Category Archives: Sin

Church / Body of Christ, Consequences of Sin, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Faithful, Grace / Forgiveness, Justice / Judgment, Loving / Kind, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Repenting from Sin, Slow to Anger, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Confess Your Sin, Focus on God’s Greatness, and Repent

Nehemiah 9 has a great example of a people, as a community, coming together and openly confessing their sin. They do not make excuses. They do not blame someone else. They do not play a victim in the situation. They read from the law and recognize their sin. They focus on the greatness of God and review the past deeds He has done on their behalf. They focus on who He is, in all His glory. They acknowledge the sin of their fathers and how that resulted in some bad situations for the people. They commit to change! What a great model to reflect on today.

Nehemiah 9

The People Confess Their Sin

      1Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the sons of Israel assembled with fasting, in sackcloth and with dirt upon them. 2The descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God. 4Now on the Levites’ platform stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Chenani, and they cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God.

      5Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah, said, “Arise, bless the LORD your God forever and ever!
O may Your glorious name be blessed
And exalted above all blessing and praise!

      6“You alone are the LORD.
You have made the heavens,
The heaven of heavens with all their host,
The earth and all that is on it,
The seas and all that is in them.
You give life to all of them
And the heavenly host bows down before You.

      7“You are the LORD God,
Who chose Abram
And brought him out from Ur of the Chaldees,
And gave him the name Abraham.

      8“You found his heart faithful before You,
And made a covenant with him
To give him the land of the Canaanite,
Of the Hittite and the Amorite,
Of the Perizzite, the Jebusite and the Girgashite—
To give it to his descendants.
And You have fulfilled Your promise,
For You are righteous.

      9“You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt,
And heard their cry by the Red Sea.

      10“Then You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh,
Against all his servants and all the people of his land;
For You knew that they acted arrogantly toward them,
And made a name for Yourself as it is this day.

      11“You divided the sea before them,
So they passed through the midst of the sea on dry ground;
And their pursuers You hurled into the depths,
Like a stone into raging waters.

      12“And with a pillar of cloud You led them by day,
And with a pillar of fire by night
To light for them the way
In which they were to go.

      13“Then You came down on Mount Sinai,
And spoke with them from heaven;
You gave them just ordinances and true laws,
Good statutes and commandments.

      14“So You made known to them Your holy sabbath,
And laid down for them commandments, statutes and law,
Through Your servant Moses.

      15“You provided bread from heaven for them for their hunger,
You brought forth water from a rock for them for their thirst,
And You told them to enter in order to possess
The land which You swore to give them.

      16“But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly;
They became stubborn and would not listen to Your commandments.

      17“They refused to listen,
And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them;
So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt.
But You are a God of forgiveness,
Gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness;
And You did not forsake them.

      18“Even when they made for themselves
A calf of molten metal
And said, ‘This is your God
Who brought you up from Egypt,’
And committed great blasphemies,

      19You, in Your great compassion,
Did not forsake them in the wilderness;
The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day,
To guide them on their way,
Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go.

      20“You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them,
Your manna You did not withhold from their mouth,
And You gave them water for their thirst.

      21“Indeed, forty years You provided for them in the wilderness and they were not in want;
Their clothes did not wear out, nor did their feet swell.

      22“You also gave them kingdoms and peoples,
And allotted them to them as a boundary.
They took possession of the land of Sihon the king of Heshbon
And the land of Og the king of Bashan.

      23“You made their sons numerous as the stars of heaven,
And You brought them into the land
Which You had told their fathers to enter and possess.

      24“So their sons entered and possessed the land.
And You subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites,
And You gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land,
To do with them as they desired.

      25“They captured fortified cities and a fertile land.
They took possession of houses full of every good thing,
Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves,
Fruit trees in abundance.
So they ate, were filled and grew fat,
And reveled in Your great goodness.

      26“But they became disobedient and rebelled against You,
And cast Your law behind their backs
And killed Your prophets who had admonished them
So that they might return to You,
And they committed great blasphemies.

