Taking the Religious Elite to Task (Part 3)

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 7:37-60

 

Acts 7:59-60

And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

(NKJV)

 

Stephen’s history lesson to the council has the purpose of showing these Jewish religious leaders that Jesus is the Messiah. Like anyone exposed to the Gospel, they must choose to either accept or reject it. These religious leaders choose to reject the message and determine to kill the messenger, believing the message will stop, but the message will go on in an even greater manner through young Saul. Truly, the gates of hell, or unsound doctrines of religious leaders, cannot stop the spread of the Gospel.

 

Stephen continues his history lesson, telling them that Moses told them that God would raise up a prophet like himself from the brethren and that they are to listen to Him (Acts 7:37). This prophet is the one that accompanied the angel on Mount Sinai, giving the law to Moses that the fathers of the Children of Israel rejected, turning their hearts back to Egypt (Acts 7:38-39). They turned back to Egypt by asking Aaron to make a golden calf to worship, offering sacrifices to an idol (Acts 7:40-41; Exodus 32:1, 23). God then gave them up to worship the host of heaven as foretold in Amos 5:25-27 (Acts 7:42-43).

 

The Lord then instructed Moses to make a tabernacle of witness in the wilderness according to a pattern given by God (Acts 7:44). This was the tabernacle they took across the Jordan with Joshua and used to worship God until the time of David, with Solomon building a house in which God could dwell (Acts 7:45-47). However, the Most High does not live in temples made by men, as told by the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 66:1-2 (Acts 7:48-50).

 

Stephen’s history lesson now becomes personal, directed at his accusers, reminding them that they, like their forefathers, are resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). Stephen then asks his accusers which of the prophets, who foretold the coming of the Just One, their fathers did not persecute, having now become betrayers and murderers of the Just One (Acts 7:52-53). When they heard these things from Stephen, they gnashed at him with their teeth, but Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:54-55). He then told his accusers he saw the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:56).

 

The crowd then ran at Stephen, casting him out of the city to stone him, with them laying their cloaks at the feet of young Saul (Acts 7:57-58). As they stoned Stephen, he called upon God to receive his spirit (Acts 7:59). Stephen then knelt and cried out with a loud voice, asking the Lord not to charge them with this sin, then Stephen fell asleep (Acts 7:60).

 

The Church is growing and presents a greater threat than Jesus to the Jewish religious leaders. Rather than calling in one of the Apostles again, which did not work, they have called in Stephen, believing he may be weak since he is not an apostle. However, they are unable to break Stephen, and after he accuses them of murdering the Lord, they stone him, making Stephen the first one martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ. They believe that the death of Stephen will prevent anyone else from daring to speak of Jesus, but they did not consider young Saul. Empowered by seeing what happened to Stephen, Saul, a Pharisee, began persecuting Christians by entering their houses and dragging them off (Acts 8:1-7). Later, Saul went to the high priest and received letters to go to Damascus and round up Christians (Acts 9:1-2). Saul, who will become known as Paul, will go from the Church’s greatest persecutor to its greatest missionary.

 

The situation for the Church today is not different in many parts of the world. In many places in the world today, it is illegal to be a Christian with a penalty of death, so many are still like Stephen and martyred for their faith. There is another threat to the Church today, something the Apostle Paul warned Timothy about in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, the teaching of unsound doctrine. Church history has demonstrated that the Church thrives when threatened with death, but cannot endure false doctrine. In the Church today, we observe the false doctrines of

 

·         The health and wealth gospel – Those spreading this doctrine often use 3 John 1:2 and interpret it to mean anyone not prospering or in good health lacks faith in Jesus. They interpret prosperity as having all the money and possessions they want and never being sick. However, Jesus said that in this world we will experience trouble, which can manifest itself in a lack of money or possessions and illness (John 16:33). The problem with this doctrine is that when one does not prosper or is sick, they may feel like they have no faith and that God has rejected them.

·         Works-based legalism – Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that our salvation is not based upon our works, with Isaiah reminding us that our good works of righteousness are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

·         Cheap Grace – However, some take the truth of Ephesians 2:8-9 to the point of excusing a continued life of sin, believing this serves to make God’s grace abound. This doctrine is nothing new and was later condemned by Paul (Romans 6:1-4).

