The Celebrity is Jesus, not the Pastor.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

 

John 12:32

And I, if I am ^[a]lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

(NKJV)

 

Back in 1 Corinthians 1:11-13, Paul expressed his concern regarding divisions in the Church with some claiming to be of Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ. Even in the time of the Corinthians when there was no media, internet, or social media for promotion, some had achieved celebrity status in the Church. With the addition of electronic media tools today, the problem of celebrity pastors is even more prevalent, and something all ministers of the Gospel must guard against. We must remember that the only celebrity in the Church is Jesus Christ with all glory going to Him.

 

The text begins with Paul asking that the Corinthians not think of him as a fool as he boasts a little (2 Corinthians 11:16). He then tells them that what he is about to say is not according to the Lord but foolish in the confidence of boasting (2 Corinthians 11:17). Paul joins the many who boast according to the flesh because the Corinthians gladly put up with fools since they believe they are so wise (2 Corinthians 11:18-19). The Corinthians have gladly put up with fools bringing them into bondage, devouring them, stealing from them, and exalting themselves while striking them in the face (2 Corinthians 11:20). To Paul’s shame, he and those with him were too weak for that (2 Corinthians 11:21).

 

Paul then moves from boasting to his suffering for Christ. Those boasting to the Corinthians are Hebrews, Israelites, and of the seed of Abraham like Paul (2 Corinthians 11:22). Paul asks if the boasters are ministers of Christ, speaking as a fool for he is more in labors, stripes, with frequent imprisonments, often in death, and receiving scourging from the Jews (2 Corinthians 11:23-24). Paul has suffered beating with rods, been stoned, shipwrecked (2 Corinthians 11:25). Paul has suffered perils in water, from robbers, from his countrymen, from Gentiles, in the city, in the wilderness, at sea, and from false brethren (2 Corinthians 11:26). Paul has been weary, sleepless, hungry, thirsty, fasting often, suffering cold and nakedness (2 Corinthians 11:27). Despite all this, Paul’s main concern is for all the churches burning with indignation for the weak who stumble under the foolish teaching of those boasting in the flesh (2 Corinthians 11:28-29).

 

If Paul must boast, he will boast in the things which concern his infirmity, with God the Father aware he is not lying (2 Corinthians 11:30-31, 12:7). Paul gives the example of when the governor of Damascus guarded the city, seeking to arrest Paul (2 Corinthians 11:32). Paul escaped in a basket that was let down through a window in the wall (2 Corinthians 11:33).

 

Paul is reluctant in his boasting because he does not want to boast about his knowledge and abilities but about what the Lord has done through him. His boasting of the Lord has come with much suffering, but he presses on for the Lord. Paul mentions how the Corinthians have put up with foolish teaching even though it brought them into bondage, spiritually devoured them, and took from them to exalt the foolish teacher (2 Corinthians 11:19). Paul’s ministering for the Lord has brought suffering and not glory to himself, illustrating Paul is not interested in glorifying himself but the Lord (2 Corinthians 11:22-27). This also illustrates the transformation of Christ in Paul’s life as one who previously persecuted the Church to gain notoriety among his peers (Galatians 1:11-14) and now offers himself up as a sacrifice serving to glorify God and not himself (Romans 12:1). Paul’s boasting is in the transformation that occurred in his life when he encountered Christ (Acts 9:1-9).

 

Ministers and leaders in the Church must continually ask themselves if they are ministering to receive accolades for themselves or to bring glory to God. The pastor of a Church can quickly achieve celebrity status in the world through media, social media, or writing a best-selling book. The devil tempted Jesus to become the leader of the world, bypassing the suffering of the cross, if he would bow down and worship Satan (Luke 4:5-7). Fortunately for all humanity, Jesus chose the path of suffering by going to the cross to provide salvation for our sins and will become the leader of the World when he returns to defeat, not worship, Satan.

 

Ministers in Churches can achieve great fame and wealth through achieving celebrity status in the world, but this comes through the glorification of self and not the glorification of God. Uncompromisingly ministering the truth of God’s Word brings glory to God, at the expense of persecution to self but glorifies the one who overcame the world through His resurrection (John 16:33). I urge those called to minister God’s Word to continually check to ensure they do it to bring glory to God and not self.

