Trusting God v. Trusting the World

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 29:1-21

 

Romans 5:3-4

 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces ^[a]perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, ^[b]character; and character, hope.

(NKJV)

 

As Christians, we profess faith and trust in God. However, the testing of where we place our trust lies in who we trust when some trial or struggle comes about. In Romans 5:3-4, the Bible reminds us that tribulations bring glory as they produce perseverance, character, and hope in us. This is true if we place our trust in God during the trial but if we instead place our trust in some worldly program, person, government, or organization to save us, we will be disappointed. Let us not make the mistake of Judah who trusted Egypt to save them from the Babylonians who would also invade Egypt and instead, trust in God.

 

Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord that is directed to Pharaoh and all of Egypt (Ezekiel 29:1-2). The word begins with the Lord declaring that He is against Pharaoh and all of Egypt, calling Pharaoh a great monster lying in his rivers, claiming them as his own even though they were created by the Lord (Ezekiel 29:3). Ezekiel uses the image of hooks in Pharaoh’s jaws, stating that he intends to pull him from his rivers with all the fish, the people of Egypt, sticking to him (Ezekiel 29:4). The Lord then will leave them in the wilderness where they will not be picked up but become food for the beasts and birds (Ezekiel 29:5). Thus shall all the inhabitants of Egypt know the Lord is God because they broke Israel who had placed their trust in Egypt (Ezekiel 29:6-7).

 

Therefore, the Lord will bring a sword against Egypt, making the land desolate and a wasteland because Pharaoh claimed the river was his when it was the Lord who made it (Ezekiel 29:8-9). The Lord is indeed against Egypt and will make their land desolate and uninhabited for forty years (Ezekiel 29:10-11). Egypt will be desolate in the midst of countries that are also desolate and scatter the Egyptians among nations throughout the countries (Ezekiel 29:12).

 

Yet, after forty years, the Lord will gather the Egyptians from the nations in which they are scattered (Ezekiel 29:13). However, Egypt will be a lowly kingdom that never again attains its status of greatness among the nations (Ezekiel 29:14-15). Because of this, Israel will never again place their trust in Egypt and also know the Lord is God (Ezekiel 29:16).

 

The Babylonians are the ones who will attack and plunder Egypt because they invaded Tyre but did not receive plunder with which to pay their army and plundered Egypt to pay their army (Ezekiel 29:17-19). The Lord has given the Babylonians the land of Egypt for their labors because they were working for the Lord (Ezekiel 29:20). In the day of the Babylonian invasion and plunder of Egypt, the horn of Israel will spring forth and God will open the mouth of Ezekiel to speak so that Israel will know that the Lord is God (Ezekiel 29:21).

 

Some in Israel believed they could find refuge and safety in Egypt with Egypt’s army helping them defeat the Babylonians. However, we have the benefit of hindsight with the Bible recording the defeat of the armies of Egypt by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon (Ezekiel 30:24-25; Jeremiah 46:2). Not only did Israel and Judah sin by committing idolatry and the worship of other gods, but they also did not trust God to save them and instead turned to Egypt for protection. This is why God needed to put Israel and Judah in the timeout of exile so they could reflect on and repent of their sins and turn back to God and live (Ezekiel 18:19-32).

 

In the Bible, Egypt symbolizes the world and this text points out the futility of Judah believing Egypt was their source of security and safety. However, many in the world, including many in the Church, are like Judah and believe they can find safety and security in the world. In fact, some believe compromise with the world, including remaining silent or even condoning the ungodly abominations of the world is a path to safety and security through avoiding conflict. Jesus did not compromise to avoid conflict and confronted people with the truth with some accepting it and some rejecting it.

 

Jesus experienced a falling away when he taught that He was the living bread and that one must eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood for eternal life (John 6:48-59). Perhaps believing Jesus was condoning cannibalism many left but they missed the point. Jesus was not condoning cannibalism but referencing what would occur on the cross when His body was broken, and His blood shed to forgive sin (Luke 22:19-20). This was a hard message for many to understand because it required faith at the time Jesus said it knowing He would never condone cannibalism. We can only hope that some of those who walked away came back after Jesus rose from the grave.

 

Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Therefore, when we encounter some truth from the Bible that is difficult for our fleshly minds to understand, we must accept it in faith, trusting God that it is true. Understanding will come when God brings to light the hidden things (1 Corinthians 4:5). We should also seek Godly counsel for understanding (Proverbs 1:5)

 

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.

Back to Galilee

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 4:43-54

 

John 4:50-51

 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. ⁵¹ And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”

(NKJV)

 

After cleansing the Temple, a nighttime discourse with Nicodemus, and an encounter with a Samaritan woman that turned into a revival, Jesus returns to Galilee. While Jesus had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country, Jesus was well received in Galilee because they had witnessed the things Jesus did in Jerusalem during the feast (John 4:44-45). Now the people in Galilee are about to witness another miracle that did not even require the physical presence of Jesus, reminding us that God is omnipresent and able to answer our prayers.

 

After two days in Samaria where a revival had broken out, Jesus headed for Galilee (John 4:43). Jesus had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country but returned to a friendly reception in Galilee. This is because the Galileans had been at the feast in Jerusalem and witnessed what Jesus did there (John 4:44-45).

 

Jesus returns to Cana, the place where He turned water into wine. Once word gets out that Jesus has returned from Galilee, a nobleman whose son is sick and near death comes to Jesus, imploring that he come and heal his son (John 4:46-47). Jesus’ reply to the nobleman was that unless the people see signs and wonders they will not believe (John 4:48). This prompts the man to implore Jesus to hurry and come before his son dies (John 4:49).

 

Sensing the nobleman’s faith, Jesus tells him to go on his way because his son lives with the nobleman believing Jesus and going on his way (John 4:50). As he was going home, his servants met him and told him the good news, his son lives (John 4:51). The nobleman than asks his servants when his son got better and they tell him yesterday at the seventh hour which was the very hour Jesus told him his son lives causing the nobleman and his household to believe (John 4:52-53). This was the second sign Jesus did when he came out of Judea into Galilee (John 4:54).

 

Jesus returns to Galilee after his stopover in Samaria and is welcomed because they had been at the feast in Jerusalem and saw what Jesus did at the feast (John 4:45). Jesus comes to Cana the sight of His first miracle and is met by a nobleman who implores Jesus to heal his son who is near death (John 4:46-47). Jesus questions why the people need a sign before believing to which the nobleman asks Jesus to come before his child dies (John 4:49). Jesus tries his faith by telling the nobleman to go home because his son lives. Jesus is God and is everywhere in spirit and able to heal the nobleman’s son even though He is not physically there.

 

James reminds us that prayer is powerful and effective (James 5:16). The most powerful aspect of prayer is one can pray for someone thousands of miles away and God, who is everywhere can visit them and answer our prayer for them. Unfortunately, busy schedules and even ministry can rob one of time in prayer with God, something every believer must avoid considering the power of prayer. As we look out at the state of affairs in our world, there is no lack of things to pray for, but I believe there may be a lack of prayer warriors.

 

Prayer is our connection with God along with the Bible, the word of God so we must not allow the cares of this world to rob us of our time alone with God in prayer. Please join me in setting aside time, even if it is just a few minutes, for daily prayer and time in the study of the word of God to connect with God. We are in a spiritual battle with many prayer warriors needed to engage in the battle. I encourage prayer warriors reading this post to put on the full armor of God and engage in the battle (Ephesians 6:10-18), and never take off the armor of God.

 

I want to invite anyone reading this post who has not prayed for salvation from their sins and to make Jesus the Lord of their life through the confession of their belief 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.

 

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

A God of Judgment and Mercy

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 28:20-26

 

Ezekiel 28:25

 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and am hallowed in them in the sight of the Gentiles, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to My servant Jacob.

(NKJV)

 

There are attributes of God that our minds cannot totally understand. One of these attributes is how a God of judgment can also be a God of mercy and grace. What Jesus did on the cross is a demonstration of a God of judgment but also a God of mercy. God came to us in the person of Jesus and while on the earth did not sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) yet he became sin for us fulfilling God’s death penalty for sin (Romans 5:8). Because of the cross we have a visual image of both a God of judgment and a God of mercy.

 

Ezekiel is told by the Lord to proclaim judgment against Sidon (Ezekiel 28:20-21). While this passage does not tell us why God pronounces this judgment, it could be due to their worship of the goddess Ashtoreth whom Israel worshipped along with Baal (Judges 2:13; 1 Kings 11:33). This would explain why God is bringing judgment on the Sidonians so they will come to know that the God of Israel is the one true God (Ezekiel 28:22-23). This oracle against Sidon also means that there will no longer be a prickling brier or painful thorn for the house of Israel from among the nations around them.

 

However, this God of judgment against Sidon who introduced Israel to the worship of Ashtoreth is extending mercy and going to bless Israel when they turn to God (Ezekiel 28:25). This is according to the promise of God in 2 Chronicles 7:14 to forgive their sins and heal their land when Israel seeks God. In fact, life for the Israelites will return to normal when they turn to God (Ezekiel 28:26)

 

Ezekiel’s oracles continue with a proclamation of judgment against Sidon followed by a pronouncement of blessing or mercy for Israel. Judgment comes upon Sidon for Ashtoreth was the goddess of the Sidonians and one of the gods Israel and Judah worshipped instead of the one true God (1 Kings 11:33). The purpose of this judgment is to bring the Sidonians to the knowledge that the God of Israel and Judah is the one true God (Ezekiel 28:22-23). However, for Israel, God extends mercy and blessing, promising to bring them back to their land once they hallow God in the sight of the Gentiles or repent (Ezekiel 28:25). Not only will Israel return to their land, but they will resume life as usual (Ezekiel 28:26). The difference between the Sidonians and Israelites is repentance, with no account of the Sidonians repenting of their worship of Ashtoreth.

 

God is both a God of judgment and a God of mercy at the same time. This is a concept our carnal minds have difficulty understanding and why believers and the Church can go to the extremes of moralism or judgment or cheap grace forgetting God achieved a balance of both on the cross. On the cross, Jesus took God’s judgment of sin upon Himself even though He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8). However, while our salvation is not by our works but the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9), one must believe in their heart and make a profession of faith to receive Gods merciful gift of salvation (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10).

 

The belief one must be moral to receive God’s gift of Salvation or that one receives it and can continue living in sin are beliefs that are out of balance with the Gospel which brings balance through the cross. When one accepts Jesus as his or her savior, they should begin studying the Bible to experience a renewing of their mind and loss of conformity to the world (Romans 12:2). Our salvation is a process of justification, occurring when we accept Jesus as our savior (Romans 10:9-10), sanctification or the ongoing process of transformation and renewal (Romans 12:2), and glorification when we spend eternity with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Thank you, Lord, for being both a just and merciful God.

 

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 Samaritan Evangelist

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 4:27-42

 

John 4:42

Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed ^[a]the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

(NKJV)

 

I begin this post by asking the readers a question, does one need to have great theological knowledge to share the Gospel with others? While knowledge of scriptures should be what we all seek for it is the word of God that transforms our lives so we lose conformity to the sins of the world and are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). However, before ascending to be with His Father, Jesus told His disciples to seek the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives so they could be effective witnesses (Acts 1:8). The encounter of the Samaritan woman with Jesus and the ensuing revival in Samaria is an example of what can occur when one has a personal encounter with Jesus and shares it with others.

 

Jesus’ disciples return to find Jesus has been conversing with a Samaritan woman but do not ask why He is speaking with her (John 4:27). The Samaritan woman then leaves in a hurry for the city, leaving her water pot telling the men of the city to come and see a man who told her everything she had ever done, wondering if this could be the Christ (John 4:28-29). The men go out of the city to Jesus based on what she said (John 4:30).

 

Meanwhile, the disciples are urging Jesus to eat to which Jesus replies He has food to eat that they do not know about (John 4:31-32). The disciples did not understand that Jesus was not talking about physical food so they wondered if anyone else had brought Jesus food (John 4:33). Knowing their thoughts, Jesus tells them that his food is to do the will of His Father who sent Him and to finish His work (John 4:34). Jesus then uses the example of the harvest which they know will occur in four months telling them to look up for the fields are already white with harvest (John 4:35). Again, Jesus is not speaking of the physical harvest of crops but the harvest of lost souls. Jesus continues by telling the disciples one reaping in the harvest of souls gathers fruit for eternal life, rejoicing with the one that sows, truly one sows and another reaps (John 4:36-37). Jesus sent His disciples to reap that for which they have not labored with the reaping disciples entering into the Sower’s labor (John 4:38).

 

Many of the Samaritans of the city believed based upon the testimony of the Samaritan woman (John 4:39). When the Samaritans came to Jesus they urged Him to remain with them, which He did for two days with many more coming to believe after hearing directly from Jesus (John 4:40-41). Those coming to believe in Jesus as Messiah answer the Samaritan woman’s question by declaring Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world (John 4:42).

 

Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman was an encounter forbidden by Jewish law and tradition. However, this encounter transformed this woman’s life, and she could not keep silent. The disciples marveled that Jesus would break the tradition of Jews having nothing to do with the Samaritans by talking to the woman but they do not question Jesus about it (John 4:27). Instead, the disciples express concern about Jesus’ physical well-being, urging Him to eat. When Jesus told them he had food to eat they did now know about, they were caught up in the physical world, believing someone must have already provided food for Him (John 4:32-33). Jesus then explains he is talking about the food of doing His Father’s will urging His disciples to look at the harvest of souls ripe for harvest (John 4:34-38). The Samaritans coming to Jesus at the urging of the Samaritan woman and coming to believe in Jesus as their Savior are a demonstration of the fields ripe for harvest (John 4:39-42).

 

The Church needs a fresh encounter with Jesus to heat up from its lukewarmness and not remain silent about Jesus or the Gospel. The Samaritan woman was not someone possessing great theological knowledge about scripture but one coming to Jesus with many questions (John 4:10-26). While Jesus did not directly address her questions, her encounter left her knowing Jesus was the Messiah, something she felt compelled to share with others who came out to meet Jesus (John 4:28-30). The Church needs a fresh encounter with Jesus that creates excitement about going out and sharing the Gospel with the lost.

 

It is easy to look at the abominations of the woke culture in which we live and become discouraged, giving up any hope for revival. Instead of despair, I urge those reading this post to obey the words of Jesus to his disciples and view the woke culture as a harvest field ripe for harvest (John 4:34-38). This does not require compromising with wokeness in our culture but to have a life-changing encounter with Christ and share it with others who need to encounter Christ for salvation. Doing this opens the door for a revival like what occurred among the Samaritans who came to Jesus based upon the testimony of a woman and found their Messiah (John 4:39-42).

 

I want to invite anyone reading this post who has not prayed for salvation from their sins and to make Jesus the Lord of their life through the confession of their belief 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.

 

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