The Demand for Holiness Produces Humility - Deuteronomy 23-25

 Deuteronomy 23:9-14 (ESV Strong's)

9 “When you are encamped against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself from every evil thing.

10 “If any man among you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he shall go outside the camp. He shall not come inside the camp, 11 but when evening comes, he shall bathe himself in water, and as the sun sets, he may come inside the camp.

12 “You shall have a place outside the camp, and you shall go out to it. 13 And you shall have a trowel with your tools, and when you sit down outside, you shall dig a hole with it and turn back and cover up your excrement. 14 Because the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and to give up your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy, so that he may not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you.

The Demand for Holiness Produces Humility 

The reason for the above commands is given in verse fourteen.  God walks in the midst of the camp of Israel and He demands that they practice holiness.   Imagine the humility it must have taken to carry out these commands.   Neither of these two “conditions” were because of an act of the will.  They were just normal bodily functions.   Nether have them have a “self-control” factor about them.  Both are normal for Jew and Gentile, believer and heathen.   Yet, because the nation of Israel was to be holy before the Lord, there was a requirement to practice.   Humility is a key ingredient to the observing the Law.  Jesus summed the law and the prophets into two “heart” issues.  Loving God with all your heart, soul and mind and Loving your neighbor as you love yourself.  Both those summary statements require humility.  It would have been a very humble condition that a man wakes up from an “nocturnal emission” and spends the day outside the camp for cleansing.   It would have called for a great community to allow that to happen and not call attention to these types of things.  God’s demand for holiness begins with a sense of humility about one’s self.  Humility is a primary requirement for holiness.  

Reasons New Testament Letters are Written - 1 John 1-3

 1 John 1:4 (ESV Strong's)

4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Why Did John Write His Letter

Every once in a while we have a New Testament writer explicitly state why they are writing a letter or making a point (Hebrews 8:1).   John is an exception.   John states multiple times why he is writing this little letter to the Church.  Let’s look at why John says he is writing:

1. That their “joy” may be full - see the above verse.  When we read this little book we ought to be full of joy.  

2. That we don’t “sin” - John wants us to have the power of God and not sin. 

1 John 2:1 (ESV Strong's)

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

3. That we might “abide” in Christ and “grow” our walk with Christ - 1 John 1:7-14.  In this section John uses the word “writing” to them six times.   He wants them to abide in Christ and continue to mature in the light of Christ.

4. That they might avoid “false teaching” and “know the truth.” 

1 John 2:26 (ESV Strong's)

26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

1 John 2:21 (ESV Strong's)

21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

5.  That we might know we have “eternal life.” 

1 John 5:13 (ESV Strong's)

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

John is not bashful about why he is writing.  There should be no mystery of what should happen to us when we read the letter.  Our joy should be increased.  Our power over sin ought to increase.   Our growth in Christ ought to increase.   Our ability to recognize false teaching ought to increase.   Our assurance of faith ought to increase.   

Jesus Self-Extolls - Acts 19-20

 Acts 19:13-17 (ESV Strong's)

13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.

Jesus Self-Extolls 

The title of the book these above verses are taken from is the “Acts of the Apostles.”  We simply refer to the book as “Acts.”   It is a recording of the spread of the Gospel of Christ through the ministry of the twelve apostles appointment by Christ to carry out that divine work.   In almost every nook and corner of the book we see the Spirit of God spread the message of the resurrection of the Son of God by the servants of God.   Except in the above group of verses.   Yes, this happened in the city of Ephesus (the fourth largest city in Greece) where Paul was preaching the Gospel.    Yet, in this case, Paul is not even around.  These seven “itinerant Jewish exorcists” had observed Paul casting out demons.   So, on their own they thought they would give it a whirl.   The text explains their plight.   Christ chooses to use His apostles and us to speak His message.  But, He does not need us.  In the above text we see that He magnifies Himself in the world through the lust, greed and desire for power by mankind.   God can and does use us.  We should count that as a blessing.  But, He does not need us.  He can and, often does, extol Himself in the eyes of the world.   These “exorcists” were attacked by the demons, stripped naked and forced to flea in fear.   God can do that at anytime.  With or without our help.   

Doctrine Inspires a Change in Heart - Malachi

 Malachi 3:6 (ESV Strong's)

6 “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

Doctrine Inspires a Change of Heart

Malachi is prophesying to the nation of Israel to change their heart.    The nation had returned from captivity and had re-built the temple under Ezra and re-built the city under Nehemiah.  However, the temple and the city were only outside manifestations of God’s glory.   What God wanted to rebuild was the heart.  So, under the prophecy of Zachariah and Malachi, God spoke doctrinal truth to inspire them to change their heart and re-build their love for God.  Throughout this book there are multiple places of deep doctrine.   The above verse states one of those doctrinal truths: God is Immutable ... He does not change.   God does not change in character or in His covenant promises.   God stays the same throughout generations. The writer of Hebrews uses this same truth to inspire His readers to persevere:

The writer of Hebrews uses this same truth to inspire His readers to persevere:

Hebrews 13:7-9 (ESV Strong's)

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

It is a good thing that God doesn't change ... If He did they (Israel) would have been consumed.  As would we.  If God did not keep His promises we would all be destroyed due to the on-going sin in our lives.   God’s immutability means we can count on God to act according to His character in all things at all times.   It is note worthy that Malachi begins this section of his prophecy with God’s immutability.  He is about to speak to them about their robbing God of their titles and offerings.   The truth that God does not change is to be a truth that motivates them to correct their inward hearts about giving.   God uses doctrine to motivate us.  He uses deep doctrine.   If they understood that God was the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, that would change their heart attitude toward giving God what He is due and to honor Him for who He is.   Doctrine should not be text-book jargon. It should land into our hearts and motivates us to change our lives.  

