10 Pentecost - Sunday

first posted 08/07/04

Joshua 6:15-27    Fall of Jericho
Acts 22:30-23:11    Paul before the Sanhedrin
Mark 2:1-12    Healing a paralytic

After six days of marching around the city of Jericho once each day in silence while the trumpets blew, on the seventh day Israel marched around seven times. On the seventh time, as the trumpets blew a long blast, Joshua told the people to shout, because the Lord had given them the city. Joshua told the people that everything in the city was to be destroyed, except for Rahab, the harlot, who had helped the Israelite scouts; Rahab and all her family who were with her in her house were to be spared.

All vessels of gold and silver, bronze and iron were to be placed in the treasury of the Lord. Everything else was to be destroyed. The people were warned not to take, for their own use, anything of the city which was marked for destruction, so as not to bring trouble upon Israel.

When the people heard the long trumpet blast, they gave a great shout, and the wall of the city fell down flat. The Israelites went straight into the city from where they stood, and all the inhabitants of the city and their livestock were utterly destroyed by the sword. But Joshua sent the two Israelite scouts to Rahab’s house, and they brought Rahab and all her kindred out of the city and saved them, and they dwelt with Israel for the rest of their lives, because they had aided the scouts of Israel.

Jews from Asia, who had hounded Paul there (Acts Ch. 14), attacked him in the Temple in Jerusalem and caused a riot. The Roman military officer had Paul arrested until he could determine the cause of the commotion. The next day the officer brought Paul before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Council. Paul declared that he was not guilty, before God, of anything. Ananias, the high priest, struck Paul on the mouth.

Paul retorted that God would strike Ananias, called Ananias a whitewashed wall, and declared that Ananias had no right to sit in judgment of Paul, because Ananias had struck Paul in violation of the law. When Paul was told that Ananias was high priest, Paul apologized, acknowledging that it was contrary to the law to speak evil of a ruler of the people.

When Paul noticed that the Council was composed of both Pharisees and Sadducees, he declared himself a Pharisee, and son of a Pharisee, who was on trial for his belief in the resurrection of the dead. The Pharisees believe in resurrection, and in angels and spirits, but the Sadducees do not, so a great dissension arose between them, dividing the Council.  The Pharisees defended Paul, and the dissension became violent, so the soldiers were commanded to remove Paul by force and return him to jail. That night the Lord told Paul to take courage, because Paul would have to testify to the Gospel in Rome as he had in Jerusalem.

Jesus had made Capernaum his home after being thrown out of the Synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30). He had returned to his home at Capernaum, and when the people found out, a great crowd gathered there, and Jesus was preaching to them. The door was blocked by the crowd.  Four men brought a paralytic friend to Jesus to be healed, but because they could not get to Jesus through the door, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and lowered the man down on his stretcher on ropes through the roof.

When Jesus saw their faith, he told the paralytic that his sins had been forgiven. Some scribes (teachers of the law) were present, and they thought to themselves that Jesus was guilty of blaspheming, making himself equal to God, because only God can forgive sins. Jesus perceived in his spirit what they were thinking, and he asked them why they questioned in their hearts what Jesus had said.

Jesus asked the scribes which was easier: to say the man’s sins were forgiven, or to tell him to get up and walk? Jesus said he had told the paralytic that his sins were forgiven so that people would understand that Jesus had the authority to forgive sin. Then Jesus told the paralytic to rise, take his stretcher, and go home, and the man did as Jesus had commanded. The crowd was amazed and declared that they had never seen anything like this.

Israel had victory at Jericho because they trusted the Lord and obeyed his word. Rahab and her family were saved because she trusted and obeyed the Lord. Rahab and her family lived the rest of their lives in the Promised Land with Israel because she had helped Israel claim the Promised Land in obedience to the Lord’s command. God’s word always divides the “Canaanites” (worldly people) from the people of God. It isn’t the name they profess which matters, but what they do which determines the division. Although nominally a Canaanite, Rahab believed and acted like a member of the people of God.

