Finding the Kingdom of God and Eternal Life

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text: Mark 10:13-31

Mark 10:24-26

And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is^[a] to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him,^[b] “Then who can be saved?”

(ESV)

If there is a thesis statement providing the overall theme of the Bible, it would be John 3:16.  This is because it begins with the statement that God loves, not just a certain elect few individuals, but the world.  This includes everyone reading this no matter what your background is.  It also tells us of a giving God that gave the world his most precious thing, His only Son, Jesus.  It also tells us that by believing in Jesus as our Savior, we can experience eternal life.  This single verse is not only the most recognized and memorized verse in the Bible but also summarizes the message of the Gospel and the heart of God. 

While we could leave this posting and move on with just focusing on the message of John 3:16, the text of Mark 10:13-31 provides depth about both the kingdom of God and eternal life.  The text accomplishes this by illustrating two interactions during Jesus’ ministry, His interaction with the disciples regarding people bringing their children to Him and a rich young man.  Let us begin by looking at the interactions with the disciples. 

As was customary wherever Jesus went, a crowd has gathered.  However, this crowd is not seeking Jesus for healing or teaching and instead, bringing their children to Jesus so He might touch them.  The fact that they want Jesus to touch their children implies they may have required healing or the casting out of demons which were usually why people sought to have Jesus touch them (Mark 10:13).  However, the reaction of rebuke by the disciples may indicate that the people were bringing their children to Jesus just to meet Him (Mark 10:14).  The disciples might have viewed this as the people wasting Jesus’ time, time he could have used to heal or cast out demons.  Jesus’ indignation indicates His desire to meet these children for they need Jesus just as much as the adults (Mark 10:14; Romans 3:23).  However, Jesus uses this occasion to teach that we all must approach Him like these children (Mark 10:15-16).  These children are totally dependent on the adults in their lives and blessed to have adults in their life who understand their need to meet Jesus.  We must all be thankful for those in our lives, whether they were our parents or someone else, that introduced us to Jesus.  Jesus’ illustration to the disciples is a lesson that we all must approach Jesus like these children did who would have viewed Jesus as another adult in their life they could depend on.  However, Jesus is not just any adult but an adult these children may have seen perform miracles of healing and casting out of demons. 

Mark 10:17-31 records the account of Jesus’ interaction with a wealthy man.  The man approaches Jesus by calling Him a “good teacher” and asking what he must do to inherit eternal life (Mark 10:17).  Jesus could have told this man the same thing he told Nicodemus (John 3:16).  However, Jesus knew this man had an idol in his life that stood between him and intimacy with God, his attachment to his wealth.  I must pause at this point to remind us to take this passage in context and not use it as Jesus condemning one having wealth for it was not this man’s wealth that separated him from eternal life and entrance into the kingdom of God but his attachment to it (1 Timothy 6:10). 

Jesus’ interaction with this young man was offering Him an opportunity to detach from his wealth and enter into a relationship with God that would result in his inheriting eternal life and becoming part of the kingdom of God.  In this interaction, we see Jesus first asking the man if he has obeyed six of the Ten Commandments (Mark 10:19).  These six commandments are the commandments about how we are to interact with others.  The man responds by acknowledging he has been obedient to these commands, possibly believing he had already done what is necessary to inherit eternal life and entrance into the kingdom of God.  However, Jesus looks upon the man lovingly and tells him he lacks one thing.  By asking the man to share his wealth with others, Jesus is testing the man's obedience to the other four Commandments of having no other gods, loving his neighbor, not having any idols, and honoring God (Mark 10:21).  Sadly, the fact that the man became disheartened and walked away illustrates he was not prepared to detach from the idol of wealth in his life. 

In Jesus’ discourse with the disciples after His interaction with the young man, he uses the illustration of a camel passing through the eye of a needle (Mark 10:23-25).   Jesus’ use of something physically impossible causes the disciples to interpret Jesus saying no one can be saved (Mark 10:26).  However, Jesus was not saying it is impossible to be saved but instead that it is possible with God, something He would accomplish on the cross (Mark 10:27).  Peter responds with telling Jesus He and his fellow disciples have left everything to follow Jesus to which Jesus responds with reminding them they will receive a reward both in this life and eternal life as part of the kingdom of God (Mark 10:28-31). 

