An Unlikely Team

By Dale Weckbacher

Scriptural text:  Mark 3:13-19

Mark 3:13-15

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴ He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles,^[a] to be with him, to send them out to preach, ¹⁵ and to have authority to^[b] drive out demons.

(CSB)

Mark 3:13 tells us Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted as His disciples.  Luke 6:12-13 offers the added detail of Jesus praying all night before summoning those He selected as His disciples.  The selection of the team of disciples who would lead the Church after Jesus’ ascension is an important decision and why Jesus spent the night in prayer, consulting with His heavenly Father.  Selection of a leadership team is a key step for any leader and especially so for Jesus the Son of God.  However, one would think Jesus would have selected some of the most prominent religious leaders of His time but instead, Jesus selects a dysfunctional group of unlikely characters. 

Jesus, however, does not look upon outward appearances but He looks at the heart and after a night of prayer with His Heavenly Father, selects this group who would later be spoken of as those who turned their world upside down (Acts 17:6).  For the Church to lead revival in our darkened culture, it is important to learn from the transformation process of this unlikely team as we are all unlikely candidates to lead such a revival.  The Twelve,

1)      Came when called (Mark 3:13) – Another individual that responded when called by the Lord was Samuel (1 Samuel 3).  The calling of God in our lives may not come in a manner we expect and may not have us doing what we would expect to do.  A biblical example is Moses, a man with a speech impediment who has an encounter with God at a burning bush and is asked to speak to Pharaoh, asking him to free the Israelite slaves (Exodus 4:10-12).  God’s response to Moses reminds us that if God calls us to do something, he will empower us to perform because He is the creator God.

2)      Represented a blank slate Jesus could teach – While Jesus could have selected disciples from among the religious leaders of His time, their theology had become flawed and their eyes were spiritually blinded, making it impossible for them to recognize Jesus as Messiah (John 12:37-41, Isaiah 53:1; 6:10).  While our logic views the Twelve Jesus selected as an unlikely team, selection of the religious leaders who were blind to who Jesus was is the actual unlikely team.  While the Twelve had their issues, as do we all, after spending time with the Lord and witnessing Jesus’ death and resurrection, they became powerful leaders. 

3)      Ministered not in their own strength or wisdom but under the empowerment of the Holy Spirit – In Jesus final instructions to the Twelve, he told them to wait for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and not immediately go out proclaiming the Gospel (Acts 1:4,8).   When ministering or sharing the Gospel, we are not battling a flesh and blood enemy but immense spiritual powers (Ephesians 6:12).  While knowledge of scripture and having sound theology and doctrine are important, they come alive when one ministers under the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Since all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, we all constitute an unlikely team of disciples and are incapable of leading the darkened culture in which we live into revival without God’s help.  However, if the church responds to its biblical calling (Matthew 28:19-20), experiences a mind transformation through study of God’s Word, and ministers under the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, it can lead revival.  With God’s Word as our sword, and God’s Spirit within us, the unlikely Church can bring transformation to the darkened culture in which it lives.  The question we all must ask is are we obedient to the call, teachable, and willing to do what God has called us to do through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  The Church in the Book of Acts did and provides an example to follow. 

Thanksgiving and Prayer from Adversity

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Colossians 1:3-4

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints

(CSB)

One of the qualities anyone in ministry must have is a quality of servant leadership.  In Jesus’ denouncement of religious hypocrisy (Matthew 23:1-36) Jesus teaches that the greatest are those that serve (Matthew 23:11).  Jesus also denounces narcissism through teaching that those exalting themselves will be humbled.  Narcissistic world leaders should take this to heart because when Jesus returns, He will reign. 

In addition to narcissism because one has position of leadership, many in the culture also have sympathetic narcissism demonstrated by people seeking attention through constant complaining about their condition, seeking sympathy.  Like leaders seeking to make everything about them, sympathetic narcissists also seek to make everything about them due to the struggles they face.  James 1:2-4 teaches that the purpose of struggles in our life is the testing of faith to produce endurance and spiritual maturity.  Those entrapped in sympathetic narcissism do not achieve spiritual maturity and remain spiritually immature with weak faith. 

