The Peace, Restoration, and Deliverance of the Godly

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 52-54

 

Psalm 52:9

I will praise You forever,
Because You have done it;
And in the presence of Your saints
I will wait on Your name, for it ^[c]is good.

(NKJV)

 

As we have observed so far in the study of the Psalms, they represent a contrast of good and evil in our fallen world and show how God is with His people. These three psalms are contemplations of David and demonstrate the peace, restoration, and deliverance from God that those placing their trust in Him can experience. While these psalms were written three thousand years ago, God has not changed, making these psalms relevant in a believer’s life today.

 

In Psalm 52, David contemplates the end of the wicked with the peace of the Godly, beginning with David asking why mighty evil men boast in evil while the goodness of God is eternal (Psalm 52:1). The tongue of the mighty evil man devises destruction like a sharp razor, works deceit with him, loving evil more than good (Psalm 52:2-4). The destiny of this mighty evil man is destruction, removal from his dwelling place, and death (Psalm 52:5). The righteous will see and fear him, but also laugh, saying, “Here is the man who did not make God his strength,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.” (Psalm 52:6-7). David concludes his contemplation by saying he is like an olive tree in the house of God who will praise God forever because of what He has done and in the presence of the saints wait on His name because it is good (Psalm 52:8-9)

 

In Psalm 53, David contemplates the folly of Godlessness and the restoration of Israel, beginning by saying that the fool believes in his heart that there is no God (Psalm 53:1). David then contemplates God looking down on the Children of men, seeking any who understand and seek God, but finding none (Psalm 53:2-3). David then wonders if the workers of iniquity who eat up the people of God like bread lack knowledge and do not call upon the Lord (Psalm 53:4). These workers of iniquity are afraid when there is no reason to fear, with God scattering the bones of those encamping against God put them to shame because they are despised by God (Psalm 53:5). David concludes this contemplation with a prayer for salvation to come to Israel from Zion with God restoring his captive people (Psalm 53:6).

 

In Psalm 54, David contemplates God answering his prayer for deliverance from adversaries, with David asking God to save him by His name and to vindicate him by His strength (Psalm 54:1). David then asks God to hear his prayer, listening to the words of his mouth, because strangers, who do not worship God, have risen against him to kill him (Psalm 54:2-3). David then declares God is his helper and is with those upholding his life, declaring God will repay his enemies for their evil, cutting them off in His truth (Psalm 54:4-5). David vows to freely sacrifice to the Lord, praising His name because it is good (Psalm 54:6). David concludes his contemplation by declaring God has delivered him out of his troubles with his eye seeing its desire upon his enemies (Psalm 54:7).

 

In a fallen world of evil, one choosing to trust God will experience threats from evil men, but with trust in God, there is peace, restoration, and deliverance.

 

• Peace (Psalm 52) – David is writing this psalm at a time when Doeg the Edomite has told Saul, who is chasing David and seeking his life, that David has gone to the house of Ahimelech. Therefore, our interpretation of this Psalm is that the mighty man of evil is Saul, with David seeking peace from Saul wanting to kill him. The tongue of Saul devises destruction and works deceit like a sharp razor (Psalm 52:2). Even when facing an imminent threat after the discovery of his hiding place, David has peace in knowing that God will destroy his adversary.
• Restoration (Psalm 53) – This psalm is a contemplation of David for the restoration of Israel. It is unclear when this was written, but possible that he wrote it after becoming king upon the death of Saul, but only king of Judah (2 Samuel 2:4). When Samuel anointed David as king, it was as king of Israel, not just one tribe, so David sought God for the restoration and unification of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13). This would occur in 2 Samuel 5:1-5.
• Deliverance (Psalm 54) – Like the contemplation of Psalm 52, this is a contemplation by David of when the Ziphites told Saul that David was hiding with them. While the timing of the writing of this Psalm is uncertain, it was likely written when David discovered Saul knew where he was hiding. When Saul arrived at where David was, he was on one side of the mountain with David on the other (1 Samuel 23:24-26). God did hear David’s prayer and provided deliverance, with Saul receiving a report that the Philistines had invaded the land, causing him to cease his pursuit of David 1 Samuel 23:27-29).

 

We live in an evil, hate-filled world full of anger, but like those writing these psalms, we can have peace, restoration, and deliverance.

