When Bad Turns Good

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Luke 23

 

Isaiah 26:3

You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.

(ESV)

 

One’s perspective on a situation determines how one will react to the situation when in it.  Unfortunately, without the benefit of seeing into the future, our reaction is generally in the perspective of the now of the situation.  However, God does know the future and has a unique perspective for He knows the outcome and is not surprised at any situation that comes up.  The challenge for those that have made Jesus the Lord of their lives is to learn to react to situations from a godly perspective of faith in God that the outcome will be for our good (Jeremiah 29:11).  When it comes to Good Friday, we have the benefit of hindsight, knowing that the death of Jesus would turn to celebration three days later and that Jesus’ death would provide atonement for sin and eternal life (Romans 5:8).  From this perspective of hindsight, we can learn valuable lessons as we look at the reactions of those present at the first Good Friday.

 

1)      The followers of Jesus – Grief and fear at the loss of the one they believed was Messiah and the fear they would be the next people crucified:  The twelve disciples had invested three and one-half years of their lives with Jesus.  During that time, they had seen many miracles, heard wise teaching from Jesus, including parables that they could easily remember.  Among those teachings was telling the disciples He would die and rise again in three days (Mark 8:31; Matthew 16:21).  Their failure to take the words of Jesus to heart led to their feeling grief, thinking Jesus was permanently gone and fear that they would be left alone to face persecution from the Jews and Romans.  While Jesus would ascend to be with the Father after His resurrection (Acts 1:6-11), God the Father then sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of those choosing to believe in Jesus as their Savior so they would never be alone (Acts 2:1-13). 

2)      The Pharisees and religious leaders - Joy and fear at the elimination of a threat but fear Jesus’ followers would take his body and claim His resurrection:  The elation seen on Palm Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem would soon turn to cries from the crowd to crucify Jesus with the Pharisees leading the charge (Mark 15:11).  The ease with which the Pharisees could stir up the crowd was possibly due to unreasonable expectations that Jesus was Messiah and upon entering Jerusalem would establish His world government.  However, instead of entering the palace of Pilate, Jesus entered the Temple and turned the tables over, exposing their use of the Temple as a place of trade (Mark 11:15-19).  The death of Jesus would mean the end of the threat from the one that overturned the tables and the accusation of turning the Temple into a den of robbers.  However, they also heard Jesus speak of rebuilding the Temple in three days (John 2:19) and may have understood Jesus was talking about His body (John 2:21-22) and that after His death He would resurrect from the dead.  This explains why they felt the need to have Roman guards guard the tomb out of fear some of Jesus’ followers would steal the body and create the rumor of Jesus’ resurrection (Matthew 27:62-66).    

3)      The Romans – Satisfaction at preventing a potential riot but fear a riot could happen should the body of Jesus disappear from the tomb:  When Pilate witnessed an angry crowd calling for the crucifixion of Jesus, he turned Jesus over to be crucified even though he found nothing to accuse Jesus of that was worthy of crucifixion (Matthew 27:24-26).   Pilate did this out of fear there would be a riot.  While the death of Jesus might have stopped a potential riot, bringing satisfaction to the Roman officials, talk of Jesus’ followers stealing the body and creating rumors of Jesus’ resurrection created fear there would be trouble and why Pilate agreed to assign guards to Jesus’ tomb. 

 

The Romans and religious leaders heard and understood Jesus’ claims he would rise from the dead in three days more than Jesus’ own followers.  In three days, the followers of Jesus will see their risen Messiah and have their grief and fear vanish while the joy and satisfaction of the religious leaders and Romans will turn to fear the resurrection of Jesus will mean an even greater threat for the religious leaders and more trouble for the Roman government. 

 

The followers of Jesus, the Jewish religious leaders, and the Roman soldiers were in the middle of a momentous event but at the moment experienced grief, joy, and satisfaction.  These unprecedented times can cause us to experience emotions like those experienced during the first Good Friday.  While it is difficult to see any good in what is happening from our perspective, we must remember that what is happening now is no surprise to God and part of His plan.  We therefore must remain focused on our relationship with God through prayer and study of the Word of God.  This will not only prepare us for what lies ahead but also help us maintain our missional focus as a Church, spreading the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). 

 

Sin, Treachery, and Repentance

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Jeremiah 8:4-17

 

Jeremiah 8:16

I have paid attention and listened,
    but they have not spoken rightly;
no man relents of his evil,
    saying, ‘What have I done?’
Everyone turns to his own course,
    like a horse plunging headlong into battle.

(ESV)

 

As the celebration of Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday approaches, we should take a moment to thank God for His grace.  When Adam and Eve sinned, God could have evicted them from the Garden and never had anything to do with them again but instead made the promise of a future Savior (Genesis 3:15).  While humanity could have received God’s judgment, God extended humanity His grace, manifested in Jesus Christ (John 1:14) who conquered death (Romans 6:9) giving those that choose to believe in Him eternal life (John 3:16).  I encourage everyone reading this to take time during the celebration of Resurrection Sunday to thank God for His grace. 

