Fiery Trials

I Peter 4:12-19

You’ve given your life to the Lord Jesus, having accepted Him as Savior, so now shouldn’t your life be going smoothly, with few if any problems, and those that do occur, only minor ones?  This is what some false preachers, particularly those who preach the prosperity gospel, have promised.  They promise that if you become a Christian, and if you give to certain ministries, then your life will prosper with minimal problems.  However, what the Lord tells us in His Word in our Scripture passage today, shows us the falseness of this ungodly teaching.  Let’s see what the Lord tells us through His servant St. Peter.

The Apostle Peter wrote his letter to Christians who had been scattered from their homes and neighborhoods throughout the Middle East and Asia Minor.  These believers were facing persecution for their faith.  As Peter sent his message from the Lord, he taught that suffering for Jesus is not an accident or a sign that they were being punished by God, but that it is a part of God’s refining plan.  He taught that they can trust Him who is faithful, while continuing to do what is right.  This passage affirms that God uses trials to refine His people, that judgment begins with the Church, and that suffering for righteousness is a badge of honor, not a cause for shame.

As our Scripture passage begins, Peter instructs us not to think it strange when we go through very difficult times, including periods of persecution (vs. 12).   Fellow apostle, St. Paul wrote that faithful Christians will suffer persecution (II Timothy 3:12).  Fiery trials are not random, but designed by God to test and purify His people.

God has a purpose for our trials.  He uses these experiences to cleanse and purify our lives.  Trials drive us to the Lord. God allows suffering sometimes to get our attention, and bring us back within His will.  It is also a way of testing us, trying our devotion, faith, and endurance to Him.  God also uses trials to demonstrate His power to sustain us and bring glory to Himself.  He also uses it to develop personal righteousness.  God can use suffering to prune us like a plant, and also to teach us obedience.  We should view them as His sanctifying work, not as spiritual failure.

Peter instructs us that when we go through these fiery trials we are to rejoice, because these sufferings identify us with Jesus, and will lead to future glory (vs. 13-14).  When we suffer for our faith we are sharing with Christ’s sufferings.  Insults and rejection because of Jesus means there is evidence of Christ in our life.  It is a mark of genuine discipleship.  We may be suffering now, but God has promised us future joy.  The more believers suffer for Jesus now, the greater their rejoicing when He returns.

Any adversity we experience is temporary because Jesus has given us eternal life.  The Father will ultimately deliver us, whether on earth, or by taking us to our home in heaven.  Our future is absolutely secure because we are in God’s loving and capable hands.

Peter then warns us to be careful what we are suffering for (vs 15-16).  He warns against suffering for something wrong that we have done.  If we are put in prison because of some crime we committed, there is nothing noble in that.  We cannot pretend that we are being persecuted because we are a Christian if our boss had to fire us because we were taking money out of the office cash box, or because we were sleeping on the job.  We are not being persecuted if we are punished for doing wrong, only if we suffer for the Name of Jesus.  Holiness matters.  Suffering for sin brings shame, not honor.  Examine our life honestly - is our suffering due to righteousness or to personal failure.

Our trials are evidence that God is actively sanctifying His Church.  God will purify His people first (vs. 17-18).  If the righteous are scarcely saved, the fate of the ungodly unsaved is far worse.  Believers face God’s refining fire, but unbelievers will face His consuming fire.

Peter concludes with the instruction that those who suffer according to God’s will should commit their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.  God is a faithful Creator - He made us, sustains us, and will vindicate us.  Knowing that, we must keep doing good.  Don’t retreat or compromise, and don’t grow bitter because of trials we go through.  Keep obeying God even when obedience brings suffering.   Contrary to what many false teachers say, persecution is not a sign of God’s absence, but of His refining work.  Nothing will ever touch us without passing through the hands of a faithful Creator.

God Arises And His Enemies Scatter

Psalm 68

Throughout history kingdoms and empires have held victory parades and celebrations after wars, when the victorious king, his generals, and his armies would return.  The enemy had been defeated and scattered.  This was always a joyous time, with the people singing praises to their leaders and soldiers.  The enemy had been defeated!   Our psalm for this week is a song of celebration as God defeats His enemies.  Let’s see what the Lord says in His Word.

Psalm 68 was written by King David, possibly in honor of when the Ark of the Covenant was brought back into Israel, when he placed it in Jerusalem, which had recently been made his capital city (II Samuel 6:1-15).  This was a moment which symbolized God’s enthronement among His people.  David wanted to celebrate Yahweh, the God who arises, scatters His enemies, defends His people, marches with Israel, and reigns from Zion.  The Lord is a Warrior, Protector, Provider, and King.

As we begin our psalm, we see that God arises to scatter His enemies (vs. 1-6).  David echoed the words of Moses which that great leader of Israel spoke during the years in the wilderness, whenever the Ark of the Covenant was taken up when the people journeyed from one location to another (Numbers 10:35).  This is a declaration of God’s unstoppable power.  God literally defeats His enemies, whether they be demonic powers, or the people who serve those powers.  He has done so in the past, and will continue to do so.  Evil will not prevail, and we can rejoice in His presence.

Not only does Yahweh defeat His enemies, He is also a defender of the weak and powerless who put their trust in Him, especially the widow and orphan (vs. 5-6).  These verses are such a comfort.  We all need a father’s love.  Some children never get that, as their father is not there due to either death or divorce.  Some, whose fathers are present, still do not have their love, due to violence, abuse, or neglect.   God promises to be a father to the fatherless, both the orphan, and those who have that father-love void in their hearts.  People today are often so lonely.  Even in crowded cities and workplaces, there is so much loneliness.  At the core of loneliness is our need for God.  St. Augustine said “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.”  We can never be perfectly satisfied with any human relationship until we are at peace with God.

Verses 7-10 describe God leading victorious from Mt. Sinai.  The earth shook and the heavens poured rain as God led Israel.  This describes literal, historical events.  God’s presence then, and now, is overwhelming and powerful.  David specifically described how God provided for the needs of His people throughout their wilderness wandering, and He continues to do so today.  He anticipates our needs, and provides from His goodness for the poor.  We can trust Him for all of the necessities we may face.

