Community and Honesty with God

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Acts 4:32-5:11

Acts 5:3

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?

(ESV)

After washing the Disciple’s feet (John 13:1-20) and letting them know that one of them would betray him (John 13:21-30), Jesus gives the Disciples a new commandment.  This new commandment is for them to love one another just like Jesus has loved them for by this, all people will know they are Jesus’ disciples.  While this new commandment was given to the Disciples, It applies to the Church as well (John 17:20-21).  The chaotic events of Covid19, racial unrest, and violence on the streets make it even more crucial that the church with its diversity of members, have unity of purpose and demonstrate a community of love for one another.    

The early church took the words of Jesus seriously and functioned with unity of heart and soul with people freely sharing with those in need to the point that there were no needy people among them (Acts 4:32-34).  While scripture does not indicate why some of the members of the church were in need, it is possible that the Jewish community economically persecuted those professing Christ in defiance of the edict not to speak of Jesus issued by their religious leaders (Acts 4:18).  This might explain why some in the Church were moved to sell their property to raise money to care for those in need among the congregation.   

One of the individuals selling land to raise money for the needy was Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37).  This was just the beginning of Barnabas’ service to the Lord beginning with him assuring the Apostles of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:27).  Barnabas would continue to serve the Lord with Paul on Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12), at Antioch (Acts 13:13-52).  The frequent mention of Barnabas in the book of Acts indicates he was someone of notoriety in the Church but his continued service with Paul indicates he was not serving for the notoriety and content with being a helper to Paul on his missionary journeys. 

Ananias and Sapphira may not have shared the level of a servant's heart like Barnabas and instead sold some land expecting to receive the same notoriety as Barnabas.  This could explain why they did not give all the proceeds from their land sale to the Apostles, keeping some of the proceeds for themselves believing the Apostles will never know (Acts 5:1-2).  Ananias and Sapphira made the mistake we all make when sinning for they believed they were lying to the Apostles, forgetting that God who knows all knew of the sin.  Ananias would find out too late that Peter did know of his deception, with God sentencing him to death for his sin (Acts 5:3-6).  His wife too would suffer death for her role in the deception (Acts 5:2, 7-10).  This leads to the question, was the death penalty appropriate in this case.

In God’s eyes, all sin, no matter how small carries a death penalty (Romans 6:23).  The good news is that Jesus paid the death penalty for us on the cross, so we do not need to die in sin (Romans 5:8), but Ananias and Sapphira are under the new covenant of grace so the penalty does seem severe.  However, this passage parallels the account of Achan in Joshua 7:10-26 and teaches the importance of,

1)      Obedience to God (Acts 5:1-2; Joshua 7:1) – For Achan, the disobedience involved taking items from Jericho that God had devoted to destruction with clear instructions not to take them (Joshua 6:18).  For Ananias, it was disobedience in selling land and telling Peter the proceeds he brought in were all the proceeds from the land (Acts 5:2).  This disobedience occurred at the beginning of great movements of God, the occupation of the promised land by Israel and the beginning of the Church.  If left unchecked, this disobedience would have hindered or stopped this movement of God.  In both accounts in Scripture, a righteous God issues a death sentence to illustrate the seriousness of disobedience to God.

2)      Honesty with God – Both Achan and Ananias were deceptive and tried to hide their sin.  Achan took the items stolen from Jericho and hid them among his personal belongings so no person would see them (Joshua 7:11).  For Ananias, it was holding back part of the proceeds from the land sale and presenting what was left to Peter, believing Peter would believe the money presented was the entire proceeds from the land sale (Acts 5:2).   What Achan and Ananias forgot was that you cannot lie to God with God using Joshua and Peter to reveal the sin.  The death penalty was to illustrate the severity of dishonesty with God.

3)      Trust and unity in a community about to do something great for God – Both Israel about to occupy the Promised Land and the Church about to spread the Gospel message and make disciples must have a unity of purpose and community to succeed.  The severity of the penalty in both accounts in scripture illustrates the importance God places on obedience, honesty, and trust.   

Like Israel entering the Promised Land and the beginning of the community of the Church, the Church today faces unprecedented challenges and must model obedience to God, honesty with God, and a spirit of trust and unity as a community to model Godliness in a chaotic world.  The news media continually runs reports creating fear in the hearts of people who were not created to live in fear of what is happening around them but to fear the Lord which is the root of knowledge, wisdom, and instruction (Proverbs 1:7).  I encourage anyone reading this to detach themselves from the barrage of fearful news reports and spend time with God in His Word, not out of fear of condemnation (John 3:17) but to gain encouragement, knowledge, and wisdom.  A good place to start is reading one Psalm and one Proverb each day.  I challenge you to not just read them to check them off the list of things to do but to take time to meditate on how these Psalms and Proverbs apply to your life.  Detachment from media and its fearful reports and attaching ourselves to the encouragement, knowledge, and instruction of God’s Word out of a righteous fear of the Lord will bring God’s light to a dark world through us, attracting others dominated by fear into a relationship with Jesus as their savior.  If you are reading this and have never made a profession of faith in Jesus as your savior, 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.