 

• Peace in a world of Chaos – The Bible reminds us that we can experience peace when our minds focus on God (Isaiah 26:3). In the book of Romans, Paul encourages the believers in Rome to lose conformity with the world through the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:1-2). Believers in Christ must not dwell on what is happening in our chaotic, fallen world, but focus on the Word of God, praying without ceasing for the saints and the lost in our world (Ephesians 6:18). Believers must not cease lifting up Jesus Christ because when the Church does, Jesus draws all to Him (John 12:32).
• Restoration with God – Restoration with God because what Jesus did on the cross is more than just a pass into eternity with Christ, but adoption into the family of God (1 John 3:1; Romans 8:16-17). This is a complete restoration of humanity to the state He intended in the Garden of Eden, with the earth transformed at the second coming of Christ.
• Deliverance from our past – As restored children of God, our sins are completely forgiven by God when we confess them to the Lord of our lives (1 John 1:9; Psalm 103:12). It is impossible to measure the distance from east to west because, since the earth is round, if one continues traveling east, they will arrive back at where they started. Therefore, our sins are an immeasurable distance from us and completely forgiven, making our deliverance from sin complete. As Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished,” meaning the debt of sin is paid in full (John 19:30).

 

 If you are reading this and have never prayed to accept God’s gift of salvation and the complete forgiveness of sin, I encourage you to do so 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 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. 

Taking the Religious Elite to Task (Part 1)

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 7:1-16

 

Matthew 28:19-20

Go ^[a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

(NKJV)

 

One who becomes a believer in Jesus Christ as their savior is doing more than becoming part of some religion, but is entering into a personal relationship with God through Christ. This belief in the grace of God providing salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9) is at odds with some religious leaders who believe salvation is a result of one’s good works, adherence to some moral code, or observation of religious traditions. As the time of the return of Christ nears, those having a relationship with Christ through His grace may, like Stephen, be at odds with the religious elites of our time. I pray we will be as bold as Stephen and become sparks of revival in our time.

 

Stephen is standing before the council of the high priest, and he is asked if the accusations brought against him are true (Acts 7:1). Instead of directly answering their question, he begins to tell them about how God asked Abraham to leave his home country (Acts 7:2-3). He continues by telling them how Abraham was obedient and left his homeland with his father and lived in Haran until the death of his father, then moved on to Canaan (Acts 7:4-5). Abraham and Sarah remained childless, leaving Abraham with no heir to pass his inheritance on to, but was promised an heir by God. Stephen then told them how God told Abraham his heirs would live in a foreign land, Egypt, for four hundred years under bondage and oppression (Acts 7:6-7). God then established the covenant of circumcision with Abraham, setting them apart from the rest of the people in Canaan (Acts 7:8).

 

Stephen then tells them how they became envious of Joseph and sold him into slavery in Egypt, but God was with Joseph, delivering him from his troubles and making him governor of Egypt (Acts 7:9-10). A famine broke out in the land, and Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, sending his sons to purchase grain where they confronted Joseph (Acts 7:11-12). During their second trip to Egypt, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers and sent for Jacob and all his family to come to Egypt (Acts 7:13-14). Jacob died in Egypt, but they buried him in Shechem with his father and grandfather (Acts 7:15-16).

 

Instead of directly defending himself from the accusations brought against him, Stephen proceeds to give them a Jewish history lesson. I picture the Pharisees yawning as Stephen spoke of things they already knew. However, as we will later see, Stephen is doing this to show the religious elite, the Pharisees, that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Instead of realizing the truth and surrendering to Jesus, the Pharisees remain blind to the truth. This is not surprising because Jesus spoke of it in Matthew 15:8-9, and is something foretold by Isaiah (Isaiah 29:13). This blindness to truth will lead to the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:57-60), leading to the belief that Stephen failed in his attempt to present the truth. However, Saul, who would later become known as Paul, was present at the stoning and would become the greatest proponent of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Stephen’s presentation of the truth was not a failure because it paved the path for Saul’s conversion and the spreading of the Gospel throughout the region.