When the people of Israel arrived in the land that the Lord promised them, He continued to win victories over His enemies (vs. 11-23).  Enemy kings would flee, and God’s people would divide the spoils.  However, it was God, not Israel’s military strength, that was the source of victory.  He promises to crush the heads of His enemies (vs. 21) - a reminder of His divine justice.

Verse 18 is a prophecy that King David made, which was fulfilled when Jesus Christ ascended into heaven (Ephesians 4:8-10).  God promises to load us with benefits (vs. 19).  In order to have room for all those benefits, we need to hand over all of our burdens and worries to Him.  He will exchange our problems for His blessings.  God promises to bear our burdens.  We are not called to bear those burdens ourselves.  Jesus invited us to give them to Him (Matthew 11:28-31).  He reminds us that we don't have to struggle on our own with fears, worries, or trials that weigh us down.  He invites us to come to Him when we are tired from carrying heavy burdens, and promises that we will find rest, and be loaded with blessings.

David proceeded to bring the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing where God resided, into Jerusalem, the Lord’s procession into the Sanctuary of the Tabernacle (vs. 24-27).  A majestic parade of singers, musicians, and tribes celebrates God’s enthronement.  God dwells among His people in holiness.  David then closes the psalm speaking of Yahweh’s universal reign (vs. 28-35).  There is coming a day when all nations will bring Him tribute, and kingdoms sing His praises.  This will occur during the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus.

As we close this psalm, we can see that, as believers, we can trust God to fight our battles.  He still scatters enemies - both spiritual, moral, and circumstantial.  Yahweh also cares for the weak, and bears our burdens, so we can rest in His provision.  From Sinai to Zion, from King David to the Lord Jesus, from Israel to the nations, we see our God, who arises, marches, provides, judges, and reigns forever.

The Lord Was With Joseph

Genesis 39-41

It is very tempting to feel that God is not around or has stepped back when we are going through some difficult, trying times.  We may think that God is angry at us, or that He has abandoned us, especially if we are going through some very devastating events.  Our faith can be severely tested, and sometimes if the trials are particularly severe, some may lose faith all together.  Today let us look at a young man, Joseph, who went through some very horrible trials, none of which he deserved, yet his faith, trust, and love of God stood strong.

Joseph was the eleventh of the twelve sons of Jacob, the first by his favorite and most beloved wife Rachel, and thus was Jacob’s favorite son.  Because Joseph was his father’s favorite, his other brothers grew to hate him.  Their hatred grew to such an extreme that one day when their father had sent him to check on them out in a distant field with their flocks of sheep, they stripped him, threw him into a deep pit, and then sold him to passing merchants (Genesis 37:23-28).  These merchants were heading to Egypt, about 300 miles from where the sons of Jacob had been, thus forcing a probably beaten up and scantily clothed Joseph to walk for about two weeks in the hot sun.  Once in Egypt the merchants sold him as a slave to Potiphar, the captain of the guard for the Egyptian army.

This is where our Scripture account begins, and one would not be surprised if we read that Joseph was cursing God, angrily screaming out at Him as to why He let all this happen to him, especially after having followed Him for all of his life.  However, that is not the case.  Joseph’s faith remained intact. As mentioned earlier, many of us feel that we have been abandoned by God when severe trials happen, but we see that God had not abandoned Joseph.  We read several times in our Scripture that the Lord was with him, even after his brother’s betrayal, and being sold as a slave (vs. 39:2).  As a matter of fact, because Joseph was an extraordinarily bright young man, and had shown himself trustworthy as Potiphar’s slave, he made Joseph the head of his household, his chief steward.  God’s presence is not dependent on our circumstances.  Even in slavery, Joseph was under divine favor.  Our circumstances do not determine God’s nearness - His promises do.

Some time after this, Joseph faced a strong temptation.  Potiphar’s wife tried to tempt him to go to bed with her (vs. 39:7-13).  As the wife of a high-ranking man in Pharaoh’s court and military, she was undoubtedly quite attractive.  However, Joseph refused, as he had integrity.  He said that such an act would be a sin against God, and also a betrayal of his master’s trust.  Joseph fled, he didn’t negotiate with sin.  Sexual purity is non-negotiable for believers.  Holiness requires decisive action.  Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is run when faced with strong temptation.

Circumstances took another turn for the worse in Joseph’s life because of this.  Potiphar’s wife told a terrible lie, both to the other servants who were all too quick to believe her, and to her husband.  Potiphar then has Joseph thrown into prison, despite doing right (vs. 39:16-20).  How many of us would be angry at God right now?  We did what was right, and look what happened?  Doing right does not guarantee immediate reward, but it is still what believers should do.  God allows trials to shape character and to position His servants.  Joseph’s suffering was not punishment, it was preparation for what God had planned.

Again Scripture records that God was with Joseph, and he knew it.  Rather than getting angry with the Lord, he served Him whatever his circumstances were, and wherever he was.  Don’t wait for ideal conditions to serve God.  Faithfulness starts where you are.  Just like in Potiphar’s household, Joseph’s integrity and trustworthiness showed, and he was placed in a position of trust and authority in the prison (vs. 39:21-23) .  It was here that Joseph interpreted the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s servants who were imprisoned.  Both dreams came true, and the one who was restored to his position, promised to speak on Joseph’s behalf (vs. 40:1-23).  Regarding the dreams, Joseph gave God the credit for the interpretation.  He refused to take glory for himself, even though that might have improved his circumstances.  Wherever we are, we should always use our gifts, but give God the glory.

Though Pharaoh’s cupbearer forgot about Joseph, the Lord hadn’t.  Two years passed, but God’s timing was perfect.  Pharoah had a troubling dream, which caused the cupbearer to remember his promise to Joseph, who was quickly brought out of prison where he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream.  God orchestrated these events with precision.  He can change our situation in a single moment.  What seems like delay is really divine timing.  By warning of events that were to come, Pharaoh placed Joseph in chief command as his prime minister (vs. 41:37-44).