Finding the kingdom of God and inheriting eternal life begins with receiving God’s justification and not His judgment (John 3:16-17).  To accomplish this one must take the first step of coming to Jesus with the attitude of a child knowing he or she has sinned, facing death, and in need of a savior (Romans 3:23; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8).  If you are reading this and have not taken this first step, 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.

I encourage everyone reading this to not be like the young man and run from God when he asks us to rid our lives of some idol and instead to respond as a child out of obedience and dependence to do what God wants you to do.  I am saying this as one who also has idols in his life that God is convicting me to abandon so I can have closer intimacy with God as part of the transformative process of Romans 12:2.  May God bless everyone reading this. 

Identity in Christ: I am a Child of God

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text: John 1:12; 1 John 3:1

1 John 3:1

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

(ESV)

If an alien were to visit our world right now, they would say that these people are on a mission of self-destruction due to their extreme hatred for each other.  The root cause of this hatred is identification with the philosophies and beliefs of a fallen world that blinds people to their identity as creations of God created with the purpose of serving Him.  The main consequence of the fall of humanity in the Garden was a loss of identity as children of God.  Thankfully, God has sent His Son Jesus to redeem our identity as a child of God by believing and receiving Jesus as our savior (John 1:12; John 3:16). 

This world looks at outward appearances like physical looks, accomplishments, education, talents, and abilities.  Focus on these things may bring temporary joy and happiness when things are going well in our lives, but this joy and happiness are only temporary for these things will eventually fail us.  There is always someone better looking with greater accomplishments, education, talents, and abilities than us.  However, Jesus does not look at outward appearances, accomplishments, education, talents, or abilities but what is in one’s heart (1 Peter 3:4). 

The challenge for each of us that believe in Jesus as our savior is to find our identity in who we are to Jesus and not what the world thinks of us.  Jesus reminded His Disciples that what we treasure in our hearts is where our treasure is (Matthew 6:21).  My prayer for all reading this is that they would search their hearts and rid themselves of earthly treasures and spend time with God in prayer, the study of the Bible, and meditation on Scripture to develop a new identity as a child of God. 

The anger and strife in our world have their roots in misplaced identity.  Instead of identifying with Christ, many in our world identify with a political philosophy that like anything other than Christ will lead to disappointment.  Those in the political establishment view President Trump as an outsider disrupting the political system from which they have derived power.  Those supporting Trump view him as a leader bringing needed transformation to the country and the political establishment as a force attempting to derail President Trump’s policies that are making America great again.  The result of this disappointment on both sides is anger and divisiveness. 

The identity of those choosing Jesus as their savior is a child of God.  Revelation 21:1-8 describes the future of humanity after the millennial reign of Christ as a New Jerusalem coming down to a recreated earth from heaven.  Just as it was in the Garden of Eden when God walked on Earth with Adam and Eve, God will once again dwell on earth with humanity.  Revelation 21:4 tells us that God will wipe away every tear, death will be no more, and that there will be no more mourning, crying, or pain. 

Jesus reminds us that our heart is in whatever we treasure (Matthew 6:21).  The question each person must ask is if they treasure the created things, people, and systems of the world for happiness and joy, or do they trust God with the promise of eternal and lasting joy and happiness.  The choice is obvious, the eternal joy and happiness of an identity as a child of God.  However, even a child of God struggles with the flesh and its love of created things as a means of achieving joy and happiness, something even the Apostle Paul struggled with (Romans 7:15).  Therefore every believer in Christ must practice the spiritual disciplines of prayer, Bible study, meditation on scripture, and fellowship with other children of God to keep a Christ-centered focus. 

However, those outside of the family of God who are cowardly and faithless because they have not made Jesus their savior have a future in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).  This is not God’s plan for anyone for God does not want anyone to perish but allows one to chose condemnation over eternal life and freedom from condemnation through Christ (John 3:16-18; 2 Peter 3:9).  If you are reading this and have never accepted Jesus as your savior, I invite you to do the most courageous and faithful act one can do and pray with me now to 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, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

You now have a new identity as a child of God (John 1:12; 3:1; Revelation 2:17).  I encourage you to become familiar with your new identity through prayer, study, and meditation on the Bible, and being with other children of God by finding a Church teaching the Bible that worships God.  Next Saturday we will look at our identity as a friend of Christ (John 15:13-15). 

