Betrayal by Denial - Mark 13-14

 Mark 14:66-72 (ESV)

Peter Denies Jesus

And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Betrayal is a horrible behavior.  It can take on many forms.    Earlier, prior to the above events, Judas betrayed Jesus.  Because he did not want to be known as the betrayer, he told the guards that followed him whoever he kissed would be Jesus.  That was a sublet way of saying, “This is the guy you want!”   The kiss was deceptive as it communicates on thing to the people around him, but another to those who paid him money to betray Jesus.   But, Peter’s betrayal, above, might be worse.   You could say it was not a betrayal, it was a denial.  But, the denial betrayed his Lord, as he had a chance to claim Jesus’ as Lord.  Earlier, Peter said the following about denying Jesus:

Mark 14:29-31 (ESV)

Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

It was not just Peter.  But, all the disciples betrayed Jesus.  This was necessary for Christ to hang on the cross, alone.   It is interesting that two robbers hung on the cross with Jesus, but none of His followers.   

Peter breaks down and cries as a result of this betray via denial.   Judas hung himself.  Petered cried. The other disciples hid.   What do we look like when we betray him via our denial of representing Him in today’s market place? 

Purity in the House - City - Life - Jeremiah 22-26

 Jeremiah 22:8-10 (ESV)

“‘And many nations will pass by this city, and every man will say to his neighbor, “Why has the LORD dealt thus with this great city?” And they will answer, “Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and worshiped other gods and served them.”’”

Weep not for him who is dead,

nor grieve for him,

but weep bitterly for him who goes away,

for he shall return no more

to see his native land.

There may not be a more sordid look than that of someone who had the reputation for righteousness and then fell from that grace.  The fall of a church pastor due to sin is an ugly and horrid look.   The fall of some parent/spouse who had a beautiful family but fell deep into sin is beyond the pale.  We wag our heads at those who fall from grace and destroy their lives because of their wanton desire for some sinful practice.  This is what the above passage is saying.  Jeremiah has been sent to the leaders of Judah.  Both the political and the religious leaders.  He is to deliver the above message.  God is going to take His beloved people (Judah) and His beloved city (Jerusalem) and bring it to nothing.   It will become a byword to the rest of the nations.   This is ugly for them, but, more importantly, ugly for the reputation of God.   God redeemed Israel and Judah.  Now they would be the laughing stock of the nations.   This is what disobedience toward God does.   God is concerned about His reputation.  But, God will not allow hypocrites to represent Him.  He would rather have those He loves and what He loves be defamed and ridiculed, than to allow someone to remain in power and position, and defame Him.   God is not diminished by the fall of those who once worshipped Him.  He is still God and still good and holy.   Yes, in man’s eyes such a fall from grace can destroy the “reputation” of God.   But, in reality, it honors the reputation of God when we understand that God is holding everyone accountable, especially leadership.   God exposes sin so that He can maintain His holiness and reputation.   God is boldened by His disciplining of His children.  It honors God to keep a pure house.  

Why? God! - Job 32-34

 Job 34:21-23 (ESV)

“For his eyes are on the ways of a man,

and he sees all his steps.

There is no gloom or deep darkness

where evildoers may hide themselves.

For God has no need to consider a man further,

that he should go before God in judgment.

Perhaps the one time when mankind wants to ask about God is in the midst of a tragedy or in turmoil.  That is when mankind likes to ask, “Where was God?  Why did He allow this?”   Men and women can go weeks and months and years and never utter “God” once (except in foul language).  Yet, when tragedy hits, the entire world yells up at God, “WHY?!!!”    In the above passage we read something about God and His knowledge of mankind.   There is NOTHING hidden from God.  He knows about the tragedy. We don’t have to call His attention to it.  He knows all the steps of man.   The point is not where was God in the tragedy, the question is where are you at WITH God in the tragedy?    Mankind is headed for certain judgment.  This is the part that mankind does not get or understand.   When we cry out to God when something bad happens and ask why God did not stop it, we are assuming we have some entitled blessing due to us from God.  In those moments we are starting with a premise that God owes us goodness.  Yet, the above verses say the opposite.   God does not look down on the earth and think, “I owe these people.”  No, God looks down on the earth and sees the wickedness that we are, as compared to His holiness.  So, we should be saying, “WHY? God,” when we experience a blessing that is good.   God is standing in judgment to condemn our sin.  It is ONLY in His grace and mercy we experience something other than that wrath.  God does not have to sit back and consider our works.  He already knows them and they are wickedness compared to HIs holiness.   If something bad happens, go ahead and ask God, “Why?”   But, you might rather look around you and see the life you have and rejoice and ask God WHY for that!!

