Have Confidence in the Lord

Psalm 16

Today we are looking at Psalm 16.  There are several different questions that we can ask ourselves, questions which David gave the answers for in his own life in this psalm he wrote.  One question is, is there anyone whom we have unwavering trust in?  Another is, in whose company do we delight in?  David gives his answers in this psalm, along with stating his confidence in the resurrection, centuries before the coming of the Lord Jesus.  Let’s take a look at this psalm, and also see how answers to these questions compare in our own life.

Psalm 16 is one of the several psalms which were written by King David.  There is no real indication as to when the psalm was written, whether it was earlier in his life when he was fleeing the deadly attacks from King Saul, or later when he was king, and battling foreign nations.  Either way, David needed God’s protection, and knew he could trust in Him.  David prayed for God’s protection, but he wasn’t crying in fear and panic (vs. 1).  Instead, in Psalm 16 he was praying from a place of faith in his heart.  He knew that he could trust in the Lord for His help and protection.  He often had good reason to be afraid, as sometimes we do, but instead David put his faith and trust in God.

The king also knew that he had no goodness, no righteousness on his own (vs. 2).  The doctrine that man is inherently sinful is taught throughout Scripture.  The Apostle Paul clearly taught this in Romans 3:10.  Though he was king, and could demand the obeisance of the people, David knew that any good in him, apart from God, was nothing.  Years later the Prophet Isaiah would clearly state that all of our righteousness is as filthy rags in God’s sight (Isaiah 64:6).  Our only refuge is to cling to the Lord and accept the righteousness that He offers through His Son, Jesus Christ.

David continues by stating that he gets great delight from being around and with other believers, the “saints”, others who have put their faith and trust in the Lord (vs. 3-4).  He wants nothing to do with those who worship other gods.  His was a life set apart for God.  This is a principle that we also find in the New Testament.  II Corinthians 6:17 instructs us to separate ourselves from the ungodly.  In a world of spiritual compromise, we are called to stand with the saints, and reject all forms of idolatry, whether literal or modern, including the mixing of Christian worship with practices of pagan, Eastern, and false religions.

Continuing on, we read how David was satisfied with his life, and content with what the Lord had provided for him (vs. 5-6).  True, he was king, but that was not until after having spent many years in the wilderness, sleeping on the hard ground, running for his life.  And there is a chance that this psalm was written during those years.  David saw God, Himself, as his inheritance, which he felt was better than any land or riches.  He also knew that his future was not a matter of chance or luck, like casting lots (similar to rolling of dice).  The Lord held his lot, just as He holds ours.  God already knows the future of our life.  He holds it in His hands.  True contentment comes not from possessions, but from knowing the Lord as our portion.  Unlike things in life, He never changes.  When all you have is God, you have all you need!

When he needed guidance and counsel, David sought the Lord first of all, before that of any person (vs. 7-8).  His confidence was rooted in God’s presence, which he knew was right beside him, at his right hand.  When we keep God’s Word in our life, looking to it for guidance, we can have His peace and direction (Psalm 119:105).

As our psalm closes, David speaks a prophecy of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (vs. 9-11).  As the Apostle Peter spoke centuries later, these words did not speak about David, as when he died, he remained dead and buried.  This spoke of the resurrection on the third day of Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:25-31).  Because Jesus rose, we have the hope of resurrection ourselves, and eternal joy in God’s presence.

In the final verse we read that in God’s presence there is fullness of joy (vs. 11).  In order to be filled with one thing, everything else needs to be gone.  We cannot fill a glass with one thing if it is already filled with another.  We must become an empty vessel for God to pour His anointing into.  We need to refill our tank of joy.  The best way to do that is to spend time in the presence of God.  Pray constantly, read His Word daily, and get to know Him intimately.  The level of our joy is determined by the level of our closeness to Jesus.

The Consequences We Pay

II Samuel 11:26-12:15

Consequences. Whether we like it or not, every action we take will have some sort of consequence. Sometimes there are good consequences. We study hard, pay attention and do our work, and we get good grades in school and ultimately we can get a good job.  Practice hard and we learn a sport or musical instrument.  However, when we do wrong, there are bad consequences.  We might not see them right away.  We may cover our wrongdoing up and think we’ve gotten away with it, but eventually there are the consequences.  Sometimes they are quite severe.  Our Scripture today tells of a grave sin, a cover-up thinking they got away with it, and then the judgment, the consequences.  Let’s take a look.

Before we look at our Scripture verses, we need to get the background of what had happened, which we find earlier in chapter 11.  There was a war going on between Israel and the nation of Ammon, and King David was supposed to be at the battle, leading his troops.  However he wasn’t there.  He left that to his generals, and was taking it easy at his palace in Jerusalem.  David was peeping at his beautiful neighbor while she took a bath.  Since he was the king, he had her brought to his palace.  Bathsheba was married to Uriah, one of the king’s top soldiers, but David didn’t want to think about that, and proceeded to have an affair with her.  Then when they found out she was pregnant, David tried to cover it up by having Uriah recalled from the battlefield, hoping that he could pass the child off as his.  Uriah was too honorable, though, to spend the night with his wife while his fellow soldiers were on the battlefield, so then David arranged to have Uriah killed in battle (II Samuel 11:1-25).  The king then proceeded to take Bathsheba as another of his wives.

Now, about a year later, our Scripture begins.  The baby has been born,  and David continues to act as if nothing was wrong.  He doesn’t seem concerned that he has committed adultery, gotten a woman pregnant, and then had her husband murdered.  This, the godly man David, who had walked so close with the Lord for so long, who wrote so many of the psalms!  What is wrong with him?  How did he get to this terrible spot?  Isn’t his conscience bothering him?  If it is, he isn’t showing it.  So God sends one of His prophets, Nathan, to confront the king.

Nathan must have been a brave man, and one who is strongly obedient to God.  Confronting a king about his sins is dangerous, but Nathan obeys God.  He uses wisdom, and does it by telling a parable (vs. 1-6).  When David gets righteously angry at the situation in the story, Nathan turns around, pointing his finger at the king, and declares he is that man!  Nathan was not going to let David forget or brush aside his sins.

The prophet proceeded to tell of God’s judgment for his sins (vs 10-12).  Violence would plague his family, and his wives taken by other men, which was later fulfilled during his son Absalom’s rebellion (II Samuel 16:22).  Thankfully, David’s heart became tender again, and he repented (vs. 13).  Unlike so many who make excuses for their sins, David humbly acknowledged his guilt.  Though God forgave David, the child born from his sin dies, demonstrating that sin has consequences, even when forgiven.

Sin is a direct offense against God.  It begins with temptation, and leads to greater wickedness, resulting in judgment.  We see here both the justice and mercy of God.  He will not overlook sin, and sin does have consequences, however if we confess and turn from our sin, God will have mercy.

Today, confronting sin in others, including in fellow believers, is not popular.  Christians love to say that we should never judge others, however, sometimes that is exactly what we need to do.  Nathan saw that the longer David’s sin was left unconfronted, the more damage was being done, not only to David himself, but also to the faith.  The Apostle Paul urged the early church to confront sin in their midst (Galatians 6:1).  We are to confront fellow Christians about their sin, not to tear them down, but to restore them to fellowship.