Testing Jesus

By:  Dale Weckbacher   

Text:  Mark 10:1-12

Mark 10:2

 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

(ESV)

One of the main problems with the study of a book of the Bible from beginning to end is encountering a sensitive topic like the topic of Mark 10:1-12.  Divorce is a sensitive subject that impacts many people in the world.  The divisiveness that occurs when two individuals vowing to be together till death separate through divorce leaves emotional scars on the man and woman divorcing, their children, friends, and family.  However, while the topic of this text is divorce, what is really happening is the testing of Jesus once again by the Pharisees. 

As often happens in the ministry of Jesus, he moves to a new area and is immediately confronted by a crowd.  However this time the crowd is not people seeking ministry, but Pharisees seeking to entrap Jesus so they can accuse him of heresy.  The entrapping question is whether it is lawful for a man to divorce his wife.  While God intends marriage to continue till the death of one of the spouses, the fact that the Levitical law makes provision for it three times (Leviticus 21:7; 21:14; 22:13) indicates it was an issue even during the time of Moses.  Rather than answering the question of the Pharisees with a simple yes or no, Jesus encourages them to search the scriptures for what Moses had to say about divorce.  The Pharisees who possessed superior knowledge regarding scripture had no choice but to answer with Moses allowing a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-4).  Jesus replies to their answer by stating that the reason Moses allowed men to divorce their wives was due to the hardness of their hearts.  With this statement, Jesus is letting the Pharisees know that he knows the real reason behind their inquiry regarding divorce,  hard hearts failing to recognize the Messiah.    

Jesus continues by telling His testers that God made male and female persons with the purpose of a man growing-up, leaving his father and mother, and marrying a wife (Mark 10:6-7).  So sacred and dynamic is this union in the eyes of God that God views these two individuals becoming one flesh in a union that man should not separate (Mark 10:8-9).  A summary of Jesus’ teaching in Mark is that God does not condone divorce but out of grace, He makes provision for it in the Levitical law (Leviticus 21:7; 21:14; 22:13) due to the hardness of the hearts of fallen humanity.  The private discourse by Jesus with the disciples provides even greater emphasis on how seriously God views marriage and the consequences of divorce. 

Divorce continues to be an issue in modern culture just as it was in the time of Moses.  While the Levitical law makes provision for divorce, is there a similar provision for divorced individuals in the Church.  In 1 Corinthians 7:10-16, Scripture once again reminds us of God not desiring that a married couple separate in divorce except for an instance where a non-believing spouse leaves a believing spouse.  There is also an exception allowing divorce in cases of adultery (Matthew 5:32; 19:9).  However, these two examples are not due to the hardness of the heart of a believer, but choices by an unbelieving or unfaithful spouse not to honor the sacred vow of marriage.  This illustrates the grace of God in not holding an innocent person to a marriage with a non-believer or unfaithful spouse. 

However, what about divorced couples, divorcing due to other reasons?  Does God’s grace still apply in these instances?  Romans 8:1 reminds those believing and placing their faith in Christ that they are not under condemnation.  Just as God extended grace to those seeking a divorce in the Old Testament due to the hardness of their heart, God extends grace to divorced believers and does not place them under condemnation.  This is because God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17). 

However, our culture, including the culture within the Church can be ruthless and judgmental.  Matthew 7:1-5 tells believers not to judge others because when we do, we invite judgment upon ourselves for mistakes and sins in our lives.  This includes judging divorced people.  Instead, the community of believers should pray for one another because prayer has great power in the lives of both ourselves and those we pray for (James 5:16).  Instead of judging and condemning divorced people, let us lift them up in prayer as they must deal with the consequences of divorce, including any self-condemnation. 

The Pharisees have once again failed in their attempt to trap Jesus into making some statement that goes against the doctrines of scripture.  Instead, Jesus provides clarification on the issue of divorce, reminding us of the sacredness of marriage, and dire consequences of divorce.  However, divorced people are not second-class citizens in the Church for like all of us, they have sin in their lives but also have the mercy and grace of God.  I urge everyone reading this to pray for divorced people, including yourself if that applies, for divorced people are loved by God.   

The Hope of a Glorious Future

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Test: Joel 3:17-21

Joel 3:20

But Judah shall be inhabited forever,
    and Jerusalem to all generations.