Like the Beasts that Perish - Psalms 48-50

 Psalms 49:20 (ESV)

Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

In Psalm 49 we are reading about the wealth of mankind and how futile it is in rescuing us from death and peril.   The writer finds solace in death because he knows he is redeemed by God and is NOT trusting in his riches.  He has come to learn the truth that it is not what he possesses that gives him hope but by who possesses him.  As he draws the psalm to a close we read the above verse.   This is the Big Idea of the song he has just composed.   He is stating that you can have all the pomp and circumstance of the world and, yet, without really know the meaning of life with God, you have nothing.   The world does not think this way.   They think that if they have a great life full of riches and belongings than that is the meaning of life.  But, the author spend the first 19 verses demonstrating the fallacy of that thought. In the New Testament God warns the rich through the pen of Paul in this way:

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (ESV)

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

God does not condemn riches.  After Solomon chose wisdom over riches, God gave him both.   Wealthy people have done much for the Kingdom of God.  However, if they trust in their riches and don’t have understanding about God’s power and God’s grace, they have nothing.  They are like the beasts of the field that perish.  

Bitterness - 2 Samuel 1-4

 2 Samuel 3:22-25 (ESV)

Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace.” Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone? You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

Bitterness can cloud our judgment.   Joab was a bitter man.  In many respects, most of us would probably be, in this case, as well.  Abner was the enemy of David and, therefore (as Captain of David’s army) Joab, as well.  Joab and Abner had gone head-to-head in battle.   Although Joab won the war, he lost his brother Asahel, in the fight, at the hands of Abner.    When Joab is off on a raid, Abner comes and makes peace with David but delivering the last tribe (Benjamin) into David’s kingdom.   But, when Joab hears of it, he is not just suspicious, he is full of rage.   He will eventually go behind David’s back and kill Abner.   This is what bitterness does to you.  When Abner killed Asahel, he gave him many warnings to turn away and not fight.  But, Asahel would not stop pursuing.   This was a war and Asahel was determined to kill Abner.  Abner was the better fighter and defended himself.  But, Joab could not wrap his brain around it.  David could.   Joab’s bitterness of soul would turn his heart evil.   Later, David will say this about Joab and his other brother, Abishai, who were the sons of Zeruiah: 

2 Samuel 3:39 (ESV)

And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The LORD repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!”

This is what happens when we allow pain and suffering to take root in our hearts.  It turns us into evil doers.   Eventually Joab and Abishai will pay for this sin.   David marginalized them in his life, but the deed was done.  Bitterness lead to anger and anger is the root cause of murder.    When we hold on to past suffering it will make our hearts bitter and that will, in turn, make our decisions evil.   

Be Silent, Let God Fight - Exodus 13-16

 Exodus 14:10-14 (ESV)

When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Be still, God will fight for you!   How many of us need to heed this message from God?  We tend to want to fight our own battles.  Sometimes God does call upon us to do that.  We can think of Joshua, later, who will bring the nation of Israel into the Promise Land and he will lead the nation to fight the enemy.  We can think of David who took a sling and a stone and fought Goliath.   There are examples in the Bible where God does want us to fight.  The entire book of Judges is filled with such stories.   Yet, in the above passage we read that God wanted the nation of Israel to relax and rest in His sovereignty and omnipotence.  That is the key to understanding God.   We need to move forward when He tells us to move forward, but we need to rest when He tells us to rest.   God is not inconsistent.   God simply has plans He works out one way and the other.   God told Paul, at times, to ignore people who might hurt him.  Other times he was told to fight and defend Christ.   There are times that Christ told us to turn the other cheek and do nothing.  But, there were times He told His disciples to pick up a sword.   Our role is to obey.  When we are not sure if we are to stand or fight, that is when we seek God’s face.  David did that often. He often asked God if he should go up into battle or allow God just to fight the battle without him, rather than through him.  The key component is not that we fight or don’t fight.  The key component is that the fight is the Lords and the power to fight is the Lords.  The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.  

Free AND Alive - 1 Corinthians 15-16

 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (ESV)

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

There were several reasons that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead.  Yes, one reason was to pay for our sins.  We tend to put more emphasis on that aspect of His death and resurrection than any other.  And, rightly so.  We were in sin and the wages of sin is death.  So, someone had to die for our sins.   It was either us or Him.  Those believe, allow Him to die for them. 

But, their was another aspect of Jesus death and resurrection.  He did not just die on the cross, He came back to life.  That coming back to life was give us new life.   We were dead, but came alive in Him.  Notice how Paul says this same truth to another church:

Colossians 2:13-15 (ESV)

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

God made us alive “with Him.”   Not only did Christ die for us, but He gave us new life.  A life free from the penalty of sin and free from the power of sin over us.  And, some day free from the presence of sin among us.   That is freedom in Christ.  Because of the resurrection we are free and alive.    

Rejection Was the Path to Resurrection - Mark 11-12

 Mark 12:1-12(ESV)

The Parable of the Tenants

And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this Scripture:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

this was the Lord's doing,

and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away.

The timing that this parable was taught is important to adding further meaning to it.  Chapters 11 and 12 are part of Holy Week.   Millions of Israelites have traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover.   There were people from all regions.  Just prior to this parable being told, Jesus has overturned the tables in the Temple.   He is teaching each day in the Temple.  We read in the last verse of the above passage that the religious leaders are plotting a way to arrest Jesus.   They knew that Jesus was teaching these things about them.    They send a number of their own to Him, to try to trap Him.  They needed Him to say something that would allow them to bring Him up on charges.   

In the above text, therefore, they knew this was about them.  Jesus is making a parable about the death He will experience in just a few short days.   Jesus knew their hearts and knew the plan of His Father.   He was the “son.”  He was going to be taken and killed and thrown out of the “vineyard.”   The world is about to reject Jesus, yet, it is for these very sins that Jesus came to die.   Mankind does not want to submit to God and His Son.   They are rejecting Him, yet, He will become the chief cornerstone of the building of the Church.   Jesus knew what was about to happen.  He gives this parable so that the disciples could understand that the rejection of Him as their heavenly King would lead to His resurrection and Him becoming (in time) the earthly king they desired.   But, rejection would be the path of resurrection.   

Discipline of God - Jeremiah 17-21

 Jeremiah 21:3-10 (ESV)

Then Jeremiah said to them: “Thus you shall say to Zedekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls. And I will bring them together into the midst of this city. I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath. And I will strike down the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast. They shall die of a great pestilence. Afterward, declares the LORD, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah and his servants and the people in this city who survive the pestilence, sword, and famine into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of their enemies, into the hand of those who seek their lives. He shall strike them down with the edge of the sword. He shall not pity them or spare them or have compassion.’

“And to this people you shall say: ‘Thus says the LORD: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you shall live and shall have his life as a prize of war. For I have set my face against this city for harm and not for good, declares the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.’

Sometimes Scripture just speaks for itself and needs no, or little explanation.   King Zedekiah sent the priest to Jeremiah to see if they would be delivered from the King of Babylon.   The above is God’s reply via the voice of Jeremiah.    There is no mistaking the lesson here: If we walk in disobedience to God we will suffer the discipline of God!  Nothing more needs to be said.  

IF I sinned - Job 31

 Job 31:9-12 (ESV)

“If my heart has been enticed toward a woman,

and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,

then let my wife grind for another,

and let others bow down on her.

For that would be a heinous crime;

that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;

for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon,

and it would burn to the root all my increase.

Chapter 31 is the last we hear of Job’s complaint narrative toward God.  In the following chapter we hear from a fourth friend of Job, Elihu, and then from God himself.  Job will have brief responses from this point on.  In this chapter Job lays out several “if” statements.  He is trying to make a point.  He agrees with his other three friends (who have accused him of sinning and thus the reasons for his suffering).  Job agrees that “if” he did sin, as they say, he would deserve all this suffering.   He, of course, maintains his innocence and these “if” statements are followed by a silent, but assumed, BUT I DIDN’T, response from Job. 

In the above “if” example, we read about Job coveting in his heart another man’s wife. In the text he writes about his heart “enticed” to another man’s wife.  He writes of lurking at the door of the other man and secretly having her in a sexual manner.  He thinks this is so bad (IF he did it) that other men should equally have his wife in the same way he had another man’s wife.  He believes this IF is so bad, it should have everlasting suffer (he is probably saying even my current suffering does not pay for such a heinous sin against mankind and God).   We know that Job has not done this or anything like it (re-read chapters one and two).  But, Job does give us some insights about the sin and perhaps how to avoid it.   Notice that Job tells us this sin, starts with the heart.   Jesus stated the same thing:

Matthew 5:27-28 (ESV)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Guard your heart because the IF does become the DONE.  

Leadership Reputation - Psalms 45-47

Psalms 45:6-7 (ESV)

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.

The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;

you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you

with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;

Wouldn't it be great to say that about all leaders and leadership!  I would love to claim this as my legacy for my leadership.   Psalm 45 is a very different psalm, as it is not actually addressed to God, like the others, but rather it is addressed to the “king.”  We don’t know which Israel king, but it is singing the praises of a human leader.    The writer(s), the sons of Korah, were in charge of the Temple and the songs in the Temple.  So, although the song does not specifically address God, it is certainly honoring God, as He is the one who puts kings in place.   A portion of the above verses are quoted by the author of Hebrews when addressing Christ as the priest (Hebrews 1:8,9).   

The king being addressed and honored in this song was a leader with integrity and practiced truth and justice in his leadership.   It not only states that he loved righteousness, but that he also HATED wickedness.   Today’s leaders simply have to depth of Godly leadership that can be characterized by righteousness, much less wickedness.   Today’s leaders, especially political leaders, seem to get as close to wickedness as they can.  True, Biblical and God honoring leadership, however, is characterized by what we read above.  This should be the outline of all leaders.  It is only when we practice righteousness that we find we are honored with oil beyond our companions.  This king is not just being honored for Godly character, he is also being elevated to a higher degree than other kings.  This is all based upon the kings desire to love righteousness and hate wickedness.   That is the mark of a great leader.  

True Leaders Have Great Integrity - 1 Samuel 26-31

1 Samuel 26:17-20 (ESV)

Saul recognized David's voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the LORD who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the LORD, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

A true King is a person of great integrity and great honor.  Notice what David himself wrote in the following Psalm:

Psalms 15 (ESV)

Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill?

A PSALM OF DAVID.

O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?

Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right

and speaks truth in his heart;

who does not slander with his tongue

and does no evil to his neighbor,

nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

in whose eyes a vile person is despised,

but who honors those who fear the LORD;

who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

who does not put out his money at interest

and does not take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be moved.