If God reveals sin in our lives, His ultimate purpose is not to condemn us, but to restore us, and to help us reconcile with those we’ve hurt.  Repentance clears the way for renewed closeness with God through the power of His forgiveness and grace.

Another lesson to be learned from this Scripture is that any godly man or woman can fall into grave sin.  We might think that there is no way that we would or could ever do what David did, and he probably thought the same thing a short while before this all unfolded.  David, and others who have similarly fallen, don’t do it overnight, but one step at a time.  David didn’t go from godliness to murder in one day.  He warmed up to it over time.  One bad decision led to another.  That second glance led to a lustful stare.  Then adultery, then attempts to cover it up, then ultimately murder.  We are either moving towards Jesus or towards trouble.  Big problems don’t develop overnight.  They break upon us gradually, one step at a time.

In closing, let’s remember that sin has consequences, but God’s grace is sufficient for those who truly repent.

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

Luke 9:18-24

At one time or another in their lifetime, people have to face the question of who they believe Jesus is.  Even if they don’t address that question while alive, they certainly will moments after their death.  In our Scripture today from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus presents the question to His disciples, along with another prediction of His crucifixion, and telling them the cost of being a follower of His.  Let’s take a look at this Scripture passage.

Shortly after the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus went off by Himself to pray when His disciples came and joined Him.  Jesus then asks His disciples about His identity, first asking what the general crowds say who He is, and then specifically who they say He is (vs. 18-20).  The disciples answered by saying that the crowds thought He might be one of the great prophets of the past come back to life, or that He might be John the Baptist come back to life.  The latter would be ridiculous, as John the Baptist and Jesus were together at the same time when He was baptized, and John had only recently died.  We can ask the same question today.  Who do people today say Jesus is?  Many would answer that He was a good man, a good teacher and philosopher, who unfortunately lost His life, but that He was no different than any other great philosopher and teacher from the past, no different than Buddha, Gandhi, Plato, or Aristotle.  And there are a lot who would say that Jesus was a crazy man who misled people.

Jesus then pointedly asked the disciples who they thought He was.  Peter quickly responded by saying that Jesus was the Messiah, promised by God (vs. 20).  Peter’s confession is foundational to salvation (Romans 10:9).  It is important that we correctly identify who Jesus is, not just intellectually, but with our heart and through faith.  This is a question that everyone will face at some point, either in their physical life, and for sure after their death.  Who do you say that Jesus is?  Do you believe that He was just some historical person who maybe had some good teachings, or do you believe that He is the Son of God, who brings salvation to those who believe?

As we continue reading, Jesus spoke to His disciples about His upcoming death and resurrection (vs. 21-22).  This was something that He spoke to them about on several occasions, though they either didn’t seem to pay attention to His words or to understand them.  Jesus’ suffering was not accidental, but was part of God’s sovereign plan for redemption (Isaiah 53:3-5).  Jesus’ death was substitutionary.  He bore the punishment for our sins, and those who call upon Jesus as their Savior have their sins forgiven and receive salvation.

Jesus also spoke about being rejected by the religious leaders of Israel.  We see this all throughout His ministry, where the Pharisees in particular, along with the Sadducees and Sanhedrin (the Jewish high court) opposed Jesus and His teachings.  This rejection by these religious leaders shows the blindness of human pride and self-righteousness.  The Pharisees in particular did not like that many crowds were flocking around Jesus, and felt they were holier and more righteous than He was.  The Bible teaches, though, that salvation is not found in religious rituals, but through faith in Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Jesus finished His teaching here by laying out the cost of discipleship (vs. 23-24).  There are far too many preachers today who teach the “prosperity gospel”, saying that our Christian life should be smooth sailing, and God will make us rich.  That is a false gospel!  Nowhere in the Bible is a message given like that.  Jesus taught here that true discipleship requires surrender.  We are to pick up our cross and follow Him.  The cross symbolizes suffering, rejection, and sacrifice.  We must forsake all of our worldly desires and live in obedience to Jesus (Galatians 2:20).  Clinging to earthly life leads to spiritual loss, but surrendering one’s life to Jesus Christ leads to eternal gain. 

As we close this Scripture passage, we are called to recognize that Jesus is the Messiah, understand His sacrificial mission, and commit wholeheartedly to following Him.  Jesus never called people to give Him a try and see if we like Him, like we would a new food.  He demands full surrender.  We cannot squeeze Jesus into one corner or segment of our life, and continue living as we please.  If we are truly following Jesus, then He is our whole life.

The Law or Faith

Galatians 3:23-29

When someone makes a will, and leaves a lot of money, or perhaps a grand house or property to their heir, if that heir is still a child, a minor, that money and property is placed under guardianship.  The heir cannot have it, or at least full use of it, until they reach a certain age, perhaps eighteen or twenty, or sometimes even older.  We see this in school settings, as well, whether one attends traditional schools or has private tutors.  When the student is younger, they are more under the authority of the teachers, but as they advance through the grades, they obtain more privileges and freedom.  The Apostle Paul uses this figure as he explains to the Galatian church the purpose of the Old Testament Law in bringing believers to Christ and justification by faith.

The Apostle Paul wrote his epistle or letter to the Galatian church to address certain issues that had developed in that church, mainly whether believers, particularly believers from a Gentile background, needed to follow the Old Testament Law in order to be truly saved or not.  There were certain people who were going around the churches in Galatia, teaching the new believers, particularly Gentile believers, that in order to be genuinely saved they needed to follow the Old Testament Law in addition to having faith in Jesus Christ.  As soon as Paul heard about this, he wrote and sent this letter to correct that false teaching.  He taught that adherence to the Old Testament Law was not necessary for salvation at all.  So what was the purpose of the Law?

As Paul wrote in his epistle to the Galatians, he emphasized that before the Lord Jesus came, those who were believers and followers of Yahweh were under the guardianship of the Law, just like an underaged heir of a fortune is put under the guardianship of a protector.  However now, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, they are adopted as children of God and heirs to His promises.

As verse 23 begins, we read how we were kept under the authority of the Law, just like the young child is under guardianship, or a young student is under a tutor.  It was a form of confinement, keeping the people under its authority until the arrival of the Lord Jesus, whereby we have salvation through faith in Him.  Paul teaches that the Mosaic Law was temporary, just like a guardian or tutor is temporary, and prepared people for salvation through Christ.  He stated in verse 24 that the Law acted like a tutor, guiding people towards the realization that they needed a Savior.

We know from our own experiences that it is impossible to fully keep the laws of God on our own.  No one, even the holiest and most sincere person, can obey everything in the Bible.  Thus we need the sacrifice of the Blood of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus.  Salvation is by grace through faith alone, not by works of the Law (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Once the Lord Jesus came, salvation through faith in Him was established, and we are no longer under the Law’s authority (vs. 25).  The age of grace has replaced the age of the Law.

Paul continues by stating that one becomes a child of God when they have faith in Jesus Christ (vs. 26).  It is faith in Christ that makes believers children of God, not adherence to the Law, whether the Old Testament Law or any modern church regulations and dictates today.  We are saved through faith, not works.  Verse 26 goes along with Romans 8:15-17 in teaching about spiritual adoption.