(ESV)

While it is easy to become discouraged looking at the state of affairs in our world, the Bible provides a vision of a glorious future for those choosing to believe and follow God.  In our study of Joel, we have seen the people of Judah experience the devastating destruction of an attack of locust (Joel 1:1-12).  Joel’s prophecy is a call for Israel to repent after this attack (Joel 1:13-20).  Joel’s prophecy continues by telling of the Day of the Lord, a day of darkness and gloom (Joel 2:2).  However, Joel does not leave Judah in a day of doom and gloom and in this text promises a glorious future (Joel 3:17-21).  This promise of a glorious future is not limited to the people of Judah with God promising eternity with God in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 to all who believe in Christ. 

Therefore, it is not necessary for God’s people to live in despair over the events occurring in the world, but to find comfort in knowing there is a glorious future in store for God’s people.  However, times of despair will come and when they do, we must,

1)      Turn off the negative – The news is mostly negative and carries thoughts of hopelessness and despair.  Any hope in the news is the promotion of a politician or political ideology that has all the answers, which is setting up an idol that will disappoint us.  Part of the transformation in Romans 12:2 is a transformation from thinking the answers to society’s problems come from the political system created by man and flawed human politicians and seeking answers from God. 

2)      Turn to the promises of God – To experience transformation to a godly worldview we must have an encounter with God through His Word.  God’s people must become spiritually disciplined through study and meditation of the Bible, prayer, and unity of the fellowship of Christians. 

3)      Turn on the light of Christ in our lives – A spiritually disciplined church is a powerful transformative force in the world as it shines bright with the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

While there is a glorious future in store for the people of God, many may not experience this future due to not turning their lives over to God by accepting His gift of salvation.  God loves all people so much He sent His Son Jesus who knew no sin to die for sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).  This is because God is just and since we have all sinned and the penalty of sin is death, someone had to die (Romans 3:23; 6:23a).  This substitute for the death penalty we all deserve is Jesus, God’s gift of grace to humanity (Romans 6:23b).  However, just like a gift we receive for our birthday or at Christmas, one must open it to enjoy it.  Therefore, I invite anyone that has not opened this gift of God’s salvation 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.

Congratulations, you now share in the glorious future God has for humanity.  However, this does not mean life will be easy or free from struggle for Jesus Himself told us that life would have struggles, something He can relate to due to the struggles He endured while on earth (John 16:13).  While these struggles can be painful, they prepare us for the glorious future God has in store for all that choose to make Jesus their savior (Romans 5:1-11).  This hope of a glorious future with God is what gives strength as we endure the struggles of life.

In this study of the Book of Joel, we have seen the grace of God at work in Judah as God brings an attack of Locust to bring Israel to repentance and restoration with God.  Through the path of struggle, Judah receives God’s mercy and grace with God promising them a glorious future.  Our lives can too have a happy ending just like the Book of Joel by repenting of the sin that separates us from God and accepting God’s merciful gift of salvation through Jesus.  Next Saturday, we will begin a topical study of verses in the Bible that define our new identity as believers in Jesus as our savior.  Please invite your friends to follow the teaching by sharing the link to this blog.  May God bless all reading this post. 

The Seriousness of Sin

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 9:42-50

Mark 9:47-48

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸ ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

(ESV)

Preaching about sin is not a popular topic in many churches today but the main topic of Mark 9:42-50.  In this text Jesus offers illustrations that demonstrate the seriousness of sin.  A word of caution, the illustrations of this text are symbolic and not literal, so Jesus is not telling people to cut off their hands, feet, or pluck out their eyes.  Instead, these illustrate the seriousness with which God takes sin.  However, God extends grace to humanity with the message of the Gospel that provides the bridge between a just God and a gracious God. 

The original sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden not only caused eviction from the Garden but also created a rift between humanity and God.  The first indication of the magnitude of this rift is Adam and Eve realizing they were naked.  This nakedness is not just the absence of clothing but the exposure of evil in their hearts.  Typical of people caught in sin, they attempt to cover it up instead of dealing with it (Genesis 3:1-7).  God, however, has another covering in mind, the blood of His Son symbolized by the covering of the skins he provided to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21).  To provide this covering, God had to kill an animal requiring the shedding of blood establishing the doctrine that without the shedding of blood, there can be no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22).  When the Church fails to teach about the seriousness of sin, it is placing the a leaf on sin instead of applying the shed blood of Christ. 