 

If you are reading this post and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins and to make Jesus the Lord of your life, 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, convict, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Fire in the Forest, The Sword of God

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 20:45-21:27

 

2 Timothy 4:3-4

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

(NKJV)

 

The accounts and warnings to Israel in the Old Testament serve as object lessons and warnings to the Church not to fall into the same abominations but to remain true to the word of God. Jesus gave the Church a clear mission, preach the Gospel to the world and make disciples. (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). The Church in the book of Acts focused on this mission from God and turned their world upside down (Acts 17:6). Unfortunately, we are witnessing a falling away from the truth in many churches today, something Paul warned Timothy about in 2 Timothy 4:3-4. For revival to occur in the world today, the Church must use the sword of the Spirit, the word of God to declare the truth of the Gospel.

 

Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord telling him to face toward the south, preaching against the south and prophesying against the forest land in the south (Ezekiel 20:45-46). The prophecy against the forest in the south tells of a fire kindled by the Lord which will scorch all the trees of the forest (Ezekiel 20:47-48). Ezekiel responds to the Lord by letting Him know the people say he speaks in parables (Ezekiel 20:49).

 

Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord providing details of the meaning of the parable of the fire in the forest (Ezekiel 21:1). The Lord tells Ezekiel to face toward Jerusalem and preach against the holy places and to prophesy against the land of Israel (Ezekiel 21:2). The word to the land of Israel is that the Lord is against them and that He intends to draw His sword and cut off both the righteous and wicked (Ezekiel 21:3). Since the sword of God goes out against the righteous and wicked, no flesh will escape so all will know the Lord is the Lord God (Ezekiel 21:4-5). Ezekiel is to sigh with a breaking heart and bitterness before the people (Ezekiel 21:6). When asked why he sighs, Ezekiel is to respond with how his heart breaks because when the news of the sword of God is delivered, hearts will melt, hands become feeble, spirits will faint, and all knees will become weak (Ezekiel 21:7).

 

Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord and utters a prophecy of a sharpened and polished sword (Ezekiel 21:8-9). The sharpened sword will bring a dreadful slaughter and flash like lightning causing Ezekiel to ask if this was a time for mirth as the sword despises the scepter of God’s Son (Ezekiel 21:10). The sword is sharpened and polished and given to the hand of the slayer (Ezekiel 21:11). Ezekiel is to wail for the sword is drawn against the people of God bringing terrors against the people, a sword of testing the despises the current scepter so it will be no more (Ezekiel 21:12-13).

 

Ezekiel is then to prophesy and strike his hands together with the sword doing double damage after the third strike of his hands (Ezekiel 21:14). The point of the sword is against all the gates of the city and going wherever it is ordered, causing hearts to melt and many to stumble (Ezekiel 21:15-16). The Lord will also beat his fist together causing His fury to rest (Ezekiel 21:17).

 

Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord telling him to appoint two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to go (Ezekiel 21:18-19). One path is to Raddah of the Ammonites and the other to Judah and Jerusalem (Ezekiel 21:20). The king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, using divination to set up battering rams, a siege mound, and a wall in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 21:21-22). While the divination will seem like a false divination to those with oaths, it will bring the iniquity of Jerusalem to remembrance so they may be taken into exile (Ezekiel 21:23).

 

The Lord then tells the people they will be taken to Babylon because their transgressions are uncovered and remembered (Ezekiel 21:24). The Lord then has a word for the wicked and profane prince of Israel telling him to remove the turban, take off the crown for he intends to exalt the humble and humble the exalted (Ezekiel 21:25-26). The Lord will overthrow the present kingdom with it existing no longer until He comes whose right it is and God will give it to Him (Ezekiel 21:27).

 

God extends His mercy to Israel with another warning through a parable of a fire in the forest (Ezekiel 20:45-48). While many dismissed the parable as a story, Ezekiel explains what the parable represents the offer of a warning to anyone who will listen (Ezekiel 20:49-21:27). God changed Jacob’s name to Israel after prevailing in his struggle with God in Genesis 32:24-29. Unfortunately, Israel did not continue to Worship God but instead turned to the abominable worship of other gods, something for which they would suffer the consequences of exile by the sword of God in the hands of the Babylonians.