      27“Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their oppressors who oppressed them,
But when they cried to You in the time of their distress,
You heard from heaven, and according to Your great compassion
You gave them deliverers who delivered them from the hand of their oppressors.

      28“But as soon as they had rest, they did evil again before You;
Therefore You abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they ruled over them.
When they cried again to You, You heard from heaven,
And many times You rescued them according to Your compassion,

      29And admonished them in order to turn them back to Your law.
Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to Your commandments but sinned against Your ordinances,
By which if a man observes them he shall live.
And they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck, and would not listen.

      30“However, You bore with them for many years,
And admonished them by Your Spirit through Your prophets,
Yet they would not give ear.
Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.

      31“Nevertheless, in Your great compassion You did not make an end of them or forsake them,
For You are a gracious and compassionate God.

      32“Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and lovingkindness,
Do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before You,
Which has come upon us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers and on all Your people,
From the days of the kings of Assyria to this day.

      33“However, You are just in all that has come upon us;
For You have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly.

      34“For our kings, our leaders, our priests and our fathers have not kept Your law
Or paid attention to Your commandments and Your admonitions with which You have admonished them.

      35“But they, in their own kingdom,
With Your great goodness which You gave them,
With the broad and rich land which You set before them,
Did not serve You or turn from their evil deeds.

      36“Behold, we are slaves today,
And as to the land which You gave to our fathers to eat of its fruit and its bounty,
Behold, we are slaves in it.

      37“Its abundant produce is for the kings
Whom You have set over us because of our sins;
They also rule over our bodies
And over our cattle as they please,
So we are in great distress.

A Covenant Results

38“Now because of all this
We are making an agreement in writing;
And on the sealed document are the names of our leaders, our Levites and our priests.”

In the US for sure, we can see a falling away from God over the past hundred years (or more). As a nation, we have chosen to separate more and more from God. It is not surprising then, that we see how many people today are really lost and confused, even among the people who claim the name of Yeshua. We need to return to the instructions of God. We need to embrace Torah and what it teaches us. Yeshua obeyed it and we should follow His example. His disciples obeyed it even after His death and resurrection. We should follow their example. We should come together as a community. We should admit how we have drifted from God’s ways, even if perhaps we don’t have a fully clear picture of how to live that out today. We should reflect and focus on the greatness of God. We should commit to change and both pray and act to bring about that change.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please bring about the restoration of Your ways among our people. Please raise up leaders to guide us and move the spirits of the people to follow. Help us recognize and acknowledge our sin and the sin of our fathers (as a nation and people group). Help us focus on Your instructions and Your greatness. Bring about restoration and revival across cities, states, our nation, and the world. Thank You for who You are and what You have already done for us! Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Fasting, Interceding for Others, Learning To Pray Effectively, Mockers, Protector / Deliverer, Strong in Our Weakness

From Desire to Reality through the Power of Prayer and Action

Nehemiah was deeply grieved to hear about Jerusalem and the sorry shape it was in. He fasted and prayed. In chapter 2 we see how his prayer begins to be answered.

Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah’s Prayer Answered

      1And it came about in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that wine was before him, and I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2So the king said to me, “Why is your face sad though you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart.” Then I was very much afraid. 3I said to the king, “Let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?” 4Then the king said to me, “What would you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5I said to the king, “If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.” 6Then the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him, “How long will your journey be, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time. 7And I said to the king, “If it please the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, 8and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go.” And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me.

      9Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

      11So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding. 13So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon’s Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire. 14Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass. 15So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned. 16The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work.

      17Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.” 18I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work. 19But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20So I answered them and said to them, “The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem.”

Let us consider that we will see in Nehemiah a combination of prayer and action. He is not just idle and waiting for God to do everything. God opens the opportunity before the king to speak and he does speak, respectfully and boldly. He takes personal risk. If he would have remained silent, perhaps God would not have used him in this rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.

We also see that after prayer and fasting, God begins to work through the pagan king of Persia to bring about the restoration of Jerusalem and the answer to Nehemiah’s prayer. God is able to use anyone and any situation. Where we feel completely powerless, as Nehemiah must have felt, God is totally able to make a way we can’t even anticipate.