 

Judah has chosen to live in sin and treachery that has become detestable with the offering of their children as sacrifices to the pagan god Molech (2 Chronicles 28:3; Jeremiah 7:31).  The sin and treachery of Judah has caused God to,

 

1)      Grieve (Jeremiah 8:4-5) – God is grieved in His heart because instead of getting up after a fall or turning back after going away from God, Judah has chosen to continue in their sin and backsliding from God.  In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), the typical focus is on the younger son who walked away from his father's house, wasting away his inheritance (Luke 15:11-13).  However, the father was equally grieved at the older son who refused to be part of the celebration of the younger son's return (Luke 15:25-32).  Similarly, the people of Judah have grieved God with their sin and treachery but unlike the younger prodigal son who returned from his sin, they continue with their sinful practices.  To make matters worse, they believe God’s grace means they will not suffer any repercussions for their duplicitous living (Jeremiah 7:8-10). 

2)      Extend grace (Jeremiah 8:6-7) – Even in a perpetual state of backsliding against God, God listens to what they say, waiting to hear words of repentance from the treachery of their sin but God only hears their intention to continue in their sin (Jeremiah 8:6).  This is an extension of God’s grace toward His people but instead of repentance, God sees his people continue their course of sin and treachery.  While we should be thankful for God’s grace, to continue in sin after receiving leniency through the grace of God is an abuse of God’s grace.  God’s grace is not something to use as an excuse to sin but rather something to be thankful for as we strive to live in holiness (Romans 6:1-11). 

3)      Grudgingly judge Judah’s sin and treachery (Jeremiah 8:8-17) – God, who knows the hearts of His people realizes there is no possibility of repentance due to the stubbornness of the hearts of the people of Judah.  As the father of the Prodigal Son, God is about to turn the people of Judah over to the consequences of their sin.  Like the younger prodigal son who came to repentance after finding himself slopping pigs, the people of Judah will come to repentance after 70 years in Babylonian exile (Ezra 1).  God is a God of love but must use tough love like the father of the prodigal sons, allowing them to suffer for a time until they realize they need to repent and turn to God. 

 

The people of Judah have grieved God with their detestable practices (2 Chronicles 28:3; Jeremiah 7:30-31) and want to continue living in their sin and treachery against God (Jeremiah 8:6).  Yet God continues to show them grace, waiting to hear His people repent of their sin (Jeremiah 8:6) at which time God would graciously forgive their sins and accept them back (2 Chronicles 7:14).  God was right in saying they do not know the rules of the Lord (Jeremiah 8:7), but it is possible they knew these rules in the head but failed to adopt them in their hearts, making them a way of life.  This failure to adopt God’s word in their hearts has led to leading a duplicitous life of believing they have peace with God through their vast knowledge of the Word of God and yet lack wisdom by failing to adopt God’s law as a way of life (Jeremiah 8:9,11).  This leaves God with no choice but to grudgingly pass judgment upon the people of Judah in accordance with Deuteronomy 28:15-68, bringing them to repentance and restoration. 

 

Many Churches today are like the Laodicean Church, lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, causing the Lord to spit them out of his mouth (Revelation 3:15-16).  While mega Churches with large facilities and many attending services both in-person and online may appear hot, the message is cold for it is absent any mention of sin and the need to repent of that sin.  Leaders in the early Church like Peter and John would boldly speak out (Acts 3:11-26) and declare the Gospel even when told to stop (Acts 4:16-21).  So effective was the early church at spreading the Gospel, the world saw them as a transformative force in the world (Acts 17:6).  The Church in our times must repent of presenting a watered-down feel-good message designed to increase attendance and contributions and get back to the presentation of the life-changing message of the Gospel for that is its godly mission (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). 

 

In obedience to this mission, I invite anyone reading this who has not accepted the gift of grace offered by God through the death, burial, and resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ, 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 God bless everyone reading this post, especially those who just prayed and are beginning their walk in newness of life through belief in Jesus as their Lord.  I encourage everyone that just prayed to find a Church teaching the Bible so they can associate with other believers and learn from God’s word what it means to serve their new Lord, Jesus Christ. 

Opposition in Corinth

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 18:1-17

 

Acts 18:9-10

And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, ¹⁰ for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

(ESV)

 

When we find something we like and have passion for, it is difficult when we meet someone who opposes what we like.  I happen to like auto racing and have met those who believe it is boring to watch a bunch of cars go in a circle around a track.  My comeback to these individuals is usually that an auto race must be experienced in person to be appreciated.  This is because the sound, the crowd, and the smell of the tires cannot be experienced on TV and are what make the race exciting.  However, there will always be those that do not share my passion for auto racing. 

