Delighting in God’s Word (Part 20): God’s Rescue, Redemption, and Righteousness

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Psalm 119:160

The entirety of your word is truth,
each of your righteous judgments endures forever.

(CSB)

God is a righteous God who hates sin.  The greatest tragedy of humanities fall in the Garden was its placing us at enmity with God due to sin in all our lives (Romans 3:23).  Left in this condition, humanity would have had no hope.  However, God is also a gracious and merciful God providing rescue and redemption for fallen humanity in the person of Jesus, God’s Son (John 3:16).  The message of the Gospel is God’s plan of rescue, redemption, and restoration of righteousness. 

In Psalm 119:153-160 the psalmist begins with asking God to consider his affliction expectantly asking for rescue due to obedience to God’s instructions.  While we have all sinned (Romans 3:23), God’s rescue through the provision of His only Son as a substitutionary sacrifice for sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) is complete.  The power of this rescuing sacrifice means humanity has redemption, and not condemnation from God (John 3:17).  This makes it possible for believers in Jesus as their savior to put on the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14), not a righteousness emanating from our own hearts due to our good works but the protective righteousness of Christ protecting our hearts.  The psalmist goes on to,

1)      Ask God to champion his cause (Psalm 119:154) – Our salvation is not according to our works but the work of Jesus on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9).  The psalmists asks for a champion, a champion we now have access to in Jesus Christ. 

2)      Acknowledge the lack of salvation for those not studying God’s Word (Psalm 119:155) – Our initial salvation comes through the Holy Spirit as we hear the message of the Gospel.  Upon hearing these words, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, giving us an opportunity to either reject or accept God’s gift of salvation from our sins.

3)      Praise the many compassions of the Lord (Psalm 119:156) – It boggles the mind to think that a righteous God would have compassion on his sinful creation and send His only Son to die and forgive sin (Romans 5:8).  We therefore have no need to fear death from God’s judgments due to sin but instead can experience God viewing us as righteous through Christ (Philippians 3:9). 

4)      Continue having faith in God’s Word despite much opposition (Psalm 119:157) – It is unrealistic to believe accepting Christ means an end to opposition in the world in which we live (John 16:33).  However, Ephesians 6:16 reminds us of our shield of faith which wards off these attacks of oppression.  Any opposition to following Christ pales in comparison to the benefits of a personal relationship with a righteous God who loves us. 

5)      Have disgust at those continuing to disobey God’s Word (Psalm 119:158) – The disgust at those rejecting God’s gift of salvation does not come from a feeling of superiority over them for not having the intelligence to realize the benefits of receiving this gift from God but instead a disgust of sorrow, especially when the unbeliever is someone close to us that we love.  We must allow this disgust to motivate us to continue praying for our lost loved ones, praying that the convicting power of the Holy Spirit will convince them to accept Jesus as their savior.

6)      Asking for life according to God’s faithful love (Psalm 119:159) – Some may see it as extremely bold and dangerous for a sinful person to ask God for life, after all the penalty for our sins is death (Romans 6:23).  However, Gods rescue and redemption plan through Christ totally forgives us of this death penalty.  In fact, to receive salvation we must ask (Romans 10:9-10), essentially asking for life (John 3:16). 

7)      Praise the eternity of Gods truth and righteous judgments (Psalm 119:160) – While the world around us is constantly changing, the truth of salvation and its provision of righteousness through Christ never changes. 

God is righteous and hates sin, but he loves sinners and has provided a way to receive forgiveness of sins through accepting Jesus as Savior.  If you have not already done so, I encourage you to pray with me now to receive the gift of rescue and redemption from God by praying with me now,

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

You have now experienced redemption and rescue from a righteous God.  Out of love and appreciation for God providing this gift of salvation, I encourage you to learn more about God through personal study of the Bible, regular attendance at a church teaching the Bible, and associating with others that have experienced salvation through accepting Jesus as their Savior.  May God bless your new life in Christ.  

Preparing for Revival: Know Your Weapons

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Ephesians 6:13

For this reason, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.

(CSB)

This Monday is Memorial Day in the United States, a day when we pause to honor those that paid the ultimate price of their lives in defense of the United States.  I, and many of my readers support a strong military, viewing it as the means of providing safety and security for the nation and its citizens.  While the military is comprised of dedicated individuals who will sacrifice themselves if necessary in defense of their nation, those like myself that support the military support providing them with weapons that make it possible to defend the nation without sacrificing their lives. 

God has provided His people with an arsenal of weapons listed in Ephesians 6:13-17.  In previous postings to this blog, we studied each of these weapons and I would encourage those reading this to review them by conducting a search using the word armor.  In this posting we will be looking at how each weapon assists us in preparing for revival. 