As we continue in verse 27, the baptism mentioned here is referring to spiritual baptism, being saved, not water baptism.  We are not saved by being baptized.  That will never save us.  Baptism is important, and the Bible tells us we should be baptized, but it is only faith that saves us.  This spiritual baptism fully identifies us with Jesus, it unites us with Him.  As Paul says, we “put on” Christ.  When God looks at a born-again believer, He does not see us clothed in our sins.  He sees Jesus’ righteousness.  It is like we are wearing Him.  We are hidden in Him, we are covered by Him.

Paul continues by teaching that salvation is available to all, regardless of their race or national background, whether they are rich or poor, or whether they are male or female (vs. 28).  Jesus is the Savior for everyone, and anyone who calls out to Him in faith will be saved (Romans 10:13).

Our Scripture concludes with Paul teaching that Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, inherit the promises given to Abraham, not through physical lineage, but through faith in Christ (vs. 29).  This supports the doctrine of justification by faith, and the spiritual fulfilment of God’s promises.  The blessings of Abraham come upon the Gentiles, along with the Jews, and we both are joint-heirs and partakers of the promise.  We have been born again into royalty!

Looking back we see that the Old Testament Law was a temporary guardian but faith in Jesus brings true righteousness.  To become a child of God, one must be a believer of Jesus Christ through faith.  We learn that all believers, regardless of their background are equal in Christ Jesus, and as a believer in Jesus, we inherit the blessings of Abraham through faith.

Seeking God

Psalm 63

We’ve all gone looking for something or other in our life.  Perhaps we misplaced something important, so we diligently look high and low throughout our house or office for the lost item.  Sometimes the missing thing is very dear to our heart, and we’d do anything to find it again.  We even hear about a beloved dog or cat who goes missing, perhaps while on a far vacation, and after a while of searching the family has to return home, sometimes even thousands of miles away.  That beloved pet dearly loves his family, and by some miracle will travel those thousands of miles back home, showing up on the doorstep months, or even years later!  Seeking the love of their family kept them going.  That is how much David loved and sought after God.  He speaks a lot about this deep longing and desire to find and keep God in his life in our psalm study for today.

Several psalms come with a heading, and Psalm 63 is one of them.  Its heading tells us that this psalm was written by David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. It was likely that he was there during the years as a young adult when he was running for his life from King Saul, who sought to kill him, or many years later as an older man, while king, when he had to flee during the coup of his son Absalom.  So we see that this psalm was written when David was in a time of distress.  Whether written when he was young or older, he was away from his home, his family, and his friends.  All alone, he had a deep longing and desire for God (vs. 1).

David was out in the wilderness, a dry and barren land, where very little grows, and even fewer people live.  The few animals that live there usually only come out at night when it is cooler.  It was hot, very hot there, and David knew what it was like to get extremely thirsty.  And though he longed for water, which there was very little of, he longed for God even more.  Do we long for God like that?  Most of us have the opportunity to go to church, take part in worship, either in person or online, and read the Bible every day, but do we?  David longed for that even more than he did a glass of ice-cold water!

He also sought after God “early” (vs. 1).  This could mean both early in his life or early in the day.  David had a personal relationship with God from his childhood, back as a young boy when his father gave him the job of watching the family sheep.  Fortunate is the person who comes to faith in Jesus as a child!  It also, and most commonly refers to beginning one’s day with time spent with the Lord.  The believer should prioritize seeking God at the start of each day, recognizing that spiritual nourishment comes from Him alone.  The fuel we give our heart and mind each morning greatly affects the remainder of the day.  David began and ended each day with God.  As he would lie upon his bed at the end of the day, he would meditate upon the Lord and His Word (vs. 6).  When our day is hemmed with prayer and meditation on God’s Word, it is much less likely to unravel.

As David continued his psalm, he described that knowing God’s love and mercy was dearer to him than life itself (vs. 3).  What is the most important thing in your life?  David felt, and for all believers, it should be being in a right relationship with Jesus.  True satisfaction in life comes from God, not worldly pleasures.  When we walk close with God each day, we are satisfied just as we are when we enjoy our favorite foods (vs. 5).

When we meditate upon the Words and Truth found in the Bible, God will uphold us with His sustaining power.  David felt God’s divine help like a hand of support (vs. 8).  David wrote this during a difficult time, possibly during the rebellion of his son, Absalom.  Even during that terrible time, God was present, and David trusted in Him.  Life can be painful at times, yet God offers His comforting hand in the midst of it.  We are not beyond His reach.  In the middle of all of these troubles, David found that God was not only a sustaining hand for him, but also a shelter from the danger (vs. 7).  Like a baby bird hiding in the shelter of its mother’s wings, David found that he could cling to God and be safe.

As our psalm draws to a close we read that God will judge the wicked (vs 9-11).  It will be a fair and just judgment, and we can rejoice in His justice.  We can trust that God will ultimately vindicate His people and bring justice.  Looking back we are encouraged to seek God earnestly, worship Him wholeheartedly, and meditate on His Word.  He is our protector, and will judge the wicked.

Until Jesus returns, we have an unfailing shelter.  The world may think we are foolish to trust in the Lord to shelter us, but we can rejoice.  Has God ever failed you?  Does He promise to meet all of your needs?  Does He keep His promises?  God’s love is constant, and He cares for His people.  God is in control of our life, and we can find strength in His promises!

Faithfulness in a Faithless Generation

Jeremiah 35:1-19

Our Scripture passage today from the prophet Jeremiah is perhaps one that is less familiar to many people.  It tells the account of a family descended from Rechab through his son Jehonadab, and his desire for his family to live a certain way, which they did for many generations, receiving commendation from both the prophet and the Lord.  Let’s take a quick look and see the important lessons we can learn from this Scripture.

Our Scripture takes place during the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, who reigned from 609-598 BC.  The events recorded here took place after the initial Babylonian invasion led by Nebuchadnezzar, so possibly around 602 or 601 BC.  (Nebuchadnezzar made three invasions into Judah - 605, 597, and 586 BC).  The Lord had a message for the people of Judah, and He wished to use the Rechabite family to be an example or picture of the lesson He wanted to teach them.  The Lord instructed the prophet Jeremiah to call some of the leaders of the Rechabite clan together, which he did.  When they came together, Jeremiah offered them some wine (vs. 1-5).  These men refused the wine for a very specific reason.

These men were all from one clan, from one family, descended from Jehonadab, the son of Rechab.  Jehonadab set a family rule for his descendants to follow, that they would never drink alcohol, and to live in tents as Bedouins rather than a house (vs. 6-11).  Now, approximately 250 years later, the extended family of Jehonadab was still adhering to the family law.  The beginning of Nebuchadnezzar’s invasions forced the clan to flee into Jerusalem for safety, but they were still obeying their family tradition.

The Lord then proceeds to commend the Rechabites for their faithfulness in following the family rules, comparing their faithfulness to the unfaithfulness of the people of Judah, who refused to follow or obey the commandments of the Lord (vs. 12-16).  This family faithfully obeyed a non-binding commandment their human father made, but the country, both the people, political leaders, and religious leaders turned their back on God’s laws and word, particularly in mixing worship of Him with pagan deities.