The Conclusion of Life - Ecclesiastes 11-12

 Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV Strong's)

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

The Conclusion of Life

Solomon, throughout the book of Ecclesiastes, has set out to discover the meaning of life.  He has visited vineyards and found them vexing.  He has visited work and found it wearisome.  He has visited pleasure and found it painful.  He visited sex and found it stressful.  He has visited riches and found them only to rot.   Throughout the book Solomon has made a stop at every story in the Mall of Life.   He has purchased the most expensive item in each store.  In the end, it all was vanity and useless.  After all this adventure, his conclusion is the summarized in the above lines.  Solomon learned through all these experiences that the “fear of God and keep His commandments” was the sum of all of life. That is what brought true satisfaction.   We have to remember that Solomon was the riches man in the world at that time (and, adjusting for cost, perhaps of all times) and he was the most powerful man on the earth at that time.  He was able to experience anything he wanted to experience.    In the end, he concluded that all things will be judged by God and every secret thing will be exposed by God.  The connection between obeying God’s commands and being exposed in judgment is taken up by the author of Hebrews.   He says it this way:

Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV Strong's)

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

We can try to experience all these things ourselves, but it wiser to allow Solomon’s experience to speak for us all.  It is wiser to follow the conclusion of the matter rather than the path of the writer.   Many will simply want to follow his path, on their own, for their own experience.   Solomon, by God’s grace, came out the other side with this conclusion and summary of life.   Not everyone in scripture who follows these paths comes out the other side.  Wisdom says to believer Solomon and allow his experience to motivate us to live his conclusion.  

Imprecation Prayers - Psalms 137-139

 Psalms 139:19-22 (ESV Strong's)

19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!

O men of blood, depart from me!

20 They speak against you with malicious intent;

your enemies take your name in vain.

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?

And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?

22 I hate them with complete hatred;

I count them my enemies.

Imprecatory Prayers

These verses are examples of Imprecatory prayers.  An Imprecatory Prayer is a prayer that calls down God’s wrath on God’s enemies.   He is intended to invoke God to do something wrathful against the enemies of God.  David prays an imprecatory prayer in the above verses of the psalm and, also, in the closing verses of Psalms 137.  If we believe that David was a man after God’s heart (as the scriptures state) and that the Psalms are inspired writings of the Holy Spirit, is it right for today’s believers to pray imprecatory psalms.   We are instructed in the New Testament to “pray of our enemies” (Romans 12).  We are instructed to intervene and correct those who are walking contrary to Christ (Galatians 6).   We are not told in the NT to pray imprecatory prayers.   We are told this by the Apostle John:

1 John 5:16 (ESV Strong's)

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.

We are actually told by John to NOT pray a prayer that asks for death of someone sinning.   Yet, the writer of Psalms (in this case David) does pray about those who “hate” God that he TOO hates them with “complete hatred.”   What are we to make of this? We have people in this world destroying the church of Christ, killing Christians and, as verse 20 states above, “they speak against you (God) with malicious intent.”   It should be noted that David was not a perfect man.  He, too, had sin in his life.  In Psalm 139 he is praising God for His glory and how awesome He is.   In that zeal to praise God for His holiness, David gives us a contrast of those who are the polar opposite of God. They are the “wicked.”  The “wicked” in Scripture are those who have rejected God, deny God and blaspheme God.   David is praying specifically against this type of person.  He is not praying down imprecatory prayers and those who simply disagree with him.  He is praying down imprecatory prayers and those who openly despise and profane God.   If that is their condition, it would appear as praying for their destruction is what God intends by giving us this scripture.  Remember, what Paul stated to the Corinthians about the man in the church who was openly, gleefully, living in a perverted sexual manner in the church:

1 Corinthians 5:4-5 (ESV Strong's)

4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

That is a pretty firm “imprecatory” prayer.   Or, look at what Peter said (not actually a prayer, but certainly was imprecatory) to the husband and wife who lied to the Holy Spirit to win the approval and acceptance of the church by lying about their gift to the church:

Acts 5:9 (ESV Strong's)

9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

When people deny Christ and blaspheme Christ we should pray for God’s mercy to be upon them.  But, if they reject God’s mercy, the only thing that is left for them is God’s wrath.   We should pray for the destruction of the wicked, because God states countless times in scripture He WILL destroy them.  But, since we don’t know the wicked from the righteous, we might be wise to pray generally for mercy and for God’s word to be fulfilled on all those who walk contrary to God.  If we know them to reject God openly and blasphemously, we should pray for their souls, but that God would be glorified in how He deals with them.   

Change Always Has Opposition - Nehemiah 1-4

 Nehemiah 2:9-10 (ESV Strong's)

9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.

Change Always Has Opposition

Perhaps the only know through change and/or a change process is the presence of opposition.   No matter the change you can count on pushback from someone or someplace.  In the above passage, Nehemiah has been granted special permission by the Persian King Artaxerxes, to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the city.   Nehemiah prayed for five months before asking Artaxerxes for this permission to change the condition of Jerusalem, that sat in ruins for 70 years.   Not only did Artaxerxes give him permission, he gave him authoritative letters to travel and to cut down tress in the King’s forest to rebuild the city.   Yet, as in all change, there were those who were more than eager to hang on to the status quo.  Two men, Sanballat and Tobiah, we be constant thorns in Nehemiah, the-change-agent’s, side (2:19; 4:1; 6:1-14).   Throughout history there has been almost no great work done for God or man without these self-appointed-watchtower-powers, who are set on preventing positive change.   A great leader has to recognize the opposition and be prepared to meet it with both the power of God in their hearts and the resolve of purpose in their minds.   If you read the rest of Nehemiah, that is what you will see.  Note what Nehemiah says to these two road blocks, later in this chapter:

Nehemiah 2:17-20 (ESV Strong's)

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”

Nehemiah made sure:

1. That he was walking in and toward God’s purpose for his life.

2. That those around him, doing the work, knew about God’s power and presence in the work. 

3. That those who opposed knew that the authority he had for the work was not only of this world (King Artaxerxes) but of God’s world as well. 