Paul was obedient to the Lord’s word. When he, not knowing that Ananias was high priest, unintentionally broke the command not to speak evil of a ruler of the people, he repented and asked for forgiveness. Ananias, the spiritual leader of the people, had knowingly broken the law and yet was unrepentant. Paul wasn’t able to get justice from the religious council, because the Council was corrupt.

The Council was more concerned with pursuing personal agendas and gaining influence for their own factions than in pursuing God’s will. Paul perceived the division within the council and used it to his advantage. Paul was righteous, but a divided council could easily be manipulated by the unrighteous as well. Paul was committed to trusting and obeying the Lord, without regard to the personal cost. The Sadducees and Pharisees argued about God’s word but didn’t obey it, and were ineffective as the result.

Lots of people came to hear Jesus preach. Only a few were bringing friends to Jesus to be healed, and many of the rest were just “in the way;” not fully committed, themselves, and making it difficult for believers to get to Jesus.

Jesus’ main mission was the forgiveness of sins. Many people came to Jesus for physical healing or feeding, but Jesus wanted them to understand that without spiritual healing and feeding, physical healing and feeding would have no enduring value. The forgiveness and healing that Jesus offers is only received by those who trust and obey Jesus. Lots of people heard Jesus preach, but the ones that got healed are the ones who trusted and obeyed what Jesus said.

Do we think we can win the victory the Lord has promised without obeying his word? Do we think we can be Christians and still act like "Canaanites"? Do we desire to hang onto things of this world that have been condemned to destruction by the Lord? Are our churches full of division, and motivated by self-interest? Do we seek to hear God’s word so that we can feel good, or so that we can be careful to do it and please God? Do we want the Lord to forgive our sins or condone them? Do we seek spiritual healing and growth, or do we just want physical wellbeing? Are we bringing others to Jesus, or are we just “in the way,” sucking up resources and not willing to make a full commitment.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
 

10 Pentecost - Monday

first posted 08/08/04

Joshua 7:1-13    The sin of Achan
Romans 13:8-14    Love fulfills the law
Matthew 26:36-46    Jesus in Gethsemane

The Israelites had been warned not to take for themselves any of the things of Jericho which had been designated for destruction (Joshua 6:18). But Achan, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the condemned things, and brought the Lord’s anger against the people of Israel.

Joshua sent Israelite spies from Jericho to scout Ai, which is east of Bethel. They reported back to Joshua that Ai’s defenders were few, and advised that only two or three thousand troops would be necessary to attack Ai. So three thousand Israelites were sent to attack Ai, but were repulsed and forced to flee from the men of Ai, who killed thirty six of the Israelites.

The defeat caused the Israelites to loose courage. Joshua tore his clothes and covered his head with dust in an act of mourning, and prostrated himself before the Lord. He prayed to the Lord asking why this had befallen them. Joshua feared that the Canaanites would be emboldened by this defeat and destroy the Israelites.

The Lord told Joshua that Israel had sinned; they had taken some of the condemned things of Jericho for their possession. Because of this sin, Israel was no longer able to stand against their enemies. They fled from their enemies because they had become a thing marked for destruction. The Lord vowed to withdraw his support from Israel unless they destroyed the condemned things from among them. The Lord told Joshua to command the Israelites to sanctify themselves, and to destroy the condemned things in their midst, in order to once again prevail over their enemies.

Christians should not allow themselves to be obligated to anyone except by the obligation to love one another. Love is the fulfillment of the law. All the commandments regarding our relationship to others are summed up by the command to love one another. Love does no wrong to another, so love fulfills the law.

The fact of Christ’s imminent return requires watchfulness, so as not to be caught off guard. Christ’s return is closer now than when we first believed. The dark night of sin which reigned in the time preceding his return is nearly over. The day of the light of his righteousness is at hand.

Let us cast off the works of darkness (sin; disobedience of God's word) and put on the armor of light (righteousness which is by grace through trust and obedience to Jesus). Let us conduct ourselves becomingly as living in the day of the Lord’s kingdom of righteousness, rather than in the darkness of this present sinful world of revelry (partying), drunkenness, debauchery, licentiousness (sensuality), quarreling, and jealousy. We are to put on (the righteousness of) Jesus Christ, and not make any provision to indulge the desires of the flesh.