God contrasts the Rechabites’ faithfulness with Judah’s rebellion.  Though God sent prophets from the earliest days till then with Jeremiah, the people refused to listen.  The Rechabites obeyed a human tradition, while Judah rejected divine revelation.  The Rechabites' obedience to their family wasn’t a divide command, but a human one, and God honored them for it because it reflected a heart of submission and reverence to authority.  How much more should we obey the clear commands God gives in the Scriptures!  Their obedience pleased God, and so will our obedience to God’s Word today.

Scripture has always taught that obedience to God and His Word is better than sacrifice (I Samuel 15:22).  Judah had the Temple, the sacrifices, and the rituals, but they lacked the heart of obedience.  A genuine Christian today must not only hear God’s Word, the Bible, but also obey it (James 1:22).

Because the people of Judah refused to obey God, He declared that He was going to bring further judgment upon them (vs. 17).  Nebuchadnezzar had already deported one group of people, which included some of the elite, wealthy, and well-educated youth, including Daniel.  God declared there would be further judgments, as Nebuchadnezzar would return two more times, finally destroying the country and deporting the whole population, due to their faithlessness.  God promised, though, that He would protect the faithful Rechabites from any harm during this time (vs. 18-19).  Faithful service to God will reap His blessings.  The Rechabites didn’t seek recognition, but God honored them publicly.

In closing, we see that obedience matters, even in the small things.  God blessed the Rechabites for obeying their earthly father, but chastised Judah for disobeying their heavenly Father.  He sees and rewards faithfulness, even when the world doesn’t.  We, as believers, are called to be a faithful remnant, standing firm to God’s truth in the Bible amid a society of compromise.

Divine Guidance

John 16:5-15

Most of us, at one time or another in our life, have faced some important decisions that we needed to make, and we were concerned, perhaps even worried, about making the right decision.  We wished to have guidance and direction in our decision.  A friend or relative may help us, but then again, though they may be well-meaning, they might give us wrong advice.  Sometime in the next several weeks my daughter Lucy and I have to make some very important decisions.  I’ve made a few bad decisions in my past, and I sure don’t want to this time!  Where can we turn to get the best counsel that we need so that we don’t end up making a terrible mistake?  In our Scripture from the Gospels today, the Lord Jesus gives us the answer.

Our Scripture passage is another teaching that Jesus gave to His disciples on the night before He was crucified.  Over the last several weeks, our Gospel readings have all come from this farewell discourse that Jesus gave.  In today’s passage, He is preparing the disciples for His departure, along with the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus knew that He would soon be returning to the Father in heaven, and without Him they would be adrift without any help.  However, He was not going to leave them alone.  The Holy Spirit would be sent, and that was the best possible gift He could give them, and us as well.

When the disciples heard Jesus say that He was going to be going away, they were filled with sorrow (vs. 5-7).  They didn’t understand what He was talking about.  Was He going to run, escape from the danger of the Pharisees and Sanhedrin?  They hesitated to ask, as some might have remembered how Jesus said He was going to be put to death.  However, Jesus reassured them that it was necessary for Him to return to the Father in order for the Holy Spirit to be sent, which would indwell each believer.

The Greek word that the Apostle John used in verse 7 to describe the Holy Spirit is “parakletos”, which means someone who is called to one’s side, someone called to one’s aid, an advocate or someone who pleads your case before a judge.  When we have something difficult to face, especially if it might involve something legal, we hope that we would have good counsel.  We hope that if we need an attorney, he or she would be wise enough to guide us the right way, and be a good defense for us.  If we have important decisions to make, we want someone wiser than us by our side to help steer us in the right direction.  That is exactly who the Holy Spirit is, whom the Lord has sent to help us.

Jesus continues by describing the work of the Holy Spirit (vs. 8-11).  He tells us that the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.  He convicts of sin because people do not believe in the Lord Jesus.  They do not believe that He is the Son of God, the Messiah, and that He died for their sins.  The Holy Spirit convicts of righteousness because Jesus is returning to the Father.  He is the sinless Son of God, and returned from whence He came from.  And the Holy Spirit convicts in judgment because Satan, the ruler of this world, is judged.  The world is guilty before God, and only through faith in Jesus Christ can one be saved.

As we continue reading, we see that the Holy Spirit is our Guide into all truth (vs. 12-13).  When Jesus ascended into heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to be our Guide.  At the moment of salvation, everyone who trusts in Jesus is indwelt by the Holy Spirit who promises to lead believers into all truth.  We need Him.  We need His guidance to make wise choices, and not become trapped by sin that hurts us and damages our relationship with Jesus.  Like a built-in compass, if we listen and obey, He will lead us exactly the right way.  The Holy Spirit never makes a mistake.

In verses 14-15 we read that God will glorify Jesus by bestowing His blessings upon His followers.  All that belongs to the Father belongs to Jesus, and all that belongs to Jesus belongs to us because we are one with Him.   The Holy Spirit, who lives in us, reveals, declares, discloses, and transmits all that the Father has given to Jesus unto us, as well.

As we look back over our Scripture passage we see the authority and truth of the Bible.  The Holy Spirit is not merely a force, as some people think and teach.  He is a divine Person who convicts, teaches, and glorifies Jesus. He helps believers to understand Scripture and to avoid deception.  We need to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance and truth.  Since one of His duties is to convict sinners, it is essential for Christians to preach the Gospel boldly, telling others about Jesus.  In closing, when we face those challenging decisions that we all face from time to time, instead of worrying and fretting whether we are making the right choices, and blindly going one way or another, we need to turn to the Holy Spirit in prayer, and follow His guidance and leading.

Heavenly Crowns

Revelation 4:1-11

Would you like to receive a crown, to have one presented to you to wear?  A little over two years ago, Charles was crowned king of the United Kingdom, and was given the royal crown to wear.  The women in the Royal Family will occasionally wear beautiful gem-encrusted tiaras on special occasions and to certain functions.  If you are a Christian today, then there is coming a day when you could be presented with a crown, and possibly more than one!  Did you know that?  We read of this occasion in our Scripture today.

Today’s New Testament reading comes from the Book of Revelation, and the scene takes place in the divine throne room of God in heaven.  As we read in the first several verses, the Apostle John is taken in a vision to the heavenly throne room of God, and he describes the beauty and majesty of the scene, with the gems, and the thunder and lightning (vs. 1-5).  Along with that, he also tells of all those present, which includes the twenty-four elders and four living creatures which we have met before, being present, and the praises which they bestow upon the Lord (vs. 6-11).  We also read in verse 10 of the crowns that those who are gathered around God’s throne will cast at His feet.  It is these crowns which I want to focus this study on.

As we read through the New Testament and the epistles written by Paul, Peter, and James, we briefly read mentions of various crowns that the believers will receive in heaven as rewards for faithful service and devotion to the Lord Jesus.  Not everyone will get a crown.  This isn’t like modern psychology where every student gets a reward, even if they didn’t put forth any effort, but just warmed a seat throughout the school year.  Unfortunately not every Christian does something for the Lord after they are saved, or faithfully serves Him, but those who do are rewarded.  There are five crowns mentioned in the New Testament.  Let’s briefly look at each.