1)      Belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14) – In John 18:38, Pilate asked Jesus “what is truth?”  This is in response to Jesus replying to Pilate’s previous question “You are a king then” in John 18:37 with Jesus stating that He came to testify to the truth.  Unknown to Pilate, truth was standing right in front of Him for in John 14:6, Jesus had declared that He was the truth.  Those who have made Jesus their savior have this truth in them plus we have the Bible, God’s Word which declares the truth.  As we prepare for revival we must begin to understand that we wear truth as a belt holding all things together for those without Christ in their lives are bombarded with post-modern philosophy in their education and entertainment (1) (2) claiming there is no absolute truth.  Those we meet that are devoid of truth in their lives will try to convince us that the Bible is not the absolute authority and that there are other ways to know God and why we must wear our belt of truth. 

2)      Breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14) – Righteousness in the armament of the child of God is a breastplate that covers vital organs.  Notice it is not something emanating from the believers heart but a covering over believers hearts which are sinful (Romans 3:23).  Our righteousness is Christ’s righteous that we can wear because of what Jesus did on the cross and not according to our own efforts (Ephesians 2:8-9).  When we begin sharing the Gospel with others, they may point out unrighteous behavior in our lives.  When they do our biblical response should be yes, we all have sinned and is why we need a righteous savior, Jesus, to die for us, providing a breastplate of righteousness to protect us.

3)      Sandals of the Gospel (Ephesians 6:15) – Gospel shoes telling us to prepare to take the message of the gospel with us wherever we go and to share it in our words and how we live our lives everywhere we go.

4)      Shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16) – John 16:33 reminds us that in this evil world even God’s people will have trouble with the promise that Jesus has overcome the world through His death and resurrection.  This overcoming faith is our shield against the attacks of Satan as we participate in sharing the Gospel and making Disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). 

5)      Helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17) – Our salvation helmet protects our thoughts against doubts about our salvation.  While Romans 3:23 reminds us that we have all sinned, we also have 1 John 1:9, our spiritual 911 line to remind us that Jesus has forgiven our sins.  It is important to protect our knowledge of the completeness of our salvation through Christ so that doubts about our salvation in Christ do not relegate us to the sidelines instead of staying on the field, taking part in revival. 

6)      Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) – This sword is a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12) with one edge surgically removing areas of our life that need removal and the other edge cutting down the obstacles of Satan in sharing the Gospel with others.  To use this sword effectively, we must learn the Word of God and apply it to our lives revealing what needs changing as well as a tool against Satan like Jesus used it during His temptation (Matthew 4:1-11). 

While these weapons are important, Ephesians 6:18 reminds us to pray so we remain prepared for any attack that may come our way.  This Wednesday’s posting reminds us of the importance of time in the prayer closet.  As we begin preparing for revival, we must not only have the right weapons and know how to use them, we must also remain spiritually and mentally motivated through quality time with God in the prayer closet.

Next Saturday we will learn how to engage in revival. 

1. Sanbonmatsu, John. POSTMODERNISM AND THE CORRUPTION OF ACADEMIC INTELLIGENTSIA. socialistregister.com. [Online] Socialist Register. [Cited: March 31, 2017.] http://socialistregister.com/index.php/srv/article/viewFile/5851/2747.

2. Saugstad, Andreas. Postmodernism and the Media. bolesblogs.com. [Online] November 20, 2000. [Cited: March 31, 2017.] https://bolesblogs.com/2000/11/20/postmodernism-the-media/.

Delighting in God’s Word (Part 19): The Power of Closet Time with God.

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Psalm 119:147

I rise before dawn and cry out for help;
I put my hope in your word.

(CSB)

Time to clean out the closet.  I am not talking about throwing out old junk or clothes that we no longer wear, I am talking about cleaning out the closet of prayer.  The prayer closet is not a junk closet and needs occasional cleaning out, just as the Temple did when it was unused for a time during the time of King Josiah (2 Kings 22:5).  In fact, just as workers found the neglected Book of the Law in the Temple during restoration (2 Kings 22:8-13) causing King Josiah to come to grips with the sins of the Nation of Israel, we will discover valuable insights and motivation as we spent time with God in our prayer closets.

While the prayer closet may not be a literal closet as it was in the movie “War Room,” it symbolizes a special place where believers in Jesus go to be alone with God, free from distractions.  Unfortunately, for many of us the fast pace of our society and its busyness has cluttered the closet making going into the closet to pray impossible.  To unclutter the prayer closet we must look at what dominates our time and determine if it is beneficial to our walk with God.  If it is not, we should throw it out of the closet, so we have time to pray, even if it is just for a few minutes each day.

