Consecrated to the Lord for His Service

The Lord set the pattern of things to come with His servant Moses. Two lambs were to be sacrificed daily continually. One lamb in the morning and one at twilight! This was done at third hour of the day (9 am) and the ninth hour (3 pm). Jesus was crucified at the third hour, and Jesus died at the ninth hour. The previous lambs pointed to the Lamb, namely, Jesus Messiah. The flour mixed with oil and the wine that were offered with the previous lambs, pointed to Jesus who instituted the elements of bread and wine to represent His flesh and blood given as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. [1]

“This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet you to speak with you. And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory. So I will consecrate the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. I will also consecrate both Aaron and his sons to minister to Me as priests. I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.” [2]

God now tabernacles among us via the atoning sacrifice of Messiah who removes our sin. He sanctifies us with His glory. His glory in this regard is the Holy Spirit. God dwells among us, and we know that our God is God via the Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit.

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” [3]

“When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them.” The Lord required a half shekel price for the ransom of people in Israel who were 20-years old and above. This half shekel was levied when a census was taken. The Lord required the half shekel to avert a plague from breaking out among them as happened in the days of King David. That plague ended when David offered a sacrifice to the Lord on the land where Solomon later built the temple. Jesus spoke of His body as the new temple of God. [4]

The Lord instructed Moses to make a basin out of bronze for washing the hands and feet of the priests. They were to wash before entering the tabernacle of meeting. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples before they were filled with the Holy Spirit and became a part of His body, the new temple where God meets with His people. [5]

The Lord instructed Moses to compose a special anointing oil with which to anoint the priests. It contained myrrh, cinnamon, cane, and cassia. He also instructed Moses to compose incense for the altar of prayer consisting of sweet spices, stacte, and onycha and galbanum, and pure frankincense. God led the magi to bring to baby Jesus gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This symbolizes His anointing to carry out priestly service for God. Jesus also declared that the Spirit of the Lord had anointed Him for ministry. [6]

The artisans who built the first tabernacle were anointed by the Holy Spirit with wisdom, understand and knowledge in all workmanship. Christ was filled with the Spirit for ministry and fills those who serve Him with the Holy Spirit. “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you.’” [7]

The Lord sanctified a day each week for people to rest in Him. The violation of the rest day yielded death. He gave Moses the law written on two tables of stone. They were written by the finger of God. Spiritually speaking, people who fail to rest in the Lord, refusing to trust in Him, will not reach the Promised Land. The alternative to everlasting paradise is everlasting hell.

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.” “He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.” Jesus calls us to rest in Him. He writes His Word on our hearts. If God’s people refuse to refresh themselves in Christ, not only do they suffer, but the whole world suffers for the lack of the witness of Christ in the earth. [8]

When the people of God fill themselves with other gods bad things happen. While Moses was on the mountain receiving from God, the people of Israel fashioned an idol of gold and began to worship it. Their spiritual adultery reflected their physical adultery. Moses cast the two tablets of God down and broke them. This act symbolized their breaking of the Lord’s commandments. Afterwards Moses reduced their idol to powder and placed the powder in their drinking water and made them drink it. Their betrayal of God was a bitter taste in His mouth and the consequence of their sin was a bitter taste in their mouths. [9]

Moses wanted to atone for their sins because God was about to destroy them. Moses raised two concerns with God: 1) God’s reputation as Deliverer was at stake, and 2) God’s promise to Abraham was that he would have descendants as numerous as the stars, and that his descendants would inherit the land. Moses offered to give himself as an atoning sacrifice saying, “O, these people have committed a great sin and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.” “And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.’” [10]

The Lord Jesus Christ is God’s atoning sacrifice for our sins. The Apostle Paul declared to his fellow believers in Ephesus, “I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” The ministry which He received from the Lord Jesus was to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.” [11]

Praise God for His grace to us in Christ Jesus! May our Heavenly Father help each of us to consecrate ourselves unto the Lord for His service. Let us wash ourselves in the wash basin of God’s Word. Let us rest and trust in Him. Offer up sweet aromatic prayers to God as we intercede for sinners. Be filled until overflowing with testimonies about Christ by His Spirit.

[1] Exodus 29:38-46; Mark 15:25, 33; Matthew 26:26-28

[2] Exodus 29:42-46

[3] 1 John 2:2; Romans 8:16

[4] Exodus 30:11-16; 2 Samuel 24; 2 Chronicles 3.1; John 2:19-21

[5] Exodus 30:17-21; John 13:1-17

[6] Exodus 30:22-38; Matthew 2:1-11; Luke 4:18-19

[7] Exodus 31:1-6; Luke 4:1; Acts 2:4

[8] Exodus 31:12-18; Mark 6:31; Matthew 11:28-30; 2 Corinthians 3:3

[9] Exodus 32:1-6, 15-16, 19-21, 35; Revelation 8:11-13; Revelation 15:1; 16:9

[10] Exodus 32:7-14, 30-34

[11] Acts 20:20-21, 24

Moses and Jesus Messiah

“Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He [Jesus] interpreted [διερμηνευσεν] to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” [1]

Moses and the prophets are best interpreted by Jesus because they bear witness to Jesus.

The Greek word for “interpreted” (hermēneuō) in the above verse is the word from which we get the English word hermeneutics.
Hermeneutics is the study of the various theories and approaches for interpretation.

“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” [2]

The Greek word for “declared” (εξηγησατο) in the above verse is the word from which we get the English word exegesis which means to explain. Jesus has been with the Father and is one with the Father so there is no one better to explain the Father to us than Jesus. In fact, Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” [3]

We look to Jesus to exegete a Biblical text. Exegesis means “drawing out” the meaning of a text by carefully considering the author’s original context and intended meaning, while eisegesis means “reading into” a text, essentially imposing your own interpretations and ideas onto the material, rather than letting the text speak for itself; in simpler terms, exegesis is trying to understand what the text actually says, while eisegesis is making the text say what you want it to say.

Understanding the Trinity helps us to understand the following passages from Exodus better.

“Behold, I send an Angel (messenger) before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My Name is in Him. But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.” [4]

The translators capitalized the word “Angel” to indicate that it refers to God. Dr. Martin Luther learned that Scripture interprets Scripture, so, to understand one verse we look at other verses that relate to it. This is what the New Testament writers did. They often interpreted things that Jesus said or did by connecting it to an Old Testament passage. This Old Testament passage relates to what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit. “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” [5]

The Holy Spirit is God’s messenger. He is the One who leads God’s people. To blaspheme Him is to commit an unforgiveable sin. The Lord tells us to neither grieve nor quench the Holy Spirit. “There are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are One.” We need to heed God’s leading to accurately represent Him. [6]

“Now He said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you, and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and 70 of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar.” “After these things the Lord appointed 70 others also and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.” [7] We see in Moses a similar approach to ministry as Jesus.

“So Moses came and told the people all the Words of the Lord and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the Words which the Lord has said we will do.’” “Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” [8] We followers of Moses and the followers of Jesus respond in a similar way to their leadership. They speak of wanting to do God’s will, but in both cases, fail to do so.

“Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.’” “Then He [Jesus] took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ And He took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.’” [9] We have both Moses and Jesus speaking God’s Word to their listeners and speaking of a blood covenant existing between God and them.

“Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and 70 of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So, they saw God, and they ate and drank.” [10] The disciples of Jesus see God in Him and eat and drink with Him.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.” Jesus gave a new commandment to His disciples. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.” [11]

“Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God.” “So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights.” “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, ‘Sit here while I go and pray over there.’” [12] Both Moses and Jesus go before God after giving God’s commandments and making blood covenants with their followers.

Moses spoke of the coming Messiah with the following words, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear.” Thus, Jesus, “Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” [13] Jesus Christ is the Prophet Moses spoke of.

It is vital to remember that Jesus is called the Word of God. To explain the Scripture accurately, we need to be in a relationship with Jesus and we need to depend on Jesus to help us.

The Lord told Moses, “You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.” John used the term hilastērion, the Greek word for mercy seat, writing, “He [Christ] is the mercy-seat for all our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” [14] It is from the forgiveness of our sins in Christ that the communications line between God and people is opened. It was after Christ paid the price for the sins of the world that the Holy Spirit was sent to fill the lives of God’s witnesses.

Our goal as witnesses for Christ is to provide for people dependable teaching, preaching and discussion about God. The Lord warns the brotherhood of believers, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” We should not approach representing God lightly. As Paul said to Timothy, “Study to shew yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” [15] We need to make sure our words line up with Scripture and that they glorify Jesus Christ as Lord.

[1] Luke 24:27
[2] John 1:18
[3] John 14:9
[4] Exodus 23:20-22
[5] Matthew 12:31–32
[6] Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 John 5:7
[7] Exodus 24:1; Luke 10:1
[8] Exodus 24:3; John 6:28-29
[9] Exodus 24:6-8; Luke 22:17-22
[10] Exodus 24:9-11
[11] Exodus 24:12; John 13:34-35
[12] Exodus 24:13, 18; Matthew 26:30, 36
[13] Deuteronomy 18:15; Luke 24:27
[14] Exodus 25:21-22; 1 John 2:2
[15] James 3:1; 2 Timothy 2:15

Accurately, Vigorously Testify that Jesus is Messiah

The Holy Spirit used the Apostle Paul to lead people to Christ. He is an example for us who pray that God would use us in the same way.

“He [Paul] reasoned (διελεγετο - discussed) in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded (επειθεν - to endeavor to convince) both Jews and Greeks.” [1]

Paul went to gatherings of religious people (both Jews and Greeks) and entered into discussions with them for the purpose convincing them to believe in Jesus Christ.

“Paul was compelled by the Spirit and testified (διαμαρτυρομενος – give solemn testimony – the word martyr is contained in this word) to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.” [2]

Paul did not grieve the Spirit. He welcomed the Holy Spirit to compel him to testify with great conviction that Jesus is the Messiah. The first one that needs to be convicted that Christ is the One and only Messiah is the speaker. If he is not convicted as to who Christ is how can he convict those who listen to him to believe?

“He [Paul] continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them.” [3]

Paul was willing to stay one place for more than a year to teach them the Word of God. So, he entered discussions about Christ, testified about Christ as a witness standing before a jury would do, and taught people about Christ. In other words, the Holy Spirit led him to use various approaches to conveying the Word of God to people.

“He [Paul] himself entered the synagogue and reasoned (διελεγετο - discussed) with the Jews.” [4]

Here again, Paul is in a religious gathering place discussing what the Bible says about Christ with the people gathered there.

“He [Paul] departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order to strengthen (στηριζων - also stabilizing) all the disciples.” [5]

The Holy Spirit led Paul to strengthen and/or stabilize disciples. Disciples are learners. People who want to learn about Christ.

“Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures.” [6]

It is important to know the Scriptures well if you are going to try to share them with others. As Paul wrote to his protégé Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” [7]

“This man [Apollos] had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.” [8]

Apollos did not have a thorough knowledge of the Gospel, but what he did know, he taught accurately. Apollos is a great example for people who want to share with others about Jesus. He did not teach things he could not teach accurately, but that which he could, he did.

“When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained (exegeted) to him the way of God more accurately.” [9]

Aquila and Priscilla are great examples as well. They helped the new preacher of the Gospel with knowledge about Jesus that he lacked. Apollos is a good example for new preachers in that he was willing to listen to couples who were willing to teach him things he did not know. He did not allow his ego to stifle his need to grow in the grace of Christ.

“He [Apollos] vigorously refuted (διακατελέγχομαι - to maintain discussion strenuously and thoroughly, to totally refute) the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.” [10]

Apollos worked at his ministry. He had inspiration from the Holy Spirit. He also had a willing heart and mind to do perspiration for the sake helping others to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. The Scripture says that Apollos was eloquent. This means that Apollos worked on his presentation of God’s Word so that people wanted to hear what he had to say.

May the Lord raise up more people who are willing to accurately, vigorously testify that Jesus is Messiah! Amen.

[1] Acts 18:4
[2] Acts 18:5
[3] Acts 18:11
[4] Acts 18:19
[5] Acts 18:23
[6] Acts 18:24
[7] 2 Timothy 2:15
[8] Acts 18:25
[9] Acts 18:26
[10] Acts 18:28

I Delight to Do Your Will

“I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.” [1]

Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane while facing His crucifixion: “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Yours be done.” [2]

Jesus submitted His flesh’s will to the will of another, namely God. He did in a garden that which our first parents, Adam and Eve, failed to do. Then, He yielded His sinless self to take the punishment that we sinners deserve.

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” [3]

Praise be to God for giving His Son Jesus Christ to atone (cover – remove from before God) our sins! Praise God, the Holy Spirit is now free to fill and empower us to live a Christlike life.

Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” [3] To be Christlike, it is necessary for us to have a high regard for God and His Name. To be Christlike is to do that which is done in heaven here on earth, namely God’s perfect will. This prayer is a foundation of the Christian life.

God does mighty works through those who trust in Him. Moses responded to God’s calling on his life, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” Gideon responded to God’s calling on his life, “But Lord, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least important member of my family.” Jeremiah responded to God’s calling on his life, “Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” [5] But God was with them. His grace was sufficient for as long as they were willing to serve Him. God did great exploits through them as they submitted to the leading of His Word and Spirit.

Once, Jesus Christ stood and cried out, saying, “’If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive.” [6]

Thanks be to God for quenching the thirsting of our souls to be like Him and serve Him. Thanks be to God for the Holy Spirit who fills, guides us, and empowers us to do the will of God which He reveals to us in the Scriptures. To delight to do God’s will! Amen! May it be so!