 

Sound doctrine is following what is taught throughout scripture, not just cherry-picking passages, as is done in promoting unsound doctrine. Those tasked with detecting counterfeit currency do not spend time studying different counterfeit currencies but learn to recognize real currency. To avoid unsound doctrine, one must be like the Bereans who daily studied the word of God to know the truth which sets us free (Acts 17:10-11; John 8:31-32).

 

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

 

This prayer is not some magical prayer, but must be a genuine expression of your heart. If that is why you prayed, rest assured, your sins are completely forgiven, and you have eternal life. I now encourage you to let someone know of your decision. I also urge you to find a church of truth, teaching from the Bible that is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Blindsided by Those Closest to Us.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 55

 

Psalm 55:22

Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

(NKJV)

 

In this text, David has been blindsided by an attack from those closest to him. This attack has left him with fear and trembling and a desire to run and hide. However, he contemplates his situation and resolves to bring his burden to the Lord, trusting Him to bring a resolution. When blindsided by the enemy through those closest to us, we as believers in Christ must bring the situation to the Lord and trust Him to resolve it.

 

This Psalm is another contemplation by David, this time concerning the treachery of friends. It begins with David asking the Lord to listen to his prayer and not to hide from his supplication because he is restless and moaning noisily (Psalm 55:1-2). David’s anxiety is due to the voice of his evil enemies, bringing oppression, trouble, and wrath upon him because they hate him (Psalm 55:3). David’s heart is troubled over this, causing him to have fear and trembling, even fearing death (Psalm 55:4-5). David is even contemplating running away to escape his troubles (Psalm 55:6-8).

 

David then asks the Lord to destroy and divide the tongues of his enemies because he has seen iniquity, trouble, and destruction in the midst of the city (Psalm 55:9-11). David then reveals that this enemy differs from those he has previously faced, for this enemy is someone close to him, even someone who accompanies him to the temple (Psalm 55:12-14). Because of the wickedness of these friends now become enemies, David asks the Lord to seize them with death and send them alive into hell (Psalm 55:15).

 

David then resolves to call upon God, knowing the Lord will save him (Psalm 55:16). David’s cries to the Lord will go out in the morning, noon, and evening knowing the Lord will hear him (Psalm 55:17). David knows God has redeemed his soul from the many who battle against him, and that God will hear him now because God does not change (Psalm 55:18-19). These enemies that used to be friends have broken their covenant with David using smooth words that are like drawn swords with war in their hearts (Psalm 55:20-21).

 

David concludes this contemplation by deciding to cast his burden on the Lord, knowing the Lord will sustain him and never permit the righteous to be moved (Psalm 55:22). David knows that God will bring these enemies down to the pit of destruction, knowing they will not live out half their days. David concludes by saying he will trust in the Lord (Psalm 55:23).

 

David is prepared for attacks from outside the country but appears to have been blindsided by attacks from those close to him, including those that accompany him to the temple (Psalm 55:12-14). This blindsided attack has left David in fear and trembling, causing him to contemplate flying away like a dove or hastening an escape (Psalm 55:5-8). However, as David continues his contemplation, he determines that running from the problem is not an option. Instead, David decides to call upon God, knowing the Lord will save him, even from this enemy (Psalm 55:16-19). David resolves to cast this burden on the Lord, knowing the Lord will sustain him and not allow the righteous to be moved, even from a blindsided attack (Psalm 55:22).

 

The Church is more than just a building but consists of people professing a belief in Jesus Christ. As such, it is a place we typically go to for peace and escape from the chaos in the world. However, the Church is run by flawed people and can become a place of oppression. When this occurs, we have the option of running like David contemplated doing, or we can cast that burden upon the Lord, knowing He will sustain us. In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus outlines a three-step method for handling conflict in the church.

 

1. Confront the one sinning against you and try to resolve it between yourselves (Matthew 18:15).
2. If this does not work, involve one or two more people within the Church to have them act as mediators in the conflict (Matthew 18:16).
3. If this does not work, involve the Church, and if this fails, treat the offender as a heathen (Matthew 18:17).