4. That those who opposed had to be confronted and corrected.   

Good change will always have bad opposition.  Change enacted by God will always overcome that opposition.   

God’s Created Order - Be Distinctive! Deuteronomy 20-22

 Deuteronomy 22:9-11 (ESV Strong's)

9 “You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest the whole yield be forfeited, the crop that you have sown and the yield of the vineyard. 10 You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. 11 You shall not wear cloth of wool and linen mixed together.

God’s Created Order - Be Distinctive!  

In this section of Deuteronomy we have a variety of different types of laws and rules the nation of Israel was to follow.   The above law or rule does not seem to have any moral or sinful significance to it.  To understand God’s reason for it, we have to understand the purpose of the “Law” and these “rules” that the nation was to adopt and follow.   God had called Israel from among the nation.  They were to be HIS people and He was to be THEIR God.   They were to be distinctive in their life with Him.  They were not to “mix” with anything unseemly or any pagan gods or anything that was not holy.   In Leviticus we read about certain animals they could eat and certain animals that were forbidden to eat.   God was outline a life that did not mingle with the world around them.  The above rules for sowing a vineyard with on only one seed, plowing with only one type of animal and the wearing of one type of clothe are all ways to to outwardly demonstrate these truths.   The entire law was to be a “picture” of what the spiritual world was all about.   God was concerned about the “mingling” of His people with people who did not follow Him.  They above commands, therefore, are simply a way to communicate this purity and holiness that God wanted His people to live.   There is nothing unholy about one of these than the other (although the ox was okay to eat and the donkey was not ... Leviticus 11:1-8).   God is serious about “mixing” what He has ordered different.   A command just before the above laws bears this out:

Deuteronomy 22:5 (ESV Strong's)

5 “A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.

God has a divine order about things.   The world may not like it, but God has a distinction about Him and He wants the same distinction for His people.  He is not interested in us mingling with and looking like them.  He is interested in us mingling with and looking like Him.   We ought not mix our worship to look like Him and the world.  We ought not mix our families to look like Him and the world.  We are to be spiritually distinctive.   

Before Death, Remind Others - 2 Peter 1:12-15

 2 Peter 1:12-15 (ESV Strong's)

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Before Death, Remind Others 

Peter is about to die.   Jesus Christ actually told him how he was going to die:

John 21:18-19 (ESV Strong's) 

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.)

In those verses Peter learned he would not die until he was old and that in his old age he was going to become dependent upon others for his care.   This doesn’t sound like much of a prophecy since most older people have this issue.   But, there is another truth in these verses. Peter is told that he will be lead where “he does not want to go.”  This is speaking of his martyrdom.   Peter, as he writes his second letter, must sense this type of death is on the horizon.  Hence he writes to believers to “remind” them of the qualities they must demonstrate in their faith, to assure they truly are in the faith (2 Peter 1:4-11).   He is writing to “stir” them up.  The writer of Hebrews has a similar thought:

Hebrews 10:24 (ESV Strong's)

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

Peter talks about the “putting off of my body.”   The Greek words here are the same as we would refer to taking off our clothes.  Peter is about to put away his body in death.  But, before he goes he wants to record theses words (1 & 2 Peter) to make sure they will “recall” them after his death.   The fact that we (and millions) are reading or have read 1 & 2 Peter) show the power of these words.  We are using them to “recall” the teachings of Christ.   This is not just an obligation of the Apostles, although their writings are authoritative.   This should be the desire of every parent that follows God.  To write out reminders for their children and those who follow.   To “recall” is a Greek word that speaks of “memory.”   The obligations of believers in one generation is to make sure the next generation knows these truths.   We out to be recording these truths in a way that the next generation of believers knows the truths we followed and how we followed them in good times and bad.  

The “Unknown God!” - Acts 17-18

Acts 17:22-28 (ESV Strong's)

Paul Addresses the Areopagus

22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for

“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;

as even some of your own poets have said,

“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

The “Unknown God!” 

Blaise Pascal was a French philosopher, mathematician, scientist, and, more importantly, an apologist for Christianity.   He lived in the 1600s.   This would have been over 1,550 years after the above even took place with Paul as he addressed the philosophers and seekers of truth at the Areopagus.   But, it was Pascal who penned the following words about the nature of man and the hole in man’s heart for God:

“There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”

The reason Paul was in Athens, the city that contained the Areopagus (Areios Pagos; from Ἄρης Arēs (the name of the Greek deity of war); rock of Ares, a place in Athens), was because he was being persecuted by the Jews in the last cities he preached the Gospel.   His companions sent him to Athens for safety.   They may have, in their weakness, thought Paul simply needed a break from all the beatings (verbal and physical) he was taking.   Yet, Paul was Paul.  He had to preach the gospel (Romans 1:13-16).   Paul was an expert with the Old Testament to show the Jews how Christ was spoken about in the Law and the Prophets.  Yet, Paul did not speak of the OT to anyone at the Areopagus.   Paul simply spoke to them in their “language.”   These Greek philosophers spoke a different thought process than Paul’s Jewish audience.   Paul recognized his audience.   He adjusted the delivery method based upon the audience.  The content was the same.  The words and approach were different.   I recently asked a friend, who had recently heard me preach, to critique my message and delivery (to help me grow).  He was a great critic.   He gave me great pointers.  However, one of the areas I disagreed with was his thought that we should have a consistent style.   He had heard me preach before and thought that time had a better style than this time.   I did not disagree, it did.   But, the point of the style change was the both the audience and the text.   When speaking God’s word we have to be conscious of the perspective of the audience and the contents of the text.   Matching the content with the view of the audience is great preaching. This is what Paul shows us in his delivery of Christ.  Yet, Paul never even used Jesus’ name.   The results for Paul was the same. Some believed and many scoffed.   But, Paul delivered the message in the language of the hearers.  

God is a Jealous God - Zechariah 9-14

 Zechariah 8:1-2 (ESV Strong's)

1 And the word of the LORD of hosts came, saying, 2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.

God is a Jealous God!

Exodus 34:14 (ESV Strong's)

14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),

Deuteronomy 4:24 (ESV Strong's)

24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 6:15 (ESV Strong's)

15 for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.

Joshua 24:19 (ESV Strong's)

19 But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.

Ezekiel 36:6 (ESV Strong's)

6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I have spoken in my jealous wrath, because you have suffered the reproach of the nations.

Get the point?  What do we do in our lives that God might be jealous over us?   Do we have other gods we worship that would make God jealous? He is holy and demands we worship ONLY Him!!

Life’s Tragedies are Indiscriminate - Ecclesiastes 9-10

 Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 (ESV Strong's)

11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. 12 For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

Life’s Tragedies are Indiscriminate 

One of the glorious truths believers cling to is the ultimate sovereignty of God.  We believe that God is in total control of our lives.  We believe God is providential in the world around us.  We believe that God takes all the events in the world and crafts them into a marvelous story for His glory (Romans 8:28).  That is what makes the above verses (and those like them) in Ecclesiastes so difficult to ponder.   In chapter nine Solomon is speaking very fatalistically.  Note how he begins the chapter that leads us up to the above verses:

Ecclesiastes 9:1-2 (ESV Strong's)

Death Comes to All

1 But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him. 2 It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath.

The arranges of the ESV Bible entitled this section “Death Comes to All.”   That is a good title for these passages. That is Solomon’s point throughout the chapter.   That is the “events” that happen to “us all,” that Solomon is referring to.   That is the “time and chance happen to them all,” he is speaking of in verse eleven.   Solomon is not denying the sovereignty of God but simply giving into the “chance” happenings of this world.   Solomon wants us to know that neither the swift, the strong, the intellectual, the rich, or the wise can escape the fate off all men: Death.    Solomon wants all men to realize that death is the final step, no matter the path they took to get there.   But, it is not only death.  All things that happen to man kind can and will impact all men.   God is NOT the cosmic BIG GUY in the sky to protect us from all ills of life.   God promises to carry us through the famine, not to keep us from the famine:

Psalms 33:19 (ESV Strong's)

19 that he may deliver their soul from death

and keep them alive in famine.

Man relies upon their strength, riches, knowledge and power.  Yet, these will not deliver them from the ultimate end of life.  These can not deliver them from cancer.  These can not deliver them from car accidents or plane crashes or hurricanes.   God does not promise to keep us from those things, but only to carry us through those things.   He is our ultimate source of security and strength.   Solomon is not telling to cease to be swift, or to become weak, or to not seek knowledge and wisdom.  He is telling us that by simply having THOSE things we will not escape the events of life and death.  But, we do know that with faith in God we will be cared for in the midst of the events of life.  That is the walk of faith for all believers in the sovereign power of God.  

God is the GOAT!! Psalms 134-146

 Psalms 135:5 (ESV Strong's)

5 For I know that the LORD is great,

and that our Lord is above all gods.

God is the GOAT!

In our sports world we often hear discussions about who is the Greatest Of All Times (the GOAT).   The talking heads of the sports world love to compare past performance in past eras with those of today’s great accomplishments.   They desire to show the glory of one athlete (or a team of athletes) over the other.   In the above verse, the writer of Psalm 134 makes a bold claim that God is the GOAT!   To put this in context we have to remember that Israel was a monotheistic nation.  They believed there was only one God.  The Egyptians, of course, had multiple gods.  These are the gods Yahweh (Israel’s God) destroyed:

Psalms 135:8 (ESV Strong's)

8 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,

both of man and of beast;

The world around them had many idols, of which they worshipped but received nothing back:

Psalms 135:15-18 (ESV Strong's)

15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,

the work of human hands.

16 They have mouths, but do not speak;

they have eyes, but do not see;

17 they have ears, but do not hear,

nor is there any breath in their mouths.

18 Those who make them become like them,

so do all who trust in them.

The writer of this song makes sure the reader knows that God is greater than any god.   He is not only “great,” He is “above” all gods.   The placing of Yahweh “above” other gods shows their need to worship Him.   We do not serve a God like the world tries to describe Him.  The world would water God down to a “god-lite” version.  The belief that God is mighty and awesome and all-powerful, frightens the world.  To make sure they can survey, they would rather create the god they worship than worship the God who created them.  By doing this they have ownership over the god vs God have ownership over them.   Our God is the GOAT!! 

Willing to Openly Confess Sin! - Ezra 6-10

 Ezra 9:15 (ESV Strong's)

15 O LORD, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this.”

Willing to Openly Confess Sin!

Ezra was sent back from captivity to Jerusalem to encourage the remnant to continue to build the Temple.   God had put into the heart of the foreign king to release Ezra and send with him gold and silver for the Temple.  This was such a powerful and marvelous act of God’s sovereign rule over the affairs of mankind.   However, when Ezra arrived he discovered that many, if not most, of the remnant had futures broken God’s Law by marring foreign wives and having, therefore, mixed children.   Because Messiah would come from this remnant, it was important to keep the blood lines clean.   It was important to obey God’s Word (God’s Word had forbidden that they marry woman of the land).   When Ezra hears this he falls to the ground in bitterness of heart for God’s broken Word:

 Ezra 9:3 (ESV Strong's)

3 As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled.

Verse 15 of this chapter summarize Ezra’s prayer.  He publicly confessed the guilt of the people, but included himself in this confession. Ezra is acting as the High Priest and bringing the sin of the people before God.   They would rectify this situation over the following months (by putting away those foreign wives).  Ezra would, as the High Priest, make intercession for the sins of the people.  His open confession was a picture of Christ taking on our guilt, publicly, on the cross.  We have sinned and He openly bore that sin on the cross for us.  He was not guilty of the sin (nor was Ezra), but He bore our shame and our sin, on the cross, as our High Priest.   Note what Hebrews says:

 3:1 (ESV Strong's)

1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,

Jesus, like Ezra, took to the open to confess our guilt and shame and made it His own.  The difference is that Ezra offered sacrifices for the people, but Jesus offered Himself.   