However, sin is not a club of fear a preacher uses to coerce people into accepting Christ or giving the church money to receive forgiveness from God.  This is legalism or works-based righteousness with the congregation living in fear of committing some sin that eternally separates them from God.  Even when God and humanity became separated in the Garden of Eden, God issued a promise of grace through a savior that would defeat the serpent and forgive their sins (Genesis 3:15).  We now know that the savior was Jesus who said, “it is finished” (John 19:30) meaning our debt of sin was paid in full from the cross.  Preaching against sin is not a club to beat people into submission but something convicting to the conscience that directs people to their need for a savior.  However, failure to preach about sin out of fear of offending those in the congregation guilty of covering their sin cheats them of an opportunity to take off their fig leaf covering up for sin and put on the covering of the broken body and shed blood of Christ.  This is sadly the liberal Gospel preached in many churches today resulting in weak Christians who profess Jesus as Savior but do not demonstrate change in their lives.  The balance of legalism and liberalism in the church is the Gospel. 

Jesus’ symbolic illustrations of the need to cut off hands, feet, or remove eyes that cause us to sin illustrate the hatred God has for sin (Mark 9:42-50).  However, His death on the cross, even though he had no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), illustrates God's love and attitude of grace towards humanity.  The power of the resurrection demonstrates the stepping on the head of the serpent by the seed of the woman, Jesus, making it possible for people to live in victory over sin.

Sin is a serious issue punishable by death (Romans 6:23).  Sin is also present in the life of every individual meaning we all have separation from God (Romans 3:23).  Left in this state, humanity has no hope but God, Genesis 3:15 promised to provide a substitute for our death penalty, his only Son Jesus (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).  However, to cross the rift of separation from God due to sin, people must accept the substitute death of Jesus for God respects our freedom to choose.  If you have never accepted this gift, I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

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

You have now crossed the bridge of the Gospel reconnecting you with God.  I now encourage you to let others know about what God has done for you by sharing this post and letting them know what has happened in your life.  Sin is a serious issue with God, but God is not interested in condemning people to eternal separation from Him but has provided a savior to bridge the rift of sin and restore His relationship with humanity.  May God bless all reading this and may you have a life-changing encounter with God in your life. 

A Refuge of Joy in Times of Trouble

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Joel 3:1-16

Joel 3:16

The Lord roars from Zion,
    and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
    and the heavens and the earth quake.
But the Lord is a refuge to his people,
    a stronghold to the people of Israel.

(ESV)

James 1:2 tells us to have joy when trials come upon us.  This verse can be troubling, especially for anyone facing a major trial in their life.  James 1:3-4 goes on to tell us that these trials of our faith produce strong and steadfast faith, but it is still difficult to think of having joy while in the middle of a trial.  Part of the issue with this verse is our equating joy with happiness leading to a belief this verse is telling us to be happy and not sad during a trial.  However, the opposite of joy is not sadness but hopelessness, so this verse is not telling us to be happy and not sad in a trial but instead to not lose hope.  Therefore, James 1:2 is reminding us to place our hope in God during a trial and have joy in the Lord and not hopeless despair. 

The nation of Israel has just suffered a devastating loss due to an attack of locusts.  This great loss could lead to the nation totally abandoning God viewing faith in God as something hopeless but God wants them to have hope and inspires Job to proclaim the prophecy of Joel 3:1-16.  Enemies continue to surround Israel today, so the promise of God bringing judgment upon these enemies still brings comfort.  When facing a trial, it is important for the people of God to,

1)      Read and meditate on the Word of God (Joshua 1:8) – Today, the people of God have something Israel did not have in Joel’s time, easy access to the Word of God.  However, if God’s people wallow in the misery of the trial and do not open the Bible to read and meditate on the promises of God, they will go down the path of despair and hopelessness.  Times of trial are dark times needing light, the light of God’s Word so we can have direction through the trial (Psalm 119:105). 

2)      Repent of any sin in our lives (Isaiah 1:27; Ezekiel 14:6; 18:30; Matthew 3:8)  – Everyone Reading this and the one writing it has sinned and missed the mark with God.  The path back to the restoration of one’s connection with God was constructed through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 10:9-10).  However, even the best road us useless unless one gets on the road.  The onramp to the path of reconciliation with God is repentance.  Through repentance, we receive redemption with God, not by justice but by righteousness (Isaiah 1:27; Ezekiel 18:30).  Through repentance, we turn from idols or anything in our lives that have more importance than God (Ezekiel 14:6).  By taking the onramp of repentance, we can lead fruitful lives (Matthew 3:8; Galatians 5:22-23).  God promised to restore what the locust had destroyed in Israel but only as they took the onramp of repentance (Joel 2:25).  If sin is the source of trials in our lives, we must repent and experience restoration of our connection with God. 