In none of these steps does Jesus tell us to run and hide, but unfortunately, that is what many do instead of resolving the conflict in a Godly manner. This leaves the problem unresolved, and one must consider that they may be the offender. By running, they are taking the unresolved problem with them, bringing it to another church from which to run and hide. If one runs and is not the offender, they are leaving the unresolved problem for someone else to resolve, instead of being the catalyst for the resolution of the issue.

 

If you are reading this and have been the victim of a church conflict, I urge you to follow these three steps of resolution. If, in attempting to resolve the situation, you discover you are in the wrong, be quick to seek forgiveness from the one you offended and from the Lord. If the one in the wrong is the other person and they are unwilling to change, forgive them, and pray for them. Also, do as David did, casting your burden on the Lord (Psalm 55:22).

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to accept God’s gift of salvation and the complete forgiveness of sin, I encourage you to do so 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.

 

If you meant what you just prayed, know God has forgiven all your sins and that you now have a relationship with God and are a child of God (Romans 8:16). Like any relationship, it grows as we get to know each other. While God already knows all about us, we must study the Bible, the word of God, to learn more about Him. If you just prayed, I encourage you to find a Church that teaches the truth of the Bible so you can learn more about the Lord. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Taking the Religious Elite to Task (Part 2)

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 17:17-36

 

Acts 7:35-36

“This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. ³⁶ He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.”

(NKJV)

 

Stephen continues his testimony before the council by continuing his history lesson. In this section, he reminds them of how Moses delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage. Again, this is not anything new to those in the council, but as we will see in the next section, Stephen is laying the groundwork for a comparison between Moses and Jesus as deliverers. It is this comparison and reminder by Stephen of their rejection of Jesus that will lead to Stephen becoming the first Martyr. However, this is not a waste; it provides a spark that leads to Saul's conversion and the spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

 

Stephen’s testimony, providing a Jewish history lesson, now changes to a focus on Moses. The people of Israel have been in Egypt for four hundred thirty years, and during that time their numbers have multiplied, and another Pharaoh who did not know Joseph is in power (Acts 7:17-18). This new leader is treacherous and even threatens their babies with death (Acts 7:19). Moses is born during this time and escapes death when rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised in the Pharaoh’s palace, where he learns the wisdom of the Egyptians (Acts 7:20-22).

 

When he turned forty, Moses decided to visit his people, and when he saw an Egyptian oppressing one of them, he killed the Egyptian, believing this would gain him favor with his people (Acts 7:23-25). However, when Moses tried to reconcile an argument between two of his brethren, they reminded him of what he did to the Egyptian, and he was forced to flee to Midian (Acts 7:26-29). Forty years after fleeing to Midian, the Lord appears to Moses in a burning bush, and when Moses is told it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob speaking with him, he dares not look (Acts 7:30-32). The Lord then told Moses to remove his sandals because he was on holy ground and told him he had seen the oppression of the children of Israel and called him to be their deliverer (Acts 7:33-34). The deliverer is Moses, whom they rejected, but who would demonstrate that God sent him through signs and wonders in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness (Acts 7:35-36). The stage is now set for Stephen to compare Moses with Jesus, whom those in the council rejected.

 

Stephen continues his history lesson in response to accusations brought upon him this time, focusing on Moses. In Moses, we see parallels to Jesus,

• At a time when the children of Israel are under oppression and treachery, a deliverer is born. For the children of Israel in the time of Moses, the oppression came from the Egyptians in Egypt (Acts 7:17-20). Jesus was born at a time when the nation of Israel was under Roman oppression and occupation (Luke 2:1-7).
• Moses was taken by Pharaoh’s daughter to the palace of Pharaoh in Egypt for protection (Acts 7:21). Mary, Joseph, and Jesus escaped to Egypt to escape death from Herod’s edict to kill all the children in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:13-15).
• After forty years in the wilderness, Moses has a visitation from an Angel of the Lord (Acts 7:30). Jesus spends 40 days fasting in the wilderness and is tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11). However, there is a difference here: Moses encountered God at the burning bush, and Jesus was tempted by Satan. This difference is because Jesus is God (John 1:1) and does not need an encounter with Himself, but Moses is human and needs an encounter with God before embarking on his mission from God.
• Although rejected by the Jews in Egypt, Moses is the deliverer sent by God to deliver His people (Acts 7:35-36). Jesus was rejected by the Jews in Jerusalem and sentenced to crucifixion, but he is the Messiah, as demonstrated by the signs and wonders he performed when on earth. However, another difference between Moses and Jesus is that Moses first tried to deliver the children of Israel in his own strength and failed (Acts 7:23-29). Jesus always ministered under the authority and power of God the Father (John 5:19).