The first is the Incorruptible or Victor’s Crown, which we read about in I Corinthians 9:24-27.  This is rewarded to those who show self-discipline and perseverance in their Christian life.  Paul frequently describes the Christian life as like a race, and an athlete needs to be disciplined and show endurance.  Likewise, we need spiritual endurance and have mastery over our fleshly desires.  Some Christians look and act no differently than anyone else, as they always give in to their sinful desires.  Their neighbors and co-workers cannot tell that they are a Christian by their actions and speech.  This crown would not be for them.  This crown represents victory over sin and steadfastness in faith.

The second is the Crown of Rejoicing, also known as the Soul-Winner’s Crown.  Paul mentions this in I Thessalonians 2:19 and Philippians 4:1.  This crown is awarded to those who lead others to Christ.  There are many who do not want to specifically tell others about the Lord Jesus, saying that they will “just let my actions speak for the Lord.”  I have never heard of anyone who was saved just by looking at what a good life their neighbor lived.  Romans 10:17 says that faith is acquired by hearing the message of the Gospel.  Hearing, not just seeing an occasional good deed.  Jesus said to preach the Gospel.  There will be joy among believers when they see those they have led to salvation standing before the Lord, and they will receive this crown.

The third crown is the Crown of Righteousness, which we read about in II Timothy 4:8.  This is a crown that is promised to all those who are eagerly awaiting Jesus’ return, and who are living righteously as they await that day.  Paul was nearing the day of his execution when he wrote this letter to Timothy, and he spoke of his longing for the day when Jesus would return, and his life of faithful service showed this.  Those who also have a fervent longing for Jesus to return, and who live a holy life in the meantime will receive this crown.

The fourth crown is the Crown of Life which is mentioned in both James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10.  This is a crown given to those who endure great trials, especially trials for their faith, and to those who are martyred for their faith.  Those who suffer persecution for His Name will be rewarded for their unwavering faith and perseverance.

The fifth and final crown is the Crown of Glory, also sometimes known as the Shepherd’s Crown.  This is spoken of in I Peter 5:4.  In this part of his epistle, Peter is speaking to elders, or leaders of churches.  This crown is awarded to faithful pastors, teachers, and spiritual leaders who serve God’s flock with diligence, humility, and devotion.

These crowns are not given to these believers for their personal glory, but instead are meant to be offered back to Jesus in worship, as we read in our Scripture passage in Revelation.  These crowns should serve as motivation for us to live faithfully, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain (I Corinthians 15:58).  We will be casting our crowns before Jesus’ throne, declaring that all glory belongs to Christ.  Will you receive a crown, or will you be empty-handed when believers gather around Jesus’ throne to cast their crowns to Him?

The Voice of the Lord

Psalm 29

Did you know that no two voices are the same?  Everyone has a distinct voice.  Some are strong and commanding, while others can be soft and soothing.  In addition to their acting ability, often actors are chosen for their role because of their voice.  Who can forget the voices of the great James Earl Jones and Orson Welles?  There is a voice that stands out above all of the rest, and that is the voice of the Lord.  We read about the voice of the Lord in our psalm for this week.

Psalm 29 was one written by King David, possibly as he remembered some of the storms that he witnessed during his years in the wilderness on the run from King Saul.  This psalm is a powerful declaration of God’s majesty, glory, sovereignty and supreme authority over creation.  This is a hymn of praise that exalts the Lord’s power, particularly through His voice.

Though God speaks to His children through His Word the Bible, in their hearts, and sometimes through what other people may say to us, very few people have actually heard His literal voice.  We don’t know whether David ever did or not, however he described it in very poetic ways, especially how it impacts all creation, particularly through storms (vs. 3-9).

David describes how the voice of the Lord is like thunder, is powerful, and full of majesty.  He even seemingly gives a comparison of God’s voice to being like a bolt of lightning which strikes a tree, breaking it into pieces (vs. 3-5).  Lightning and thunder in the Bible are often symbols of God’s voice (Job 37:4).  To describe God’s voice as being like a bolt of lightning is to compare it with one of the most powerful things in creation.  A bolt of lightning can contain up to one billion volts of electricity.  That bolt of lightning can travel to earth at 200,000 miles per hour, and heats the air to 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun.  Many of the pagan cultures around the world have worshiped storm deities - the Canaanites had Baal, the Babylonians had Marduk, and the Assyrians with Asshur.  The Greeks had Zeus, and the Norse had Thor.  Thunderstorms demonstrate the Lord’s power, and should not be attributed to Baal or any other god.

There are four statements that David makes about the voice of the Lord.  The first is that His voice thunders over the waters (vs. 3).  Storms would often brew over the Mediterranean or the Sea of Galilee, and then move over the land.  Jesus calmed the storms on the Sea of Galilee several times.  Second, the Lord’s voice breaks the cedars of Lebanon (vs. 5).  Even the strongest trees, which sometimes symbolize human pride in the Bible, are shattered by His power.  Third, the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness (vs. 8).  His voice reaches even the most desolate places, places David knew well.  And lastly, His voice causes the deer to give birth (vs. 9).  It is both powerful and life-giving.  It was the voice of Jesus that brought Lazarus back from the dead, calling him out of his tomb (John 11:40-44), and raised Jairus’ daughter to life (Mark 5:35-43).

Continuing on, we read that the Lord is enthroned at the Flood.  This could be a reference to the flood of Noah, which would be emphasizing both God’s judgment and His control over history.  God rules over the floods, both literal and figurative, and over the hard ugly aspects of our lives.  Even when we are overwhelmed, God is not.

As we close, we read that the Lord will bless His followers with a promise of divine empowerment and peace (vs. 11).  We can trust that the Lord rules over all circumstances in our life, and will grant peace to those who follow Him.  He rules over nature, nations, and history.  His voice is powerful, just as His written Word, the Bible, is authoritative.

Holy, Holy, Holy

Isaiah 6:1-8

Today’s Old Testament Scripture passage from this week’s Lectionary from the Book of Common Prayer is a very beautiful and majestic account of both God’s awesome holiness and glory, along with the calling and commission of His servant and prophet Isaiah.  We live in a very casual and informal age today, and even our church and worship services have come to reflect that.  We often forget that the Lord God is the omnipotent and almighty sovereign God, and above all else He is all holy, and should be worshiped as such.  The prophet Isaiah was given a brief vision of God’s holiness and majesty.  Let’s take a look at what his response was.

As our Scripture opens, we read that this vision of Isaiah’s came the same year that King Uzziah of the Kingdom of Judah died (vs. 1).  Uzziah (also known as Azariah) was king of Judah from 783 - 742 BC, so this event took place in 742 BC.  Uzziah started out being a good king.  He worshiped Yahweh, and did turn to the false, pagan gods that many of the other kings worshiped.  However, in the later years of his reign, his pride and ambition got the better of him, as he felt he had the right to take over some religious ceremonies and duties that only the High Priest was to perform, and God struck him with leprosy, requiring him to spend his last years in seclusion (II Chronicles 26:16-21).

Isaiah had a vision where he was transported to the throne room of Yahweh, where he saw the Lord seated, exalted upon His throne, wearing His majestic, royal robes (vs. 1).  Around the divine royal throne room are the six-winged seraphim, who cry out continually “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.” (vs. 2-3).  Before the sovereign God of the universe, there is nothing we can do but praise and worship our Creator and Redeemer.  He is proclaimed holy three times, in recognition of the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Seraphim are a type of high-ranking angelic beings, having six wings.  Here they surround God’s throne room, calling out their praise of Him.  This triple declaration of holiness emphasizes God’s absolute purity and separateness from sin.  The word “holy” here means “sacred” and “set apart”.   He is sanctified and hallowed, set apart from all stain of sin.  When the seraphim cried out their praise of Him, the walls and doorways shook, and smoke (possibly the smoke of incense) filled the room.  This symbolizes God’s overwhelming presence and majesty.