David knew the throne of Israel was his.  God had already promised it to him.   But, he also knew that at this present time, Saul was on the throne.  Rather than take matters into his own hands, David considered himself a “flea” in God’s plan.   Saul was a wicked ruler.   David could have overthrown him and no one would have objected.  But, David knew that his kingdom would be tarnished as a result of his overthrowing Saul.   David was willing to wait for God’s timing.   True leaders have this integrity about them.  They are willing to wait for God’s timing and allow God’s plan to unfold in God’s ways.   David often makes mistakes and falls into sinful desires and traps.  But, he was willing to allow God to put him where he needed to be and take short cuts to get there.  

Redemption Cost - Exodus 9-12

 Exodus 12:50-51 (ESV)

All the people of Israel did just as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. And on that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.

Redemption comes at a cost.   In the above verses we read the culmination of the plagues brought upon Egypt.  The plagues, delivered by the hands of Moses and his brother Aaron, were delivered by God to strike down the Egyptian gods and to convince the Pharaoh of the land to submit to God.   Moses delivers nine plagues, all sent to soften the hard heart of Pharaoh.  But, he (and his servants) remained unwilling to let the people go.  In the story of the Bible, Israel being held captive by Egypt is a picture of mankind being held captive by sin.  Israel is enslaved by Egypt and pictures man being enslaved to sin.  The only thing that will redeem us is the shed blood.   Death must occur for forgiveness to take place. That is God’s method. In the Garden of Eden, after Adam and Even sin (by disobeying God’s commands), God killed an animal to clothe Adam and Eve.   Man sins, something dies, sin is covered.   That is God’s pattern.   In the story of Israel and Egypt, Man is locked in sin, the Passover animal dies (making sin covered) and then redemption takes place.    In order for sin to be covered, blood must be spent.  Paul said it this way to the Romans:

Hebrews 9:22 (ESV)

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

The Passover cost Egypt all their first born.   Our redemption cost God His ONLY Son.   Christ blood provided our redemption.  Redemption costs.  

Gifts Plus Love - 1 Corinthians 12-14

1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV)

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

In chapters 12-14 of this letter to the churches in Corinth, Paul is outlining how to use spiritual gifts, especially tongues and prophesy.   In chapter 12 Paul makes the case that all gifts are for the Body of Christ and everyone in the Body of Christ has different gifts.  His point is that the gifts are to be used to edify the body.  In chapter 14 we read about the specifics of the gift of tongues and, a bit, about the gift of prophesy.   As important as these two chapters are, however, sandwiched in between is chapter 13, which gives us the overriding principle for all gifts.  We are not to practice any gift, no matter what we may think its importance in the church, if we are not governed and powered by love, that God supplies.   Operating any gift, without love, is like trying to drive a car without gas.   Love is the power behind all of God’s gifts.  We are to be empowered by love and our use of God’s gifts ought to demonstrate God’s love in all we do.  It is amazing how people can claim this and that about gifts and entirely skip chapter 13.   When we attempt to use any gift for our own personal use and glory we have left love at home.   When we use a gift and don’t have the love of others as our focus we are not really being empowered by the Spirit to operate the gift.   We can’t have the Spirit of Christ give us the gift, empower the gift and not, also, have the aspect of God’s love reigning in the gift.   It just does not happen.  We are to use the gifts of the Spirit of God what demonstrating and being empowered by the love of God.  

Jesus Heals - Mark 9-10

Mark 10:46-52 (ESV)

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

What attracted men and women and children to be intrigued with Jesus was, undoubtedly, His ability to heal.   Even in our society today we would be not just attracted, but all consumed by just events.   Jesus healed all types of situations, from mental health to demon possessed to physical challenges to raising from the dead.   Unlike the “faith healers” of today, however, there was not a time that Jesus decided to heal that the healing did not occur.  Jesus was not hit and miss on His healing powers.    In each of the cases it was someone’s compassion or faith that was the avenue for Jesus’ healing ministry.    In the above case, of the blind man, Jesus tells him that “your faith has made you well.”    Without faith we see no miracles of Christ.   It is the avenue of faith that God uses to move in the midst of the world around us.   This poor blind man was begging on the side of the road.  In those days, anyone with a deficiency would be a beggar.  There were no social programs to care for them.  The religious leaders of the day had more interesting debating the Son of God, than they did helping one of His children.   This blind man heard that Jesus was coming and cried out to Jesus.   Others wanted him to be quiet.  But, he persisted in his faith.   That caused Jesus to turn to him and beckon him to come to Him.   It is through the avenue of persistent faith that we seek healing and miracles from Jesus.   Today we might see Jesus heal us via many methods.  We might see Him allow us to suffer in our pain for His glory and to give us strength and more grace. Note how the great Apostle Paul (who did miracles himself) stated it:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV)

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

God is Compassionate - Even in Discipline - Jeremiah 12-16

Jeremiah 16:14-15 (ESV)

The LORD Will Restore Israel

“Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when it shall no longer be said, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers.

God is a compassionate God.   In chapters 12-16 we read of the iniquity of Israel and Judah and the discipline that God is going to bring upon them as a result.   Through the voice of the prophet Jeremiah, God calls their iniquity “filling the land with whoredom.”  They have sough other gods and become unfaithful to Yahweh.   For these actions, God is going to punish them.  We read in the proceeding chapters this summary:

Jeremiah 15:2 (ESV)

And when they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD:

“‘Those who are for pestilence, to pestilence,

and those who are for the sword, to the sword;

those who are for famine, to famine,

and those who are for captivity, to captivity.’

Yet, God has mercy on them.   Despite their wickedness and their false worship, God states that the “days are coming” that God will once again redeem them.  Up to this point the theme of Israel was the God redeemed them out Egypt.   That was the iconic thought for the people.   Yet, God tells them they will go back into captivity and God will redeem them again.  This time, not from Egypt, but from the north country.   We know that the prophet is referring to Babylon and Assyria.   God is bringing a more wicked nation on them to discipline them.  YET, despite their wickedness, God will still have a remnant that He holds as His people.   He states, “For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers.”   Why?

1. God keeps His promises.  God promised the land to them as a heritage forever.  God kept His promise then and He will in the future.  

2. God must have a remnant to bring forth the Messiah, His Son.   

3. God is love and He is moved by that love to demonstrate it to the world. 

4. God chastens all those He loves.  He must discipline them.  

Hebrews 12:3-7 (ESV)

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

nor be weary when reproved by him.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and chastises every son whom he receives.”

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

A Soul Poured Out - Job 29-30

 Job 30:16-23 (ESV)

“And now my soul is poured out within me;

days of affliction have taken hold of me.

The night racks my bones,

and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest.

With great force my garment is disfigured;

it binds me about like the collar of my tunic.

God has cast me into the mire,

and I have become like dust and ashes.

I cry to you for help and you do not answer me;

I stand, and you only look at me.

You have turned cruel to me;

with the might of your hand you persecute me.

You lift me up on the wind; you make me ride on it,

and you toss me about in the roar of the storm.

For I know that you will bring me to death

and to the house appointed for all living.

In chapters 29 and 30 we have one of the most striking contrast of a man’s mindset.  In chapter 29, Job is remember the days of his strength, dignity and reputation.  In chapter 30, Job is recounting his weakness, shame and disrespect from those around him.  Job has gone from the top to the bottom.  And, only God and he know it has nothing to do with his character.  Yet, everyone makes that judgement.   Job finds himself in a depressed spot. That is what we read about.   His “soul is poured out within” him.  When Hannah came to the Tabernacle to pray for her barren womb, she poured out her soul to God (God would send her a son, Samuel).   Job is saying he is pouring out his soul “within” himself.   He is saying that he is “empty.”   He has nothing more to give to seek relief.   It is interesting that there is only one more chapter of Job’s lament and then we hear from another friend, Elihu.  Elihu will point Job to God.  God will then speak to Job.   That all doesn’t happen until Job reaches the point of his soul being empty.  It is empty of himself.   When we read all this, this is where Job is:

1. His soul is empty - vs 16

2. His bones are in pain - vs 17

3. His garments are chocking him - vs 18

4. His seat is filled with dust and ashes - vs 19

5. His voice is unheard - vs 20

6. His body feels God’s wrath - vs 21

7. His life is out of control, blow by the wind - vs 22

8. His future is nothing left but death - vs 23

This is Job’s plight.   But, this is where Job needs to be to hear the voice of God in the following chapters.  Somethings we have to pour our soul out, before God puts what He wants, within.   

God is Our Joy - Psalms 42-44

Psalms 43:4 (ESV)

Then I will go to the altar of God,

to God my exceeding joy,

and I will praise you with the lyre,

O God, my God.

In the verse just before the above verse, David asks God to send him truth and light.   When God does that, David knows that he can “then” go to the altar of God with “exceeding joy.”   There are lot of people who wish to have “exceeding joy,” but want it without truth and light.   Most tend to want to have “joy” in the midst of darkness.    God wants us to come to him at His “altar.”  In the Old Testament that was a place.   People would have to travel and bring a lamb, or a goat or a bird to offer to God.   That does not conjure up “exceeding joy.”   In the New Testament that altar is our heart.  We can, right where we are seated, offer up praise to God.   God does not want our worship of Him and to Him to be burdensome.  He wants our praise and worship to bring exceeding joy because it is God who is our joy.  That is the key to the above verse.  Our joy is God Himself.    We are to rejoice in what God does for us in regard to blessings.  But, are real joy is not just the blessings, but God Himself.  He is our Joy.  In most verses in the Bible we read about joy as something God gives us or we experience when we are walking in step with him.   In the above verse we see joy not as an external attribute for us to enjoy, but as an attribute of God Himself.   Our joy can be the blessings God gives us.  But, our joy is even more than that.  God is our joy!!

A Lie Kills - 1 Samuel 21-25

1 Samuel 21:1-6 (ESV)

Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David trembling and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women.” And David answered the priest, “Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?” So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the LORD, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.

