Power in the Church

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 5:1-16

 

Acts 1:8

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be ^[c]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

(NKJV)

 

Both truth and the holy Spirit are vital in the Church. Jesus tells us that knowing the truth sets us free (John 8:32), while there is liberty in the presence of the Holy Spirit which is in all believers in Jesus as Savior (2 Corinthians 3:17). In this text we see demonstrations of the power of God in the church, one showing what can occur when one is dishonest and one showing the power of God at work in the Church. For the Church to have the power it needs to carry out the Great Commission, it must have a balance of Spirit and Truth.

 

Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of land and held back a portion for themselves, giving the remaining portion to the Church (Acts 5:1-2). Peter confronted Ananias about keeping part of the proceeds received from the sale of the land, reminding him that while he owned it, it was his own, but when it was sold, he lost control over it. Peter then confronts him about lying, reminding him he was not lying to men but to God (Acts 5:3-4). Upon hearing these words from Peter, Ananias fell down and died, with the young men coming in to take him and bury him (Acts 5:5-6).

 

About three hours later, Sapphira entered and was asked by Peter whether she and Ananias had sold their land for a specified amount; she replied, "Yes" (Acts 5:7-8). Peter then asked her why she had conspired with her husband to lie to the Holy Spirit, letting her know those who had buried her husband were at the door and would carry her out as well (Acts 5:9). She also fell down dead with the young men carrying her out and burying her as well (Acts 5:10). This brought great fear upon the Church (Acts 5:11).

 

Through the hands of the apostles, many signs and wonders happened among the people as they were all in one accord in Solomon’s porch (Acts 5:12). None of the rest gathered at Solomon’s porch dared to join them but they held the apostles in high esteem (Acts 5:13). However, believers were increasingly added to the Lord, both men and women, with them bringing out the sick into the streets hoping that at least the shadow of Peter would fall on them as he passed by (Acts 5:14-15). People from the cities surrounding Jerusalem also brought sick people and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were healed (Acts 5:16).  

 

Power in the Church through the Holy Spirit, bringing wrath upon those lying to the Spirit and healing to the sick and possessed through the Apostles.

• Judgment (Acts 5:1-11) – One could interpret this passage to indicate that God requires one to give all of what they receive from the sale of something they own to the Church or face death. However, this does not align with other scriptures that indicate forgiveness of sins (1 John 1:9). Instead, Ananias and Saphira probably told the apostles they were selling some land and would bring all the proceeds to the Church, but instead held some back and lied to Peter about what they sold the land for. This is likely because Peter did not confront them about keeping some of the proceeds back, but about lying about what they sold the land for. This would constitute pilfering and not acting in good fidelity towards God and His Church (Titus 2:10). While death for this lie may seem like a harsh punishment, there is sin that leads to death (1 John 5:16), Had this lie gone unpunished, Satan would have gained a foothold of lying going unpunished in the early church (Colossians 3:9).
• Healing and deliverance (Acts 5:12-16)- There is a continued demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit in the Church, with many new disciples added to the Church (Acts 5:14). Believers meeting at Solomon’s porch at the temple were of one accord, something that would not have been possible if believers lied to one another without consequences (Acts 5:12). This unified demonstration of God’s power caused many to come from surrounding cities, bringing their sick and tormented for healing (Acts 5:16).

 

The two events recorded in this passage remind us of what Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, that true worshippers worship in Spirit and truth (John 4:23).

• Truth (Acts 5:1-11) – For one to be able to discern truth from a lie there must be a standard of truth. Truth can be viewed as a measure taken with a standard of measurement, so a builder can discern how much material he will need to do the job. For the Church, the standard of measurement is the Bible, God’s word. This is the standard of truth that reveals Jesus to us and is the truth that sets us free (John 8:32). The sad fact is that many professing Christians, and even some in ministry, do not regularly study the Bible to know this liberating truth.
• Spirit (Acts 5:12-16) – In Acts 1:4, Jesus commanded the disciples not to leave Jerusalem until receiving the Holy Spirit. These men walked with Jesus, the truth (John 14:6), but head knowledge of the truth would not be enough if they were to carry out the mission of sharing the Gospel (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:5; Matthew 28:19-20). However, there must be a balance of demonstrations of the power of God through the Holy Spirit with Biblical truth, so worship is not just an emotional outburst with no life-changing truth.

 

As we continue to pray for revival, we must pray for a return to Biblical truth from the pulpit and the empowerment of the Spirit in delivering this truth.

