Through This Man

Acts 13:26-28, 29-30, 33 - Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. ...But God raised Him from the dead. ... And we declare to you glad tidings--that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. 

I've mentioned in the past that history repeats itself and the Book of Job tells us that there is nothing new under the sun. This concept has got to be part of God's plan that we might learn from others' past mistakes. But we are, as the people of Israel were, a stubborn lot. We are convinced we are capable of ruling ourselves without Divine guidance. We've celebrated our Independence Day. Have we learned enough about Divine guidance in the founding of this land? 

As I read Acts 13:26-32 a catch in my spirit caused me to think how this relates so much to us today. The Apostle Paul is speaking to believers in Philippi. He is referring to the Jews of Jerusalem at the time of Christ. He is relating the prophetic words spoken years prior about the Christ, the Messiah, who was to come...and whom these people had seen and either received Him or rejected Him.

Acts 13:26 refers to those who follow Christ today, who fear Him. We have received the Gospel message and have taken it to heart. Israel was the original "Abraham's seed." Israel's Jews are God's chosen people. Because of their constant disobedience and wandering away from the One who delivered them time and time again, God began to include us, Gentiles...mainly as a way to make Israel jealous:  Romans 11:11 - I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. This was part of God's plan since before the beginning of time...something we cannot fully grasp with our limited minds! We who have chosen Christ are part of Abraham's seed by adoption into the family of God...having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:5). As Jesus is the Light to us, we (corporately) are to be the light to the Jews and all people.

Here's where my mind has taken me for Acts 13:27 (don't worry, I won't go through each scripture!): the scripture is referring to the Israel of the past. Some of the Jews did not receive Jesus at the time He was living. Certainly not the religious leaders because He was a threat to their way of practicing their religious rites. Their "not knowing Him" in the scripture was their rejection. They knew very well the words of the prophets but did not believe. Jesus told them in their own temple one day who He was: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn. Isaiah 61:1-2. After Jesus had read these words He made a bold statement: Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Luke 4:21.  Oh, how these words were rejected.

So, as Acts 13 continues in verse 28 we see what they chose to do...put Him to death. Why? Because they did not want this single man, so different in His thinking, to cause them to submit to His ways. And what do we see today? People not believing Jesus is the only Way, Truth and Life. It's that same stubbornness...the same mentality...take God out of all equations in this world. Take Him out of schools, remove prayer from the public because it is offensive to believe one Man can be so powerful and mighty...and God. How dare any one person be so great?

But here's the good news: although Jesus, Son of God, was crucified, died and was buried, He arose again. And today, despite what anyone wants to think, He is alive and seated on His throne. He will return some day. Jesus will lead the battle against the enemy in a great war. He will win and will begin a millennial reign on this earth where He will reign from Jerusalem. It will be a new earth where no evil will exist. We will work to recreate the devastated land. There will be no tears, no sorrow, no pain. And everyone will know Jesus is King. Oh, how I wish I could explain how everything we see happening today in the world is pointing to that day! 

If we know Jesus as Lord and Savior...with every fiber of our being...we will participate in this new life. We can be the children referred to in verse 33. Knowing Christ, not just knowing of Him, secures the same promises found all throughout the Word. It's all contingent upon our bowing our knees before Jesus today. The world offers a lot of wonderful stuff, but the "stuff" of Jesus is better in the end.

Let's not go the direction of the world and reject this Man who offers so great a salvation. Let's fight with endurance the battle that rages against Him. It's believed that we are in the last days because we see the rejection of God so rampant and the sins of the world growing greater. We could be seeing the results of our disobedience and rejection (like Israel so long ago)...our not taking seriously the Word of God...both in book form and in the form of a single, great and awesome Man. Remember, He arose from the grave. He will return! It's not just some fable. It's not something we've not seen happen yet so why should we believe it ever will. 