As mentioned earlier, this aspect of God’s holiness is now frequently overlooked in favor of the feeling that God is my “buddy”, my “pal”, and many modern churches tend to treat Him like one of the gang.  All too often there is very little sacredness in many churches’ worship.  Yet in this portion of Scripture, and throughout the Book of Revelation, the aspect of God’s holiness is overwhelmingly revealed.  Thrice holy is our Triune God!

As Isaiah has this vision of God and His overwhelming majesty and holiness, his immediate reaction is that of his own sinfulness and unworthiness (vs. 5).  There have been some false charlatan preachers, both now and in the past, who have claimed to have had visions of God.  Their reaction of nonchalance or casualness to the supposed vision exposes their lies.  No one who would have had a vision of the Lord God would do anything other than to fall down upon their face, deploring their own sinfulness and unworthiness.  Even such a great man as Daniel fell down upon his face when he had similar visions (Daniel 10), along with the Apostle John (Revelation 1:17).  Too many church-goers take God for granted, and their hearts are far from Him (Isaiah 29:13).  When the prophet saw God’s holiness, he was filled with fear and an awareness of his own sin.

At that moment, one of the seraphim took a burning coal from the altar before God’s throne and touched Isaiah’s mouth with it, cleansing him (vs. 6-7).  This symbolizes God’s grace and purification, showing that cleansing from sin comes from God alone, and not through any human effort we may put forth.

Afterwards, Isaiah hears the Lord call out, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”  He immediately accepts the call of God upon his life, saying that he would go, and for the Lord to send him (vs. 8).  After he was cleansed from his sins, Isaiah desired to serve the Lord as His prophet.  He was now prepared to deliver God’s message, even though it would be met with resistance.   The Lord commissioned Isaiah with two questions, “Whom shall I send?  Who will go for Us?”  Later, the resurrected Messiah would commission His followers “Go and make disciples…..I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:19-20).  Also notice, when God spoke to Isaiah, He used the plural “Us”.  God is a Trinity!

In closing, we see that God has absolute holiness.  He is separate from sin, and demands reverence.  As humans, just like Isaiah, we must recognize our own sinfulness and need for spiritual cleansing.  When we come to Him as a repentant sinner, He will give us His mercy and grace in salvation.  Then we can and should go forth, willing to obey His call to spread His message to others.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

John 14:8-17

What does God look like?  Over the ages many people have pondered that.  Does He look like an elderly gentleman with a flowing beard, does He wear a long monk’s robe with a corded rope belt?  Or is He a giant ball of bright light?  In our Gospel Scripture for this week that question is asked, as one of the disciples wanted to see God the Father.  Let’s look into our Scripture passage and see what Jesus answered.

Our Scripture comes from a portion of the Upper Room discourse, where Jesus was instructing and teaching some final lessons the night before He was crucified.  As we begin, one of the disciples, Philip, asked Jesus if He would show them the Father (vs. 8).  Jesus answered him, and it wasn’t with a “Nope, sorry, can’t do that.  You’ll just have to wait until you get to heaven.”  Jesus told Philip and the rest of the group an answer which might have surprised them.  He said that if they have seen Him, then they have seen the Father (vs. 9-11).  Jesus’ response affirms His divine unity with God, that He is indeed God’s Son and One with Him.  Seeing Jesus is seeing the Father.  Everything that Jesus did was an exact representation of His Father.  He is the visible manifestation of God’s nature (Colossians 1:15). Now today we don’t know exactly what Jesus looked like.  We don’t know His eye or hair color, His height or weight.  That is not important.  What is important we have, and that is His words and His actions, which are recorded in the Bible.

In this Scripture passage we see the Doctrine of the Trinity presented.  Philip wanted to see God the Father, and Jesus spoke about Him.  Then Jesus affirms the fact that He, the Son, and God the Father are One.  Jesus is fully God, distinct yet One with the Father.  Then, a little further in the passage as we will read, we see Jesus speak of the Holy Spirit, the Helper, who the Father will send to be with believers.  He is the third Person of the Trinity, again distinct yet One with the Father and the Son.

Jesus continued with His teaching, telling the disciples that if we believe in Him, we can do the works He did, and even greater works, and that whatever we ask in His Name, He will do (vs. 12-14).  These are mighty promises, but we have to be careful that we know what Jesus means with these words.  Jesus promised that believers will do greater works than He did.  This does not mean that our works will surpass His miracles, but rather the expansion of the Gospel through the Holy Spirit’s power.

The Savior also promised that He will answer prayers said in His Name.  With Jesus as our Brother, we have access to the Father, and have authority to make requests to Him.  If we use the Savior’s Name we must agree with God’s purposes.  Our prayers must agree with His character, and we must be living obediently to Him and His will, not our own.  True prayer always aligns with God’s will and is answered accordingly.

Continuing on, we read a very clear to understand verse in verse 15, that if we love Jesus, we will keep His commandments.  In other words, if we love Him, we will obey Him, we will obey what the Bible says.  How many people claim to love Jesus, to be Christians, yet they pick out this or that Bible verse or passage and say that they aren’t going to follow what it says, that it doesn’t fit in with today’s society or progressive thinking.  Jesus said that these people do not love Him, for if they did, they would obey His Words, they would obey the Bible.

Jesus finished this segment of Scripture with the promise that He will send the Holy Spirit to believers (vs. 16-17).  The Father has sent His Spirit to be with us and in us until the day He brings us to heaven.  He is all we need - our advocate, guide, helper, and comforter.  Recognizing His intimate presence gives us confidence in the midst of trials, and He will dwell within believers permanently.  The Holy Spirit is the seal of salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14) and empowers believers to live righteously.

As we close this Scripture, we look back and see how each Person of the Trinity is spoken of here, the God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit.  To deny the Trinity is to deny Scripture.  We also see that true discipleship involves obedience and prayer in alignment with God’s will.  Finally, believers have the gift from the Father of the Holy Spirit, who guides, convicts, and strengthens us in our walk with Jesus.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1-11

This past Sunday marked the festival of Pentecost on the Christian calendar, and as I typically do the New Testament reading for the week from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer in midweek, we will look at our Scripture from the Book of Acts in the New Testament, which describes the events that happened on that first Pentecost.  Let’s look into our Scripture and see what we can learn about that first Day of Pentecost.

As we begin reading in Acts chapter 2, we see that it is the Jewish festival of Pentecost, which is also known as the Feast of Weeks, or in Hebrew, Shavuot (vs. 1).  This festival took place fifty days after Passover, which is where the Greek word Pentecost came from.  The Jewish festival of Pentecost commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai.  It is also a celebration of the first fruits of the wheat harvest.   Because of this religious holiday, many faithful Jews from around the Middle East and Mediterranean had come to Jerusalem to worship.

