Proclamations Against Ammon and Moab: How Not to Treat God’s People

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 25:1-11

 

Ezekiel 25:6-7

 ‘For thus says the Lord God: “Because you clapped your hands, stamped your feet, and rejoiced in heart with all your disdain for the land of Israel, ⁷ indeed, therefore, I will stretch out My hand against you, and give you as plunder to the nations; I will cut you off from the peoples, and I will cause you to perish from the countries; I will destroy you, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

(NKJV)

 

The text of Ezekiel 25:1-32:32 records the oracles of Ezekiel addressing seven nations that represent the four points of the compass. There is a two-fold purpose for these oracles, first assurance to Judah that their enemies would not go unpunished and second the oracle against Egypt as a warning not to trust in their alliance with Egypt. The application for the Church is to remind us that the enemies of the Church will not go unpunished but a warning not to compromise with the world.

 

Ezekiel receives a word from the Lord instructing him to prophesy against the Ammonites (Ezekiel 25:1-2). The reason for the word against the Ammonites is their saying aha against the sanctuary when profaned, the land of Israel when it was desolate, and the house of Judah when they went into captivity (Ezekiel 25:3). Because of this attitude towards the people of God, God will deliver Ammon as a possession to the men of the East with them setting up encampments against them, dwelling with them, and eating their fruit and drinking their milk (Ezekiel 25:4). Rabbah will be a stable for camels and Ammon a resting place for flocks causing Ammon to know the Lord is the Lord (Ezekiel 25:5)

 

The word from the Lord continues with the Lord telling the Ammonites he intends to stretch out His hand against them because of their disdain for the land of Israel (Ezekiel 25:6-7). The Lord intends to give Ammon as plunder to the nations, cutting them off from the peoples, causing them to perish from the countries, and destroying them so they know the Lord is the Lord (Ezekiel 25:7). Ammon’s disdain for Israel will not go unpunished.

 

The text now shifts to a proclamation against Moab. Moab and Seir say that Judah is like all the nations (Ezekiel 25:8). Because of this demeaning of God’s people in Judah, the Lord intends to clear Moab of the cities of its frontier, the glory of the nation (Ezekiel 25:9). Moab too will be given to the men of the East as a possession along with the Ammonites who are no longer remembered among the nations (Ezekiel 25:10). The word to Moab concludes with the Lord reminding Moab that He will execute His judgments upon them (Ezekiel 25:11).

 

Even though the people of Judah have sinned and rebelled against God, they are His people with God making proclamations against their enemies. While Ezekiel has declared God’s intended wrath against Judah and Israel (Ezekiel 6:1-7), he has also promised deliverance when they repent and turn back to God (Ezekiel 11:14-25). God issues these proclamations against Ammon and Moab as a reminder Israel and Judah are still the people of God in need of correction and a warning not to be against them or risk suffering the same wrath.

 

While continued rebellion against God by His people has consequences, woe to anyone who takes advantage of this rebellion to attack God’s people. Many modern Churches have adopted the woke culture, believing that is how to attract those believing the woke abominations. This may sound like a good strategy for growth in the secular business world, but it is not God’s strategy for Church growth. Jesus told His disciples that if He is lifted up, He will draw all people unto Him (John 12:32). The early Church took this seriously and why they refused to be quiet about Jesus even when facing imprisonment, beatings, and death (Acts 4:13-22).

 

The timid and lukewarm Church of today must reconnect with the boldness it had after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). While the Church of today has easy access to knowledge of the Word of God, it must couple this knowledge of truth by following the leading of the Holy Spirit to apply Godly truth where needed most. The Church must repent of compromising with the world and return to applying Biblical truth under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Lord, I repent of my sins and ask you to direct me on where to apply your truth to participate in bringing revival to a dark world that needs Jesus.

 

If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, 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.