Thanks to Messiah, we can say as Mary did, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name.” [7]

[1] Psalm 40:8
[2] Luke 22:42
[3] 1 John 4:10
[4] Matthew 6:9-10
[5] Exodus 4:10; Judges 6:15; Jeremiah 1:6
[6] John 7:37-39
[7] Luke 1:46-49

Faith in God’s Name and in His Rest

“You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His Name in vain.” [1]

Martin Luther wrote, “We should so fear and love God as not to curse, swear, conjure, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon Him in every time of need, and worship Him with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.” [2]

“The Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His Name in vain” is a weighty incentive not to do it. The Name of the Lord is above every other name. One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. [3]

There is power in the Name of the Lord! There is healing in the Name of the Lord! There is salvation in the Name of the Lord. Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” [4]

Martin Luther wrote, “We should so fear and love God as not to despise His Word and the preaching of the Gospel, but deem it holy, and willingly hear and learn it.” [5]

God who created and sustains the universe rests one day in seven. So can and so should we. He made the Sabbath for our sakes so we could enjoy one day per week with Him in worship, have fellowship with other Christians, and be spiritually edified.

The Lord is trustworthy in these matters. He honors those who honor His Name. He honors those who honor Him with their time, treasure and talent. No one can outgive God.

The second and third commandments should not be deemed as obligations but as worship and as thanksgiving to the God of grace, kindness and love.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” [6]

Faith in Christ is the key to entering the eternal Promised Land to be with God and His people. We honor the Name of Jesus because His Name literally means Savior/Salvation. We honor the Sabbath because it is our act of faith in God as our Provider, Sustainer and Protector.

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” [6]

[1] Exodus 20:7
[2] Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, page 14
[3] Philippians 2:8-11
[4] Exodus 20:8-11
[5] Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, page 14
[6] Hebrews 10:23-25
[7] 1 John 5:4

Rulers Need to Hear the Word of God

Throughout history nations of people have suffered the consequences of rulers who squandered the nation’s manpower and financial resources. Some rulers indulged in alcoholism, wild parties and sexual immorality. Some built palaces of ice on a whim. Some sent hundreds of thousands of young people to their death over crazy aspirations to expand their nation’s holdings. What should we who are ruled by such rulers do?

The Bible is a rich resource of answers to this question. In fact, I cannot touch on all the areas of wisdom it has to offer in a short article like this one, but I will focus on a few.

The starting point for any aspiration for improvement is to look to the Lord for help. When Moses and his people where attacked by Amalek and his army, what did Moses, the man of God, do? He gave his general, Joshua, orders to assemble soldiers and fight Amalek, but then he prayed. As long as Moses prayed for his army, they prevailed, but when he grew weary of praying, the enemy army began to win. Two men helped Moses keep praying until the victory was secured. The future of the nation depended on their faith in God to answer their prayers.

“Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.’ So Joshua did as Moses said to him and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” [1]

In fact, the people of God are mandated by God to pray for those who are in authority.

“I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” [2]

Do we want a quiet and peaceable life with godliness (or godlikeness) and reverence? Then, pray, make supplications, intercede for national rulers, give thanks for them. It only takes one bad leader to cause a major problem for all nations. But, on the other hand, one good leader can help many others to see the abundant blessings that good leadership yields.

People in charge of armies and national treasuries have many people trying to influence them. The Roman proconsul Sergio Paulus had a bad advisor trying to keep good advisors away from him. The Apostle Paul rebuked the bad man, and the Lord struck that advisor with blindness. The Roman proconsul became a believer in the Lord after that incident. The Word of the Lord can change the course of a nation for the betterment of all.

“Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him [Elymas] and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?” [3]

“Holy Spirit, please rebuke bad influencers of our leaders and authority figures. Please thwart their efforts to pervert the ways of the Lord. In the Name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.”

Elymas earned more than a rebuke. He got a consequence. Paul declared… “’Now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.’ And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.” [4]

The Lord was gracious to limit the sentence of this false prophet’s blindness. He had been a blind guide leading blind followers. Now, he needed a trustworthy seeing-guide who would not take advantage of his plight.

Throughout the Bible, God tells us of the people that He graciously raised up to advocate for the betterment of people. Moses was one of them. He spoke to the King of Egypt about freeing Hebrew slaves. At first, the king refused to do so. He did not know the Lord. But the Lord dealt with his hard heart via judgments on his nation. Then, he let the slaves go. And when he hardened his heart once more, the Lord slew him and his entire army in a moment.

The prophets confronted kings and queens about their bad choices because they knew that the Lord would back up His Word to them in one way or another in due season.

As God’s people scattered throughout the earth, we should seek the Lord to help us speak for God. Moses tried to convince God that he had the wrong man for the job. Jeremiah told God that he was too young. God was patient and worked with them as they followed His lead.

The Holy Spirit helps God’s servants to know what to say when they stand before rulers.

“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” [5]

For examples of the Holy Spirit carrying out this promise, read the Book of Acts. When servants of God’s Word were brought before authorities, He gave them the right words to say.

[1] Exodus 17:8-13
[2] 1 Timothy 2:1-2
[3] Acts 13:9-10
[4] Acts 13:11
[5] Luke 12:12

Preaching Christ in Spite of Opposition

His name was Elymas bar-Jesus or son of Jesus. He practiced sorcery and was a false prophet. The consequences of his bad choices caught up with him on the day that he tried to prevent Paul and Barnabas from sharing the Word of God with the Roman proconsul on the island of Paphos. Paphos is a city on the southwest coastline of the Island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea, near to modern day Syria and Turkey.

The Roman proconsul of Paphos, Sergius Paulus, is declared an intelligent man. “He called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the Word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.” [1]

I wonder how many intelligent mayors, parliamentarians, legislators, senators, judges, governors, prime ministers, presidents, and kings today have someone like Elymas whispering in their ears to reject Christ and Christ’s servants?

“Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him [Elymas] and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?” [2]

The Holy Spirit empowered Paul to boldly and publicly rebuke Elymas. The man was a deceiver, fraudster, son of the devil, and an enemy of righteousness. “Holy Spirit, please rebuke the men and women today who are negatively influencing our leaders and authority figures. Please thwart their efforts to pervert the ways of the Lord. In the Name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.”

Elymas earned more than a rebuke. He needed a consequence. So, Paul declared… “’Now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.’ And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.” [3]

The Lord was gracious to limit the season of this false prophet’s blindness. He had been a blind guide leading blind followers. Now, he needed a trustworthy seeing-guide who would not take advantage of his plight.

Earlier, the apostles had prayed thus, “Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered against the Lord and against His Christ. Now, Lord, look 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.” [4]

Rather than pray for protection, they prayed for boldness and miracles to happen in the Name of Jesus. Recently, I have been praying in accordance with Psalm 2. The Lord says, “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel. Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” [5] I pray that the Lord will dash the unbelief that overshadows so many kings, leaders and people, and grant them salvation so that they kiss (worship) the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

The good news about the Roman Proconsul Sergius Paulus is, “Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.” [6]

Paul went on from there to preach to a gathering of Jews and God-fearers. He addressed them thus, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God…” “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the Word of this salvation has been sent.” [7] What a blessing it is for a preacher to find a group of people who fear God. They want someone to share with them what God has to say about saving their souls.

