God’s Commission: Equipped, Encouraged, Empowered.

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Joshua 1:1-9

Joshua 1:2

“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.

(ESV)

Matthew 28:19-20 represents Jesus’ final instructions to the Church as He is about to leave to be with the Father.  This parallels what Joshua experienced with the death of Moses as the responsibilities of ministry now fall upon him.  In each instance, the successor(s) are asked to continue the work of their predecessor.  For the disciples this involves making disciples through evangelization evidenced by water baptism, equipping them through teaching the commands of God contained in the Bible, encouragement that God is always with them, and empowerment through the Holy Spirit. 

The same four E’s of discipleship are present in God’s commission of Joshua as we see a belief in God by Joshua through serving as a dedicated assistant of Moses (Joshua 1:1).  God then equips Joshua through giving him a calling to lead the people into the Promised Land, encouraging Joshua to lead through study, meditation, and obedience to the Word of God, and empowerment knowing the Lord will be with him wherever he goes.  While the commission of Jesus in both Mark 16:15 and Matthew 28:19-20 was given to the eleven Disciples, the spreading of the Gospel and the disciples made by it continue in the Church to this day.  Every believer in Jesus as their Savior has a calling to participate in the spreading of the Gospel and just like Joshua, must have the courage to,

1)      Serve within our calling from God based upon our gifts (Joshua 1:6; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11) – Both Joshua and Caleb demonstrated an ability to see beyond the challenges of a situation to a belief God could overcome the challenges (Numbers 13:25-33; Numbers 14:5-9).  Both Joshua and Caleb possess the gift of faith (1 Corinthians 12:9) believing God has the power to overcome enemies that appear overpowering.  David also demonstrated this gift as he faced Goliath (1 Samuel 17:31-37).  Those in ministry will face challenges that could even be life-threatening as they were for the early church, but God has equipped each believer with a unique set of spiritual gifts.  The key is for each believer to find their gifts through wise counsel from elders in the church (1 Timothy 4:14-15). 

2)      Live spiritually disciplined lives in obedience to God and His Word (Joshua 1:7-8) – God encourages Joshua to be strong and very courageous by being careful to do according to all the Law of God given to Moses and passed on to Joshua as his assistant.  Not only does God’s Word bring encouragement (Psalm 1:1-2) to a believer as they minister but also equips them to know the path of their ministry and service to God (Psalm 119:105).  The courage Joshua would receive as he meditated on and obeyed the Word of God would bring him success as he faced the many enemies currently occupying the Promised Land.   

3)      Know God is with us for his Spirit lives within us (Joshua 1:9) – Joshua would find courage through knowing God would be with him wherever he went (Joshua 1:9).  While this seems simple to do, when in a crisis or facing a challenge, it is not our natural reaction with us instead, believing we are alone and must solve the problem using our abilities or gifts.  We can also begin believing we can solve a problem based upon past experience, something Joshua will encounter with Ai (Joshua 7:1-9) with Joshua not inquiring of the Lord first and having the Lord reveal the sin of Achan.  No matter how much we may believe we can handle a situation without first inquiring of God, it is always wise to inquire of God, making Him part of what we do.  This is even more important in ministry. 

Followers or disciples of Christ go through a four E process.  The process begins with evangelism as one is convicted of their sins that separate them from God, carrying a death penalty (Romans 3:23; 6:23).  At this point a person has a choice to accept the gift of grace from God that leads to eternal life (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16) or rejection of God’s gift and suffer condemnation (John 3:18).  To accept this gift, one must make a public profession of their belief in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10).  If you have never done so, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me,

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

The process of discipleship does not stop with evangelism but continues as believers in Jesus as their savior are equipped, encouraged, and empowered to participate in the ministry of spreading the Gospel message and making disciples.  Equipping occurs through the discovery of one’s gifting (1 Corinthians 12:1-11) and study and meditation on the Word of God as it enlightens our path (Psalm 119:105).  God’s Word also provides encouragement which for Joshua would have come through studying and meditating on the accounts of how God delivered the Israelites from Egypt.  Empowerment occurs by knowing that God is with us (Acts 1:8).  However, we must not be spectator disciples but active disciples participating in the spreading of the Gospel and making disciples using the unique combination of gifts God has given us.  May God help us get off the bench and into active participation by allowing God to evangelize, equip, encourage, and empower us. 

Waiting: Empowerment and Timing

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Acts 1:1-11

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

(ESV)

As things shut down in our communities begin to open up, we will begin to feel an emotional high as we once again can go out and have a meal, go to Church, and maybe even eventually attend a sporting event or concert in person.  However, as these venues open, there will be restrictions like social distancing, masks, and even temperature checks requiring our patience to provide assurance these venues operate safely.  For Christians, the concept of waiting is nothing new for we must wait for the empowerment (Acts 1:4-5) of the Holy Spirit and God’s timing to minister effectively (Acts 1:6-7). 