Only He is able to forgive sins...not our works, not who we think we are, not our money, not our wisdom. We are not greater than He. We will bend our knees to Him someday, either gladly because we have accepted Him today or with shame should we continue to reject Him. Philippians 2:10-11 - that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  And this is where the question arises, what must I do to be saved?  ...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9. It's believing with your whole heart. It's allowing the Lord into every part of your life. It's letting the Holy Spirit direct your paths. Most importantly, it's acknowledging His sovereignty.

Acts 13:38-39 - Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things ...

Comforts vs. Eternity

2Timothy 3:12 - Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

I'm reading more than one book...The Sovereignty of God by A. W. Pink and Radical by David Platt. After sharing about the sovereignty of God yesterday, I picked up Radical to read a bit more and surprise, Platt has one section of one chapter devoted to God's sovereignty.

Platt's view on His sovereignty adds to what I wrote about. Yes, God is sovereign, something that appears to have become archaic in today's society. Yet to God, since He never changes, that word still stands strong.

Platt shows us in the chapter Living When Dying is Gain that if Jesus suffered disappointments, rejection, persecution, all followers will also. Why? Because the Word tells us we will. Why does the Word tell us? Because... plain and simple. God's sovereignty rules out again. God wants us to know that we know Who is in control.

Platt began this chapter by talking about the American dream: Americans will postpone immediate gratification and even endure hard sacrifices if they are convinced their future will be better than their past (according to Franklin Roosevelt). Here's what Jesus says: Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Does this parallel the American dream concept? Later he says: The reward of the American dream is safety, security, and success found in more comfort, better stuff, and greater prosperity.

I have written how when a person becomes a follower of Christ things change. We see things differently; we begin to see what is truth...and we can choose to accept it or reject it. We accept the lesser things and reject the greater because we realize that what we have on this earth is nothing compared to what we will receive in Heaven. Platt continues to tell us that when we are in Christ our lives are not spared hardships. In fact, hardships will probably become more commonplace. He says: But the reward of Christ trumps all these things and beckons us to live for an eternal safety, security, and satisfaction that far outweigh everything this world has to offer. 

We will not see those things in this present life. Our faith in God gets us these eternal rewards. Despite all the hardships we can face in this world, including possible persecution and death, He tells us not to be afraid. Because He knows what lies ahead even though we cannot imagine it. We tend to look at what's right in front of us when we need to trust what we are told: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). 

So...our hardships: If Jesus was offensive to many who did not want to hear the truth so will we be....even at this writing. It comes with the truth territory because the truth is hard to hear especially if we've been wrapped up in our comfortable lifestyles and the world's way of seeing things. Who wants to give up the good things or hear something contrary to what we believe today?

Yet Jesus tells us that the sacrifice here in this world of all the good things...and the lies that we can have all the good things...is worth the greater reward, those things that await us when we are no longer here. This is where some stumble. Like the rich young man who asked Jesus what he had to do to be saved. Jesus asked to give up all he had and follow Him to receive eternal life. The man turned away sorrowfully because he could not give up all he had worked so hard for. 

I said yesterday that our thinking is upside down...it's the opposite of what God teaches us. Life today is cushy and we have gotten so used to it that we don't want to give it up. That includes me. And it no doubt includes each one of us who have comfortable homes, food on the table every night and a car that gets us from place to place. How would we feel without those things? How would we live on just the necessities and not the wants? 

Radical tells us that Jesus called His disciples to follow Him. Jesus did not have a home or even an income apart from what was given to Him day by day. He relied on His Father...He walked, healed and preached, according to God's will. He told us in order to live we must die to and deny ourselves. It would not be walk in the park, a piece of cake, a life of luxury. Platt tells us: Just imagine the people that the disciples were going to encounter. The diseased, the dying, the despised, and the dangerous. Not exactly the most appealing group to be around.