After the Last Supper, Jesus had taken his disciples to the Mount of Olives to Gethsemane. He told the disciples to wait and keep watch, while Jesus went off a short distance to pray. Jesus went apart and began to pray. Jesus’ own preference would have been to avoid “drinking” the “cup” (i.e. to avoid suffering the crucifixion), but that he was committed to doing God’s will. He returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.

Jesus asked Peter if Peter could not have stayed on alert one hour while Jesus prayed. Jesus said to stay awake and pray to avoid temptation. It’s easier to have good intentions than it is to actually carry them out. Jesus went and prayed a second time, that if his crucifixion was necessary, then Jesus was willing to do God’s will. Jesus returned to the disciples and again found them sleeping. Jesus went a third time to pray. Then he returned and said, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand” (Matthew 26:45b-46).

The Israelites knew that the Lord had told them not to take for themselves any of the things of Jericho which were condemned to destruction. One of their members did, and brought trouble and dishonor on the entire congregation. The entire group was guilty because they had not been vigilant to prevent disobedience by one of its members, and had not even been aware of it. The Lord withdrew his support from them until they removed the sin from among them.

Christians individually and collectively should not allow themselves to be obligated to anyone contrary to God’s word. Love is a much-abused word in this world. It is not loving to allow a brother or sister to live in sin, nor is it loving to tolerate sin within the Church, but the world is quick to condemn us as unloving and intolerant for condemning sin.

Christians are to live as like God’s people, not like the “Canaanites” (worldly people). We are to behave like citizens of God’s kingdom, not according to the standards of this world. We are to be watchful, ready for the imminent return of Jesus. If we condone sin within our Churches, no wonder that our Churches are loosing ground to the enemy. It is high time for the Church to wake up.

Jesus tried three times that night to tell his disciples to stay awake and to pray that they might not enter into temptation. Jesus says that it is not enough to have good intentions, unless those intentions produce results. Jesus was totally committed to doing God’s will, even to the extent of suffering a painful death. The disciples didn’t realize what agony Jesus was suffering for them; they were preoccupied with their own physical needs and comfort.

Are we fulfilling our obligation to uphold God’s word, or are we allowing ourselves and our churches to become obligated to the world’s standards and views? Are we committed to doing God’s will, or are we committed to taking it easy and doing what we please? Are we keeping watch over Christ’s body, or are we snoozing on the job? Are we allowing the body of Christ to be betrayed into the hands of sinners?   Are we allowing sins condemned to destruction by God’s word to exist in our midst? Are you ready for Christ’s return?

 Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
 

10 Pentecost - Tuesday

first posted 08/09/04

Joshua 8: 1-22     Victory at Ai
Romans 14:1-12   Love respects the conscience of others
Matthew 26:47-56    Jesus’ arrest

Israel had previously tried to capture Ai, but had been defeated by the sin of Achan (see entry for yesterday). Israel had removed the sin from among them and now the Lord told them to attack Ai again. At the Lord’s direction, Joshua laid an ambush behind Ai, with Israelites soldiers. Joshua was to attack the city from the front, in order to draw off the defenders of Ai by turning and fleeing from them as had happened previously. In the morning Joshua mustered the people and went to Ai and encamped north of the city.

When the king of Ai saw this, his army came out of the city early in the morning to attack Israel, not knowing about the ambush lying behind the city. Israel pretended to flee from the army of Ai, while the Israelite soldiers in ambush entered the city and set it on fire. When the main group of Israelites saw the smoke of the fire, they turned back upon the army of Ai, who were then trapped and were completely destroyed between the main army of Israel and the rear guard that had laid the ambush.

Christians have differences in their beliefs about eating meat, observing the Sabbath, and drinking alcohol. Paul sees these scruples as weakness of faith, but we are not to let these issues divide us. Those who abstain from such things on the basis of conscience should not judge those who indulge, nor should those who indulge judge those who abstain.

We should recognize that each individual is the servant of the Lord and is accountable to him. The Lord will see to it that each of his servants is blameless in the Day of Judgment. Whether we choose to indulge or abstain, we must honor the Lord in whatever we do. Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord; that was the reason Jesus died and rose again for us. We must not pass judgment upon one another. Each of us will be individually accountable to the Lord.

