Having an Eternal Focus

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 73

 

Psalm 73:27-28

For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
    you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
²⁸ But for me it is good to be near God;
    I have made the Lord God my refuge,
    that I may tell of all your works.

(ESV)

 

I support a woke culture but not the one promoted in our modern culture. The woke culture I support is a revival of people waking up to the message of the Gospel and the grace of God saving humanity with Jesus, God in the flesh, offering Himself for the sins of humanity even though He did not sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8-9). I urge everyone reading this to continue praying for revival in our Church, country, and world.

 

Asaph finds himself in a quandary. While maintaining a belief that God is good to Israel, he is envious of the prosperity of the arrogant and wicked (Psalm 73:1-16). Fortunately, his focus changes after going to the sanctuary of God and discerning the end of the arrogant and wicked (Psalm 73:17). God helps Asaph discern the slippery slope of the arrogant and wicked and their fall to ruin (Psalm 73:18-22). The focus of Asaph changes from envy of the life of the arrogant and wicked to the benefits of remaining near to God and not perishing but having acceptance into the glory of God, vowing to tell of all of God’s works (Psalm 73:23-28).

 

Even though Asaph knows God is good to Israel, he almost stumbles when he sees the life of ease for the arrogant and wicked. Asaph’s problem is he has taken his eyes off the Lord and instead focuses on the world. This is like when Peter walked on the water with Jesus but began to sink when he looked at the storm instead of keeping his eyes on the Lord. Fortunately for Peter, he cried out to the Lord for help and the Lord saved him (Matthew 14:28-31). Fortunately for Asaph, he went to the Temple and returned his focus to the Lord as he discerned the end of the arrogant and wicked (Psalm 73:17). While the life of the arrogant and wicked in this world may seem a life of ease, it is only temporary for they are receiving their reward in this world while God’s people have an eternal reward in heaven (Psalm 73:23-26).

 

The corruption and evil in our world seem to be accelerating at a dangerous pace. Abortion became legal in the United States with the Supreme Court ruling in favor of abortion in the Roe v. Wade decision, claiming a woman’s right to choose to abort an unwanted child was constitutional, ignoring the murder, for convenience, of innocent life. Fortunately, the Supreme Court reversed this decision, but this reversal returned the issue to states, many of which have made abortion legal in their states.

 

Marriage, is biblically between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24; Mark 10:6-8). The perversion of homosexuality is spoken against in Romans 1:24-32 with those participating in homosexuality having a debased mind full of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, and malice. Individuals and Churches taking a biblical stand against same-sex marriage are viewed as hateful, unloving, and enemies of a woke cultural revolution.

 

Adding to the sexual perversion is the condoning by the world of one believing they were born with the wrong gender, encouraging them to medically change their gender through surgery and hormonal therapy. This is not only a slap in the face of God, claiming he made a mistake in creating them with the gender assigned at birth but medically ignores the potential mental and physical danger of gender reassignment surgery and the injection of hormones at levels God did not create them to have. The culture views individuals and Churches taking a stand against transgenderism as hateful, unloving, and enemies of the woke culture.

 

The culture asks Churches and individual believers to be tolerant of individuals supporting abortion, same-sex marriage, and gender reassignment to avoid being viewed as hateful, unloving, or even a terrorist group. Churches and individual believers can also face legal action for taking a stand against these issues if they do not remain silent in their opposition. Fortunately, the Book of Acts provides a biblical example of how believers and the Church must respond to the temptation to remain silent.

 

1)      Acts 4:1-31 – After the miraculous healing of a lame man at the Temple and Peter's subsequent message giving credit for the miracle to Jesus, the one the Jews handed over to the Romans for crucifixion (Acts 3), Peter and John are arrested and must testify before the council of the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees (Acts 4:1). After charging Peter and John not to speak again in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18), Peter and John respond with only speaking of what they had seen and heard (Acts 4:19-20). Upon returning to their friends, they do not complain about what had happened to them but instead praise God and ask for boldness to continue speaking in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:21-23).

2)      Acts 5:12-42 – Because of the many signs and wonders performed in the name of Jesus by the Apostles, the high priest, and Sadducees come against them, filled with jealousy. They arrest the apostles and put them in prison, but God arranges a divine prison break (Acts 5:12-19). However, instead of running and hiding from their accusers, the apostles return to the temple to preach, in obedience to God (Acts 5:20-21). The Apostles once again appear before the council and are reminded of the council's charge not to speak in the name of Jesus but once again tell them they must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:27-29). The council wanted to deliver the apostles to death but after a word of caution from Gamaliel, they beat the apostles and charge them not to speak in the name of Jesus (Acts 5:33-40). However, instead of cowering in fear, the apostles rejoice at being counted worthy of suffering dishonor for the name of Jesus and continue every day in teaching in the temple and from house to house (Acts 5:41-42).