Accusations Must Be Confirmed - Deuteronomy 16-19

 Deuteronomy 17:7 (ESV Strong's)

7 The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

Accusations Must Be Confirmed 

In chapter 17 of Deuteronomy, Moses is outlining for this new generation of Israelites what they are to do if someone is caught worshiping false gods.   If someone sees someone worshipping false idols or gods or the sun or the moon or the heavens, that person is to be stoned to death by the nation.   God does NOT mess around with idol worship (in those days or in our days).   However, the only way this act was to be carried out was if there were two or three witnesses to confirm the act of idolatry.   No one could simply be accused.  They had to have evidence of the fact that this horrible act of false worship had happened.   To add to the testimony of two or three witnesses, the person who saw the sinful false worship, was to be the one who threw the first stone at the offending person or persons.   You could not make an acquisition and then let others to do the punishment.   You had to be the one to both face the person and the one who had to carry out the discipline.  Imagine how that would play out today in our Human Resource Departments of organizations.   Imagine if a co-work reports a problem they had to not only face the person they saw do the ill and then be part of carrying out the discipline.   Imagine in a family if a sibling reports a wrong doing of another sibling if they are not only required to report it, but to confront the other sibling and be part of carrying out the discipline.  What would happen to our systems if we did this God’s way? 

The truths we need to see in these verses are:

1.  God does not tolerate idol worship of any kind in His midst or in the midst of people who are called by His name. 

2. God does not put people to disciplinary measures without sound and hard evidence.  

3. God demands that those who see the problem are part of correcting the problem.   

4.  God demands that community police community.  

God is serious about sin in our midst.   In the book of 1 Corinthians we have the story of a young man who was having an affair with his stepmom.  Paul called upon the church to report it, to confront it and be part of the discipline of the young man (1 Cor. 5).   We are not exempt from seeing, reporting and correcting sin in our midst.  Paul told the Galatian Christians this:

Galatians 6:1-10 (ESV Strong's)

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Suffering Comes: Glorify God in it!! - 1 Peter 4-5

 1 Peter 4:16 (ESV Strong's)

16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

Suffering Comes; Glorify God in it!

Peter knew about suffering and will know even more.  The historical account of his death is that he was crucified for his proclamation of Christ.   So, when he writes that “if anyone suffers as a Christian,” he knows what that means.   Our suffering today as a believer, in the USA, is nothing compared to his suffering.  Our fellow believers in other countries are losing their lives for the name of “Christian.”   Many, like in the days of the early church, are losing prosperity and jobs because they identify as a “Christian.”   In our country we might suffer shamming, but that is about it.   People might marginalize us.  We might be overlooked for a promotion, but almost never fired from a job.   Peter was writing to the early church and he wanted them to know that the suffer was not to simply be endured.   It was to be celebrated that we could suffer as Christians and bring glory to God because of it.   We are to glorify God in “that name.”  The name he is refereeing to could be Christ, but it makes more sense that it is the name of being a “Christian.”   The word “Christian” is only used two others times in the New Testament.   One of them is here:

Acts 11:26 (ESV Strong's)

26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

The other is here:

Acts 26:28 (ESV Strong's)

28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”

This was the name used to designate those who put their faith in Christ.   It was Christ’s name attached to believers.  When we claim this name there will be suffering.  Whatever the measure of suffering we endure, we are to celebrate it as a way to bring glory to Christ and those named and identified with them.   Christ wants us to take up His name and to identify with His way of life.   That stands in stark contrast to the world.   It, in many ways, judges the world because of the moral pattern of life that it brings. That, in turn shames the world.  Therefore, they desire to shame us back.   We need to rejoice and glorify God for that privilege to wear His glorious name!

God Changes the Hearts of Leaders - Acts 15-16

 Acts 16:35-40 (ESV Strong's)

35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

God Changes the Hearts of Leaders

In Acts 16 we have the story of Paul and Silas and Timothy changing the heart of a young girl, that would get them beaten and thrown in jail.  The young girl was being controlled by Satan for prophetic utterances and grown men were using her to make a living off her demonic captivity.   When Paul commanded the demon to come out of her, the men lost their income and that started the events that would land Paul and his companions into a beating and into jail (Acts 16:16-24).   God, however, opens the prison doors and allows them to not only go free, but to introduce the jailer to Christ.   This is where the above text picks up the story.   Paul and his ministry team have been shamed, beaten and imprisoned.   Suddenly the leaders have a change in heart.   How did that happen?  It was the same what the prison doors were open; God turned the latch!  In this case, God turned the leaders hearts.   Solomon said something about that in this proverb:

Proverbs 21:1 (ESV Strong's)

1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;

he turns it wherever he will.

God’s hand is on the hand, heart and mind of all leaders.   God can turn them as He turns the rivers to the left and to the right.   We ought not fear what man can do, since man can only do what God allows Him to do.   Rejoice know that even in the worst of times (Paul and his friends were severely beaten), God is in total control.  

God Patrols the Earth - Zechariah 1-7

 Zechariah 1:7-11 (ESV Strong's)

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying, 8 “I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. 9 Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’ 10 So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.’ 11 And they answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, ‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.’

God Patrols the Earth

Zechariah was a motivational speaker.  He was sent by God to motivate the nation of Israel upon their return to the land after captivity.  They had begun to re-build the Temple after its destruction during the beginning of their captivity.   Now they were sent back to restore the Temple. But, they began to get attracted to the world again and stoped working on the project.   Zechariah comes along to give them God’s prophecy that would encourage them to pick up the work once more.   The prophet gives them eight prophetic messages.   Each one designed to motivate them in a different manner.   In this first utterance (above) we find an important truth that is either stated or implied throughout the eight:  God patrols the earth.  God is watching the affairs of mankind.   Although we, on the earth, do not always see what is going on behind the scenes, God has complete knowledge of it all.   God uses the word “patrol.”  It is the Hebrew word, “hâlaḵ.”   The word is used almost 500 times in the Old Testament.  The fist time the word is used is in Genesis 2:14 where it is used to describe the rivers the “flow” throughout the area of the Garden of Eden.  The meaning of the word seems to be that God goes about, where His will and power take Him.   He observes and beholds.  The rest of the book of Zechariah are based upon this divine truth, that God takes interest in the affairs of the world and acts accordingly.   To those who would think God is passive and ignores the affairs of man, they ought to mediate upon this truth.   As an officer is patrolling the streets of the city and village to look for those who would endanger themselves and/or others, God is on patrol.  And, He NEVER takes a shift off.   We can rest in that truth.   

Wisdom Knows to Live in the Moment - Ecclesiastes 7-8

 Ecclesiastes 7:10 (ESV Strong's)

10 Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”

For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

Wisdom Knows to Live in the Moment 

The “Lover” archetype is the pattern of behavior that demonstrates a “clinging” to something.   The Lover is very passionate about life and holds to many traditions and many memories.   They are “in love” with those times, places, events, people, objects that, for some reason, give them a sense of warmth.   It is not a bad behavior, at least it does not have to be.   Yet, when you long for something of those past comforts, it can give you a false sense of reality. It can make it hard for you to adjust to the real, active world right in front of you.  That might be what the Teacher of Ecclesiastes is trying to say to us in the above verse.  Wanting to go back to the “way things were,” he says, is not coming from a place of wisdom.    Life changes.  Life unfolds.   It is not wise to what yesteryear, or yesterday back.   We often think of the past with rose colored glasses.  We fail to remember the struggles of yesterday, while at the same time longing for it.  God’s wisdom is to consider today:

Matthew 6:31-34 (ESV Strong's)

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Wisdom looks to God for today and let’s yesterday lay and tomorrow wait.   We ought not to long for yesterday anymore than tomorrow.  Wisdom knows the value of living in the moment.  

God Chooses Who Sits on the Throne - Psalms 131-133

 Psalms 132:11-12 (ESV Strong's)

11 The LORD swore to David a sure oath

from which he will not turn back:

“One of the sons of your body

I will set on your throne.

12 If your sons keep my covenant

and my testimonies that I shall teach them,

their sons also forever

shall sit on your throne.”

God Chooses Who Sits on the Throne

I am writing this the day after the presidential election in 2020.   As of this morning the race has not be called for either incumbent, President Trump or candidate Vice President Biden.   The nation will continue to argue, debate and fight about the results, no matter who wins.  The glory for the believer, however, is the fact that God sits on His throne and determines who sits on the “thrones” of the earth, as well.   In Psalm 132 we have a royal song about God choosing bot the place (Jerusalem) and the person (David) where His king (Jesus) will come from.   The politicians of our day think they are in charge.  They jockey for position and power as though it was chairs around the Thanksgiving Day table.   They want to “win” and use their power for their own “leverage” to accomplish their own “agendas,” no matter the party.  God, however, is in total control.  To those who obey His word and have faith in His promises, they can be assured that God will continue to put people in the positions He wants, when He wants them, for how long He wants them.  We, believers, do not sit on the edge of our sits, waiting for the results from pollsters, news announcers, or vote counters.  We simply rest in the sovereignty of God over the affairs of mankind.  That gives us peace to go throughout our day.   God chooses who sits on the thrones of the world!  Aspah, the author of Psalm 75, said it this way:

Psalms 75:6-7 (ESV Strong's)

6 For not from the east or from the west

and not from the wilderness comes lifting up,

7 but it is God who executes judgment,

putting down one and lifting up another.

Expect Opposition to God’s Work! - Ezra 1-5

 Ezra 4:4-6 (ESV Strong's)

4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build 5 and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

Expect Opposition to God’s Work!

The book of Ezra is an account of the nation of Israel being released from captivity to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city.   God stirred the heat of their captors and unsighted them to return the people of Israel to their land:

Ezra Ezra 1:1-3 (ESV Strong's)

1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem.

There is NO DOUBT that this work, to rebuild the city, was GOD’S WILL.  So, we have a group of believers obeying God’s will and, yet, opposition rises against it.   We see in chapter four, after the work had begun, wicked outsiders come to cease God’s work.  And, they indeed accomplish that task.   The work is actually stopped.   It will resume again and it will be finished, but the lesson to learn for us is that in the midst of God’s work, directly ordained work that God wants done, we will have opposition.   We ought not be surprised that the world does not want the work of God to be started or finished.   We can be perfectly in God’s will and find opposition.  God does not tell us we will not have opposition.  He just tells us that he will send the support and strength to deal with the opposition (as he does in the remaining chapters of Ezra).   We should remember the words of Peter and James in regard to this thought:

1 Peter 4:12-14 (ESV Strong's)

Suffering as a Christian

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

James 1:2-4 (ESV Strong's)

Testing of Your Faith

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Sticky Hands - Deuteronomy 13-15

 Deuteronomy 13:16-18 (ESV Strong's)

16 You shall gather all its spoil into the midst of its open square and burn the city and all its spoil with fire, as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever. It shall not be built again. 17 None of the devoted things shall stick to your hand, that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger and show you mercy and have compassion on you and multiply you, as he swore to your fathers, 18 if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, keeping all his commandments that I am commanding you today, and doing what is right in the sight of the LORD your God.

Sticky Hands

The nation of Israel, in Deuteronomy, are being given final instructions for when they enter the promise land.   The book is the second giving of the law to the new generation that was born in the wilderness.  One of the warnings they received was about what should happen when they conquer other cities in the promise land.   We have to remember that those other cities and nations that they were to conquer were wicked cities.   Here is the reason these nations are to be conquered:

Deuteronomy 9:4 (ESV Strong's)

4 “Do not say in your heart, after the LORD your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out before you.

