The Way of the Righteous and Messiah’s Triumph

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 1, 2

 

Psalm 1:6

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

(NKJV)

 

This is the first post in our verse-by-verse study of the Book of Psalms. Music is an important part of the culture of nations, with each nation having musical influences from its culture and history. The Jews and Israel are not an exception with the Book of Psalms, the musical book of the Bible, its largest book. While the tunes these psalms might have been sung to are gone, the truths found in these words have brought, and continue to bring, comfort and encouragement to people. My prayer is that as readers study these psalms, they will find joy, be challenged, and draw closer in their relationship with God.

 

The book begins with Psalm 1:1, reminding us that a man who does not follow the counsel of the ungodly, does not stand in the path of sinners, or does not sit on the seat of the scornful is blessed. This blessed man finds his joy in the law of the Lord and meditates on God’s law or Word, day and night (Psalm 1:2). This man is compared to a tree planted by rivers of water that is fruitful and does not wither an illustration showing that whatever this man does will prosper (Psalm 1:3). In contrast, the ungodly do not share in this mans stability but are like chaff, driven away by the wind (Psalm 1:4). Because of this, the ungodly will not be able to stand in judgment or in the congregation of the righteous (Psalm 1:5) The Lord knows the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly will perish (Psalms 1:6).

 

Psalm 2 begins with the question of why the nations rage and the people plot a vain thing (Psalm 2:1). The nations and rulers conspire together against the Lord and His Anointed, desiring to break their bonds in pieces and cast their cords from them (Psalm 2:2-3). The Lord who sits in the heavens shall laugh and hold them in derision (Psalm 2:4). The Lord shall speak to them out of His wrath and distress them with His displeasure, setting His king up on His holy hill of Zion (Psalm 2:5-6).

 

The Lord shall decree and say to them, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” (Psalm 2:7). The Lord invites them to ask of Him and that He will give them the nations as an inheritance and the ends of the earth for a possession (Psalm 2:8). Israel shall break the nations with a rod of iron and dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel (Psalm 2:9). The Lord commands the kings to be wise and for the judges of the earth to be instructed (Psalm 2:10). The people are to serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling (Psalm 2:11). The psalm concludes by saying those who place their trust in the Lord shall be blessed (Psalm 2:12).  

 

God’s people have the promises of scripture, a promise of eternal life in the presence of the Lord, but live in a fallen world among the ungodly. Psalm 1 contrasts the way of the righteous and the end of the ungodly. The picture of a tree planted by waters that bears fruit and does not wither is a picture of a man who lives righteously following the word of God. While this man will experience trouble in life, his life is grounded in the word of God and prospers, but the ungodly shall perish.

 

Psalm 2 praises the Messiah’s triumph and Kingdom. Unlike the psalmist, we know the Messiah is Jesus Christ, who will return in triumph on a white horse, with the armies of heaven (Revelation 19:11-16). Satan will be bound for 1000 years with Jesus reigning for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-6). This is the end of the fallen world with its troubles and the beginning of the world as God created it to be, a world ruled by the righteousness of God. I want to encourage everyone reading this with these words of hope (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).

 

The Christian life is a life of faith and not a life free from trouble, as Jesus reminded His disciples (John 16:33), but in our ungodly world, it can appear that the ungodly live lives free of trouble (Psalm 73:1-16).  However, the psalmist of Psalm 73 went into the sanctuary of God and, in God’s presence, was reminded of the end of the wicked and the promises of God to those living for Him (Psalm 73:17-28). Jesus tells us not to worry because he is there to provide for our needs (Luke 12:22-34). Psalms 1, 2 remind us of the rewards in store for those living for God and the end for those living ungodly lives in this world.

 

So, how does one inherit the rewards of the righteous? First we must remember we are all sinners (Romans 3:23) and that our righteousness is as a filthy rags to the Lord (Isaiah 64:6). While the penalty for sin is death, we have the promise of the gift of eternal life from the Lord by believing (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). This is a gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) and not our works and received through belief in one’s heart that Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead to forgive us of our sins (Romans 10:9-10). If you are reading this and have never made this profession, I invite you to do so by praying with me,

 

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

 

May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post. 