In Psalm 119:145-152, the psalmist provides a glimpse into his own prayer closet, giving us a picture of what should be in our prayer closet.  In the psalmist’s prayer closet we see,

1)      A direct line to God (Psalm 119:145-146) – When in the prayer closet the psalmist has a direct line of connection to God where he cries out from his heart expecting an answer and salvation.  The connection is clear due to his obedience to God.  Any disobedience in our lives represents clutter in our prayer closet in need of removal. 

2)      A place to start the day (Psalm 119:147) – For those that are not morning people, the thought of rising before dawn is unthinkable unless it comes with massive amounts of coffee or some other form of caffeine.  However, making the effort to rise a little earlier to spend time with the Lord helps set a Godly tone for the day.  For the psalmist it made possible placing his hope in God’s Word.

3)      Meditation on the promises of God encountered in the prayer closet (Psalm 119:148) – In the prayer closet the psalmist encountered God and the promises in His Word.  However, he did not leave those promises in the closet but instead took them with him throughout the day.  My family and I recently began the practice of journaling during our time of personal devotions.  I journal special promises or thoughts from reading the Bible and write them down.  I take this journal with me and when I have a break throughout the day, take time to meditate on what I read during my time in the prayer closet.

4)      A place of love, life, and justice (Psalm 119:149) – In the prayer closet we encounter a just God, but also a God who loves us and sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins.  While God is a just and holy God and we are sinful, through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross we have complete forgiveness and expectation that God hears our prayers from the prayer closet.

5)      A place of safety (Psalm 119:150-151) – Just a casual look at the news of the day reveals the fact that we live in an evil and dangerous world.  However, God is near and always with us providing safety.  In the prayer closet, however, the connection with God is unhindered by worldly cares, making us even more aware of the nearness of God and the safety He provides.

6)      A glimpse of eternity with God (Psalm 119:152) – John 3:16 reminds us that our reward is eternal life.  While we know this with John 3:16 being the most quoted verse in the Bible, are we fully aware of what it means?  In the prayer closet we have a glimpse of eternity with God as we spent uninterrupted time with God in prayer and His Word. 

While we as disciples of Christ are not of this world, we still must live and work in it.  As such we cannot help but have ourselves dirtied by being in the world and its pollution.  Through time in the prayer closet, we have an opportunity to spend quality time with God our creator and have him wash off the worlds pollution and empower us to live as lights in a dark and polluted world. 

Please join me in finding a personal prayer closet and committing to spending time in it to become empowered lights in a dark world.  This does not mean a commitment to hours each day in the closet but beginning with only five minutes a day.  A quality time of five minutes a day will not stay five minutes for long as we discover the benefits of spending quality time with God our creator. 

May God bless everyone reading this.

Preparing for Revival: Know the Enemy

By:  Dale Weckbacher

John 10:10

A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

(CSB)

While this may come as a surprise to some, not everyone accepts the loving gift of salvation offered by a loving and gracious God.  One reason for this is that the Gospel message has an enemy who has one purpose, to steal its message from those that need it, so he can kill and destroy them by having them continue to live in their sin.  However, as the second half of John 10:10 reminds us, Jesus came to give those accepting Him as their savior abundant life.  This is exactly why we need revival, so others can experience eternity with God and escape the penalty of eternal death. 

In the Art of War, Sun Tzu states, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”  (1)  While our salvation is secured through the finished work of Jesus on the cross, the work of spreading the Gospel and bringing about revival involves engagement in a spiritual war (Ephesians 6:12) and as such requires not only knowing our identity but also knowing our enemy.  To know our enemy we must understand His,

1)      Tactics – Beginning in the Garden of Eden, Satan has used the tactic of deception, causing doubt in God’s love for humanity and instead creation of a belief God is withholding the good stuff from us (Genesis 3:5).  Even today, Satan plants the belief in people that becoming a Christian means the end of any fun or enjoyment in life.  The truth, however, is that Christians still enjoy sports, a good movie, good music, and even time with friends.  What changes is that as God transforms our thinking (Romans 12:2) the types of entertainment change with us no longer finding enjoyment from vile forms of entertainment offered by the secular world, replacing them with more wholesome forms of entertainment.  Christians also learn how to treasure God more than anything else and while not completely eliminating secular entertainment from their lives, learn how to make God the number one focus of their lives while still enjoying life.  God gave us His best, His only Son (John 3:16) and is not withholding any good thing from His children (Psalm 34:10). 