Paul spoke the truth when He told his listeners that “through this Man [referring to Jesus Christ] is preached to you the forgiveness of sins.” In fact, “By Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” [8]

God’s forgiveness of our sins is the most important issue for humanity, not what political pundits preach. To get one’s name in the Lamb’s Book of Life, one must accept and profess the blood of the Lamb as the only efficacious atoning sacrifice to cleanse sins away.

Paul warned deniers and rejectors of this truth, saying, “Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you.” [9]

“The Word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” [10]

Obviously, the aforementioned devout and prominent women and chief men of the city were deceived by the devil to persecute Paul and Barnabas. They had their own sort of Elymas speaking in their ears to influence them to make bad choices. They rejected the servants of the Lord who came with the good news of salvation. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit kept Paul and Barnabas from bitterness and sadness. He filled them with Himself and with great joy.

[1] Acts 13:6-8
[2] Acts 13:9-10
[3] Acts 13:1
[4] Acts 4:25-26, 29-30
[5] Psalm 2:8-12
[6] Acts 13:12
[7] Acts 13:16, 26
[8] Acts 13:38-39
[9] Acts 13:40
[10] Acts 13:49-52

Serving the Lord with Gladness

The Lord instructed Moses, “You shall say to him [Pharoah], the Lord God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, ‘Let My people go, that they may serve Me.’” [1]The issue here is that mighty king wants what belongs to God to belong to him, namely, God’s people service and loyalty.

Six times the Lord said to the King of Egypt through His servant Moses, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.’” [2]

The Lord makes way for us to transfer our service of other things and people, to serving Him as we trust in Him and follow His leading.

The Pharoah did not want to release God’s people from serving him, so, the Lord gave the king warnings of consequences for non-compliance. When the king doubted and dismissed God, the Lord carried out the consequences.

“Thus says the Lord: By this you shall know that I am the Lord. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood. [3]

“If you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs.” [4]

“If you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand.” [5]

“If you refuse to let them go, and still hold them, behold, the hand of the Lord will be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep—a very severe pestilence.” [6]

“I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go.” [7]

“If you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory.” [8]

The distinction that God made between His people and Pharoah’s was another sign to Pharoah that it was He, the Lord, acting on behalf of the slaves.

“In that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land. I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.” [9]

“’The Lord will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So, nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.’ Then the Lord appointed a set time, saying, ‘Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.’” [10]

The Lord wanted the King of Egypt to know without a doubt that the earth belonged to Him.

“So Moses said to him, ‘As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the Lord God.” “My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.” [11]

The Lord also had a word for the slaves of Egypt. They were to place the blood of an unblemished lamb on their door posts and eat the meat of it along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. This meal is called the Passover Feast because the angel of death passed over homes marked with blood. The death of the firstborns of Egypt in one night convinced Pharoah to release the slaves. The freed slaves were to celebrate the Passover Feast on an annual basis. [12]

God’s plagues against Pharoah yielded deliverance for the slaves. In a similar way, the plagues in Revelation diminish and destroy the power of abusive atheistic rulers and reflect God’s faithfulness to bless those who bless His servants and curse those who curse them.

“It came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon and all the firstborn of livestock. So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, ‘Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.” [13]

The Lord led the Egyptians to give their articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing to the slaves. “The Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus, they plundered the Egyptians.” [14]

The Lord also called the Israelites to consecrate their firstborn male children and male animals to the Lord. This ritual plus the annual keeping of the Passover Feast was designed to remind them that it was HE and not them who delivered them from bondage.

“Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place.” “It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.” [15]

The Lord led His people like a shepherd leads his sheep. He was with them. “The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.” [16]

Later, when Pharoah and his army pursued the slaves, the people complained to Moses, “Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?’” Moses said to them, “Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” [17]

“The Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved, and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus, it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.” [18]

The Lord divided the sea before His people. They crossed over to the other shore without loss of life, but when the Egyptian army followed after them, the Lord caused the sea to fall upon and crush them. Contrary to “The Ten Commandments” the movie, no Egyptian survived. “Not so much as one of them remained.” [19]

The proper response to God’s acts of deliverance and redemption is to gather and worship Him. To sing to the Lord!

“Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: ‘I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.’” [20]

The proper response to the Lord’s grace is to make music and dance to HIM.

“Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them: ‘Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!’” [21]

Later, when the people came to water, but it was too bitter to drink, the Lord showed Moses a tree. The Lord used the tree to make the bitter waters sweet. Then, the Lord told them that if they followed Him, they would not experience the diseases Egyptians experienced. It is through the tree [the cross] of Christ that God sweetens our lives and heals us. In Christ we have the greatest liberation and redemption. One day, all of us who trust Him will be delivered from the devil forever. He will never abuse us again through his servants. Plus, we will have good health and live forever with God in paradise.

“When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore, the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?’ So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, and said, ‘If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.’” [22]

[1] Exodus 7:16
[2] Exodus 7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; 10:3
[3] Exodus 7:17
[4] Exodus 8:2
[5] Exodus 8:21-23
[6] Exodus 9:2-3
[7] Exodus 9:14, 17
[8] Exodus 10:4
[9] Exodus 8:22-23
[10] Exodus 9:4-5
[11] Exodus 9:29-30; 10:2
[12] Exodus 12:1-28
[13] Exodus 12:29-32
[14] Exodus 12:35-36
[15] Exodus 13:1-3, 9-10
[16] Exodus 13:21-22
[17] Exodus 14:12-14
[18] Exodus 14:19-20
[19] Exodus 14:21-31
[20] Exodus 15:1-2
[21] Exodus 15:20-21
[22] Exodus 15:22-26

Entering the Promised Land

His mother was his father’s sister. He was 80 and his brother was 83 but “just as the Lord commanded them, so they did. They spoke to Pharaoh.” [1]

The fact that God used elderly men to speak to the most powerful king on earth is a sign from God. A sign that the power to bring evil empires down and to bring His people into paradise rests with God not in human muscle.

The Book of Exodus is similar to the Book of Revelation in that it is a book of signs. Signs that God exists! Signs that He intervenes in human time and space to deliver His people from abusive rulers! The plagues and pestilences that God issues in Exodus and Revelation decimate the dictatorships of cruel bullies and assure His people that He keeps His promises.

The Lord’s servants, Moses and Aaron, confront the king of Egypt about his labor practices. The people of God need time off to worship the Lord. “Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” [2]

The Pharaoh responded to the Lord’s demand, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.” He told his officers, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before.” “You shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore, they cry out, saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words.” [3]

The King of Egypt did not believe God’s Word, and he was not going to give people a day off to worship the Lord. God had to speak to him with signs and wonders. God promises to do the same in the Book of Revelation to the ruling kingdom of the world in the last days.

Things got worse before they got better. The Pharoah gave the workers extra work to do and yet had the foreman over the workers beaten when they failed to produce as much per day as they did previously under better conditions. When the foreman complained about the beatings, the Pharoah accused them of being lazy. “He said, ‘You are idle! Idle! Therefore, you say, let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’” [4]

God’s people complained to Moses about the poor outcome of their faith in his words. Moses complained to God. [5]

The Lord assured Moses that He had heard the groanings of His people. He remembered His covenant to bring them to the Promised Land. To be their God! [6]

Moses assured God’s people that God would come through for them “but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.” [7]

Then, the Lord began to work His signs in the sky, land and water for Pharoah. Each plague was an opportunity for the proud Pharoah to humble himself before the Lord and to serve God rather than his own evil ambitions. He chose to die in his unbelief. God’s people on the other hand were liberated from his abusive treatment and brought into a beautiful land.

Revelation chapters 21-22 contain the description of the beautiful place that God is bringing those whose names are in the Lamb’s Book of Life. [8] How does one get his or her name in the Lamb’s Book of Life? The answer is by believing in and professing the Lamb (Jesus Christ) as one’s Lord and Savior.

It is important to believe. Don’t be like the Pharoah who hardened his heart!

It is important to observe the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. To worship the Lord! As the Bible says, “Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but let us exhort one another, especially as you see the Day approaching.” [9]

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the Word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.” [10]

God’s promises in Revelation shall surely come to pass even as His promises did in Exodus.

[1] Exodus 6:20; 7:6-7
[2] Exodus 5:1
[3] Exodus 5:2, 7-9
[4] Exodus 5:10-17
[5] Exodus 5:21-23
[6] Exodus 6:5-7
[7] Exodus 6:9
[8] Revelation 21:27
[9] Hebrews 10:25
[10] Revelation 1:1-2

Glory to God!

“…Their country was supplied with food by the king’s country.” “The people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him [Herod], because he did not give glory to God.” [1]

Herod’s crime was twofold, first he withheld food from hungry people that he could have released to them. Secondly, he accepted glory from people that belonged to God. God struck him down.

“Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the Name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.” [2]

Jesus reveals to us that in the last days plagues will be levied against people to bring them to repentance of sin and to salvation of their souls, but rather than repent of their sins and give to God the glory that is due to Him, some will blaspheme (speak against) Him.

The Word of the Lord is: “O, that My people would listen to Me… walk in My ways!” “…I would have satisfied you.” [3]

Faith is the victory. “This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.” [4]

May the Lord keep us from temptation, deliver us from evil and help us to commit all our concerns to God so that He may lead us forth in victory, and receive all the glory for it.

[1] Acts 12:20, 22-23
[2] Revelation 16:8-9
[3] Psalm 81:13, 16
[4] 1 John 5:4-5; 1 Corinthian 15:57; 2 Corinthians 2:14

Turning Toward the Lord

Even during seasons of persecution, the early Christians did not let up on sharing the Word of God with people. This is the main mission of the Church, that is, to build people’s faith in Christ by sharing the Word of God with them. We see them preaching Jesus, and hear their witness that God was with them, and that a great number of people believed their testimonies and turned to the Lord. The result of their ministry was people turned toward the Lord. They gave Jesus their faces and not their backs. Praise the Lord!

“Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the Word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.” Acts 11:19-21

Joseph as a Prophetic Type of Christ

“When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, ‘Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.’ So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, ‘Before your father died he commanded, saying, thus you shall say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.’ And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.” [1]

Jospeh’s brothers had thought to kill him until slavers came their way. At that point, they decided to sell him to slavers for silver. The common price for a slave when Jesus walked the earth was 30 pieces of silver. 30 pieces of silver is how much the religious leaders in Jerusalem gave the disciple Judas Iscariot for betraying Jesus. Joseph did not exact vengeance on his brothers when he had the power to do so. In this way, the Spirit helped Joseph to be a prophetic metaphor of Jesus. His weeping over his brothers’ words seems to say that the Spirit of Christ kept him from doing what he humanly wanted to do but could not do because of God in his life.

“His brothers fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” [2]

This should be the attitude of every person towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Our sins brought about lashes upon His back. Our sins brought about a crown of thorns on His brow. Our sins brought about nails driven through His hands and His feet. Our sins brought about His utter humiliation. Our sins slew Him. He was cast into a grave but raised from that place by the power of God. His triumph was manifested to many eyewitnesses. Like the brothers of Joseph, we should ask Jesus to forgive us for our sins against Him. Like Paul on the road to Damascus, we should fall down before Jesus, and ask, “Lord, what shall I do?” [3]

Joseph said to his brothers, “‘Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” [4]

Joseph was raised up for the very purpose to go through trials that would bring about the salvation of his brothers, and to provide for the needs of their families. He comforted them. Again, he was a type of the coming Messiah Jesus. After His resurrection, Jesus said to His disciples who had doubted Him, “‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” [5]

Later, we find the Apostle Peter telling others what Jesus did, saying, “The Word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—that Word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His Name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” [6]

Jesus Christ is Lord of all. He does good. He heals those who are oppressed by the devil. He conquered death on the third day. Jesus calls and sends witnesses to testify for Him. He is the Judge. He judges sin as sin, but He also forgives the sins of those who believe in Him.

When Peter’s listeners received and believed his testimony about Jesus, the Holy Spirit fell on them, they magnified God and were baptized unto Christ.

“While Peter was still speaking these Words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the Word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, ‘Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.” [7]

God’s grace is great! God loves you! When you ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins, He does. He takes away your sense of guilt and shame, and replaces those awful feelings with feelings of joy, love and peace given to you by His Holy Spirit.

The Lord “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” That includes you, but you must receive Christ personally. Christ is the door to heaven. You must come to the God through faith in Him. Have you done so? I hope so, but if not, He is only a prayer away. Just ask Jesus to forgive you and to be Your Lord and Savior. He will save you. [8]

[1] Genesis 50:15-17
[2] Genesis 50:18
[3] Acts 9:6
[4] Genesis 50:19--21
[5] John 20:21-22
[6] Acts 10:36-43
[7] Acts 10:44-48
[8] 1 Timothy 2:4; John 10:7; John 14:6; John 1:11-12; Romans 10:13

Jesus Christ Shines Through People

In what way is the redemption story of Christ shining through your life?

Throughout the Scripture, the life of Christ shines through His people.

Take for example Joseph in the Old Testament!

“Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” [1]

Jesus Christ is the One who declares or explains God to people, so in a sense, Joseph is a type of Christ in this verse as he gives glory to God for making him the revealer of God’s Words.

“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” [2]

The word for “declared” in the original Greek of the New Testament is “εξηγησατο” from the verb “exégeomai” which means to lead out or to unfold, often used in the context of explaining or interpreting something. Joseph could interpret Pharoah’s dream because the same God who gave Pharoah the dream explained its meaning to Joseph.

