Tag: Believers Will Reign with Christ - Luke 21-22

Luke 22:28-30

“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Tag: Christians Will Reign

To better understand the above passage we have to take into consideration both the context and the grammar Luke is using.  

In regard to context, the disciples have been arguing about who would be the greatest among them when Christ rules.   Jesus tells them to first, be servants of all.  However, that is not their mindset.   We have to always remember that the Jews, during Jesus time, were being oppressed by the Romans.  They were waiting for a Savior, but one more in the fashion of Moses to deliver them from Rome (like Moses delivered them from Egypt).   They were not always thinking of a spiritual realm.  To the disciples defense, however, they were also just introduced, by Jesus, the concept of the Temple being destroyed and the end of the world idea.  

We also have to remember that right after Luke records these words of Jesus, Peter denies Jesus three times.  So, when Jesus states in the above verse that “since they had stayed by Him in His trials,” this is not an all inclusive thought.   He will forgive Peter and the others for their leaving Him on the cross.  But, they had made their commitment and, as a result, they would benefit by being exalted in the Kingdom. 

The above verses are very much about the final exaltation of all those who believe and follow Jesus. In this life we are to be servants.   We are to seek the kingdom of God, yes, but not as rulers.  We are to serve here in order to be exalted there.  

Luke 12:31-32

Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Note what one commentator states:

“Despite the various attempts that have been made to find here a ruling role for the Twelve in the life of the early church, the eschatological orientation, in this context, of the rule of Jesus requires the same for the rule of the Twelve. 12:32, while not unrelated, is more general and sees the promised βασιλεία, "kingdom/kingship/royal rule," as possession rather than as activity.

The key in that statement is that our ruling with Christ should be seen as more of as a “possession rather than as activity.”   We are in the Kingdom “in Christ” and therefore reign “with Christ” as the “Body of Christ.”  

Compare:

Romans 8:17

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

2 Timothy 2:11-12

The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he also will deny us;

We can rejoice that as we bear the trials of Christ we will reign with Christ.  The world may think they are in control now.  But, the truth of the matter is that believers have basileia (see below).

NOTE Vines Comments: 

basileia (βασιλεία, 932) is primarily an abstract noun, denoting “sovereignty, royal power, dominion,” e.g., Rev. 17:18, translated “(which) reigneth,” lit., “hath a kingdom” (rv marg.); then, by metonymy, a concrete noun, denoting the territory or people over whom a king rules, e.g., Matt. 4:8; Mark 3:24. It is used especially of the “kingdom” of God and of Christ.

“The Kingdom of God is (a) the sphere of God’s rule, Ps. 22:28; 145:13; Dan. 4:25; Luke 1:52; Rom. 13:1, 2. Since, however, this earth is the scene of universal rebellion against God, e.g., Luke 4:5, 6; 1 John 5:19; Rev. 11:15-18, the “kingdom” of God is (b) the sphere in which, at any given time, His rule is acknowledged. God has not relinquished His sovereignty in the face of rebellion, demoniac and human, but has declared His purpose to establish it, Dan. 2:44; 7:14; 1 Cor. 15:24, 25. Meantime, seeking willing obedience, He gave His law to a nation and appointed kings to administer His “kingdom” over it, 1 Chron. 28:5. Israel, however, though declaring still a nominal allegiance shared in the common rebellion, Isa. 1:2-4, and, after they had rejected the Son of God, John 1:11 (cf. Matt. 21:33-43), were “cast away,” Rom. 11:15, 20, 25. Henceforth God calls upon men everywhere, without distinction of race or nationality, to submit voluntarily to His rule. Thus the “kingdom” is said to be “in mystery” now, Mark 4:11, that is, it does not come within the range of the natural powers of observation, Luke 17:20, but is spiritually discerned, John 3:3 (cf. 1 Cor. 2:14). When, hereafter, God asserts His rule universally, then the “kingdom” will be in glory, that is, it will be manifest to all; cf. Matt. 25:31-34; Phil. 2:9-11; 2 Tim. 4:1, 18.