3)      Refocus on who God is and what He has done for us (Psalm 66:5-7; John 1:1-18; 1 John 3:1) – When facing a trial we can either dwell on the trial and become bitter or turn to God remembering who He is and what He has done.  To keep from going into hopelessness and despair it is important to refocus on God.  For the Israelites, the common memory of who God is and what He has is the parting of the Red Sea (Psalm 66:5-7).  For Christians, it is focusing on the fact that God came to fallen humanity in the flesh and took upon himself the death penalty for their sins (John 1:14; Romans 5:8).  In a trial, it is also important to focus on the fact that we are called the children of God (1 John 3:1).

4)      Rejoice in the knowledge we are sons and daughters of God and that He has our best interests at heart (Jeremiah 29:11) – From the focus on becoming a child of God because of what Jesus has done, we can have assurance that the trial we find ourselves in is part of God’s plan and not going to destroy us (Jeremiah 29:11). 

Trials do not bring happiness and often bring sadness.  However, for the child of God, there can still be joy as there is still hope in knowing God remains in control of our lives and is allowing this trial to produce stronger faith (James 1:3-4).  However, to become a child of God and have this hope, we must accept the gift of God’s grace by making Jesus our savior.  If you have never done this, 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, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Jesus reminds us that trials will come into our lives but goes on to remind us that He has overcome the world (John 16:25).  As children of God we may experience sadness and a lack of happiness due to trials in our lives but this does not need to rob us of our joy for our joy is in the Lord and what he has done for us.  May God bless all reading this. 

Preparing to Act in a Manner That Brings Revival

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text: Mark 9:38-41

Mark 9:39-40

But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. ⁴⁰ For the one who is not against us is for us.

(ESV)

Unfortunately, much of the growth occurring in many churches today is not actual growth, but a transfer of members from one church body to another.  While this may provide an increase of numbers for one church or gathering of believers in Christ, it also means another church body is experiencing a decline in numbers.  While argument that the decline of numbers is due to not teaching biblical truth, it is also possible this transference of membership occurs because of people under conviction of truthful teaching running from it to a safe place where the teaching does not convict them of their sin.  It is important for believers in Christ to put down roots in a church fellowship and for churches to stop competing with each other for members and instead focus on spreading the message of the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  However, while Jesus' final words before ascending to God the Father are a unified purpose to spread the Gospel and make disciples, the way the church accomplishes this purpose varies from congregation to congregation.  This is the form of the church which adapts to the culture of the time and location in which the church functions. 

The text of Mark 9:38-41 begins with John mentioning to Jesus that he had observed others casting out demons in the name of Jesus.  John mentions that the disciples tried to stop them because they were not part of the group with Jesus and His Disciples.  Jesus tells the Disciples not to stop these other ministers, reminding the Disciples that they are all part of the same team even though they do not wear the uniform of the twelve.  The church today wears many uniforms (i.e. Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Pentecostal, non-denominational, etc.), but must function and grow through spreading the Gospel and making disciples of the lost in our culture.  This is the growth in the church that will bring about revival and godly cultural transformation in society.  Not only must the Church act, but it must also unify by,

1)      Repenting of internal competition for members creating division – the attitude of John regarding others ministering in Jesus' name is similar to the attitude of the disciples in  Mark 9:33-37 where they arguing over who would be the greatest.  The difference this time is an attitude that their group was superior to others because they had Jesus with them while the others could only minister in the name of Jesus.  What John and the other disciples are failing to recall is Jesus telling them twice that he was going to die, resurrect from the dead, and leave (Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31).  This means that a time was coming when no group ministering would be able to claim to have Jesus with them physically, meaning all will minister in the name of Jesus.  If anything, the group ministering in the name of Jesus is getting a head start on how the Church will minister after Jesus goes to be with His father.  For the Church to act effectively, they must begin by repenting of competing with each other and unify with the purpose of spreading the Gospel.

2)      Developing intimacy with Christ to become lighthouses for God and the Gospel – There is a difference between knowing of God, and personally knowing God.  Even the Devil and demons know about God and tremble (James 2:19).  It is not until knowing God becomes internalized that one develops an intimacy with God that will create transformation in their lives.  This transformation is so dynamic it causes a change in one’s behavior away from conformity to the world and conformity to God and His Word (Romans 12:2).  This differs from legalistic conformity to God’s Word by one knowing of God and deciding to live in obedience to the Bible because it is conformity out of love for God and not forced upon someone.  It is from this level of intimacy with God that one develops a deep desire to act and take part in spreading the Gospel.