 

While we could sluff this off as ancient Jewish history with no relevance in the Church today, it is a lesson the Church must heed or suffer becoming irrelevant. God warned the lukewarm Church of Laodicea that their apathy and infatuation with their wealth and riches made the Lord sick (Revelation 3:14-17). The Laodicean Church had lost its focus on the commission of the Lord for the Church to take the Gospel to the Lost (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). The Lord is not with this Church congregation but stands outside knocking at the door, waiting to come in (Revelation 3:20).

 

There are many mega-churches in existence today and while there is nothing wrong with the gathering of a large congregation of people worshipping the Lord, how this Church growth occurred should concern us. As a child, I attended a large Billy Graham crusade and found it fascinating that this many people were coming to hear someone preach from the Bible. I discovered that the reason for this large gathering was to share the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in alignment with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Unfortunately, many large Church gatherings today are the result of a compromising of the message of the Gospel to tickle the ears of listeners, so they become members and contribute money. Paul warned Timothy of such a falling away in the church (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Oh Lord, I pray the Church would repent of its lukewarmness and compromise and return to the mission of preaching the Gospel.

 

In fulfillment of this mission, I want to invite anyone reading this post who has not prayed for the forgiveness of their sins and to make Jesus the Lord of their lives, 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, convict, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Paul’s Concern for Corinthian Faithfulness and False Apostles

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 2 Corinthians 11:1-15

 

2 Corinthians 11:15

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

(NKJV)

 

The Bible is clear that Salvation comes from the grace of God and not our works (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, in Ephesians 2:10 the Apostle Paul speaks of a believer being the workmanship of Christ, created for good works. While this appears to be a contradiction, a believer is justified by the grace of God but should experience transformation from conformity to the world towards conformity with Christ (Romans 12:1-2). Paul feared the Corinthians might fall for the deceptive teaching of false apostles, losing their faithfulness to God and not experiencing transformation towards being more like Christ, something the Church must still guard against.

 

Paul begins the text by asking the Corinthians to bear with him because he has a godly jealousy for the Corinthians because he has betrothed them to Christ and desires to present them as chaste virgins (2 Corinthians 11:1-2). Paul’s concern is that the Corinthians may be deceived just as Eve was and fall for the teaching of false apostles presenting a different Jesus, spirit, or gospel than the one given to them by Paul (2 Corinthians 11:3-4).

 

Paul does not consider himself inferior to the most eminent apostles even though he is untrained in speech he is trained in knowledge and has been fully manifested in all things among them (2 Corinthians 11:5-6). Paul then asks if they consider it sin when he humbled himself so they might be exalted as Paul preached the Gospel free of charge (2 Corinthians 11:7). Paul took wages from other Churches and not the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 11:8). When present with the Corinthians and in need, Paul never became a burden to them, having his needs met by the men from Macedonia (2 Corinthians 11:9). Nothing shall stop Paul from boasting about the Corinthians because God knows he loves them (2 Corinthians 11:10-11).

 

Paul intends to continue doing as he has always done to cut off the opportunity for false apostles to boast in their false teaching (2 Corinthians 11:12). False apostles are deceitful workers, taking on the appearance of apostles of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:13). This should not surprise us for even Satan transforms himself into an angel of light, with his ministers appearing as ministers of righteousness whose end will be according to their works (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

 

Paul feared the troubled Corinthian Church could become unfaithful to Christ and fall for deceptive teaching from false apostles portraying themselves as ministers of righteousness. Paul’s fear is not unfounded, for he had observed the propensity of the Corinthians to attach themselves to men instead of to Christ (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). He feared that they might fall for some false apostle with a message sounding good to them that would deceive them and cause them to become unfaithful to Christ. The fear of falling for deception was not reserved for only the Corinthians for Paul expressed a similar fear with the Ephesians, Galatians, and Colossians (Colossians 2:8; Ephesians 5:6; Galatians 6:7).

 

In the information age, it is easy to obtain information, but it must be measured using the truth of the Word of God to avoid falling for deception. The rapid distribution of information is convenient, but also convenient for those spreading deception and why one must be diligent in measuring information against the standard of truth, the Word of God. The belt of truth is one aspect of the armor of God (Ephesians 6:14) and is the piece of God’s armor that holds everything together. This is especially true for anything presented as some new revelation from God because we already have the full cannon of scripture in the Bible that needs no additions (Revelation 22:18). We must follow the example of the Bereans who searched the scriptures daily to determine if Paul’s teaching was true (Acts 17:10-11). We live in the information age but also an age of great deception and why we must have a standard of truth by which to measure information received for its validity. One eternal thing is the Word of God for God is eternal (Psalm 93).

 

God promised fallen humanity a savior in Genesis 3:15 with that promise fulfilled when God sent his only Son, Jesus who came to die for sinners that they might have eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 3:16). The need for a savior is universal for all have sinned (Romans 3:23) but one does not automatically receive salvation but must ask God for it (1 John 1:9; Romans 10:9-10). If you are reading this post and realize you need a savior to save you from your sins, 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.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.                                                                                                                                             

God’s Gracious Restoration

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 20:33-44

 

Ezekiel 20:44

“Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,” says the Lord God.”

(NKJV)

 

The narrative of the Bible is a love story of a relationship with God, a relationship broken by sin, and a relationship restored at the cross. The hero of the story is the one spoken of in Genesis 3:15, the seed of the woman who bruised the serpent's head when he resurrected from the dead. Symbolic of this love story of restoration is the nation of Israel who broke their covenant with God but were not destroyed but restored for God’s plan was that the seed of the woman, Messiah come from their lineage (Jeremiah 29:11). God’s restoration is one of mercy and grace and available to anyone accepting it.

 

With a mighty hand, outstretched arm, and fury poured out, God will rule over Israel (Ezekiel 20:33). God will also bring Israel out from the peoples and nations to which they have been scattered with a mighty hand, outstretched arm and fury poured out (Ezekiel 20:34). However, God will bring Israel out into the wilderness to plead his case with them face-to-face like he did with their forefathers in the wilderness of Egypt (Ezekiel 20:35-36).

 

God is making Israel pass under the rod of His correction to bring them back into the bond of His covenant with them (Ezekiel 20:37). God will purge the rebels from among them and those that transgressed against the Lord, bringing them out from their countries of exile but not into the Promised Land (Ezekiel 20:38). God tells the people to go ahead and worship their idols if they choose not to obey Him but to no longer profane Him with their gifts and idols (Ezekiel 20:39). On the holy mountain of Israel is where all the house of Israel shall serve the Lord God and where He will accept their offerings and firstfruits (Ezekiel 20:40).

 

When Israel does this, God will accept them as a sweet aroma so God is hallowed through them before the Gentiles (Ezekiel 20:41). Israel shall know the Lord is Lord when they are brought out of the countries into which they were scattered and back into the Promised Land (Ezekiel 20:42). Once back in their land, they will remember their ways of defilement, loathing themselves because of the evil they committed (Ezekiel 20:43). They shall see how the Lord dealt with them by mercy and grace and not according to their evil ways (Ezekiel 20:44).

 

In the previous text of this chapter, God gave Israel a history lesson to illustrate their history of rebellion against God (Ezekiel 20:1-32). The situation seems hopeless but there is hope for God intends to restore Israel with Mercy and grace (Ezekiel 20:33-44). The key to this restoration is humble repentance (2 Chronicles 7:14). However, this is not a blanket acquittal from sin for those rebels that do not repent will escape exile but not enter the land of Israel (Ezekiel 20:38). The Lord did not intend for the exile of Israel to lead to their destruction but as a rod of correction to bring them back into alignment with his covenant (Ezekiel 20:37; Jeremiah 29:11).

 

Like Israel, the lukewarm, compromising, and consumerist church has rebelled against God. God does intend to restore His church but only after the purging of its rebels. God does not desire that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9) or that his people be subjected to His wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9). In his discourse with Nicodemus, Jesus stated he did not come to the world to condemn it but to save it with anyone choosing not to believe condemning him or herself to separation from God (John 3:17-18). There is indeed no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus but one must be in Christ Jesus to escape condemnation and God’s wrath (Romans 8:1).