God has not given us a spirit of fear but love, power, and soundness of mind (2 Timothy 1:7).  A World dominated by fear needs an infusion of God’s love, power, and soundness of mind but can only find it through believers in Christ who have attached themselves to God through the wisdom and knowledge found in the Word of God.  I encourage everyone reading this to take time to detach from the fearful reports in media and fear the Lord by seeking knowledge, wisdom, and instruction through God’s Word.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Compromise, Pride, and Rushing Ahead of the Lord

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Joshua 7:1-11

Joshua 7:10-11

The Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? ¹¹ Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings.

(ESV)

I grew up watching the ABC’s Wide World of Sports whose host, Jim McKay popularized the phrase “The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat.”  In the introduction to the show, ski jumper Vinko Bogataj and his ski jump accident would personify the agony of defeat and meant Mr. Bogataj would appear on Wide World of Sports more often than any other athlete.   (1)  In 1981 Mr. Bogataj was invited to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of “Wide World of Sports”  he received the loudest ovation from those in attendance including many world-renown athletes with Mohammad Ali asking him for his autograph.  (2)  Literally, Mr. Bogataj became famous through defeat.

Joshua 7:1-11 records the agony of defeat for Israel in Ai that occurred after the thrill of victory at Jericho and provides a lesson regarding compromise, pride, and rushing ahead of the Lord. 

1)      Compromise (Joshua 7:1) – God specifically commanded Israel not to take from Jericho any of the things devoted to destruction which included anything, or anyone except the people in Rahab’s household, and the silver, gold, and vessels of bronze and iron which were deposited in the treasury of Israel.  Unknown to Joshua, Achan had stolen some of the things devoted to destruction and hidden them among his belongings (Joshua 7:1,11).  This compromise stirred up the anger of the Lord against Israel but the fact that Israel did not first pray to the Lord and wait for Him to lead them into battle are also contributing factors to Israel’s defeat.  If Israel had prayed to God before entering into battle, the Lord would have revealed the sin of Achan and instructed Israel to repent of this sin and might have led Israel to victory in Ai which will occur later (Joshua 8:1-29). 

2)      Pride (Joshua 7:2-5) – Instead of praying and listening to the direction of the Lord, which most likely would have been a revelation of the sin of Achan, Joshua sends spies to Ai.  Perhaps emboldened by the victory at Jericho, these spies tell Joshua Ai is weak with a small army and that only two to three thousand men will be needed to defeat Ai.  Pride precedes destruction and a fall (Proverbs 16:18) which in this case was defeat at the hands of the small army of Ai.  Unlike the daunting walls and army of Jericho which led to Joshua encountering and worshipping the commander of the army of the Lord, Joshua relies on the report of his spies.  Joshua has forgotten that it was not the might or power of the army of Israel that defeated Jericho but the power of God that brought down the walls of Jericho through the shouts of the people.  The Church can learn from Israel’s defeat and instead of dependence on Church programs, powerful sermons, and talents based on human abilities, learn to depend on the power of God through the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel and make disciples (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).    

3)      Rushing Ahead of the Lord (Joshua 7:6-9) – The timing of Joshua’s prayer is off because it occurs after Israel’s defeat at Ai instead of before.  Had Joshua prayed before going into battle with Ai, the Lord’s response in Joshua 7:10-11 might have been to wait for Israel has sinned and transgressed my covenant that I commanded them.  Had Israel not rushed ahead of the Lord they might have experienced the conquest of Ai in Joshua 8 without having to experience the defeat of Joshua 7:1-9.  Those that wait on the Lord experience a renewal of strength (Isaiah 40:31).  The strength of believers in Christ is not in their ability to charge in and fix a situation, but the extent to which they humble themselves before the Lord and wait for his strength and direction. 

Those professing a belief in Jesus Christ as their savior have an advantage for they have the thrill of victory knowing their sins are forgiven and that they have eternal life because of the work of grace on the cross (Ephesians 2:8; John 3:16).  However, this does not mean a believer’s life will be free of trouble for Jesus promised there would be trouble (John 16:33) and experienced trouble resulting in His crucifixion.   Our peace in this world is not because we live lives free of trouble but that we believe in the one who overcame trouble in the world through His resurrection from the grave.  There is therefore no need for a believer in Christ to experience the agony of defeat as long as they do not compromise their faith, practice humility and not pride, and wait on the Lord before acting. 

Avoiding the agony of defeat in life begins with making a profession of faith in Jesus as savior (Romans 10:9-10).  If you have never made this profession of faith, 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.

For those that just prayed, I encourage you to find a Church that teaches the Bible so you can learn to live a life of obedience to the Lord and His Word, the Bible, and learn to wait on the Lords direction in your life.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

1. ABC's Wide World of Sports. ABC's Wide World of Sports. search IMDb. [Online] ABC. [Cited: July 21, 2020.] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190895/trivia.

2. Neumann, Thomas. Whatever happened to 'agony of defeat' ski jumper? abcnews.go.com. [Online] ABC News, August 15, 2016. [Cited: July 21, 2020.] https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/happened-agony-defeat-ski-jumper/story?id=41406621.

Praying for Boldness

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Acts 4:23-31

Acts 4:29-30

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, ³⁰ while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

(ESV)

Fear can be a paralyzing emotion making us afraid to move forward and instead retreat to our safe place.  Fear can also serve us by preventing us from taking an unnecessary risk.  For example, while I like flying, I fear jumping out of an airplane because I know the laws of gravity would take over and I would crash to the earth and die.  However, if I take the precaution to use a parachute and receive training on how to use it, or jump in tandem with someone who does, I have a good chance of survival.  Not to worry because I believe the wisest choice, is to stay on the plane until it safely lands at its destination. 

One of the long-term effects of Covid19 is that many have succumbed to a debilitating fear of going out from their homes and remain sheltered in their safe place.  While it may be uncomfortable to wear a mask or social distance for those that like to socialize with other people, these guidelines are the parachute that allows us to jump out of the shelter of our homes, and safely conduct our business and be with others.  Therefore, I will wear my mask even though it is uncomfortable and practice social distancing, viewing it as my parachute keeping me and others safe.  While I could stay in my safe place just like I choose to remain on the plane, I must leave my safe place to conduct business and interact with others to support my mental and spiritual health.  Therefore, unlike my decision to stay in the plane, I will leave the safe place of my home, put on my parachute of a mask, and practice social distancing to conduct necessary business and interact safely with others. 

After their release from arrest, Peter and John went to their friends and gave them a full report of what occurred.  This would have included the edict given not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18).  Peter and John’s response was that to obey this edict would have required him to ignore all that they had seen and heard during their time with Jesus on earth (Acts 4:19-20).  During that time they had seen the miracles Jesus performed like healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind, and even the raising of the dead (John 11:38-44; Mark 1:32-34; 8:22-26).  Peter and John saw Jesus die and saw him after his resurrection from the dead (Luke 24:36-43).  More importantly, Peter and John are filled with the Holy Spirit with a mandate from Jesus to share the message of Jesus' death burial and resurrection with others (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  Peter and John are not about to remain quiet and join with their friends in praying for boldness to continue speaking about Jesus (Acts 4:23-31). 

The question each person reading this must ask themselves is how we would handle someone in authority, whether they are from the Church or government telling us to be quiet and stop speaking about Jesus in public.  Would we obediently comply to avoid arrest or public ridicule or would we, like the believers in the Book of Acts, pray for boldness and allow ourselves to be filled with the Holy Spirit so we could continue to boldly share the Gospel.  Granted, we have not physically seen Jesus perform miracles or seen him resurrected from the dead like Peter and John, but we do have the accounts in scripture.  In addition, those reading this who have accepted Jesus as their savior have experienced a life transformation that has resulted in God’s peace and joy in their lives.  A world in chaos seeks peace and joy that is only found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  However, if believers remain silent, a chaotic world will never know the source of peace in their lives. 

The Church must pray for boldness in sharing the message of the Gospel and not remain silent.  Even if the government or Church leaders tell them to remain silent or tone it down, believers must be bold in declaring the Gospel.  The Church must also not allow the wearing of a mask or the practice of social distancing stop the spread of the Gospel but wear the mask while sharing the Gospel with others as a demonstration of their concern for the safety of others while sharing the love of Christ. 

In this chaotic world, people need the joy and peace that can only come from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Jesus died for all sinners in this world and wants to have a personal relationship with everyone but waits for us to come to Him.  If you are reading this and have not reached out to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin so you can experience the joy and peace of a relationship with Him, 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.

May all reading this who know Jesus as their Savior, including those that just prayed, be bold in sharing the peace and joy they have in their relationship with Jesus as their Savior with others who are living in despair in a chaotic world. 

Obedience and the Power of God

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Joshua 6:1-27

Joshua 6:20

So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.

(ESV)

As a child, I can remember hearing the Bible account of the fall of the walls of Jericho.  My childhood imagination would picture a loud blast of a trumpet followed by the shout of thousands of warriors standing in front of the walls and the walls falling in a massive demonstration of supernatural power.  This is probably not far from a description of what actually occurred and it is sad to think that as we grow older we lose some of that childhood imagination, and instead focus only on what can be scientifically proven.  Jesus told the Samaritan woman that true worshippers of God worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).  The Israelites standing in front of the walls of Jericho worshipped in spirit and truth by obediently following the instructions of the Lord (truth) and witnessed a demonstration of God’s power as the walls of Jericho fell flat (spirit) (Joshua 6:20).  The world must see a Church boldly declaring the truth of the Gospel and God’s Word with the power of the Holy Spirit to reveal the fragile walls of protection the world depends on, so these walls can fall leaving only Jesus to depend on. 