Since these nations were wicked, so too is all their junk.  At least that is what is implied in the above text from chapter 13.   When Israel conquered a nation, God gives them a specific instruction to burn all the “stuff” that comes with the people.  God knew that “stuff” can lead us astray from Him.  We are attracted by “shinny stuff.”   The very first battle they have, when entering the promise land, proved this point for God.  Note:

Joshua 7:1 (ESV Strong's)

Israel Defeated at Ai

1 But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel. 

Joshua 7:20-21 (ESV Strong's)

20 And Achan answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

It is easy to have sticky hands and to allow the shinny things of this world to compromise us.  It is only through obedience to God’s Word that we keep ourselves from casting out eyes on those things.   God wants them destroyed in our lives if we find them so attractive that they pull us away from worshipping Him!!!

Kept by God’s Power Through Faith - 1 Peter 1-3

 1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV Strong's)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Kept by God’s Power Through Faith

Peter is well aware of the persecution happening to the church.  He has experienced it, personally.   He is well aware of what is coming upon those he is writing to in this letter.   He wants to give them some assurance for their lives.  He wants to motivate them to continue to live as the people of God.   To accomplish this he begins this letter of encouragement and instruction with the above passage.   He tells them they have been “born again to a living hope THROUGH the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”   We have a hope because He rose from the dead.   That hope, Peter goes on to write, provides us an “inheritance” that is:

1. Imperishable - it is secured by His resurrection and can never be destroyed. 

2. Undefiled- it is pure and without flaw by the person of Jesus Christ. 

3. Unfading - it is sustained by His power (see below)

4. Kept in heaven - it is yet to be realized.  

The key to these section of verses, however, is in verse five:

5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

We are not “keeping” this imperishable, undefiled, unfading, reserved in heaven inheritance.  He is!!  It is by His power that we are kept for this awesome gift.   We are being kept by the faith we have in the power of God to keep us.   It is not by our works or ally good deeds.  It is by faith in the resurrection of Christ that gives us hope and sustains us for the gift of the inheritance of eternal life.  NOT by our performance, but by our faith in HIS performance on the cross.  

Persecution is the the Fuel of Gospel Preaching - Acts 13-14

 Acts 14:19-23 (ESV Strong's)

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Persecution in is the Fuel of Gospel Preaching

In today’s society we see those giving the privilege of speaking the Gospel message, cower to the benign power of shame.   Our Christian faith can’t seem to even mount a strong response to those who would shame us because of what we believe.   We have to be taken-aback by the above text.  Paul was not just shammed, he was stoned.  This is only one instance in the book of Acts of Paul and Barnabas being persecuted for proclaiming the power of the Gospel.   Whereas in today’s world we would run for cover when the world calls us out, Paul ran back into the fire to “strengthen” the souls of the disciples.   Paul, counted for dead, did not simply walk away.  He walked back into the very city where he was stoned.   Paul wanted to give others strength, despite, most likely, being weak from being bruised and battered.  Imagine those listening to him that day. Imagine the inspiration he was to them.  As he spoke, they heard his voice, but the saw the scars and the pain that would have gripped his body.   Leaders must be willing to suffer to inspire others. They must raise out of the ashes and proclaim the power of God.   That is how the Gospel is fueled.   Suffering and persecution are the high octane of the Gospel message.   

Go is in Total Control - Haggai

 Haggai 2:20-22 (ESV Strong's)

20 The word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, 22 and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother.

God Sets Up Kingdoms

Just before Haggai prophesied the above words, Daniel had said something similar to this remnant before they returned to the land.   Note:

Daniel 2:21-22 (ESV Strong's)

21 He changes times and seasons;

he removes kings and sets up kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to those who have understanding;

22 he reveals deep and hidden things;

he knows what is in the darkness,

and the light dwells with him.

Daniel, while the nation was in captivity, reminded them that it is God who sets ups kings and kingdoms.  Now that some of the nation had returned to Jerusalem, Haggai was sent by God to, once again, remind them of God’s sovereign rule over kings and kingdoms.   We live in a world that believes it is in charge.   Yet, it is not.  The leadership we have in our country is based upon the election of the people, yes.  But, the election of the people is firmly in God’s hands.  He determines the outcomes.   During Haggai’s day the people had ceased working on the rebuilding of the Temple.  Haggai was sent to encourage them and motivate them.  Haggai was a motivational speaker.   The above verses are the end of his motivational speech.  His motivational tool?  The doctrine of God’s sovereign rule over our lives.  The people came back to Jerusalem and it was devastated.  They started to do God’s work on rebuilding the Temple but started to build their own homes and secure their own creature comforts instead.   Haggai was sent by God to get them to focus on His Kingdom.   To make his finally point, Haggai reminds them that they were there because God impressed upon Cyrus (the King of Assyria) to let them go back to the land to rebuild Jerusalem for the Glory of God.    Haggai wants them to see that God is TOTALLY in charge.  

Be Content and Satisfied - Ecclesiastes 5-6

 Ecclesiastes 6:3-6 (ESV Strong's)

3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. 5 Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. 6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place?

Be Content With What You Have

We cannot read any portion of Ecclesiastes without remembering the last two verses.  Every verse we read in the book should be studied through the lens of these two verses:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV Strong's)

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

These last two verses put in perspective those, above, from chapter six.   Mankind loves to accumulate.  For a lot of people, lots of stuff gives them lots of significance ... at least in their eyes.  We can read Solomon’s observations about that life style in these verses.   Solomon states that those who have accumulated much wealth and many children and much friendship and lives many years, but are not satisfied with those things, it would be have been better for him to not be born.   Being “satisfied” with what you have is the theme of Paul when writing to the church at Philippi and to young Pastor Timothy:

Philippians 4:11 (ESV Strong's)

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

1 Timothy 6:8 (ESV Strong's)

8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

The writer of Hebrews said it this way:

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV Strong's)

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Contentment is far better gain than accumulation.   The end of all things is to be satisfied in Christ and allow His pleasures to overwhelm us with eternal joy:

Psalms 16:8-11 (ESV Strong's)

8 I have set the LORD always before me;

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;

my flesh also dwells secure.