“The fundamental principle of the Kingdom is declared in the words of the Lord spoken in the midst of a company of Pharisees, “the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you,” Luke 17:21, marg., that is, where the King is, there is the Kingdom. Thus at the present time and so far as this earth is concerned, where the King is and where His rule is acknowledged, is, first, in the heart of the individual believer, Acts 4:19; Eph. 3:17; 1 Pet. 3:15; and then in the churches of God, 1 Cor. 12:3, 5, 11; 14:37; cf. Col. 1:27, where for “in” read “among.”

Tag: Leadership is Held Accountable - Ezekiel 31-36

Ezekiel 32:31-32

“When Pharaoh sees them, he will be comforted for all his multitude, Pharaoh and all his army, slain by the sword, declares the Lord God. For I spread terror in the land of the living; and he shall be laid to rest among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword, Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord God.”

Ezekiel 31:14

All this is in order that no trees by the waters may grow to towering height or set their tops among the clouds, and that no trees that drink water may reach up to them in height. For they are all given over to death, to the world below, among the children of man, with those who go down to the pit.

Tag:  Leadership is Held Accountable 

In this section of Ezekiel the prophet is asked to prophecy against the leaders of the world.  In the case of the above passage, it is Egypt in the prophets crosshairs.   The Pharaoh of Egypt, like the other leaders of other nations, had lifted up his head and thought himself to be invincible.    God refers to him as a “tall tree” in this section and the “tall tress” of the nations are being exposed for their wickedness.  God calls them out for being put in a place of authority and they refused to honor God for His Sovereign power.   The above prophecy states that Pharaoh will be brought low and the only “comfort” he will receive is that when he is brought low, there, too, will be the other nations that foolishly exalted themselves.  

The key part of the above verses is this portion:

“For I spread terror in the land of the living ...”.

There is some dispute as to who the “I” is.  It is scary to believe the “I” refers to God.  We don’t want to believe that God “spreads terror” around the world.  Yet, that is the entire point of the passage.  The leaders of the world (in this section) are being called out for their failure to follow God’s Word and God’s Plan.  God uses the leaders of this world to accomplish this task.   God brings disaster on the land when it is in His interest to accomplish His plan:

Isaiah 45:7

I form light and create darkness,

I make well-being and create calamity,

I am the Lord, who does all these things.

God states through the prophet that “all this” is so that the “trees” (leaders) will not grow to a height that they think they can change the course of God’s plan.  When we look at our leaders today they think of themselves as quite powerful.  Yet, God is the one who sets them in their place and God will hold them accountable to what they do while in that place.   God is in the process of accomplishing His plan and leaders are simply a cog in that plan.   We can be fearful of wicked leaders and what they do to our country, or we can rejoice in the fact that God will control the “tall tress” and bring them all into account.   

Tag: Know When to Talk - Proverbs 11-12

Proverbs 11:13 (NASV)

He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,

But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.

Proverbs 11:13 (NIV)

A gossip betrays a confidence,

but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

Tag:  Know When to Talk

We live in a world where gossip is traded like money.   The Facebook was actually created to trade in the currency of gossip.   Tweeter accounts pass more gossip than creative and industrious thought.   The entire internet is base upon the premise that "information" sells.   In the above proverb we see the truth of what God values and what the world sells.  Trustworthy people are people who have a character of God.   They hold the matters they know in concealment.   They don't reveal what they have been entrusted with, despite the avenues available to share it.   The "talebearer" on the other hand reveals every secret they are entrusted with.   The remarkable thing is that the gossip continues to be entrusted with information.   They betray the confidence others put in them.   We know the value of someone by whether they can keep a secret ... if they can keep confidences.   Solomon wants us to know the truth of that true God-like character.  God's character is not found in gossip.  It is found in keeping truth and being trustworthy.  Note what Solomon will say in the next chapter:

Proverbs 12:23

A prudent man conceals knowledge,

but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

Just because we have knowledge does not mean we should share the knowledge we have.  There is a time to keep quiet about a thing.   Those who go about telling all they know are not “prudent,” says Solomon.   Solomon would be an authority on this.  He knew more than most ... more than anyone of his time, according to God’s Word:

1 Kings 4:29-30

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.