The Book of Acts begins with Jesus promising the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:1-5), and the account of The Ascension of Christ (Acts 1:6-11).  This is not the first mention by Jesus of the need for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer and His ascension to be with the Father, for Jesus also mentioned them during his discourse with the Disciples at the Last Supper (John 16:4-15).  The difference in this discourse in the Book of Acts is, 

1)      The disciples have experienced the sorrow of separation from Christ (Luke 23:48-49) – This will not be the first time the disciples have experienced separation from Jesus for they have just experienced a brief separation from Jesus between the crucifixion and resurrection.  The difference this time is the physical separation will be lengthy, continuing to this day, requiring the help of the Holy Spirit who could not come to the disciples, and us, unless Jesus ascended to the Father (John 16:7).  During the coronavirus crisis that separated believers from physical connection with each other, many of us were sorrowful and even wished the Lord would return.  However, that Lord did not return, but we could find comfort in the counsel of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God (John 15:26; Nehemiah 9:20). 

2)      The disciples have seen the risen Lord (Acts 1:3) – Jesus not only appeared to the eleven Apostles but also appeared to 500 during the forty days between His resurrection and ascension (1 Corinthians 15:6).  The Apostle Paul even mentioned that some of these 500 were still alive.  Those listening to Jesus in Acts 1:1-9 now have a different perspective than when Jesus spoke to them at the Last Supper (John 16:4-15), but still do not understand what will happen next, still believing Jesus may march into the palace of their Roman occupiers and restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6).    

3)      The disciples are ready to hear their role after Jesus leaves to be with the Father (Acts 1:8) – Having seen the risen Lord, the Apostles are almost ready to begin their ministry but one thing is lacking, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  While Jesus was with the Apostles, they had the benefit of God with them in the person of Jesus but after Jesus ascends to be with the Father, they will need God with them in the person of the Holy Spirit before beginning their ministries (Acts 1:4,8).  God knows the severe persecution that lies ahead for those choosing to believe in the message of the Gospel and does not want them venturing out lacking the power of God in their ministry.  When Jesus was physically with them that power came from Jesus as God being with them (Matthew 1:23), but they now need another power source, the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. 

Acts 1:1-11 introduces the Book of Acts and lays out the desires of Jesus for His Church.  The Apostles still believe Jesus might restore the kingdom to Israel after the resurrection but are now ready to discover they will have an active role in spreading the message of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (the Gospel) (Mark 16:15) as well as making disciples through sharing the teachings of Jesus they heard during His ministry (Matthew 28:19-20).  This is still the calling of the Church today and now that churches are beginning to open again, this is a great time to refocus on the mission of the church. 

As part of spreading the Gospel message, I want to extend an invitation to anyone reading this who has not accepted Jesus as their personal savior.  If that is you, please pray with me now,

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

While publicly professing a belief in Jesus saves us (Romans 10:9-10), it is just the beginning of a relationship with Christ.  As with any relationship, once introduced we must learn more about our new friend and spend time with them.  All we need to know about God is contained in the Bible but the writings in the Bible can be difficult to understand without some guidance from both the Holy Spirit and spiritually mature believers who have spent time studying the Bible.  Therefore, I encourage everyone who just prayed to begin reading and studying the Bible and find a local church teaching the Bible.  We also must spend time with other believers in Christ, found at a local church, since trouble will come in everyone’s life, including those believing in Jesus, for support to get through any crisis (John 16:33).  May God bless everyone reading this post and please invite your friends and family to read this post on Wednesdays as we study the Book of Acts and discover the role of the Church in spreading the Good News of the Gospel. 

Thirsting for God

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Psalm 143

Psalm 143:5-6

I remember the days of old;
    I meditate on all that you have done;
    I ponder the work of your hands.
⁶ I stretch out my hands to you;
    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. 

(ESV)

As things begin to return to normal in many parts of the United States and the world, the scars, and consequences of what has occurred during the coronavirus crisis remain.  There are the physical scars of those who contracted the disease or know someone who did and possibly died as a result.  There are the emotional scars of separation from friends or family due to the need to shelter in place or live under quarantine.  There are also the economic scars caused by the loss of a job or business with little prospects of finding another one or seeing retirement savings disappear in a volatile market.  However, there are also positive consequences as most of us now have a greater appreciation for life, family, friends, and most of all liberty as we have experienced what it is like to lose or be separated from them.  During these times we can either complain or find comfort in something superior to any crisis which for Christians is the Lord and His Word, the Bible. 

Psalm 143 is a Psalm of David and included in the seven Penitential Psalms (Psalms 6; 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143).  However, some theologians like Charles Spurgeon question its inclusion as a penitential psalm stating that it is, “rather a vindication of his (David’s) own integrity.”  (1)  While the psalms penitential nature is possibly questionable, it does represent a prayer of someone in crisis thirsting for and reaching out to God to deliver him from the crisis (Psalm 143:6).  Christians should always be quick to repent of any sin God reveals in their lives, but it is not sin to present our complaints to God for He knows our hearts.  The problem comes when we remain in the complaint instead of reaching out to God in faith, remembering what He has done for us, and His works and promises recorded in the Bible. 