Ten days prior to this, the Lord Jesus had taken His disciples outside of Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives, giving them final instructions before His ascension back into heaven.  One of those instructions was for them to stay in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father (Acts 1:4-5).  That is what the disciples were doing as our passage began.  They were gathered in “one accord”, in unity as they obediently waited.  It was now about ten days since Jesus returned to heaven, but they weren’t getting impatient or starting to grumble one against another, but were steadfast in prayer, trusting that God would fulfill His promises.

As morning began on that first day of Pentecost, the disciples were together, and they heard the sound of a rushing, mighty wind, which was the Holy Spirit descending upon them (vs. 2-3).  That sound symbolizes the power that the Holy Spirit has.  I can testify that the sound of very strong wind, like in a tornado, is no small thing!  Then appeared what looked like tongues of fire upon each disciple.  Fire represents purification and also God’s divine presence.

The Greek word for “tongues” used here is “glossa”, and it means both the actual tongue in one’s mouth, and also the language or dialect used by a particular group of people.  This illustrated what happened at that moment, as when the group was filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to speak with other “tongues”, with other languages (vs. 4).  The Holy Spirit would empower them to do the ministry the Lord had for them (Luke 24:49).

The disciples were led to leave the place they had been staying at, and out onto the streets of Jerusalem and the vicinity of the Temple.  There they encountered many pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem for the holy days, many from foreign lands far and near, who spoke languages other than Hebrew or Aramaic.  At that time these followers of Jesus were able to witness to these foreigners in their own language, telling them about the Savior and the Gospel (vs. 5-11). 

One thing about this outpouring of the Holy Spirit, bringing tongues at this time on Pentecost Sunday, was that these were known, spoken languages in that day.  These were languages that the disciples did not previously know or speak, but which were spoken by various pilgrims to Jerusalem for the holy days.  They were languages or dialects spoken in current modern-day Turkey, around the Mediterranean world, Egypt, and areas north and east of the Holy Land.  The Holy Spirit enabled them to speak to these folks, telling them the Gospel so they could believe and be saved.  That way they could return home and tell their families and friends about Jesus, and the Gospel go forth to all nations.  On that day at least 3,000 people were saved (Acts 2:41).

Looking at this Scripture describing the events of Pentecost Sunday, we see that this was the first part of God’s fulfillment of Joel 2:28-32, which demonstrates His faithfulness in keeping His promises.  The Holy Spirit wasn’t given just to be a comfort to us, though He is indeed that, but for empowering us to boldly spread the Gospel throughout the world.  Pentecost Sunday is the birthday of the Church, distinct from Israel, and is God’s instrument for spreading the Gospel.  Just as the disciples waited for the Holy Spirit to come, we, too, need to rely on His power for witnessing, as He will enable us to share the truth with clarity and conviction.

The God of Creation

Psalm 104

The world around us, all of creation, is a vast and marvelous thing to behold!  We see creatures from the giant whales and elephants to tiny insects, from the massive Sequoia trees to microscopic diatoms.  When we turn our eyes upward we see the wonder of the clouds, and on into outer space, the moon, planets, and stars.  With the advanced space telescopes, we can look deep into the universe.  Modern science will tell us that all of this just came about by some lucky chance, that every living thing randomly evolved from some primordial soup in a giant sea, and that the universe came about by some lucky chance of different elements randomly coming together.  What brought the spark of life to that ancient assortment and mix of cells?  What are the chances of the right elements coming together to create the universe and all of life, and where did those elements come from to begin with?  As scientists still can’t give us a solid, factual answer to that, we can look into God’s Word and find the answer.  Our psalm this week tells of God’s creation of all we see (and can’t see), and His direct involvement in sustaining His creation.  Let’s look at this beautiful psalm.

Psalm 104 is a magnificent hymn of praise that celebrates God’s sovereignty over all of His creation.  One might say that it is a poetic reflection of the account of creation found in Genesis 1.  It highlights all of God’s creative power and His plan in creation.  God’s Word, both here and throughout Scripture, shows that creation was not a product of chance, but the deliberate work of the sovereignty of God.

Our psalm begins with praise for God’s majesty and glory (vs. 1-4).   The psalmist describes Yahweh as clothed with honor and majesty, just like a royal robe.   As we see the beauty and spectacular pictures that have come to us from the space telescopes, imagine them as Yahweh’s divine robes and curtains around His throne, as we read here.  God created light, showing His purity and holiness.  He created the whole universe by His Word, and has supreme authority over it.

Next we read how God is sovereign over all of creation here on earth (vs. 5-9).  The Lord placed our planet, the earth exactly where it should be to sustain life.  A little closer to the sun, or a little further away, life would not be possible.  He also keeps our planet on course, as through His control it doesn’t drift away (vs. 5).  God set the boundaries of the oceans, seas, and lakes.  He directs where the rivers flow, up and down through mountains and valleys (vs. 6-8).  All of this shows that He alone controls nature.

As we continue in our psalm we see that God has made provision for all of His creatures (vs. 10-18).  Yahweh did not create life, and then just sit back and not take care of it, letting us sink or swim on our own.  He lovingly provides what we need.  Animals, including man, need both food and water to survive.  Some animals can go a bit longer without these, like camels or animals in hibernation, but they can’t go indefinitely.  This segment of verses in the psalm show that God provides them with what they need, both food and water, along with places for them to find shelter.  Jesus, Himself, told us of the Father’s love and care for creation when He reminded us of how He feeds the birds of the air (Matthew 6:26).

It was God, not random chance, that set how fast the earth spins on its axis, along with how the moon rotates around the earth, and the earth around the sun (vs. 19-23).  Day and night are regulated by the Lord, along with the various seasons.  He knew that we, both man and beast, needed periods of day and night, periods of wakefulness and work, along with a time for rest and sleep, otherwise we could not remain healthy or even continue to live.

The psalmist gives praise for how wide and diverse God’s creation is, and briefly focuses on the creatures of the sea (vs. 24-26).  The oceans are filled with such a huge variety of fish and other types of sea-life, including some mammals, as we all see whenever we visit an aquarium.  We read of the Leviathan in verse 26, some unspecified large sea creature which could possibly be a type of whale, and is some creature that joyfully plays in the oceans.  God delights in His creation!

All creatures are dependent upon God for life (vs. 27-30).  It is He, alone, which gives us what we need, food, water, the air we breathe.  Without Him and His provisions, we could not survive.  He gives creation its life, and when it is time, He takes it away.  Rather than being so flippant and impertinent about God as so many people are, they should be grateful to Him for every breath they have, as it comes from Him, and He can take it away.

Our Scripture concludes with the psalmist giving a call to worship and to righteousness (vs. 31-35).  He gives God praise, and desires for His glory to endure forever, which it shall.  The psalmist also prays for the removal of sin, which initially caused the fall of creation (vs 35).  When that day comes, when all sin is removed, there will be an ultimate restoration of God’s creation.

As we look back over Psalm 104, we see how it is Yahweh, the Lord God, who is the Divine Creator of all, not just some theory of evolution or randomness.  We also see through His Word, that God is continually involved with His creation, and not some distant, uninvolved deity as some religions suppose.  All of His creation testifies to the glory of God!