10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

or let your holy one see corruption.

11 You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Legacy of Mistreatment - Psalms 128-130

 Psalms 129:1-4 (ESV Strong's)

1 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”—

let Israel now say—

2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth,

yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 The plowers plowed upon my back;

they made long their furrows.”

4 The LORD is righteous;

he has cut the cords of the wicked.

Legacy of Mistreatment

The above psalm is a song that was song song by those traveling to Jerusalem for worship.   It was mean to begin their focus on God, prior to arriving for the ceremonial worship.   If we are coming to God in worship, we have to recognize the need for a Sovereign God in our lives.   In the above song we see that they are approaching God because they realize they are in a world that mistreated them.  The song acknowledges that they have NO ONE but God do deliver them.   They look back over their history and years and realize that the world has constantly been “plowing” their backs.  The word picture is vivid.   This is what the world does.  It plows those who disagree with them.  It makes “furrows” in our lives.   The world would like to plant seeds of the flesh in those “furrows.”   This is why verse four is so important.   Without God they do not have a prayer.  It is God who “cuts the cords of the wicked.”   These are “cords” of which the world hopes to secure us to their way of thinking.  God cuts those cords.  He is the one who delivers us.  That is how we can approach Him in meekness.  Even though we have a legacy of mistreatment by the world and the worldly systems around us, God delivers us.   The solution for a legacy of mistreatment is to turn to the righteous and holy God we serve.  He “delivers” from those who wish to plow us.  This is the way we prepare for worship.   We recognize the wickedness happening in our lives and to our lives and we turn and acknowledge the One who delivers.   

Leadership Sets the Example - 2 Chronicles 33-36

 2 Chronicles 35:7-9 (ESV Strong's)

7 Then Josiah contributed to the lay people, as Passover offerings for all who were present, lambs and young goats from the flock to the number of 30,000, and 3,000 bulls; these were from the king's possessions. 8 And his officials contributed willingly to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the chief officers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings 2,600 Passover lambs and 300 bulls. 9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave to the Levites for the Passover offerings 5,000 lambs and young goats and 500 bulls.

Leadership Setting an Example 

Josiah, at the age of eight, began to follow God.  Although his father and grandfather were wicked, God’s grace fell upon him.  As he began to turn the hearts of the nation and clean up the Temple, someone found a copy of the Law (The books of Genesis-Deuteronomy).   As Josiah reads the Law he becomes even more under conviction to serve God (this is what the Word of God, read into our hearts and minds should do).  With these convictions, inspired to obey God, Josiah sets in motion what would be later described as the greatest Passover service since the days of Samuel (vs. 18).   

The above passage tells us something very important in regard to Josiah’s leadership and of those he surrounded himself, as fellow leaders.   When it came to ask the people to worship at the Passover, Josiah was “all in,” as was his fellow leaders.  God had so impacted his life that he was convicted to not just lead the worship, but to set the example for his other leaders and his followers .. the entire nation.   This is what leadership does.  It sets the example and inspires others to do the same.  Leaders don’t just talk about what should be done.   They rise up and do what needs to be done.   God wants leaders to set the pace for those who follow.   They give, sacrificially, of themselves, before they ask it of others.    

Intercessory Prayer for the Saints - Deuteronomy 10-12

 Deuteronomy 10:10 (ESV Strong's)

10 “I myself stayed on the mountain, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights, and the LORD listened to me that time also. The LORD was unwilling to destroy you.

Intercessory Prayer for the Saints 

Moses is now writing his final words to the “new” generation that has risen up.  The “old” generation failed to believe God and God’s promises and died in the wilderness.  Their children are now being told, by Moses, the things that God had him tell their fathers.   God is telling them the same rules and commands apply to them as it did to their fathers.  The same consequences apply to them that were stated to their fathers.   God will hold His people accountable for their obedience to His word.   

Moses, in the above text, is alerting the new generation that he, once again, has stood in the gap to intercede for them with God.  This seems to be a role Moses has had to play.  But, it is not just the role for those in high leadership in God’s favored nation. It is also the role that we play each day for each other in the Church of Christ.   Note some New Testament references:

James 5:16 (ESV Strong's)

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Revelations 8:3-4 ESV

And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.

Ephesians 6:18 ESV 

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

1 Timothy 2:1 ESV

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

We are commanded to make intercession for the saints.  That is a role everyone plays, not just the Moses type people in life.   

The Prayer of Faith - James 4-5

 James 5:13-15 (ESV Strong's)

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

The Prayer of Faith

This is such and encouraging text to meditate upon and to dwell over.   The fact that God gave us a powerful tool in prayer is a blessing and something to rejoice over.   One of the pieces of the armor of God, listed in Ephesians, is “prayer.”  It is the last piece listed:

Ephesians 6:18 (ESV Strong's)

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Jesus often went alone to be with His Father in prayer:

Matthew 14:23 (ESV Strong's)

23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

In the passage from James we are told specifically the power of prayer.  We are told that the “prayer of faith” will save the one that is sick.  There is NO ambiguity in this text.   There is of course, other passages about prayer in the New Testament that clarify and quantify these words. James is NOT telling us that God will guarantee that everyone who is sick will be heal.  We only have to look at Paul and Timothy’s struggle with sickness to know this.   What James is telling us is that praying in faith has power. It has the power to release God’s sovereign will into the lives of those who are sick and have sinned.  We are not to be discouraged by God’s timing or His answer to our prayer.  We are only commanded to pray in faith and ask God for these things.   God will, based upon His divine plan, heal whom He will heal.  Our responsibility is to pray in faith, asking God for healing (both physically and spiritually).