While the time of the writing of Psalm 143 is unknown, some commentaries believe it may have occurred when Absalom rebelled against his father, David, and tried to kill him (2 Samuel 15-19).  During this time David was in both a physical crisis living under the threat of death and the emotional crisis of rebellion from his son.  This is not much different from the physical and emotional stress of an unseen virus and why we can learn much about what our attitude should be during this crisis from the words of the Psalm,  This psalm teaches us that we should,

1)      Pray to God (Psalm 143:1-2) – The psalm begins with David crying out to God for mercy and for God to answer in faithfulness and righteousness and not judgment for David understands no one is righteous before God (Isaiah 54:6; Romans 3:23).  This should be the first action of anyone who believes in Jesus as their savior.  Unlike David, we have the benefit of hindsight for we know God sent His son to die for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).  We also know that even though this world brings trouble, we follow the one who overcame the world, including death (John 16:33). 

2)      Present our complaint to the Lord (Psalm 143:3-4) – There is a theology out there that teaches the presenting of complaints to God represent a weakness of faith that will cause God not to listen to our prayer.  This theology is erroneous for God’s word encourages us to bring our burdens to Him for he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).  The Lord also knows our hearts (Psalm 38:9) and therefore knows our anxieties and fears so why not be honest with the Lord and bring them to Him. 

3)      Leave the complaints with the Lord and remember God’s good works and stretch out our hands to him as we thirst for deliverance by God (Psalm 143:6-7).  After presenting his complaint to God, David does not pick it up and take it with him but instead pauses to remember what God has done and the work of His hands.  This includes remembering what God had done for him with his many victories like his victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17).  David also might have remembered The miracles of God recorded in Scripture like the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14).  While it is not a sin to make our complaints known to God, we are not to remain in our complaints but meditate on the promises and miracles of God recorded in Scripture as well as how God has delivered us personally in our lives, beginning with forgiveness of our sins by dying on the cross. 

4)      Declare our belief that God will deliver us from our crisis for we are His children (Psalm 143:7-12) – David once again cries to the Lord for a quick answer declaring his trust in Him as a place of refuge for His soul.  David concludes with Psalm 143:12 expressing faith God will destroy the adversaries of his soul for he is a servant of the Lord.  We too can have confidence in the delivering power of the Lord for we have the same power of the Holy Spirit within us that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11) and a glorious future of eternity with God (Revelation 21). 

Psalm 143 presents a pattern of how one thirsting for God should handle a crisis.  It begins with prayer which should be our first response, even a reflex action.  We then should honestly present our complaints to God for he already knows them but not dwell in the complaints but leave them with the Lord.  We should then declare in faith our belief that God has the power to take us through the crisis, knowing we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us and a glorious future of eternity with God. 

If you are reading this and do not know Jesus as your savior, I urge you to pray with me now and bring God into your life during this crisis to give you the strength to come through it,

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.

Next week we will begin a study of the Book of Joshua, studying the book as an illustration of one facing major challenges as he must lead Israel into the Promised Land.  We are beginning to emerge from this coronavirus crisis and can learn much from the courage Joshua found in the Lord as we return to normal so invite your friends to join this blog on Saturdays to participate in the study.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

1. Spurgeon, Charles H. Psalm 143 Bible Commentary. Christianity.com. [Online] Christianity.com. [Cited: May 17, 2020.] https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary.php?com=spur&b=19&c=143.

Go Spread the News

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 16:14-20

Mark 16:15

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

(ESV)

The closing of the buildings in which the church gathers should not be an excuse for believers to sit on the sidelines.  Jesus’ instructions to the eleven before ascending to be with God the Father do not include a building but are instructions to all believers in Christ to spread the news of the Gospel.  The early church heeded these words of Christ the world accusing of turning their world upside down (Acts 17:6).  The question for the church is would the world accuse them of turning their world upside down or view the Church as trying to get along with the world so as not have the world view the church as offensive.  If revival is to come to our world, it is time for the Church to become offensive to the evil in the world and like the early church focus on its mission. 

Unfortunately, many reading Mark 16:14-20 quickly read through Mark 16:15-16 and focus on the signs listed in Mark 16:17-18.  Like all portions of scripture, the reader must view the text in context, which in this instance is the Great Commission of Christ for believers to go into the world and spread the good news of the Gospel.  In this context, the signs are not the object of the text but instead demonstrations of the power of God at work in those spreading the Gospel as they represent an extension of what occurred in the ministry of Christ, pointing people to the source of the miraculous sign, Jesus Christ. 

After receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit and delivering the church’s first evangelistic message (Acts 2), Peter and John enter the Temple and encounter a man lame from birth (Acts 3:1-3).  Peter and John are not wealthy men and have nothing for the man materially, but they do have something far more valuable, access to the healing power of God through Jesus Christ.  Peter honestly tells the man he has no silver and Gold and gives him what he has, healing and orders the man to get up and walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Acts 3:4-6).  At this, Peter takes the man by his right hand and the man leaps up completely healed and begins to praise God (Acts 3:7-9).  Recognizing the healed man as the one who regularly sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple asking for alms, the people were filled with wonder and amazement (Acts 3:10). 