What Nehemiah was praying for was not a selfish request. It was in line with God’s plan to return the people to Jerusalem. When he prayed, he was praying in line with the work that God already wanted to do. God used him and supported him.

People will often come against you as you go about God’s work. It takes courage and boldness, and some clear planning, to overcome them. When God gets directly involved to help you overcome your adversaries or mockers, that really helps as well!

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to have strong desire to be part of what You want to accomplish instead of making my own plans. Help me to be courageous and bold. Help me to turn to You with prayer and fasting but also be willing to take bold action. Let me not be distracted by those who mock me, or You. Silence them or open their eyes to Your glory and draw them near to You. Bring about the restoration of Your ways among Your people! Help Christians around the world return to Your ways instead of the ways of men which are so mingled in the common church doctrine and teaching. Help Jews to recognize and embrace Yeshua as Messiah. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, False Prophets / Teachers, Interceding for Others, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Teachable

Pray for People Who Are Blinded by False Religion

So many across the world allow themselves to be blinded by false religion or a belief that God does not exist. They reject God entirely or accept Him as one of several gods… which really means they reject Him. People cling to false teachings and rationalize with amazing strength the distorted world view they are suffering inside. Please pray that God would set free people across the globe from the false teachings of many religions and even the false teaching within those who claim to be Christian, but preach a gospel mixed and mingled with teachings of the world instead of pure strain of God’s word.

Ask our Father to raise up leaders and teachers who will help to bring the truth of God’s word to the people, who will lead us in the restoration of God’s ways. Ask our Father to prepare the field for harvest by preparing people to hear and receive the truth and come together in fellowship to pursue righteousness.

Pray that He would open each of our eyes to anything we misunderstand and prepare us to be willing to turn away from the wrong understanding and embrace truth, even when it is difficult to do so.

Amen.

—

For examples of Biblical prayer, and for personal prayer requests, please visit our Prayer Requests page.

Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Faith / Trusting God, Fasting, Persecution / Glorifying God, Prayer, Share the Good News, Teachable, Unteachable / Foolish

How Can I Proclaim Christ When People Come Against Me?

The more consistently and more widely I share the good news of Yeshua as Messiah and the truth of scripture revealed in the Bible, the more I see a consistent set of responses from those who hear it.

  • Some will indeed hear the message and either be encouraged or be led to a saving relationship with Yeshua. Each person who finds this path is cause for celebration!
  • Some engage in genuine discussion of facts, evidence, and application of scripture. We can have a civil discussion regarding the facts and evidence of the gospel.
  • Sadly, there are also many who react with anger and hostility. They are not interested in listening but have already made up their minds. When you demonstrate the error of their logic, they do not admit that they are wrong and choose instead attack the messengers personally.

Paul encountered this same range of responses from people when he proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ thousands of years ago. There is no new “modern” response to the message of Yeshua. We can learn much from studying the Bible and all that God reveals in it regarding how those who went before us handled these situations.

Acts 14:19-23

     19But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. 21After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Some Jews actually came perhaps 130 miles to hinder the work of Paul. It was not enough just that they rejected Messiah. They felt they had to stop the message of Christ so no one else would accept the message either. They did not win on facts and evidence. Miracles were happening where Paul went with the message of Christ. Those who opposed Yeshua went to the most brutal response they could get away with… in this case stoning Paul in an attempt to kill him.

What was Paul’s response to such hatred and persecution? Did he stop proclaiming Yeshua? No! He got up, moved on and gave glory to God by accepting and teaching that those who proclaim the good news will face much tribulation. He continued to do the work of Christ, appointing elders for every church and commending them to the Lord with prayer and fasting. We should take note that he did move on to another location. We are not always to remain in the face of that force of adversary. This is something for which we must each seek the LORD on when to stay and when to leave this level of resistance.

What a remarkable servant of Christ! I can only hope to follow in the example of Paul in whatever opportunity I have to overcome opposition to the sharing of the gospel. Paul demonstrating true faith in Christ. He was willing to die to share the gospel. He stopped at nothing, regardless of the level of resistance he faced.