3)      Focusing on essential doctrine and not allowing non-essential differences to distract from the mission of the Church – The essential doctrine of the Church and the Gospel is contained in Ephesians 4:4-6 and are belief in one body or a unified church; one Spirit; one Lord; one faith; one baptism; one God and Father of all.  Any body of believers not aligning with these essential beliefs is not part of the church, the Bride of Christ.  However, other beliefs such as what day of the week to worship, what style of music to have in services, how one must dress when attending services are not items defining whether a gathering of believers is a church but forms of worship.  Churches can also divide and compete over non-essential doctrine like if the rapture occurs before, during, or after the Great Tribulation, whether people still speak in tongues, etc. are items the church can discuss but should not become a shiny object of distraction taking the focus off the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

4)      Working together – The power of the Bride of Christ is when the church works together.  I remember as a child attending a Billy Graham crusade and amazed at the thousands of people attending.  These people came from several churches with many making decisions for Christ at the crusade.  This is an example of what can occur when the Church puts aside its differences over non-essential things and unifies around bringing the lost to the Lord.  However, it does not need to take a crusade for this to happen, only a decision between church leaders to work together in spreading the Gospel. 

A world in need of revival needs a church united in bringing them the Gospel.  Satan has always had a strategy of separating people and groups of people away from what God wants them to do.  I pray that the Church would end divisive competition for members and needless divisive arguments over non-essentials and focus on the essentials of the Gospel (Ephesians 4:4-6).  This is how the Church prepares to act as the church did in the Book of Acts. 

The Church must A.C.T.

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Joel 2:28-32

Joel 2:28-29

“And it shall come to pass afterward,
    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    your old men shall dream dreams,
    and your young men shall see visions.
²⁹ Even on the male and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

(ESV)

The ugliness and hatred in the world seem to be increasing at an alarming rate.  As a Christian dedicated to bringing the Gospel to the lost in the world, this creates a sense of urgency for with each passing day, the world moves closer to the coming “Day of the Lord.”  While the text of Joel 2:28-32 has as its primary purpose the provision of hope to Judah who is recovering from a destructive locust attack, it also provides hope and a sense of urgency for the church as the Day of the Lord approaches (Acts 2:1-21).  However, the text is also a call to action for the Church to become a transformative force in the World.  As the day of the Lord approaches, the Church must A.C.T. by,

1)      Allowing the Holy Spirit to work fill the hearts of each believer (Joel 2:28-29) – While the Book of Joel is considered a minor prophet due to the brevity of the book, Joel 2:28-29 is a powerful passage that found fulfillment and was referred to by Peter in Acts 2:1-21.  Just 50 days prior to this event, the Apostle Peter denied knowing Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75) and yet we now see him speaking boldly about Jesus (Acts 2:14-41).  These changes in the life of Peter occurred because he saw the risen Lord and received forgiveness (John 21:1-19).  Peter had also just received the power of the Holy Spirit in his life, empowering him to minister (Acts 1:8).  For the church to become a transforming force in the world it must have a renewed encounter with the risen Lord and empowerment from the Holy Spirit.   

2)      Connecting but not compromising with the world – When one asks Jesus into their heart, they are not immediately ushered into the Lord’s presence but instead remain with the calling to engage the lost in the world with the Gospel message (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  Unfortunately, far too few Christians boldly engage the world with the Gospel out of fear they may revert to their lifestyle prior to receiving Christ into their hearts, rejection by friends and family, or persecution.  Even though Jesus was only addressing the eleven in Mark, the spreading of the message of the Gospel did not end with the death of the last Apostle but continues because the Lord does not want any to perish (2 Peter 3:9).

3)      Train through prayer and the study of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15) – One of the people at my church recently made a rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon.  For those not living in Arizona, this entails starting at the tip of one rim of the canyon, hiking to the bottom of the canyon, and climbing up the rim on the opposite side.  The dimensions of the Grand Canyon are around 18 miles across and one mile deep, so this is a major hike and not for the faint of heart.  It is also not something one wakes up one morning and decides to do without any training.  Regular study of the Bible is the training regimen all believers in Christ should involve themselves in.  Those that have given their lives to Jesus that practice diligence in the study of God’s Word are called His disciples (John 8:31).  Through this regular training regimen, a believer’s spiritual body becomes strong, equipping them to face any persecution or challenge they encounter as they act doing their part in furthering the spread of the Gospel. 