Joseph could tell Pharaoh, “God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do” because the Lord’s Spirit bore witness with his spirit that this dream and prophetic utterance was from God. He could assure Pharoah, “The thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.” [3]

Pharoah asked his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” [4]

The fruit of Joseph’s fellowship with the Lord during his exile in Egypt brought glory to God and saved the lives of many people. Joseph named his sons accordingly. “Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: ‘For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.’ And the name of the second he called Ephraim: ‘For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.’” [5]

In a similar fashion to Joseph, due to the sins of others, God’s Son, Jesus, was temporarily exiled from heaven, but during His walk on earth, He still enjoyed sweet fellowship with the Father, and His ministry on earth brought healing and salvation to the world.

There’s an allusion to the three days of Jesus in the tomb and of the resurrection in the fact that Joseph imprisoned his brothers for three days and then, said to them on “the third day, ‘Do this and live.’” [6]

Joseph was led by God’s Spirit to convict his brothers of their sins and to lead them to repentance. This is the work that Jesus (the Word of God) and the Holy Spirit do in the lives of sinners to save them from sin, and from the consequences of sins.

“Then they said to one another, ‘We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore, this distress has come upon us.’ And Reuben answered them, saying, ‘Did I not speak to you, saying, do not sin against the boy; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us.” “Their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, ‘What is this that God has done to us?’” Their words relate to the Gospel in which the people cried unto Pilate, “His [Jesus’] blood be upon us and upon our children.” [7]

Reuben offers his two sons to his father Jacob as a ransom for the lives of Joseph and Benjamin if anything happens to Benjamin during their trip to Egypt. This act relates to one’s debt of sin being paid off by the sacrifice of another who doesn’t deserve to die. “Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, ‘Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.’” [8]

The “stolen” silver cup as a cause to arrest the sons of Israel and imprison them relates to the 30 pieces of silver for which Judas Iscariot betrayed Messiah. After the betrayal, Jesus was arrested. [9]

The brothers falling down before Joseph relates to every Israelite and Gentile eventually bowing the knee and professing that Jesus Christ is Lord. Hopefully, we will all say to the Lord, “God has found out the iniquity of Your servants; here we are, my Lord’s slaves” before that day and thus be saved by Jesus before it is too late to repent and serve Him. [10]

Finally, Joseph explains (exegetes) for his brothers that his being thrown in a pit, resurrected from the pit, and sold into slavery for silver by them was a redemptive act of God. “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” “God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.” [11]

In a sense, Joseph died, resurrected and became lord over his brothers. He is a type of Christ because God chose to make of him such a person. Thankfully, he enjoyed a relationship with God because God helped him to understand the events of his life in relationship to the redemption story of Messiah Jesus. He is one person of many in the Scriptures whose life point to the one Messiah for all people everywhere, even Jesus Christ.

May the Lord help each of us to see how He is using our lives to point others to Christ!

[1] Genesis 41:16 
[2] John 1:18
[3] Genesis 41:28, 32
[4] Genesis 41:38
[5] Genesis 41:51-52
[6] Genesis 42:17-18
[7] Genesis 42:21-22, 28; Matthew 27:25
[8] Genesis 42:37
[9] Genesis 44:1-14
[10] Genesis 42:6; 43:26, 28; 44:16
[11] Genesis 45:4-5, 7-8

Our Lord Jesus Does All Things Well

“They were astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’” [1]

Our Lord Jesus is the One who did all things well through His servant Joseph.

“His [Joseph’s] master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.” “… the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.” “The Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” “The Lord was with him [Joseph]; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.” [2]

Aligning one’s life with honoring and serving Messiah Jesus is the key to the victory in this world full of trials and setbacks. The Ark of the Covenant is a type of Christ in the Old Testament.

“The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord stayed in Obed-Edom's house for three months. And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his family. The people told David, ‘The Lord has blessed the family of Obed-Edom. And all his things are blessed. This is because the Ark of the Covenant of God is there.’” [3]

The Prophet Jonah remarked, “He who forsakes the Lord forsakes his own tender mercies.” [4]

The Prophet Jeremiah remarked, “This I recall to my mind therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’” [5]

The Apostle Paul described one of his trials as a thorn in his side. He wanted the Lord to remove it. The Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” [6]

The main thing is to live to worship and bring glory to Christ. Let Him live in and through you, and you will see Him do things well through your life.

[1] Mark 7:37
[2] Genesis 39:3, 5, 21, 23
[3] 2 Samuel 6:11-15
[4] Jonah 2:8
[5] Lamentations 3:21-24
[6] 2 Corinthians 12:9

Messianic Lenses On

The Bible makes sense when one reads it with Messianic lenses on. Jesus Messiah is the theme of the Bible because only in Him is there redemption for Israel and for all people. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He is door to the pasture. There is salvation in no other name. [1]

John wrote of Jesus saying, “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” [2]

The word for “declared” in the original Greek of the New Testament is “εξηγησατο” from the word the verb “exégeomai” means to lead out or to unfold, often used in the context of explaining or interpreting something. From this Greek word we draw the term for interpreting Scripture, which is to exegete. Jesus is the exegete of Scripture; the explainer of it.

Let’s look at Genesis 37-38 with Messianic lenses on.

“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also, he made him a tunic of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.” [3]

Joseph is a type of Christ. Jesus is the beloved Son of God. He is the One that his brothers were jealous of and handed over to Pilate to be crucified.

“Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more.” “His brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So, they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. [4]

The dream was prophetic in nature. Joseph would eventually reign over his brothers. And Jesus Messiah will eventually reign over Israel, and over the world. Those who want to be first, hate Christ because they want, as Satan does, to steal the hearts of God’s worshippers.

Later on, we find Joseph describing to a stranger his mission, “I am seeking my brothers.” [5]

Joseph’s brothers cast him into a pit to die. This is a type of the tomb of Jesus, and of His resurrection. His brothers sold him to slave traders. This was a type of Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus for the sake of financial gain. “So, the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites for 20 shekels of silver.” [6]

“They took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, ‘We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?’” [7]

It is no coincidence that a goat was slain. Its blood symbolized Joseph. The goat is a type of Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Lamb that was slain to take away the sins of the world. [8]

Next, we have the story of God preserving the bloodline of Messiah. Judah had three sons. The first two died without children. Judah refrained from giving their widow to his third son. God’s Law for Israel was that a brother needed to impregnate his sister-in-law if his brother, her husband, died childless. This was done to preserve his brother’s family line. Judah did not give Tamar, the widow, to his third son when he was of marrying age. He said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house. [9]

What did Tamar do? She played the part of a harlot to obtain a child from Judah. She got pregnant by him, and later gave birth to twins. At first Judah was going to have Tamar executed for playing the harlot, but when he realized that the act was done with him, and that she was trying to preserve his family’s bloodline, he remarked, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again. [10]

Tamar gave birth to twins. Perez stuck his hand out from his mother’s womb and “the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, ‘This one came out first.’ Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, ‘How did you break through? This breach be upon you!’ Therefore, his name was called Perez. Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.” [11]

Perez was counted as the firstborn based on his hand coming forth first before his brother’s body, but his brother, Zerah, had a scarlet thread on his hand which symbolized that he would by saved by a descendant of his brother’s genealogy, namely Jesus of Nazareth.

Tamar is one of five women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. “Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron…” Rahab [the former harlot], Ruth [the Moabite], the wife of Uriah [Bathsheba], and the virgin Mary are the other four. All five of these women experienced questions about their reputations, but God redeemed their lives and placed them in His Book and in the genealogy of His Son. [12]

So, you see, it is important to look for Messiah, both for your eternal salvation, and for an accurate understanding of the Scriptures.

[1] John 4:42, John 10:9, Acts 4:12
[2] John 1:18
[3] Genesis 37:3-4
[4] Genesis 37:5, 8
[5] Genesis 37:16
[6] Genesis 37:24-28
[7] Genesis 37:31-32
[8] John 1:29
[9] Genesis 38:6-11
[10] Genesis 38:12-26
[11] Genesis 38:28-30
[12] Matthew 1:3, 5-6, 16

Navigating Changing Circumstances

“Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before. Then the Lord said to Jacob, ‘Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.’” [1]

Have you noticed the countenances around your work place changing towards you? Have you prayed to the Lord about it? What is the Lord saying to you about it?

“Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, and said to them, ‘I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. And you know that with all my might I have served your father. Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.’” [2]

Jacob noted the change at his work place and verbally processed it with his wives. He examined himself first and knew that he had given his best effort. Then, he faced the facts about his employer. The man was deceptive and exploitive. In the grand scheme of things it was God who had been preserving and providing for him not his employer.

“Then the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ …’I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel… Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’” [3]

After prayer, and verbally processing the situation with his spouses, the Lord spoke to Jacob and told him what to do next. His wives also agreed with his assessment of the situation.

“Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, ‘Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? Are we not considered strangers by him? For he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money. For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.’” [4]

Their husband’s employer was their father. He was stingy and impersonal towards them. He traded their lives to Jacob in exchange for 14 years of his labor. God blessed Jacob’s efforts but their father intended to consume their blessings and leave his children, and his children’s with scraps.

Jacob and his family departed that place without giving notice. The employer would have done Jacob’s family harm but God told him not to do so. Even so, his boss did confront him. This confrontation provided an opportunity for Jacob to express his grievances, “These 20 years I have been with you… I bore the loss [es]. …I served you 14 years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times [to my loss]. Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.” [5]

Yes, God had protected and provided for Jacob not this unfair employer and relative.

Laban did not see things Jacob’s way, he responded, “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine.” [6] His self-centeredness blinded him to his abusive behavior.

“So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.” [7]

The Lord was with him as he departed from abuse and exploitation. When he faced a trial after his departure, he prayed to the Lord, “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. Deliver me, I pray… for You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’” And the Lord blessed him. [8]

“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, and a man is valued by what others say of him.” [9] How people treat us does influence our sense of self-worth. Jacob and his wives endured being under-valued and under-appreciated with great patience and long-suffering, but thanks to the Lord, He provided a day of redemption and vindication for them. They were able to get out from under that oppression as they trusted in the Lord and followed His leading.

The Scripture says that those who are led by the Spirit are God’s children. [10]

[1] Genesis 31:2-3
[2] Genesis 31:4-7
[3] Genesis 31:11-13
[4] Genesis 31:14-16
[5] Genesis 31:17-24; 38-42
[6] Genesis 31:44
[7] Genesis 32:1
[8] Genesis 32:10-12, 29
[9] Proverbs 27:21
[10] Romans 8:14

Spirit-filled and Professing Jesus Messiah

The Holy Spirit filled Peter and he said to the rulers of the people, “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.” [1]

When the Spirit of God fills a man or woman, He leads him or her to testify for Jesus. To speak of His death and His resurrection! To tell people that Jesus is the sure foundation to build their eternal future upon. There is no other name by which a person can be saved from hell and welcomed into heaven than by faith in the Name of Jesus.

When the authorities commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the Name of Jesus. Peter and John said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” [2]

The Spirit of God helped them to overcome the fear of bullies.

When they gathered with other Christ-professing believers, they prayed, “Now, Lord, look 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.” [3]

Rather than cutting back their efforts due to trials, they prayed and ask God to grant them boldness to speak His Word and believed Him for miracles that would further glorify His Name.

“The place where they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.” “With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” [4]

This is the kind of prayer meeting that gets things shaking and moving. And in spite of the great results, they stayed the course. Their trajectory was straight ahead full steam. They gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus which is the main point of Christianity. We preach Christ crucified and risen, and that by His grace, whosoever believes in Him receives eternal life.

[1] Acts 4:8-12
[2] Acts 4:18-20
[3] Acts 4:29-30
[4] Acts 4:31-32

A Blessing to All Nations In Christ

Abraham was the blessed recipient of divine visitations and conversations. He talked and walked with God. He was godly because he loved God and wanted to be like God.

Preceding the destruction of Sodom, three men visited Abraham. He fed them. They told him that his elderly wife Sarah would give birth to a son. [1]

The Lord revealed to Abraham what He was going to do to Sodom on the basis of the fact that Abraham was one who taught his children to keep God’s ways.

“For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” [2]

Abraham interceded for Sodom because his nephew Lot lived there. He asked the Lord not to destroy Sodom if at least 10 righteous people were there. God agreed. [3]

God sent two angels to get Lot and his family out of Sodom before the fire fell. Angels literally had to take Lot, his wife and two daughters by their hands and lead them out of the city. For although they had warned them to escape, they lingered. The angels told them to escape to the mountains, but even in this Lot tried to haggle with them. He asked if they could flee to a nearby city. The angels permitted him to do so. Then, the fire fell. [4]

Abraham returned the next “morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.” [5]

Although God got Lot’s daughters out of Sodom, Sodom was still in them. The daughters made their father drunk and committed incest with him. It is as though the unclean spirits of Sodom found a way to preserve their perversity by escaping destruction via these two daughters. From the daughters of Lot sprung the nations of Moab and Ammon. [6] These nations made war with the descendants of Abraham. On a positive note, Ruth, who appears in the genealogy of Messiah Jesus, was a Moabite woman who married a descendant of Abraham.

Abraham’s wife Sarah did give birth to the child that God promised him. [7]

Afterwards, “God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’” [8]

Abraham went to the place of God’s choice. He told his servants, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” [9]

Notice that Abraham said, “We will come back to you.” The writer of Hebrews tells us that Abraham had faith in God that even if he sacrificed Isaac that God would resurrect Isaac because God had promised that through Isaac he would have many descendants.

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.” [10]

When Isaac asked Abraham about the absence of a lamb for the sacrifice, Abraham told Issac, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” [11]

The Lord stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son before it was too late. He said to Abraham, “Abraham, Abraham! Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now, I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” [12]

Then, a ram showed up and Abraham sacrificed it to the Lord and “called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide.” [13]

The Lord said to Abraham, “Because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your Seed, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” [14]

Some are careless about the fruit of their bodies. Praise God for preserving the lineage of Christ via His servant Abraham, not just biologically but spiritually, a legacy of descendants who kept faith that God would bring about that special Seed via a woman. The One of which God said to the serpent in the Garden, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” [15]

Jesus crushed the serpent’s plan to destroy the human race by becoming an atoning sacrifice for our sin. Jesus experienced the bruising when He died on the cross for us. But Jesus did not remain dead. He conquered sin, death and the devil on third day when He resurrected from the dead.