The people living in Jericho were already fearful of the people of Israel based upon the parting of the Red Sea and how they defeated the two kings of the Amorites (Joshua 2:8-10).  Now they have also witnessed God’s power with their own eyes as God stopped the Jordan River so the people could cross on dry ground (Joshua 3:14-17).  Each day when the people marched around the city, the people in Jericho were probably wondering when the attack would come but each day the people would march around the city once and return to their camp.  On the seventh day when the people marched around the city seven times, they were probably anticipating an attack by the army but were probably fearful knowing that the God of Israel worked powerfully and in a supernatural manner.  When the people shouted and the walls fell flat, the people of Jericho would have known their defeat was imminent.  Like the Israelites at the walls of Jericho, the Church must,

1)      Be obedient – The Lord gave Joshua clear instructions with the promise that if they followed the instructions, the daunting walls of Jericho would fall (Joshua 6:1-21).  Likewise, before His ascension to be with God the Father, Jesus gave his followers, the church a specific mission to take the Gospel to the whole world (Mark 16:15) and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).  This is to be the objective of all programs in the Church but sadly Churches and their leaders can become busy and distracted by pressures to manage Church facilities and lose sight of the mission.  Acts 6:1-7 records this occurring as the early Church experienced growth and how the Church appointed people full of the Spirit to manage Church affairs so the Apostles could devote themselves and the ministry of teaching to spread the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  Church growth will occur as the Church carries out its mission but Church leaders must delegate management of the Church to others gifted in the areas of need so they can focus on the mission of the Church.

2)      Allow God to work – The walls of Jericho fell but not by the power of the army of Israel, but as the people of God shouted after a long blast of the seven trumpets (Joshua 6:20).  The long blast of the trumpets, and the shouts of the people, while loud, was not sufficient to bring down the walls of Jericho but It was the power of God unleashed through the obedience of God’s people that flattened the walls of Jericho.  However, after God’s power brings victory, we must give God the glory and not become puffed up with pride at what God has done through us. 

3)      Not associate with things devoted to destruction – The only items the Israelites were to pillage from Jericho were the gold, silver, iron, and bronze and they were to place them into the treasury of the Lord (Joshua 6:19).  As the church experiences growth, it can experience pressure to compromise with the world so as not to offend new people attending the church.  Any decline in numbers would be viewed by the world as a defeat for the Church but it could be due to the church taking a stand for the truth that offends some people that attend Church to appear holy but live sinful lives like the Church in Pergamum (Revelation 2:14).  Satan was defeated at the cross and is destined for destruction when Christ returns (Revelation 20:7-10).  The Church must not compromise with Satan by watering down Biblical truth to appease the world but boldly continue being obedient and standing up for Biblical truth.     

The present chaos in the world with Covid19, racial tensions, and violence appear daunting but by remaining obedient, allowing God to work, and not compromising on biblical truth, the walls of chaos will come down.  Take a moment to listen to this video link from David Crowder as a reminder that the walls will come down as we minister for the glory of God.  Please pray the Church will thrive during this time of Chaos as it focuses on carrying out its mission through obedience, letting God work, and avoiding compromise. 

Boldness When Facing Opposition

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Acts 4:1-22

Acts 4:13-14

 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

(ESV)

The first amendment of the U.S. Constitution grants individuals freedom of speech and the right to peaceably assemble.  The premise in protecting this right in the Constitution is the promotion of debate over issues.  Unfortunately, many have ignored the word peaceably in this amendment and believe they have the right to gather in a riotous manner and even commit or condone murder.  This is not what the authors of the first amendment intended and is destructive to any debate over issues.  For the restoration of peace in our society and finding solutions to the problems plaguing society, there must be a restoration of peaceful debate.

The confrontation between Peter, John, and the healed lame man in Acts 4:1-22 is peaceful with the possible exception of the arrest of Peter, John, and the healed lame man.  However, the arrest is not violent and done so the religious leaders can question them about the miracle that occurred in the Temple resulting in about five thousand men coming to believe in Jesus.  Peter and John would have viewed this as an opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with these religious leaders.  Peter and John were,

1)      Brave (Acts 4:1-7) – The noise in the Temple at the hour of prayer, typically a quiet time, has received the attention of the religious leaders, especially the Sadducees since Peter spoke of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  Included in this group of religious leaders is Annas and Caiaphas who were among those calling for the crucifixion of Jesus (John 18:12-14; Matthew 26:57-68).  For Peter and John to stand up to these leaders would require bravery, especially when Peter accused them of killing Jesus (Acts 3:14-15).  As persecution of Christians, even in countries with freedom of religion like the United States escalates, Christians need to remain brave in declaring their faith. 

2)      Opportunistic (Acts 4:9-12) – Similar to Peter taking the opportunity of the miracle of speaking in tongues in Acts 2, Peter takes the opportunity of this miracle to lift up Jesus, the source of the lame man’s healing (Acts 3:11-26).  Not only did Peter and John have an opportunity to share with those gathered for prayer at the Temple but since this miracle occurred on the Temple grounds, it has received the attention of the religious leaders at the Temple.  The reaction of these leaders was to arrest Peter, John, and the healed lame man but instead of viewing this arrest as negative, they viewed it as an opportunity to bravely declare Jesus Christ to these leaders.  A world in chaos presents many opportunities to share our peace and joy in Christ even in the middle of chaos, the question we must ask ourselves is will we bravely declare the source of our peace and joy, Jesus Christ or remain silent in fear. 