All of the events in Joseph’s life led up to that moment, and ultimately saved his family, preserving the family line for the Messiah, Jesus Christ (vs. 41:53-57).  Just as we have seen that God had not abandoned Joseph, but was continually with him, we can know that He is with us, too, even in our darkest hours.  He directs every detail to fulfill His covenant promises.  God’s purposes are bigger than our pain.  He will use trials to position us for the work He has for us to do for Him.

Final Instructions

Mark 16:9-20

When your boss is going to be gone for a while, maybe on vacation, he usually leaves a set of instructions of what he wants you to be doing while he is away.  Teachers and parents leave the children with instructions of what they want done.  In our Gospel reading today, St. Mark not only gives some brief accounts of things that happened right after the Resurrection, but also includes some specific instructions that the Lord gave before He ascended back into heaven.  Let’s take a look at what these are.

As our Scripture passage opens, Mark briefly relates some post-resurrection appearances that the Lord Jesus made.  The first one he speaks of was to Mary Magdalene (vs. 9-11).  She was one of a few women who had initially come to the tomb to anoint the Body of Jesus.  They each saw and heard the angels’ message, and the others hurried back to the disciples.  Mary Magdalene, though, remained at the tomb.  It was there that she saw Jesus, and He spoke with her.  However, when she returned to the disciples and told them, they did not really believe her.

Mary Magdalene was a woman who Jesus had cast out seven demons (Luke 8:1-3).  We don’t know what had happened that opened the door for her to become possessed, but after her deliverance Mary Magdalene became a devoted disciple.  God delights in transforming broken lives, and using them for His glory.  The Lord chose her to be the first person to see the risen Savior.  He often uses the unlikely or overlooked to accomplish His purposes.

Next, Mark relates the Lord’s appearance to a couple who were traveling out of Jerusalem to their home in the village of Emmaus (vs. 12-13).  This parallels the account that Luke gave in Luke 24:13-35.  These two were also disciples, and were returning home, downcast and discouraged by all that had happened the last few days.  On the road they met a stranger, who happened to be Jesus, but they didn’t immediately recognize Him.  Later they did, and they hurried back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples, who again did not believe.

Continuing on in our passage, we read that Jesus then later appeared to His eleven apostles, and reproves them for their unbelief and hardness of heart (vs. 14).  They should have been expected to believe, as Jesus had shared with them numerous times what was to have happened - that He would be betrayed, turned over to His enemies, crucified, and on the third day rise again.

In verses 15-16, Jesus gives them His commission to go out into all the world and preach the Gospel, a commission that most of us are familiar with from the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 28:16-20).  Their upcoming ministry was to be universal, “preach the Gospel to every creature”, not to stay put and tell only their friends and relatives.  Instead, they were to go tell all nations.  Those who believe and follow Jesus will be saved, those who don’t will be lost.

Jesus then instructs them in some miraculous signs that will follow those who go forth proclaiming the Gospel (vs. 17-18).  They will be able to cast out demons, speak in new tongues, have protection from deadly harm, and heal the sick.  These signs were real, supernatural, and gave clear evidence to the apostles' message in the early Church.  None of these should ever be done with the intent of testing God - deliberately picking up poisonous snakes because “God will protect me”, or deliberately drinking poison because “God will protect me.  St. Paul unknowingly picked up a deadly snake, but God protected him from any harm (Acts 28:1-6).  These were the instructions that Jesus gave His followers.  They should preach the Gospel to everyone, and signs of the Holy Spirit’s presence, signs that bring praise and glory to the Name of Jesus, will follow.

Then in the presence of His disciples, Jesus ascended into heaven, where He is seated at God’s right hand (vs. 19).  His ascension affirms His deity  and authority.  Whoever is seated at a powerful ruler’s right hand not only has his favor, but also has his ear.  Jesus is at God’s right hand, and what a blessing for us, He is interceding for us to the Father.  His position at God’s right hand guarantees the success of the Gospel mission.  We serve a risen, reigning, sovereign Lord.

Mark wraps up this Scripture passage, along with his Gospel by stating that the disciples did exactly what the Lord commanded.  They went out preaching the message of salvation, with the Lord working through them, confirming the Word with signs and wonders (vs. 20).  Obedience to the Lord will bring divine empowerment.  God will always confirm His Word. He does not leave His servants without help.  The same Lord who empowered the apostles, empowers believers today through the Holy Spirit.  We should also remember that God uses ordinary people - Mary Magdalene, doubting disciples, and believers today.

The King Ascends, The Church Advances

Acts 1:4-11

Thursday of this week marks the Feast of the Ascension in the Christian calendar, the day, approximately forty days after Easter, when Jesus ascended back into heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of God the Father.  We will read the account of this in our Scripture today, where we see the risen Christ commission His church, give the promise of the Holy Spirit, ascend into heaven, and we are given a guarantee of His return.

As our Scripture opens, Jesus had taken His disciples out of Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives, nearby the village of Bethany, which is just a couple of miles from Jerusalem (Luke 24:50-51).  Though Jesus had told them before that He would be returning to the Father, I don’t believe they knew what was going to happen that day.  He had instructed them that they were to be His witnesses, bringing the Gospel message to the world.  Now, as they were on the Mount of Olives, Jesus told them that they were to return to Jerusalem.  They were to wait, not work, until they received the promised power of the Holy Spirit (vs. 4-5).  This was a command, a divine directive, and not a suggestion.  They were not to proceed further until they had the power of the Holy Spirit.

John the Baptist had baptized with water, but they would soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit.  This shows a clear distinction between John’s preparatory ministry and Jesus’ empowering ministry.  This baptism of the Holy Spirit would occur about 1 ½ weeks later, at Pentecost.  However at this time they did not understand or know.  This would empower them for the ministry of spreading the Gospel.  God’s work must be done in God’s power, not with just human enthusiasm.  They were to wait on God.

As the disciples were gathered with Jesus on the Mount of Olives, they were still expecting an immediate political kingdom, a restoration of the kingdom of Israel, bringing them out from any type of foreign control (vs. 6-7).  Jesus, though, redirected their focus to the spiritual mission they had.  Their expectation was rooted in Old Testament prophecy.  It was Biblical, however their timing was off.  Jesus did not deny the future restoration of Israel, He simply said that the timing is the Father’s business, not theirs right then.  Times and dates are set by God.  We too should not be trying to set dates for when Jesus will return.  Our calling is to spread the Gospel message, seeing people come to saving faith in Jesus, not in date-setting.

Verse 8 is the mission of the Church, and is basically the outline of the entire Book of Acts in a nutshell.  The disciples would receive power when the Holy Spirit would come upon them, and then they were to be witnesses for Jesus, not debaters, politicians, or philosophers.  Their mission was to expand outward.  It would start in Jerusalem on Pentecost (local), and was to proceed to Judea (regional), then also into Samaria (cross-cultural), and outward to the end of the earth (global).  God made us for a purpose.  We are to take the Good News of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ into the world.  The Lord desires us to reach others for Him.

It took a little while for the early Christians to move outward, beyond Judea, beyond their own nationality and culture, to witness to Gentiles and welcome them into the Church.  But the Holy Spirit moved with events and His conviction and encouragement, and He ensured it happened.  The Church’s mission is proclaiming the risen Savior Jesus, and the power for this comes from the Holy Spirit.  Every believer is called to be a witness.  The Gospel is to move outward.  If we are not reaching outward, we are resisting the Holy Spirit’s design.

Following these instructions, Jesus physically, visibly, and bodily ascended into heaven (vs. 9-11).  Jesus was taken up bodily, this was not symbolic or spiritualized.  A cloud received Him, which is often a symbol in the Bible of God’s glory.  Two angels then appeared, bringing the disciples a message.  They asked why the disciples were just standing there, gaping up into the sky.  Their implication was to stop staring and to start obeying what Jesus had just told them.  They proceeded to then tell them that Jesus would return.  In His return He would come down from heaven, visibly and bodily.

Jesus is now exalted, seated at the Father’s right hand.  There He is our Intercessor, our High Priest (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34).  Ascension Day calls us to worship Jesus as our exalted Lord and trusted Intercessor.  We are to serve Him as we await His return.

As we take a final look at the disciples in our Scripture for today, we see that none of these men were well-traveled before Jesus called them.  Their ways were not sophisticated.  They had little formal education.  They didn’t have a lot of humility, as several tried to grab positions in Jesus’ kingdom.  Peter tried to get Jesus to avoid the cross.  They fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Yet Jesus chose them and commissioned them to bring His message to the world.  You may not think that you have what it takes to be a witness for Jesus.  Or some other people may tell you the same, that you’re not smart or qualified.  Just remember, God doesn’t call the qualified.  He qualifies those He has called.

The King Over All The Earth

Psalm 47

Ascension Day is on Thursday of this week, the day when the Lord Jesus left earth and returned to heaven.  Our Scripture for later this week will go more into that event.  However, since that event commemorates more than just His return to heaven, but also His exaltation as Lord, and His enthronement at the right hand of God the Father, let’s look at another Scripture that speaks of God as King, reigning over the world.

Psalm 47 is one of several psalms written by the Sons of Korah.  Korah was a man from the tribe of Levi who led a rebellion against Moses (Numbers 16:1-40).  God judged Korah and those in rebellion with him by opening the earth, which swallowed them alive.  However, his children and descendants weren’t harmed.  Later they worked in the Temple, particularly with worship music, and also writing several of the psalms.

Our psalm speaks of the universal kingship of Yahweh, how He is the sovereign King over all the earth, and how one day all nations will submit to His rule.  This will happen when Jesus returns and sets up His Millennium reign.  This psalm is both present - God reigns now, and prophetic - Jesus will reign visibly and universally in the future.

The Sons of Korah begin their psalm by calling out to everyone to clap and shout their praises to God (vs. 1).  These are to be expressions of victory for the Lord.  This is a call to everyone, not just Israel.  God’s kingship is not tribal or regional.  He is God of everyone, everywhere, and there is a day coming when all nations will acknowledge Jesus as Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

The reason to shout and praise Yahweh is that He is awesome, inspiring wonder and worship (vs. 2).  He is also totally worthy of reverence.  God is not just Israel’s King, He is King over all the earth.  Most of the pagan gods worshiped in that time and place were regional deities.  They were the gods of this or that mountain, plain, or river.  They might have power over some specific weather event.  However, Yahweh’s dominion, power, and rule is absolute and universal.

The Sons of Korah look into the future with a prophetic promise (vs. 3).  This verse looks forward to the Millennial Kingdom, when Jesus rules, and His people are restored to a place of prominence (Isaiah 2:1-4; Zechariah 14:9, 16-17).  It is God Himself, not any human effort, that will bring the nations of the world into submission to Him.  We do not win people to the Lord by force, but the Holy Spirit’s intervention does.

Continuing on, we see that God gives His children their inheritance (vs. 4).  It is not self-earned.  His choices are rooted in grace, not in our own merit.  We can rest in the knowledge that God’s love for us is faithful, and all of His choices for us are perfect.

Now we come to the verses that relate to the Ascension (vs. 5).  This is royal coronation language, picturing God ascending to His throne after victory.  Prophetically it points to Jesus’ ascension spoken of in Acts 1:9-11, and then later to His return with the sound of the trumpet (I Thessalonians 4:16), and His enthronement in the Millennium.  Jesus is the victorious, exalted King.  Continuing, we are told five times to sing praises to God (vs. 6-7).  We are to be joyful to the Lord.  Our praise should be with understanding, intelligence, not just random babble, and it should be directed to God, not to ourselves, any preacher, or to any singer or musician.

As the Sons of Korah bring this psalm to a close, we see that God reigns over the nations of the world (vs. 8-9).  His rule is holy, not random or by chance.  Even now, though many nations are in rebellion against Him, He is still sovereign.  His reign is not threatened by human rebellion.  And in the future, Jesus will rule visibly and perfectly.  All earthly rulers and their people will gather to worship Jesus.  Their “shields”, which symbolize their authority, power, and military strength, will be given to God, as they ultimately belong to Him.

Approximately forty days after Easter, Jesus ascended and returned to heaven, where He is seated on His heavenly throne.  This psalm was one that anticipated His literal, earthly kingdom, where He will rule from Jerusalem.  God is not some tribal deity, but rules all nations, all peoples, and the whole universe.  Some may wonder where God is in all the mess that is happening throughout the world, and may wonder if He has somehow lost control, or has stepped back and is not involved in anything anymore.  We can trust God’s plan for the future.  History may seem like it is spiraling out of control, but it’s not.  It is moving towards the visible reign of Jesus Christ.

Ancient of Days

Daniel 7:9-14

When many people think of the Book of Daniel they immediately think of the account of Daniel in the lion’s den, or of his three friends being thrown into the fiery furnace and coming out unharmed.  Those are certainly the most familiar parts of the Book of Daniel.  However the majority of the book contains prophetic visions Daniel had, or interpretation of dreams that he gave of future events, particularly end-time events.  Today’s portion of Scripture from the Book of Daniel is one such passage.  It reveals the heavenly courtroom where God, the Ancient of Days, will judge the kingdoms of men, and will grant everlasting dominion to the Messiah, the Son of Man, who is clearly identified in the New Testament as Jesus Christ.  Let’s see what God’s Word has to say.

Chapter 7 begins with describing a dream and visions that Daniel had.  First he described four Gentile empires which would come.  Then, as our portion of Scripture describes, the vision moves from earth to heaven, where God will judge these kingdoms, and establish His own.  This Scripture gives a divine perspective on world history - that human empires rise and fall, but God’s kingdom is eternal.

As our Scripture begins, Daniel had a vision of God seated on His throne as the divine Judge (vs. 9-10).  Daniel used the name “Ancient of Days”, a name for God the Father which is found only in the Book of Daniel.  This name emphasizes His eternality.  The white hair symbolizes God’s wisdom, and His white clothes show His purity and holiness.  His fiery throne shows God’s majesty and authority.  A fiery stream comes forth from God’s throne.  When we read of fire in the Bible, it often symbolizes judgment (Hebrews 12:29), purity, and holiness.  Surrounding God’s throne of judgment are multiple thousands of angels.

The books of judgment are brought to God and opened.  God keeps a record of all that we as individuals do, and also what the nations do.  His judgment is deliberate, righteous, and final.  Later, in another book of the Bible which describes end-time events we read of the Great White Throne judgment where all mankind is judged (Revelation 20:11-12).  However, here we are focused on the judgment of world empires.  God is the sovereign Judge over all nations.  No empire will escape His scrutiny.  Everyone will be held accountable.

As we read on, we read about the fourth beast, which will be the ruler of the final Gentile empire before the Lord’s return (vs. 11-12).  This leader will have immense power in the world, and speak boldly and pompously.  However, this ungodly world leader’s destruction will be sudden and final.  He will be toppled and destroyed, not by any human effort, but by divine intervention.  We see that all human kingdoms, no matter how big or powerful, are only temporary.  God’s kingdom alone is eternal.

Daniel moves on in describing the vision he had, speaking about the Son of Man (vs. 13-14).  This is not an angel, nor merely a human.  This is the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, in His glorified humanity.  Jesus used this title for Himself more than any other, over eighty times in the Gospels.  He is described as “coming with the clouds of heaven.”  The Bible has frequently described God and the Lord Jesus as being surrounded by clouds, accompanying His presence (Psalm 104:3; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7).

This is not describing the Second Coming of Jesus to earth.  This is His heavenly coronation, where He receives authority from the Father.  Some parallel passages that also describe this are Psalm 2:6-9; Psalm 110:1; Matthew 28:18; and Revelation 5:6-14.  We see that the Lord Jesus will receive absolute authority and dominion, divine honor and glory, and a literal, earthly, and everlasting kingdom.

There are several characteristics of Jesus’ kingdom.  First, it is a universal kingdom, with people from all nations and languages.  It is also an indestructible kingdom, which shall not pass away.  Finally, Daniel described it as an eternal kingdom that shall not be destroyed.  This part of the prophetic vision will be fulfilled in the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6), and then in the Eternal State (Revelation 21-22).  Jesus Christ is the rightful King of all creation.  His kingdom is literal, future, and everlasting.

As we close our study in Daniel 7, we should keep in mind that even when world events seem chaotic, as they certainly were in Daniel’s day, we must remember that God is on the throne.  Daniel lived under pagan empires, yet he remained faithful, and so must we.  We can endure suffering, knowing that Jesus will reign, and His justice will prevail.  We know that Jesus is our Savior, but we must also remember that He is the eternal King who deserves our obedience and our reverence.  Since Jesus is the coming Judge and King, we should do our best to warn others, inviting them to trust in Him now.

Which Way Leads Us Home?

John 14:1-11

Many years ago I used to work in downtown Chicago.  Since I lived in one of the city’s many suburbs, I would take a commuter train to and from work.  When I would leave work to return home, I would go to the massive train station where numerous trains were lined up on dozens of tracks.  It was very important that I would get on the correct train.  If I didn’t, I would end up miles from where I wanted to be.  The trains looked very similar, but only one was the correct train.  The same would be if I were to take a bus home.  Only the correct bus would get me to my destination.  Contrary to the popular saying that all roads lead to heaven, there is only one way to heaven.  As we look into our Gospel passage today, we will see what that one way is.

Our Scripture is part of the Upper Room discourse, a series of final teachings that the Lord gave His disciples on the night that He was betrayed.  The disciples were rather shaken at this time, as Jesus had just predicted His betrayal (John 13:21), Judas had abruptly left, Peter was told that he would deny Jesus, and He said that He was going away.  Jesus proceeded to comfort the troubled disciples by revealing three foundational truths - He is preparing a real place for believers, He is the exclusive way to the Father, and He is the full revelation of the Father because He is truly God.

Jesus begins by telling us to not be troubled, agitated or shaken by what is happening in the world (vs. 1).  When circumstances shake us, Jesus calls us to trust His character, not our understanding.  Here He places faith in Himself on the same level as faith in God, an implicit claim to deity.

Next He gives us one of the most comforting promises in the Bible (vs. 2-3).  Jesus promises His believers that He has prepared a place for them in heaven.  Heaven is not a vague spiritual state.  It is a prepared, permanent home for us, a real place, not just something symbolic.  Jesus has a place prepared for each one of us in heaven.  Our home here on earth might be quite humble, it may not be secure from month to month, it may have leaks and be drafty, too hot or too cold.  However, we can trust that the place that Jesus has for us will be perfect for us.  Jesus gave this promise and we can believe it, and wait confidently for that day.

Jesus said that we would know the way to where He was going.  Thomas then asked Him a question, that if we didn’t know where He was going, how could we know the way (vs. 4-5).  He wasn’t doubting, but seeking clarity.  His question set the stage for one of the most important statements that Jesus ever made.  He clearly stated that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one can come to God except through Him (vs. 6).  This is exclusive - there is no other path that leads to God.  Jesus doesn’t just show us the way, He is the way.  Salvation is through Jesus alone, by grace alone, through faith alone.  No other religion or faith can give us a valid path to truth or salvation.  Jesus is the only way.

Every major religion claims it is the only way, but only one can be right.  Absolute truth is absolute.  When religious truths conflict with each other, only one can be correct.  Even a cursory study of the various religions show that the Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and various pagan gods are different in character and purpose.  We are not all worshiping the same God.  These other religions are taking their members in a completely different, and wrong direction, rather than to heaven.  Only Jesus will get us to heaven.  Jesus took our place for the punishment of sin by suffering and dying on the cross so that we can have eternal life.  Apart from Jesus and His saving work on the cross there is no way home to God.  Look to the cross, and it will lead you home to God.

Philip then asked Jesus to show them the Father.  The Savior responded that those who see Him have seen the Father (vs. 7-9).  Jesus is not merely a representative of God, He is God in the flesh (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 1:15).  Jesus is the visible expression of the invisible God.  If we want to understand God’s heart, look at Jesus.  Everything that He did was an exact representation of His Father.

The last verses of this passage show the unity of the Father and the Son (vs. 10-11).  Jesus’ words are the Father’s words.  His works are the Father’s works.  God the Father is in Jesus, and He is in the Father.  They share the same divine nature.

In closing we see one of the clearest affirmations that Jesus is fully God.  They share one divine essence while remaining distinct Persons.  We also read the truth that salvation is exclusively through Jesus.  There is no other way.  When our heart is troubled, we need to anchor our faith in Jesus’ character.  We can be comforted with His promises of His peace, especially knowing that He has a place prepared personally for us in heaven.

His Chosen People

I Peter 2:1-10

Have you ever felt like you did not fit in with others, either at school or maybe at work?  Maybe you felt like you just weren’t wanted around by others.  Some people were an unwanted child, and ended up in an orphanage or foster home.  For others, though their parents kept them, they let them know they weren’t wanted.  Some children are the last to be picked for a team, or are never invited to join a club.  This sometimes continues on into the workplace or in social groups.  However, there is Someone who is eager to choose you for Himself.  This is one of the subjects that the Apostle Peter touches on in our Scripture today.  Let’s see what God has to teach us today.

In his first general letter to believers, Peter instructs us to put away sin from our life, to desire God’s Word, and live as His chosen people, built upon the Lord Jesus, the Cornerstone.  He begins by listing five sins for believers to get rid of in their life (vs. 1).  We might think that big things like murder, harming children, or robbing a bank would top the list.  However what he lists are malice (a desire to do evil), deceit, hypocrisy (pretending to be spiritual while hiding sin), envy, and evil speaking (slander and gossip).  These destroy our fellowship with God and our spiritual growth.  Contrary to what some may think, these are not respectable sins, and must be rooted out of our life in order to grow as a Christian.  God’s love for us should motivate us to reject these behaviors.

What will help us grow as Christians?  Newborn babies desire milk, which helps them grow.  For a believer, our “milk” is God’s Word (vs. 2-3).  We should be desiring it just like a baby does his milk.  Reading the Bible shouldn’t be something we just check off of a list of things to do.  We should want to get into God’s Word every day.  Peter says to desire the “pure milk of the Word”, which is the Bible, not just other “spiritual” literature.  They cannot replace the Bible, and one must be especially careful that they aren’t teaching false doctrine.  Just as a good mother is extremely careful of what her baby eats, so must we be very careful with what we take in spiritually.

As Peter continues, he speaks on how as believers we have come to Jesus, the Living Stone (vs. 4).  He was rejected by men, but was chosen by God.  He is “living”, emphasizing His resurrection.  A stone is strong, stable, and is used to build a foundation, which Jesus is in our life.  As believers, we share in His life as lively stones (vs. 5).  We are built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, offering to God spiritual sacrifices, such as worship, obedience, and praise.

Peter then quotes from Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm 118:22.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone.  Believers who trust in Him will not be put to shame.  Unbelievers will stumble because they disobey the Word of God.  Just as a building’s foundation is built on a strong rock so that it won’t move, our spiritual life needs to be built on the strong, solid foundation of Jesus.   Christ divides humanity into two groups - those who believe and are built upon Him, and those who reject Him and stumble into judgment.

As we continue on, Peter gives four titles for believers who follow Jesus - a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and His own special people (vs. 9).   You may be ignored or rejected by others, but when you follow Jesus, He has chosen you to be His redeemed people.  We are a royal priesthood, priests with kingly dignity, and access to God, with authority to represent Him.  As a holy nation we are set apart from the world, and as such we should be following God’s Word and not cultural trends.  As Christians we are God’s special people, His treasured possession purchased by the Blood of His Son.

As this Scripture passage comes to a close, Peter alludes to the first two chapters of the prophet Hosea.  We were once alienated from God, but are now adopted by Him (vs. 10).  We were once without mercy, but now we are recipients of His abundant mercy.

As we look back over these verses from I Peter, let’s be sure to continue growing as Christians, and not stay as babies.  We do that by taking generous portions of God’s Word each day.  We should also remember that none of us has to ever feel unwanted, abandoned or rejected, because God has called our names.  He has chosen us for His family.  Remember who you are in the Lord.  It is only when we remember who we are that we can call others out of darkness and into the light of Jesus.

Come and See

Psalm 66

When something special has happened to you, or you have seen something very special and exciting, one of the first things you want to do is tell others, and possibly also show them.  If they are doubting, you might urge them on by saying, “Come and see!”  There are some things that are just too good to keep to oneself.  Our unknown psalmist of today’s psalm felt that way.  He had much praise and worship for the Lord God that he wanted to share with everyone, which we can read today in our psalm.

Psalm 66 begins with universal praise of Yahweh from the whole earth.  Then it moves to national remembrance where the nation of Israel recounts God’s deliverance of them from captivity.  The psalm ends with the psalmist’s personal testimony of answered prayer in his life.  Each of these were things he wanted to share with others, calling them to come and see what God had done.

As our psalm opens, the author gives a universal call to worship Yahweh (vs. 1-4).  God deserves global worship, not just from Israel, but from all nations.  The praise is vocal and public from people, as they sing out and make His praise glorious.  God’s works show us exactly what His character is like.  His deeds are so mighty that even His enemies will eventually submit themselves to Him.  We don’t see that now, but there is coming the day when Jesus returns to earth, and then all nations will bow before Him (Philippians 2:10-11).

The psalmist next calls upon his people, the nation of Israel, to remember what God has done for them (vs. 5-7).  Two events that he particularly points out are the crossing of the Red Sea, and then forty years later, the crossing of the Jordan River, each time where God parted the waters, allowing the people to cross on dry land.  Some people believe that God is a remote God, who does not get involved in human events, and that after He created everything He just left that creation to get by on its own.  However, God is actively involved with all creation. He acts in history, He delivers His people, and He rules eternally.  We see this most personally with the Lord Jesus, the Son of God who came to earth, born as a human, to die upon the cross for our sins.  As the psalmist said, “Come and see!”

The next section of our psalm shifts from God’s mighty acts to that of His disciplining and refining His people (vs. 8-12).  Precious metals are put through a refining process to remove impurities, making the metal more valuable.  The same holds for believers.  God will often put His children through similar processes in order to remove sin.  He will test us, bringing us through figurative fire and water, in order to refine us just as silver is refined.  This discipline is purposeful, not punitive.  These trials are not signs of abandonment, but of refinement (Hebrews 12:5-11).  God allows us to go through times of testing to toughen our spiritual muscles and endurance.  He teaches us to rely on Him, and purifies us to be holy, so that we become more like Christ.  God will preserve us, purify us, and bring us to a place of abundance.

Proceeding on, the psalmist next speaks of his personal worship and vows that he had made to God (vs. 13-15).  Some time in his recent past he had made some vows to God in prayer for deliverance from various troubles that he was in.  Many people make vows and promises to God when they have problems in their life, or when they seek healing from a critical illness, but then when He delivers or heals them, that promise is forgotten.  Not so with our psalmist.  He brings his offerings to the Lord in sincere gratitude.  That should be the case with every Christian.  If we ever make a vow or promise to the Lord, we should be certain to fulfill those vows, and not conveniently forget.

Lastly, the psalmist gives a personal testimony of answered prayer (vs. 16-20).  He reminds the reader that if there is sin in one’s heart, God will not answer.  However, that is not the case with him, as God heard and answered his prayers for help.  God does not find worship acceptable from believers who cling unrepentantly to sin (vs. 18).  Some people choose to live in ungodliness, even after salvation.  If this is our choice, God will not respond to our prayers.  This doesn’t mean we can never make a mistake.  God understands our frailty.  But we must repent of all known sin, and avoid continuing in it.

How often are we, as Christians, calling upon others, both fellow believers and the unsaved, to come and see what mighty works God has done?  He deserves our praise.  Our testimony just might open up some lost person’s eyes and heart to the Lord, leading them to one day call upon the Lord Jesus for salvation.

Forgetting God in the Good Times

Deuteronomy 6:10-25

When are people more likely to pray - when things are going great in their life or when there are serious problems?  We all know that we are more likely to turn to God when we have troubles and we need His help, rather than when we are prosperous.  That seems to be human nature.  However, that shouldn’t be the case for Christians.  In our Scripture passage today from the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, the people of Israel were about to enter into the land that the Lord had promised them.  This land was to be a blessing to them, an abundant and fruitful land.  On the eve of their entry into this land, Moses gave them a warning.  Let’s look at what that warning was.

For the past forty years the people of Israel had been traveling through and living in the wilderness.  That was a difficult existence, with a scarcity of food and water if it wasn’t for the Lord’s provisions.  Now they were going into a fruitful land, one blessed for farming and raising livestock, a land that had pre-existing cities and infrastructure.  This may seem like a great blessing, and it was.  However, with the blessings, Moses warned that there was a great danger.  Israel’s greatest danger had not been the wilderness that they were leaving.  It was Canaan’s prosperity.

In the wilderness the people had lived in tents, sleeping on the ground or on cots.  It was hot, it was dusty, provisions were scarce, and it was not very pleasant.  Now they were entering a land where the cities and houses were already built, where the wells were already dug, and the farmland was already prepared (vs. 10-12).  This was a blessing from the Lord, a gift of His grace.  The people needed to remember that, and not fall into pride and feelings of self-sufficiency.  God is the giver of every good thing, and they, along with us today, need to beware of forgetting that.

Forgetting God is not a memory lapse.  It is a spiritual drift that can lead to idolatry.  When life becomes easier, prayer often becomes weaker, as we might feel that we don’t need God’s help anymore.  Comfort can dull our spiritual vigilance.  The antidote for forgetting about God is having a grateful heart.