2)      Power – There seems to be an uptick in television programs and movies on the paranormal with paranormal activity now finding mainstream acceptance.  (2)  Paranormal television programs and movies show the power Satan can have over the lives of individuals but these secular programs fail to remind us of the words of 1 John 4:4, reminding us that God’s power within us through the Holy Spirit is greater than any power of the enemy.  As we become participants in the work of sharing the Gospel, we will encounter the power Satan has over the lives of people and may experience doubts about our power to overcome it.  1 John 4:4 reminds us that while we do lack the power within our own abilities to overcome Satan’s power, we have within us the power of the Holy Spirit and as we rely on that power, can overcome Satan’s power.  These paranormal programs make discovery of paranormal activity within the supernatural realm but do not mention the solution to ending Satan’s power over individuals, the introduction of the presence of God into one’s life through acceptance of Jesus as their savior. 

3)      Desperation at knowing his future – While we find comfort and peace in knowing Scripture, Satan also knows Scripture but instead of finding peace and comfort, shudders (James 2:19).  Satan knows his ultimate fate, leading to the question, why doesn’t he just give up or go away?  The truth, however, is that Satan is the ultimate egomaniac and even though he knows his future, wants to egotistically make the lives of Christians he is powerless over miserable, (3) relegating them to the sidelines in the work of spreading the Gospel instead of engaging as participants.  Satan is also working to insure as many people as possible join him in his eternal prison of hell which is where we as willing participants in the spreading of the Gospel enter in. 

We have an enemy in our efforts to bring revival through sharing the Gospel message.  Our enemy knows of his defeat at Calvary but still egotistically tries to use fear and deception to prevent the Gospel message from going out.  As children of God, called to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20), we must not give in to Satan’s devious tactics and instead understand and rely on the greater power within each of us (1 John 4:4, John 10:10).  However, for one to experience this power in their lives, they must accept God’s gift of salvation by accepting Jesus as their Savior.  If you have not already done so, I invite you to pray with me know and accept Jesus as your savior,

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, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

You now have the power of the Holy Spirit in your life, a power that overcomes any power of Satan over your life.  I now encourage you to learn more about this wonderful power by study of the Bible and by finding a church that teaches the Bible.  I also encourage you to share this post with others as well as telling others about what has just happened in your life. 

May God bless everyone reading this.

1. Tzu, Sun. Sun Tzu > Quotes > Quotable Quote. www.goodreads.com. [Online] [Cited: May 13, 2018.] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/17976-if-you-know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself-you-need.

2. Saldi, Henry Hanks and Nicole. Paranormal activity finds mainstream acceptance. cnn.com. [Online] CNN, October 27, 2010. [Cited: May 19, 2018.] http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/10/27/ghosts.go.irpt/index.html.

3. Alcorn, Randy. Why Does Satan Bother Us When He Knows the Ultimate Outcome? www.epim.org. [Online] Eternal Perspective Ministries, February 2, 2010. [Cited: May 19, 2018.] https://www.epm.org/resources/2010/Feb/2/why-does-satan-bother-us-when-he-knows-ultimate-ou/.

Delighting in God’s Word (Part 18): The Merciful Righteousness of God

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Psalm 119:137

You are righteous, Lord,
and your judgments are just.

(CSB)

The Bible is a narrative of love by a righteous, yet merciful God, towards humanity, His greatest creation.  However, this love of God towards humanity created a conflicting situation when Adam and Eve disobeyed God with a righteous God needing to punish humanity with death while the loving and merciful part of God wanting to regain His lost fellowship with humanity.  God comes up with a unique solution with banishment from the pristine Garden with a promise of a deliverer or Messiah destroying the enemy and creating a pathway to restoration of God’s fellowship with humanity without sacrificing His righteousness (Genesis 3:15).    

When people think of a righteous God, they think of a judge issuing powerful edicts and punishment.  While God remains righteous with those choosing to continually disobey him eventually suffering wrath, the overall biblical narrative describes a merciful God (John 3:16-18).  Unfortunately, many well meaning Christians have promoted a legalistic gospel with many legal requirements for achieving a right standing with God, perhaps leading to the belief of many that their sins are too great and that there is no hope of salvation for them. 

However, this does not call for the adoption of a liberal form of Christianity believing that Jesus death eliminated the need for obedience to the law of God for as James 2:20 says, faith of this nature is a dead faith.  The balance of righteousness and mercy is in the Gospel with God the Father sending His Son to pay the death penalty for humanities sin, fulfilling the requirement of righteousness while filling people choosing to accept God’s gift with the Holy Spirit, empowering them to live lives of obedience to God.  This is what Jesus meant when he told the woman at the well that the true worshipers of God worship Him in spirit (Holy Spirit) and truth (Righteousness) (John 4:23-24). 

