A Challenge to Live for Christ

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Jeremiah 15:1-21

 

Jeremiah 15:20

And I will make you to this people
    a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
    but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
    to save you and deliver you,
declares the Lord.

(ESV)

 

We live in the disposition of God’s grace, demonstrated to humanity through Jesus’ death on the cross for humanity’s sins.  Because of this, when we think of the relentlessness of God it is usually the relentlessness of his love for us by becoming flesh (John 1:14) and dying for us so that we can have eternal life (Romans 5:8).  However, to receive the gift of eternal life given to humanity because of the love of God, one must believe.  The people of Judah in the time of Jeremiah believed in God, but it was head belief with their hearts chasing after other gods.  While God has relentless love, He is also a righteous God, desiring hearts willing to surrender to his will in their lives.  Judah is about to suffer God’s relentless judgment for their failure to follow God with their whole heart. 

 

In this passage we see,

 

1)      The Lord rejecting Judah and asking Jeremiah to get them out of his sight (Jeremiah 15:1-9) – The people of Judah and Jerusalem have been told to repent from the Lord through Jeremiah but they ignored the call to repentance (Jeremiah 5:3).  The people of Judah and Jerusalem are guilty of saying with their mouth that they believe in God while having a heart that follows after other gods because of what Manasseh did as the king of Judah (Jeremiah 15:4; 2 Kings 21:1-9).  Such hypocrisy is not pleasing to God with even Jesus calling out the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of his time (Matthew 15:7-9).  Most of us reading this post are familiar with John 3:16 and the promise that those believing in Jesus will have eternal life.  However, the Greek word for believe in this verse is pisteuon which is a level of belief meaning to have faith and a level of entrustment.  In other words, it is not just saying I believe Jesus exists for even the demons believe and fear (James 2:19), but an entrusting of our lives to Jesus as our personal savior.  Judah lacked this level of belief and why a righteous God could not accept them.  However, Jeremiah had this level of belief, with God promising his deliverance (Jeremiah 15:21). 

2)      Jeremiah’s complaint (Jeremiah 15:10-18) – Upon hearing the stern rebuke of Judah and Jerusalem by the Lord, Jeremiah states his complaint to the Lord, lamenting his birth (Jeremiah 15:10).  He then reminds the Lord of what Judah and Jerusalem are to suffer for their sin but then offers his complaint seeking refuge as one not participating in the duplicitous belief of saying he believes in God while seeking other gods with his heart and instead, taking delight in the words of God (Jeremiah 15:16).  Jeremiah feels alone in his belief in God and his complaint is in feeling the pain and injury of those around him who have a duplicitous belief of God in their head while their heart seeks other gods (Jeremiah 15:18). 

3)      The Lord providing comfort to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 15:19-21) – The Lord provides comfort to Jeremiah by reminding him that he is acting as the mouth of God towards those rejecting God in their hearts (Jeremiah 15:19).  God promises that Jeremiah will be like a fortified wall of bronze to the people with them fighting against him, but not prevailing (Jeremiah 15:20).  God promises to deliver Jeremiah with him escaping the hands of the wicked people seeking to destroy him (Jeremiah 15:21).  By living in Judah at this time, Jeremiah will suffer some of the consequences of the sins of the nation but personally will have the Lord with him as his deliverer. 

 

Jeremiah feels isolated as he lives among a people of duplicitous belief in God in the head while their hearts seek other gods.  However, instead of being silent so as not to cause trouble, Jeremiah takes delight in the words of the Lord and boldly declares them to the people, bringing persecution upon himself (Jeremiah 11:18-20, 15:16).  The persecution brought upon Jeremiah is because he has chosen to believe in God which is not popular in the nation of Judah at the time.  However, Jeremiah knows this is not in a popularity contest and is reminded by God that He will be with him and deliver him (Jeremiah 15:19-21).

 

We live in a world where God is becoming less and less popular.  It is a world that condones the murder of unborn children who are precious to the Lord (Psalm 22:9-10; 139:13).  It is a world that perverts the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman through condoning sex outside of marriage and gay marriage (Matthew 16:3-6; Romans 1:25-27).  I pray those reading this post will be blessed and challenged to be like Jeremiah and boldly live for God in a sin-filled world, even though it is unpopular could bring persecution and alienation. 

Obeying the Will of God

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 21:1-16

 

Acts 21:13-14

Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” ¹⁴ And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

(ESV)

 

I generally end each posting to this blog with the words “May God bless everyone reading this post.”  While I aim to write in a manner that brings blessing to everyone, I also want to challenge everyone reading with truth from the Word of God.  This has a biblical foundation in Romans 12:2 which challenges every believer to lose conformity to the World and experience transformation of mind through the Word of God.  Therefore, I hope that this post will both bless, and challenge the hearts of everyone reading it. 