Peter connected the promise of Israel being a blessing to all nations to Messiah when he said, “He [God] said to your father Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the nations on the earth will be blessed.’” [16]

Paul connected the promise of Israel being a blessing to all nations to Messiah when he said, “Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his Seed. It does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ referring to many, but referring to One, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ.” [17]

It is in Christ that we are blessed and it is in Christ that we are a blessing to the nations.

[1] Genesis 18:1-15
[2] Genesis 18:19
[3] Genesis 18:22-33
[4] Genesis 19:1-25
[5] Genesis 19:27-29
[6] Genesis 19:30-38
[7] Genesis 21:1-2
[8] Genesis 22:1-2
[9] Genesis 22:3-5
[10] Hebrews 11:17-19
[11] Genesis 22:7-8
[12] Genesis 22:11-12
[13] Genesis 22:13-14
[14] Genesis 22:16-18
[15] Genesis 3:15
[16] Acts 3:25
[17] Galatians 3:16

Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus

“Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.” “And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’” [1]

The people wanted to make a name for themselves rather than to do as they were designed to do which was to glorify the Name of the Lord. They wanted to concentrate in one place rather than propagate as they were mandated by God to do: “Be fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it.” [2]

It’s kind of like people living in rebellion against God and at the same time claiming the rainbow as a promise that He will not destroy the earth by flood again. No, He will not but He will destroy it by fire…

“For this they willfully forget: that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same Word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” [3]

What became of the tower of rebellion that the people built? It’s gone. What was its fruit? Babel! “Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.” [4]

Immediately following Babel, God provides for us an example of a man who left his homeland to spread out and fill the earth. “Now the Lord had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’” [5]

Abram honored God and God honored him. God blessed him and promised to bless those who blessed him. In Abram, the families of the earth would be blessed. Why? Because one of his descendants is Jesus Messiah. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.

“Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.’ And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and …there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the Name of the Lord.” [6]

Abram honored the Lord. He did not want to make a name for himself. He wanted to glorify the Name of the Lord. Jesus said, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” [7] God honors the one who serves Jesus. In fact, God honors communities and nations that serve Jesus.

The alternative to honoring and serving God is to serve the devil.

The devil is a thief and destroyer. Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” [8]

Judas Iscariot was duped by the devil to betray Jesus. He also stole money from the Lord. He led a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, to arrest his Messiah. [9] In the end, he was destroyed.

Sadly, many choose to listen to the devil’s lies against the Lord. This was the case when our Lord was crucified. The religious leaders and their followers cried against Jesus saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.” [10]

Let us be like Abram and like the eleven disciples of Jesus who did not betray Him. Who were not duped by the devil! Let us ever walk with Jesus and follow His example pure.

[1] Genesis 11:1, 4
[2] Genesis 9:7
[3] 2 Peter 3:5-7
[4] Genesis 11:9
[5] Genesis 12:1-3
[6] Genesis 12:7-8
[7] John 12:26
[8] John 10:10
[9] John 12:6; 13:27, 18:3
[10] John 18:40

Living Carefully and Care-filled

“He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die.” [1]

Elisha wanted to see Elijah ascend to heaven so that he would receive a double portion of Elijah’s Spirit. [2]

The disciples saw Jesus ascend into heaven. They waited for Jesus to give them His Spirit. He did. He filled them. [3]

The Lord says, “You are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” [4]

We must have the Holy Spirit to live as Jesus lived in this world.

While on trial, Peter said to those who arrested him and John, “We are His [Jesus’] witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to them that obey Him.” [5]

The key to being filled with the Spirit is to live to propagate the Word of God and to give witness to the testimony of Jesus [His life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His coming again, His saving grace].

“I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the WORD of GOD, and for the TESTIMONY of JESUS CHRIST.” [6]

[1] Proverbs 19:16 
[2] 2 Kings 2:9-15
[3] Luke 24:51; Acts 2:1-4
[4] Romans 8:9
[5] Acts 5:32
[6] Revelation 1:9

The Importance of Walking with God

“Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” [1]

The name Enoch (חֲנוֹךְ Ḥănōḵ) in Hebrew means “dedicated,” “trained,” “disciplined,” “inaugurate,” or “initiate.” He was a disciple of the Lord.

“Enoch lived 65 years, and begot Methuselah.” [2]

“The exact meaning of Methuselah’s very ancient name is not certain. Bible scholar and scientist Dr. Henry Morris said it may mean, ‘When he dies, judgment’—referring to the worldwide flood judgment. Similarly, Cornwall and Smith say his name means, ‘When he is dead, it shall be sent’ (‘it’ referring to the Deluge).” [3]

Methuselah died in the year that the flood occurred. So, it seems that when Enoch named him, he was leaving behind a prophetic indication from the Lord for people to observe. Judgment was coming. God even allowed Methuselah to live longer than any other person on earth – 969 years.

Peter referred to the flood in his letter to Christians. Then, he wrote this, “Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a 1,000 years, and a 1,000 years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing, that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” [4] Interestingly, the period of time between when Enoch named his son Methuselah and when the flood occurred was about 1,000 years. God gave the people ample time to change their minds about perishing or being saved.

In fact the Lord gave the world advance notice through His servant Noah. “And the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be 120 years.’” [5]

Enoch’s being taken by the Lord before a great global judgment is a foreshadowing of the rapture that will happen for those who walk with God before the great tribulation happens in the last days.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” [6]

Thus, it is good to walk with the Lord daily. No one on earth knows when the trumpet will be sounded, but Jesus did share with us “signs” of those days. He said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.” [7]

Everyone except for Noah and his family were living for the moment. They were not thinking about God or about eternity. No one except Noah took the time to listen to God and act upon His Word.

“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark and cover it inside and outside with pitch.’” [8]

The problem with humanity was corruption and violence. To be corrupt is to be defiled or tainted, not pure. The people did not want to be like God. They were created to bear God’s image but were given free-will to choose otherwise. They chose to live otherwise, and their lives descended into the most vile kinds of violence against one another.

“Noah walked with God.” “Noah did; according to all that God commanded him.” “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” [9]

Peter commended those who were partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. [10]

Partaking of the divine nature is the key to being taken by the Lord before the great tribulation.

“He [Jesus Christ] came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” [11]

Jesus Christ is the ark of God in these last days. We need to receive Him and believe in His Name. His Name means the Lord saves. He saves those who walk with Him and those who trust in Him.

[1] Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5
[2] Genesis 5:21
[3] Cornwall and Smith, Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names via ChristianAnswers.net
[4] 2 Peter 3:8-9
[5] Genesis 6:3
[6] 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
[7] Luke 17:26-27
[8] Genesis 6:11-14
[9] Genesis 6:9, 22; Hebrews 11:7
[10] 2 Peter 1:4
[11] John 1:11-13