In Psalm 119:137-144 the psalmist describes the merciful righteousness of God by,

1)      Praising the righteous judgments of God (Psalm 119:137) – The Hebrew word translated righteous in this verse is tsad-deek.  (1) It means a form of lawful righteous judgment like one issued by a judge.  In essence, the psalmist is acknowledging and actually praising the righteous judgment of God which judges us as sinners deserving of death.  However, the praise of the psalmist is an expression of faith in the coming Messiah who would provide forgiveness from sin.  Today we no longer need to look forward for a future messiah fulfilling Genesis 3:15 for provision of salvation but can look back at the completed work of Jesus on the cross.

2)      Praising the trustworthiness and righteousness of God’s decrees (Psalm 119:138) – Unlike decrees issued by an earthly judge or ruler, the decrees of God are righteous.  The word translated righteous here is em-oo-naw carrying the meaning of something firm, steadfast, and steady.  (2)  The firm, steadfast, and steady quality of God’s decrees contained in the Bible are something upon which people can have complete trust.

3)      Anger over those choosing to disobey Gods words (Psalm 119:139) – The delight of the psalmist in the lawful, firm, steady, and steadfast Word of God creates righteous anger in the psalmist. 

4)      Love for the pure Word of God (Psalm 119:140) – The psalmist’s deep love for the Word of God is why he strives to live in obedience to God’s Word and not fear of retribution for disobedience.  Even though the Gospel message had not happened at the point in history of the writing of the psalm, the psalmist already grasped the concept of balancing God’s grace with the law.

5)      Remembering God’s precepts even though the psalmist feels insignificant and despised (Psalm 119:141) – Even King David felt inferior when considering the majesty of God (Psalm 8:4).  However, the psalmist refuses to use this as an excuse for not remembering the precepts of God’s law. 

6)      Eternity and truth of God’s righteousness (Psalm 119:142) – the word righteousness in this verse is the Hebrew Word tsed-aw-kaw indicating righteousness of a just and righteous quality that is truthful and everlasting.  (3)

7)      Delight in God’s command during times of trouble (Psalm 119:143) – In times of trouble and tribulation, we need something solid to cling to.  When Jesus asked Peter who he was, Peter rightfully declared was Messiah, the son of the living God (Matthew 16:15-19).  Jesus response that on this rock he would build His church is not a declaration of Peter as the rock but a declaration of the stability of God’s Word and our faith in it.  Even though Jesus had not been born yet, the psalmist understood the stability of God’s Word, and clinging to it in times of trouble.

8)      Eternal quality of God’s righteous decrees providing understanding and life (Psalm 119:144) – God’s Righteousness is eternal and what gives us life.  To live abundantly we must seek to understand the Word of God and live in obedience to it.

The first step in the process of experiencing the merciful righteousness of God is praying to accept Jesus as your savior.  If you have not already done so, I encourage you to pray with me now,

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

I encourage everyone that just prayed with me to begin learning more about the merciful righteous God who just forgave you sins by reading and studying the Bible.  Begin communication with Him in prayer, and find a church teaching the Bible.  May God bless everyone reading this.

1. Godrules.net. WICV. www.godrules.net. [Online] [Cited: May 12, 2018.] http://www.godrules.net/library/strongs2a/heb6662.htm.

2. —. DPEN@. www.godrules.net. [Online] [Cited: 12 http://www.godrules.net/library/strongs2a/heb530.htm, May.]

3. Bible Tools. Strong's #6666: tsdaqah (pronounced tsed-aw-kaw'). www.bibletools.org. [Online] Bible Tools. [Cited: May 16, 2018.] https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Lexicon.show/ID/H6666/tsdaqah.htm.

Preparing for Revival. Knowing our Identity

By Dale Weckbacher

2 Corinthians 5:20

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf: “Be reconciled to God.”

 (CSB)

While identity theft is not a violent crime like murder, assault, or rape, it is violent with one’s emotions and finances.  There are approximately 15 million U.S. victims of identity theft annually with losses of $50 billion.  (1)  In addition to this massive financial cost, the emotional trauma is also devastating for it is our identity that makes us who we are.  (2)  However, there is an identity that identity thieves cannot steal, and one that Christians, including myself, need to learn more about to prepare for revival.  This identity is our identity in Christ. 

One of the reasons there are few workers for revival or the harvest of souls for Christ (Matthew 9:37, Luke 10:2) is that it places us on the front lines of spiritual warfare (John 10:10).  The good news is that we are already on the winning side with the second half of John 10:10 promising us abundant life.  However, not recognizing our Christian identity of victor in Christ results in our being weak and open for attack. 

Peter provides an excellent example of one beginning as weak due to a lack of understanding of his identity in Christ experiencing transformation into a courageous soldier for Christ who gave the first evangelical message, resulting in 3,000 souls coming to Christ.  The nation of Israel provides a picture of the identity transformation process occurring in the lives of Christians after accepting Jesus as their savior. 

1)      Peter – While Jesus, the Son of God could have selected His disciples from among the religious leaders of his time, he instead chose ordinary people like Peter, a fisherman by trade.  Anyone reading this who has watched the program “Deadliest Catch” can appreciate the hard work of fishing.  The television program also illustrates the rough edges these individuals have in their lives.  While this is the identity those living in Jesus’ time would have seen in men like Peter, Jesus saw what Peter would become after encountering Him after His resurrection and receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4).  Likewise, we too can become trapped in our old identity, believing that we do not have what it takes to participate in revival.  However, like Peter, identity transformation does not occur through our own efforts, but by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8) making us good enough to participate and contribute to revival.  In addition, those of us who have made Jesus our savior and experienced salvation from our sins have the power of the Holy Spirit within us to empower us just as it empowered Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). 

2)      Israel – While it appears that the transformation in Peter was instantaneous and due to some magical power, it was a process that involved three and one-half years of walking with Jesus during His earthly ministry.  Thankfully for Peter, the process did not take forty years as it did with the nation of Israel.  The journey of Israel as recorded in Exodus through Deuteronomy is symbolic of our life’s journey as Christians.  Through the journey of Israel through the wilderness we see,

a.       The nation of Israel miraculously saved by God and set free under the leadership of Moses (Exodus 2:1-12:42).  At this point, the people of Israel have salvation from their Egyptian bondage. 

b.       The nation of Israel struggling with their new freedom.  As Israel journeys to the promised land, God takes them the long way through the wilderness instead of the short way through the land of the Philistines because God knew they were not ready for war should they encounter it (Exodus 13:17).  While God has saved them from their bondage, they still see themselves as slaves with the security it provided (Exodus 16:3). 

c.       Most in Israel focus on the power of the enemy instead of the power of God (Numbers 13:26-14:10).  The consequences of this lack of trust in God resulted in everyone, except for Joshua and Caleb, who was over twenty dying in the wilderness and not entering the “Promised Land.” 

Jesus parting words in Matthew 28:19 are for the Disciples to make disciples of all nations.  While Jesus is speaking to the twelve, now eleven, the implication is that the disciples of the Disciples are to make disciples as well, multiplying and spreading the message of the Gospel around the world.  What a great illustration of revival not being due to some program or individual, except for Jesus, but instead a grassroots effort by people who have had their identity transformed through time with God in prayer, study of the Word of God, and through the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  The question we all must ask ourselves is will we experience an identity shift like Peter or fall short in our quest for revival just as Israel lacking trust in God fell short of entering the “Promised Land.”  I encourage everyone reading this to join me in trusting God and allowing Him to transform our identities, so we can be ambassadors for Christ and effective harvesters in revival. 

1. identitytheft.info. Identity Theft Victim Statistics. www.identitytheft.info. [Online] [Cited: May 8, 2018.] http://www.identitytheft.info/victims.aspx.

2. Weisbaum, Herb. ID theft can take heavy emotional toll on victims. www.today.com. [Online] Todsy, November 20, 2014. [Cited: May 8, 2018.] https://www.today.com/money/id-theft-can-take-heavy-emotional-toll-victims-1D80305639.

Delighting In God’s Word (Part 17): Wondrous Obedience

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Psalm 119:129

Your decrees are wondrous;
therefore I obey them.

(CSB)

Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches that our salvation is a result of the grace of God and not in accordance to our works.  On the other hand, James 2:26 tells us that faith without works is dead.  These two passages of scripture appear to contradict each other and possibly what has led to the two extremes of theological thought in Christianity, legalism, and liberalism. 

On the legalistic side, the belief is that we must obey God’s Word totally to achieve salvation, in other words I obey, therefore I have salvation.  While this aligns with most other religions, we must wonder that if this line of thinking were in alignment with God’s will, why did Jesus need to come and die on the cross since the law already existed and all we must do is obey.  Those adopting this belief align with the interpretation of James 2:26 as faith coming alive through good works. 

Liberal Christianity, however, holds close to the teaching of Ephesians 2:8-9 believing salvation is a product of God’s grace.  However, they liberally interpret Ephesians 2:8-9 to mean there is no longer any need to live in obedience to the laws of the Old Testament for God’s grace covers all sins.  A balance between these two extremes of theological thought comes through a greater understanding of the truths of the Gospel. 