It is possible that the rich teaching contained in the prison epistles illustrate the spiritual maturation process of the Apostle Paul due to the struggles of being a Roman prisoner.  Perhaps the greatest lesson he learned is the importance of remaining thankful and prayerful when in prison instead of complaining and focusing on the negatives of his circumstances.  To remain thankful and prayerful in adversity we must,

1)      Focus on God (Matthew 6:9-13) – The Lord’s prayer provides a pattern for prayer.  Unlike how many of us pray, it does not immediately begin with a list of requests from God.  Instead, the pattern for prayer begins with one focusing on our Father in Heaven.  Last month I spent a week in Ohio visiting family and to experience winter since I live in Phoenix.  While in Ohio they experienced the lowest temperatures they had experienced in over 100 years.  While it was cold outside, I was inside a 75-degree house during the coldest temperatures and found beauty in looking out the window at the snow.  When we focus on God, we are dwelling in the 75-degree comfort of his presence and can look out at the cold evil world outside and find beauty. 

2)      Focus on the reward (1 Thessalonians 4:17) – I presently have several friends on my prayer list who are struggling with cancer.  Just the mention of the word strikes fear in each of us as it causes us to confront the frailties of our fleshly mortal bodies.  However, the prospect of spending eternity with the Lord who loves us so much he endured a brutal death by crucifixion on a Roman cross should slay the giant of fear, even fear of death from cancer.  While I continue to pray for healing for my friends with cancer, I know that those that know the Lord have a reward of eternity with Jesus as their focus.  Should Jesus choose to take them home to be with them, I know they will be better off then I am and that I will see them again.  For those struggling with cancer who do not know the Lord as savior, my prayer is that they will not only receive healing from cancer but salvation for their souls. 

3)      Focus and pray for others (Colossians 1:9-10) – Focus on others when we are in either physical or emotional pain goes against our human nature or flesh.  However, the Church or body of Christ functions best when each member serves the other members.  While the Apostle Paul focused on the needs of the Churches he had planted while in prison, the church was praying for him and seeing to his needs (Philippians 4:10-13).  This represents the ultimate demonstration of servant leadership, something the body of Christ must practice as the world becomes increasingly at odds with Christians and their values. 

Hatred, divisiveness, and confrontation are rampant in the world.  For the Church to stand out as a beacon of light in this darkness, it must unite and remain prayerful and thankful by focusing on God, our heavenly reward, and the needs of others in the church, including the salvation of those that do not know Christ as savior.  If you are reading this and do not know Jesus as your savior, 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, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

I encourage you who just prayed to focus on God through prayer, study of the Bible, and regular attendance in Church where you associate with other believers.  When adversity comes, focus on the reward of eternal life Jesus has promised and the promise of His return to rule in righteousness.  Focus on others, especially those you know who do not know Jesus as their Savior so they too can focus on Jesus instead of their life circumstances. 

Humility in Trending Popularity

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Mark 3:7-8

Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea, ⁸ Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to him because they heard about everything he was doing.

(CSB)

Had Mark written his Gospel in the 21^st century, he might have said Jesus was trending.  When one is trending on social media today, the tendency is to bask in the popularity while it is there.  However, with Jesus we see humility in the middle of this trending popularity (Mark 3:7-10).

Word of Jesus previous miracles of healing a paralytic man (Mark 2:1-12) and a man with a withered hand (Mark 3:1-6) have spread and without the benefit of social media.  While news spreading of the good works Jesus was performing appears beneficial on the surface, Jesus has a divine mission that requires events occurring according to God’s timing.  As such, Jesus needs to withdraw from the crowds and order the demons to stop declaring Him as Lord. 