 

Please join me in praying for boldness to speak out against the non-Biblical woke movement supporting abortion, homosexuality, and transgenderism and the temptation to succumb to pressure to remain silent on these issues. Pray for boldness to fulfill the great commission of Jesus to preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20) for when we lift up Christ, people are drawn to make Jesus their savior (John 12:32). If you are reading this and have not prayed to accept Jesus as your savior, I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

 

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

 

May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post and may the Church and individual believers maintain an eternal focus.

Corinthian Identity Crisis

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 1 Corinthians 1

 

1 Corinthians 1:10

I appeal to you, brothers,^[a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

(ESV)

 

With this posting, we begin a study of the book of 1 Corinthians. The Church in Corinth was a troubled Church. In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul addresses the problem of divisions in the Church with a reminder of Christ as the wisdom and power of God.

 

Individuals can find their identity in many things. We can find our identity in our race, gender, sexual preference, or our political party. The problem with finding one’s primary identity in race, gender, or political party is that they tend to become divisive with one believing they are superior to others (Romans 12:3). One finding his or her identity in sexual preference can lead to sexual promiscuity if their sexual preference is contrary to the Biblical principle of marriage between a man and a woman within the context of marriage (Genesis 1:27, 2:24). One can also experience disappointment when they find their primary identity in good things like their children, spouse, career, and even religion. Only one having an identity in Christ will experience eternal life free from condemnation (John 3:16-17).

 

Paul begins his letter to the Corinthians with a greeting praying for grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:1-3). Paul then gives thanks to God for the grace God has given the Church in Christ Jesus with the Church enriched in all speech and knowledge (1 Corinthians 1:4-5). The Church lacks no gift as their testimony about Christ is confirmed among them while they wait for the return of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:6-7). Paul reminds the Church that God is faithful and will sustain them to the end, guiltless in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:8-9).

 

Paul then addresses the problem of divisions in the Church, brought to his attention by Chloe’s people. The divisions are the result of some in the Church claiming to follow Paul, others following Apollos, others following Cephas, and others following Christ (1 Corinthians 1:10-12). To address this issue, Paul asks them whether Christ is divided, whether Paul was crucified for them, or if they were baptized in the name of Paul (1 Corinthians 1:13). Paul then reminds them that the only members of the Church he baptized were Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanas (1 Corinthians 1:14-16). Paul reminds the Church that he was not called to baptize but to preach the Gospel with salvation coming through the power of the Cross of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:17).

 

Paul reminds the Church that the message of the power of the cross of Christ is foolishness to the lost but the power of God to those saved by its power (1 Corinthians 1:18-19). Salvation is not found in the wisdom, scribes (authors), or debaters in the world with God saving people through the folly of the preaching of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 1:20-21). The stumbling block for the Jews and folly for the Greeks is the message of Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:22-23). However, this message is not folly to those that believe but the power and wisdom of God, wiser and stronger than the wisdom of men (1 Corinthians 1:24-25).

 

Paul asks the Corinthians to consider their calling. While they are not wise by worldly standards or of noble birth, God has chosen them to proclaim what is foolish and weak to the world to declare the wisdom and power of God (1 Corinthians 1:26-27). God has chosen what is considered low and despised in the world so no human being can boast in the presence of God (1 Corinthians 1:28-29). The believers in Corinth are in Christ Jesus possessing wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption so they can boast not in themselves but in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

 

There are divisions in the Corinthian Church based upon their finding their identity in those preaching the Gospel to them instead of Christ Jesus. The Gospel is possible through the death burial and resurrection of Christ with men like Paul and Apollos, messengers preaching the message of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 1:11-17). Salvation is not the result of our works or the works of any person other than the person of the sinless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, and God’s grace (2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8-9). The identity of one placing their faith in Jesus as their Savior is not in the messenger presenting the Gospel to them but in the sinless Lamb of God who offered his life to forgive their sins.

 

The world is in an identity crisis, seeking its identity in created things of the world instead of the creator. God created Adam and Eve, breathing his Spirit into Adam with Eve sharing in the indwelling of the Spirit through her creation from the rib of Adam (Genesis 2:7, 21-22). Unfortunately, Man lost his Godly identity through disobedience (Genesis 3). Fortunately, God graciously sent His son, the spotless Lamb of God to die for their sins (2 Corinthians 5:21). Belief in Jesus as Lord of our lives and profession of our belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ saves and restores our identity in Christ. This restoration of a Godly identity is what a world in darkness needs. If you are reading this and do not have a relationship with Christ, I urge you to pray with me now to resolve your identity crisis through a personal relationship with God through Christ

 

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 challenge and bless everyone reading this post.