Yes, if Jesus suffered betrayal, hatred and persecution, why shouldn't we? I can recall believing, because it was probably told to me, that because Jesus suffered all these things, we would not have to. I believed that in the last days we who are in Christ would be removed from the earth and hardships before they began. Boy, if that isn't some false teaching. 

So this is the hard part...do we believe that God is sovereign and that all this is the truth and in order to truly follow the Lord we must assume hardship will follow or do we reject Him altogether? Which do we want life or death? Which path do we take? Which set of ideas to we wrap our heads around?

If we like the safety the world gives us, then that's our answer. Although I don't believe even the world will be a safe place too much longer. Then where will people be who have not chosen the difficult, yet life-filling, way of God? 

Has my suffering really begun? Either I am not aware of it or it's in the little things that I go through from time to time...like people not wanting to befriend me because my thoughts and ideas are a bit sticky to them...uncomfortable. They might remain friends as long as the subject matter is benign, surface stuff. But it's a turnoff if I don't agree with worldview thoughts on homosexuality, abortion or even being a Christ follower.

So, what does Radical have to say about the sovereignty of God? Jesus reminded his disciples that their safety was not found in the comforts of this world but in the control of a sovereign God over this world...We have nothing to fear, because God is sovereign. All we need to do is accept this upside down thought. How? By picking up the Word of God and letting His words sink deep into our spirits. Let Him remind us daily the consequences of following our own hearts, goals and desires. It's written on nearly every page. And God's Word is truth.

All throughout the sovereign, God-breathed Word of God we see people who are brought down because of their disobedience, especially when they knew God's laws. And on the other hand we see the sick (lepers), dying (Lazarus) and sin-filled (Mary Magdalene) people rising up. Jesus sought out the wounded, not the healthy. An upside down world where ...God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty (1Corinthians 1:27). He humbles the proud and lifts up the humble. His sovereignty makes no sense to many. There again is where trust and faith come in. It's what makes following Christ so difficult for some. Just remember this, God is sovereign. His will and purpose will prevail no matter what we choose to do ourselves. We will either be part of His plans or we  won't. For those who know this, the greater reward of a sovereign God will be given.

Galatians 6:7-8 - Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Sovereignty of God

Revelation 19:6 - And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!"

Whether you follow my blog or have just popped in you will know that a few weeks ago I was troubled about something I couldn't put my finger on. I've been letting these thoughts sit awhile before determining if I should post. 

Since then I have overcome the intense feeling I was experiencing. Sometimes God just allows difficulties through which we are reminded of who we are in relation to Him...if we have taken the faith-defining step in receiving Him and being in Him. 

So this blog really has a few messages: He allows difficulties because He is sovereign. Whether we know Him personally or not...He is sovereign, and He does what He will...because He is sovereign. Even our salvation is based on His sovereignty. This might be a bit convoluted, so put your thinking caps on!

I know from comments made by others since my troubling time there is more of what I was feeling going on than just within me. And it will probably happen again. It's good to know I'm not the only one. After all, it's not all about me, but about all the saints of God who occasionally go through struggles, physically or spiritually. It might have been from getting caught up in the bad news of the days that seemed to never end, a bit overwhelming, as if the world was imploding. Who knows? What I do know is even what we see happening God has under control.

To those who know God's Word, we see the Bible's view of the last days creeping in: Wars, rumors of war, nation rising against nation, famine, pestilence, and earthquakes  But we are not to be frightened. We are privileged to see God so hard at work defining these days, despite the sometimes unsettling feelings. It's exciting to know that we were chosen for such a time as this. When we realize this is God's way, not the way that seems right to man, we are on the right track. Maybe He's getting us spiritually strengthened in Him for the days ahead. He knows how we each need to be strengthened.

So my distress, whether it was all about the news or something I still haven't determined...it was a reminder that two things remains the same day after day...God is sovereign and He will never leave nor forsake anyone who has laid claim to His great gift of salvation. If we have this understanding of who He is, days won't become easier for us, but His peace will remain with us. If a struggle is what I need, I'm all for it. We will see in retrospect that He was alongside after all...and our faith is built up.