 

When falsely accused as believers, it is important to remember what happened that paved the way to our salvation. While our declaration of faith may not save the world, it could lead to the salvation of someone who will have great influence and lead to the Gospel going to many others. A Sunday School teacher prayed with a young Billy Graham to receive Jesus as his savior. While this may have seemed like a small thing at the time, it would lead to thousands around the world coming to accept Jesus as their savior. It only takes a small spark to start a wildfire. My prayer is that we who believe in Jesus as our savior would be that spark. We are the salt and light in a dark world (Matthew 5:13-16) and called to serve as ambassadors for Christ in a dark world (2 Corinthians 5:20). We also have a calling to take the message of the Gospel around the world (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20), so I encourage all believers reading this to become the spark of the Gospel that could ignite revival.

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to receive forgiveness of your sins and make Jesus the Lord of your life, I encourage you to do so now 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.

 

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, 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. 

Repentance

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 51

 

Psalm 51:1

Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.

(NKJV)

 

Since none of us who are reading this is perfect, we have done things in our lives that are sinful and displeasing to a righteous God. When we become aware of these shortcomings, we have a choice. We can choose to ignore the warning and go on living in our sin, or do as David did in this psalm, repent and turn back to God. At the end of this post, you will have an opportunity to make that choice.

 

After Nathan has made his sin of adultery known to him, David prays for God to blot out his transgressions and cleanse him from his sin (Psalm 51:1-2). He then acknowledges his sin and that it is a sin against God and Him only (Psalm 51:3-4). David then acknowledges he was born in sin and in need of cleansing from sin (Psalm 51:5-7). David’s sin has robbed him of joy and gladness, and now he asks God for the restoration of his bones broken by sin, asking God to no longer hide his face from his sins and to blot out his iniquities (Psalm 51:8-9).

 

David continues by asking God to create a clean heart within him and not to cast him from His presence (Psalm 51:10-11). David then asks God to give him a clean heart and the renewal of a steadfast spirit so he can share his salvation with other sinners, and they are converted (Psalm 51:12-13). David desires deliverance from the guilt of his sin so he can offer praise to God (Psalm 51:14-15). David acknowledges that God does not desire sacrifice, something he could offer, but a broken spirit and a contrite heart (Psalm 51:16-17). David concludes by asking God to do good in His good pleasure to Zion, so God is pleased with their sacrifices of righteousness (Psalm 51:18-19).

 

David has committed the sins of adultery and murder, with his sins revealed to him by Nathan. Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance for these sins. In his prayer, David,

• Asks God for mercy and to blot out his transgressions (Psalm 51:1-2) – Mercy in one’s life is not receiving what they deserve. Romans 3:23 reminds us that everyone has sinned and fallen short, missing the mark with God. The first half of Romans 6:23 reminds us that the penalty for sin is death, meaning that justice for our sin is death. Therefore, everyone, including David, needs mercy with God.
• David acknowledges his sins (Psalm 51:3-6) – In 1 John 1:9, the Bible tells us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins. However, repentance is more than just telling God you have sinned but includes telling God you want to turn from your sin and follow Him. There is no mention in scripture of David committing adultery or murder again, leading to the belief his repentance was genuine.
• David asks God to cleanse his heart (Psalm 51:7-11) – In Matthew 6:21, the Bible tells us that our heart is in what we treasure. We often think of this verse in giving to God, but it also includes what has priority in our hearts. In David’s case, he stopped to look at Bathsheba bathing, and his heart desired her. This escalated to the sin of adultery and murder. Therefore, David asks God to cleanse his heart of this treasure, replacing it with a treasure to draw closer to God.
• David prays for restoration and deliverance (Psalm 51:12-17) – In this portion of the Psalm, David is asking God to deliver him from his sin and restore a right relationship with Him. One can experience this restoration today through Christ, who took the judgment for our sins, so we can become righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). While David wrote this before the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, he is looking forward to the coming of the Messiah and the fulfillment of prophecy.
• David prays for God’s blessings upon Zion (Psalm 51:18-19) – One’s sins have consequences that can affect more than just the one sinner. The sin of adultery not only affects the sinner but also their spouse and family. The sin of murder affects not only the murderer, who may face death or life imprisonment, but also the family and friends of the person murdered. In his conclusion of this psalm, David prays to God out of a desire not to have his sin remove God’s blessings from Zion.

 

Repentance is a 180-degree turn from sin towards God. It represents the first step to receiving salvation from God because sin separates us from God. It is more than saying I am sorry and about receiving forgiveness and salvation from a merciful God. Repentance should also result in a life transformation from a life of sin (Romans 12:1-2). Salvation from sin is through God’s grace and not something we can earn by our good works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Romans 10:9-10 tells us that if we confess a genuine, heartfelt belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for our sins, we will be saved. If you are reading this and have never prayed to accept this gift from God, I encourage you to do so 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 right 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. 