When we begin with a small lie, we eventually embellish and, at some point, someone gets hurt!   That is the lesson from the above passage.   David, on the run from King Saul (for his life), takes matters in his own hands and crafts and elaborate lie that only gets bigger as he opens his mouth.   He was NOT on an expedition for Saul.  He did NOT have an “appointment” with the “young men” (a group of soldiers) to meet up with.   David even made up the fact that these “fictitious” men were “clean” so that they were ready for battle.   This “running” should not be considered a “special” journey.   Instead of trusting God (and Ahimelech, the priest), David weaves a tale that will convince Ahimelech to allow him to eat the bread that was originally laid out for God.  The unleavened bread was laid out as symbol for God’s glory.   David’s failure to trust God and create a fabricated story dishonors the very essence for the bread.  When we fail to trust that God has control of or lies, we do foolish things. David ran away instead of to God.   David lied to the priest instead of trusting in the priest for wisdom and counsel.  David ate the bread intended to worship God instead of being the “bread” and worshiping God.   One lie builds upon another.  Eventually Ahimelech will be killed as a result of this story.  Along with him, 85 priest would eventually die. The priest is dead, God is dishonored and David is in a bad state that will create even more chaos in his life and the lives of others.   That is what one small lie starts.  James said it this way:

James 3:5-10 (ESV)

So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

God Makes a Way - Exodus 5-8

 Exodus 6:28 - 7:1 (ESV)

On the day when the LORD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, the LORD said to Moses, “I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” But Moses said to the LORD, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?”

And the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.

When God gives us a task to do, He is working behind the scenes to make sure the task can be accomplished.   That is the truth that Moses is learning in the story of the plagues on Egypt.   God sent Moses to talk to Pharaoh about letting the nation of Israel go.  Egypt had turned the Israelites into slave labor and God had heard their cry and sent Moses to delver them.   But their deliverance was not going to be without first the destruction of all their gods.   Each of the plagues was a plague against something that Pharaoh and the people of Egypt worshipped.    God is not just releasing the nation of Israel from the Egyptian people, He is also releasing them from the influence of their gods.    When Moses was worried that Pharaoh would reject Moses, he was right.  But, not in the way Moses thought.   Pharaoh did reject Moses (until the last plague and his son died).   But, God would make Moses like a god to Pharaoh.   God will cause those around us to fear us as we walk in and toward His purpose for us.    Moses had no reason to fear.    Yet, he did.  Like you and me we fear what we don’t know or understand.   God was delivering the people for slavery.  God was delivering the people from the false gods of Egypt.   But, God was also delivering Moses from his fears and excuses.  When God calls those to serve for Him he grants the power and works behind the scene to make sure others see what God is doing in you.  

God Keeps Us Away From the Cliff - 1 Corinthians 11

1 Corinthians 11:31-32 (ESV)

But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

What lengths would you go to make sure you son or daughter or relative or close friend would not walk off the edge, or even near a cliff?  Would you “yell” at them?  Would you “grab” them?  And, if they were hell-bent on running off the cliff, you go as far as to “hurt” them, thus preventing them from certain destruction?  That is the question the above passage teaches us. Paul is writing to the Corinthian believers.  He is warning them about how they casually, if not in sanctimoniously, approach the Lord’s Table.   They are guilty of all types of sins in the worship of remembrance of Christ shed blood.  He has given them several warnings already, but in the above two verses he is summarizing an action plan for them.   His plan is for them to “judge” themselves.  To take a look at their lives.  He has already told them to “examine” themselves when they come to the Table. That word takes on the thought of “approval.”   When we come to the Lord’s Table we are to look at our lives and make sure we can stand approved by God based upon Christ’s blood, saving us from our sins.   IF we do that and come to Him in Christ’s holiness (not our own) we will not be “judged” by Christ.   This “judgement” by Christ is not in regard to our salvation, but our sanctification; our holiness.   If we come to Him with unconfessed and unrepentant sin (like the Corinthian believers) we will “judged” by the Lord, as discipline.   This will, however, prevent us from being “condemned” like the world - those who go over the cliff.  The solemn truth can be a beautiful thought to the believer. Or, it can be a frightening truth to the disobedient person of faith.   We can be assured that God will go to any length to keep us from the edge of the cliff and/or tumbling over. We cannot lose our faith, as God will do whatever it takes to keep us in His path.   In 1 Corinthians 5 we read of someone who is disciplined for sin and even faced death.   In Acts 5 we read of someone who died for their lying to the Spirit of God.  But, those examples (and more) are to show us that God does whatever He needs to keep us on the right path and to reach out finally redemption.   That should only sound frightening if we are walking in disobedience.  

God’s Compassion Provides for Man’s Provision - Mark 7-8

Mark 8:1-3 (ESV)

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.”