We need to understand that God is sovereign. This might be a difficult thing for mankind to believe. It doesn't always seem right to man when man thinks he is able to control the forces of nature or even such a small thing as his own life. God is sovereign, nonetheless. He controls all things, including who He chooses us to become His children. This gift that He has given me and sets me apart from the world is available to all who respond, but as I have been reading in The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink, it is not for everyone. This is where my mind has taken a detour!

Listen to these words: It is commonly taught that God the Father desires the salvation of all mankind, God the Son died with the goal of saving the whole human race, and that God the Holy Spirit is now trying to win the world to Christ. But isn't it a matter of common observation that the great majority of our generation are dying in sin and passing into a hopeless eternity? This was written in 1918 and sounds eerily like today. 

Pink goes on: the Sovereignty of God is absolute, irresistible, and infinite. Everything is in His right to do as He desires; He lives by His own rules; He is accountable only to Himself; He does not need to explain Himself. Sounds tyrannical but that's why He's God and we are not...it's the way that does not seem right to man and why often people will ignore His offer of salvation.

God is sovereign in the exercise of His power, mercy, love, and grace. He rules the world and all that is in it. Period. We are the ones who choose to do as WE wish and not heed God. Sovereign is defined as one possessing or held to possess supreme political power or sovereignty; an acknowledged leader. From what I understand it is nearly an obsolete word. And how many truly want to believe there is One who is greater than they?

When will God be looked upon as the One who rules...that by His word the world was created and He placed the stars in the sky and He causes the sun and moon to rise and go down at His own time? This pertains to the issue of salvation, too. According to Pink, God has the sovereign right to determine who will receive. So my exhortation is: If He allows you to hear His word and respond, I would not pass up the chance to take heart and respond, lest He make a negative determination through His own will.

What I'm getting at in all this is we will have our moments of uncertainty. We need to remind ourselves that God is in control. He might be developing our strength by allowing us to go through a difficult situation...and then realizing He was alongside all the time. Each time we go through something and come out unscathed, a trust in an all-knowing God is planted deeper within us. He is developing our faith.

Some people, I believe, might hide their difficulties, tending to make others think they are stronger in the Lord. Oswald Chambers said back on May 1 when I first wrote this blog and was referring to walking by faith, not sight: Some of us always want to be illuminated saints with golden haloes and the flush of inspiration... A gilt-edged saint is no good, he is abnormal, unfit for daily life, and altogether unlike God. We are here as men and women, not as half-fledged angels, to do the work of the world, and to do it with an infinitely greater power to stand the turmoil because we have been born from above. 

We are not perfect. We will slip, we will doubt occasionally. But God's power is greater and He is in complete control. God has us in His hands and He will set us straight, uphold us, do whatever He needs to strengthen us. We just need to walk by faith. We must remember that we should not be led by our emotion, as I did, but by that faith in God alone. As Chambers continued: Then comes the surprise - "Why, He was there all the time, and I never knew it!" 

Joshua 1:5 - No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.

I Am the LORD

Exodus 12:12 - ...against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

These words stood out this morning. They shouted at me. It sums up who God is and who He should be in our lives. When those words popped off the page I just had to stop and do a quick search to see how many times those exact words were spoken by God Himself. One search listed over 900 times! Some may have been repeated or include times when He was being quoted as saying this but it's still a staggering amount, don't you think? He wants to get our attention.

In our Hebrews Bible study we learned and continue to learn about the sovereignty of God. I am the LORD. We just don't fully understand what this means with our limited human minds. It's by the power of His Spirit we can comprehend...yet it still isn't enough of an understanding I don't think. I think in the days ahead we may be getting a better picture and better understanding. At least we ought to.

