has not prayed to receive this miracle 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 just prayed, let someone know of your profession of faith or comment on this post. I also urge you to find a church of truth, teaching from the Bible empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Blessing, Suffering, Yearning, and Distress

By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 41-42

 

Psalm 42:11

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.

(NKJV)

 

To believe that becoming a believer in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior means a carefree life free from trouble is a deception and a lie. Even Jesus did not escape trouble in this world but overcame that trouble through His resurrection from the grave, something all believers in Christ will experience (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; John 16:33). The psalmists in these psalms also experienced struggles and suffering but had a deep yearning for God and experienced blessing with a hope in overcoming by trusting God.

 

David begins Psalm 41 by saying a man is blessed who considers the poor, with God delivering him in time of trouble (Psalm 41:1). The blessings this man will enjoy are preservation of life, blessings on the earth, deliverance from the will of his enemies, strength, and sustainment in illness (Psalm 41:2-3).

 

David then asks God to be merciful to him because he has sinned with his enemies speaking evil of him and wanting him to die (Psalm 41:4-5). Even when his enemies come to see him, they speak and spread lies, gathering iniquity upon themselves (Psalm 41:6). His enemies whisper against him, plotting his harm, saying he has an evil disease from which he will not get up from once lying down (Psalm 41:7-8). To make matters worse, even David’s familiar friend has joined his enemies (Psalm 41:9).

 

David then asks the Lord for mercy so he can repay his enemies (Psalm 41:10). God’s mercy is how David knows the Lord is pleased with him and why his enemies do not triumph over him (Psalm 41:11). As for himself, David knows the Lord will uphold him in his integrity, setting him before the Lord’s face forever (Psalm 41:12). The psalm concludes with David blessing the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 41:13).

 

Psalm 42 is a contemplation of the sons of Korah. It begins with the psalmist declaring his soul yearns for God like a deer panting for water, wondering when he will appear before God (Psalm 42:1-2). He has tears of anguish day and night, wondering where his God is (Psalm 42:3). These tears cause him to remember and pour out his soul, recalling the times when he attended the feasts in Jerusalem with the multitude, singing with a voice of joy and praise (Psalm 42:4).

 

After remembering these times of joy and praise the psalmist asks why his soul is cast down, reminding himself to place his hope in God (Psalm 42:5). He then tells the Lord he will remember Him because his soul is cast down (Psalm 42:6). Even though his soul is in deep distress he knows the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime and give him a song of joy in the night (Psalm 42:7-8).

 

His prayer to God wonders why God has forgotten him, allowing him to continue mourning because of the oppression of his enemies (Psalm 42:9). Like the breaking of his bones is the reproach of his enemies while they continually ask him where his God is (Psalm 42:10). The psalmist then reminds himself to hope in God for relief from his cast down and disquieted soul and vows to continue praising the Lord (Psalm 42:11).

 

In Psalm 41, David sings of the blessing and suffering of the Godly. David knew that the nature of the fallen world in which he lived meant he had enemies who spoke evil against him and wanted him to die, with even a familiar friend turning against him (Psalm 41:9). Such is the nature of suffering for David, but despite this suffering, David cries out to the Lord for mercy, knowing God is pleased with him and upholds him (Psalm 41:10-12). This gives David hope despite his sufferings.

 

In Psalm 42, the sons of Korah sing of their yearning for God in the middle of distress. The sons of Korah have a deep yearning to draw closer in their relationship with God, comparing it to a thirsty deer panting for water. This yearning has resulted in a desire to appear before God and escape the troubles of the fallen world in which they live (Psalm 42:1-2). They recall the tears and anguish of their present life but find hope in remembering the joy and praise of accompanying the multitude to Jerusalem for the pilgrim feasts (Psalm 42:4). Remembering these times of basking in the presence of God with other believers causes them to wonder why their souls are downcast. Instead of wallowing in their troubles, they remember God is their rock and that they can have hope in Him (Psalm 42:11). The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

 

Living in a fallen world means there will be times of suffering (John 16:33) and blessings, for we are children of God (John 1:12). This means there will be times of distress in our lives, but as children of God, a yearning to be close to our heavenly Father will bring deliverance. Life in a fallen world brings suffering, but it also offers hope when we place our hope in God and offer Him praise (Psalm 42:11). While the Church needs to speak out against sin in the world, it must also offer hope of deliverance from sin through Jesus Christ. The Church must present truth with hope in the deliverance from sin through Jesus Christ, something everyone needs because all have sinned (Romans 3:23). What this world needs is a Church lifting up Jesus Christ (John 12:32).

 

If you are reading this and are discouraged by your circumstances, believing all is hopeless, I have good news for you, Jesus Christ was sent by God to give everyone eternal life (John 3:16). However, you must unwrap this gift to be able to enjoy it (Romans 10:9-10). If you would like to have hope by unwrapping this gift, 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.