3)      Led by the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:8) – The bravery of Peter was not natural for him for he is the one who denied Christ three times (Luke 22:54-61; John 18:15-18; Mark 14:66-72; Matthew 26:69-75).  However, two momentous events have occurred in the life of Peter since his denial.  He has seen the risen Lord and received forgiveness and a calling to ministry (John 21:15-19).  Peter has also received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, empowering leading him in his ministry (Acts 2:1-13; 4:8).  It is the Holy Spirit within Peter that provides the bravery to declare and not deny Christ and the discernment to recognize the opportunity to share Christ even when arrested.  As believers, we must live lives empowered and led by the Holy Spirit to have both the bravery and discernment to declare Christ when the opportunity arises. 

4)      Determined (Acts 4:13-22) – The religious leaders are perplexed for the proof that a miracle had occurred was standing with Peter and John (Acts 4:14).  The only thing the religious leaders could do as warn Peter, John, and the healed lame man not to speak of Jesus anymore.  While we do not know about the healed lame man, Peter and John did not heed the warning and continued to share the Gospel and were even arrested for their faith (Acts 12:1-5; Revelation 1:9).  Peter and John were determined to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ by spreading the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  For the Church today to become a transforming force in a community in chaos, believers and leaders in the Church must have this same level of determination. 

Believers in Christ living in today's chaotic world must have the same level of boldness demonstrated by Peter, John, and the healed lame man.  Believers must be brave and take advantage of opportunities to share their faith.  However, their bravery must come from the empowerment and leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Believers must also have a tenacious determination to share Christ and make disciples from the empowerment of the Holy Spirit within them.  If you are reading this and do not have the peace and joy of a relationship with Jesus Christ as your savior, 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.

Romans 10:9-10 encourages us to make our profession of faith public so I encourage you to respond with a comment to this post that you have made a public profession of faith, call a friend or family member who is a believer, or share this post with others.  I also encourage you to become involved in a church teaching the Bible or a Bible Study to learn more about Christ.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Preparation for Revival: Covenant, Consecration, and Commission

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Joshua 5:1-15

Joshua 5:13-14

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” ¹⁴ And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped^[c] and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”

(ESV)

Wallet, phone, keys, used to be my checklist as I walked out of the house each morning to go to work.  One of the changes due to Covid19 is the checklist now includes a mask as wearing a mask when in public is now mandatory in Arizona.  While wearing a mask is uncomfortable, especially when it is 110 degrees outside which is typical this time of year in Arizona, I comply to protect others I come into contact with during the day and as an example to others.  The mask has come to symbolize both a willingness to protect oneself, and others from a potentially deadly virus, but it can also symbolize fear.  While fear is not from the Lord (2 Timothy 1:7), those that do not know Christ can become dominated by fear as they see no hope in eradicating Covid19 or the racial tensions and violence in our communities.  A world in crisis needs Jesus but the Church must do a better job of communicating the Gospel message by practicing the three C’s of preparation for revival, covenant, consecration, and commission

1)      Covenant (Joshua 5:1-9) – The word covenant is not commonly used in our modern culture, but a search of the word covenant results in 316 results in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible.  The word contract would be the equivalent of the word in modern language because covenant represents a legal term of an agreement between two parties.  The first use of the word covenant in the Bible is Genesis 6:18 where God tells Noah He will establish a covenant with him.  The symbol of God’s covenant with Noah is the rainbow, reminding Noah and us that God will never again destroy the earth with a flood (Genesis 9:11).  Another covenant mentioned in the Bible is the covenant God made with Abraham where he promised Abraham an heir and the Promised Land (Genesis 15).  The symbol to confirm Abraham’s and his heir’s dedication to keep the covenant was the act of circumcision (Genesis 17:1-14).  Joshua and Israel have entered the land promised to Abraham but before proceeding further and engaging the current occupants of the land must the people must establish their dedication to the Abrahamic covenant (Joshua 5:1-9).  The Church operates under the covenant of Grace symbolized by the shed blood of Christ (Matthew 26:28) and remembered with the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).  The symbol of one’s dedication to this covenant of grace is baptism where one makes a public profession of faith in Jesus as his or her savior (Colossians 2:6-15).  The first step in preparation for revival is a renewed dedication to the covenant of God’s grace through Christ. 