I am the LORD. He is all things to all people if He is allowed to be. If He created the world, He certainly will know all of our needs, all of our sins, unfortunately, and all our desires. The desires may not fit into His plan for us, of course, if they are only what we can achieve or all we want to be in this world, apart from Him. That's where a heart change needs to take place so we can be in His will (which might offend some) rather than our own.

I am the LORD...who heals you. I've said it before. The first and foremost healing is through our salvation by faith and faith only in Christ, not our works.  Our works are as filthy rags. But then faith without works is dead, we are told. We don't work for salvation but once we receive this salvation our works are important. They are unto the Lord.

I am the LORD...who brings you out (Exodus 29:46). Out of what? Captivity, like Israel's bondage in Egypt. When we are held captive to our wants and desires, our sins and addictions, we need that healing mentioned above. Salvation in Christ will help us overcome all our captivity. We are set free...and who the Son sets free is free indeed.

I am the LORD...who inflicts judgment (Ezekiel 28:22, 20:44). Oh, no....judgment. Remember He is sovereign and no matter how we live our lives, He will someday judge each one of us, for good or bad, whether professing believers or not. And we will know that He is LORD and every knee will bow and tongue confess He is Lord...to the glory of God.

I am the LORD...your God. When we are in Christ we can know that we know He is our God. He proclaimed this to Israel when He called them His people. Like He was in Israel, we are His people in Christ. We will not be shamed. Joel 2:27 - "...you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. Never again will my people be disgraced."

I am the LORD...your Redeemer...who knows what is best for you (Isaiah 48:17). Do I really need to say more about this? If He is sovereign and omniscient, He does know what's best for each of us.

I am the LORD...who has made all things...who churns up the sea... (Isaiah 44:24, Isaiah 51:15). He holds the stars in the sky and makes the sun and moon to rise and set at the right time...His time. Remember, there is no Mother Nature. He holds all things in His hands and has effortlessly stretched out the heavens Himself, and has knit us together in our mother's wombs. The next time you hear about a tsunami, think of God who controls this phenomenon.

I am the LORD....who is Holy (Leviticus 11:44). Because He is holy, we are to be holy, consecrate ourselves to Him, live for Him, not ourselves. 

I am the LORD....who has given us a code to live by. He asks us to keep His decrees and laws and follow them. That is why the Bible is our guide to all things in life. There were laws in the Old Testament for everyone to follow; in the New Testament we have the Word, Jesus, to follow as an example. Jesus did not replace the Laws God first set out for us. Jesus fulfilled the Laws. The sacrifices of the Old Testament Jesus performed Himself in His own death. 

I am the LORD....your God (Hosea 13:4) again. We are not to worship any other god. We are not to worship our stuff in this world, the saints or even His mother, Mary. Anything we hold up as greater than Jesus is an idol. We are to worship only Him. Hosea 13:4 continues by saying You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior but me. It is only through His death, His sacrifice that we can be reunited with God. No one else can do this. Leviticus 19:3 tells us we are to respect mothers and fathers and I would venture to say that includes all others that we might consider holding higher than Christ Himself. Respect but not worship.

I am the LORD.... If we stand firm in our acknowledgment of God...Christ...others will notice and God will be glorified. That's all that counts. Pharaoh and the Egyptians found that out all too clearly when, through Moses, God displayed His power in the plagues...and led Israel out of their captivity. God can display His power through us also in how we live our lives for Him. 

I wish I could name each and every accounting of who our LORD is. Maybe I will have to continue at some other time. You get the picture.

I am the LORD...period. Do you know this Man? This Man who was and is and is to come? This Man who was before all things were made? This Man who is God, the Father, God, the Son and God, the Holy Spirit, three yet One? This Man who came down from His throne, seated at the right hand of His Father, to live among us that He might be our LORD God? This Man who became our sin so we would not have to live in sin forever? This Man who lives and reigns for all eternity? Does this Man say "I am the LORD" in your life?

Jeremiah 9:24 - But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD.