Abimelech (אֲבִימֶלֶךְ) is one of many bad characters whose story is told in the Bible. His name means my father is king. He staged a bloody coup against his ruling stepbrothers. He killed seventy of them. Only his youngest stepbrother, Jotham (יוֹתָם), survived. Jotham’s name means Yahweh [the Lord] is perfect. [1]
Jotham told a parable of trees against the men of Shechem who helped Abimelech to massacre his brothers. In the parable, the trees wanted to anoint one from among them to be their king. They asked the olive tree, but olive replied, “Should I cease giving my oil, with which they honor God and men, and go to sway over trees?” They asked the fig tree, but fig replied, “Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to sway over trees?” They asked a vine, but vine replied, “Should I cease my new wine, which cheers both God and men, and go to sway over trees?” Finally they asked the bramble. Bramble, who was a thorn in everyone’s side, agreed, but warned that if they betrayed him, fire would come out from him and destroy them. [2]
Jothan protested his countrymen’s betrayal of Gideon his father. The Lord had used Gideon to bring about a mighty deliverance for the nation. Jotham predicted that Abimelech would destroy those who installed him as king and he would destroy them. [3]
“After Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years, God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, that the crime done to the 70 sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brothers.” [4]
The Lord sent a spirit of ill will between the conspirators. They consumed each other. On the one hand, I pray for those who are sabotaging nations to repent and be saved from hell because hell is horrible place, and it is forever. On the other hand, I pray for them to be replaced with good leaders. Rotten people destroy people. Good people seek to save people.
In any case, God does what is right: “Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his 70 brothers. And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.” [5]
It is good when bad people get their comeuppance. But wait what about you and me? Have we ever taken advantage of someone? Are we hiding anything? Have we been faithful to the Lord? What did the people in the Bible do to the Lord after He delivered them from their enemies? The answer is, “They forsook the Lord and did not serve Him.” [6]
Bad things happen when we allow distance to grow between us and the Lord. Thankfully, God allows U-turns. When things got so bad, the people “cried out to the Lord, saying, ‘We have sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!’” [7]
Perhaps, we don’t serve Baal whose name means owner or lord, but if we are not serving the Lord, who are we serving someone. Who is it?
Let’s focus on those who ARE serving the Lord! The apostles had an excellent resolve. They said, “We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.” And as a result, “The Word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” [8]
Prayer and ministry of the Word are vital for our souls. Jesus urged us to pray for laborers for the harvest field. [9] He is looking for intercessors! To pray that the people would be delivered from deceivers, and from being deceivers themselves! To pray that indulgers of self will become deniers of self for God’s glory and for the salvation of others. Stealers will become givers! Adulterers will become covenant cherishers! Haters will become lovers.
The world needs more servants like Stephen and less kings like Abimelech. “Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. They were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.” They, “saw his face as the face of an angel.” [10] Indeed, anyone that lives for God must rely on God’s Spirit to do so. And thus, yes, the Lord shines through them. An angel is God’s messenger. “Lord of the harvest, please raise up more laborers like Stephen, and may I one of them for You.
[1] Judges 9:1-6
[2] Judges 9:7-14
[3] Judges 9:15-21
[4] Judges 9:22-24
[5] Judges 9:56-57
[6] Judges 10:6
[7] Judges 10:10
[8] Acts 6:4, 7
[9] Matthew 9:37-38
[10] Acts 6:8, 10, 15
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Friday, April 4, 2025
Teaching and Preaching Jesus as the Messiah
“Daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” Acts 5:42
Please see below 17 slides that present the Gospel message with picture illustrations and Bible verses. I pray that we would all fathom the heighth, depth, width and breadth of the love of God for us, that we would believe in and profess the Name of Jesus Messiah, so that our sins might be forgiven, and so that the Holy Spirit might rain down and fill us and people everywhere.
Please see below 17 slides that present the Gospel message with picture illustrations and Bible verses. I pray that we would all fathom the heighth, depth, width and breadth of the love of God for us, that we would believe in and profess the Name of Jesus Messiah, so that our sins might be forgiven, and so that the Holy Spirit might rain down and fill us and people everywhere.
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Boldness for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Why were the religious leaders greatly disturbed? They were greatly disturbed because Peter and John were teaching and preaching that Jesus resurrects people from the dead. [1]
The religious leaders arrested and imprisoned Peter and John, but not before about 5,000 men believed in Jesus. [2]
During Peter and John’s trial, they were asked by what power and by what name they had healed a lame man. This was a loaded question because if they spoke the Name of Jesus, they were on trial before the same connivers who brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate to have Jesus crucified. [3]
Praise God! The Holy Spirit filled Peter and empowered him to testify, “Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” [4]
The religious were stunned. What could they say? The lame man that the Lord healed was standing with them. He was over 40 years old. He had been lame from birth. After being healed, he had walked, leaped and praised God throughout the temple. The leaders decided to severely threaten Peter and John against speaking about Jesus, and to let them go. [5]
After returning to their friends, they prayed, “Look [Lord] on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your Word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the Name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” [6]
“The place where they were assembled was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.” Then what? “With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” [7]
“Dear Heavenly Father, please grant that with such boldness and with such grace we will do likewise as they. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.”
[1] Acts 4:1-2
[2] Acts 4:3-4
[3] Acts 4:5-7
[4] Acts 4:8-12
[5] Acts 3:2, 8; 4:13-17
[6] Acts 4:23-24, 29-31
[7] Acts 4:31; Acts 4:33
The religious leaders arrested and imprisoned Peter and John, but not before about 5,000 men believed in Jesus. [2]
During Peter and John’s trial, they were asked by what power and by what name they had healed a lame man. This was a loaded question because if they spoke the Name of Jesus, they were on trial before the same connivers who brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate to have Jesus crucified. [3]
Praise God! The Holy Spirit filled Peter and empowered him to testify, “Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” [4]
The religious were stunned. What could they say? The lame man that the Lord healed was standing with them. He was over 40 years old. He had been lame from birth. After being healed, he had walked, leaped and praised God throughout the temple. The leaders decided to severely threaten Peter and John against speaking about Jesus, and to let them go. [5]
After returning to their friends, they prayed, “Look [Lord] on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your Word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the Name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” [6]
“The place where they were assembled was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.” Then what? “With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” [7]
“Dear Heavenly Father, please grant that with such boldness and with such grace we will do likewise as they. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.”
[1] Acts 4:1-2
[2] Acts 4:3-4
[3] Acts 4:5-7
[4] Acts 4:8-12
[5] Acts 3:2, 8; 4:13-17
[6] Acts 4:23-24, 29-31
[7] Acts 4:31; Acts 4:33
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Refreshed by the Lord
One day, the Lord asked Jeremiah to take a sash and hide it under a rock. After many days, the Lord asked Jeremiah to recover the sash.
The sash was spoiled. It was no longer presentable.
The Lord compared His people to the sash. Sin had soiled and made them rotten.
The people that the Lord purchased for Himself out of Egypt and cleansed with the sacrifices of sheep and bulls were defiled. They were once His delight and His honor. He wore them close to Himself like a beautiful sash around His waist. But now, due to sin, He wanted everyone to know that He did not approve of them.
He called them to turn from sin to Him for cleansing but they refused. He allowed a foreign nation to be a scourge unto them. Babylon conquered them, killed many of them and took others captive back to Babylon.
I have attached slides from Jeremiah 13, Proverbs 2, Acts 3 and 2 Corinthians 5 to convey good news to sinners, who like me, need God’s forgiveness, and God’s Son Jesus to help me live a holy life that brings glory to God and His love to those around me. No matter how far we have fallen, if we turn back to the Lord with all our heart, He will receive us, refresh us, and make us new.
The sash was spoiled. It was no longer presentable.
The Lord compared His people to the sash. Sin had soiled and made them rotten.
The people that the Lord purchased for Himself out of Egypt and cleansed with the sacrifices of sheep and bulls were defiled. They were once His delight and His honor. He wore them close to Himself like a beautiful sash around His waist. But now, due to sin, He wanted everyone to know that He did not approve of them.
He called them to turn from sin to Him for cleansing but they refused. He allowed a foreign nation to be a scourge unto them. Babylon conquered them, killed many of them and took others captive back to Babylon.
I have attached slides from Jeremiah 13, Proverbs 2, Acts 3 and 2 Corinthians 5 to convey good news to sinners, who like me, need God’s forgiveness, and God’s Son Jesus to help me live a holy life that brings glory to God and His love to those around me. No matter how far we have fallen, if we turn back to the Lord with all our heart, He will receive us, refresh us, and make us new.