 

The way Moses delivered the children of Israel provides a parallel of how Jesus delivers us.

 

• Jesus comes to us at just the right time – With both Jesus and Moses, there was a prolonged period of silence from God. For Moses, it was a period of silence between the death of Joseph and Moses’s encounter with God at the burning bush (Exodus 3; Genesis 50:22-26). With Jesus, it was Malachi’s prophecy and the angels announcing his birth (Luke 2:13-14). In both cases, there was a time of silence and waiting, with the people falling into oppression. As believers today, we await the return of Jesus to bring peace on earth. While we can become impatient at waiting for the return of Jesus, we can rest assured He will return at just the right time (2 Peter 3:9).
• God provides protection from harm occurring before we fulfill his mission for us – At the end of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus promises to be with us till the end of the age. He says this after giving the great commission for the church (Matthew 28:19-20). The Lord, the great shepherd, is with us, protecting and providing for His church (John 10:1-6; Psalm 23).
• There will be a time of waiting, temptations, and trials to prepare us for our mission – When we find ourselves waiting for anything, we often grow impatient, including times when we must wait on the Lord. However, it is during these times of waiting that our faith is strengthened (James 1:2-8). The deliverance that happened through Moses for Israel reminds us that there may be times of waiting with trials and even temptations before we receive our deliverance from the Lord.
• There will be rejection – God’s people will experience rejection for their faith (John 16:33). For some, it is a soft persecution involving the loss of friends. For others, it is a hard persecution who live in countries where taking a stand for Jesus is against the law and is a threat to their lives. In either instance, there is persecution and rejection to endure. Both Moses and Jesus endured such rejection.

 

The question everyone must settle in his or her heart is what they will do with Jesus Christ. Will I accept his gift of salvation have rescue from the penalty of my sin (Romans 6:23), or continue in sin, condemning myself to condemnation (John 3:18). I want to over an invitation to those reading this to make the choice of eternal life free from condemnation by confessing their heartfelt belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (John 3:16-17; Romans 10:9-10), by praying 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.

 

This prayer is not some magical prayer, but must be a genuine expression of your heart. If that is why you prayed, rest assured, your sins are completely forgiven, and you have eternal life. I now encourage you to let someone know of your decision. I also urge you to find a church of truth, teaching from the Bible that is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

The Peace, Restoration, and Deliverance of the Godly

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 52-54

 

Psalm 52:9

I will praise You forever,
Because You have done it;
And in the presence of Your saints
I will wait on Your name, for it ^[c]is good.

(NKJV)

 

As we have observed so far in the study of the Psalms, they represent a contrast of good and evil in our fallen world and show how God is with His people. These three psalms are contemplations of David and demonstrate the peace, restoration, and deliverance from God that those placing their trust in Him can experience. While these psalms were written three thousand years ago, God has not changed, making these psalms relevant in a believer’s life today.

 

In Psalm 52, David contemplates the end of the wicked with the peace of the Godly, beginning with David asking why mighty evil men boast in evil while the goodness of God is eternal (Psalm 52:1). The tongue of the mighty evil man devises destruction like a sharp razor, works deceit with him, loving evil more than good (Psalm 52:2-4). The destiny of this mighty evil man is destruction, removal from his dwelling place, and death (Psalm 52:5). The righteous will see and fear him, but also laugh, saying, “Here is the man who did not make God his strength,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.” (Psalm 52:6-7). David concludes his contemplation by saying he is like an olive tree in the house of God who will praise God forever because of what He has done and in the presence of the saints wait on His name because it is good (Psalm 52:8-9)

 

In Psalm 53, David contemplates the folly of Godlessness and the restoration of Israel, beginning by saying that the fool believes in his heart that there is no God (Psalm 53:1). David then contemplates God looking down on the Children of men, seeking any who understand and seek God, but finding none (Psalm 53:2-3). David then wonders if the workers of iniquity who eat up the people of God like bread lack knowledge and do not call upon the Lord (Psalm 53:4). These workers of iniquity are afraid when there is no reason to fear, with God scattering the bones of those encamping against God put them to shame because they are despised by God (Psalm 53:5). David concludes this contemplation with a prayer for salvation to come to Israel from Zion with God restoring his captive people (Psalm 53:6).