Moses instructed the people, and us as well, to continue to have a fear of God, to have a heart of reverence for Him, to serve Him in obedience, and to swear or show public allegiance to His Name (vs. 13-15).  God demands exclusive worship.  This includes the mixing of worship of Him, of true Christianity, with that of other false religions.  Some churches falsely teach that it is fine to mix into our faith the teachings and beliefs of other religions, however God’s Word warns against that.  Also, idolatry is not only the worship of false gods, but it is also the giving of one’s heart loyalty to anything other than God.  This could include our career, hobbies, entertainment, and relationships.  We must consciously choose God over everything else.

Reading further, Moses reminded the people of an event from their time in the wilderness, where they had tested God at Massah (Exodus 17:1-7), where they doubted God’s goodness and demanded proof from Him (vs. 16-19).  God never has to prove Himself to us in order to deserve our obedience.  Testing God is unbelief, and trusting Him is obedience.  We “tempt God” when we demand signs, manipulate circumstances, or obey only when it is convenient for us.  Faith will always obey, even when the path is unclear.

Our Scripture continues by instructing us to teach the next generation the meaning of redemption (vs. 20-25).  During the days of the Old Testament the people were to explain to their children how God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt, bringing them out and giving them the Promised Land.  Following Jesus’ resurrection, believers are to teach their children about the Savior’s redemption of us through His shed Blood upon the Cross, and the necessity of putting their faith and trust in Jesus.  We should share testimonies of God’s faithfulness, and teach our children His Word clearly, consistently, and joyfully.

As Moses warned, prosperity can become spiritually dangerous.  Forgetfulness of God’s blessings can lead to pride, idolatry, and sin.  Obedience to God’s Word is the only safe response to His redeeming grace.  This passage is a sober warning for believers today who live in a world full of comforts, distractions and competing loyalties.  Let’s remember to praise and thank God during our times of blessings, when things are going well, coming to Him often in worship and prayer, and not develop spiritual amnesia.

Which Door Do You Choose?

John 10:1-10

Every day each of us will likely go in and out of various doorways.  Throughout our homes there are several doorways.  Then as we go out for our day we go in and out of office doors, store doors, even our car doors.  We need to be careful that each of these doors are the correct ones.  We wouldn’t want to accidentally try to go through the wrong apartment or house door, or the wrong car door!  That might get us into trouble!  As important as it is to choose the correct doors in our life, it is even more important that the door we go through as we enter eternity is the correct one!  Our Scripture today from the Gospel of John speaks of the door that we need to make sure that we enter through.  Let’s see what door that is.

A common theme throughout the Bible is that of representing people as sheep with a shepherd looking after them.  The kings of Judah were sometimes spoken of as shepherds guiding the flock of God’s people.  King David was both a literal shepherd in his youth, and then a figurative one as king.  The prophets throughout the Old Testament were frequently referred to in Scripture as a type of spiritual shepherd, guiding the flock of God’s people into His ways.  Just like in life, there were good shepherds that genuinely cared for the sheep, and then there were bad shepherds who didn’t.  There were good kings and good religious leaders who led the people in following God, and bad ones who led the people astray into idolatry and false teachings.

Just prior to the beginning of our Scripture Jesus had healed the man who had been born blind, and the Pharisees in protest, cast him out of the synagogue for believing in Jesus, and then proceeded to challenge Him.  Jesus began to teach the people about false shepherds who lead the flock astray, as that is what the Pharisees were doing.  Sheep were kept in a fenced-in sheepfold overnight, which had a gate or doorway to enter.  There was only one proper way to enter the sheepfold, and that was through the gate, and anyone who tried to enter another way, was up to no good, he was a thief (vs. 1).  The flock was God’s people, and the proper door was God’s appointed way to eternal life which His proper shepherds were to lead to.  False spiritual leaders who claim authority but do not lead by God’s appointed ways, are thieves and robbers.  God alone determines the correct spiritual way.  Any leader who chooses some other teaching besides the Bible is a false shepherd.

A true, God-appointed shepherd will come through God’s appointed means (vs. 2).  Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, and the prophets of the Old Testament and true godly priests and preachers of today come through God’s approved way.  The Chief Shepherd calls the sheep by name. Just like sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd, genuine believers will recognize the voice of the Shepherd Jesus (vs. 3).  He personally cares for His sheep, His children, and knows them each intimately, knowing their name.

Shepherds in the Middle East during Biblical times would always lead their flock from the front, not from behind (vs. 4-5).  That is the way that Jesus leads His sheep, by His example, not by coercion.  His sheep will follow Him because they can trust Him, they know His character, and recognize His voice.  True believers have spiritual discernment.  They may be temporarily confused, but they will not ultimately follow false doctrine or false teachers.  Some of the people listening, including the Pharisees, refused to accept Jesus’ words (vs. 6).  They were spiritually blind, closing their hearts and minds to Him.

Jesus is not only our Shepherd, He is also the Door through whom we must enter to come to God’s Kingdom (vs 7).  Access to God is exclusively through Him, and salvation is only through Him.  This is consistent with John 14:6, where Jesus said He is the Way, and no one can come to the Father except through Him.  All of the false messiahs, the corrupt religious leaders, and self-appointed spiritual authorities, both then and now, are thieves and robbers (vs. 8).  They steal, taking what is not theirs.  They kill by destroying spiritual life, leading to eternal ruin.  How many of today’s false preachers continue to take money to live their lavish lifestyle, and preach their false messages which send their followers to eternal doom?

However, those who follow Jesus, going through His door, will be saved, finding spiritual nourishment (vs. 9-10).  He is not merely the beginning of salvation, He is the ongoing source of spiritual life.  The thief destroys, but Jesus gives eternal life more abundantly.

Whose voice are you following, that of Jesus or some other religious leader or philosophy?  Jesus is the only Door.  No other religion, ritual, or leader can replace Him.  True under-shepherds will lead those in the flock they are looking after through His Door, His way.  They won’t try to climb in some other way, which leads to destruction.  There is only one safe and true Door.  When we walk through the door of Jesus, we are promised eternal life.