Transformation From Ordinary to Extraordinary

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 2:1-12

 

John 2:11

This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and ^[a]manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

(NKJV)

 

It takes an artist to turn something ordinary into something extraordinary. In my youth, I loved to play basketball but lacked the talent and physical abilities to become a professional basketball player. That requires the artistic and athletic abilities of someone like Michael Jordan who can take an ordinary basketball and turn it into something extraordinary. In the hands of the Lamb of God, ordinary water becomes fine wine symbolizing the transformation of one’s life from a sinner to a child of God (Romans 3:23, 8:12-17).

 

On the third day after John the Baptist declares Jesus as the Lamb of God come to take away the sins of the world, Mary, Jesus, and His disciples find themselves at a wedding feast in Cana (John 2:1-2). They have run out of wine at the feast, an embarrassing situation for the family of the bridegroom. Mary tells Jesus they have run out of wine (John 2:3).

 

Jesus responds to His mother by referring to her as woman, asking what that has to do with Him for His hour had not come yet (John 2:4). Jesus is not addressing Mary as His mother but as a disciple, letting her know his time of glorification had not come yet, something that would occur at the time of his crucifixion (John 12:23, 27, 13:1, 16:32, 17:1). Mary tells those at the wedding to do whatever Jesus tells them to do (John 2:5).

 

At the feast there were six waterpots used for purification which held twenty to thirty gallons of water (John 2:6). Jesus tells the servants to fill each of the waterpots with ordinary water which the servants do out of obedience to the instructions of Jesus, filling them to the brim (John 2:7). Jesus then tells the servants to draw out some of the liquid and take it to the master of the feast, which they did out of obedience to Christ (John 2:8). When the master of the feast tasted the water now turned into wine not knowing where the water had come from, but the servants knew (John 2:9). When the master of the feast called for the bridegroom, the servants might have thought they were in trouble for trying to pull a fast one on the master of the feast. However, the master of the feast called the bridegroom over to commend him for saving the best wine for last (John 2:10).

 

This first miracle of Jesus that manifested his glory was a precursor of what was to come, climaxing in the manifestation of the glory of God with the resurrection of Christ and the conquering of death. However, this first simple manifestation of the glory of God did cause Jesus’ disciples to believe in Him (John 2:11). After this miracle, Jesus, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples went to Capernaum but did not stay there many days (John 2:12).

 

This miracle, the turning of water into wine was the first miracle of Jesus which manifested His glory to his disciples, leading to their believing in Him. This is easy to understand because there had been 400 years of silence from God since the prophet Malichi till John the Baptist entered the scene with some of Jesus first disciples coming to Jesus after John pointed Him out as the Lamb of God (John 1:29). Now the manifestation of a physical miracle has occurred with ordinary water turned into fine wine. However, this first miracle of Jesus is just the beginning of what these disciples of Jesus will witness, climaxing with his resurrection from the dead.

 

Those at the wedding feast observed the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine, but the greatest miracle of God’s glory is the transformation that occurs in one’s life when one finds salvation from their sins. Like Jesus turning ordinary water into wine, this miracle turns an ordinary man who is a sinner (Romans 3:23) into a child of God (Romans 8:12-17). Everyone who has prayed for the forgiveness of their sins, professing their belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has a story of this transformation in their lives (Romans 10:9-10). While our story of salvation may not be as dramatic as the Apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9), it is a story someone may relate to and why we must not fear sharing it.

 

Some reading this may be like me, someone raised in the Church who thought they could get to heaven based on their raising, with no need to pray to receive Jesus as their Savior. However, I came to a point in my life when I realized I needed to repent of my sins and make a personal decision to make Jesus Christ my savior. If that story relates to anyone reading this, I encourage you to take a moment to pray with me and receive forgiveness of your sins and receive Jesus as your Savior,

 

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

 

May the Lord challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.

Eyes on the Prize

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 24:15-27

 

1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may ^[a]obtain it.

(NKJV)

 

The problem with sin in one’s life is it leads to a loss of perspective on our relationship with God. Israel and Judah found worship of Baal appealing as it helped them fit in with the pagan nations surrounding them. The peer pressure of fitting in is no different for us today who become believers in Christ as our savior and no longer fit in with those we spent time with before professing our faith in Jesus Christ. This is why each of us needs to have our eyes on the prize of eternal life through salvation by the grace of God and not give in to the pleasures of sin.

 

The Lord lets Ezekiel know he is about to lose the desire of his eyes, his wife but that he will neither mourn nor weep publicly at her death (Ezekiel 24:15-16). His sighing will be in silence with him going about his affairs as usual. He will put on his turban, and sandals, and not cover his lips but continue speaking as a prophet (Ezekiel 24:17). After speaking to the people, which was his custom, Ezekiel’s wife dies in the evening, and he did as the Lord commanded (Ezekiel 24:18).

 

This unusual behavior caused the people to wonder what this signified for them as it was customary for Ezekiel to provide illustrations with his words from the Lord (Ezekiel 24:19). Ezekiel answers with a word from the Lord letting them know He will profane His sanctuary, the boasting of the people, and that their children will fall by the sword (Ezekiel 24:20-21). Israel And Judah will react similarly to Ezekiel at the loss of his wife by not mourning the loss of their connection with God (Ezekiel 24:22). Like Ezekiel, they will put on their turbans and sandals, neither mourn nor weep, and pine away in their iniquities (Ezekiel 24:23). This is what the sign of Ezekiel’s behavior means for the people of Israel and Judah who do not mourn or weep at the loss of their connection with God (Ezekiel 24:24).

 

The Lord then speaks to Ezekiel, letting him know what will happen on the day Israel and Judah lose their stronghold, joy, and the glory of their eyes along with the loss of their children (Ezekiel 24:25). On that day, one will escape and come to Ezekiel and let him hear it with his own ears (Ezekiel 24:26). On this day, Ezekiel will no longer be mute but speak freely as a sign to the people that the Lord God is Lord of all (Ezekiel 24:27).

 

The sins and abominations of Israel and Judah have blinded them to the fact that they are losing what is most important to them, the things given to them by God. To illustrate this to Israel and Judah, God commands Jeremiah not to publicly mourn the loss of his wife but to go on with life as usual (Ezekiel 24:17). This served its purpose with the people wondering what Jeremiah’s actions signified for them (Ezekiel 24:19). The people would hear from the Lord through Jeremiah so they must have known his actions were under the instructions of the Lord. The truth is that the lack of mourning by Jeremiah at the loss of his wife is no different than the loss of relationship with God Israel and Judah are suffering due to their sin. The heart of the Lord and Jeremiah is for a restoration of a relationship with God for Israel and Judah by turning back to God in repentance (Deuteronomy 30:1-10).

 

The pleasures of sin blind us to the fact sin separates us from God and a future of eternity living in God’s presence. The pleasures of sin are real and pleasing to our flesh but always come with consequences with the main consequence, separation from God (Isaiah 59:1-8). All of us have sinned and experienced separation from God (Romans 3:23) and live under a death sentence from God (Romans 6:23). However, our situation is not hopeless for God’s gift of grace to humanity is salvation from sin and eternal life (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16; Romans 6:23). Every person has a sin problem that needs God’s gift of salvation.

 

Unfortunately, many Churches never mention sin today out of fear of offending someone. Since sin is offensive to God, failure to mention sin and its consequences from the pulpit offends God for it does not open the door to one receiving God’s gift of salvation through Grace. My prayer is that the Church would return to lifting up Jesus and how He came to redeem fallen humanity through his death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 10:9-10). If this causes some to leave offended, pray for them for their offensive feelings are the conviction of the Holy Spirit due to sin in their lives (John 16:5-10). Pray that the work of the Holy Spirit will continue in their lives.

 

If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, 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.

The First Disciples

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 1:35-51

 

Matthew 28:19-20

Go ^[a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ^[b]Amen.

(NKJV)

 

As we see the course of events in our world and compare that with Jesus’ Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:3-25:46), we know the time of Jesus’ coming to take His bride, the Church home to be with Him is near. While Scripture cautions us not to attempt to put a date on the return of Christ for only the Father knows the date (Matthew 24:36), Jesus does set the tone of the world before His return (Matthew 24:4-14), letting us know the time is near. This should give believers a sense of urgency regarding the lost in their families, among their friends, and in the world in general. Jesus’ calling of his first disciples illustrates the ways people come to believe in Jesus as their Savior and how our lost friends and family may come to know Jesus as their Savior.

 

This text begins with John the Baptist standing with two of his disciples and seeing Jesus walk by, declaring Him as the Lamb of God (John 1:35-36). The two disciples heard John’s declaration and followed Jesus with Jesus seeing them following Him and asking what they seek to which they ask Jesus where He is staying (John 1:37-38). Jesus tells them to come with Him and see and they remained with Him that day (John 1:39).

 

One of the two disciples following Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother (John 1:40). Andrew then finds his brother Simon and tells him he has found the Messiah (John 1:41). Andrew takes Simon Peter to Jesus and when Jesus sees him, He tells him he is Simon son of Jonah but will now be called Cephas (translated as a stone) (John 1:42).

 

The next day Jesus goes to Galilee, finds Philip, and asks him to follow Him (John 1:43). Philip was from the same city as Andrew and Peter and finds Nathanael, telling him he has found the one spoken of by Moses in the law and the prophets, Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph (John 1:44-45). Nathanael’s response is “Can anything good come out of Nazareth” to which Philip invites him to come and see (John 1:46). When Jesus sees Nathanael approaching, he says, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” (John 1:47). Nathanael asks Jesus how he knows him, and Jesus lets him know that before Philip called him, when he was under the fig tree, Jesus saw him (John 1:48). Based on this knowledge not based on Jesus and Nathanael having met, Nathanael knows Jesus is the Son of God and King of Israel (John 1:49). Jesus lets Nathanael know that he will see even greater things including the heavens opening up and the angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man (John 1:50-51).

 

Jesus calls Andrew, Peter, Nathaniel, and Philip with each deciding to follow Jesus but each does so differently illustrating the different ways people come to realize who Jesus is. Andrew came to his belief in Jesus as Messiah based on the preaching of the Word by John the Baptist who points out Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:35). Peter’s belief came when his brother Andrew told him he had found Messiah and took Peter to Jesus with Peter believing when he meets Jesus (John 1:40-42). Jesus finds Philip and tells him to follow Him which he does without hesitation (John 1:43). Philip finds Nathanael and like Andrew, tells Nathanael he has found Messiah, but Nathanael is skeptical, not believing anything good could come from Nazareth (John 1:45-46). It is not until Jesus comes toward Nathanael and tells him he is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit that Nathanael believes because he and Jesus had never met (John 1:47-49). All these men came to the belief in Jesus as their Messiah but differently.

 

Jesus is the only way to reconciliation with God with this reconciliation only occurring when one decides to follow Jesus. This requires one expressing their belief in Jesus’ death burial and resurrection. However, people can come to this realization differently.

 

• The preaching of the Word (Andrew) – Some are like Andrew, and only need to hear the presentation of the Gospel through the Word of God to believe. Some of our lost friends or loved ones may be Andrews only needing us to invite them to Church where they hear the Word preached and come to believe.
• Witness of a family member (Peter) – We may have people like Peter in our families who need to hear our testimony of what Jesus has done for us to come to a belief in Jesus as their Savior.
• Encounter with the Savior (Philip) – Our lost friends and loved ones may be like Philip needing an encounter with Jesus through someone following Christ. Someone who does not believe in Jesus as his or her Messiah may encounter a friend, co-worker, or family member who has peace in a chaotic situation and come to a belief in Jesus after finding out the source of their peace.
• Powerful testimony of a friend (Nathanael) – Our testimony of how Jesus transformed our lives is powerful, even if it seems mundane to us. This is because God may place others in our path who are experiencing the same challenges we did and need to hear how Jesus transformed our lives. Do not fear sharing your testimony to the Nathanael’s God places in your life.

 

If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, 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.

Jerusalem in the Fire

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 24:1-14

 

Ezekiel 24:13

In your filthiness is lewdness.
Because I have cleansed you, and you were not cleansed,
You will not be cleansed of your filthiness anymore,
Till I have caused My fury to rest upon you.

(NKJV)

 

Grace is a wonderful thing for we could not experience salvation from sins apart from it (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, grace is not cheap, coming at the high cost of Jesus’ death on the cross (Romans 5:8). While salvation comes through grace and not our works, we must not use God’s grace as an excuse to continue living in sin (Romans 6:1-2). God has extended grace to Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem but they have overextended God’s grace by continuing in sin, bringing about a day of reckoning.

 

Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord, but this word has a specific date with the Lord telling Ezekiel to record the date for it is the date when the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem began (Ezekiel 24:1-2). The Lord instructs Ezekiel to provide a parable by putting a pot on a fire and pouring water into it (Ezekiel 24:3). He is then to gather pieces of choice meat from the shoulder and thigh, coming from the choice animals of the flock using fuel bones for a fire to make the pot boil well (Ezekiel 24:4-5)

 

The Lord then provides an interpretation of what this parable means. The pot represents the bloody city of Jerusalem with the meat symbolizing the scum of rebellious people living in the city destined for removal from the city and exile (Ezekiel 24:6). The blood of the sins of Jerusalem is within the city, not poured on the ground and covered with dust but on top of a rock for all to see (Ezekiel 24:7-8).

 

The Lord then issues another woe to the bloody city of Jerusalem, declaring He too will make the fire under the pot great (Ezekiel 24:9). The Lord then says to heap on the wood and kindle the fire, so the meat cooks well and to mix in the spices and let the cuts of meat burn up (Ezekiel 24:10). Ezekiel is then to set the empty pot on the coals so it becomes hot, and its bronze may burn so its filthiness melts in it and the scum consumed, symbolizing the cleansing by the fire of God’s fury (Ezekiel 24:11). The people of Jerusalem have wearied God by their lies and God vows to let them be as the scum in the fire of the empty pot (Ezekiel 24:12). Their filthiness is lewdness with the Lord cleansing them, but not experiencing cleansing by continuing to sin so the Lord will not cleanse their filthiness anymore until His fury rests upon them (Ezekiel 24:13). The Lord confirms that what He has spoken will occur with Jerusalem judged according to their deeds (Ezekiel 24:14).

 

The day of reckoning has come with the king of Babylon beginning his siege of Jerusalem. Using the symbolism of a cooking pot, The Lord lets the people of Jerusalem know what is about to occur and reminds them of why. The siege is the beginning of woes for the city because the Babylonians will conquer the city with those escaping the sword, famine, and pestilence carried off into Babylonian exile (2 Kings 24:1-16). This is happening because of the continued rebellion against God with the sins of Manasseh the last straw (2 Chronicles 33). God has extended mercy and grace to Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem but it is now obvious they do not intend to repent and must endure the fire of God’s wrath.

 

Even in the dispensation of grace, rebellion against God and His Word has serious repercussions. However, like what occurred in Jerusalem, God is merciful giving His people an opportunity to turn from their rebellion, but ignoring God’s warnings will eventually lead to a day of reckoning. Jesus gave His Church a simple mission to take the Gospel to the world (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20), but in many ways, churches have strayed from this mission and preach a soft message of encouragement with no accountability for sin.

 

Romans 3:23 reminds us that we all have sinned with Romans 6:23 reminding us of the penalty for our sins. The good news or Gospel message the Church is to spread is that Jesus, the Son of God, came to take the death penalty for our sins (Romans 5:8). The best encouragement the Church can give an individual is to confess Jesus as Lord of their life, receiving eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10). From this foundation of salvation from sin, the Church can disciple people by encouraging them to pray, study the Bible, and associate with fellow believers so they have a closer relationship with God. My prayer is that the Church returns to this mission.

 

If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, 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.

A Voice in the Wilderness Declaring the Son of God

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 1:19-34

 

John 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

(NKJV)

 

Those in ministry have a calling to point people to Jesus, the source of salvation from sin and eternal life (John 3:16; 12:32) and attention to what is going on in their ministry is important, so curious individuals come to see what is happening. John’s ministry of repentance and baptism with water has drawn the attention of the Jews leading to the question of whether they have a desire to join John or put his ministry down (John 1:19). The fact that the Jews sent priests and Levites to question John indicates they were gathering information, possibly to use it against John. However, whatever the reason for their query, John is the voice crying in the wilderness, declaring Jesus as the Lamb of God.

 

The questioning by the priests and Levites begins with them asking a simple question to John, who are you (John 1:19). John does not answer the question directly but first declares he is not the Christ (John 1:20). They then ask John if he is Elijah or the Prophet to which he again answers no (John 1:21). Not receiving a definitive answer from John, the priests and Levites then ask John who he is so they can provide an answer to those that sent them (John 1:22). John now answers their question with Isaiah 40:3, identifying himself as the voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord (John 1:23).

 

Those sent to question John then ask why he baptizes with water if he is not Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet (John 1:24-25). John then tells them there is one among them that they do not know who will come after John, one John is unworthy to lose even his sandal strap (John 1:26-27). These events occurred in Bethabara where John was baptizing (John 1:28).

 

The next day, John sees Jesus coming towards him and declares Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). John reveals that his ministry of repentance and baptism with water had the purpose of declaring the Lamb of God, now identified as Jesus (John 1:30-31). God allowed John to see the Spirit of God descend and remain on Jesus, identifying Him as the one who would baptize people with the Holy Spirit (John 1:32-33). John concludes by identifying Jesus as the Son of God (John 1:34).

 

God called John the Baptist to baptize with water, a baptism of repentance, preparing the way for the Lord. He receives a sign that the One upon whom he sees the Spirit of God descend and remain is the Christ, the Son of God. Matthew’s Gospel records the fulfillment of this sign, occurring at the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17). While not the Messiah, John’s ministry is creating a stir among the Jews the reason their leaders’ sent priests and Levites to question him (John 1:19). The nature of their questions indicates their belief John may be Elijah or the Prophet coming to prepare hearts for the coming Messiah. While this was the purpose of John’s ministry, he answers with Isaiah 40:3, identifying himself as the voice of one crying in the wilderness. The next day, John has the privilege to announce Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, identifying Jesus as the one who would come after him (John 1:29-31), baptizing with the Holy Spirit (John 1:32). John also declared Jesus as the Son of God (John 1:34).

 

When one accepts Jesus as his or her savior, they receive the Holy Spirit, but one can grieve the Holy Spirit and diminish their ministry and walk with the Lord. Unlike the rest of His creation, God breathed the breath of life into the lifeless body of Adam, and he became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). Unfortunately, the disobedience of Adam and Eve led to a loss of connection with God and eviction from the Garden (Genesis 3:23-24).

 

John’s declaration of Jesus as the Lamb of God, coming to take away the sin of the world indicates the purpose of Jesus's coming was to forgive sin and baptize those that believe in who He was with the Holy Spirit (John 1:29-34). Even though we still live in a corrupt and fallen world, genuine believers in Jesus as their Savior have an advantage because they have the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in their lives and minister in power (Acts 1:8). The mission of the Church is to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20) to a corrupt world dying in its sin. The harvest is plentiful but there are few laborers (Matthew 9:37). Will you be a laborer in this great harvest?

 

If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, 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.