 

The Apostle Paul had both a passion for the Lord Jesus and his fellow Jews.  This is why he would spend time going to the synagogues in each city he visited and spent time trying to persuade both Jews and Greeks that Jesus was the Christ.  Paul must have been highly persuasive in Corinth for even the ruler of the synagogue and his household believed (Acts 18:8).  Perhaps feeling some anxiety at having the ruler of the synagogue convert to Christianity, the Lord gives Paul a vision where the Lord tells him not to fear and to continue speaking (Acts 18:9). 

 

If Paul was thinking there would be potentially dangerous opposition, he was correct for the Jews made a united attack against Paul, dragging him to the tribunal of Gallio (Acts 18:12).  The hope was that they would be able to convince the tribunal Paul was persuading people to worship God contrary to Roman law (Acts 18:13).  In accordance with the promise made by the Lord, Gallio sees through the scheme of the Jews and determines Paul is not stirring up any insurgency against Roman law but is presenting words and promoting the name of Jesus which is not contrary to Roman law but a theological dispute between Paul and the Jews, something he was not authorized to rule on (Acts 18:14-15).  The Apostle Paul obeyed the Lord and did not remain silent, staying in Corinth for a year and one-half teaching the Word of God. 

 

This has application to the Church today, especially in nations like the United States where constitutional law prohibits state-sponsored persecution of people based on religion.  While this has prevented hard persecution of Churches that results in physical harm, relegating persecution to soft persecution or rejection by friends and family, government leaders are considering legal statutes requiring Churches to engage in activities prohibited by God’s Word or face criminal charges.  One such proposed legal statute is H.R.5 that has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is now under consideration in the U.S Senate.  Under this legislation facilities, including Church facilities, cannot discriminate against entry into the facility due to sexual orientation.  While the Church is an open place for all to come and hear about Jesus and study the Bible from all sexual orientations, the law also prohibits discrimination for employment.  This means Churches may be required to hire people with a sexual orientation violating the principles of God’s Word (Romans 1:26-27).  This could also require Churches to conduct gay weddings or face legal repercussions.  These repercussions may not necessarily be time in jail or a fine but could involve loss of the tax-exempt status for Churches, something that could be financially devastating for some Churches. 

Since the U.S. Senate is currently split 50-50, striking down this legislation only requires all 50 Republican Senators standing firm in voting against this unconstitutional legislation and convincing at least 1 Democrat Senator to vote no.  I therefore urge everyone reading this to write their senator, urging them to vote no on H.R.5.  You can use the link in the right pane of this page to find your senator and write or call them.  It is time for God’s people to take a stand against this attempt at state-sponsored persecution of the Church, so I urge everyone reading this to take a moment and take a stand. 

We live in a fallen world and opposition to the Word of God is something believers must expect.  While no one likes to have someone oppose something they are passionate about, believers must, like Paul, become proficient at persuading people to believe in Christ.  Fortunately, this does not require a high level of theological education, unless you are addressing religious intellectuals like Paul for the Samaritan woman was effective due to her passion (John 4:39). 

 

The fallen world in which we live needs revival and a return to Godliness.  Opposition to revival will always exist, requiring the Church to be,

 

1)      Fearless (2 Timothy 1:7)

2)      Speaking truth (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20)

3)      Not silent (Acts 4:18-20)

 

May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Suffering the Consequences

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Jeremiah 7:30-8:3

 

John 3:17-18

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

(ESV)

 

The sons of Judah have exhausted God’s grace through ignoring God’s many calls to repent and turn back to God.  However, God remains gracious and gives Judah another opportunity to repent by providing details of one of the detestable things they have done in their land and the consequences it will bring.  We find these details in Jeremiah 7:31 describing the sacrifices at the high places of Topheth where they sacrificed their children to the pagan gods they choose to worship.  While we may read this passage and become appalled at how the sons of Judah could justify such brutality, it does not differ from the millions of unborn babies aborted each year at the altar of free sex and the elimination of an unwanted pregnancy.  While we are fortunate to have a gracious God, we must guard against exhausting God’s grace and suffering the full consequences of our sin.  God’s grace is not an excuse to sin but rather a provision of an opportunity to repent of sin (Romans 2:4-5).  May we not suffer the consequences of an unrepentant attitude of sin like Judah and instead develop an attitude of repentance, knowing God will forgive sin confessed from a repentant heart (1 John 1:9). 

 

The topic heading for Jeremiah 7:30-8:3 is the valley of slaughter.  This is a reference to the new name given to the Topheth, the Valley of the Son of Hinnom.  The Valley of the Son of Hinnom was located at the southern shoulder of Jerusalem (Joshua 15:8).  The changing of the name to the Valley of Slaughter is in reference to the defilement of the area due to the offering of children as offerings to Molech (2 Kings 23:10).  In addition to the detestable practice of offering their children to a pagan god, the area was a place where the sons of Judah practiced fortune-telling, omens, sorcery, dealing with mediums, and with necromancers or those practicing wizardry or magic (2 Chronicles 33:6). 