Death and Jesus, the Resurrection and Life

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 11:1-27

 

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”

(NKJV)

This is the first of two postings covering the account in John’s gospel of Jesus raising Lazarus from the grave. John’s gospel is the only one recording this miracle, but it does not diminish its importance in scripture. In this passage, Jesus declares He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25), something He will demonstrate when he calls Lazarus from the grave (John 11:43-44). Jesus Himself would soon resurrect from the grave, with belief in His resurrection foundational to one having salvation (Romans 10:9-10).

 

Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, is sick and close to death, so his sisters sent messengers to Jesus, asking Him to come and heal their brother (John 11:1-3). Upon hearing the news, Jesus says the sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God so the Son of God may be glorified through it (John 11:4). Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, but upon hearing Lazarus was sick, remained where He was for two more days (John 11:5-6). Jesus then tells His disciples He wants to go to Judea again (John 11:7).

 

Out of concern, the disciples remind Jesus that the last time He was in Judea, they wanted to stone Him (John 10:31-42, 11:8). Jesus replies by telling the disciples there are twelve hours in the day where one can walk and not stumble for he sees the light of this world (John 11:9). However, one walking in the night without the light stumbles because the light is not in him. Jesus is not going to Judea to His death yet, for it is not the time, but instead Jesus is going to awaken Lazarus from death (John 11:10-11). The disciples mistakenly believed Jesus was speaking of physical sleep for Lazarus, which would lead to his healing, but Jesus speaks of his physical death (John 11:12-13). Jesus then plainly told them Lazarus was dead and that He was glad He was not there to heal him so that they may believe (John 11:14-15). Thomas believed they were all going to die with Jesus because of the threats against Him in Judea (John 11:16).

 

Upon His arrival in Bethany, Jesus and the disciples discover Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days (John 11:17). Jesus’ disciples were correct in their concern for Jesus because Jerusalem is only two miles away from Jerusalem (John 11:18). Perhaps adding to this concern is the fact that many Jews joined the women around Mary and Martha who were giving them comfort (John 11:19).

 

When Martha heard Jesus had arrived, she went to Him complaining that if Jesus had come when summoned, her brother would not have died, but adds that she knew that God would give Jesus whatever he asked (John 11:20-22). Jesus then assures Martha that her brother would rise again (John 11:23). Martha tells Jesus she believes her brother will rise in the resurrection at the last day (John 11:24). Jesus’ response to Martha tells her that He is the resurrection and the life with anyone believing in Him having eternal life (John 3:16, 11:25-26). Jesus then asks Martha if she believes this, with Martha confessing her belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world (John 11:27).

 

Lazarus is sick unto death, with Jesus approached by his sisters, Mary and Martha, seeking for Him to come and heal him. Instead of immediately going to him, Jesus delays and does not arrive until after Lazarus has been in the grave for four days. Unfortunately, Martha does not understand this with her first words to Jesus telling Him that if He had come sooner, her brother would not have died (John 11:21). Even when Jesus told her that her brother would live again, she believed Jesus was referring to the resurrection in the last day perhaps a reference to Jesus discourse with the Sadducees (Matthew 22:23-32). While Lazarus will resurrect from the dead at the rapture when the dead in Christ will rise (1 Thessalonians 4:16), Jesus is speaking of His intention to raise Lazarus from the grave. Jesus is not showing a lack of concern for his friend Lazarus, but has a greater miracle in mind so that the disciples might believe He is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:15, 25).

 

We know the past, but since we do not live there, we can do nothing about it. We also do not know the future and only have today, so we must trust God for Tomorrow (Matthew 6:31-34). However, the pressures of our pressing needs and concerns can make us impatient when God delays in answering our prayers. This causes us to react like Martha instead of waiting on the Lord (Isaiah 40:31). As we will see in the next posting from the Gospel of John, Lazarus does come out of the grave with news of his resurrection causing quite a stir in the community especially the religious leaders (John 11:38-48).

 

Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and if you believe in your heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the grave, but have not made a public confession of this belief, 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.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and following through with baptism. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post. 

Restoration: The Temple and Worship

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 40-48

 

Ezekiel 48:35

All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.

(NKJV)

 

Chapters 40 through 48 of Ezekiel provide details of the restoration of the temple, worship of God, the feasts, and the division of the land for the returning exiles. The importance of providing these at the end of the book is so that the returning exiles can have assurance of their complete restoration, with them seeing the temple, worshipping God, celebrating the feasts, and having an inheritance in the land. Under the New Covenant, we no longer need a temple because the temple of God is within us (1 Corinthians 3:16), but we still need reminders of this fact lest we drift from the truth of the Gospel.

 

The remaining chapters in Ezekiel provide details for what needs to be done once the exiles return to the land so the people can return to obedience to God and its blessings (Deuteronomy 28:1-15). Instead of a verse-by-verse observation, I am going to provide a chapter-by-chapter summary with a link to the details in the scripture.

·         Chapter 40 – A new city and temple, eastern gateway, outer court, northern gateway. Southern gateway, gateways of the inner court, sacrifice preparation, chambers for singers and priests, Inner court, and vestibule.

·         Chapter 41 – Sanctuary dimensions, side chambers on the wall, building at the western end, the temple area.

·         Chapter 42 – Chambers for the priests, outer dimensions of the temple.

·         Chapter 43 – The temple, the Lord’s dwelling place, dimensions of the altar, consecration of the altar.

·         Chapter 44 – The east gate and the prince, those admitted to the temple, laws governing the priests.

·         Chapter 45 – The Holy district, properties of the city and the prince, laws governing the prince, keeping the feasts.

·         Chapter 46 – The manner of worship, the prince and inheritance laws, how the offerings were prepared.

·         Chapter 47 – The healing waters and trees, borders of the land.

·         Chapter 48 – Division of the land, the gates of the city and its name.

 

While returning to the land of Israel was important to the exiles, God knew they would also need to know that God’s presence with them was also restored with the rebuilding of the Temple. Worship of God must also be restored with the resumption of the feasts. These restorations will let Israel know they are forgiven by God of their iniquities and sins and that God is with them. The sins of Israel and Judah were atrocious and caused them to fall under the curses of Deuteronomy 28:15-68. This opens Israel up to experiencing the blessings of obedience (Deuteronomy 28:1-15), but this obedience would be short-lived because they would reject Jesus, their Messiah, leading to a long exile from 70 AD to 1948 AD. This disobedience led to the destruction of this restored temple in 70 AD, with a third temple to be built in the last days, an unnecessary temple.

 

The temple of God is now within us, with God dwelling in each believer in the person of the Holy Spirit, making the rebuilding of a third temple unnecessary. However, we can experience Gospel amnesia and forget this truth and experience anxiety when trials come, believing we are alone. Jesus frequent command and promise to His followers was not to fear because He is with us to the end of the age (Matthew 6:25-34; 28:20). Unfortunately, many churches today have fallen away from the simple truth of the Gospel that God came to us in the person of Jesus to provide salvation from sins even though He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). Instead a gospel of social justice, self-help, and prosperity are taught which tickle itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3-4). The lukewarm Church in Laodicea received a scathing rebuke from the Lord due to its dependence on wealth and prosperity, leaving Jesus outside the door knocking to come in (Revelation 3:14-22). Lord, I repent of the lukewarmness of your Church and pray for revival with the Church returning to its mission of bringing Jesus to people and making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). 

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to make Jesus your savior or have grown lukewarm or cold in your walk with the Lord, I invite you to either commit your life to the Lord for the first time or rededicate your life to the Lord 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.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and follow through with baptism as a public confession of your faith in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10). May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.

 

Next Wednesday we will begin a study of the Book of Psalms so please come back. 

The Shepherd Knows His Sheep, but is Rejected

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 10:22-42

 

John 10:27-28

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

(NKJV)

 

Psalm 23 reminds us that the Lord is our shepherd who supplies our needs and leads us by still waters and even the valley of the shadow of death. Jesus is the true and good shepherd (John 10:1-21) we can depend upon to meet our needs. Jesus tells a group of Jews surrounding Him that His sheep hear His voice but that they do not hear Him because they are not of his sheep. Not wanting to hear the truth behind their unbelief, these Jews seek to stone Jesus but cannot because Jesus escapes. In the information age where information is abundant, it is important to remain tuned in to the voice of Jesus the good Shepherd to avoid dangerous deception (John 8:32).

 

Jesus is at the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem at Solomon’s porch, surrounded by a group of Jews (John 10:22-23). The purpose of the mob surrounding Jesus is to demand that Jesus tell them plainly if He is the Christ (John 10:24). Jesus reminds them that He has told them and that the works He does in the name of the Father bear witness of Him (John 10:25). Jesus then tells them they do not believe because they are not of His sheep because His sheep hear His voice with Him knowing them and with them following Him (John 10:26-27). Jesus gives His sheep eternal life so they will never perish, and neither will anyone be able to snatch them out of His hand (John 10:28). Jesus and His heavenly Father are one with the God the Father, greater than all (John 10:29-30).

 

Angered by Jesus’ accusations, the Jews take up stones to stone Him, but Jesus confronts them and asks them for which of the good works from the Father they are stoning Him (John 10:31-32). The Jews reply, letting Jesus know they are not stoning Him for some good work but for blasphemy because He made Himself God (John 10:33). Jesus reminds them of Psalm 82:6 which says they are gods (John 10:34). If this is true in Scripture which cannot be broken, how can they say He is blaspheming when He says He is the Son of God (John 10:35-36). Jesus tells them that if He does not do the works of the Father, not to believe Him, but if He does, believe the works even though they do not believe Him, challenging them to believe the Father is in Him and He is in the Father (John 10:37-38). The Jews attempt to seize Jesus again, but this time He escapes (John 10:39). Jesus then went away beyond the Jordan to where John baptized at first, with many coming to Him there and believing (John 10:40-42).

 

Jesus is at the Feast of Dedication and surrounded by Jews demanding that he clearly say whether He is the Christ. They are not seeking to become disciples of Jesus but are looking for something with which to accuse Jesus. This is evident because even though Jesus did not give them a direct response, His statement that He and the Father are one leads to an accusation of Blasphemy (John 10:30-33). Jesus then quotes Psalm 82:6, where scripture tells them they are gods, and then asks them how they who are gods could accuse one sent by the Father of blasphemy for saying He is the Son of God (John 10:34-36). The Jews once again seek to seize Jesus, but He escapes to a region beyond the Jordan where many come to Him and believe (John 10:39-42).

 

To avoid deception, believers must use discernment when choosing who to listen to as teachers of God’s Word. In the mass media, social media, and information age in which we live. To have this discernment, it is vital to check out the purpose behind the one teaching God’s Word. Is the one teaching seeking fame and financial gain through the use of media? In the age in which we live, it can be lucrative for one on TV to accumulate massive wealth through sales of books, DVDs, podcast subscriptions, or contributions to their ministries promising God’s financial blessings if they do (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Is their purpose to find discrepancies in the Bible or possibly to cherry-pick scripture to begin some new cult (Revelation 22:18-19)? If this is their purpose, I advise avoiding their teaching. However, if their purpose is to teach the entirety of truth in the Bible, pointing people to Jesus to draw people to Him (John 12:32), this is a teacher to listen to. A genuine follower of Jesus Christ is like the Bereans who searched the scriptures and sought those teaching the truth of God’s word (Acts 17:10-11).

 

If you believe in your heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the grave but have not made a public confession of this belief like the man born blind, 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.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and following through with baptism. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post. 

A Triumphant Festival and Restoration

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 39:17-29

 

Ezekiel 39:27-28

When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, ²⁸ then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them ^[a]captive any longer.

(NKJV)

 

In this text, the prophecy of Ezekiel shifts from the prophecies of Ezekiel 38-39:16, which foretell a future attack on Israel with God intervening miraculously to rescue His people. This text speaks to the current exiles, letting them know of a triumphant feast and total restoration in their future. The Church also has a triumphant feast and eternal restoration in its future.

 

This text has two parts. The First deals with God commanding Ezekiel to speak to every sort of bird and beast of the field. Ezekiel calls on the house of Israel to gather because the Lord is preparing a great sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 39:17). The sacrifice will consist of rams, lambs, goats, and bulls, the fatlings of Bashan (Ezekiel 39:18). At the feast they shall eat till full and drink until drunk (Ezekiel 39:19). The house of Israel shall be filled at the Lord’s table with horses, riders, and mighty men, all men of war (Ezekiel 39:20).

 

The second part of the text deals with Israel’s restoration to the Land. God will set His glory among the nations with all of them seeing His judgment executed and laid on Israel’s enemies (Ezekiel 39:21). These judgments will also let the house of Israel know that the Lord is Lord God from that day forward (Ezekiel 39:22). The Gentiles will also know that Israel went into captivity because of their iniquities and unfaithfulness to God, with God hiding His face from them (Ezekiel 39:23-24).

 

This is why God shows Israel mercy and brings the captives back into the land (Ezekiel 39:25). The purpose of the exile was for Israel to bear their shame and unfaithfulness when they lived safely in their land (Ezekiel 39:26). When God, in mercy, brings the house of Israel back into their land from the peoples holding them captive with the Lord hallowed in the sight of many nations (Ezekiel 39:27). Because of the exile and restoration of Israel, they shall know the Lord is God with the promise they shall not be captive any longer (Ezekiel 39:28). God also promises He will not hide His face from them and will pour out His Spirit on the house of Israel (Ezekiel 39:29).   

 

The prophecy of Ezekiel now shifts from a future war and victory over Gog to addressing a triumphal festival, the restoration of the house of Israel to those in exile. One of the missing things in Israel during their time of exile was the annual feasts, especially the feast of Passover, where they sacrificed an unblemished lamb for their sins. In Ezra 6:19-22, this prophecy of Ezekiel is fulfilled with Israel celebrating the Passover. The restoration of the house of Israel is also complete with Cyrus, king of Persia, not only allowing the Jews to return to their land but also giving them what they needed to complete the temple (Ezra 1:1-11). This is an example of the great mercy of God that is new every day (Lamentations 3:22-23) and available to us through Christ (2 Corinthians 4:1). Thank you Lord, for your mercy and grace.

 

Whether we want to believe it or not, the Church functions as an ambassador for Christ in a lost world. Since this lost world is not friendly to the things of God, Jesus did not pray that his followers would be taken out of the world, but that God would keep them from the evil one (John 17:12-19). Like the house of Israel, the Church is in exile but has the promise of the triumphant wedding feast with its bridegroom (Revelation 19:9) and restored glorified bodies with us living for eternity with our Lord (Philippians 3:21; Revelation 21:3-4). As ambassadors of Christ, our calling is to deliver the gospel to the nations (Matthew 28:19-20) so they too can join us at the marriage supper of the Lamb and live with glorified bodies for eternity with Christ.

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to make Jesus your savior or have grown lukewarm or cold in your walk with the Lord, I invite you to either commit your life to the Lord for the first time or rededicate your life to the Lord 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.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and follow through with baptism as a public confession of your faith in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10). May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post. 

Jesus the True and Good Shepherd

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 10:1-21

 

John 10:11

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 

(NKJV)

 

Seeing a shepherd herding sheep is not something one commonly sees in our modern society but in Jesus’ time, it was common. This is why Jesus chose the imagery of a shepherd herding sheep to illustrate He is the only way to salvation and that He takes care of those following Him. While the imagery is not something most of us can relate to, the lesson teaches us to remember that Jesus is committed to His followers and concerned for their well-being.

 

Jesus begins by telling those listening to Him that anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the door is a thief and a robber (John 10:1). The shepherd who cares for the sheep will enter through the door much like the owner of a home enters through the front door because he or she has a key (John 10:2). The doorkeeper or the one guarding the door to the sheepfold will recognize the shepherd and open the door to him (John 10:3). The sheep know the shepherd’s voice and will follow him when he leads the sheep out to pasture but will not follow a stranger because they do not recognize his voice (John 10:4-5). Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand it, even though seeing shepherds tending sheep was common to them (John 10:6).

 

Because of their lack of understanding the illustration, Jesus provides some more details. He begins by saying He is the door of the sheep indicating that the only way into the sheepfold is through Him (John 10:7). Anyone trying to enter the sheepfold without going through Jesus is a thief and a robber (John 10:8). As the door, Jesus is the only way to enter the safety of God’s presence and provision (John 10:9). A thief trying to come in any other comes to steal and destroy with Jesus interested in providing abundant pasture and protection for His sheep (John 10:10). Jesus is the good shepherd who lays His life down for the sheep and not just a hired hand (John 10:11). A hired hand will flee when danger comes instead of laying his life down to protect the sheep (John 10:12-13).

 

Jesus is the good shepherd who is known by His sheep who knows God the Father and is known by Him, and the one who will lay His life down for the sheep (John 10:14-15). Jesus also mentions other sheep that do not belong to the sheepfold of the Jews that will hear the voice of the good shepherd and become part of the flock, a reference to the Gentiles (John 10:16). God the Father loves Jesus because he was willing to lay His life down for the sheep (John 10:17-18). These words from Jesus caused a division among the Jews listening, with some believing Jesus was mad and demon possessed, and others believing one having a demon could not speak as Jesus does or open the eyes of one born blind (John 10:19-21).

 

All religions claim to have the way to salvation, but only Jesus, the Son of God, is the path to salvation. What is important in one’s life is not their religious beliefs but whether they have a personal relationship with God, their creator. These are the ones who know the voice of their shepherd and do not just know about him academically. The division among the Jews comes from those believing Jesus was a sinner and had a demon because he healed a blind man on the Sabbath (John 9:13-14; 10:19-20). Other Jews heard the words of Jesus and could not believe these words came from a man with a demon. They also could not believe one with a demon could open the eyes of a blind man (John 10:21). The first group of Jews were hung up on their religious traditions and could not get over Jesus’ violation of their religious laws regarding the Sabbath. The latter group of Jews were close to having a relationship with God through Christ because they saw and heard something different in Jesus.

 

Jesus told the Church that if they lifted Him up, He would draw men unto Him (John 12:32). There are those in the Church who teach and believe one must adhere to a moral code and regulations to be saved, ignoring the fact that salvation is provided by the grace of God and not one’s works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Others teach that God’s grace saves all with no need for one to accept the gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Romans 10:9-10 brings balance to these two extremes by teaching one must confess Jesus as their Lord by believing in their heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead to provide salvation for humanity. This is how one becomes a sheep in the sheepfold of the Good Shepherd, Jesus.

 

If you believe in your heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the grave but have not made a public confession of this belief like the man born blind, 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.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and following through with baptism. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post. 

The Enemies of God’s People Destroyed

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 39:1-16

 

Ezekiel 39:3-4

Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand. ⁴ You shall ^[b]fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.

(NKJV)

 

As we observe the convergence of nations against Israel, it is becoming easy to conclude that we may be on the verge of the fulfillment of the prophecies of Ezekiel 38, 39. While it is disconcerting to know there will be a convergence of powerful nations against Israel, the prophecy of Ezekiel 39:1-16 brings comfort because it foretells their destruction. However, it is also a warning for the Church to remain diligent in spiritual warfare, wearing the armor of God and remaining diligent in prayer (Ephesians 6:10-18)

 

Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord against Gog, reminding them that God will bring them out against the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 39:1-2). The Lord will disarm Gog and cause them to fall upon the mountains of Israel and be devoured by birds of prey and beasts (Ezekiel 39:3-5). God will also send fire upon Magog so there is no doubt this is from the Lord God (Ezekiel 39:6). The words of this prophecy are true and will come to pass, leaving no doubt that the Lord God is the Holy one of Israel (Ezekiel 39:7-8).

 

The nation of Israel will be able to have fuel for their fires for seven years by burning the weapons of their destroyed enemies with no need to cut down trees from the forest (Ezekiel 39:9-10). It will also take seven months to bury the dead from the failed attack of Israel’s enemies with people employed for this purpose (Ezekiel 39:11-15). A special burial place for these bodies will be called the Valley of Hamon Gog in Hamonah (Ezekiel 39:11,16).

 

Ezekiel’s previous prophecy in Ezekiel 38:1-23 foretold an attack on Israel from Gog or modern-day Russia. This prophecy foretells the sound defeat of these enemies of Israel. There are some interesting things to note in this defeat of Israel’s enemies.

1)      The defeat is God’s doing and not man’s – What is missing in this passage is any mention of Israel’s army engaging the enemy. This is not surprising because in the previous prophecy, we are told the people of Israel are living peacefully (Ezekiel 38:11). The attack by Gog on Israel is unprovoked and unexpected. It is God who takes away the weapons of the enemy and causes them to die on the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 39:3-6). Those witnessing this battle will have to attribute this defeat to God.

2)      The burning of the weapons of the enemy will provide fire for seven years – While the text uses the imagery of Israel burning the bows, arrows, javelins, spears, shields, and bucklers of the enemy, we must remember this is an ancient test written before the invention of modern weapons of war (Ezekiel 39:9). Modern armies do not carry such weapons but instead have explosive bombs, nuclear weapons, and missiles delivered from the air. Unexploded ordnance of this type could provide energy for Israel for seven years. The mention of enemies falling on the mountains of Israel could be a reference to planes crashing to the ground from fire coming from God in the sky, leaving unexploded ordinance (Ezekiel 39:6).

3)      It will take seven months to bury the enemy’s dead (Ezekiel 39:12) – Taking seven months to bury the enemy’s dead indicates a large number of casualties, but modern warfare can cause mass destruction with a small number of people. An aerial attack using planes requires a pilot and crew that can deliver mass destruction. Not to mention the use of drones without having any human crew aboard. This leaves us to wonder why it might take seven months to bury the dead. One answer could be that the bodies are contaminated with radiation or chemical weapons on board when the plane crashes. I can realistically picture search parties of people in hazmat gear using radiation and chemical detectors, marking bodies with burial teams following up to bury the dead in a safe location. This attack is unlike anything that has previously happened to Israel and something that will happen in the future that will fail due to God’s intervention.

 

Like Israel, the Church also has enemies seeking its destruction, with this prophecy a reminder of how God takes care of His people. The Church is under attack from,

1)      A woke culture trying to force the church to accept practices such as abortion on demand, homosexuality, and transgenderism as normal activities that are not sinful – This is an attempt to disarm the Church if its offensive weapon of the sword of the Spirit, the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). God values the unborn (Psalm 139:13), defines marriage as between a man and a woman (Mark 10:6-9), and each person has a gender given to them at birth, the gender God created them to have with God not making a mistake (Genesis 1:27). The Word of God, our sword disarms the enemy Satan of these weapons.

2)      A culture without any standard of truth – Culture tries to eliminate any standard of truth to justify sin. This is a nuclear weapon designed to destroy the standard of truth, the belt in the armor of God that holds everything together (Ephesians 6:14).

3)      Lukewarmness and apathy – Lukewarmness and apathy are a toxic chemical used by the enemy to render the Church ineffective and useless. It is this poison of lukewarmness and apathy that caused Jesus to stand outside the door knocking to come in (Revelation 3:20). The Church needs the standard of truth from the Bible and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (John 4:23-24).  

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to make Jesus your savior or have grown lukewarm or cold in your walk with the Lord, I invite you to either commit your life to the Lord for the first time or rededicate your life to the Lord 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.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and follow through with baptism as a public confession of your faith in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10). May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.