 

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 making 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. 

Praise and Glory to God

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 47-48

 

Psalm 47:6-7

Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
⁷ For God is the King of all the earth;
Sing praises with understanding.

(NKJV)

 

I like reading the Psalms because they are a collection of men offering heartfelt praise and crying out to God. In these psalms, the psalmist offers praise to God as King over all the earth and his glory in Zion, the city of God. At the time of the writing of these psalms, God dwelt in the Temple in Jerusalem, but now He lives in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:16). However, does the glory of God shine from our temple?

 

The psalmist begins Psalm 47 by telling all the people to clap their hands and shout to God with the voice of triumph because the Lord is Most High and awesome and King over all the earth (Psalm 47:1-2). As the awesome King over all the earth, God will subdue the peoples of the nations and put them under the feet of the people of God, choosing our inheritance (Psalm 47:3-4). God has gone up with a shout and the Lord with the sound of a trumpet (Psalm 47:5).

 

Four times the psalmist urges us to sing praises to God and to our King, because He is King of all the earth, praising with understanding (Psalm 47:6-7). God reigns over the nations from His holy throne (Psalm 47:8). The princes of the people have gathered together, the people of Abraham, because the shields of the earth belong to God, who is greatly exalted (Psalm 47:9).

 

The psalmist begins Psalm 48 by declaring that the Lord is great and to be greatly praised in the city of God on His holy mountain (Psalm 48:1). Mount Zion is beautiful in elevation and the joy of the whole earth, the city of the great King who is in the city’s palaces and a refuge (Psalm 48:2-3). Kings pass by and behold Mount Zion, marveling but also troubled, and hasten away (Psalm 48:4-5). These kings have fear like a woman in labor and like when an east wind breaks the ships of Tarshish (Psalm 48:6-7). The psalmist declares what he has heard, that God will establish the city of God forever (Psalm 48:8).   

 

The psalmist reflects on his thoughts of the lovingkindness of God in the midst of His temple (Psalm 48:9). He reflects on praise going out to the ends of the earth with the right hand of God full of righteousness (Psalm 48:10). He says to let Mount Zion rejoice and the daughters of Judah are to be glad because of the judgments of God (Psalm 48:11). The Psalmist encourages the people to walk about Zion to count her towers and mark her bulwarks (defensive structures), and to consider her palaces so they can tell them to the next generation (Psalm 48:12-13). The psalm ends with a declaration of God, our God forever and ever, our guide even to death (Psalm 48:14).

 

In these psalms, the sons of Korah praise God as the ruler of all the earth and His glory in Zion.

• Psalm 47: Praise to God, the ruler of the earth – The nations and peoples of the earth have kings and leaders over them, but the psalmist in this psalm reminds us that the Lord Most High, the King over all the earth, will subdue the peoples and nations under the feet of his people. A Godly leader leads under submission to the will of God (Romans 13:1), and knows earthly leaders are human with faults, but God is perfect and faultless.
• Psalm 48: The glory of God in Zion – In the old covenant, God dwelt on earth in the Temple on Mount Zion. So beautiful was this temple and city that kings marveled at it but were also troubled and hastened away (Psalm 48:2-5). God’s glory brings fear to those who are not part of His kingdom but comfort to His people (Psalm 48:6-8). The psalmist encourages us to find refuge in the God of Zion and to declare it to the next generation (Psalm 48:12-14)

 

True worshippers worship God in Spirit and truth (John 4:23), a balance of worship that each Church must achieve.

• Truth – This must be the foundation of worship to ensure worship is of God and not a celebrity pastor. Without biblical truth, worship can devolve into an emotional outburst designed to give everyone an experience, making them feel good, but without a foundation of truth. This is like one building his or her spiritual foundation on sand and not the solid foundation of biblical truth (Matthew 7:24-27).
• Spirit – Moving worship from head knowledge to heart relationship. While knowledge of biblical truth is crucial and sets us free (John 8:32), worship in truth without the Spirit can become an academic exercise that lacks power and a relationship with God. Before the coming of Jesus, the world had truth in the written word of God, but Jesus gave flesh to the word so we could have a relationship with it (John 1:14; 14:6). The Samaritan woman met the word of God in the flesh and brought revival to her city by telling others about it (John 4:28-30).

 

To enter into a relationship with God, one must pray for God to forgive his or her sins and profess their belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save them from their sins. If you are reading this and have never made this profession of faith, 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.

 

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. 

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.