For example James 2:23, in reference to Genesis 15:6 tells us that Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.  This clarification by James indicates that the work he refers to in James 2:26 is the work of believing God which aligns with John 3:16.  Any belief that Paul’s reference to salvation by grace means no further need for obedience is proven false by his teaching in Romans 6:15.  The balance between James 2:26 and Ephesians 2:8-9 lies in one believing God and finding salvation and then living in obedience out of love and thanksgiving for what God has done.  The Gospel is about liberation from slavery to sin and service to God through obedience to His Word (Romans 6:16).

Psalm 119:129-136 begins with the psalmist expressing a sense of wonder leading to a desire to live obediently to God’s Word (Psalm 119:129).  The psalmist then goes on to express,

1)      Understanding through revelation (Psalm 119:130) – Even though we have salvation through the grace of God, we continue to live in a world dominated by evil and sin which leads to temptation and confusion.  The solution to any confusion and power to resist temptation (Matthew 4:1-11) lies in gaining understand through experiencing the revelation of God in his Word through regular study (2 Timothy 2:15). 

2)      Fervent longing to know more (Psalm 119:131) – Psalm 42:1 compares a thirst to know more of God’s truth to a deer panting for water.  The Judean dessert of Israel is extremely dry with the largest body of water being the undrinkable Dead Sea.  Deer, any animal, or person living in the area might experience times of extreme thirst desperately seeking lifegiving water.  We should seek the life giving spiritual water of God’s Word with this same fervency. 

3)      Plea for God’s grace (Psalm 119:132) – Seeing his personal failures at living in complete obedience to the Word of God, the psalmist understands his need for God’s grace.  This provides another illustration of living dependent on the grace of God while living with a fervent desire to obey God’s Word by doing the good works it instructs us to do.

4)      Plea for freedom from sins domination and redemption (Psalm 119:133-134) – Prior to receiving Jesus as our savior, we lived lives in slavery to sin with its penalty of death or eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23).  We have an advantage over the psalmist in that Jesus has already come and paid the death penalty for our sins while the psalmist was looking forward in faith with a plea for salvation.  This is similar to our present day desire and the faithful anticipation of Christians today for the second coming of Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). 

5)      Plea for God’s favor (Psalm 119:135) – God’s grace is often defined as His unmerited favor.  Our sins mean we do not deserve God’s salvation but receive it out of God’s love for us.  Once again, we see the psalmist pleading for God’s favor in light of his own personal failures.

6)      Sorrow over disobedience to God’s Word (Psalm 119:136) – Upon receiving salvation through acceptance of Jesus as our savior, we should seek to live lives of obedience to God out of thankfulness and love for what God did for us by sending His only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins.  Once we experience this great love and grace from God, disobedience to God’s Word should result in great sorrow. 

The Gospel message brings into balance the legalistic and liberal theological thoughts.  In the Gospel we encounter a loving graceful God that sent His only Son, not to condemn humanity but to save them (John 3:16-17).  However, as we study Scripture and encounter the extent of God’s love for us, we develop a desire to live lives of obedience.  The Gospel makes it possible for us to enjoy the wonderous obedience of a live of dependence on the grace of God. 

Preparing for Revival. Overview

By Dale Weckbacher

Matthew 28:19-20

 Go, therefore, and make disciples of^[e] all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,^[f]I am with you always,^[g] to the end of the age.”

(CSB)

Billy Graham, a great man of God with a passion for revival went home to be with the Lord this year.  While we will miss him, his vision for revival must live on through willing servants of Christ.  As Jesus stated in Matthew 9:37, there is much work to do and few workers to do the work.  Over the next four Saturdays we will be looking at how we can prepare to be workers in the much-needed revival in our world.  Before we begin, however, take a moment to watch this video from the Christian Band Third Day as it captures the heart of revival that must be stirred up on our world. 

As the lyrics of the song remind us this revival will not be as a result of electing the right politician or even the result of our work but a move of the Holy Spirit.  However, those volunteering to take part in the revival must prepare themselves for the work ahead which will be the focus of the next four Saturday postings.  During these four weeks we will look at how we, the people of God must,

1)      Know our identity in Christ

2)      Know the enemy

3)      Know their weapons

4)      Know how to engage

Please take time prior to next Saturday to prepare your heart to receive what God has for us and pray for me as I prepare the study.  Also pray for those needing Christ in their lives for our prayers are effective (James 5:16).  Even though not everyone will receive salvation through accepting Jesus as their Savior, God wants all to be saved (2 Peter 3:9).  As disciples of Christ, our job is to prepare ourselves for the work and offer the Gospel message to everyone God places in our lives. 