 

Those practicing these detestable acts in this location would have known the Lord was speaking to them, giving them an opportunity to repent and receive forgiveness by returning to the Lord (Deuteronomy 30:1-3).  However, they continue to ignore the warnings from God and will be buried in Topheth because there will be no room elsewhere with their bodies becoming food for the birds.  The cities of Judah and Jerusalem will also be silenced with no sound of mirth, gladness, or the voice of the bride or bridegroom.  With the benefit of hindsight, I find myself screaming at the page saying repent but know this is a historical account that I have no control over.  Instead, as we read this we must learn from the historical account and make sure we do not repeat the mistakes made by the sons of Judah.  Unfortunately, the murder of millions of unborn children through abortion indicates the historical lesson is ignored subjecting modern society to God’s judgment.  Please join me in praying society realizes how detestable the practice of abortion on demand is to God our creator and repent and stop the practice. 

 

The evil done by Judah will have consequences.  Judah has committed a detestable crime against God by setting detestable items of worship to other gods in the temple of the Lord where God dwelt during the Old covenant (Jeremiah 7:30).  They also practiced human sacrifices of their children at the high places of Topheth, something unheard of by God (Jeremiah 7:31).  The consequences or sentence God declares for these crimes is the bringing out of their bodies from their tombs, displaying their bones under the sun, moon, and hosts of heaven they have worshipped in place of God.  So angered is God with Judah’s detestable practices, he will not even gather or bury their bones but declares they will be as dung on the ground.  God warned Judah numerous times and yet they chose to ignore the warnings and must now suffer the consequences (Jeremiah 7:1-3). 

 

While grace from God is a wonderful thing making it possible for us to have salvation from our sins (Ephesians 2:8) it is also something we must not abuse.  While those with great and egregious sin may boast at receiving God’s grace, all need God’s grace for all have sinned (Romans 3:23).  Additionally, since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), to continue sinning after receiving salvation through a profession of faith in Jesus as savior is defiling the temple of God.  For revival to come in our world, the church must study God’s Word to lose conformity to the world and its sinful practices and lead transformed lives through the renewal of their minds by God’s Word (Romans 12:1-2).  God promises not to tempt His children to sin beyond what they can tolerate (1 Corinthians 10:13) so when tempted to sin look for the way out and consider the consequences.    

 

There are many detestable practices in the world today that will not end through the political system or some great human leader but only through the intervention of God.  God does not force Himself on people and only does so when asked so I want to take a moment to invite those who need Godly intervention in their lives to pray with me now to either accept Jesus as their savior for the first time or rededicate their lives to serving 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.

 

For those that just prayed, know that you are not under God’s condemnation but his grace for Jesus did not come the first time to judge the world but save it (John 3:17).  I now encourage everyone to share this post and blog with others that need Jesus in their lives so they can escape God’s condemnation and be saved by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8).  May God bless everyone reading this post and blog and continue praying for revival in our troubled world. 

Reasoning with Intellectuals.

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 17:16-34

 

Acts 17:16-18.

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.  ¹⁷ So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.  ¹⁸ Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him.  And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

(ESV)

 

I appreciate good acting in movies, especially when an actor or actress plays a part that goes against their core beliefs.  Such is the case for Kevin Sorbo in the movie God’s not dead where he plays the part of an atheistic professor asking his students to believe God is dead.  While most of the class goes along, one student decides to take a stand and challenge his professor.  This parallels what Paul accomplished in his interaction with the intellectuals in Athens in Acts 17:16-34, giving us a biblical pattern to follow when engaging with intellectuals in presenting the Gospel.  When in Athens, Paul,

 

1)      Observed the idolatry of the intellectuals in Athens (Acts 17:16,23) – While waiting for Silas and Timothy, Paul observed the city was full of idols and especially one idol with an inscription to the unknown god.  The Apostle Paul zeroed in on their belief in an unknown God by preaching Jesus who as God in the flesh (John 1:14) made God known to humanity and provides salvation from sin due to His death burial and resurrection (Romans 10:9-10).  This is something no idol made by human hands can accomplish (Acts 17:24-25).      

2)      Discerned their belief in many gods, even an unknown god (Acts 17:23) – The religion of the Greeks was pantheistic or a belief in many gods, even an unknown god.  Paul had a personal relationship with God and had a calling to take the Gospel to the Gentiles, including those in Athens.  To present the Gospel to the intellectuals in Athens, Paul determined to present Jesus as a previously unknown God who made himself known by becoming human (John 1:14).  Jesus then did the unthinkable by taking on the sins of humanity, even though he had no sin, and dying for their sins on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8).  He then resurrected from the dead so those believing in Him can have eternal life, sitting at the right hand of God as an advocate for those that believe in Him (John 3:16; 1 John 2:1).  Jesus is not an unknown god but God the creator that one can know personally and who wants to know us. 