 

In Psalm 54, David contemplates God answering his prayer for deliverance from adversaries, with David asking God to save him by His name and to vindicate him by His strength (Psalm 54:1). David then asks God to hear his prayer, listening to the words of his mouth, because strangers, who do not worship God, have risen against him to kill him (Psalm 54:2-3). David then declares God is his helper and is with those upholding his life, declaring God will repay his enemies for their evil, cutting them off in His truth (Psalm 54:4-5). David vows to freely sacrifice to the Lord, praising His name because it is good (Psalm 54:6). David concludes his contemplation by declaring God has delivered him out of his troubles with his eye seeing its desire upon his enemies (Psalm 54:7).

 

In a fallen world of evil, one choosing to trust God will experience threats from evil men, but with trust in God, there is peace, restoration, and deliverance.

 

• Peace (Psalm 52) – David is writing this psalm at a time when Doeg the Edomite has told Saul, who is chasing David and seeking his life, that David has gone to the house of Ahimelech. Therefore, our interpretation of this Psalm is that the mighty man of evil is Saul, with David seeking peace from Saul wanting to kill him. The tongue of Saul devises destruction and works deceit like a sharp razor (Psalm 52:2). Even when facing an imminent threat after the discovery of his hiding place, David has peace in knowing that God will destroy his adversary.
• Restoration (Psalm 53) – This psalm is a contemplation of David for the restoration of Israel. It is unclear when this was written, but possible that he wrote it after becoming king upon the death of Saul, but only king of Judah (2 Samuel 2:4). When Samuel anointed David as king, it was as king of Israel, not just one tribe, so David sought God for the restoration and unification of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13). This would occur in 2 Samuel 5:1-5.
• Deliverance (Psalm 54) – Like the contemplation of Psalm 52, this is a contemplation by David of when the Ziphites told Saul that David was hiding with them. While the timing of the writing of this Psalm is uncertain, it was likely written when David discovered Saul knew where he was hiding. When Saul arrived at where David was, he was on one side of the mountain with David on the other (1 Samuel 23:24-26). God did hear David’s prayer and provided deliverance, with Saul receiving a report that the Philistines had invaded the land, causing him to cease his pursuit of David 1 Samuel 23:27-29).

 

We live in an evil, hate-filled world full of anger, but like those writing these psalms, we can have peace, restoration, and deliverance.

 

• Peace in a world of Chaos – The Bible reminds us that we can experience peace when our minds focus on God (Isaiah 26:3). In the book of Romans, Paul encourages the believers in Rome to lose conformity with the world through the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:1-2). Believers in Christ must not dwell on what is happening in our chaotic, fallen world, but focus on the Word of God, praying without ceasing for the saints and the lost in our world (Ephesians 6:18). Believers must not cease lifting up Jesus Christ because when the Church does, Jesus draws all to Him (John 12:32).
• Restoration with God – Restoration with God because what Jesus did on the cross is more than just a pass into eternity with Christ, but adoption into the family of God (1 John 3:1; Romans 8:16-17). This is a complete restoration of humanity to the state He intended in the Garden of Eden, with the earth transformed at the second coming of Christ.
• Deliverance from our past – As restored children of God, our sins are completely forgiven by God when we confess them to the Lord of our lives (1 John 1:9; Psalm 103:12). It is impossible to measure the distance from east to west because, since the earth is round, if one continues traveling east, they will arrive back at where they started. Therefore, our sins are an immeasurable distance from us and completely forgiven, making our deliverance from sin complete. As Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished,” meaning the debt of sin is paid in full (John 19:30).

 

 If you are reading this and have never prayed to accept God’s gift of salvation and the complete forgiveness of sin, I encourage you to do so 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.

