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

 Acts 14:19-23 (ESV Strong's)

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

Persecution in is the Fuel of Gospel Preaching

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

Go is in Total Control - Haggai

 Haggai 2:20-22 (ESV Strong's)

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

God Sets Up Kingdoms

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

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

21 He changes times and seasons;

he removes kings and sets up kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to those who have understanding;

22 he reveals deep and hidden things;

he knows what is in the darkness,

and the light dwells with him.

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

Be Content and Satisfied - Ecclesiastes 5-6

 Ecclesiastes 6:3-6 (ESV Strong's)

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

Be Content With What You Have

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

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

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

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

Philippians 4:11 (ESV Strong's)

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

1 Timothy 6:8 (ESV Strong's)

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

The writer of Hebrews said it this way:

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV Strong's)

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

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

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

8 I have set the LORD always before me;

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

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

my flesh also dwells secure.

10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

or let your holy one see corruption.

11 You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Legacy of Mistreatment - Psalms 128-130

 Psalms 129:1-4 (ESV Strong's)

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

let Israel now say—

2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth,

yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 The plowers plowed upon my back;

they made long their furrows.”

4 The LORD is righteous;

he has cut the cords of the wicked.

Legacy of Mistreatment

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

Leadership Sets the Example - 2 Chronicles 33-36

 2 Chronicles 35:7-9 (ESV Strong's)

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

Leadership Setting an Example 

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

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

Intercessory Prayer for the Saints - Deuteronomy 10-12

 Deuteronomy 10:10 (ESV Strong's)

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

Intercessory Prayer for the Saints 

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

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

James 5:16 (ESV Strong's)

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

Revelations 8:3-4 ESV

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

Ephesians 6:18 ESV 

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

1 Timothy 2:1 ESV

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

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

The Prayer of Faith - James 4-5

 James 5:13-15 (ESV Strong's)

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

The Prayer of Faith

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

Ephesians 6:18 (ESV Strong's)

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

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

Matthew 14:23 (ESV Strong's)

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

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