While social media has its benefits through providing a means of connection over great distances, it can also give the appearance of one having fame and popularity when the post is something that trends.  Such instant popularity can lead to pride with one believing they have some special gift or ability.  Proverbs 16:18 reminds us that pride precedes a fall and something to avoid.  Mark 3:7-12 is therefore an example provided by Jesus, warning against allowing pride to enter ministry leading to a fall. 

Narcissism or the belief that it is all about me is a selfish and prideful philosophy.  Much of the divisiveness we observe in culture derives from narcissistic beliefs.  Each side of an issue believes their side is the best and the only view to consider.  This prideful belief ends any possibility of compromise or negotiation, leading to division and lack of cultural progress.  Social media posts that trend feed narcissism through providing the impression one’s view on an issue is trending.  It is time to use some biblical social media etiquette to end the spread of narcissism by God’s people through social media.  To accomplish this God’s people must,

1)      Wait on God (Isaiah 40:31) – Jesus could have used his popularity to start an uprising with the power to overthrow Israel’s Roman oppressors.  However, Jesus understood that his mission was the cross and dying for the sins of humanity.  It will not be till Jesus returns that he will sit on the throne as ruler (Revelation 19:11-16).  By humbly withdrawing from the crowds instead of seeking popularity, Jesus was waiting for God the Father’s plan to unfurl in God’s perfect timing. 

2)      Stay on Mission (Matthew 28:19-20) – The message of the Gospel is both servant and other centered on Christ.  The call of the church is not to seek blessings and good feelings from God but to share the Gospel message that God came to provide redemption to fallen humanity.  Ministries in many churches today do not preach about sin and the need for humanity to repent of their sins.  John the Baptist came to prepare the way of the Lord, declare who Jesus was, and get out of the way so Jesus could minister (Luke 3:3; John 1:29; John 3:30).  The Church must take on the role of John the Baptist in these later days by preparing itself through repentance and learning sound doctrine, declare the truth of God’s Word, and then allow God to minister through the Holy Spirit. 

3)      Do all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31) – When a Church begins to focus on maintaining a facility and providing entertainment and good feelings for its members, it can lose the focus of doing all for the glory of God.  The context of 1 Corinthians 10:31 is a warning against idolatry and abuse of Christian liberty.  Narcissism is a form of idolatry with the church or pastor the idol of worship.  The Corinthian church was guilty of leader worship fueling narcissistic leader behavior that created divisions in the Church (1 Corinthians 1:10-17).  The unifying force in the church is Christ which happens when everything in the church focuses on glorifying God. 

Since salvation is a result of God’s grace and not our efforts (Ephesians 2:8-9), pride in one’s good works is meaningless.  The church and those in ministry must guard against narcissism by waiting on God’s perfect timing, staying on mission of declaring the truth of the Gospel, and doing all for the Glory of God.  To do this the Church must prepare through repentance, declare God’s truth from the pulpit, and get out of the way allowing the Spirit of God to work. 

Deity and Supremacy of Christ

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Colossians 1:19-20

For God was pleased to have
all his fullness dwell in him,
²⁰ and through him to reconcile
everything to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace
through his blood, shed on the cross.

(CSB)

While John 3:16 states that belief in Jesus provides eternal life, it is in the context of a discourse with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews.  The theme of Jesus’ discourse with Nicodemus is one experiencing a new birth of the Spirit that provides forgiveness from sins.  Even demons believe in God and tremble yet they do not experience salvation from God.  John 3:16 is not some magic words that provide eternal life but when viewed in context indicate belief with commitment by someone desiring a transformation in their life (John 3:1-21). 

The thesis and theme of the Book of Colossians is the deity and supremacy of Christ (Colossians 1:15-20).  The Apostle Paul includes this declaration in Colossians perhaps due to reports of false teaching from the report of Epaphras (Colossians 2:8).  Colossians 2:16-19 provides a hint as to what false teaching was trying to knock the Church at Colossae off its Christ-centered focus, attempting to replace the message of grace with legalism.  While one professing a saving belief in Jesus as their savior will experience a transformation in how they live their life (Romans 12:2), forced legalism is not how this transformation occurs.  Prior to Jesus’ birth the law existed but only serves to show us God’s standard and our failure to live up to that standard without the help of Jesus (Romans 7). 

