Where God Calls, He Equips - Acts 1-2

Acts 2:5-13 (ESV)

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Where God calls, He equips.   

Imagine the scene in the above passage.  Over fifteen different groups of peoples are mentioned.   These lowly disciples (fishermen and tax collectors) were not schooled in what God was about to give them as a ministry.   At this point, they had no idea what this would look like and how it would unfold.   The only instruction they had was:

Acts 1:4-5 (ESV)

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

They also had these words from Jesus in the history of His teaching them:

John 14:25-26 (ESV)

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Peter would later write to the church these words:

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Where God calls, He equips.    

Don’t Rejoice Over The Calamity of Others - Obadiah

Obadiah 1:13-14 (ESV)

Do not enter the gate of my people

in the day of their calamity;

do not gloat over his disaster

in the day of his calamity;

do not loot his wealth

in the day of his calamity.

Do not stand at the crossroads

to cut off his fugitives;

do not hand over his survivors

in the day of distress.

It is very easy to gloat and rejoice over the unfortunate situation of our enemy.   When our friends have a hard day, we are there to support.  When our enemy has a hard day, we often rejoice.  That is the story behind Obadiah.   The Edomites (descendants of Esau) rejoiced when Israel fell to the Babylonians.   When Israel was in captivity to them, anyone who escaped was captured by the Edomites and returned to Babylon.  Obadiah is sent to call out that bad behavior.    Solomon said it this way in the book of Proverbs:

Proverbs 24:17-18 (ESV)

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,

and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,

lest the LORD see it and be displeased,

and turn away his anger from him.

God does not want us to gloat, rejoice or mock when our enemy has a bad situation.   Edom was supposed to be the brother of Jacob (Israel).  But out of jealousy for God giving Jacob the first-born birth-right.  Edom was upset at God’s selection of Jacob (Israel) over them.   Jealousy is a bad motivation.  

Proverbs 27:4 (ESV)

Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,

but who can stand before jealousy?

Proverbs 6:34 (ESV)

For jealousy makes a man furious,

and he will not spare when he takes revenge.

James 3:14 (ESV)

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

False Accusations- Proverbs 26-27

Proverbs 26:2 (ESV)

Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,

a curse that is causeless does not alight.

Everyone, at one time or another, has been accused of something. We tend to react differently to those accusations. Most defend or attack, others go into a shell and still others self-destruct. In this proverb we are given some vital truth that we would do good to hold onto in the shadow of an accusations. Just like a "sparrow" flits from place to place, or a "swallow" flys eractically, so too a curse "without cause" does not land and stick. What Solomon is telling us is that a false accusations leaves no mark on us. When I lived on a boat, I had little birds every morning land on the rails of the boat. They don't stay long. But they end up leaving  their droppings and then fly away. So, too, a false acquisation. They leave a mess but there is no real damage and a powerful hose eventually cleans things up.

 

Many people will accuse us of many things. But under God's watch and God's care, their accusations are just flittering birds and dartying sparrows. Don't get too caught up in their droppings. Once they are gone, take a shower and move on.  However, if you dwell on it, and you allow it to sit and dry, the accusations will become old and crusty.  That’s what happened on the boat.  If I washed the bird droppings away right away, they left little, if no mark. But, if I didn’t attend to it and brush it off quickly, it crusted and stained the boat. So, too, an accusation.  Brush it off and move on. Or, dwell on it and allow it to leave an everlasting stain.

Believe - Therefore Speak - Psalms 114-116

Psalms 116:10-11 (ESV)

I believed, even when I spoke:

“I am greatly afflicted”;

I said in my alarm,

“All mankind are liars.”

The unknown writer of this prayer/song makes some bold, sweeping statements in these two verses.   One verse speaks of the writer and how he is characterizing his own dedication to God.  The other verse is speaking, again, by the writer, but what his impression is of others.    His own assessment is that despite suffering he is holding on to his faith.  In the midst of his suffering he boldly will continue to speak.   In 2 Corinthians 4:13 Paul quotes this part of the psalm to speak to his own boldness, despite his being question as an apostle.   This is how the writer depicts himself.   He is a bold proclaimer of truth, despite those around him that would cause him ill for speaking that way.   But he pivots to thought he has discovered that “all men are liars.”   He contrast them with his own statement of truth.  He is drawing a distinction about those in faith and those who are not.   It is true that all men lie.  That includes believers.   We don’t know what “lies” he is referring to.  However, perhaps he is speaking about his suffering.  Perhaps he has learned that he can speak bold about God because the persecution he is suffering is all based upon lies from mankind.   The things they might be saying about him are untrue, therefore he is even bolder with the truth.  The truth that is sure here, is that in the midst of persecution and being surrounded by lies, he is bold to speak God’s truth.  That is a lesson we should live.   

God Keeps His Promises - 2 Chronicles 6-9

2 Chronicles 6:1-6 (ESV)

Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. But I have built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever.” Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood. And he said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying, ‘Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there, and I chose no man as prince over my people Israel; but I have chosen Jerusalem that my name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’

God keeps His promises!  When God says He is going to do something, we can be assured He will.   It is trusting in these promises of God that separates some from others.  Note what Paul said about Abraham:

Romans 4:20-21 (ESV)

No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Notice what the writer of the book of Hebrews said about Moses:

Hebrews 11:23-26 (ESV)

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

Abraham left his home land because he believed in God’s promises.   Moses refused to hang on to this earth because he believed God’s promises about another place (God’s future kingdom).   It is belief in God’s promises that separates some from others.  

People Matter to God - Numbers 25-28

Numbers 26:59 (ESV)

The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. And she bore to Amram Aaron and Moses and Miriam their sister.

To God, connecting generations to generations matters.  When the nation of Israel came out of Egypt, God wanted to bring them into the promised land. However, the disobedience of the people caused God to tell them that only those 21 years of age and younger would come into the promised land. The reason of their rebellion, was that they were fearful that the peoples living in the promised land would attack them and their children. So God, in His sovereignty, made sure that they did not enter the promised land, but their children would.  In this section of Numbers, God commanded Moses and Joshua to do a census of the people, because it was those children under 21 who are now the nation of Israel.

In the above verse, we have the connection of Moses and Aaron to the tribe of Levi. God provides it so that we can see it matters to Him who leads His people.  People matter to God. These are not just names thrown into the Bible. These are people who have significant connection from one generation to the next. We may not like to read passages of just names and numbers. But those names matter to God. He knows exactly who our parents are, and who our children are. We can rest assured, He will accomplish His plans, based upon people whom He chooses.

Give The Grace Given To You, To Others - Philemon

Philemon 1:25 (ESV)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

The entire book of Philemon is about practical forgiveness.   To give forgiveness to others you must have grace in your life.  This is the reason why Paul closed out this book with the above statement. 

The story behind this book is that Paul was in prison in Rome.   A run-a-way slave is placed in prison with him.  Paul, of course, uses the opportunity to share his faith with this prisoner (Onesimus) and the man comes to Christ for forgiveness of his sins.  The ironic and sovereign hand of God in this story is that Onesimus was a run-a-way slave from Paul’s friend and brother in Christ, Philemon.  Onesimus had stolen from Philemon and then ran for the hills.   But he was apprehended, placed in the jail RIGHT NEXT TO PAUL, Philemon’s friend.   Is that not a beautiful story of God’s moving in the lives of others.  Once Onesimus comes to Christ he is no longer defined by his past, he is now a brother in Christ to Paul AND TO PHILEMON.   So this letter was written by Paul and sent to Philemon in the very hands of Onesimus.   Paul asks Philemon to receive him and forgive him.   This is why Paul writes:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Philemon needs to give grace to Onesimus in the same way grace is given to Philemon by Christ.  Paul knows how hard it will be to forgive.   But he also knows that it is the very grace given to us by our Lord for our wrongs, that enables us to forgive those who wrong us.