What happens next indicates the missional focus of the Disciples on spreading the good news about the Gospel and not having people begin to worship them as the ones that made the man walk.  If we put ourselves in the position of Peter, it would have been tempting for Peter to have the people running to see him in Solomon’s portico lavish praise on him and John as some great prophet who, like Jesus was coming along to help them.  However, Peter had experienced the sorrow of rejecting Jesus in his greatest time of need and also experienced His forgiveness (John 21:15-19).  Peter had also seen Jesus after his resurrection and was present with the 11 when Jesus ascended to be with God the Father (Mark 16:19).  Peter had also experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and witnessed 3,000 people coming to Christ when he shared the Gospel message as he left the Upper Room.  Even the temptation to have people lavish praise on him and potentially large amounts of money could not make Peter deny it was the power of God within him and not his own goodness that caused the miracle of healing for the lame man at the Temple (Acts 3:12). 

Unfortunately, Church history is full of charlatans who have profited from signs and wonders performed in their ministries by allowing the lavishing of praise upon themselves instead of using the sign to point people to Jesus.  This does not mean that signs and wonders cannot occur in the church today but a word of caution not to focus on the signs but to use them as an opportunity to point people to Jesus, the source of any miraculous sign occurring in ministry.  This is especially true in the digital age where word of some miraculous sign can quickly spread globally with people lavishing instantaneous praise on the ministry in which the miracle occurred.  Any ministry experiencing instantaneous praise must like Peter be quick to deflect any praise lavished on them to Jesus through digital media to stay on the mission of spreading the Gospel.

Matthew 28:19-20 records the other mention of the Great Commission in Scripture and add the commission to make disciples of all nations.  However, if someone in ministry instead makes disciples of themselves by lavishing praise upon themselves instead of pointing people to Jesus, they are not fulfilling the Great Commission of Christ.  Instead, those in ministry are to spread the message of the Gospel and lavish praise on Christ for any signs and miracles that occur in their ministry.  Beginning next Wednesday, we will begin a study of the Book of Acts as an example of how the church can be a transformative force in a fallen world.  It is time for the church today to, like the early church, begin becoming a transformative force for good in a fallen world, and instead of using digital media to lavish praise on themselves, use it to lavish praise on Jesus.  Please invite your friends and family to begin following this blog next Wednesday to begin following the example of the early church in turning the world upside down for Christ. 

The Refuge of Relationship

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Psalm 142

Psalm 142:5

I cry to you, O Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.”

(ESV)

Social distancing sadly can come with relational distancing as people lose physical connection with friends and family.  Fortunately, we live in the age of digital media and cell phones where we can maintain connection and even attend church services online but extended connection via a screen can result in screen fatigue.  It is therefore crucial for people to be able to return to physical connection with each other with precautionary measures taken to ensure these connections are safe.  The good news in many communities is that churches are planning to open during the Memorial Day Weekend in the United States, or Sunday, May 24, with certain restrictions like wearing masks and social distancing.  However, other communities remain hesitant to open up churches and we must pray for God’s intervention in these communities so that these community leaders realize churches, for the most part, will act responsibly to ensure the health and safety of their congregations. 

David finds himself in a cave to escape King Saul who wants to kill him.  While his enemy is visible unlike the invisible enemy of a virus, it is none the less an enemy presenting a threat to his life.  While the cave provides a physical place of refuge, David’s enemy continues to pursue David and keeps discovering the location of David’s hideout with God intervening twice to deliver David from almost certain death (1 Samuel 23:15-24:22).  It is most likely that David wrote Psalm 142 at some point during these events, expressing his emotions during this time of danger and isolation from physical connection with friends and family.  As we study the Psalm in this context, we see that, 

1)      David is in a place of physical refuge (1 Samuel 23:29) – At this point in David’s life his main concern is survival for the King of Israel, Saul, is in hot pursuit of him (1 Samuel 23:15-29).  After a miraculous escape from Saul through the providence of God, David has found rest in the strongholds of Engedi (1 Samuel 23:29).  However, even the remote caves of Engedi could not provide refuge for David as Saul discovers where David is hiding and sends three thousand chosen men to seek David (1 Samuel 24:1-2).  Once again, the providence of God allows David to remain stealth to detection by Saul, allowing David to show his respect for Saul as king (1 Samuel 24:3-22).  During this coronavirus crisis, using masks and gloves, social distancing, and sheltering in place are ways to provide physical refuge, but they have limits and still require the intervention of the providence of God to provide refuge. 

2)      David lacks the refuge of relationship of those empathetic with his situation (Psalm 142:4) – Even though David is moving to find places of physical refuge from Saul and finding safety with intervention from God, in Psalm 142:4 David bemoans a lack of relational refuge with no one taking notice of his plight or showing concern for his soul.  Physical places of safety from harm, regardless of whether it is from a king with a massive army as it was with David (1 Samuel 24:1-2) or an unseen virus as it is in the current coronavirus crisis, can become places of isolation from others.  This isolation can create feelings of no one caring about our plight when the reality is, they may still care for us we have physical separation from them losing communication with them.  Jonathan was David’s trusted and loyal friend promising to be next to him (1 Samuel 23:15-29) but without the benefit of digital media like people have today, Jonathan could not maintain communication with David as he moved from place to place seeking physical refuge.  However, even connection relegated to a digital connection on a screen can create feelings of loneliness for God made us to have physical connection with others (Genesis 2:18).  The greatest example of the need for people to have physical connection with others is the fact that God decided to come to fallen humanity as one of us in the person of Jesus Christ to relate to us and be the substitutionary sacrifice for our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8).  We all need relational interaction in crisis with connection to others and should do so using digital media with the hope and anticipation of when we can physically meet once again.  However, the greatest and most reliable connection we can have in crisis is a connection to God through Jesus Christ who has no need to social distance or shelter in place. 