Jesus is moved with compassion by the crowd.   This thought may be a great summary for the entire Gospel message.  God sees the sin of mankind and is moved with such love that He creates a plan to provide His Son for man’s sins.   The love of the Trinity is what created the world, redeemed the world and is patiently waiting for the final redemption of man.  It is only by God’s love that the world is not completely destroyed by His wrath.   God withholds His wrath toward and for sin because His love for mankind is so deep.   In the above story we see a physical aspect of God’s love demonstrated.  Jesus has already feed the 5,000 on five loaves and two fishes.  In this story he is about to feed 4,000 with seven loaves and one little fish.  Each time Jesus is moved by His compassion for the people.  He is also looking ahead for them.  They don’t even know they need food right now.   He is about to send them away, to their homes.  Some have a long way to travel.  He is thinking of their physical needs before they are even conscious of such needs.   That is how God is with us today.  We are to be praying for our daily bread, but God has already provided it in the way He deems best.   He feeds the young sparrows and they have no thought of there needs.   God sees our needs, is moved with compassion and provides for us in miracles ways. That is the lesson to this familiar story.  The story is well known, but the lesson is often forgotten.  

God Keeps His Covenant - Jeremiah 7-11

Jeremiah 11:9-13 (ESV)

Again the LORD said to me, “A conspiracy exists among the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers. Therefore, thus says the LORD, Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them. Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they make offerings, but they cannot save them in the time of their trouble. For your gods have become as many as your cities, O Judah, and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to shame, altars to make offerings to Baal.

The above verses are the summary of most of Jeremiah’s prophecy.   God’s people turned their back on God, so God is going to turn His back on them.  Most of today’s Christian faith do not comprehend this type of truth about God.    Of course, in the New Testament we have the promise of God’s “sealing us onto the day of redemption.”   Those who put their faith in Christ do not have to worry about “God turning their back on them.”  However, the same God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament.   So, how do we reconcile this in our minds? The reason for this action by God is that God’s people “have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers.”   God made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel).   The covenant was for them to obey the Law and then God would bless them.  They broke that covenant on their end.   God kept His part of the covenant with HIs people, but they failed theirs.   In the New Testament, God designed salvation differently.  In the NT, God provided His Son to keep the covenant for us.   In the NT, the covenant with us was through His Son and written on our hearts:

Hebrews 8:10 (ESV)

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel

after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws into their minds,

and write them on their hearts,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

In the NT God made a covenant with us through His power, by His Son and the Spirit of God writes the covenant on your hearts. Our salvation (and the assurance and security of it) are ALL on God, not on our ability.  When that happens, we will produce good works because the Trinity is working in us and for us.  We have the same obligation to obey, but God made the covenant.   We do not keep it in our power, God does that for us.   

The Value of Wisdom - Job 27-28

 Job 28:18-19 (ESV)

18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal;

the price of wisdom is above pearls.

19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it,

nor can it be valued in pure gold.

Mankind spends much time looking for gold. We seem to like shiny things. Job is in a bad place in his life.   In chapter 28 Job is pleading for help and looking where to find wisdom.   Throughout the chapter, Job uses words to describe the value of wisdom.   He talks about how much more valuable wisdom is over:

1. Iron

2. Ore

3. Grain from the earth

4. Sapphires 

5. Bird of prey

6. Gold

7. Glass (imagine the value of it, in those days)

8. Jewels 

In the above verse we read that wisdom is better than coral, crystal, pearls and/or gold.  Wisdom is a shinny thing that we don’t look for with nearly enough intensity we should.  

Sacrifice From the Heart - Psalms 39-41

Psalms 40:6-8 (ESV)

In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,

but you have given me an open ear.

Burnt offering and sin offering

you have not required.

Then I said, “Behold, I have come;

in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.”

There is no secret what God wants from those who seek Him.  He wants their heart.   Jesus summed up the entire Law and Prophets in one statement: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.   The above song of David states that very thought.   We, as human beings, think that God is pleased with our “activity” of worship.  We think that God takes pleasure in our coming to church and singing and giving money.   And, He does - IF it begins first and foremost in our hearts.  In the above lines we read that God “delights” in our doing His will from our “heart.”   Because our hearts are wicked, we can’t do that, however.   No matter how hard we try out hearts are full of sin and selfishness.  God had to provide a way for this stanza of David’s song to be fulfilled in our hearts.   Note how the writer of Hebrews explains it:

Hebrews 8:10-12 (ESV)

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel

after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws into their minds,

and write them on their hearts,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor

and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’

for they shall all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest.

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,

and I will remember their sins no more.”

When Christ came, as our high priest, He fulfilled the entire law. Note, again, from Hebrews:

Hebrews 10:8-10 (ESV)

When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Jesus came to do God’s “will.”   By doing that “will” from a pure heart, yet in a man’s body, Jesus did what we cannot do.  Now, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, God is writing on our hearts His Word that we, too, through the power of the Spirit, might do His will.   God does not take pleasure in our sacrifices (but does command we do them, but from the heart).  

Undertakings - 1 Samuel 16-20

1 Samuel 18:12-16 (ESV)

Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

It is not the size of the undertaking that matters, but the character of those you take in your undertaking.   

That seems to be the truth that God gives us in the above story.  David was but a shepherd boy, with a sling and a stone. But, he became the greatest warrior in Israel’s history.   He could have claimed a lot of successes for himself, and even did in chapter 17.  When confronted by his oldest brother when he wanted to fight Goliath, David gave a history of his success with bears and lions.   Yet, even there, David claimed God’s power over his success:

1 Samuel 17:34-37 (ESV)

But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”

We might have a very small undertaking by man’s standards, or we might have a very large undertaking in the sight of the world.  But, it is not the size of the understating.  It is the size of the God you take in that mission.   