3)      Introduced them to God who has made Himself known in Jesus (Acts 17:22-31) – When the intellectuals heard Paul’s teaching they wanted to know more and took Paul to hear more (Acts 17:19).  The Apostle Paul seized the opportunity and told them that God who made the world and everything in it and that a God this powerful could not be confined in a temple made by man (Acts 17:24).  While one could conclude that a God this big is unknowable, this previously unknowable God became flesh, making it possible for anyone to know Him personally through a profession of faith in His death burial, and resurrection (Romans 10:9-10).  One can then lose conformity to this world which separates one from a relationship with God and be transformed through the renewal of their mind by God’s Word (Romans 12:1-2). 

 

All individuals were created to worship something with even those that claim not to believe in God, or believe God is unknowable worshipping gods they do not know (Matthew 6:21).  These gods may be their high level of education, their associations with powerful people, or their powerful positions of leadership.  When one places their worship in these things, they will be disappointed for there is always more to learn, more powerful people to associate with, and power-hungry people seeking to remove one from the position of power.  It is only when one chooses to worship God, the creator of everything that one can worship and not experience disappointment.  This God is not unknown or unknowable for he became flesh (John 1:14) and took on the sins of humanity, even though he had no sin, died for humanities sins (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8), and resurrected from the dead so anyone believing in Him can have eternal life. 

 

Based on the arguments from Scripture presented by Paul, one with any level of intellect should conclude that the most logical decision one can make is to place their worship in God by professing faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Why would one logically decide not to worship God the creator of everything and instead, worship something created by man?  In the time of Paul, these created things were gold, silver, and stone monuments to unknown gods.  Today these gods can be a lust for power or elitism due to achieving a high level of education which are also creations of man.  I urge anyone reading this who has placed their trust in power or a lust for power or the elitism of their higher education to make the logical choice presented in Scripture and pray to accept Jesus as their Savior. 

 

For those that have not already done so, I invite you to know the unknown God by praying with me now,

 

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

 

May God bless everyone and may everyone become acquainted with the unknown God through prayer and study of His Word, the Bible. 

Becoming Living Sacrifices of Obedience.

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Jeremiah 7:1-29

 

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers,^[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.^[b] 2 Do not be conformed to this world,^[c] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

(ESV)

 

I have around a 30-minute commute to work each day and during that time I have my favorite Christian music station playing for this helps set a Godly tone for the day.  I thank God not only for the music written by musically talented individuals who love God and want to lift Him up in song but also for the technology that allows me to worship God from anywhere, including during my commute to work.  In telling the Samaritan woman that an hour was coming when it did not matter where or when one worships, He was telling us that the most important thing was who, what, and why one worships God (John 4:22-26).  The sin of the people of Judah was in stressing where they worshipped, the Temple (Jeremiah 7:4), and when they worshipped, during the prescribed times in the law, and not the God who dwelt in the Temple.  Had the people of Judah focused on God whose presence dwelt in the Temple and not the building and the sacrifices offered there, their behavior would have been obedience instead of rebellion. 

 

The evil in Judah has reached the boiling point, provoking the anger of the Lord.  But God, in His mercy, gives Judah another warning, allowing them to repent.  In this warning, Jeremiah tells the people about their,

 

1)      Deception (Jeremiah 7:4) – Jeremiah 7:4 says that the people of Judah had fallen for the deceptive words, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.”  While this is a statement of fact, Jeremiah 7:8-10 provides clarification, telling us that the Lord is speaking of their belief that as long as they went to the temple and participated in the sacrificial rituals, they would be delivered.  This is the deception for before the sacrificial rituals, God had given the ten commandments with the people of Israel swearing that they would only worship God (Exodus 20:3-6).  It is not following rituals or walking into a Church building that delivers someone but their willingness to live obediently to God and His Word. 

2)      Sinful behavior brought about by falling for this deception (Jeremiah 7:8-15) – The deceptive belief that one can live sinfully as long as they follow some ritual or go to some religious building or Church, provides permission to sin.  The deception is that it causes one to live obediently to religious rituals or a place rather than God Himself.  Jesus has fulfilled the sacrificial requirements for forgiveness from sin through His death and shed blood (Ephesians 2:8-9).  All one must do to receive this forgiveness from sin is make a confession of faith in Jesus’ death burial, and resurrection (Romans 10:9-10).  However, faith without works of obedience to God is a dead faith (James 2:20).  The balance of the Gospel is Jesus taking our death penalty on the cross (Romans 3:23; 6:23) followed by our committing our lives to live obediently to God’s Word and serving God in our lives (Romans 12:1-2). 