 

None of us are physically born in Christ Jesus for we all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). This means we are all born into a heritage of sin carrying a death penalty but God has granted a gift that changes our heritage (Romans 6:23). This change of heritage is possible because God loved us so much He sent His son to die for sinful humanity even though He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 3:16; Romans 5:8). To accept this changed heritage one must declare with his or her mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead to be saved from the death penalty of sin (Romans 10:9). This is not just head knowledge of belief in Jesus but a belief in the heart. This belief that justifies one from their sin must come from the heart with the mouth confessing what is in the heart (Romans 10:10). Our heart is in what we treasure (Matthew 6:21), if that is Jesus we have a belief that saves. If you genuinely believe with your heart in Jesus and his death for your sins on the cross, I invite you to pray with me and make the declaration of what is in your heart with your mouth and be saved 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, convict, and save everyone reading this post

The Realities and Limits of Paul’s Authority

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 2 Corinthians 10:7-18

 

2 Corinthians 10:17-18

But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” ¹⁸ For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

(NKJV)

 

In 1 Corinthians 9, the Corinthians question Paul’s authority as an Apostle. The contents of this text indicate there may still be some questions, so Paul provides teaching on the reality and limits on his authority in Christ. While Paul is writing specifically to the Corinthians, his teaching on the reality and limits on his authority in Christ have application to the Church today.

 

This text begins with a question asking the Corinthians if they look at things according to outward appearances. Paul also asks those convinced they belong to Christ to consider that Paul and those with him are also in Christ (2 Corinthians 10:7). Even if Paul appears to boast about the authority given to him in Christ, it is not for the destruction of the Corinthians but their edification for which Paul is not ashamed (2 Corinthians 10:8). Some say that Paul’s letters are weighty and powerful but his words in person are weak and contemptible (2 Corinthians 10:9-10). The weightiness and power of Paul’s words when absent are demonstrated in his deeds when present with them (2 Corinthians 10:11). This is the reality of Paul’s authority.

 

Paul now discusses the limits of his authority by teaching that it is unwise for one to commend him or herself or to compare themselves among others in the Church, something Paul and those with him dares not do (2 Corinthians 10:12). Instead, Paul and those with him refuse to boast beyond the measure of the sphere provided by God (2 Corinthians 10:13). Paul’s sphere does include the Corinthians and why he came to them with the Gospel of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:14). Paul hopes that as the faith of the Corinthians increases, so will his sphere of influence (2 Corinthians 10:15). Paul wants his sphere of influence to go beyond the Corinthians as their faith increases and the establishment of their faith (2 Corinthians 10:16). Paul wants the Corinthians to see him glorifying and commended by God (2 Corinthians 10:17-18).

 

In answer to questions about his authority (1 Corinthians 9), and the context of his previous teaching on spiritual warfare in 2 Corinthians 10:1-6, Paul establishes the reality and limits on his authority.

• The reality of Paul’s authority (2 Corinthians 10:7-11) – Paul’s authority is an authority given to him by God to edify the Body of Christ and not its destruction (2 Corinthians 10:8)
• The limits of Paul’s authority (2 Corinthians 10:12-18) – The authority of Paul’s ministry is limited to the sphere of influence given to him by God, which included the Corinthians at this time of his ministry (2 Corinthians 10:13).

 

The Church has spiritual authority, but that authority has limits on where and how each Church body should administer its authority. In his previous teaching on spiritual warfare, Paul established the reality of Church authority and the reality of the resources available to conduct spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:10-18). This is the reality of Church authority, an authority seldom recognized and exercised.

 

The Church must also prioritize its Spiritual authority. When viewed as a body, the Church has many members created and designed with various gifts and talents. In Acts 1:8, Jesus’ final words before ascending was that the Church be witnesses of Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the end of the earth. Each of these locations represents a sphere of influence for each Church body and the priority with which the Church should exercise its authority.

 

• Jerusalem – The believers in the early Church were mostly Jews living in Jerusalem with Jesus establishing that as the first place to exert spiritual authority. Each local Church body should have as its first priority outreach to its local community and city.
• Judea – Judea is the area of Israel containing Jerusalem with Jesus establishing outreach from the local community of Jerusalem spreading throughout the Judean region. As each local Church body’s authority grows in its local community, it should begin to spread to its local state, province, or area.
• Samaria – Samaria represents the remaining area of the nation of Israel and where Jesus envisioned outreach in each regional location would spread. As Church authority grows within the local region, it should spread throughout the nation.
• The ends of the earth – This is the global outreach of the Church that grows as Spiritual authority grows nationally in a nation. However, the priority of this global outreach should not take precedence with local outreach ignored.