Jesus had been praying in Gethsemane, while his disciples waited nearby. Jesus had just finished telling his disciples that his betrayal was at hand. Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived leading a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of Israel. Judas had arranged to kiss Jesus as a signal to identify Jesus to the crowd, so he immediately came up to Jesus and kissed him. Jesus said, “Friend, why are you here?” Then the people with Judas seized Jesus.

 One of the disciples with Jesus drew a sword and cut off the ear of the slave of the high priest. Jesus told the disciple to sheath his sword, saying that all who resort to violence will die by violence. Jesus said that if he asked God the Father for assistance, God would send overwhelming, irresistible forces, but that was not in accordance with scripture or God’s will.

Jesus asked his captors why they had come out at night, with swords and clubs, as if to capture a criminal, when Jesus had been teaching in the temple day after day, where they could have apprehended him easily. Jesus said that all this had taken place in fulfillment of scripture. Then all his disciples left him and fled.

Israel had nothing to fear from the world as long as she obeyed the word of God and kept her conscience clean in God’s sight. While she tolerated sin in her midst she was defeated, but when she removed the sin from among the congregation, she was restored to victory over her enemies.

We are each personally accountable to the Lord for what we have done in life. If we trust in the Lord we will obey what he commands. If we are trusting and obeying Jesus, he is faithful and will see to it that we are blameless on the Day of Judgment. If we are doing what we know is contrary to his teaching, we are not his servants and have not allowed him to be our Lord (Luke 6:46 Matthew 7;21-24).

We are not to fight among ourselves over matters of opinion which should be decided by our conscience. But Paul didn’t condone sin. For example, he did not condemn drinking of alcohol as a sin, but he didn’t condone drunkenness, and he advocated excommunication of members of the Church who lived in unrepentant immorality and sin (1 Corinthians 5:1-5; 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:9-11).

Jesus had given Judas an opportunity to repent before he left the Last Supper to betray his Lord, but Judas had refused it and went ahead with his betrayal (Matthew 26:20-25). Now he stood before Jesus, and Jesus asked him why Judas had come to this place. Jesus loved Judas and had called him “friend,” and yet Judas had betrayed that love and friendship. What could Judas say?

Jesus asked the mob which had come to capture him why they had chosen this remote place in the middle of the night and had armed themselves with swords and clubs, when Jesus could have been arrested unarmed in the Temple in daylight. What answer could the mob give? Their own actions betrayed them!

Jesus didn’t come into the world to condemn the world but to save it. Those who haven’t trusted and obeyed Jesus will be condemned by their own actions (John 3:16-21). Jesus has promised to return to judge all who have ever lived on earth (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46).

All have sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23). The penalty for sin (disobedience of God's word) is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God loves us and sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we wouldn’t have to die for our sins ourselves (Romans 5:8). Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Salvation is by grace (free gift, unmerited favor) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, not by works (keeping) of the Law (Ephesians 2:8-9). On the Day of Judgment, if we have trusted and obeyed Jesus it will show; if we haven’t, it will be obvious. Will you come to the light of Jesus Christ, or will you try to hide in the darkness?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples and teaching them to obey all that Jesus taught (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? 

10 Pentecost - Wednesday

first posted 08/10/04

Joshua 8:30-35   The Altar on Mt. Ebal
Romans 14:13-23     Consideration for others  
Matthew 26:57-68    Jesus before Caiaphas

After the victory over Ai, Joshua built an altar to the Lord on Mt. Ebal, as Moses had commanded (Deuteronomy 27:4-5, 11-12; 11:29-30). The altar was built of unworked stone, and they sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings upon it. A copy of the Law of Moses was written upon the stones in the presence of the people. Half of the people stood on one side of the Ark of the Covenant, before Mt. Ebal, and half stood on the other side of the Ark, before Mt. Gerizim. Joshua did exactly as Moses had directed, reading all the words of the book of the law, the blessing and the curse. (Anyone who kept the commandments would be blessed; anyone who violated the commandments would be cursed.)

Instead of passing judgment on others, we should make it our goal not to cause another to sin (disobey God's word) by our behavior. