Silence is not Golden

 

By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 33:21-33

 

Ezekiel 33:31

So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.

(NKJV)

 

In James 1:19, Scripture teaches us to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to wrath. However, this passage does not say to be silent but to be slow to speak. Judah and Jerusalem fell due to their abominations against God and His word. As we observe the abominations of a woke culture occurring in the world we live in, it is not a time for silence but a time to speak up against these abominations. However, we must be slow to speak and not lash out in judgement, but speak in love, pointing people to Jesus, the source of their salvation.

 

Jerusalem has fallen and a man who escaped the destruction has come to Ezekiel to let him know of Jerusalem’s destruction (Ezekiel 33:21). Ezekiel had been unable to speak at this time but had received a word from the Lord opening his mouth so he could speak with the survivor of Jerusalem’s destruction delivered his message (Ezekiel 33:22). The Lord came to Ezekiel, telling him of the pride and arrogance of the people of Judah, believing they were mightier than Abraham because of their numbers (Ezekiel 33:23-24). The Lord then instructs Ezekiel to point out their abominations against the Lord and their reliance on their sword or strength in numbers, asking them if people like this should possess the land given to Abraham by God (Ezekiel 33:25-26). The Lord then instructs Ezekiel to tell them that those living in the ruins will fall by the sword, beasts will devour those in the open field, and those in the strongholds will die of pestilence (Ezekiel 33:27). The Lord will make the land desolate with no one able to pass through it with the purpose of showing His people that He is Lord (Ezekiel 33:28-29).  

 

The Lord then lets Ezekiel know that the people are talking about him and telling each other to come to him and hear what the Lord has to say (Ezekiel 33:30). While this may seem like the people are returning to the Lord, the Lord lets Ezekiel know that while they come to hear the word, they have no intention in their hearts to do what it says (Ezekiel 33:31-32). Now that the destruction of Jerusalem has come to pass, the people of Jerusalem and Judah will know that a prophet is among them (Ezekiel 33:33).  

 

The people of Judah and Jerusalem had been warned many times of their destruction and now, with the fall of Jerusalem are beginning to see it happen (Jeremiah 14:12, 24:10, 29:17-18; Ezekiel 7:15). However, they still put on the appearance of obedience by gathering around Ezekiel to hear the word from the Lord but still do not intend to do what the Word tells them to do, repent (Ezekiel 33:31-32). The word of God is more than just pleasant words to hear but a pathway for living a godly life (Psalm 119:105). God’s people must repent of being hearers of the word of God who have much academic knowledge of the word and live in obedience to what the Word tells them to do. The people of Judah and Jerusalem were not ignorant of the word of God but unwilling to apply it in their lives.

 

Like the people of Judah and Jerusalem, the Church has been given the privilege of receiving salvation by the grace of God and a mission to share that message with the world (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:19-20). However, instead of being an agent of change in a lost world, the Church remains silent about the abominations of a woke culture like abortion (Psalm 139:13-14), gay marriage (Matthew 19:4-6), and the mutilation of transgender reassignment surgery (Deuteronomy 23:1). The Church must repent of its silence and disobedience and speak out against the abominations occurring in the world. The church must not allow fear which is not from God and a trap to stop the declaration of God’s truth to a world desperately needing salvation (Proverbs 29:25; 2 Timothy 1:7).

 

Jesus, the Son of God endured the excruciating pain of crucifixion, taking our judgment for sin upon Himself even though he did not sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus then resurrected from the dead in mastery over sin and death and has given the Church the mission of sharing that truth to a sinful world (Romans 3:23, 8:2; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus told us that if the Church lifts Him up, He will draw all people unto him (John 12:32). Revival will come when the Church repents of its silence and returns to its mission of lifting up Jesus by spreading the Gospel.

 

If you have never prayed to repent of your sins, seeking forgiveness from God, and to make to receive eternal life through believing and confessing Jesus as Lord (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 10:9-10), 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 bless, challenge, and convict everyone reading this post.

God’s Breaks His Silence

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Luke 2:8-14

 

Luke 2:10-11

 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

(NKJV)

 

Four hundred years have passed since the prophecy of Malichi with no new revelations coming from God. However, the silence of God has ended with God speaking through His angels to Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, and a group of shepherds. One would think that God would have broken His silence by speaking to the religious leaders of the day but instead, we see Him breaking His silence by speaking to normal people going about their lives. However, this should not surprise us for the message of the Gospel is God came to sinful humanity to provide salvation from sin. The announcements after four hundred years of silence indicate something grand and glorious is about to happen.

 

1)                              Zacharias (Luke 1:5-25) – Zachariah was a priest of the division of Abijah. His division was on duty with Zachariah selected to enter the temple of the Lord to burn incense (Luke 1:8-9). While performing his priestly duties, an angel appears to him bringing great fear because of God’s silence for many years (Luke 1:10-12). The announcement of the angel tells Zachariah that he and his wife will have a child in the old age who will in the power of Elijah prepare the way for the coming of the Lord (Luke 1:13-17). Zachariah is unable to speak due to not believing what the angel told him (Luke 1:18-23). The word of the angel comes true, and Zachariah’s wife conceives a son.