2)      Consecration (Joshua 5:10-12) – The act of consecration in the Bible is setting something apart in service to God.  The word consecrate occurs 80 times in the ESV with the first use in Exodus 13:2 where Moses tells the Israelites to consecrate their firstborn who were spared while the Egyptian firstborn died.  The next mention of the word occurs in Exodus 19:10 where the Lord tells Moses to have the people consecrate themselves before the Lord comes down on Mount Sinai to give Moses the Law (Exodus 19:16-20).  The priests, items in the Temple, and even the garments of the priests were consecrated or set apart to serve the Lord (Leviticus 8).  In Joshua 5:10-12, the Israelites celebrate their first Passover in the Promised Land.  This celebration of the Passover indicates their desire to consecrate themselves to worship God in the Promised Land.  In response to this consecration, the land produces food for the Israelites, ending the need for Manna.  The Church must follow the example of the Israelites now entering the Promised Land and after repentance and dedication to the covenant of God’s grace through Christ, consecrate themselves to serve God by spreading the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). 

3)      Commission (Joshua 5:13-15) – With the covenant renewed through circumcision and the Israelites consecrating themselves to the Lord by honoring their first Passover in the Promised Land, the scene shifts to Joshua standing before Jericho.  While the Bible does not record Joshua’s thoughts as he stands by Jericho, God does send the commander of the army of the Lord to him with a drawn sword.  Any doubts Joshua may have leave as Joshua falls on his face before the man in worship.  The commander of the Lord’s army then tells Joshua to take off his sandals for he is on holy ground like what the Lord told Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:5).  Both the burning bush experience of Moses and Joshua’s encounter with the commander of the Lord’s army are an encounter with God before embarking on the beginning of carrying out the will of God in their lives.  The early church also experienced an encounter with God in the upper room before embarking on its ministry (Acts 1:4, 8; Acts 2:1-13).  In all three of these instances, God commissions Moses, Joshua, and the Church and provides what they will need to complete the mission God has called them to.  For Moses, this was a staff through which God would demonstrate His power (Exodus 4:1-17).  For Joshua it was allowing him to see the commander of the Lord’s army giving him confidence knowing the army of the Lord would be with him as he battled the enemies in the Promised Land, beginning with Jericho (Joshua 5:13-15).  For the Church, it was receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-13).  God has a ministry or mission for every believer and does not leave us powerless in carrying out that mission but provides what we need. 

The unprecedented nature of what is occurring in the world today requires extraordinary measures like wearing a mask in public.  When wearing a mask in public, it is important for God’s people not to do so out of fear but to do so to protect themselves and others as they carry out the mission of spreading the Gospel (Mark 16:15) and making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).  When carrying out God’s mission, it is important to renew the covenant of grace by repenting of any sin in our lives, the consecration of ourselves to God as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), and to go under the empowerment and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  We must always remind ourselves that a world in crisis needs Jesus and needs each of us to share the truth of the Gospel that will set people free (John 8:32). 

Seeking and Accepting Jesus

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Acts 3:11-26

Acts 3:16

And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus^[b] has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

(ESV)

During times of crisis or struggle, it is normal for people to seek answers.  Where we turn when seeking answers indicates where we place our faith and trust.  During the present Covid19 crisis people are understandably turning to professionals in the healthcare industry for answers.  However, the magnitude of this crisis is something the world has never experienced before so these professionals are relying on models and conjecture which have been wrong.  This does not mean the disease is not serious for people are dying from it but those turning the healthcare professionals for answers experience fear which is not from God and leads to bad decisions as opposed to decisions made with soundness of mind (2 Timothy 1:7). 

Racism does exist for the corrupt hearts of people can harbor hatred of people of certain ethnicities or cultures.  However, one does not combat racism with more racism.  All lives matter to God for not only did he create all humanity, but he also died for them even though they are sinners (Romans 5:8).  The death of George Floyd was murder and unjustified igniting racial tensions in the United States and other parts of the world.  The peaceful protests of some are constitutional according to the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution but when these protests become riotous and destructive, it becomes lawless and indicates people placing their faith in violence and destruction for an answer to their problems. 

Both the lame beggar at the Temple and those gathered at the Temple for prayer have problems and turn to different people for an answer (Acts 3:11-26).  However, where these people turn for answers to their problems is insufficient to handle the main problem in their lives, sin.  From where these individuals turn for answers provides a lesson on how different people handle problems in life, 

1)      The accepter (Acts 3:2) – These individuals are like the lame beggar who had settled into a routine in life where he depended on others to take him to the Temple each day to beg for alms to sustain him.  When the lame beggar received healing through the ministry of Peter and John, his routine was disrupted and he clung to Peter and John (Acts 3:11) out of gratitude, not worship, for his initial reaction after receiving healing was to praise God (Acts 3:8).  The presence of Covid19 has caused many to speak of a new normal society must accept.  People are being asked to accept staying at home and not have any physical contact or connection with others as a new normal.  Just as a man begging at the Temple gate for money for his daily needs is not normal, neither is living sheltered at home with no physical connection to others.  Peter and John pointed the lame man to Jesus, the source of his healing.  Jesus should be who we turn to in crisis and not the acceptance of the crisis as some new normal in our lives but instead an opportunity for God to demonstrate His power in our lives. 

2)      The seeker (Acts 3:11) – Those gathered at the Temple for the hour of prayer appear to be there to pray and seek God.  However, when witnessing a miracle of healing, they quickly approached Peter and John to worship them believing they had some special power to heal the lame man.  The truth is these individuals had the appearance of seeking God but would follow anyone appearing to have the answer to their problems.  People are running to science, government, and activists during Covid19 and racial strife who claim to have the answers.  As these institutions fail to provide answers, people fall into despair, depression, and even resort to violence.  Instead of falling into despair, depression, and commission of acts of violence, these individuals need Jesus who has the power to heal and protect people from Covid19 and eliminate racism in the hearts of people.  If you are a seeker, I encourage you to seek a personal relationship with God by making a profession of faith in Jesus as Savior instead of answers from flawed human institutions.  If you have not done so, I encourage you to make a profession of faith in Jesus as your Savior by praying with me now,

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

Peter and John pointed the accepter and seekers they encountered when going to the Temple for the hour of prayer by pointing them to Jesus.  The beggar had accepted his lot in life by daily sitting at the gate of the Temple begging for alms.  Begging is not what God intends for His children, and not what God intended as normal for the lame man (Psalm 37:25).  By pointing the lame man to Jesus so he could receive healing, the lame man received healing, and instead of begging, began to praise God (Acts 3:8).  The seekers were seeking something and believed they had found it in Peter and John.  However, Peter and John pointed these seekers to Jesus, the source of the lame man’s healing (Acts 3:13-26).  The only accepting needed for a child of God is to accept Jesus as savior (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10).  The only seeking one must do is seek a relationship with God through Christ (Psalm 42:1-2).  I encourage everyone reading this to move from an accepter or seeker to a believer in Christ, the source of joy in crisis (Romans 8:18).    

Established by the Finished Work of Christ

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Joshua 4:11-24

Joshua 4:14

On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.

(ESV)

Today is July 4.  In parts of the world other than the United States, the day is just another day but in the United States, it is a day when the citizens of the United State celebrate their independence from Great Britton.  (1)  This is the genuine history of the founding of the United States supported by the Declaration of Independence on display at the National Archives.  Unfortunately, those with an agenda to remove from history the genuine founding of the United States are attempting to rewrite the history of the United States by removing monuments serving as reminders of the nation’s founding and citing the founding of the nation as August 1619.  (2)  It is false teaching like the 1619 project that is behind the rioting and tearing down of monuments in the United States, teaching that must be fought with the truth supported by the nation’s founding document.  I recommend reading the Declaration of Independence today, a copy of which is provided here, and sharing it with children.  From the foundation of understanding how the United States was established makes it possible to understand why citizens of the United States place such a high value on liberty. 

The declaration of independence for the nation of Israel would be when God parted the Red Sea, allowing the nation of Israel to cross over on dry land, with the Egyptians seeking to re-enslave them drowned as the waters of the Red Sea returned to their place (Exodus 14).  However, Israel now has a new leader and while the people have pledged to do all that Joshua commands, some may have had doubts about whether Joshua had the same calling from God to lead Israel as his predecessor, Moses (Joshua 1:16-17).  Knowing these doubts, God is about to establish Joshua as a leader by stopping the Jordan so Israel can cross over into the promised land on dry land just as they did at the Red Sea (Joshua 4).  In Joshua 4:11-24 God,

1)      Establishes Joshua as the leader (Joshua 4:14) – The second part of Joshua 1:17 indicates there was doubt among the people of Israel regarding whether he had the same calling to lead Israel as his predecessor Moses.  The stopping of the Jordan resembled the parting of the Red Sea, is a story many of the next generation of Israelites crossing the Jordan had heard many times.  Seeing this miracle occur under the leadership of Joshua would have eliminated any doubt about God’s calling on Joshua, establishing him as Israel’s new leader.  The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are what establishes Jesus as the Messiah and the savior from our sins.  Those that saw Him after his death, like Thomas, had their doubts eliminated (John 20:24-29).  Jesus is established as Christ and Messiah because the tomb where they laid Him is empty.

2)      Demonstrates His grace (Ephesians 2:8) – The generation of Israel crossing the Jordan are the successors of the generation God said would not cross the Jordan due to their rebellion (Numbers 14:20-23).  Those crossing the Jordan in Joshua 4 are their children and while not perfect and subject to rebellion, can cross over to the Promised Land because of God’s grace.  God is still full of grace and saves us by his grace and not our works.  

3)      Encourages His people while bringing fear on the enemies of His people (Joshua 4:24) – While the stopping of the Jordan had as its main purpose encouragement for the people of Israel through the provision of dry land for the Israelites to cross over on, it also instilled fear in the people of Jericho who had heard of how God parted the Red Sea (Joshua 2:10).  Seeing something similar occurring on the Jordan instilled fear for they knew they were facing a God more powerful than their army.  When Jesus ascended to be with God the Father, the angels reminded those watching that Jesus would return just as he left (Acts 1:11).  The promise of the return of Christ is a source of encouragement for the Church today (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) but also brings fear on those that do not know Christ facing the prospect of eternal separation from God (John 3:17-18). 