As we progress through our study of the Book of Colossians, we will see how from this thesis, the Apostle Paul provides encouragement to remain Christ-centered in our belief.  The study will define what it means to live a life reconciliated to God through Christ with Paul affirming the purpose of his ministry is declaring and teaching how to be reconciled to Christ (Colossians 1:21-2:3).  After warning against false teaching (Colossians 2:4-23) the teaching encourages a focus on Christ instead of a legalistic focus (Colossians 3:1-4).  Colossians 3:5-4:6 provides specifics on how Christians are to live lives centered on Christ. 

It is important to remember that the Apostle Paul is writing this letter of affirmation about the deity and supremacy of Christ from Jail.  He could have written a scathing letter of rebuke aimed at the Roman government for holding him prisoner for his faith but instead writes about the supremacy of Christ.  Not only is Paul teaching about the virtues of living a Christ-centered life but demonstrates it from a Roman prison. 

The test of whether Christ is supreme in one’s life is how they react in adversity.  Jesus warned us that adversity would come in this world but also reminds us that He has overcome the world (John 16:33).  John 9 records the account of Jesus’ healing a man born blind.  Since the miracle of healing occurred on the Sabbath, the spiritually blind Pharisees focus on the circumstance of when the healing occurred instead of the one healing the man.  As we begin our study of Colossians, may we learn to live lives focused on the deity and supremacy of Jesus the Messiah and not blinded by our circumstances. 

However, before one can fully realize the deity and supremacy of Jesus in their lives, they must accept Jesus as their Messiah.  Romans 10:9-10 teaches that making a declaration of Jesus as Lord accompanied with belief God raised Him from the dead is how one receives salvation.  If you have not done so, I invite you to make this profession of faith 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.

As we progress through the Book of Colossians for the next few Saturdays let us not forget the foundation of the deity and supremacy of Christ.   I encourage those reading this to share this link by email, text, or on social media, inviting others to join in the study.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Good Works or Legalism

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Mark 3:5

After looking around at them with anger, he was grieved at the hardness of their hearts and told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

(CSB)

My mother was a nurse working in a hospital, so it was common for her to work Sundays.  Some would argue that as a Christian one should not take a job working Sundays as that is the Lord’s day, but I remember my mother telling me that people get sick on Sundays as well as the other days of the week.  It is this same attitude of legalism, not allowing any work on the Sabbath,  that Jesus encountered with the Pharisees when he healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath. 

Scripture does not tell us how long the man suffered with a crippled hand only that he had an encounter with Jesus that happened to occur on the Sabbath.  It is possible the man would not have encountered Jesus any other day of the week but only on the Sabbath when Jesus and he would have both been in the synagogue.  However, the strict legalistic Pharisees would have nobody working on the Sabbath and had to make an example of Jesus. 

While Christians are to live in obedience to the Bible, this is not a call to be legalistic in our obedience for that leads to judgmentalism, something Christians are to avoid (Matthew 7:1).  In addition, Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath with the Sabbath made for humanity and not for God (Mark 2:27-28).  The Gospel message is not one of legalism or condemnation but a message of love with Jesus giving His life to save sinners from their sins (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8).  Instead of judging a fellow Christian against biblical rules, Christians should pay attention to their heart attitude while ministering to them.  Jesus heart attitude in healing this man was,

1)      Compassion – I believe the thought of it being the Sabbath was unimportant to Jesus, only the need for healing the man’s shriveled hand.  The Pharisees on the other hand were seeking some charge to levy upon Jesus so they could kill him (Mark 3:2, 6).  This confrontation illustrates the attitude of grace versus the attitude of legalism that continues in the Church.   