What resistance are you facing in your life that discourages you from sharing the gospel? What can you learn from Paul’s response to persecution that you can apply in your life? Do not overlook the value of prayer and fasting with other disciples of Yeshua.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help unite those who are pursuing You. Help people who hear Your message be willing to accept the need for change in their life. Help prepare the field for harvest by making the people ready to hear the good news. Help even those who already proclaim to follow You to be open to changing their ways to be more like Your ways. Help raise up messengers who will be bold in proclaiming truth. Bless and protect the messengers so that they overcome the resistance that will come against them. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Humility, Pride, Rebuke Wrong Behavior, Share the Good News

It’s Not About Us, It’s About God

There are times when we will experience God’s blessing upon our lives or see Him work through us as His faithful servants in powerful ways. We must be prepared for these times so that they do not cause us to stumble.  It is at these times when we experience God’s power that we may be most vulnerable to the sin of pride. We must not forget that it is God’s power and blessing and not our own accomplishment in order to remain humble and faithfully serve God.

Acts 14:8-18

    8At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well, 10said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and began to walk. 11When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” 12And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM. 16“In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

Paul and Barnabas were grieved that the crowds were missing the point… they were honoring Paul and Barnabas instead of God. They immediately took direct action to put the focus off them and back on God! What a temptation that could be to men… to be lifted up and honored, but they would have to take credit for what God was doing. Paul and Barnabas demonstrated humility and kept the focus on God, even when it was hard to do so. They knew it was not about them, it was about God.

Have you experienced things that went really well because of God’s blessing and had people try to shower praise on you for “your” accomplishments? It can be easy to just accept the credit, but it is better to give glory to God instead of letting it land on ourselves. It’s not about us and what we do, it’s about God and what He does and Has already done. How can you react differently and give God the glory the next time a similar situation comes up?

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please lead and guide me. Help me to stand strong and speak boldly for You. Please work through me to bring glory and honor to You. Let me remain humble as You work through me that I would not stumble into pride, but rather keep the focus on You and Your glory. I pray this also for all Your people and especially the leaders you raise up to stand for righteousness. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Courage / Fear, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Obeying God, Persecution / Glorifying God, Share the Good News

Count It Blessing to Be Persecuted for Yeshua?

Observe the world around us. Take note of how people respond to the message of Yeshua when true believers share it boldly and without apology. Many believe and are saved, coming to true relationship with our Messiah. Many others, however, become embittered and stir up trouble to persecute those who follow Yeshua.

Acts 14:1-8

Acceptance and Opposition

      1In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. 2But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. 3Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands. 4But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. 5And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them, 6they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; 7and there they continued to preach the gospel.

Why is it that so many that reject Yeshua become bitter toward those who submit to Him? They do not want to change their lives to submit to Christ. They desire to remain doing things their own way. They feel the need to stop those who disagree with them. Truthfully, it is also often a spiritual battle raging between Satan and the people of God. (Read more on spiritual warfare.)

John 3:19-21

19“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

There is no good reason to hate followers of Yeshua. Those that truly follow Christ actually are respectful and considerate to all… showing love to all. But the part that many cannot take is that we, as followers of Christ, are also to rebuke and correct wrong behavior as wrong. We are not to accept it and condone it or make excuses for it. Following Christ and loving others drives us to point out the destructive behaviors to try to help not only ourselves but others as well. Knowing that non-believers are going to Hell for eternity drives us to want to save them from that fate… and only faith in Jesus Christ can do that. There is no other way. So we proclaim Jesus boldly.

John 14:6

 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

People often do not want to accept correction. Only the wise accept rebuke and grow wiser. Fools reject it and remain in their folly… and get angry with the one who tries to help them. As Christians we can become more effective sharing the gospel by paying attention to those we want to reach. Those willing and open to receive the message may be ready to accept Jesus. Sometimes they must first be spiritually broken and realize they are missing something… then we can tell them it is Jesus they are missing. Those who are scoffers and mockers, still unwilling to admit they are not sufficient by themselves, are not ready to receive Christ and will just hate you for it.