God’s Call To Serve - Exodus 1-4

Exodus 3:18 (ESV)

And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’

God sent Moses back to his people to lead them out of Egypt.  His promise to Moses was that “they will listen to your voice.”   We know on several occasions that truth was hindered, but God promised him this and the nation did follow Moses right to the end of his life.   That is not true for all of God’s servants.  Notice what God said to Jeremiah when God called him to ministry:

Jeremiah 1:18-19 (ESV)

And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.”

The Apostle Paul can relate more to Jeremiah than to Moses.   Our calls to follow and speak for God have different responses, but the call is one and of the same.  The power behind the call is one and of the same.  We are not to worry about the results of our speaking for God.  That was Jonah’s issue.  He was both fearful of the wicked men of Nineveh, but also was fearful these wicked men would repent and, frankly, he hated them.   But, Jonah was focused on results, not obedience and faith in God’s call.   The response of those that hear us in our call is not the point, it is rather the response of the one who is called.  

God is a Jealous God - 1 Corinthians 9-10

1 Corinthians 10:21-22 (ESV)

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

The Corinthian believers are such a great example to us in regard to both the victories and the struggles in the lives of believers and the church.   They were, in some respect, the most gifted and giant believers of the church.  Paul tells them they were superior in the giftedness the Spirit of God had poured upon them (1 Corinthians 1:7).   But, they also are an example of a lot we are NOT supposed to do in our walk with Christ and our corporate belief in church community.  The above passage is one of those “correcting” sections where Paul is trying to get them back on track.   In chapter 11 he is going to address the Lord’s table.    The Corinth church was not coming to the table in holiness and pure worship.   They were coming to the table in the flesh and selfishness.   Notice what he will say to them about their current conduct:

1 Corinthians 11:27-32 (ESV)

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 

The church members were in such a state of the flesh that some of them actually lost their lives as a result of their failing to worship in the Lord’s Table in Spirit and Truth.    We are not to worship in the flesh.  Paul calls that the “cup of demons.”   God is a jealous God and wants us to worship Him in holiness.   

Authority and Power in Ministry - Mark 5-6

Mark 6:7-13 (ESV)

And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Jesus grants His followers power.   The above passage is probably foreign to most of the Christian world.  We simply don’t believe that the above is part of God’s plan for this time of the Church age.   The “casting” out demons is probably a concept most clergy today don’t see in their job description.    And, truly, that act of worship was something given to the early church to show the authority of those establishing the church.  The “sign” gifts were always used in the stories of the Bible at the “beginning” of “most” ministries.   Some of the prophets were given that power throughout their ministries, but then again, they were prophets.   Later, at the end of the age, prophets will come again and also do sign gifts.   But, the thing most of us don’t see in the above passage (we are so busy disqualifying all of us for demon work) is that Jesus gave “authority” and “power” to the disciples.   Whereas we are not “exorcist” today (that is not one of the gifts of the Spirit), we are ministers of the Gospel, sent to proclaim the message of Christ with authority and power.   That was part of the great commission Jesus gave in Matthew 28 and Acts 1.   We are not to shrink back in fear and timidity in our speaking the Gospel message.  It is correct to understand that the casting out of demons is not for this age.  But, it is wrong to fail to see the power and authority that we, as believers, have been given to do the work of the ministry.   The “methods” and “activities” we do as believers might be different today.  But, the power and authority behind our current activities is the same today as in the day Jesus sent out the disciples.   

God Uses Evil for His Purpose - Jeremiah 1-6

Jeremiah 1:13-15 (ESV)

The word of the LORD came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north disaster shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land. For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the LORD, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah.

God has power and control over the evil of this world.   In the above passage we are reading a portion of the opening instructions to Jeremiah the prophet.  He is being sent to God’s people (Israel to the north and Judah to the south) to tell them of the discipline God is about to bring on the for their wanton disobedience of God’s word and false worship of false gods.   God wants them to know that He is going to release all hell on them for that disobedience to and rejection of, Him.   In the verses above we read that God tells Jeremiah to let Israel and Judah know that He (God) is going to, out of the north, “let loose” upon the habitants of the land, disaster.   The reference is to Babylon in the north.   God is going to put into the heart of the ruler of Babylon, a desire to conquer the earth.   When God releases him, he will march south and consume all in his path.   The part to realize here is that God is in control of this evil leader.  God is the one who releases him to do God’s bidding.    Not every war serves this purpose, but in this case we see that God has, by designed, allowed this destruction as a discipline for His chosen nation.   The element of truth to grasp in our lives is that:

1. God is in total control of all evil. 

2. God uses evil to accomplish His plan and purpose. 

3.  Mankind can’t move unless God does allow it.  

4. God does not create evil, but makes sure that all evil brings glory to Him. 

God is in charge of the universe and nothing happens unless God so allows it.  Believers can rejoice in that truth.   Non-believers and disobedient believers might want to take warning of that truth.