 

If you meant what you just prayed, know God has forgiven all your sins and you now have a relationship with God and are a child of God (Romans 8:16). Like any relationship, it grows as we get to know each other. While God already knows all about us, we must study the Bible, the word of God, to learn more about Him. If you just prayed, I encourage you to find a Church that teaches the truth of the Bible so you can learn more about the Lord. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Taking the Religious Elite to Task (Part 1)

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 7:1-16

 

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.” Amen.

(NKJV)

 

One who becomes a believer in Jesus Christ as their savior is doing more than becoming part of some religion, but is entering into a personal relationship with God through Christ. This belief in the grace of God providing salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9) is at odds with some religious leaders who believe salvation is a result of one’s good works, adherence to some moral code, or observation of religious traditions. As the time of the return of Christ nears, those having a relationship with Christ through His grace may, like Stephen, be at odds with the religious elites of our time. I pray we will be as bold as Stephen and become sparks of revival in our time.

 

Stephen is standing before the council of the high priest, and he is asked if the accusations brought against him are true (Acts 7:1). Instead of directly answering their question, he begins to tell them about how God asked Abraham to leave his home country (Acts 7:2-3). He continues by telling them how Abraham was obedient and left his homeland with his father and lived in Haran until the death of his father, then moved on to Canaan (Acts 7:4-5). Abraham and Sarah remained childless, leaving Abraham with no heir to pass his inheritance on to, but was promised an heir by God. Stephen then told them how God told Abraham his heirs would live in a foreign land, Egypt, for four hundred years under bondage and oppression (Acts 7:6-7). God then established the covenant of circumcision with Abraham, setting them apart from the rest of the people in Canaan (Acts 7:8).

 

Stephen then tells them how they became envious of Joseph and sold him into slavery in Egypt, but God was with Joseph, delivering him from his troubles and making him governor of Egypt (Acts 7:9-10). A famine broke out in the land, and Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, sending his sons to purchase grain where they confronted Joseph (Acts 7:11-12). During their second trip to Egypt, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers and sent for Jacob and all his family to come to Egypt (Acts 7:13-14). Jacob died in Egypt, but they buried him in Shechem with his father and grandfather (Acts 7:15-16).

 

Instead of directly defending himself from the accusations brought against him, Stephen proceeds to give them a Jewish history lesson. I picture the Pharisees yawning as Stephen spoke of things they already knew. However, as we will later see, Stephen is doing this to show the religious elite, the Pharisees, that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Instead of realizing the truth and surrendering to Jesus, the Pharisees remain blind to the truth. This is not surprising because Jesus spoke of it in Matthew 15:8-9, and is something foretold by Isaiah (Isaiah 29:13). This blindness to truth will lead to the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:57-60), leading to the belief that Stephen failed in his attempt to present the truth. However, Saul, who would later become known as Paul, was present at the stoning and would become the greatest proponent of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Stephen’s presentation of the truth was not a failure because it paved the path for Saul’s conversion and the spreading of the Gospel throughout the region.

 

When falsely accused as believers, it is important to remember what happened that paved the way to our salvation. While our declaration of faith may not save the world, it could lead to the salvation of someone who will have great influence and lead to the Gospel going to many others. A Sunday School teacher prayed with a young Billy Graham to receive Jesus as his savior. While this may have seemed like a small thing at the time, it would lead to thousands around the world coming to accept Jesus as their savior. It only takes a small spark to start a wildfire. My prayer is that we who believe in Jesus as our savior would be that spark. We are the salt and light in a dark world (Matthew 5:13-16) and called to serve as ambassadors for Christ in a dark world (2 Corinthians 5:20). We also have a calling to take the message of the Gospel around the world (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20), so I encourage all believers reading this to become the spark of the Gospel that could ignite revival.

 

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

 

This prayer is not some magical prayer, but must be a genuine expression of your heart. If that is why you prayed, rest assured, your sins are completely forgiven, and you have eternal life. I now encourage you to let someone know of your decision. I also urge you to find a church of truth, teaching from the Bible that is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Repentance

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 51

 

Psalm 51:1

Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.

(NKJV)

 

Since none of us who are reading this is perfect, we have done things in our lives that are sinful and displeasing to a righteous God. When we become aware of these shortcomings, we have a choice. We can choose to ignore the warning and go on living in our sin, or do as David did in this psalm, repent and turn back to God. At the end of this post, you will have an opportunity to make that choice.

 

After Nathan has made his sin of adultery known to him, David prays for God to blot out his transgressions and cleanse him from his sin (Psalm 51:1-2). He then acknowledges his sin and that it is a sin against God and Him only (Psalm 51:3-4). David then acknowledges he was born in sin and in need of cleansing from sin (Psalm 51:5-7). David’s sin has robbed him of joy and gladness, and now he asks God for the restoration of his bones broken by sin, asking God to no longer hide his face from his sins and to blot out his iniquities (Psalm 51:8-9).

 

David continues by asking God to create a clean heart within him and not to cast him from His presence (Psalm 51:10-11). David then asks God to give him a clean heart and the renewal of a steadfast spirit so he can share his salvation with other sinners, and they are converted (Psalm 51:12-13). David desires deliverance from the guilt of his sin so he can offer praise to God (Psalm 51:14-15). David acknowledges that God does not desire sacrifice, something he could offer, but a broken spirit and a contrite heart (Psalm 51:16-17). David concludes by asking God to do good in His good pleasure to Zion, so God is pleased with their sacrifices of righteousness (Psalm 51:18-19).

 

David has committed the sins of adultery and murder, with his sins revealed to him by Nathan. Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance for these sins. In his prayer, David,

• Asks God for mercy and to blot out his transgressions (Psalm 51:1-2) – Mercy in one’s life is not receiving what they deserve. Romans 3:23 reminds us that everyone has sinned and fallen short, missing the mark with God. The first half of Romans 6:23 reminds us that the penalty for sin is death, meaning that justice for our sin is death. Therefore, everyone, including David, needs mercy with God.
• David acknowledges his sins (Psalm 51:3-6) – In 1 John 1:9, the Bible tells us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins. However, repentance is more than just telling God you have sinned but includes telling God you want to turn from your sin and follow Him. There is no mention in scripture of David committing adultery or murder again, leading to the belief his repentance was genuine.
• David asks God to cleanse his heart (Psalm 51:7-11) – In Matthew 6:21, the Bible tells us that our heart is in what we treasure. We often think of this verse in giving to God, but it also includes what has priority in our hearts. In David’s case, he stopped to look at Bathsheba bathing, and his heart desired her. This escalated to the sin of adultery and murder. Therefore, David asks God to cleanse his heart of this treasure, replacing it with a treasure to draw closer to God.
• David prays for restoration and deliverance (Psalm 51:12-17) – In this portion of the Psalm, David is asking God to deliver him from his sin and restore a right relationship with Him. One can experience this restoration today through Christ, who took the judgment for our sins, so we can become righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). While David wrote this before the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, he is looking forward to the coming of the Messiah and the fulfillment of prophecy.
• David prays for God’s blessings upon Zion (Psalm 51:18-19) – One’s sins have consequences that can affect more than just the one sinner. The sin of adultery not only affects the sinner but also their spouse and family. The sin of murder affects not only the murderer, who may face death or life imprisonment, but also the family and friends of the person murdered. In his conclusion of this psalm, David prays to God out of a desire not to have his sin remove God’s blessings from Zion.

 

Repentance is a 180-degree turn from sin towards God. It represents the first step to receiving salvation from God because sin separates us from God. It is more than saying I am sorry and about receiving forgiveness and salvation from a merciful God. Repentance should also result in a life transformation from a life of sin (Romans 12:1-2). Salvation from sin is through God’s grace and not something we can earn by our good works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Romans 10:9-10 tells us that if we confess a genuine, heartfelt belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for our sins, we will be saved. If you are reading this and have never prayed to accept this gift from God, I encourage you to do so 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.

 

If you meant what you just prayed, know God has forgiven all your sins and that you now have a right relationship with God and are a child of God (Romans 8:16). Like any relationship, it grows as we get to know each other. While God already knows all about us, we must study the Bible, the word of God, to learn more about Him. If you just prayed, I encourage you to find a Church that teaches the truth of the Bible so you can learn more about the Lord. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post. 