Proverbs 9:8-9

  8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

  9Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser,
Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.

However, we are commanded by Yeshua and driven by genuine love for others to boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ to those that do not know it. We must not allow ourselves to be discouraged that some will come against us when we share the gospel, but rather remember that others will be saved!  Be encouraged by the words of our Lord Jesus and count it blessing when you are persecuted for standing with Christ.

Matthew 5:10-12

 10“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Continue to share the truth of the good news of Jesus boldly. Look for those who are willing to hear and listen, but do not be discouraged that others will come against you. Always live in the example of Christ so that we can be a light to others, even when they do not want to see.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, help Your people to stand boldly and proclaim the truth about You and the truth about the one way we are to come into proper relationship with You, through Messiah and forgiveness of our sins based on His death and resurrection. Please help Your people stand up to those who would come against them personally or collectively. Please raise up righteous leaders to unite us in following You the right way. Bring about a global restoration and return to Your ways among Your people. Help us fellowship in unity with those who truly follow You and Your ways. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Courage / Fear, Faith / Trusting God, Government, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Obeying God, Protector / Deliverer, Strong in Our Weakness, Through Prophets, Wickedness / Evil, Worldliness

Get Back About Restoring Your Relationship with God

The LORD once again restarted the rebuilding of the temple that had been stopped by adversaries convincing the king of Persia to order the building halted. They did not receive permission from the king, but rather from God Himself, through HIs prophets. They took courage and resumed, knowing there were adversaries in the land who would come against them and knowing they were vulnerable to the king of Persia should he look at their actions unfavorably. They took courage and proceeded with God’s work, even when the might of the rulers could come against them.

Ezra 5

Temple Work Resumed

      1When the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them, 2then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them supporting them.

      3At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them thus, “Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?” 4Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were reconstructing this building. 5But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a report could come to Darius, and then a written reply be returned concerning it.

Adversaries Write to Darius

      6This is the copy of the letter which Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and his colleagues the officials, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king. 7They sent a report to him in which it was written thus: “To Darius the king, all peace. 8“Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with huge stones, and beams are being laid in the walls; and this work is going on with great care and is succeeding in their hands. 9“Then we asked those elders and said to them thus, ‘Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?’ 10“We also asked them their names so as to inform you, and that we might write down the names of the men who were at their head. 11“Thus they answered us, saying, ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. 12‘But because our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon. 13‘However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. 14‘Also the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, and brought them to the temple of Babylon, these King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon and they were given to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor. 15‘He said to him, “Take these utensils, go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem and let the house of God be rebuilt in its place.” 16‘Then that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it has been under construction and it is not yet completed.’ 17“Now if it pleases the king, let a search be conducted in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, if it be that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his decision concerning this matter.”

This is not just an interesting chapter in history. This is insight into how we, as followers of Yeshua, should act. Yes, we can be mindful of the government. However, there are times when God will call us to obey Him over the misguided direction of the government. I can think of the recent years of restrictive policy around concern for an illness. It affected many countries, but in particular the US is what I am most familiar with. There were states that would allow gambling establishments and sports arenas to be crowded, but then insist that churches could not be opened for public health concerns. This was nonsense and quite a few pastors and congregations took a stand, to their credit. They were going to fight for their right to worship and gather in Jesus’ name.

Prayerfully reflect on what this may mean for you in your life. What are some things where you may need to stand up for God, even if some leaders in government or business or the community are standing against you? Ask the Spirit to lead you.

As a parting thought, don’t think of Ezra only as the Jews rebuilding the temple. Instead, think of it as God’s people restoring proper relationship with Him according to His ways! This is so totally relevant to us today as many of us seek to do the same thing in the midst of much false teaching that pervades society in general, but even many churches. Get back to restoring your relationship with God according to His instruction! Do not let adversaries stop you!