If the person God gave more wisdom to than anyone else tells us that, at times, it is prudent to not share all you know, than it is best to listen.   The person of no character can not be trusted to hold onto information.  The person who can be trusted is someone who knows when to share and when to be quiet. 

Tag: God’s Goodness IS HIs Sign to Us - Psalm 84-86

Psalms 86:15-17

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Turn to me and be gracious to me;

give your strength to your servant,

and save the son of your maidservant.

Show me a sign of your favor,

that those who hate me may see and be put to shame

because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Tag:  God’s Goodness Is His Sign to Us

Psalms 86 is a song of David.  He starts out by saying he is a servant of God and then pours out the need he has.  He is being pursued by a band of men (Saul?).   He knows that God is the God of comfort and strength in the times of need, like this time.  Note what David says about these men and their mission:

Psalms 86:14

O God, insolent men have risen up against me;

a band of ruthless men seeks my life,

and they do not set you before them.

Evilness is attempting to over take David.   What is he to do?   In the final verses of the Psalm, David confesses and prays the following:

1). He acknowledges the character of God:

Psalms 86:15

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

In the midst of suffering God’s people must first focus on the character of God, NOT the description of their circumstances.  David’s acknowledges his circumstances (v. 14), but he doesn’t mediate on them. He instead, mediates upon the character of God. He praises God for his faithfulness, mercy, grace, steadfast love..   We can either focus on the evilness of the circumstances we face or the goodness and glory of God.   

2).  He turns to God and asks God to turn to Him to strengthen him:

Psalms 86:16

Turn to me and be gracious to me;

give your strength to your servant,

and save the son of your maidservant.

He does not simply ask for the circumstances to change.  He asks that he might have strength in the midst of the situation he is facing.  God’s people can request a change in venue, but they, first, should ask for a change in vitality.   Asking God for strength to deal with the situation is far more character building than asking God to remove the situation.  

3).  He asks God that God show him a sign:

Psalms 86:17

Show me a sign of your favor,

that those who hate me may see and be put to shame

because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

The sign, in this case, would be that God answers the previous verses request (to grant him strength).   There is nothing more confusing to the world around us than the strength God in the midst of a believer in the midst of a struggle.   We don’t give God a witness to the world when the struggle is simply removed.  We are a better witness to the world when God gives us strength to deal with the struggle.  That is the sign David wants.  He wants to be a sign to the world that God is “good.”  He wants those who “hate” him to be put to shame.  The only way that happens is if he does something extraordinary in the midst of the suffering.   When Saul was hunting him, David had two opportunities to kill Saul.  God gave him strength to NOT kill Saul, even though all his men wanted him to.   That “sign” of God’s strength put Saul to shame.  Psalm 86 is a perfect picture of our behavior in the midst of struggles when we trust God for our strength.   

Tag: Sin is Costly in Old Age - 2 Kings 11-15

2 Kings 12:19-21

The Death of Joash

Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? His servants arose and made a conspiracy and struck down Joash in the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla. It was Jozacar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, who struck him down, so that he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