The Rewards and Costs of Serving Christ

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 6

 

Acts 6:7

Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

(NKJV)

 

As a church, like any other organization, grows, it will grow to be more than one man, or a small group of men or women, can manage. This is what the early church experienced in Acts 6, with them handling the situation through appointing additional men to the ministry. However, this did not mean the church did not experience added persecution, as illustrated by accusations of Stephen, one of the men appointed, of blasphemy. There are rewards and costs to serving Christ.

 

The number of disciples in the church is growing and with it, the needs of ministry with the widows of the Hellenists neglected in the daily distribution (Acts 6:1). The twelve apostles summoned the multitude of disciples, telling them it was not desirable that they leave the word of God to serve tables (Acts 6:2). The apostles instruct the disciples to select seven men of good reputation, who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to appoint over the business of the daily distribution so the apostles can continue in prayer and ministry of the word (Acts 6:3-4). This pleased the multitude, and they chose seven men, including Stephen, bringing them to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them (Acts 6:5-6). After this, the word of God spread, with the number of disciples multiplying greatly, including many of the priests who were obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7).

 

Stephen, one of the seven chosen who was full of faith and power, did great signs and wonders among the people (Acts 6:8). A group from the Synagogue of the Freedmen arose and began disputing with Stephen, but they were unable to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which Stephen spoke (Acts 6:9-10). They then secretly induced men to say they had heard Stephen say blasphemous words against Moses and God (Acts 6:11). This stirred up the people, elders, and scribes, and they seized Stephen, bringing him to the council (Acts 6:12). In the council, they set up false witnesses, claiming they heard Stephen say blasphemous words against the Temple and the law (Acts 6:13). They claimed to have heard Stephen say that Jesus would destroy the temple building and change the customs given to them by Moses (Acts 6:14). However, when those in the council looked at Stephen, they saw his face as the face of an angel (Acts 6:15).

 

Massive church growth is resulting in the need to appoint others to serve in the ministry so the apostles can devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. Stephen, one of the seven appointed to serve in the daily distribution, does great signs and wonders, drawing the attention of persecutors. This passage illustrates two things that are part of a growing church. First, a growing church needs more people to ensure the needs of those the church ministers to are met. The growth of the early Church and its commitment to addressing the needs of those in the church (Acts 4:32-35) have led to some being neglected in the daily distribution. The Church had two choices: the apostles could take time away from prayer and teaching the word to meet these needs, or they could appoint men to cover these aspects of ministry. Fortunately, they chose the latter, and the Church continued to grow.

 

However, a growing Church that spreads the Gospel represents a threat to those who reject Jesus Christ or who see Him as a threat to their religious stranglehold on those in their religion. Jesus represented a threat to the religious power of the religious leaders of the Jews over the people, and he had to be silenced (Luke 22:1-6; Mark 14:1-2; Matthew 26:1-5). It is possible that the continued church growth through the ministry of men like Stephen was a continued threat to those same religious leaders, so they must silence him as well.

 

Those called to serve in some form of ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ will suffer persecution because they represent a threat to the world system (John 16:33). In our present time, the Church represents a threat to the spread of a woke culture and must be silenced. Unfortunately, some churches react to this persecution by softening their message or even adopting wokeness in their teachings, claiming a loving God would not be against one having love and pleasure in their lives. While John 3:16 does tell us that God loves the world, to receive eternal life, one must believe in Jesus Christ. The Greek word translated belief in this text indicates one having more than a belief in the existence of someone, but a complete trust in someone. This would include obedience to that person's teachings. Jesus said that He and the Father are one (John 10:30), telling us that Jesus is God and was present at creation when God created both male and female people (Genesis 1:27). God also formed each of us in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13), meaning we were alive before our birth, with ending a pregnancy murder. Yes, God is a loving God, but to genuinely believe in Him and receive eternal life, one must place one's complete trust in Him and His Word.

 

If you have never prayed for the forgiveness of your sins and to confess your belief in Jesus as your savior, 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.

 

This prayer is not some magical prayer but must be a genuine expression of your heart. If that is why you prayed, rest assured your sins are completely forgiven, and you have eternal life. I now encourage you to let someone know of your decision. I also urge you to find a church of truth, teaching from the Bible that is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.