The Rewards and Costs of Serving Christ

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 6

 

Acts 6:7

Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

(NKJV)

 

As a church, like any other organization, grows, it will grow to be more than one man, or a small group of men or women, can manage. This is what the early church experienced in Acts 6, with them handling the situation through appointing additional men to the ministry. However, this did not mean the church did not experience added persecution, as illustrated by accusations of Stephen, one of the men appointed, of blasphemy. There are rewards and costs to serving Christ.

 

The number of disciples in the church is growing and with it, the needs of ministry with the widows of the Hellenists neglected in the daily distribution (Acts 6:1). The twelve apostles summoned the multitude of disciples, telling them it was not desirable that they leave the word of God to serve tables (Acts 6:2). The apostles instruct the disciples to select seven men of good reputation, who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to appoint over the business of the daily distribution so the apostles can continue in prayer and ministry of the word (Acts 6:3-4). This pleased the multitude, and they chose seven men, including Stephen, bringing them to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them (Acts 6:5-6). After this, the word of God spread, with the number of disciples multiplying greatly, including many of the priests who were obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7).

 

Stephen, one of the seven chosen who was full of faith and power, did great signs and wonders among the people (Acts 6:8). A group from the Synagogue of the Freedmen arose and began disputing with Stephen, but they were unable to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which Stephen spoke (Acts 6:9-10). They then secretly induced men to say they had heard Stephen say blasphemous words against Moses and God (Acts 6:11). This stirred up the people, elders, and scribes, and they seized Stephen, bringing him to the council (Acts 6:12). In the council, they set up false witnesses, claiming they heard Stephen say blasphemous words against the Temple and the law (Acts 6:13). They claimed to have heard Stephen say that Jesus would destroy the temple building and change the customs given to them by Moses (Acts 6:14). However, when those in the council looked at Stephen, they saw his face as the face of an angel (Acts 6:15).

 

Massive church growth is resulting in the need to appoint others to serve in the ministry so the apostles can devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. Stephen, one of the seven appointed to serve in the daily distribution, does great signs and wonders, drawing the attention of persecutors. This passage illustrates two things that are part of a growing church. First, a growing church needs more people to ensure the needs of those the church ministers to are met. The growth of the early Church and its commitment to addressing the needs of those in the church (Acts 4:32-35) have led to some being neglected in the daily distribution. The Church had two choices: the apostles could take time away from prayer and teaching the word to meet these needs, or they could appoint men to cover these aspects of ministry. Fortunately, they chose the latter, and the Church continued to grow.

 

However, a growing Church that spreads the Gospel represents a threat to those who reject Jesus Christ or who see Him as a threat to their religious stranglehold on those in their religion. Jesus represented a threat to the religious power of the religious leaders of the Jews over the people, and he had to be silenced (Luke 22:1-6; Mark 14:1-2; Matthew 26:1-5). It is possible that the continued church growth through the ministry of men like Stephen was a continued threat to those same religious leaders, so they must silence him as well.

 

Those called to serve in some form of ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ will suffer persecution because they represent a threat to the world system (John 16:33). In our present time, the Church represents a threat to the spread of a woke culture and must be silenced. Unfortunately, some churches react to this persecution by softening their message or even adopting wokeness in their teachings, claiming a loving God would not be against one having love and pleasure in their lives. While John 3:16 does tell us that God loves the world, to receive eternal life, one must believe in Jesus Christ. The Greek word translated belief in this text indicates one having more than a belief in the existence of someone, but a complete trust in someone. This would include obedience to that person's teachings. Jesus said that He and the Father are one (John 10:30), telling us that Jesus is God and was present at creation when God created both male and female people (Genesis 1:27). God also formed each of us in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13), meaning we were alive before our birth, with ending a pregnancy murder. Yes, God is a loving God, but to genuinely believe in Him and receive eternal life, one must place one's complete trust in Him and His Word.

 

If you have never prayed for the forgiveness of your sins and to confess your belief in Jesus as your savior, I invite you to do so now 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.

 

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, 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. 