 

In obedience to the will of God, Paul is determined to go to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22-24).  While Paul mentions he is unaware of what specifically will happen to him in Jerusalem, he goes there knowing that the Holy Spirit has revealed to him that imprisonment and afflictions await him wherever he goes (Acts 20:22-23).  Acts 20:1-16 records the account of Paul’s journey to Jerusalem and shows his determination to obediently follow the will of God, despite the urging of well-meaning disciples not to go.  In this passage we see,

 

1)      Paul visiting the disciples in Tyre and Caesarea on his way to Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-8) – Similar to his whirlwind tour in Acts 20:1-16, Paul does not go straight to Jerusalem but makes a detour to Tyre and Caesarea to visit the disciples there.  Even though Paul stated he was not aware of what would happen to him in Jerusalem, he did receive a word from the Holy Spirit that wherever he went imprisonment and afflictions await him (Acts 20:22-23).  However, Paul’s sense of urgency and his actions show an awareness this would be his final act of ministry. 

2)      Concerned for his safety, the disciples in Caesarea urging Paul not to go to Jerusalem (Acts 21:9-12) – Losing a loved one or close friend is traumatic for anyone, loss of one teaching truth from the Word of God is spiritually traumatic.  It is therefore understandable that the disciples Caesarea would try to talk Paul out of going to Jerusalem, knowing what might happen to their beloved teacher there.  To accomplish this, they have Philip’s four unmarried daughters prophesy with the prophet Agabus coming from Judea using Paul’s belt to bind his hands and feet to illustrate how the Jews would treat Paul in Jerusalem (Acts 21:9-11).  The Word from the Holy Spirit offered by Agabus is indeed from the Lord with those in Caesarea believing it was a warning to Paul not to go to Jerusalem (Acts 21:12).  However, the prophecy could also be a clarification to Paul of what will occur to him in Jerusalem (Acts 20:22).  How Paul interprets the prophecy becomes clear in the rest of the text.

3)      Paul, in obedience to the will of God, going to Jerusalem (Acts 22:13-16) – Paul is obedient to the constraint of the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:22) and interprets the prophecy of Agabus as clarification that he will suffer imprisonment in Jerusalem and be taken into the custody of the Gentiles (Acts 21:11).  Paul then tells the disciples in Caesarea to stop their weeping and the breaking of his heart because Paul is willing to suffer imprisonment and even death for the Lord (Acts 21:13).  After Paul’s statement of faith, the disciples realize Paul could not be persuaded to stay away from Jerusalem and surrender themselves to the will of the Lord (Acts 21:14).  After this, Paul prepares for his trip to Jerusalem and is accompanied by some of the disciples who bring him to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple who would provide lodging for Paul and those with him (Acts 21:15-16). 

 

Paul is determined to go to Jerusalem under the compelling of the Holy Spirit and after the prophecy of Agabus, knows he will be imprisoned and delivered to the Gentiles (Acts 21:11).  However, Paul does not view this circumstance with fear, but an opportunity to share the Gospel with the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and then the Roman officials the Jews will turn him over to.  In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote that all things work together for good for those that love God and are called to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  Not only is this an opportunity to share the Gospel with others, but Paul’s death for his faith will also bring him into the presence of God (2 Corinthians 5:8).  Unknown to Paul was the legacy of his teaching he would leave behind in the epistles which are contained in the New Testament. 

 

Where we place our treasure identifies the location of our heart (Matthew 6:21).  Every believer must regularly identify the location of their heart by finding what they treasure.  We must ask ourselves if we are like the disciples in Caesarea who treasured protecting Paul and tried to derail Paul’s ministry from following the direction of the Holy Spirit by going to Jerusalem.  In contrast, we should be like Paul and treasure our relationship with God and obediently follow the direction of the Holy Spirit even though it could mean pain, suffering, or even death.  I challenge those reading this to spend time this week searching their hearts to determine the extent to which they value their relationship with God through Christ.

 

Perhaps you are reading this and do not have a relationship with, I invite you to pray with me now so God can forgive you of the sin separating you from God (Romans 3:23, 6:23). 

 

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

 

I pray this post will both bless and challenge you this week. 

Lying Prophets and Fake News

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Jeremiah 14:13-22

 

Jeremiah 14:13

Then I said: “Ah, Lord God, behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’”

(ESV)

 

Fake news and lying politicians seem to be part of the new normal in the information age.  While it may seem like a new normal, Jeremiah 14:13-22 gives us insight into the existence of fake news and lying prophets during the time of Jeremiah.  This is comforting for it lets us know that fake narratives and false promises are nothing new and that there is biblical guidance on how to handle them.  Jeremiah 14:13-22 provides this guidance by showing us the importance of,

 

1)      Calling out the lying prophets (Jeremiah 14:13-16) – Jeremiah is a true prophet who only tells the people what the Lord directs him to say.  This places him at odds with what the people want to hear and why the Jews were plotting against him (Jeremiah 12:6).  Other prophets avoid confrontation with the people by telling them what they want to hear as opposed to what the Lord wants them to hear (Jeremiah 14:13).  The Lord reminds Jeremiah that these prophets are not true prophets for God did not send them (Jeremiah 14:14) and reminds him that they will suffer from sword and famine as well even though they are telling the people it will not occur (Jeremiah 14:15).  The people listening to these lying prophets will, unfortunately, discover the truth when sword and famine come to the land (Jeremiah 14:16).