3)      David finds a refuge of relationship in the Lord (Psalm 142:5) – Even though David is in hiding and separated from connection with his closest friends like Jonathan, he is connected to God (Psalm 142:5).  As a songwriter, David takes this opportunity to write many of the Psalms, including Psalm 142 that continue to bless people today.  Another example of someone forced into isolation is the Apostle Paul.  Paul had a desire to go into the known world of his day and spread the Gospel message in obedience to the Great Commission (Galatians 4:20; Mark 16:15: Matthew 28:19-20).  However, as often happens in the lives of those living in obedience to God, God has other plans for Paul with isolation in prison so he can write many of the books in the New Testament.  During this time of isolation, we have an opportunity to draw closer to God and prepare ourselves for revival. 

Perhaps you are reading this and in quarantine with no physical connection with the outside world.  Perhaps you are in a hospital room or nursing home with your only physical connection being the medical professionals treating you.  I thank God for these professionals, but their role is providing medical care and not serving as replacements for the emotional connections of friends and family.  If that is you, I urge you to do as David did and cry out to God, your refuge in the land of the living (Psalm 142:5).  For those reading this who have never prayed professing belief in God’s gift of His Son (John 3:16) asking God to forgive them of their sins, I urge 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.

We will get through this crisis just as David got through his crisis and became King of Israel.  As we come through this crisis, relational distancing and the resulting screen fatigue will end as we will be able to connect physically even if it is six feet apart and with a mask.  However, like David may we never forget that God is our refuge and never distances himself from his children.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Celebration Day: He Is Risen

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 16:1-13

Mark 16:6

And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.

(ESV)

Although the crisis faced by the Disciples and followers of Jesus only lasted three days, the feelings of these people during this time were not much different than what many across the world are experiencing today.  Before the coronavirus pandemic, most people were experiencing economic prosperity unlike anything they had experienced in their lifetimes, something those following Jesus probably felt when following Jesus and why they praised him as he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Mark 11:1-11).  However, their beliefs were based on the unrealistic expectation that Jesus would march into the palace of Herod and Pilate and overthrow their Roman oppressors, not realizing Jesus was going to suffer death by crucifixion for their sins and rise again in three days demonstrating victory over death.  Likewise, any belief there would never be another economic downturn were unrealistic as history demonstrates economic upturns followed by economic downturns.  This is precisely why Jesus taught us to put our treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).   There will be a recovery from this crisis as people recover physically, mentally, and spiritually and while waiting for the recovery, we must place our trust in God and treasure our personal relationship with Him because of the cross. 

Mark’s account of the resurrection occurs through the eyes of Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James.  These are the same two women that lurked in the background while Jesus was laid in the tomb (Mark 15:47).  The fact that they purchased spices to anoint Jesus leads us to believe they wanted to know where they buried Jesus so they could anoint Him for his burial.  However, Mark 16:3 records their conversation with each other about how they were going to roll the stone away, leading to the possibility they believed they would witness Jesus’ resurrection, something Jesus mentioned three times (Mark 8:31; 9:30-31; 10:32-34). 

Upon arriving at the tomb, and seeing the stone rolled away, we can only surmise what their thoughts might have been.  Did the Romans or Jewish religious leaders steal the body so they could produce it after Jesus’ followers claimed Jesus had risen after seeing the empty tomb?  However, the fact that almost two thousand years later nobody has produced the body or real tomb where they buried Jesus disproves this theory.  They may have thought some of the disciples stole the body to begin profiting from a new religious movement based upon Jesus as Messiah who died and rose from the dead.  However, the fact that all the Disciples suffered for their faith with all but one martyred and did not profit from spreading the Gospel message that Jesus had risen disproves this theory.  This leaves one credible theory, The words Jesus spoke in Mark 8:31; 9:30-31; 10:32-34 were true.  The fact that the women rushed into the empty tomb lends credence to the belief they thought there had been a resurrection. 

Their belief in resurrection would have been strengthened when they saw a man in a white robe, an angel, in the tomb bringing them the message Jesus had risen from the dead (Mark 16:5-6).  The angel then instructs the women to go tell the disciples Jesus had risen but fear and astonishment seized them and they rushed out of the tomb, telling no one (Mark 16:7-8).  However, after Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, she found the courage to tell those still mourning Jesus’ death but was not believed (Mark 16:9-11).  Jesus also appeared to two disciples as they were walking into the country but when they told the other disciples, they did not believe them. 