God the Righteous Judge

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 50

 

Psalm 50:23

“Whoever offers praise glorifies Me;
And to him who orders his conduct aright
I will show the salvation of God.”

(NKJV)

 

 

God is a righteous judge who will judge each person, but He judges His people differently than those choosing not to believe in Him. The judgment of those choosing to become a child of God is a judgment of rewards, whereas the judgment of unbelievers is a judgment of rebuke. A wise man will choose the judgment of rewards, and everyone reading this will have an opportunity to become a child of God at the end of this post and avoid the judgment of rebuke.

 

Psalm 50 begins with the psalmist, Asaph, declaring God is the Mighty One, the perfection of beauty shining forth from Zion (Psalm 50:1-2). Asaph continues by declaring God shall come and not keep silent with a devouring fire before Him and tempestuousness all around Him (Psalm 50:3). God shall call to the heavens and the earth from above so that He may judge His people (Psalm 50:4). The call from above is for the saints of God to gather to Him, those that have made a covenant with Him by sacrifice with the heavens declaring His righteousness for God Himself is Judge (Psalm 50:5-6).

 

As the God of Israel, God will testify against His people (Psalm 50:7). God does not intend to rebuke the sacrifices of Israel, which are continually before Him, for God does not need a bull from anyone’s house, or a goat out of their folds (Psalm 50:8-9). All the beasts of the forest, cattle on the hills, birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts are the Lord's, so he could just take one of them (Psalm 50:10-11). If God were hungry, he would simply take an animal he created, raising the question to ponder of whether God needs to eat or drink (Psalm 50:12-13). Instead of sacrifice, God desires His people to offer thanksgiving and to pay their vows to Him (Psalm 50:14). This comes with a promise that those calling upon Him in the day of trouble will experience deliverance and will glorify God (Psalm 50:15).

 

The psalm then addresses the wicked by asking them what right they have to declare His statutes or take His covenant in their mouths, seeing that they hate instruction and cast His words aside (Psalm 50:16-17). The wicked consent with thieves and partake with adulterers with evil and deceit spewing from their mouths (Psalm 50:18-19). The wicked even speak against their own brothers, their mother’s own son (Psalm 50:20). The wicked have done these things and God has kept silent with the wicked thinking God is like them, but God will rebuke them and set them in order before the eyes of His people (Psalm 50:21). God then issues a warning to the wicked who have forgotten God to consider their ways lest He tear them to pieces with His rebuke and there is no one to deliver them (Psalm 50:22). God promises to show the salvation of God to those who glorify Him and order their conduct according to his Word (Psalm 50:23).

 

God is the righteous judge with everyone subjected to His judgment, but God judges His people and the wicked differently.

 

• God’s people (Psalm 50:7-15) – This is not a judgment of rebuke but one to correct His people. (Psalm 50:8). In the Old Testament, God’s people would offer animal sacrifices for their sins, which did not actually provide atonement for sins but pointed to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to once and for all forgive sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 10:4). Instead of animal sacrifices, God asks His people to be thankful to God and to fulfill their vows to Him, promising to deliver them when they call upon Him when in trouble (Psalm 50:14-15).
• The wicked (Psalm 50:16-23) – This is a judgment bringing rebuke upon those who have forgotten God, and who do not live in obedience to the word of God (Psalm 50:16-21). It comes with a warning to offer praise to God and live obediently to His word so God will show them His salvation (Psalm 50:22-23).

 

In the New Testament, this difference in judgment comes with two judgments by God.

 

• The Bema seat judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10) – 2 Corinthians 5:10 says that all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Since Paul is speaking to believers, this is a judgment reserved for those who believe in Christ. It is not a judgment of sin because a believer’s sin was atoned for on the cross (Hebrews 10:4). This is a post-rapture judgment where God judges believers and rewards them for the things they did when on the earth in service to God.
• The Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) – This is a judgment reserved for unbelievers and is a final judgment of sin. Psalm 50:22-23 issues a warning to anyone who has forgotten God: seek salvation before it is too late, or be torn to pieces by God's rebuke, with no one to deliver them.

 

There are different judgments by God, a judgment giving rewards to those who become children of God, and rebuke for those choosing not to become children of God. The stakes are high with the consequences of not choosing to become a child of God, suffering His rebuke, and not receiving His reward. If you are reading this and have never experienced the Salvation of God by professing a heartfelt belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 10:9-10), I urge you to do so 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 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. 