2)                              Mary (Luke 1:26-38) – An angel then appears to a young virgin in Nazareth. Mary who was engaged to Joseph making the message given by the angel disturbing to a young woman raised in the Jewish culture. She is told she has found favor with God with the disturbing part of the announcement that she will have a child (Luke 1:30-31). I am sure she began to hear the rumors in her head but also must consider that the angel told her the child she would have would be great and called the son of the Highest (Luke 1:32). Mary tells the angel to let it be to her according to his word.

3)                              Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25) – After hearing that his fiancé was with child, Joseph considers putting her away secretly for what appears to be her immorality (Matthew 1:18-19). However, Joseph too has an angelic visitation telling him that the child Mary is carrying is not due to her immoral behavior but a special child conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20). Like Mary, Joseph also agrees to do as the angel commanded (Matthew 1:24).

4)                              The Shepherds (Luke 2:8-21) – The final announcement comes to a group of shepherds tending their sheep. It should not surprise us that the announcement of the birth of Jesus, the great shepherd (Hebrews 13:20), would be given to a group of shepherds tending their sheep outside of Bethlehem. While initially afraid, the shepherds decide to go into Bethlehem to see what has happened (Luke 2:15). When they arrive in Bethlehem, they find things just as the angels said they would (Luke 2:20).

 

After four hundred years of silence, God speaks through four angelic visitations to a priest, a young girl, Joseph a carpenter, and a group of shepherds. The announcements by these angels are to announce a new covenant, not like the old covenant of the law but a new covenant of God’s love and provision of salvation by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16-17). Christmas is more than the celebration of a baby humbly born in a manger but of God coming to humanity in flesh and blood. Christmas is about when the word of God became flesh (John 1:14). Jesus mission for coming in the flesh was to bring salvation to the world by taking upon himself the judgment for humanity’s sin even though He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is the greatest gift of love ever given (1 John 3:1).

 

Before departing earth to return to His Father in Heaven, Jesus gave the Church one simple mission, to take the message of salvation to all the world and to make disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). When I speak of the Church, I am not speaking of a building or organization but people who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal savior. As we begin a new year, my prayer is that each person placing their faith in Jesus as their savior would share the truth of the Gospel with others. Jesus is coming back to take his Church to be with Him for eternity, I pray many will be able to answer that call because of the many disciples the Church has made.

 

If you are reading this and have not unwrapped the greatest gift of love given to humanity, I urge 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 everyone reading this have a Merry Christmas and a New Year of blessing and revival in the Church. 

Many Turn Away

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 6:60-71

 

John 6:66-67

From that time many of His disciples went ^[d]back and walked with Him no more. ⁶⁷ Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

(NKJV)

 

Christmas is a time of great joy. It is a time when we spend time with those we love and exchange gifts in expression of our love. However, let us not get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas and take time to reflect on the greatest Christmas gift of all, the gift of God’s only Son (John 3:16) who while born humbly as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem, would die for the sins of humanity providing reconciliation to God (2 Corinthians 5:21). I pray knowing this will draw us closer to God and not offend us into falling away as those in this text did.

 

The disciples following Jesus found his teaching regarding eating His flesh and drinking His blood difficult to understand (John 6:60). This prompted  Jesus to ask them if what he said offended them (John 6:61). Jesus then asked them what if they should see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before, a reference to his coming ascension (Acts 1:9-11; John 6:62). Jesus then teaches that it is the Spirit of God that gives life and that the flesh profits nothing with the words Jesus speaks bringing life (John 6:63). Jesus then tells them that some do not believe because He knew some did not believe and would betray Him (John 6:64). This prompts Jesus to say no one can come to Him unless the Father grants him or her permission (John 6:65).

 

Many disciples left Jesus due to this with Jesus asking the Twelve if they too planned to leave (John 6:66-67). Peter responds by asking Jesus to whom they should go because Jesus has the words of eternal life with the disciples believing He is the Christ, the Son of the living God (John 6:68-69). Jesus replies by telling them that He chose them but that one of them was a devil, speaking of Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, who would betray him (John 6:70-71).  

 

Jesus had amassed a large following due to the miracles he performed (John 6:1-14). However, when Jesus begins to teach about his purpose for coming, to offer His body and shed His blood to forgive their sins, they find it hard to understand. Some may also have thought Jesus’ teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His was condoning cannibalism (John 6:53-58), something forbidden in Jewish law that does not include human flesh in what is permissible to eat (Deuteronomy 14:4-5). Interpreted as promoting cannibalism, one might have interpreted Jesus’ teaching as offensive. However, Jesus is not speaking of one consuming His flesh or drinking his blood but speaking as the Lamb of God who would through his sacrifice on the Cross provide the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of humanity (John 1:29). Peter, when asked by Jesus provided a spiritual interpretation when he told Jesus He had the words of eternal life (John 6:68).

 

In the modern age of mass and social media, it is easy for pastors and Church leaders to amass large followings. While this helps spread the Gospel message, it also brings the temptation to avoid controversial or hard teaching that people may not understand or find offensive. However, controversial issues like sin and how it separates one from God are part of the Gospel for it is why Jesus, God in the flesh, came to earth. Failing to teach on these issues cheats people of the knowledge of why Jesus came to us and how much Jesus loves us.

 

This Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-20), may we not forget that this baby would die for our sins and then resurrect from the dead in victory over sin which separates us from God (2 Corinthians 5:21). I want to encourage ministers of the Gospel not to shy away from speaking out against sin out of fear of offending some in the Church. Jesus experienced a falling away when He spoke of his purpose for coming but out of His deep love for humanity, fulfilled His purpose as the Lamb of God. A lost and dying world needs an encounter with the Lamb of God and forgiveness from sin.

 

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.

God’s Fair Judgment: Balancing Legalism and Grace

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 33:12-20

 

Ezekiel 33:17

“Yet the children of your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not ^[c]fair.’ But it is their way which is not fair!

(NKJV)

 

One of my favorite TV shows when I was growing up was Perry Mason. It was fun to try to figure out who the real murderer was knowing that it was not the person on trial. Most of the programs ended with the real murderer confessing to the crime at the end of the program. Unfortunately, this is not usually the case with the judge or jury deciding the verdict and if the defendant is innocent, with investigators having to start over to determine the actual criminal. Judges and juries in our courts are also human and susceptible to human error and bias resulting in an unfair judgment. However, God is a fair judge always judging fairly but maybe not as we would like. Such is the case with the people of Israel who thought God’s judgments were unfair.

 

This text presents some hypothetical situations and tells us how God judges each of these situations. It begins with God stating that one’s self-righteousness will not deliver someone when they have committed a transgression against God and the wicked will not fall when they turn from their wickedness (Ezekiel 33:12). The righteousness of a self-righteous person committing iniquity will not save them on the day the sin (Ezekiel 33:13). In contrast, when a wicket person turns from his or her sin and makes restitution for their sin, he or she shall live and not die, with God forgetting his or her iniquity (Ezekiel 33:14-16).

 

However, despite this fairness of judgment with each person declared righteous or wicked based on their own actions, the people of Israel claim the Lord’s way is not fair (Ezekiel 33:17). God’s fair judgment is the righteous person who sins dying for their sins and the wicked person who repents receiving forgiveness (Ezekiel 33:18-19). However, despite this fairness of judgment, the people of Israel claim God is unfair (Ezekiel 33:20).

 

God is the perfect balance between grace and judgment. God demonstrated His grace to humanity when he did not destroy Adam and Eve when they sinned but separated Himself from them with the promise of a messiah who would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). The work of grace by God was finished on the cross when Jesus said it is finished and the veil separating God from humanity was torn from top to bottom (John 19:30; Matthew 27:51). However, God is also just and true (Revelation 15:3). Zechariah foretold of Jesus coming to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday as the just one bringing salvation, riding on the colt of a donkey (John 12:14-16; Zechariah 9:9). Jesus is just for he did not sin and gracious because He took the judgment for our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21).

 

The extremes in the Church are legalism and cheap grace. If the Church is to be an agent of transformation in the world it must avoid the extremes of legalism and cheap grace.

 

• Legalism – The belief that one must obey all of God’s commandments to achieve salvation. This is a selfish and work-based righteousness that ignores salvation by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). James 2:14-17 does state that faith without works is dead asking the question if someone says they have faith but do not have works, can faith save them (James 2:14). The answer lies in whether one’s faith is a confessing faith where one says the right words or faith in the heart that genuinely believes Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead (Romans 10:9-10). All the legalism we may place on someone or ourselves cannot achieve this faith in one’s heart.
• Cheap Grace – In Romans 6:1, Paul asks if one should continue living a life of sin so Grace may abound. The question is rhetorical for Paul answers his question in Romans 6:2 where he says certainly not. If one genuinely believes they have died to sin through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and understand the price paid by God for our salvation. Grace is not cheap and came at a high price, the death of God’s son who knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). However, Salvation does not require one performing good works but does require one making a confession of Jesus as their Lord and believing that confession with their heart (Romans 10:9-10). After this genuine confession, there should be a transformation away from conformity to the world and sin and renewal toward Godly living (Romans 12:2).

 

Jesus called the Church to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). Discipleship does not mean placing the burden of adherence to a set of rules to achieve salvation because Jesus said his burden was light (Matthew 11:29-30). However, to become a disciple one must determine to abandon his or her life of sin and be transformed through the renewal of their mind by the word of God (Psalm 119:105; Romans 12:2). John 3:16 expresses the balance between legalism and grace with grace God giving the world his only Son who fulfilled the legal requirement of God’s justice on the cross.

 

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.