Mary Magdalene and the Disciples knew Jesus.  Mary Magdalene had experienced Jesus casting seven demons out of her with the two disciples possibly witnessing this event (Luke 8:1-3) and the many other miracles Jesus performed.  They were present when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44), demonstrating Jesus’ supremacy over death.  They had heard the teachings of Jesus through his messages and parables and were trying to adapt them in their lives.  However, before encountering the risen Lord, their knowledge of Jesus was academic.  It was not until they encountered the risen Lord that their knowledge of Jesus became personal, giving them the courage to tell others even though no one believed them.

Everyone reading this must ask themselves the question, is my knowledge of Jesus academic or personal?  While it is necessary to know the Bible for it is truth and the Word of God, this knowledge alone cannot save us for if it was, Jesus didn't need to come and die on the cross for God had already given humanity the law.  Salvation comes as one encounters Jesus through repentance and accepting that Jesus died, was buried, and arose from the dead to forgive our sins (Romans 10:9-10).  This is how one comes to know God personally, giving them the courage to tell others about Jesus.  I want to invite anyone reading this who does not know God personally to pray with me now so they can have a personal relationship with God,

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.

Next Wednesday’s posting will be on the “Great Commission” or Jesus telling his believers to go out and spread the good news or Gospel that Jesus has died for the sins of humanity and resurrected from the dead in demonstration of his supremacy over death.  Mary Magdalene and the two Disciples were the first to begin the spreading of the Gospel message after encountering the risen Lord.  I encourage all who have a personal relationship with God through belief in Jesus as Savior to do the same and not let rejection stop them.  This is especially true during this coronavirus crisis when many are living sheltered in their homes in fear.  May God bless and encourage everyone reading this post. 

Expressing our Love for the Lord.

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Psalm 116

Psalm 116:1

I love the Lord, because he has heard
    my voice and my pleas for mercy.

(ESV)

Unfortunately, the English language only has one word for love.  This is unfortunate because modern culture, dominated by the pursuit of sexual pleasure, has relegated the meaning of the word love to the seeking of sexual pleasure.  Sexual pleasure is something God intends people to enjoy but He intends for it to occur in the boundaries of marriage so there is commitment and a stable home environment for raising children.  The elicit pursuit of sexual pleasure is also behind the acceptance of abortion as it provides a means to destroy the consequences of unwanted pregnancy, justifying it as a woman’s right to choose.  Unfortunately, this perverted worldly view of love tarnishes our biblical view of the love of God for humanity and how we should express love back to God.   

The words of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 have application during this global pandemic and even though they had not been written during the time of the writing of Psalm 116, they are present in the context of the psalm.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 reminds us to,

1)      Rejoice (1 Thessalonians 5:16) – Rejoicing is easy when things are going good in our lives but can be difficult when facing a crisis.  Psalm 116 begins with the psalmist expressing his love for the Lord because he hears his cries for mercy (Psalm 116:1).  In Psalm 116:3 the psalmist lets us know that this time in his life is not a time free from struggle but a time when he faces death and suffers distress and anguish.  The key to rejoicing during times of crisis is in remembering we are not rejoicing for the crisis but instead rejoice because we serve a God, bigger than any crisis (Luke 1:37; 18:27).  We also can rejoice in knowing we serve a God who loves us and has good plans for us that do not include our destruction (Jeremiah 29:11).  Let us, therefore, rejoice in God who is bigger than any crisis, including a global pandemic.

2)      Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) – Prayer is perhaps the greatest privilege of a child of God.  This is because prayer is the privilege to talk to God, the creator of the universe, even though each of us has sinned (Romans 3:23) and lives under a penalty of death (Romans 6:23).  Therefore this privilege is not something we should take lightly for if not for the love, mercy, and grace of God demonstrated by providing His Son as the sacrificial lamb for our sins, we would live in an eternity separated from God.  The psalmist states his intention to call upon the Lord in prayer as long as he lives out of love because the Lord hears him (Psalm 116:2).  The Lord also wants to hear from us for our prayers are like sweet incense to Him (Revelation 5:8).  However, prayer without ceasing does not mean one walks around mumbling to themselves but instead indicates having an attitude of prayer throughout the day, taking things to God with an attitude of rejoicing for what God has done and thanksgiving for answering our prayer. 

3)      Giving thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18) – The psalmist refers to this as the sacrifice of thanksgiving indicating it is the offering of thanksgiving when in anguish and distress (Psalm 116:17).  Like rejoicing, this is not giving thanks for any suffering or crisis we are experiencing but thanking God in advance of receiving an answer for hearing and answering our prayer.  It is an act of faith expressed to God indicating we believe He hears us and has our best interest in mind (Jeremiah 29:11).  This must be the underlying attitude of a believer in Christ for without faith, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6).  For the psalmist, this expression of thanksgiving involved lifting up the cup of salvation or a belief in the future lamb of God that would take away his sins and paying his vows of service to the Lord in the presence of God’s people. 

The attitude of those expressing a belief in Jesus Christ as Savior must be rejoicing in what Jesus has done, Prayer without ceasing with prayer being our first reaction when in crisis, and thanksgiving.  This does not mean Christians must rejoice or give thanks for a crisis but that they know God is bigger than any crisis and can rejoice and be thankful in faith knowing God has the crisis under control.  However, to enjoy this level of rejoicing and thanksgiving, one must establish a relationship with God by accepting God’s Son Jesus as their savior.  If you have not already done so, 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.