2)      Teaching and demonstrating grace – Instead of immediately healing the man, Jesus takes the opportunity to question the Pharisees, asking if it is legal to heal on the Sabbath (Mark 3:2-4).  Jesus’ question placed the Pharisees in a hard place for had they said no, those at the synagogue would have questioned their legalistic attitude.  However, had Jesus agreed with the legalistic rules of the Sabbath and left the man without healing his hand, people would have doubted Jesus love for them.  Jesus healing of the man on the Sabbath was not a violation of God’s law but instead a demonstration of God’s love and grace.

3)      Anger at hardness of heart due to legalism (Mark 3:6) – The only purpose of legalism is making a legalistic person feel holier than others that do now adhere to the letter of the law.  However, this is not condoning law breaking but not using the law as a weapon of condemnation against others.  It was the hardness of the hearts of the Pharisees due to their prideful holier then thou attitude that caused Jesus to have anger towards the Pharisees. 

As a Church, we must ask ourselves if our preaching of the Gospel is legalistic or a message of God’s love and grace.  Let us take a moment to consider some situations the Church could encounter that test our leaning towards grace or legalism. 

1)      A homosexual person visits the church not for a gay wedding but prayer after a diagnosis of HIV.  Would we as a church be like Job’s comforters and preach at him or her about their illness being a consequence of their sinful lifestyle or pray for them sharing the loving message of the Gospel.  I pray the Church would share the love of Christ by praying for them and sharing the message of the Gospel that Jesus came to forgive, not condemn them for their sins.

2)      A homeless person comes into the service on Sunday that is obviously high on drugs or alcohol and in need of medical attention.  Would the church usher the person out of the sanctuary so as not to offend others attending the service or instead minister to their physical needs and arrange for medical attention by calling 911.

My prayer is that the Church would follow Jesus’ example and not treat those coming into the Church with legalistic contempt but instead minister to their needs with the Grace of God.  God loves the person with HIV and he or she is someone God sent His Son to die for and provide forgiveness of their sins, even the sin of homosexuality.  The homeless person has made bad decisions in their life and needs a renewing of their mind that can only happen through coming to know Jesus as their savior (Romans 12:2).  May our churches not be a courtroom passing judgment but instead a hospital where the spiritually sick come for healing. 

Contentment in Adversity

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Philippians 4:12

I know both how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 

(CSB)

The Super Bowl this past Sunday may have been the lowest scoring Super Bowl in history and as such, boring for many, but there is an observation that applies as we conclude our study of Philippians, coolness under pressure.  Tom Brady and the New England Patriot offense was not having a stellar performance.  Granted neither was the offense of the Rams which is why both teams had a chance to win.  However, for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, a loss would have meant losing the Super Bowl two consecutive years, causing many to question whether the dynasty was over.  However, instead of folding or panicking under this pressure, Tom Brady remained cool and managed to put a drive together leading to the games only touchdown, providing victory. 

The Apostle Paul too must have felt pressure as he sits in prison writing to the church in Philippi.  However, instead of expressing anger or frustration at his situation, we see him expressing his contentment.  Jesus told us that adversities in life would come but also reminds us that He overcame the world and is with us to help us overcome adversity (John 16:33).  When in adversity we must,

1)      Not fear (2 Timothy 1:7) – Fear is not from God but something that is part of our fallen nature.  The first thing Adam and Eve did after sinning was trying to hide from God out of fear (Genesis3:9).  This spirit of fear was something planted in humanity because of their disobedience to God and something all humanity since Adam and Eve have inherited.  However, when we are Born Again, we receive the Holy Spirit and faith to rid ourselves of the spirit of fear.  2 Timothy 1:7 is a reminder from the Apostle Paul to his protégé Timothy to allow the Spirit of God in his life to have control, ridding himself of the spirit of fear. 