3)      Dire consequences from falling for deception (Jeremiah 7:21-29) – Falling for this deception will have dire consequences for Judah as they will go into exile as told in Deuteronomy 28:15-68.  This will lead to the destruction of the objects of their worship, the Temple, and the cessation of sacrificial rituals. 

 

The people of Judah have placed their faith in the Temple and the sacrifices offered there (Jeremiah 7:4) and forgotten to live and walk in obedience to God who dwells in the Temple (Jeremiah 7:22-23).  They are living a duplicitous life of carrying on the rituals of worshipping God in the Temple while also making offerings to false gods (Jeremiah 7:17-18).  This failure to obey, after numerous warnings (Jeremiah 7:25-26), has left God no choice but to pour out his wrath on the people and the land (Jeremiah 7:18-20).  God desires obedience over sacrifice (Hosea 6:6; Micha 6:6-8; Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7; 1 Samuel 15:22)

 

The sacrifice necessary for our salvation has been done and available to all who choose to believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 10:9-10).  Therefore, our sacrifice to God is not the offering of an animal of monetary offering but giving ourselves as a living sacrifice through living lives of obedience to God (Romans 12:1-2).  For revival and Godly transformation to occur in our mixed-up world, God’s people must become living sacrifices of obedience through the renewal of their minds through God’s Word.  In doing this, God’s people will be able to discern the will of God, and do what is good, acceptable, and perfect. 

Focused Instruments of Revival

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 17:1-15

 

Acts 17:6.

And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,

(ESV)

 

Turning their world upside down, that was the reputation Paul, Silas, and Timothy had established in their ministry.  While the Bible does not specifically tell us why they had gained this reputation, it could have something to do with the shaking of the prison in Philippi and a jailer who was saved, possibly spreading the word of his conversion (Acts 16:25-34).  However, the Jews commenting on how they had turned the world upside down did not mean it in a complementary manner and instead were trying to stir up trouble.  Paul, Silas, and Timothy were not attempting to turn their world upside down and instead had a focused purpose of declaring who Jesus was to both Jews and Gentiles in obedience to the Great Commission of Christ (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  Acts 17:1-15 provides a lesson on how to effectively share the Gospel.  The passage shows us,

 

1)      Method (Acts 17:1-3;10-12) – The method used by Paul when entering a new community was to find a synagogue and since he was a Pharisee, reason with the Jews over three sabbaths proving from scripture that Christ needed to die and rise from the dead and that Jesus is the Messiah.  So profound was his teaching that many Jews and even some Greeks came to believe (Acts 17:4;12), but not everyone (Acts 17:5).  While the Lord desires that none reject Him (2 Peter 3:9), the truth is some will, choosing eternal condemnation over God’s offer of eternal life (John 3:16-18).  However, this should not deter anyone from sharing how God has changed their life. 

2)      Acceptance and Rejection (Acts 17:5-6) – Just as the Lord shook the Macedonian jail, allowing Paul and Silas to be free, the message of the Gospel coming from the Apostle Paul would shake up the community, causing division over whether to accept or reject Jesus as Messiah.  While this shaking up in the community may seem destructive, deciding to accept Jesus as Messiah or Savior or to reject Him is a decision every individual must make.  This is because every individual has an eternal destiny and must decide where they will spend eternity.  For those choosing to accept Jesus as Messiah or Savior, the destination is eternity with God (John 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18).  For those choosing to reject Jesus, the destination is eternal condemnation and death (John 3:18). 

3)      Opposition forming (Acts 17:13) – So strong was the opposition to the teaching of Paul in Thessalonica, that it followed him to Berea.  However, even this mounting opposition did not deter Paul from his mission of bringing the gospel message wherever he went with him moving on to Athens and asking Silas and Timothy to join him there (Acts 17:14-15).  Paul, Silas, and Timothy gained a reputation of turning their world upside down by staying focused on sharing Jesus wherever they went. 

 

Paul, Silas, and Timothy allowed God to use them as instruments of revival and did not allow rejection or the stirring up of a mob to deter them from their mission.  The Church today must focus less on numbers, facilities, and running the church as an organization and more on the Church as an instrument of revival.  For those reading this who have not accepted Jesus as their Messiah of 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.

 

Congratulations to those that just prayed and know that your eternal destination is with Christ for eternity and not the eternal condemnation of death (John 3:16-18).  May God bless everyone reading this post and may every believer in Jesus as their savior become a focused instrument of revival in a world that is desperately seeking answers. 

The Choice: Repentance or Rejection

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Jeremiah 6:1-30

 

Jeremiah 6:8

Be warned, O Jerusalem,
    lest I turn from you in disgust,
lest I make you a desolation,
    an uninhabited land.”

(ESV)

 

My wife and I like game shows, in fact, it is a borderline addiction.  One of the most enjoyable parts of watching a game show is trying to correctly answer the question.  This can often lead to yelling at the TV when the contestant incorrectly answers an obvious question.  When reading about the exile of Judah and Israel after numerous warnings and the Law of God specifically spelling out the consequences of disobedience to God (Deuteronomy 28), it is easy to yell at the Bible as you read of their continued disobedience and a belief there will be no consequences.  However, these passages of Scripture are not there for us to yell at but as a lesson reminding us of the consequences of rebellion and disobedience to God. 

 

Israel and Judah have continued to rebel against God and refused to turn back to Him after many warnings.  Jeremiah 6 is a warning of impending disaster coming against Jerusalem due to their continued disobedience and begins with Jeremiah telling the people of Benjamin to blow the trumpet in Tekoa and raise a signal on Beth-haccherem for disaster from the north is looming.  The details provided in this passage tell us that the attack from the north will,

 

1)      Not occur without warning (Jeremiah 6:1-8) – God is a God of mercy and grace and will not subject His people to wrath without warning.  The attackers have the destruction of the palaces in Jerusalem in mind with the shepherds coming with their flocks and pitching their tents around Jerusalem (Jeremiah 6:3-5).  God compares Jerusalem’s refusal to turn from their evil to one keeping water fresh in a well, with Jerusalem keeping evil in the well of their hearts (Jeremiah 6:7).  Their hearts of evil will result in God making the land desolate and uninhabited (Jeremiah 6:8). 

2)      Be complete destruction (Jeremiah 6:9-15) – The northern invaders will take the inhabitants of the land prisoner like one gleaning the grapes on the vine (Jeremiah 6:9).  Continued failure to heed warnings from the Lord has filled the Lord with wrath, making the Lord weary from holding it back.  So full of wrath is the Lord that he is going to pour it out on all the inhabitants of the land with them taken into exile (Jeremiah 6:10-11).  The invaders will also take over the houses of those driven into exile (Jeremiah 6:12).  God then reminds the people that all the destruction was avoidable had they been ashamed of their rebellion and repented, turning back to the Lord (Jeremiah 6:13-15). 

3)      Was avoidable (Jeremiah 6:16-17) – The warning of impending disaster ends with the Lord asking the inhabitants of Jerusalem to seek the ancient paths where the good way is and where they can find rest for their souls (Jeremiah 6:16).  However, they continue to refuse to heed the warnings from the Lord and will suffer the consequences of their rebellion and disobedience (Jeremiah 6:17). 

4)      Provides an example to anyone choosing to ignore God (Jeremiah 6:18-30) – Even though Israel, Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem are God’s chosen people, this does not exclude them from the need to live in obedience to the Lord.  The people in the time of Jeremiah’s prophecies were living under the law with the requirement to live in obedience to every statute commanded in the law (Deuteronomy 28:15).  While the Church does not live under the law but the new covenant of grace, it does have a calling to share the Gospel and make disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  Unfortunately, many Churches focus more on numerical growth, management of facilities, and finances and have lost sight of their mission to share the Gospel.  One benefit from Covid19 for the Church may be allowing the Church to focus less on nonessentials like numbers and facilities and more on the spiritual health of those in their communities who do not know Jesus as their Savior. 

 

If you are reading this post and are frustrated, angry, or depressed at what is occurring in the world, I invite you to take a moment to pray with me now to accept Jesus as your savior.  While the problems will remain after accepting Jesus as Savior, those accepting Jesus have the promise of eternity with God where there will be no struggles like occur in our world.  This gives one hope and provides a source of joy during these uncertain times.  For those frustrated, angry, or depressed readers who do not know Jesus as Savior, I invite you to pray 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 people of Judah have gone from the spiritual high of reformation under the leadership of Josiah (2 Kings 22-23:30), to the low of capture and exile (2 Kings 24:10-19).  Jeremiah 6 provides details of what is to come for Jerusalem unless they repent of their rebellion against God through their worship of other gods.  With this proclamation of pending disaster, the people of Judah have the choice of continued rejection and rebellion against God or repentance and returning to God with the promise of forgiveness and acceptance by God (Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10-14).  We have the benefit of historical hindsight and know Judah and Israel chose to reject prophetic warnings like this one and experienced exile for their sin (2 Kings 17:6-23; 25).  However, after a time of reflection while in exile, the people of Israel and Judah did repent and return to their land, demonstrating the continued grace of God (Ezra 2). 

 

The Church has a clear mission from God, to declare the Gospel (Mark 16:15), and make disciples of the nations (Matthew 28:19-20).  This message of the Gospel is not a message of condemnation for Jesus did not come to the world to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:17).  Instead, the message of the Gospel is a promise of eternal life for those choosing to believe (John 3:16).  The object of belief is Jesus Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 10:9-10) and does not require one having some great theological knowledge but a belief of the heart.  It is this simplistic heart belief the inspired the Samaritan woman to tell everyone in her town about Jesus, bringing revival (John 4:28-30).  I pray the Church will not use the message of the Gospel to condemn others but to point people to Christ, as the Samaritan woman did so they can come to Christ, believe, and be saved. 

Whole Lotta Shaken Going On

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 16:25-40

 

Acts 16:29-31.

And the jailer^[e] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹ And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

(ESV)

 

Although probably not something he expected when receiving the calling to minister in Macedonia, time in jail for his faith would become a regular occurrence in the life of Paul.  While unfortunate for him, during this time in jail, Paul wrote letters to the Churches he established which would become part of the New Testament.  The text of Acts 16:25-40 shows how God can change a negative situation into something that gives God glory, even time in jail. 

 

The parody band Apologetix describes the shaking in Macedonia in their parody song of Jailhouse Rock.  The shaking in Macedonia teaches us what we should do when we find ourselves in dire circumstances by teaching us to,

 

1)      Pray and worship God (Acts 16:25-26) – While people in prison under false accusations may pray, few would also be worshipping God and instead may complain about their situation, praying for God to open the prison door and to lose them from their chains.  James 1:2-4 reminds believers to consider it joy when they experience trials for it is in these times of trial that faith is tested and grows strong.  Even though this passage had not been written yet, Paul and Silas had spent time with the Apostles and could have heard this teaching from James (Acts 15:2).  When in a time of trial, it is important to pray but we must also worship God, remembering He is in control so our faith in God remains strong. 

2)      Not to run in fear (Acts 16:27-28) – Paul and Silas had the opportunity to run once the prison doors were open but to the surprise of the jailer were still in the prison.  Looking at the situation from a practical point of view, had they run, the authorities would have hunted them down and their situation would have been worse.  However, Paul and Silas also had a calling to minister to the people in Macedonia and now have an opportunity to minister to the jailer and his family. 

3)      Remain focused on sharing the Gospel (Acts 16:29-34) – The jailer trembles with fear at seeing Paul and Silas and asks what he must do to be saved.  Acts 16:25 tells us that the other prisoners were listening to Paul and Silas as they prayed and worshipped God, but perhaps the jailer was listening as well.  It is also possible the jailer understood the earthquake that opened the jail was a divine intervention and feared what might happen to him.  Paul and Silas remain true to their mission of taking the Gospel to the people of Macedonia and the Macedonian jailer is saved. 

4)      Stand up to and do not run from accusers (Acts 16:35-38) – Upon receiving a pardon from the magistrates, Paul and Silas could have left the city without any fear of repercussions from escaping the jail.  However, they had a calling to minister to the people of Macedonia and now have an opportunity to speak with the magistrates.  Paul reminds the magistrates how they publicly beat them and that they were Roman citizens.  This would have brought fear to these magistrates for they had exceeded the punishment allowed for Roman citizens.  To appease Paul and Silas and prevent any repercussions for falsely accusing and beating them, they apologize to them, escort them from the jail, and ask them to leave the city. 

5)      Give comfort and encouragement to other believers (Acts 16:39-40) – Although asked to leave Philippi, Paul and Silas go to Lydia where they see the other brothers in the city, encouraging them before leaving.  Encouraging the believers in the Churches Paul established was important to Paul and why he wrote letters, or epistles, to them even when in Jail.  One of these prison epistles is the book of Philippians where we get a glimpse of the encouragement Paul may have provided to the brothers in Philippi before leaving (Philippians 4:13,19). 

 

Paul and Silas have obeyed the call of God to minister in Macedonia and after the conversion of Lydia (Acts 16:11-15) and the casting out of a spirit of divination from a slave girl, find themselves in jail accused of disrupting the city (Acts 16:16-24).  Instead of becoming frustrated, angry, or bitter at being in jail under false accusations, Paul and Silas pray and worship God at which point God shakes things up with an earthquake.  With the prison opened, Paul and Silas could have run away but they have a calling to minister to the people in Macedonia and take the opportunity to minister to the jailer, his family, the magistrates, Lydia, and the brothers in Philippi.  Paul and Silas remained focused on their calling from God with God opening a door of opportunity to minister to people they would not have had an opportunity to minister to before these events. 

 

Covid19 has taken the Church out of its comfort zone of having individuals gather in a church building, forcing the church to focus on ministering online and in smaller groups.  These changes could lead to frustration, anger, and even create fear the church will cease to exist.  Instead of trembling in fear like the magistrates, the Church needs to follow the example of Paul and Silas and continue praying and worshipping God online, trusting God to shake things up and open opportunities to share the Gospel with individuals previously unreachable.  Church leaders can also encourage their congregations on a more regular basis using online tools by providing daily devotions and encouragement.  Please join me in prayer that the Church will grow stronger and not weaker during this trial.