 

As each Church body recognizes the reality of its authority in Christ and uses that authority with the priority outlined in Acts 1:8, coupled with a heart of repentance, revival will occur, and the harvest of souls brought in. If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins and to make Jesus the Lord of your life, 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, convict, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Rebellions of Israel (In the Promised Land)

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 20:18-32

 

Ezekiel 20:18-19

“But I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols. ¹⁹ I am the Lord your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them

(NKJV)

 

Complacency is dangerous for a child of God for it can lead to one believing he or she can take care of problems with no need of bothering God about it. The Book of Judges in the Bible illustrates a cycle in Israel of turning to God, achieving victory, doing things on their own or becoming complacent, and turning back to God. The Church must also guard against becoming complacent for the time of the return of Christ is imminent and the harvest fields are ripe (Luke 10:2; Matthew 9:37) because complacent believers in the Church are not working the harvest.

 

This section of the text in Ezekiel speaks to the next generation of Israelites who are descendants of those who rebelled against God in the wilderness. The text begins with a reminder to this future generation not to make the mistake of their fathers and rebel against God’s Word (Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Ezekiel 20:18-20). This generation confronted a fork in the road and could continue down the road of rebellion like their parents or serve the Lord.

 

Unfortunately, this generation chose to follow the path of rebellion like their parents with God vowing to pour out His fury on them (Ezekiel 20:21). Fortunately for Israel, God withheld His fury so His name was not profaned by the Gentiles believing God delivered his people from Egypt only to have them perish in the land He promised them (Ezekiel 20:22). God also vowed to scatter the Israelites among the Gentiles for their disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:36-37; Ezekiel 20:23-24).

 

God pronounces this rebellious generation as unclean because of the detestable sin of offering their children up as sacrifices to the pagan gods they have decided to worship (Ezekiel 20:25-26). God now speaks to the elders who have asked him to inquire of the Lord on their behalf, reminding them that they too have blasphemed God by their unfaithfulness (Ezekiel 20:27). When the generation entering the Promised Land crossed the Jordan and saw the high hills and thick trees, they chose to offer their sacrifices there unto their pagan gods instead of God, their Lord (Ezekiel 20:28). The high place is named Bamah by God, the place Israel chose to defile themselves like their fathers (Ezekiel 20:29-30). Because of these abominations, God does not allow them to inquire of Him For God knows they desire to be like the Gentiles, worshipping idols of wood and stone (Ezekiel 20:31-32).

 

One would think that the rebellions of Israel would stop once they entered the Promised Land, but the rebellions continued. After crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land and the victory at Jericho (Joshua 6), Achan took as plunder some of the accursed things from Jericho, leading to the defeat of Israel at Ai (Joshua 7:1-9). Solomon also turned from the Lord, leading to the division of Israel after his death (1 Kings 12). This constant rebellion has now reached its climax with God no longer allowing the elders to make inquiries of them with them destined to seventy years of exile (Ezekiel 20:31; Jeremiah 25:11).

 

One would think that God coming to fallen humanity in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:14) and dying for their sins even though He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) would end rebellion against God but rebellion against God continues. Jesus taught that the way to life and salvation was narrow but the way to destruction is wide and easy and why many continue down that path (Matthew 7:13-14). Because many will choose the wide and easy way, Jesus told his disciples they would experience persecution in this world but also reminds us that He overcame the world (John 16:33). God cannot allow the Israelites, or His Church, to fulfill their desire to be like the Gentiles and worship idols of wood and stone or compromise with today’s woke culture (Ezekiel 20:32).

 

Rebellion against God in our time resembles the abomination of Israel when they sacrificed their children in the fire (Ezekiel 20:26) with millions of unborn babies murdered by abortion. Continued rebellion against God has led to the vile passion of homosexuality (Romans 1:26-27). We are also observing the acceptance as normal the mutilation of one’s body through gender reassignment surgery, something Paul cautioned against in Philippians 3:2. The Church must not remain silent but speak out against these woke culture abominations and rebellions against the Word of God.