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help Your people to stand firm and have courage to do what You call us to do, even when we face opposition. Raise up strong, god-fearing leaders who will unite us as Your people and have positive influence over communities and government. Protect us from our adversaries, who truly are Your adversaries. Raise up the righteous and defeat the wicked and worldly who would stop Your people from living as You call us to. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Evidence in Scripture, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Mockers, Promises, Prophecy, Salvation, Share the Good News, Through Prophets

Adjust Your Starting Point to Meet Your Audience, but Do Not Adjust the Message

Paul was a master of identifying with his audience and meeting them where they are in order to lead them to Yeshua as Messiah. In Acts 13, he is proclaiming the gospel to Jews studying the scriptures and worshipping Yahweh on Sabbath. As such, Paul begins in a place they already know. Paul begins in the Torah and shows them how Torah and prophecy were pointing forward to Yeshua as the coming Messiah. This is the foundation of our faith. After establishing the foundation, Paul continues to discuss forgiveness and reconciliation through Yeshua as Messiah. The people want to hear more. That is a success anytime we share the gospel. We should take care to remember that Yeshua was not establishing something new. He was the promised Messiah and all that He taught and lived was based on the foundation of Torah and the prophets. He was also not shy about calling out the wrongful persecution and rejection of Messiah resulting in His death on the cross.

Acts 13:13-43

   13Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem. 14But going on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying, “Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.” 16Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said,
“Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 17“The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it. 18“For a period of about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness. 19“When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took about four hundred and fifty years. 20“After these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21“Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22“After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.’ 23“From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, 24after John had proclaimed before His coming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25“And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

      26“Brethren, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. 27“For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him. 28“And though they found no ground for putting Him to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed. 29“When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. 30“But God raised Him from the dead; 31and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people. 32“And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, 33that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’ 34“As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY and SURE blessings OF DAVID.’ 35“Therefore He also says in another Psalm, ‘YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.’ 36“For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; 37but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. 38“Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. 40“Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you:

      41‘BEHOLD, YOU SCOFFERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH;
FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS,
A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.’”

      42As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath. 43Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God.

In a separate example, when proclaiming Jesus to pagans, Paul begins differently to connect with them.

Acts 17:22-34

Sermon on Mars Hill

      22So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. 23“For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ 29“Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. 30“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

      32Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this.” 33So Paul went out of their midst. 34But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

We should also take a lesson from Paul in that we try to understand where people are in their knowledge and acceptance of Yeshua and let that influence where we begin to tell them about Messiah. If they are devout Jews who understand the Torah and the prophets, then we begin there. If they are lost and hurting in the depths of addiction or selfishness and sin… then begin there. However, let us be sure to remember that wherever we start, we need to come back to Torah and the prophets and the law, upon which the teachings of Yeshua are based. Yeshua was judged righteous in living according to the Law perfectly. That is the standard and guide post we should not ignore as if it is obsolete.

Consider another example in Acts 15. They meet the Gentiles where they are, but they count on the fact that they will also be taught Torah, or the law of Moses, over time as they continue to learn more about Judaism.

Acts 15:18-21

18SAYS THE LORD, WHO [k]MAKES THESE THINGS known from long ago. 19Therefore, it is my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols, from acts of sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21For from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

. Our proclamation of the good news of Yeshua will be much more effective if we pay close attention to where our audience is rather than just starting from our understanding of the scriptures and God’s plans. That said, we must not alter the truth of present an incomplete message of what Yahweh desires. We must come back and teach over time the fullness of the Torah and the prophets and the Law, all of which served as the foundation upon which Yeshua lived and taught.

There is an important point to highlight before we wrap up about the Law that Paul speaks of in Acts 13.

38“Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.

We are freed through Yeshua from some things which the Law of Moses could not free us from. Note, that Paul does not say “we are free from the Law”. Rather he specifically indicates that Yeshua provides forgiveness of sin that could not be achieved through the Law alone. For those sacrifices related to sin and forgiveness in the Law, they pointed forward as foreshadowing to the death of Messiah. It is through Yeshua that we are forgiven of sins and set free from that guilt.

How can you apply this truth in your life? What are some examples of where or with whom you may share the gospel (e.g. work, school, prison ministry, etc.)? How should you adapt your approach in each case?