The psalmist in Psalm 116 continued to love the Lord and continually call upon Him even when in distress and anguish, offering up the sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord.  The Apostle Paul instructed the Thessalonians to rejoice in what the Lord has done, pray without ceasing, and to give thanks to God in, and not for, all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).  By following the example of the psalmist and the instructions of the Apostle Paul, we can maintain our mental and spiritual health as we go through the coronavirus crisis.  May God bless everyone reading this post and may everyone stay safe, healthy, and strong knowing God is with us and will deliver us through this crisis. 

A Dark but Good Friday

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 15:33-47

Mark 15:37-39

And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. ³⁸ And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. ³⁹ And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he^[c] breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son^[d] of God!”

(ESV)

For those of us still going to a job Monday through Friday, Friday is still something to look forward to because at the end of the day, there are two days off to do what we want to do.  However, the coronavirus crisis has tarnished this as people now work from home with the weekend being more time at home but with a different routine.  However, even this weekend routine has suffered and means staying at home with nowhere to go and nothing to do but even with this disruption in routine, Friday is still a good day. 

Mark 15:33-47 records the events of Jesus’ death and burial which occurred on a Friday.  Each year Christians remember the death and burial of Jesus, calling it Good Friday.  To outsiders, calling a day remembering the death and burial of someone good, may seem strange but this is due to a lack of understanding the significance of the events of Good Friday in providing salvation and forgiveness of sins for humanity.  The death and burial of Jesus had to occur for there to be a resurrection three days later.  If the events of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection were a Shakespearean play, it would have three acts,

1)      Tragedy – For the followers of Jesus living in the moment of Jesus’ crucifixion, the events occurring on that fateful Friday were anything but good.  Looking at it from their perspective, they have spent the last few years following someone they believed was their Messiah evidenced by the lavish praise they offered when Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Mark 11:1-11).  The act one tragedy for this play may have started with this high point, perhaps providing flashbacks to some of Jesus’ greatest miracles such as the healing of a blind man (John 9), the calming of a storm (Matthew 8:23-27), the casting of a demon into a herd of swine (Matthew 8:28-34), and the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44).  The feelings of despair and hopelessness at witnessing Jesus’ crucifixion and death may have been due to unrealistic expectations by Jesus’ followers, expecting Jesus to march into Jerusalem and immediately establish his kingdom.  When in a crisis in our lives, we tend to ask God to end the crisis and deliver us out of it but sometimes it is God’s intention for us to go through the crisis to test our faith, perfect us, and make us complete and lacking nothing (James 1:2-4).  Sinful humanity is not ready for citizenship in the Kingdom of God until there is forgiveness of sin requiring the death of the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. 

2)      Reflection – Christians often focus on the tragedy of Good Friday and the celebration of resurrection Sunday while ignoring act two of the play, the silence of Saturday.  The process of building strong faith means we may need to go through a crisis (James 1:2-4) but also involves waiting.  Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that waiting renews our strength because it is during this waiting period that we have time to reflect.  For the disciples now hiding out of fear, the waiting period was a time to reflect on what Jesus taught them.  This may have included reflection on the times Jesus foretold of his death burial and resurrection (Mark 8:31-37; 9:30-32; 10:32-34), creating anticipation about what may occur on Sunday.  This anticipation of a resurrection from the dead is possibly why Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses stayed at a distance to see where Jesus was buried (Mark 15:40, 47) so they could return on Sunday to see if a resurrection had occurred (Mark 16:1).  During a crisis as we wait and reflect on what is happening, we can react in fear looking at the circumstances like the disciples, or in faith, remembering what Jesus said like Mary and Mary.  As believers in Christ, I pray we react in faith. 

3)      Celebration – What sets Christianity apart from other religions is the empty tomb.  Christians to not make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to worship at the tomb of their leader but can go to Jerusalem and see an empty tomb without a body.  Instead of worshipping a dead prophet or teacher and reflecting on his teachings, Christians reflect on the teachings of Jesus who sits at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for their needs (Romans 8:34).  Christians also have the hope of a glorious eternity with God made possible by a living Savior who promised to return (Revelation 21:1-8).  Even in the middle of a global pandemic, Christians can celebrate knowing that Jesus is alive and sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and a glorious future of eternity with God will occur when Jesus returns. 

The coronavirus is a global tragedy that has led to people dying or getting sick, people losing jobs, and potentially everything they worked for all their lives.  People with other health issues considered elective must suffer from their illnesses as Covid19 patients have a preference.  My prayer is that people will take this tragedy and reflect out of faith knowing that we worship a risen savior that sits at the right hand of God the Father interceding for us and will come back to live with us.  However, God does not force himself on people and gives them a choice, will they depend on God to save them in faith or cower in fear.  I invite those reading this who have not chosen to accept Jesus as their savior 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.