A Precious Gift

Joel 2:28-32

Have you ever received a very nice present from someone, something that you really treasure?  Perhaps it might be a very nice piece of jewelry.  Maybe an item that you add to a treasured collection that you have.  Maybe the gift is not anything material, but something of great value, like the gift of one’s friendship.  On this Sunday we commemorate a great gift that God gave to all believers in His Son, Jesus Christ, and that is the gift of the Holy Spirit, which indwells all Christians.  Today’s Scripture is from the Old Testament Book of Joel, and speaks of that gift which God gave to all Christians on that date, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, along with speaking of coming signs in the heavens, and a call to salvation.  Let’s look at what message the prophet Joel had for us from God.

This Sunday marks the Day of Pentecost, which follows a little over a week after Ascension Day, the day when the Lord Jesus ascended back into heaven.  Ascension Day is forty days after Easter.  Prior to that first day of Pentecost, during all of the days of the Old Testament, and throughout the days of the earthly life of Jesus, no one had the Holy Spirit permanently indwelling them.  This included great and godly people like Moses, Elijah, or Isaiah.  The Holy Spirit would temporarily come upon various people, but would not stay permanently.

Joel brought us a prophecy, a promise from God that He was going to pour out His Holy Spirit upon believers, men and women who have a saving relationship with Jesus (vs. 28-29).  The fulfillment of this prophecy came on the Day of Pentecost, approximately fifty days following Jesus’ resurrection, and which we read of in Acts 2:1-21.  From that day onward the Holy Spirit has indwelt believers from the moment of their salvation.

The phrase “all flesh” in verse 28 does not mean that the Holy Spirit comes upon everyone, regardless of whether they have a saving relationship with Jesus or not.  It means that those who are saved will receive the Holy Spirit whether they are male or female, whether they are rich, poor, slave or free.  They will receive the Holy Spirit whether they are a priest or minister, or whether they are a lay person in the congregation, and no matter what country or nationality they are from.  God’s gift of the Holy Spirit is for everyone who has asked Jesus to be their Savior.  And as we read through the New Testament, particularly the Epistles, we see just how precious a gift the Holy Spirit is for believers in their life and daily walk with the Lord.

As we continue on in our Scripture passage from Joel, we read of some disturbing signs and wonders in the sky and heavens (vs. 30-31).  Since those did not happen on that Day of Pentecost in Acts, we can understand that Joel’s prophecy has a 2-part fulfillment, part on that Day of Pentecost with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and another part at a later time, which Joel indicates will be right prior to the coming of the Day of the Lord.  The Day of the Lord is a time of God’s judgment on the earth and unbelievers, culminating with the return of the Lord Jesus.  Joel indicates that, among other things, there will be blood, fire, smoke, and celestial disturbances.  We see many of these fulfilled in the events described in the Book of Revelation, again describing events prior to the Second Coming of Jesus.

Our Scripture concludes with a call to salvation (vs. 32).  God gives a promise that whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.  This promise is given to all of mankind.  It doesn’t matter who you are, salvation is offered to you if you will call upon the Lord and ask Him to save you in the Name and through the Blood of His Son, Jesus.  Anyone, male or female, young or old, rich or poor, prisoner or free, Jew or Gentile, all are welcome and will be accepted, if only they call upon the Lord.  Salvation is available to all who turn to Jesus Christ (Romans 10:13).

What about you?  Have you called upon the Name of the Lord and received salvation?  If you have, then along with receiving eternal life, you also have God’s precious gift of the Holy Spirit indwelling you.  If not, do not hesitate another day, as you do not want to face God’s judgment and the Day of the Lord without having asked the Lord Jesus to be your Savior.

Jesus Prayed For You

John 17:20-26

When we have a prayer concern, it is nice and comforting to know that other Christians are praying for us.  Knowing that others are praying for us can help get us through a difficult time.  Imagine how depressed and discouraged you would be if you felt that there was no one in all the world praying for you!  There could be a shut-in who hasn’t been able to get to church in a number of years, and whose church has forgotten all about them, and thus no one is praying for them.  There could be someone whose church has shut them out for some real or supposed sin, and again there is no one to pray for their needs.  We have here in our Scripture for today the reassurance that even if no one else may be praying for us, we can know that the Lord Jesus is.  Let’s look into our Scripture passage to read that verse, and also see what else we can learn.

Today’s reading comes from the Gospel of John, and this 17th chapter contains the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus, where He prays for all believers, both those seated with Him that evening before His crucifixion, and also for all believers in the future (vs. 20).  That includes you and me!  We also see other references in Scripture where we read that Jesus is praying for us. In Romans 8:34 we read that Jesus is at God’s right hand making intercession for us.  Also in I John 2:1 we see that Jesus is our Advocate with the Father.  He is our attorney in heaven, pleading our case.  And in Hebrews 7:25 we also read again that Jesus is in heaven interceding or praying for us.  Though it is nice to feel that there are other people who pray for us, we can be assured that we do have a loving Savior who is praying for us each and every day!

This segment of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer contains more than just a reassurance that He is praying for us.  We also read of His prayer for unity among believers, that God’s love will be within us, and also that we will behold the glory which God has given Him, along with the need for us to spread His message.  Let’s look at these topics, as well.

Jesus prayed that evening before Good Friday that believers would have unity, that they would be one in faith, just as He and the Father are One (vs. 21-23).  This is not just an organizational unity, that we are all members of one specific church, or our specific churches join with one another.  Instead, it is a spiritual unity which is rooted in the truth of God’s Word, the Bible, and with the indwelling Holy Spirit.  We are united by our belief in God’s truth, which is the Bible.  It is very important to have doctrinal purity and unity in faith.  That is much more important than just seeking ecumenical unity that compromises biblical truth.  We shouldn’t seek to join hands with some “Christian” denomination that doesn't hold to the fundamentals of the faith, just for claims of having unity.  However, we need to have unity with those who do believe the Bible and all it teaches.

The Savior also prayed that we would share in the love that He and the Father had for each other (vs. 24, 26).  Jesus desires that all of us Christians will experience the same love that the Father has for Him.  This comes only for those who have a personal relationship with God through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Though God does love everyone, having this special relationship with Him comes only through a personal faith in His Son, Jesus.  Only then will we have that eternal, never-ending love, just like the Father and the Son have.

The third thing that Jesus prayed for in this segment of Scripture was regarding the glory that He shares with His followers (vs. 22, 24).  We might wonder how we, sinful creatures that we are, can share in the glory of the Savior.  This reflects the transformation that believers undergo through salvation.  When we are saved, or born-again, we receive the Lord Jesus’ righteousness, and undergo a sanctification process where we grow in holiness and reflect the Lord Jesus’ character.  He passes on to us the glory that He receives from the Father.

The final thing that Jesus prayed about in our Scripture is that the world will believe that the Father sent Him (vs. 25-26).  Of course, in order for those in the world to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, sent from God, they have to be told.  We have to go out and share the Good News with them, just as Jesus commissioned us to before He returned to heaven (Matthew 28:18-20).  We need to be spreading the Gospel every day to all nations without compromise.

In closing, we can be assured that Jesus prayed, and is praying for us, even if no one else is.  And we can strive to be fulfilling the remainder of His High Priestly Prayer by having unity among other true believers, knowing both the love and the glory of the Father through salvation in His Son Jesus, and then bringing His message to others.  How are you doing in following His prayer?