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for Your holy scriptures. Please help Your people to return to Your ways. Let all who worship You through Yeshua open their eyes to live and worship You fully the way that He did in accordance with the Torah and the prophets. Let us not be confused, living in man-made traditions that make up so much of modern-day Christianity. Open our eyes to the wonderful ways of Your Law! Help us to have wisdom in connecting with and reaching different audiences and leading them to You without compromising Your word. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Grace / Forgiveness, Hope, Repenting from Sin, Share the Good News, Submitted / Servant, Teachable, Unteachable / Foolish, Wise

The Message of the Cross Is Foolishness to Some

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God!

The Wisdom of God

18For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written:

“I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE WHO HAVE UNDERSTANDING, I WILL CONFOUND.”

20Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.

26For consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28and the insignificant things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29so that no human may boast before God. 30But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31so that, just as it is written: “LET THE ONE WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”

We are called to share the good news of the gospel with others, but we cannot accept it on someone else’s behalf.  Do not be hesitant to share the gospel out of fear of personal rejection but recognize that many will not receive the message and may consider it foolishness. Some, however, will receive it and generate a rich harvest for Yeshua through their faith.

Many rejected Yeshua himself, so we should not expect they will all accept us as His messengers.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for bringing me to know You through Yeshua. Thank You that You have chosen me to hear Your message. Help me to boldly share with others. Help them to receive Your message to the glory of Your kingdom. Amen. 

Consider reading The Message of the Cross – Salvation for more information.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Consequences of Sin, Courage / Fear, Discipline / Guidance From God, Faith / Trusting God, Idols / False Gods, Justice / Judgment, Obeying God, Pride, Wickedness / Evil

Focus on Your Role; Trust God to Do His

For those with ears to hear Him, God calls each of us to a purpose for His kingdom. As we develop and grow in wisdom and discernment and learn to listen more closely to God through prayer, we are able to understand our role and what He calls us for more clearly. This is an important principle as it should guide us in how we deal with difficult circumstances as well as guide us when things are going well.

Let us take a closer look at the early church. Herod was persecuting them. He killed James and arrested Peter with intent to do the same, though the fervent prayer of the followers of Christ led to God freeing Peter from Herod’s wicked plans. The persecution scattered the early believers to a number of different cities and they continued to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ boldly.

They remained focused on what God called them to do, despite persecution. They were not in a position to overthrow the government by force or even protect themselves by force of arms. They had to trust God and they chose to keep doing what He called them to do… proclaim Jesus boldly. The results were to the glory of God’s kingdom, and many began to follow Jesus.

But what of one of those in power who persecuted God’s people… what of Herod? The believers rightly left that up to God to handle given their situation at the time.

Acts 12:20-25

Death of Herod

      20Now he was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and with one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king’s chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because their country was fed by the king’s country. 21On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. 22The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

      24But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.

      25And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark.

Herod understood the Jewish faith and history of God with His people. He had no excuse for accepting from others the claims that he was a god. He should have rebuked them, but he did not.

Proverbs 16:18  18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.

Herod was accountable before God, as are we all. We do not always understand how and when God deals with the wicked, but all face judgment before God. All are held accountable for their actions and attitudes toward God and others.

2 Corinthians 5:10  10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Our role as followers of Christ is to go about the business He  commanded us to do and trust in Him for the rest. We see in Acts 12 that the followers of Christ did that and did that well. The result?

24But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.

Let us go and do likewise.

What areas of your life do you feel overwhelmed or distracted in facing big problems or challenges? Are you trusting God to help you with the part you cannot do yourself or are you trying to figure out how to do it all yourself? Are you focusing on doing the specific things that God has called you to do, either in His word for all believers, or specific to your own life and talents? What changes can you make in your attitudes and actions to help align with the approach that the early believers demonstrated in Acts 12?

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to focus on what You have instructed me to do and trust You for the rest. Help me to be bold and take action to glorify You and lead others to You even when persecution is waiting for me. Raise up more leaders to restore righteousness of Your ways and remove the wicked from leadership. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.