Continued Persecution and Miraculous Intervention

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 5:17-42

 

Acts 5:42

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

(NKJV)

 

Persecution was a common occurrence in the Church in the Book of Acts, with God making miraculous intervention, as seen in this text. The Church today faces persecution when it takes a stand for biblical truth in a woke culture. The question each Church must ask is, will it compromise or back off on declaring biblical truth to avoid persecution or take a stand like the Church in the Book of Acts?

 

The apostles are arrested with the Sadducees placing them in the common prison, but at night an angel visits them and opens the prison doors, commanding them to stand in the temple and speak to the people (Acts 5:17-20). In obedience, the apostles enter the temple early in the morning and taught while the high priest and those with him called the council together, asking that the apostles be brought to them (Acts 5:21). Those given the task of bringing the apostles do not find them in the prison and report back that while the prison doors were shut and guarded, the apostles were not there (Acts 5:22-23). This caused the high priest, the captain of the temple, and chief priests to wonder what the outcome would be (Acts 5:24).

 

Someone then comes to them and reports that the apostles are in the temple teaching the people (Acts 5:25). The captain went with the officers and, without violence, out of fear of being stoned by the people, brought the apostles to the council (Acts 5:26-27). The high priest reminds the apostles that he strictly commanded them not to teach in the name of Jesus and that they were filling Jerusalem with their doctrine and intending to put Jesus’ blood on their hands (Acts 5:28). Peter asks the council if they should obey God rather than men, letting them know they are witnesses of Jesus death, resurrection, and ascension to be with God the Father (Acts 5:29-32).

 

This infuriated them, and they plotted to kill the apostles (Acts 5:33). However, Gamaliel, one highly respected as a teacher of the law, commands them to put the apostles outside (Acts 5:34). He tells the council to consider whether these men should be killed, and cites two instances of men starting movements that came to nothing (Acts 5:35-37). Gamaliel advises the council to leave the apostles alone, telling them that if the movement is not of God, it will also come to nothing, but if it is of God, they will be fighting against God (Acts 5:38-39).

 

The council agrees with Gamaliel and calls the apostles back, beat them, and command them again not to preach in the name of Jesus (Acts 5:40). The apostles depart, rejoicing that they are counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus (Acts 5:41). The apostles did not stop but continued to teach about Jesus daily in the temple (Acts 5:42).

 

In obedience to the Great Commission (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20), many believers are being added to the Church, representing a threat to the religious establishment. This is the same threat felt by these religious leaders when Jesus was around and amassing a following. The possibility of the council executing the apostles for their belief was very real since that is exactly what they did to Jesus. Most of these apostles would be executed for their faith but now was not the time. As the book of Acts unfolds, we will later see that these apostles turned their world upside down (Acts 17:6). What an example for the church to follow.

 

The current woke movement is threatened by the truth of the word of God preached in the churches, daring to declare biblical truth.

 

• Abortion on demand – In Psalm 139:13-14, the psalmist reminds us that we were formed by our creator in our mother’s womb, and that we are wonderfully made. If one stands on this biblical truth, support of abortion on demand for the convenience of the mother is to kill a person who is a creation of God. This person will be born and have an opportunity to accept God’s gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9), becoming a disciple of Christ.
• Homosexuality and gay marriage – God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of the sin of homosexuality (Genesis 19:1-29). The Apostle Paul condemned the practice in Romans 1:18-32, indicating homosexuality remains a sin even in the New Covenant. A Church professing to stand on Biblical truth cannot compromise by ignoring what the Bible says about this sin.
• Gender reassignment – In Genesis 1:27, the Bible clearly states that God created people as male and female. This is also how we were formed in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-14). To later decide I should be the other gender is to tell God He has made a mistake in how He formed me. If God can make mistakes, he is no different than any of us. The Church must stand on the biblical truth that God created us as male or female and has a plan for us to serve him from that gender.
• Critical race theory – When God created Adam and Eve, we are told He created them as male and female, but there is no mention of what race they were (Genesis 1:27). In addition, John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world and that whoever believes John 3:16 in Him shall have everlasting life, with no mention of race. This is because race is not important to God, who loves all humanity, sending His son to die for the sins of all. Critical race theory gives preference to certain races who are deemed to be oppressed when the truth is all races are oppressed with sin (Romans 3:23). All races need Jesus to save them from their sins, and why Jesus died for us all (2 Corinthians 5:21).