 

If you just prayed, rest assured that God has totally forgiven you and that you are a child of God (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 1:12). Find a Church where the truth of the Bible is taught so you can learn more about the Lord. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Spirit Empowered Boldness

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 2:14-47

 

Acts 2:14

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 

(NKJV)

 

After the miracle of receiving the Holy Spirit and the crowd gathered for the feast of Pentecost, hearing the 120 praise God in their own language (Acts 1:5-12), Peter stood up to address the crowd. This represents a new boldness for Peter with no fear of rejection, which led to him denying Jesus three times (John 18:15-18, 25-27). All believers have a mission from Jesus to share the Gospel with others, but many lack the boldness to do so. In this post, we will explore how Peter gained the boldness to share his faith, so that we too can possess this same boldness.

 

Peter comes out of the upper room and begins to address the crowd outside, beginning with addressing those who believe the apostles are drunk by reminding them it is only 9:00 in the morning (Acts 2:14-15). Peter then refers to Joel 2:28-32 and lets the crowd know they have just witnessed the fulfillment of this prophecy (Acts 2:16-21).

 

Peter then builds upon this scriptural foundation by attesting to Jesus of Nazareth whom God attested through miracles, wonders, and signs done through Him by God (Acts 2:22). Peter then boldly lets them know this is the same Jesus they crucified and handed over for death, but who resurrected from the dead because death had no power over him (Acts 2:23-24). Peter then adds to the scriptural foundation of truth by quoting a prophecy from David regarding the Messiah not remaining in Hades with his body decaying in corruption (Acts 2:25-28; Psalm 16:8-11). David is not speaking of himself because his tomb is not far away in Jerusalem and is therefore speaking one of his offspring (Acts 2:29-30). Therefore, the words of David are prophetic, foretelling the resurrection of Jesus, something Peter had witnessed (Acts 2:31-32). Peter and others also witnessed the ascension of Jesus to sit at the right hand of God the Father, where God gave Him the gift of the Holy Spirit to give to the apostles, the event they had just witnessed (Acts 2:33).

 

David himself did not ascend to heaven, but in Psalm 110:1, points out that the Lord said to His Lord to sit at the right hand of God until His enemies are underfoot, which occurred when Jesus resurrected from the grave (Acts 2:34-35). This is the foundation of truth from which Peter boldly declares Jesus, the one they crucified is both Lord and the Christ (Acts 2:36). This leads those hearing Peter to have conviction in their hearts, asking what they should do (Acts 2:37). Peter responds by telling them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins so they too can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). This promise of the Holy Spirit is not only for those in the crowd, but their children and those afar off in future generations (Acts 2:39). This led to three thousand souls added to the Church (Acts 2:40-41).

 

Those added to the Church continued steadfastly in the apostle’ doctrine and had fellowship in breaking bread and prayer (Acts 2:42). There was also great fear upon every soul as they witnessed wonders and signs done through the apostles (Acts 2:43). The believers were together and had all things in common, selling possessions and goods to distribute to those in need (Acts 2:44-45). The believers continued daily in one accord in the temple and the breaking of bread from house to house, having gladness and simplicity of heart (Acts 2:46). They were seen praising God, gaining favor with all the people, with the Lord adding to the church daily (Acts 2:47).

 

Joel had foretold of a time when the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all flesh, with those in Jerusalem at Pentecost just witnessing the beginning of the fulfillment of this prophecy (Joel 2:28-32). The once timid Peter who denied Christ three times is now bold and no longer timid and even tells the crowd Jesus, whom they crucified is both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). The crowd could have become angry with Peter, making him the next one crucified, but instead they had conviction in their hearts and asked Peter what to do (Acts 2:37). This leads to the question, what has happened to Peter to give him such boldness.

 

• Peter witnessed the risen Lord (John 20:19-29) – Peter was present when Jesus appeared to the disciples in the upper room on the day He resurrected, and a week later, with Thomas present. He also saw the Lord on the shore from the boat (John 21:7)
• Peter received forgiveness (John 21:15-19) – At breakfast on the shore with Jesus, Peter received forgiveness for his sin of denying Jesus.
• Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4) – Seeing the risen Lord and receiving forgiveness of sin solidified truth in the life of Peter, but the power source of his boldness was receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

 

The promise of the Holy Spirit was not just for the apostles and those in Jerusalem at Pentecost, but for those afar off, which includes us (Acts 2:38-39). This is the power source spoken of by Jesus in Acts 1:8, but this power is sadly missing in the Church today. Instead of being a transformative force in society (Acts 17:6), the Church today is often weak and willing to compromise in order not to offend anyone. Churches do not speak out against sin for it might offend someone, forgetting that we all have sinned and need forgiveness through Christ (Romans 3:23; 6:23). The world needs to see a Church full of true worshippers of God who worship in Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). Knowledge of the Bible is abundant in the information age, but when it lacks the power of the Holy Spirit, it lacks the power to bring about heart transformation. Please pray with me for a genuine empowerment of the Holy Spirit in the Church so the Church returns to its transformative role in the world.

 

If you are reading this and, like those who heard Peter on the day of Pentecost, feel convicted in your heart, 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.

 

Let someone know of your profession of faith or comment on this post. I also urge you to find a church of truth, teaching from the Bible with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.