Tag:  Sin is Costly in Old Age

Joash started out as a good king in Judah.   He was rescued when he was young and, as a young king, he brought in reforms for God.   During his reign God was honored.  However, in his later years, something happened.  We are not given the details as to what he did, but we know that in his later life he failed to follow through in the same way he did in his younger life.   The key was probably the death of the priest, Jehoiada.  Without an immediate supervisor, Joash, was not able to carry thorough with his commitment to God and God’s laws.  Leadership without spiritual influence will eventually go wrong.   Without having someone to speak into the life of the leader in regard to spiritual minded things, all leaders will be end up like Joash.  As a result of his failure to follow God, his own servants conspired to take his life.   His disobedience removed God’s protection from his life.   God will watch over the leaders who give honor to him. In Joash’s early life that is what happened.   But, in the later part of his life, he failed to heed God’s Word and sought other ways to lead.  In the story just before these verses we read that, instead of honoring God and trusting God in the midst of a threat from the King of Syria, he, rather, paid the King off.   Instead of coming to God for help he used his riches to protect himself and God’s people.  Note what Solomon says about that approach:

Proverbs 11:28

Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,

but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

In our later life we need to be as enthusiastic for God as in our younger life.   Leadership can’t afford to cease following God.  

Tag: God’s Character Determines Sexual Relations - Leviticus 16-18

Leviticus 18:6

“None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. I am the Lord.

Tag:  God’s Character Determines Sexual Relations

In this section of Leviticus God lays out the guidelines for sexual relationships for the nation of Israel.   There are many different rules and boundaries that God outlines for them to follow.   But, the guiding principle is found in the above verse when God states: “I am the Lord.”  God’s reason for having boundaries for sexual relations is His character.   That is reason enough.   The world rejects this reasoning, but that doesn’t change the truth of it.  In today’s society the mantra is, “This is my body and it is not anyone’s business what I do with my body.”  The problem with that thought process is that our bodies are NOT ours.  God created us (all of us) and He has claim to us.  He designed life to be based upon His moral character.  Even if you reject God’s existence it does not change the fact that He does exist and He does have claim over those He gave life to.   God designed our bodies and our sexual desires.  He designed them to make sure we had the best.  The best is by His guidelines.   In the nation of Israel God wanted them separate from the world around them.  He also wanted them pure, as a people and to not corrupt the priesthood and the royal line of Christ.   God’s moral character was in place to make sure that the nation of Israel would represent God’s moral character to the world.   The world around them was involved in numerous moral sexual sins.  God wants His people to be different.   If the world can’t see the difference in us they can justify their own actions and their own sins.  

Tag: Legalism and Ascetisim Cannot Stop Sin - Colossians 1-2

Colossians 2:20-23

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Tag: Legalism Cannot Stop Sin

In the Church at Colosse, there were a number of false doctrines being spoken. Paul wrote this little letter to correct those bad doctrines.   Note one commentators brief picture of this passage:

“In 2:8-23, Paul mounts a frontal attack on the Colossian heresy. He has already dealt with philosophy (2:8-10) and presented Christ’s sufficiency (2:11-15). He continues his refutation of the Colossian heresy by dealing with legalism (2:16-17), mysticism (2:18-19), and asceticism (2:20-23).”

Excerpt From: John F. MacArthur. “Colossians and Philemon MacArthur New Testament Commentary.” Moody Publishers, 1992. iBooks. 

This material may be protected by copyright.

In the above passage Paul is attacking “asceticism” - a demanding form of legalism.   The false teachers were trying to convince the Colossian church that if they refrained from certain things and beat their body into submission, they would be holy.   Paul refutes this thinking and teaching.  Paul flat out tells them that this type of teaching will have NO power to prevent the “indulgence” of the flesh.   The flesh wants what the flesh wants.   Working “in the flesh” to beat the flesh will not conquer the desires of the flesh.  To beat the flesh we have to live in the Spirit.   Paul’s entire point of the book is to get the members of this church to stop submitting to the wickedness of this teaching (which is a teaching of works based living) and to get them to live in the Spirit and by the Spirit.   We can’t beat the desires of the flesh by “beating” the flesh - denying it things.  We can only beat the flesh by the Power of the Spirit - which will change our desire.