 

The church of the Book of Acts stuck to its mission of making disciples and stayed true to biblical truth. The question we must ask is, will the Church today do the same, or compromise on truth to be socially acceptable and politically correct? In light of the woke culture in which we live, I pray the Church will follow the model provided in the Book of Acts.

 

I now want to invite anyone reading this who has not prayed for the forgiveness of the sin in their lives (Romans 3:23), and who has not made Jesus the Lord of their lives, 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. 

The Confidence of the Foolish

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 49:1-20

 

Psalm 49:15

But God will redeem my soul from the power of ^[f]the grave,
For He shall receive me. Selah

(NKJV)

 

Confidence is something every person needs, but it is crucial to ensure one’s confidence is in the right thing. David, the King of Israel who experienced many victories in battle, tells us that his trust was not in his weapons of war, but in the Lord (Psalm 20:7). As you read this post, I encourage you to consider where you place your trust and if you want to place your trust in the Lord, you will have an opportunity to do so at the end of this post.

 

Psalm 49 is addressed to all peoples and inhabitants of the world, whether of low or high esteem and regardless of whether they are rich or poor (Psalm 49:1-2). The psalmist will speak wisdom from a heart meditating on the things of the Lord, using a harp to deliver his message (Psalm 49:3-4). This audience includes us all, so we should all listen.

 

The psalmist then asks why he should fear in the days of evil when iniquity is all around him, nipping at his heels (Psalm 49:5). Those trusting in their wealth cannot redeem their brother nor come up with a sufficient ransom for his salvation (Psalm 49:6-7). This is because the price of the redemption of our souls is costly, with the opportunity to acquire a ransom by coming to Jesus (Psalm 49:8-9).

 

When the wise, rich, and wealthy die, they must leave their wealth to others, believing their houses will last forever, and that they will leave a legacy, having their lands called by their names (Psalm 49:10-11). However, the truth is that man, like the beasts of the earth, will perish (Psalm 49:12). This is the folly of the confidence of fools and those approving their sayings (Psalm 49:13). These foolish individuals are like sheep laid in the grave with their beauty consumed by the grave and the upright having dominion over them (Psalm 49:14). In contrast, the psalmist has confidence the Lord will redeem his soul from the power of the grave and receive him (Psalm 49:15).

 

The psalm concludes with the psalmist telling us not to fear when one becomes rich and when the glory of his house increases (Psalm 49:16). The confident fool will die and not be able to take his riches and wealth with him and see his glory descend into the pit after him (Psalm 49:17). While the confident fool lives he blesses himself, with people praising him, but he will go with the generation of his fathers and never see light (Psalm 49:18-19). A man with honor lacking understanding of God is like the beasts that perish (Psalm 49:20).

 

The psalmist addresses the confidence of fools who trust in their wisdom, wealth, and riches to take care of them. While these things may provide comfort in this world, they are insufficient as a ransom for a fallen soul. The psalmist, David, reminds us to place our trust in the Lord (Psalm 20:7). Jesus told us that He was the way, the truth, and the life, not a way, a truth, and a life (John 14:6). In this psalm, the psalmist mentions the costly price for the redemption of souls (Psalm 49:8). Jesus, although never sinning, paid the ransom for humanity’s souls through his death, burial, and resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 10:9-10). This is the cost of our salvation, with Jesus the only one able to pay the cost, with salvation available to all through the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9).  

 

It is foolish to trust in the created things of this world and wise to place one’s trust in the creator instead. However, this goes against what is popular in our culture, which tells us to work hard to amass worldly wealth so we can live the good life. While there is nothing wrong with acquiring wealth, when the acquisition of wealth is our treasure, that is where our heart will be instead of belonging with the Lord (Matthew 6:21). An evil, wicked, and fallen world needs to see God’s people bringing forth good things from a heart full of the treasure of God’s Word and not evil things (Matthew 12:35). My confidence is in the Lord and not the riches, wealth, and wisdom of the world. As believers, we must lose conformity to the world and its system and allow our minds to be transformed and renewed by the Word of God.

 

If you have never prayed for God to forgive your sins and to make Him the treasure of your heart, I invite you to do so now 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.

 

 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.