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Affection Amidst Affliction
How do you feel about affliction?
David wrote, “Unless Your Law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction.” [1]
Amidst affliction David experienced affection from the Lord in His Word.
Amidst affliction, David became aware of how faithful the Lord had been to him.
“I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.” [2]
Amidst affliction, David found hidden treasure.
“Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, yet Your commandments are my delights.” [3]
The Spirit of God came to David while others were abandoning him, and gave to him what those others, and what he himself could never have received apart from God.
“The entrance of Your Words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” [4] The Lord says, “Turn at My rebuke; surely I will pour out My Spirit on you; I will make My Words known to you.” [5]
Amidst affliction, David experienced the Lord’s affections for him.
So, David knew to turn to the Lord and His Word for affection amidst afflictions.
“I am afflicted very much; revive me, O Lord, according to Your Word.” [6]
The Apostle Paul had similar experiences with God. He wrote, “I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” [7]
As a result of David’s experiences with God’s Word, he became jealous for it. He wrote, “Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore, I hate every false way.” [8]
David became sensitive to how people treated God and God’s Word. He wrote, “It is time for You to act, O Lord, for they have regarded Your Law as void.” [9]
He did not want people to miss out on knowing the Lord. He testified, “Great peace have those who love Your Law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” [10]
David asked the Lord to help him so that he could continue abiding in His Word amidst affliction. “Let Your hand become my help, for I have chosen Your precepts.” [11]
During the first century AD, many people discovered as David did, that God is good. The Lord was happy to receive them into His fold... “The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” [12]
“Thank You Lord Jesus for showing me affection when I am afflicted. Your grace is sufficient for me. Your power has turned my darkness into light. I have power to live well. Thanks to You!”
[1] Psalm 119:92
[2] Psalm 119:75
[3] Psalm 119:143
[4] Psalm 119:130
[5] Proverbs 1:23
[6] Psalm 119:107
[7] 2 Corinthians 12:10
[8] Psalm 119:104
[9] Psalm 119:126
[10] Psalm 119:165
[11] Psalm 119:173
[12] Acts 2:47
David wrote, “Unless Your Law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction.” [1]
Amidst affliction David experienced affection from the Lord in His Word.
Amidst affliction, David became aware of how faithful the Lord had been to him.
“I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.” [2]
Amidst affliction, David found hidden treasure.
“Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, yet Your commandments are my delights.” [3]
The Spirit of God came to David while others were abandoning him, and gave to him what those others, and what he himself could never have received apart from God.
“The entrance of Your Words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” [4] The Lord says, “Turn at My rebuke; surely I will pour out My Spirit on you; I will make My Words known to you.” [5]
Amidst affliction, David experienced the Lord’s affections for him.
So, David knew to turn to the Lord and His Word for affection amidst afflictions.
“I am afflicted very much; revive me, O Lord, according to Your Word.” [6]
The Apostle Paul had similar experiences with God. He wrote, “I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” [7]
As a result of David’s experiences with God’s Word, he became jealous for it. He wrote, “Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore, I hate every false way.” [8]
David became sensitive to how people treated God and God’s Word. He wrote, “It is time for You to act, O Lord, for they have regarded Your Law as void.” [9]
He did not want people to miss out on knowing the Lord. He testified, “Great peace have those who love Your Law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” [10]
David asked the Lord to help him so that he could continue abiding in His Word amidst affliction. “Let Your hand become my help, for I have chosen Your precepts.” [11]
During the first century AD, many people discovered as David did, that God is good. The Lord was happy to receive them into His fold... “The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” [12]
“Thank You Lord Jesus for showing me affection when I am afflicted. Your grace is sufficient for me. Your power has turned my darkness into light. I have power to live well. Thanks to You!”
[1] Psalm 119:92
[2] Psalm 119:75
[3] Psalm 119:143
[4] Psalm 119:130
[5] Proverbs 1:23
[6] Psalm 119:107
[7] 2 Corinthians 12:10
[8] Psalm 119:104
[9] Psalm 119:126
[10] Psalm 119:165
[11] Psalm 119:173
[12] Acts 2:47
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)