The good news is that there is no need to fear condemnation for our salvation is not based on our works (Ephesians 2:8) but available for the asking (Romans 10:9-10).  If you are reading this and have not made a profession of faith in Jesus as Savior, there is no better time than Independence Day to declare your independence from sin in your life.  Please pray with me now to make a profession of faith in 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.

Congratulations on your profession of faith in Jesus Christ as savior.  You now have forgiveness from your sins but to enjoy the fullness of your liberation from sin requires learning the truth for it is the truth that sets us free (John 8:32).  For those professing faith in Jesus as their savior, the truth is the Bible.  To experience the fullness of liberation from sin requires finding a church or Bible study teaching the Bible so the truth continues its liberating work in your life.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

1. One Minute History. 4th of July - History of American Independence Day - One Minute History. www.youtube.com. [Online] One Minute History, July 22, 2017. [Cited: July 3, 2020.] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRLRKNXVuTY.

2. The New York Times Magazine. The 1619 Project. nytimes.com. [Online] The New York Times Magazine, August 2019. [Cited: July 3, 2020.] https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html.

Modeling Christ

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Acts 3:1-10

Mark 16:17-18

And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

(ESV)

Role models are usually equated with entertainers, athletes, musicians, and other public figures that are visible in media.  While these individuals have a presence in media and are viewed by millions, they should not be the most influential role models in our lives.  This is because they are flawed individuals who will do something that disappoints people holding them in high esteem.  Acts 3:1-10 provides an account of the ministry of Peter and John after the ascension of Christ and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  The activities of Peter and John recorded in this passage of scripture show that their role model was not some flawed individual but Jesus Christ. 

In this account, we see Peter and John approaching the Temple at the time of prayer.  While one can pray from anywhere, Peter and John went to the temple to let those in the Jewish community in Jerusalem know that they had not abandoned their Jewish roots.  They are also modeling Jesus who went throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues (Matthew 4:23) and frequently took time to pray (Mark 1:35; 6:46; Matthew 14:23).  This habit of regular fellowship with God and others provides opportunities for ministry by,

1)      Providing intimacy with God through prayer and the Word (Acts 3:1) – While Peter and John knew they had access to God from anywhere due to the presence of God in their lives in the person of the Holy Spirit, they still went to the Temple at the hour of prayer.  One reason for this may have been to mingle with other Jewish people who may not have been believers in Jesus as their Messiah.  However, they were also modeling Jesus who took the time to frequently pray and have intimacy with God the Father (Mark 1:35; 6:46; Matthew 14:23).  Scripture does not record Jesus taking time to study the Word, only reading it in the synagogues (Matthew 4:23).  The reason for this is that Jesus is the Word (John 1:1) and has no need to study Himself.  Peter and John did not go to the Temple that day to perform a miracle of healing but to have intimacy with God. 

2)      Positions us for Spirit-led opportunities for ministry (Acts 3:2-4) – Even though Peter and John went to the Temple for intimacy with God, God arranged circumstances that presented an opportunity for ministry to a man lame from birth.  However, this arrangement of circumstances was no guarantee a miracle would happen for Peter and John had to be willing to minister.  The lame man asked Peter and John for alms and they answered him honestly by telling him they had no silver or gold to give him.  They could have then simply walked away to go in and pray.  However, they had something much more valuable than gold or silver to offer this man, his healing in the name of Jesus.  Opportunities to minister to others are all around us, especially during this time of crisis in our world.  The question we must ask ourselves is are we allowing the Holy Spirit to open our spiritual eyes to see opportunities to minister the love of Christ to people who may be depressed or in despair over what is happening in the world today. 

3)      Presentation of the Gospel as the Holy Spirit leads (Acts 3:5-7) – Similar to the miracle of speaking in tongues that occurred at Pentecost, this miracle filled the people at the Temple with wonder and amazement.  In next Wednesday’s posting, we will see what occurred after the miracle and how Peter and John used this miracle to present the Gospel message (Acts 3:11-26). 

In Acts 3:1-10, we see Peter and John modeling Jesus and God arranging an opportunity for them to minister.  Thankfully for the lame man, Peter and John were sensitive to the leadership of the Spirit in their lives and did not just pass the man by since they had no silver or gold to offer him but instead stopped to minister to his need.  Perhaps you are reading this posting and need a miracle in your life.  Perhaps you are among many in the world experiencing depression or despair over the events occurring in the world today.  My prayer is that you would find the peace of God in your life and I encourage you to read Psalm 23 for it is a great psalm of comfort in a time of need. 

I urge those reading this who have never made a profession of faith in Jesus as the savior in their lives to pray with me now to receive complete forgiveness of sin (1 John 1:9) and eternal life (John 3:16). 

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.

These are unparalleled times of crisis that can leave those without hope in Jesus depressed or in despair.  For those believing in Jesus as their savior, there is an eternal hope a world in crisis needs to hear.  This requires modeling the joy of the Lord in their lives in a time of crisis and being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit to minister the love of Christ into the lives of others.  Will you join me in praying that the Church follows the leading of the Holy Spirit and begins ministering the love of Christ and the Gospel to a world in need.