We will get through the tragedy of the coronavirus but not by cowering in fear over dying or getting sick, but by faith in God knowing that we have an advocate with God through Jesus (Romans 8:34) and a glorious future with God in a pristine world free of deadly viruses (Revelation 21:1-8).  We will survive this crisis by taking time to reflect and meditate on the promises of God contained in the Bible and our glorious future with Christ.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Wisdom’s Source

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Psalm 111

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    all those who practice it have a good understanding.
    His praise endures forever!

(ESV)

During this pandemic, fear is an abundant commodity.  Social distancing is causing isolation for many as we isolate ourselves from social contact with others, it could lead to a fear of connecting once it is safe to do so.  Back in February I was in the ER with a rapid heartbeat and remember the ER doctor telling me that I was now in a safe place and finding comfort in his words.  I wonder if people going into the ER today feel the same sense of safety during this pandemic.  Fear is also a powerful emotion used by marketing professionals and politicians to cause people to change their behaviors and either buy a product, vote, or support a political agenda.  However, the fear of the Lord is not like fear we see in the world, or as Psalm 111:10 reminds us, the beginning of wisdom.

The first nine verses of Psalm 111 praise the works of the Lord but then the psalmist changes direction by stating that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  This leads us to the question of how praise for the works of God connects with the fear of the Lord bringing wisdom.  To make the connection we must begin by studying what the psalmist says about the works of the Lord in Psalm 111:1-9. 

1)      God’s works are great (Psalm 111:2) – This psalm does not identify the author but it is someone who probably grew up hearing of the great works of God that delivered Israel from their Egyptian slavery, including the parting of the Red Sea.  This work was so great that it caused Rahab to fear the Israelites and risk her life hiding the spies sent to Jericho (Joshua 2:10).  In Psalm 136:13 the psalmist touts this wonderous work as an example of God’s steadfast and enduring love.   In Stephen’s speech before his martyrdom for his faith, he reminds his executioners of God’s wonders and signs including the parting of the Red Sea (Acts 7:36). 

2)      God’s works are full of splendor and majesty (Psalm 111:3) – World leaders and politicians often revel in the splendor and majesty of their accomplishments, especially when running for office.  However, their works pale in comparison to the splendor and majesty of God’s creation (Romans 1:19-20).  If we have doubts about the majesty and splendor of God’s works during this coronavirus crisis, pause and look at the majesty of the mountains or a sunset or sunrise.  Also, consider the intricacy of something as simple as our hand which can create something beautiful. 

3)      God’s works are gracious and merciful (Psalm 111:4) – God could have exercised justice and righteousness by destroying Adam and Eve for their rebellion but instead banished then from the Garden of Eden with the promise of a redeemer (Genesis 3:15).  The provision of a redeemer, Jesus Christ, and the work of salvation on the cross are an example of the gracious and merciful nature of God’s works. 

4)      God’s works are provisional (Psalm 111:5) – God supplied manna from heaven (Exodus 16) and water from a rock (Exodus 17:1-7) to provide for Israel’s needs in the wilderness.  This provisional work of God is still available to believers today for God promises to supply our every need according to his riches in glory which is infinite (Philippians 4:19). 

5)      God’s works are powerful (Psalm 111:6) – The miracles performed by Jesus during his earthly ministry are a demonstration of the power of God’s works.  Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, calmed storms, and raised the dead.  However, the greatest demonstration of the power of God in the ministry of Jesus was when God raised him from the dead.  The good news for us is that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us in the person of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11). 

6)      God’s works are faithful and just (Psalm 111:7) – The faithful and just works of God are best demonstrated in the forgiveness of our sins and the cleansing of us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of the throne of God, but God administers his righteousness and justice in love and faithfulness (Psalm 89:14).  The beauty of the message of the Gospel is that a just and righteous God sent his sinless son to become sin and faithfully satisfied the justice of a just God by taking our penalty for sin upon himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

7)      God’s works are eternal (Psalm 111:8) – All of the works of the world have an expiration date, but God’s works are eternal.  The coronavirus crisis has cause us to come to grips with the reality that our hard work in building a prosperous economy, building retirement savings, and educating ourselves to land a secure job or career can quickly come to an end.  We have even seen a temporary end to the ability of the church to regularly gather in person.  However, the works of the Lord are eternal for God is not limited by social distancing and never leaves us (Hebrews 13:5).

8)      God’s works bring redemption (Psalm 111:9) – When Jesus said “it is finished” (John 19:30) he was saying paid in full meaning the debt of sin that created a separation between God and humanity was paid in full, making it possible for God and humanity to reunite.  This is the plan outlined in the Bible after the fall of humanity in Genesis 3 and God’s greatest work.  However, the redemption of God is not automatic and something we must claim.  If your gift of redemption remains unclaimed, I encourage you to claim it 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.

However, how do these great works of God connect to the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom?  The answer is that we should fear what God could have done after Adam and Eve sinned by destroying them as a righteous and just God but also praise the merciful and gracious redemptive work of God in providing a savior to save us from our sin and redeem our relationship with our creator.  It is understanding the grace and mercy of God demonstrated by God’s provision of a substitute for our death penalty that opens the door for our understanding of the wisdom of God.  The source of wisdom is understanding the mercy and grace of God in the message of the Gospel.