2)      Not worry (Matthew 6:25-34) – Worry is fear that some calamity will deprive us of what we need in life.  Jesus’ cure for worry and anxiety is to look at how God the Father provides for the birds and flowers in nature and consider how God values us more and wants to provide for us.  God promises to supply all our needs as we generously support the work of spreading the Gospel (Philippians 4:19; Matthew 6:33). 

3)      Trust God (Mark 9:24) – Trust in God goes beyond simply believing in God to surrender to God.  The man that brought his son to Jesus to have Him cast out a demon believed Jesus had the power to cast out the demon or he would not have brought Jesus his son (Mark 9:14-29).  However, the man had doubts about whether Jesus would specifically perform the miracle of casting out the demon for his son.  Finding contentment in adversity involves trusting that God loves us enough to provide for our needs, even if it involves miraculous intervention in our lives. 

Jesus did not promise us a life of ease but instead life in a world full of trouble (John 16:33).  However, in the second half of John 16:33, Jesus reminds us that he has overcome the world through his resurrection from the dead.  The first step to trusting God is to receive His gift of salvation by grace through accepting Jesus as Savior.  If you have not done this, 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, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Instead of reacting with fear and worry when adversity comes, I pray we will begin to react with trust in God who loves us and wants to provide for our needs. 

Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Mark 2:27-28

Then he told them, “The Sabbath was made for^[a] man and not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ So then, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

(CSB)

During the week of creation, God rested on the seventh day declaring it holy (Genesis 2:1-3).  While God is tireless and needs no rest, He was setting an example for humanity to follow.  Helen Meldrum, EdD, studied strategies by successful surgeons with the purpose of finding a strategy for avoiding burnout.  (1)  The study documented strategies involving exploration of personal values and choices, setting limits, time with family and friends, nutrition and exercise, having a healthy outlook on life, and a supportive partner.  However, the study also discovered that true, deep renewal involves time for vacations, travel, and family-life.  While the study is secular, it shows that God’s establishment of the Sabbath as a time of rest has both biblical and scientific support.

The Pharisees in Mark 2:23-28 were not interested in Jesus and His disciple’s health and avoidance of burnout but took the opportunity of the Sabbath to accuse Jesus.  However, Jesus takes the opportunity of their accusation to teach them the true purpose of the Sabbath and who He is. In this passage we learn that,

1)      Gleaning of fields by those on a journey is legal according to Levitical law (Leviticus 23:22) – There is no mention in this passage forbidding gleaning of the fields during the Sabbath.  However, the law of the Sabbath does forbid doing any work leading to the assumption of forbidding gleaning of fields on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:10).  However, Jesus as God, Messiah, and Lord of the Sabbath has authority to allow gleaning of the fields by his hungry Disciples.  Therefore, the Pharisee’s questioning of Jesus allowing the gleaning of the fields by His disciples is more a question of Jesus’ authority then violation of Levitical law.  The Sabbath remained Holy for God Himself allowed the gleaning of the fields on the Sabbath. 

2)      The priest allows David to eat the consecrated bread (1 Samuel 21:1-6) – David, the anointed future King of Israel is fleeing Saul and needs food.  He asks Ahimelech the priest at Nob for five loafs of bread, but the only bread the priest has is the consecrated bread.  The priest allows David to eat the bread as long as his men have kept themselves holy. 

3)      Jesus as prince of peace provides continual rest from sin in the heart of one accepting Jesus as his or her Savior (Hebrews 3:7-4:13) – We typically think of rest as a means of renewing strength when fatigued but the rest spoken of in the law of the Sabbath is cessation of effort.  (2)  All our efforts to achieve righteousness are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).  However, Jesus finished the work needed to provide a right standing with God through the finished work of the cross and the tearing of the veil of the Temple from top to bottom by God (John 19:30; Matthew 27:51).  Our Sabbath rest is when we realize salvation comes through our cessation of efforts to become righteous and reliance on the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9).  If you have yet to experience the rest of God’s grace, I invite you to enter into that rest 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.