2)      A word from the Lord to the lying prophets (Jeremiah 14:17-18) – As a true prophet, Jeremiah waits for a word from the Lord before speaking to the people.  Typically, God would give Jeremiah a word of rebuke to the people urging them to repent (Jeremiah 5:3) but this time the Lord instructs Jeremiah to share his heart and how he grieves at the people’s rejection of God (Jeremiah 14:17-18).  Jeremiah has a heart of love towards God and his people with him continuing to weep and grieve for their sin.  While it would have been nice if the people would have listened and repented of their sin, this repentance will only come after exile from the land. 

3)      Jeremiah’s lament (Jeremiah 14:19-22) – With the Lord not urging Jeremiah to tell the people to repent but to instead let them know his heart that grieves for the sin of the people, Jeremiah now must come to grips with the fact that the Lord has abandoned Judah and loathes Zion due to their worship of other gods (Jeremiah 14:19).  Jeremiah then repents of the sin of the people and then pleads with the Lord not to spurn Judah, bringing dishonor to His name (Jeremiah 14:20-21).  Jeremiah then asks a rhetorical question asking which one of the false gods can bring rain, acknowledging that only God can do that and why his hope is in God (Jeremiah 14:22). 

 

Jeremiah is a true prophet from God, speaking what God has told him to say to the people about the consequences of their disobedience to God.  Other prophets contradict what Jeremiah says and Jeremiah brings this to the Lord’s attention (Jeremiah 14:13).  The Lord's response to Jeremiah is calling these prophets lying prophets who will suffer the same fate as the people.  However, instead of instructing Jeremiah to answer with a rebuke of the lying prophets and the judgment the people will face, the Lord instructs Jeremiah to respond with his heartfelt lament of what is about to occur to the people (Jeremiah 14:17-18).  Jeremiah then asks the Lord why he has rejected Judah, pleading for the Lord’s intervention (Jeremiah 14:19-21).  Jeremiah ends his plea to the Lord by acknowledging only He can end the famine destroying Judah and sets his hope on the Lord (Jeremiah 14:22). 

 

Chaotic times cause us to seek teaching that tickles our ears and makes us feel good.  This is why some may become offended and leave the Church if they hear teaching from the pulpit that is the truth from the Word of God that convicts instead of tickling the ears of the congregation with a feel-good message.  As Churches come back from the lockdowns and restrictions of the pandemic, they can fall prey to the temptation to abandon the truth that may convict for feel-good messages that do not offend.  Leaders in the Church must not abandon speaking truth that may convict or offend for revival that turns people back to God must have a basis in truth for it is the truth that sets people free (John 8:32). 

 

Those seeking a closer relationship with God must seek teaching coming from a foundation of truth.  For believers in Jesus, this foundation is the Bible, the Word of God, and why all believers must test teaching using the standard of the Bible.  For those teaching, the challenge is not to fear teaching from the Bible that may offend some or bring conviction by the Holy Spirit.  For revival to come, we need more Jeremiah’s in the pulpit and fewer lying prophets preaching a feel-good message lacking a Biblical foundation.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Obedience to the Holy Spirit, Not the Flesh.

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 20:17-38

 

Acts 20:22-24.

And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by^[b] the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. ²⁴ But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

(ESV)

 

The Apostle Paul was no doubt a sports fan, especially track and field because of the many sports analogies in his teaching (1 Corinthians 9:24; Hebrews 12:1; 2 Timothy 4:7).  It is possible that the writing in Acts 20:17-38 occurred around the same time as Paul mentoring Timothy where he told him he had fought the good fight and finished the race (2 Timothy 4:7).  Paul finishing his race meant he would soon be executed for his faith but he did not dread facing death for he viewed it as becoming absent from his body so he could spend eternity with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).

 

After his whirlwind tour of Macedonia and Greece where he encouraged the Churches (Acts 20:1-16), Paul calls for the elders from Ephesus to meet him in Miletus.  While Scripture does not provide insight on what these men expected to hear from Paul but based upon the sorrow they experienced when Paul told them they would not see him again, it was not to hear Paul’s final instructions (Acts 20:37-38).  Acts 20:18 implies there was no hesitation by the elders in coming to Paul indicating not only their great respect for his teaching but also obedience to the Lord for these men did not have the Bible as we do today with Paul’s teaching providing their connection with the word of God.  Ironically, much of our connection with the Word of God today is through Paul’s teaching in the Epistles. 

 

After everyone is assembled, Paul begins his teaching by reminding them of how he served the Lord with humility, tears, and trials due to the plots of the Jews (Acts 20:19).  Paul also demonstrated courage as he openly declared God’s truth publicly and from house to house to both Jews and Greeks (Acts 20:20-21).  Paul then tells the elders that he intends to go to Jerusalem under the constraint of the Holy Spirit, not knowing what will happen to him there (Acts 20:22).  It is interesting to note that Paul mentions going to Jerusalem under the constraint of the Holy Spirit.  Based upon Paul’s previous teaching that the same power of the Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us, empowering us (Romans 8:11).  The constraint Paul is speaking of is not enslavement to a greater power but a willingness to go wherever the Holy Spirit directs, which in this instance means going to Jerusalem with uncertainty (Acts 20:22).  However, Paul is certain he will suffer imprisonment and afflictions but does not fear for he values bringing glory to God.  (Acts 20:23-24). 

 

Paul then informs the elders that once he is gone, they will encounter fierce wolves, symbolic of the Jewish and Roman persecution many will suffer, resulting in the martyring of many for their faith (Acts 20:29).  Even more alarming and dangerous is Paul’s warning about false teaching designed to draw many away from the faith (Acts 20:30).  Paul instructs the Ephesian elders to remain alert, commending them to God and the word of God’s grace for it is what builds them up and provides an inheritance among those who are sanctified unto the Lord (Acts 20:31-32).  Paul then concludes by reminding the elders he ministered without coveting anyone’s gold or silver and worked hard to supply his needs as an example of one working hard to provide for themselves while ministering for the Lord (Acts 20:33-35).  Paul then bids them farewell with much sorrow due to Paul telling them they would not see him again (Acts 20:36-38). 

 

As the Apostle Paul nears the end of his ministry, he remains focused on serving others and calls for the elders from Ephesus (Acts 20:17).  Paul is aware that these future church leaders will encounter those seeking to destroy them as well as false teaching (Acts 20:29-30).  Paul advises these elders to remain alert, commending them to God and the Word which will build them up and give them an inheritance among those sanctified or set apart for God (Acts 20:31-32).  Similarly, Paul encourages Timothy who has doubts due to his youth (1 Timothy 4:12).  Paul was also great at encouraging others even though he was suffering in prison (Philippians 4:13,19).  Paul is a great example of a servant leader, not focused on his greatness but instead focused on encouraging others. 

 

It is difficult for those of us living in the United States where we have freedom of religion to imagine suffering persecution for our faith with one risking imprisonment, physical harm, or death for their faith.  Just as Paul cautioned the Ephesian elders to be alert and prepared through dedication to God and study of His Word.  We cannot trust in the continuation for our freedom of religion in the United States based on the governance of imperfect people and instead must remain alert and prepared through increased knowledge of the Word of God and Holy Spirit-led ministry and worship.  May God bless and encourage everyone reading this post. 

Disobedience Has Consequences

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Jeremiah 14:1-12

 

Jeremiah 14:11-12

The Lord said to me: “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. ¹² Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.”

(ESV)

 

Every morning when we begin the new day, we should thank God for his new mercies (Lamentations 3:22-23) and the grace that saves us (Ephesians 2:8). for without God’s mercy and grace we would all die in our sins (Romans 3:23, 6:23).  God also loves us so much, that He sent His only Son, not to condemn us, but to die in our place so we may have eternal life (John 3:16-17).  Before we go further with this study, I want to invite those reading this who have not made a profession of faith in Jesus as their savior to do so now by praying with me,

 

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

 

The text of Jeremiah 14:1-12 consists of a word from the Lord given to Jeremiah concerning the drought plaguing the land.  The text consists of three sections dealing with,

 

1)      How the drought is affecting Israel and Judah (Jeremiah 14:1-6) – The drought affecting both Israel and Judah have brought about,

A.      Fear (Jeremiah 14:2) – The fear of man is a trap and since fear is not from God, something we should avoid when making important decisions (Proverbs 29:25; 2 Timothy 1:7).  However, the fear Judah is experiencing is rooted in disobedience which requires repentance or a turning away from their worship of other gods and seeking forgiveness from God.  Judah mourns at their situation and what is about to happen but does not have repentance for they still love to wander from God (Jeremiah 14:10), indicating a lack of repentance in their hearts.  Therefore, their fear is not an entrapping fear of man but a fear of the wrath of God due to their continued disobedience. 

B.      Shortages (Jeremiah 14:3-4) – Food and water are two necessities in life.  Due to the drought in Judah, the cisterns which store water have gone dry causing a shortage of water.  There is also a shortage of food due to a lack of rain to water the crops.  The response of the people to these shortages is covering their heads in shame rather than addressing the root cause of the problem, their disobedience of God.  God promised rain and prosperity to Israel as long as they remained obedient to God and His Word (Deuteronomy 28:1-14).  The priests who studied the scripture were aware of God’s blessings for obedience and the drought should have raised red flags indicating the existence of disobedience.  However, their response to the consequences of the drought is holding their heads in shame (Jeremiah 14:3-4) and continuing to wander away from God (Jeremiah 14:10).  Once again, we see a lack of repentance and seeking of forgiveness from God in Judah. 

C.      Is widespread (Jeremiah 14:5-6) – Unfortunately, disobedience to God can have widespread consequences that affect the innocent.  In this instance, human disobedience is affecting the animals due to a lack of food. 

2)      Jeremiah’s plea for mercy from God (Jeremiah 14:7-9) – Jeremiah asks the Lord to act and acknowledges the backslidings and sins of the people of Israel and Judah (Jeremiah 14:7).  Jeremiah is then honest with the Lord and wonders why the Lord seems to be a stranger in the land who only visits occasionally like a stranger seeking lodging for the night (Jeremiah 14:8).  Jeremiah also asks the Lord why he appears like a man confused instead of a mighty warrior in the land (Jeremiah 14:9).  Jeremiah then acknowledges that the Lord does dwell with the people called by His name, Israel and Judah, and makes a plea for the Lord not to leave them (Jeremiah 14:9). 

3)      God’s response punishment by the sword, famine, and pestilence (Jeremiah 14:10-12) – God responds to Jeremiah’s plea, not with forgiveness and restoration, for that would require repentance by the people, but with the disciplines of the sword, famine, and pestilence (Jeremiah 14:10-12).  When one is in disobedience to God, restoration is available by either repenting of disobedience and the seeking of forgiveness from God or the discipline of God.  Judah’s continued wandering means they must go down the path of discipline through the sword, famine, and pestilence. 

 

Jeremiah receives a word from the Lord concerning the drought that has come upon the land.  This indicates that even though Judah and Israel are in disobedience to the Lord and have turned to other Gods (Jeremiah 14:10), Jeremiah continues to intercede for Israel and Judah.  The consequences Judah is about to experience are dire for the people of Judah lack the necessities of life, water, with the cisterns dry, and food since there is no water for growing crops (Jeremiah 14:3-4).  The drought even affects the animals as they too lack food and water (Jeremiah 14:5-6).  Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, continues to make intercession for God’s people and wonders why the Lord acts more like a stranger instead of the savior in the time of trouble (Jeremiah 14:7-9).  However, the Lord does something no person would want to hear, he tells Jeremiah to stop his intercession for the people because they show no propensity to repent of their sin of wandering from God.  This rejection by the Lord means he no longer accepts them, and they will incur the discipline of to the sword, famine, and pestilence.   

 

While no weapon formed against the Church will prosper (Isaiah 54:17), God is a good father that must discipline his children when they are disobedient.  Jesus taught that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy with Jesus coming to give His people abundant life (John 10:10).  While salvation is based on the grace of God and not our works, it is crucial for God’s people to shut the door of sin and disobedience, not allowing the enemy to come in to steal, kill, and destroy.  A chaotic world in need of revival needs to see the church focused on its mission of sharing the Gospel, making disciples, and living obediently to the Word of God.  I encourage those reading this to search their hearts for any disobedience to God, shutting the door on this disobedience, and living in obediently to God as lights in these dark and chaotic times. 

Missional Focus: Ministering with a Sense of Urgency

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 20:1-16

 

Acts 20:15-16

And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

(ESV)

 

While it might seem that ministers are not that busy since they only appear to work on Sunday, the ministry is a multifaceted profession, and why one should only go into it if they have a calling to ministry from God in their lives.  The Sunday sermon requires study during the week.  During the week ministers counsel people and, most importantly must spend time alone with God to ensure they remain connected to God and spiritually strong, something even Christ did (Mark 1:35).  In the text of Acts 20:1-16, the Apostle Paul seems to be ministering with a sense of urgency leading us to ask the question, why the urgency?

 

After the riot at Ephesus ceased (Acts 19:21-41), the Apostle Paul sends for the disciples to bring them encouragement but then says farewell and departs for Macedonia (Acts 20:1).  While it is understandable that those in Ephesus who just witnessed a riot would need encouragement, his hasty departure for Macedonia also had a purpose of bringing encouragement (Acts 20:2).  Paul then leaves for Greece where he spends three months ministering, returning to Macedonia after he discovers a plot against him by the Jews.  (Acts 20:3). 

 

Paul has an entourage following him, including Timothy whom Paul is mentoring for ministry.  Along with this entourage, Paul engages in a whirlwind tour of ministry beginning at Troas where Eutychus is raised from the dead and then engaging on a three-day tour of Chios, Samos, and Miletus (Acts 20:7-15).  Paul also has a sense of urgency to be in Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost (Acts 20:16). 

 

As for why Paul has this increase in urgency we can only speculate.  Perhaps Paul senses the increase in persecution turning violent as happened in Ephesus, and senses in his Spirit that he must visit believers in the places where he has ministered, encouraging those facing persecution.  Paul may also sense that his race is coming to an end (2 Timothy 4:6-8) and there is a need to groom the men accompanying him for ministry when he is gone.  There is also a sense of urgency to go to Jerusalem so he can reason with the Jews there, including the high priest.  However, this is a healthy sense of urgency for Paul has a missional focus that must continue after he is gone. 

 

After the riot in Ephesus, Paul could have escaped and taken a break for refreshment as he did in Antioch (Acts 18:18-23).  Instead, Paul and his entourage are on a mission to bring encouragement to believers in Macedonia and Greece with Paul wanting to be in Jerusalem for the Day of Pentecost.  Galatians 6:9 warns us not to weary ourselves with doing good but goes on to say that the one doing good will reap a reward in due season if they do not give up.  The riot in Ephesus was not sufficient for Paul to give up and thus, he continues by visiting believers in Macedonia where the Lord called him to go (Acts 16:9-10) and then to Greece for three months until he discovered a plot against him.  Paul may know that his ministry is ending, that the Romans and Jews will execute him for his faith, and wants to encourage those he has ministered to.  He is also in a hurry to be in Jerusalem for the Day of Pentecost. 

 

As restrictions on activities brought on by the pandemic lift, Churches face decisions.  Should they still require masks when in services or can they ease these restrictions?  Is there still a need to social distance and limit the numbers of people allowed into services and what restrictions should Churches place on small group gatherings.  However, one thing must remain constant, the spreading of the Gospel and the making of disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  Like Paul in Acts 20:1-16, the Church today must move from the uproar caused by the pandemic and continue its missional focus of taking the Gospel to a world in need and making disciples.  This involves evangelizing those in our communities who do not know Christ, equipping those that do with knowledge of God’s Word, encouraging them as they face challenges, and ensuring they minister with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  A world in need of revival needs a Church focused on its mission. 

 

If you are reading this and have not made a profession of faith in Jesus as your savior, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, 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 local church focused on making disciples by equipping them with knowledge of the Bible, encouraging them through challenging times, and ensuring believers have the empowerment with the Holy Spirit in their lives.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

The Prison of Pride and Pleasure Seeking.

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Jeremiah 13

 

Jeremiah 13:9-10

“Thus says the Lord: Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. ¹⁰ This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing.

(ESV)

 

When we picture a prison in our mind, we usually picture a penitentiary where the state locks up criminals serving a sentence for a crime but there can also be emotional prisons that prevent one from living a full life.  Biblically, we are all under a death sentence for sin in our lives but thankfully can have redemption through Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23; 10:9-10).  There is also the prison of worshipping false gods or idols in our lives and ignoring the consequences of worship of these created things that will ultimately disappoint us.  Israel and Judah are about to discover that the false gods of Baal they have been worshipping will be of little help when invaded from the north and that redemption is only possible through returning to God. 

 

In Jeremiah 13, we once again see the graciousness of God demonstrated as He offers another opportunity for Israel and Judah to receive redemption by returning to God.  God uses two illustrations to point out the sins of the people with the consequences of these sins being invasion from the north and exile to a foreign land.  This passage points out,

 

1)      Pride (Jeremiah 13:1-11) – Proverbs 16:18 reminds us that pride precedes destruction, but we can mistake pride for confidence.  Pride that causes one to believe they no longer need to seek Godly wisdom from the Word of God, or a haughty spirit, is a gateway to destruction and something to avoid.  However, a fear of pride can lead one to lack confidence, paralyzing them from accomplishing anything with their life.  The confidence of God’s people is in Christ Jesus and from this confidence, God’s people can boldly carry out whatever God has for them to do with confidence doing all for the glory of God.  The loincloth illustration in Jeremiah 13:1-11 illustrates what occurs when one becomes detached from the worship of God and full of selfish pride with them becoming good for nothing.  We must not become so earthly-minded that we are no good spiritually. 

2)      Pleasure seeking (Jeremiah 13:12-14) – Proverbs 20:1 equates wine with brawling or violence that can lead people astray.  For those not choosing to take their cares of life to God, wine or alcohol can also be a means of escape from the stresses of life.  However, this escape is only temporary for once the effect of the alcohol wears off, the problems are still there.  The lord points out the drunkenness of all in Israel and Judah from the kings and priests to the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 13:13).  It appears the people are choosing the drunken pleasure of alcohol to forget the inevitable destruction and exile coming due to their disobedience and refusal to repent of their sins. 

3)      Prison of exile (Jeremiah 13:15-27) – Therefore, God has no choice but to be true to His word and follow through with sending His people into exile from the land (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). 

 

The people of Israel, people once led by King David, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) have become detached from God and face invasion from the north and exile (Jeremiah 13:20).  God uses the illustration of a loincloth to illustrate how a loin cloth detached from the one wearing it and hidden in the cleft of a rock, becomes useless and good for nothing (Jeremiah 13:1-7).  God uses this illustration to show how Israel and Judah’s pride has led to their detachment from God and becoming useless and good for nothing (Jeremiah 13:8-12).  The illustration of the wine jars indicates their preoccupation with seeking pleasure to escape from the consequences of their sin instead of repentance and turning back to God (Jeremiah 13:12-14). 

 

Like Israel and Judah, believers in Christ and the Church can become detached from their missional focus of spreading the Gospel and making Disciples and full of pride and seeking the pleasure of good feelings.  Pride in facilities and programs can move the Church away from the use of the facilities and programs to bring people to Christ to prideful pointing to the facilities and programs as objects of spiritual success.  Pastors can become focused on attendance and contribution numbers instead of trusting God with the numbers and water down their message so as not to offend anyone.  The Gospel and Word of God are transformative and can be offensive.  A minister of the Word who becomes concerned with losing attendance and contributions due to offending someone robs the flock of biblical truth bringing loss of conformity to the world and transformation to people’s lives (Romans 12:2). 

 

Perhaps you are reading this and have never made a profession of faith in Jesus as your savior and still live in the prison of your sins.  If that is you, there is good news for redemption from sin is available to anyone choosing to profess their belief in Jesus as their savior (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10).  There is no need to prepare or become right with God before making this profession for salvation is by grace and not our works (Ephesians 2:8-9).  I invite you to pray with me now and make this profession of faith,

 

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.

 

My prayer is that all reading this would abandon selfish pride and pleasure-seeking in their lives and instead live a life that gives glory to God for that is the greatest joy one can achieve in life.  A world in chaos must see God’s people serving God with confidence and hope, giving them hope.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

The Disruption of Transformation

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 19:21-41

 

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world,^[a] 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.^[b]

(ESV)

 

Change brings disruption in our lives, something familiar to us as we have gone through the events of 2020 and now 2021.  Transformation also brings disruption to our lives but there is a difference between the two.  Change in our lives is inevitable and something constantly occurring while transformation is change with the purpose of improvement and the type of change spoken of in Romans 12:2. For example, during the shutdowns of 2020, people began working from home with their children also attending class online at home.  While the initial thought was that this would bring convenience and time flexibility to lives as there was no longer the need to commute to work or school, people soon discovered the disruption of having to balance being an educator and employee at the same time.  However, the changes the Lord wants to bring into our lives are transformative and come to transform us from one conformed to the world and sin to one whose life brings glory to God. 

 

Sadly, riots are becoming a common topic in the news due to the frequency with which they occur in our society.  While the thought of people willingly destroying the property of others and endangering other’s lives to support a political agenda is abhorrent to law-abiding citizens, riots are nothing new and something the early church had to deal with.  The text of Acts 19:21-41 records a riot ensuing in Ephesus due to the spreading of the Gospel disrupting the profits of Demetrius who was a silversmith engaged in the business of making silver shrines for Artemis (Acts 19:23-24).  This is not the first time the transformative message of the Gospel brought disruption to the profits of someone’s business for it also disrupted the profits made from slaveowners of a slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination (Acts 16:16-24).  The difference in this disruption is it was not the result of one man casting out a demon from someone (Acts 16:16-18), resulting in Paul and Silas ending up in jail but the work of many spreading the Gospel from the Church in Ephesus, lowering the demand for silver shrines of Artemis (Acts 19:25-26).  Therefore, the reaction in this instance is not the throwing of two men in jail believing that would end the movement but the creation of a riot and confusion attempting to silence those spreading the message of the Gospel. 

 

The spreading of the Gospel message is bringing transformation to the lives of people in Ephesus and throughout Asia as they lose conformity to the world and the worship of gods like Artemis.  Demetrius and his craftsmen had the opportunity to experience the transformative change of the Gospel in their lives but have chosen to remain conformed to the world, resisting the transformative change occurring around them by trying to silence it (Acts 19:28-34).  However, the town clerk disrupts their plans as he determines those from the Church in Ephesus are neither sacrilegious of blasphemers (Acts 19:37).  He then invites Demetrius and his craftsmen to take their case to court, settling it with civility and not through riotous activity (Acts 19:39-41). 

 

The Gospel message is transformative and therefore disruptive to one’s secular life.  In this text, it is disruptive of the money-making activities of Demetrius and craftsmen in Ephesus who profit from crafting silver shrines of Artemis (Acts 19:24).  These men become enraged and fill the city with confusion, moving into the theater (Acts 19:29).  This is not the first time the spreading of the Gospel has led to the disruption of profit for they imprisoned Paul and Silas for casting a spirit of divination from a slave girl who brought profit to her owners (Acts 16:16-24).  To be transformative in one’s life, the gospel will also be disruptive as it transforms one from conformity to the world to a transformed life in Christ.       

 

While one’s salvation is a work of the grace of God and not because of one’s work (Ephesians 2:8), the process of sanctification is ongoing, occurring as one loses conformity to the world through transformation by God’s Word and the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:1-2).  We must understand that this transformative process will come with disruptions in our life as God reveals areas of conformity to the world in our lives that must have transformation.  Demetrius and the craftsmen in Ephesus had a greater interest in maintaining their conformity to the world by protecting their economic interests through the making of silver shrines to Artemis.  Their short-sightedness led to their abandonment of the eternal benefits of a life surrendered to Christ in the interest of profit. 

 

I ask everyone reading this to search their hearts and ask God to reveal any conformity to the world they are hanging on to, surrendering it to God and not resisting like Demetrius.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Dealing with Frustrations

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Jeremiah 12

 

Jeremiah 12:1

Righteous are you, O Lord,
    when I complain to you;
    yet I would plead my case before you.
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
    Why do all who are treacherous thrive?

(ESV)

 

There is no shortage of things in the world that can bring frustration.  When we do not deal with these frustrations, the result can be anger or depression as we begin to see our situation as hopeless.  Jesus reminded us that in this world there will be trouble but also reminds us that He has overcome the world (John 16:33).  Christians can deal with frustrations by taking them to the overcomer, Jesus Christ.  Jeremiah 12 provides a glimpse of Jeremiah presenting his complaints and frustrations to God with God providing comfort. 

 

The text of Jeremiah 12 begins with Jeremiah presenting his complaint to the Lord.  In the preceding 11 chapters of Jeremiah, he has often warned Israel and Judah to repent of their rebellion against God or suffer the consequences.  Jeremiah’s main complaint is his observation that the wicked seem to prosper with the treacherous thriving (Jeremiah 12:1).  The psalmist in Psalm 73 has a similar complaint but rectifies it by looking past the temporary prosperity the wicked may enjoy in this world to the fact that all who are unfaithful to the Lord shall perish (Psalm 73:27).  Jeremiah also lodges his complaint as he observes the destruction of the land due to the evil of God’s people (Jeremiah 12:4).

 

Jeremiah’s complaints do not fall on deaf ears with the Lord responding in Jeremiah 12:5-17.  In the first part of the response, the Lord challenges Jeremiah to wonder how he will compete with horses when racing with men on foot has caused him to become weary.  He also warns Jeremiah to be cautious of those speaking friendly words to him that have an agenda to deal treacherously with him. 

 

The Lord then states his frustration and why he has forsaken His house (Judah and Israel) and abandoned his heritage, turning them both over to the hands of their enemies (Jeremiah 12:7).  The Lord even says that he hates Israel and Judah (Jeremiah 12:8).  The blame for Israel’s rebellion lies with their shepherds or leaders who have led them to worship Baal instead of the Lord (Jeremiah 12:10).  However, the Lord's frustration and anger are accompanied by His grace as he promises to remove the invaders from the land and the people of Israel and Judah from exile (Jeremiah 12:14).  The Lord then promises to have compassion on His people with each person returning to their heritage and land.  However, this return only comes to pass as the people learn the ways of God’s people and swear by the name of the Lord with the same diligence they turned to and swore by the name of Baal (Jeremiah 12:16). 

 

We do not know how long Jeremiah has been calling upon God’s people to repent but this passage shows that he is experiencing frustration at how those rebelling against God seem to prosper.  Instead of the people repenting of their rebellion, they have lashed out and attacked Jeremiah (Jeremiah 11:18-19).  Instead of allowing frustration to turn to anger against those attacking him, Jeremiah takes his complaint to the Lord (Jeremiah 12:1-4).  In the Lord’s response, he lets Jeremiah know,

 

1)      He must rely on the Lord for strength and not trust the words of men (Jeremiah 12:5-6) – Jeremiah’s frustration is rooted in his racing with men in his strength and is reminded by the Lord to rely on the Lord’s strength.  The Lord also warns Jeremiah not to trust the friendly words from those dealing treacherously with him. 

2)      He lets Jeremiah know of His frustration with Judah (Jeremiah 12:7-13) – The Lord is equally frustrated with His people and even states his hatred with them (Jeremiah 12:8).  This frustration and hatred have led to the Lord calling for an army from the north to destroy the cities of Judah and take the people into exile (Jeremiah 4:5-18). 

3)      He will pluck the destroyers from their land and restore the inheritance of Judah (Jeremiah 12:14-17) – The Lord does not leave His people without hope and issues a warning to the destroying nations that they will be plucked from their land for touching the Lord's heritage, God’s people and their land (Jeremiah 12:14).  The Lord will also remove His people from exile and restore them to their land (Jeremiah 12:15).  The condition for this restoration is the people returning to the Lord with the same diligence they worshipped Baal (Jeremiah 12:16-17). 

 

The evil prevalent in our world can lead to frustration if we rely on our strength in standing against evil.  Proverbs 3:5-8 reminds us to acknowledge the Lord with the Lord bringing healing to our flesh and refreshment to our bones.  In these chaotic times, it is even more crucial for the people of God to spend time with God in prayer, the study of the Bible, and meditation on scripture, applying it to our lives.  We may also need to fast from negative influences in our lives like the news.  However, the most important thing to remember is to take our complaints to the Lord.  May God bless everyone reading this post.