Delighting in God’s Word (Part 16): Surviving the Waiting Process

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Psalm 119:123

My eyes grow weary looking for your salvation
and for your righteous promise.

(CSB)

Isaiah 40:31 gives us the promises of strength, victory, energy, and that we will not give up while waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promises.  While we find comfort in this promise as we are waiting for the Lord to provide what we need, most of us share the emotions of the psalmist in Psalm 119:123 during the waiting process.  Psalm 119:121-128 gives guidance for us during this waiting process and provides a sort of survival guide for us during this process. 

The context of the psalmist’s writing differs from ours in that he is waiting for salvation from God through the coming of Messiah, whereas we already have salvation available to us for the asking because of Jesus’ work on the cross.  However, while we have salvation from sins through Jesus, we still live in a world dominated by evil, sin, oppression, and persecution and like the psalmist can grow weary looking for deliverance from these things with the second coming of Jesus.  However, even with this difference in context, we can still find hope and guidance in what the psalmist writes in Psalm 119:121-128.  In this passage we see,

1)      Remaining faithful to God during the frustration of waiting (Psalm 119:121) – Since scripture reminds us that we all have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard (Romans 3:23), the psalmist is not declaring his self-righteousness.  Instead, the psalmist is expressing frustration at doing all the right things and yet suffering oppression.  The Book of Job in the Bible tells the account of a man severely oppressed.  While we know the reason for the oppression happening to Job (Job 1:6 – 2:10), there is no recorded record of Job discovering the back story of his oppression.  During the waiting period for Job, and the constant barrage of advice from his “friends,” Job shows frustration but never curses or turns his back on God. 

2)      Asks for a guarantee against the arrogant oppressing him (Psalm 119:122) – Notice that the psalmist is not seeking a guarantee against oppression but a guarantee against oppression from arrogant people.  Even Jesus the Son of God could not escape oppression from arrogant people with them putting Him on the cross because of the blinding of their arrogance, blinding them from truths in scripture pointing to Jesus as their Messiah.  This reminds us not to focus on arrogant, ungodly commentary in opposition to the promises in the Bible but to focus on the promises of God in scripture. 

3)      Be honest with God (Psalm 119:123) – During the waiting period we may experience times as the psalmist did when we believe we cannot continue.  The psalmist’s confession of feeling weary while waiting on the Lord appears to demonstrate a lack of faith in the promise of Isaiah 40:31. The truth, however, is that God knows our hearts and knows we grow weary during the waiting process.  We therefore must be honest with God about our feelings and trust that He will renew our strength during times of oppression. 

4)      Rely on God’s love and continue learning truth from His Word (Psalm 119:124) – Our fleshly tendency during times of oppression is to shake our finger at God asking why this is happening to us.  Job had his moments of finger shaking at God but in the end, surrendered to a loving God, receiving deliverance.  Instead of finger shaking we should search scripture to reinforce the truth that God loves us and is with us. 

5)      Ask for godly understanding of scripture (Psalm 119:125) – While we should daily read the Bible, it can become a routine activity that we check off our to-do-list.  While reading scripture in this manner may produce some positive results, the best results from reading scripture come through reading and asking God for understanding through the Holy Spirit.  Recently I began the practice of using a journal to write down scripture that God brings to mind as I read the Bible.  This causes me to continue meditating on that scripture throughout the day, taking Scripture from simple words on a page to something I can begin applying to my life. 

6)      Plea for prompt action against those violating God’s instructions (Psalm 119:126) – While asking for prompt action during a waiting period seems like a lack of faith and trust, the psalmist is not seeking prompt action on his request from God but prompt action against violators of God’s law.  Perhaps these are the same oppressors in Psalm 119:122, distracting the psalmist from his focus on God and His Word. 

7)      Continue loving the priceless Word of God and applying it to our lives (Psalm 119:127-128) – The constant struggle during the waiting period with God is allowing impatience, frustration, or ungodly advice to distract us from the truths in the Word of God and applying them to our lives.  After honestly expressing his frustration and impatience, the psalmist concludes this portion of Scripture with reaffirming his love for God’s Word and his commitment to continue applying it to his life. 

Our human nature is to dislike waiting.  We dislike long lines, being on hold on the telephone, and rush hour traffic.  Likewise, we dislike waiting on God, growing frustrated and impatient as we seem to see God leave our prayer unanswered.  However, the waiting process is where we receive renewed strength, and learn to soar like an eagle in the victory of our salvation in Christ, gain strength to go on without growing weary, and where we continue to go on without giving up.  Please Lord help us survive the waiting period.