To thoroughly enjoy the rest of Jesus as the Sabbath, I encourage reading and studying the Word of God both by reading it regularly and attending a church teaching from the Bible.  I also urge daily praying to the God who has given you rest.  May God bless all reading this. 

1. Helen Meldrum, EdD. Exemplary Physicians' Strategies for Avoiding Burnout. www.wafp.org. [Online] The Health Care Manager, 2010. [Cited: February 4, 2019.] https://www.wafp.org/assets/files/pdfs/wafp_health-well-meldrum_2010_exemplary-strategies-for-avoiding-burnout.pdf.

2. Stedman, Ray C. Jesus is our Sabbath Rest. eee.idolphin.org. [Online] Discovery Publishing. [Cited: February 4, 2019.] http://www.ldolphin.org/sabbathrest.html.

Encouragement, Exhortation, and Prayer Offered from Captivity

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Philippians 4:8

 Finally^[c] brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.

(CSB)

The letter from the Apostle Paul to the Church in Philippi is concluding.  In Philippians 4:2-9 the Apostle Paul offers encouragement, exhortation and prayer to those in Philippi.  Remembering that Paul is offering this from captivity in jail for his faith makes this passage even more remarkable as it demonstrates someone more interested the welfare and wellbeing of others over his or her own. 

The passage begins with urging Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord.  Scripture does not provide any details with Philippians 4:2 the only mention of these individuals in scripture.  One could interpret this passage to mean that these two people had disagreements and should seek resolution of these disagreements through seeking agreement in the Lord.  However, the passage could also be a word of exhortation reminding them not to allow disagreements to divide the church.  Whatever interpretation one gives this scripture, the passage serves to remind the Church live and serve God through agreement in the Lord.  However, Philippians 4:3 leans to the belief these women agreed as their contention for the Gospel is praised. 

Those choosing to make Jesus their savior have a high calling.  The greatest threat to those with this high calling is that they become divided over petty differences, making ministry ineffective.  Euodia and Syntyche are viewed by Paul as examples of serving Christ in unity and not allowing differences which are sure to exist between diverse groups of people render the ministry ineffective (Ephesians 4:1-6).  Rendering of selfish differences that can potentially become wedges of Satan that divide the church are best mitigated through service to others (Matthew 20:20-28).

The passage continues in Philippians 4:4-5 with a call on God’s people to rejoice always.  Notice it does not say to rejoice except for when times are tough but to rejoice always.  If anyone had reason to complain and not rejoice, it would be the Apostle Paul but instead of complaining, we see him urging those in Philippi to continue rejoicing in the Lord.  Rejoicing always provides encouragement to those in the Body of Christ that are in need but also shows those outside the Body of Christ what it means to have total confidence and faith in God.  I imagine those around Paul that daily saw his joy in the Lord found encouragement in how he handled himself while imprisoned.  After all, every believer in Jesus as Savior has hope in the glory of God and eternal life (Romans 5:2-3; John 3:16). 

Paul then urges those in the Church not to worry about anything but instead pray and petition God for help (Philippians 4:6).  Those choosing to take their cares to the Lord as opposed to worry are rewarded with the peace of God (Philippians 4:7).  This peace is more than just a life of tranquility but also a peace that guards our minds and hearts.  Romans 12:2 urges believers in Christ to have a transformed and renewed mind that thinks about (Philippians 4:8),

1)      Truth - God

2)      Honorable things – Things that honor and glorify God

3)      What is just – Thoughts that align with God and His Word

4)      What is pure – Thoughts without sin

5)      Lovely things – thoughts admiring God and the beauty of His creation

6)      Good things – Thoughts without malice

7)      What is moral – Lust for God and not of the flesh (Psalm 42:1)

8)      What is worthy of praise – Thoughts meditating on the things of God worthy of praise.

From these renewed and transformed thoughts we are ready to carry out God’s will in our lives (Philippians 4:9).  May God bless everyone reading this and may the peace of God dwell in everyone’s life.