For far too long the Church has been a passive force in society hiding behind an appearance of moral superiority.  While believers in Jesus as their savior should grow to live by a higher moral standard, the calling of the church is simple, declaring the message that God came to earth in human form and took upon Himself the sins of humanity, rising from the dead in demonstration of victory over death to restore humanity’s broken relationship with God.  May the Body of Christ, the Church, act by allowing the Holy Spirit to empower them and provide counsel, connecting and not compromise with the world modeling the life of Christ who lived in the world without sin, and training in the gymnasium of God’s Word to be strong in spiritual battle.  May God bless all reading this post. 

The Three C’s of Godly Servant Leadership

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 9:30-37

Mark 9:35

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

(ESV)

The model of servant leadership is gaining prevalence not only in Christian leadership but also in the secular world.  This is both amazing and refreshing to see as it further demonstrates the practical nature of the teaching and theology of scripture and its application in the daily lives of people.  However, even the biblical concept of a servant leader is powerless and ineffective when it becomes disconnected from the greatest servant leader ever, Jesus Christ.  Revival can only come to our world as God’s people serve the lost as Jesus came to serve, not by dying for their sins, but by sharing the message that the Son of God, Jesus, has already died for their sins and ready to forgive them. 

The text of Mark 9:30-37 begins with Jesus once again sharing that He will be delivered into the hands of men who will kill Him (Mark 9:31).  However, as a demonstration of His victory over sin and death, Jesus also shares that three days after his murder, He will rise from the dead.  Unfortunately, the Disciples do not understand the meaning of Jesus’ message (Mark 9:32).

The Disciples lack discernment that Jesus must first die on the cross to provide forgiveness of sin (Romans 5:8).  While we cannot definitively know what was happening in the minds of the Disciples, their lack of understanding could have contributed to their wrongful discernment that after the resurrection, Jesus would march into Rome and take over.  This belief that Jesus would establish some new world order of government after His resurrection could have contributed to the argument as each of the twelve is jockeying for a position of prominence in this new government (Mark 9:33-34).  Jesus as God was aware of the conversation of the Disciples and knew he must introduce the concept of the servant leadership as the Disciples would not become deputies in a new world order or government, but leaders of the Church charged with spreading the news of the Gospel (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  The three C’s of servant leadership for the Church involve,

1)      Communion with God – The Disciples had something we do not have, direct physical communion with God through Jesus Christ.  The thought of losing this communion with the death of Jesus was probably devastating to them.  However, Jesus also told them that He would rise from the dead in three days.  Not wanting to lose this communion again, the disciples may have begun jostling for a position close to Jesus.  However, even though the Disciples experienced physical communion with God through Jesus, we have something they did not have, the complete canon of Scripture.  Since the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) believers in Christ also have the power of the Holy Spirit within them to carry out the mission of the Church (Romans 8:11).  This is the fulfillment of what Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4:23 with believers having the truth of the Bible and the Holy Spirit empowering them to be spiritually empowered servant leaders through spiritual and truthful communion with God.

2)      Child-like belief (Mark 9:36-37) – Jesus’ use of the example of a child illustrates the need for believers not to seek supremacy over others but to accept all that desire to come to Christ with a child-like belief.  There is no need for one to possess complete theological knowledge of truth to receive salvation, only the belief and trust of a child.  Christ-centered servant leaders must receive all coming to the church seeking Christ not from a position of moral superiority but through remembering that we too once came to Christ with the innocence of child-like belief. 

3)      Commitment -  The motivation of a believer and follower of Christ must not be to achieve some high position in the Church but instead serve others as they serve Christ, providing spiritual leadership that points others to a relationship with Christ.  This begins as one initially comes to Christ with a child-like belief to receive forgiveness from sin and adoption into the family of God and continues through communion with God through the study of the Bible, prayer, and being with other believers on a regular basis.  I want to invite anyone that has not previously approached God with a child-like belief to receive forgiveness from sin 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.

I encourage those that just prayed to continue serving God through communion with God through Bible study, prayer, and regular connection with other believers.  I also encourage you to serve others by sharing what Jesus has done for you so they too can have communion with God.  We can all have a role in bringing revival to the world through serving Christ and others by sharing the message of the Gospel and what Jesus has done for us (John 3:16).