 

If you are reading this and have not asked for the forgiveness of the sin in your life, I invite you to pray 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, convict, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Spiritual Warfare

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

 

2 Corinthians 10:4

For the weapons of our warfare are not ^[a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds

(NKJV)

 

What I deem to be the thesis statement of the 911 Commission report about the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, was that they were at war with us, but we were not at war with them. Sadly, this statement is true of the Church today with Satan and his forces at war with the Church as his time draws short and the return of Jesus is eminent. The Church, however, is lukewarm, compromising, and functions in a consumerist manner to please everyone by not speaking out against sin. For revival to begin, the Church must awaken to the fact it is in a spiritual war and must engage.

 

The text begins with Paul telling the Corinthians his pleading with them is by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. His approach to the Corinthians is with lowliness and humility when with them but with boldness when absent (2 Corinthians 10:1). Paul does not want to be bold towards some who believe Paul and those with him walk according to the flesh (2 Corinthians 10:2). While Paul and those with him still walk in a fleshly body, that is not how they conduct spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 10:3). The weapons of warfare used by Paul and those with him are not carnal but mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). Paul defines the strongholds as arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Paul is ready to punish all disobedience when the obedience of the Corinthians is fulfilled (2 Corinthians 10:6).

 

Paul is preparing the Corinthians to fight a different type of war, a spiritual war that requires the use of spiritual weapons as opposed to carnal weapons of the flesh. In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul provides additional details of the spiritual weapons in the arsenal of the believer which a believer needs to stand against the wiles of the Devil (Ephesians 6:10-11). Paul goes on to define the enemy as not consisting of flesh and blood but principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.

 

• Principalities – Not the nations or organizations warring against God’s people but the demonic principalities behind their evil philosophies.
• Powers – Demonic powers that empower those who lead nations supporting ungodliness.
• Rulers of darkness – Not the men or women in earthly power but the spiritual rulers behind them (Daniel 10:10-14).
• Spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places – Wolves in sheep’s clothing having positions of authority in the Church appearing spiritual but lacking Godliness.

 

Whether we like it or want to admit it or not, we are in a spiritual war that requires different weapons and strategies. The Church must,

 

1. Repent – Church organizations have become comfortable with using conventional strategies for Church growth that mirror strategies for growing a business organization, like compromise or customer satisfaction. While there are business aspects to running a Church, like finances and maintaining facilities, numerical growth in the Church occurs as the Church lifts up Jesus drawing people to Christ (John 12:32).
2. Put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17) –
1. Truth (Ephesians 6:14) – Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that true worshippers of God worship in spirit and truth (John 3:23). The belt on the armor of a Roman soldier held everything together just as the truth of God’s Word holds everything together for a spiritual warrior.
2. Breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14) – This is not our righteousness which is useless (Isaiah 64:6), but the righteousness of Christ a spiritual warrior has through the shed blood of Christ (Romans 3:22).
3. Shoes of the Gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15) – Bringing the Gospel wherever the spiritual warrior goes.
4. The shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16) – Protecting the spiritual warrior from the constant barrage of attacks from the devil.
5. The helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17) – Protecting the mind of a spiritual warrior with the assurance of salvation in Christ.
6. The sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) – The written Word of God as a weapon used by the spiritual warrior to defeat deception.
3. Engage in an unconventional battle –
1. Prayer (Ephesians 6:18) – Normally a soldier stands in battle but in this unconventional battle, soldiers are on their knees in prayer.
2. Empowered by the Spirit of God (Acts 1:4,8) – A conventional soldier is empowered by his or her training and the might of the weapons they possess. The spiritual warrior is empowered by the Spirit of God, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11).
3. Armed with the truth – The Word of God is the sword at the side of a spiritual warrior but is useless without training and practice in swordsmanship (Hebrews 4:12). A spiritual warrior regularly trains through the study of the Word of God and practices it in his or her daily life.

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed for the forgiveness of sins or to make Jesus the Lord of your life, 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.

 

While many in the Church are praying for revival, we must realize revival comes through engagement in spiritual warfare and not some new Church program.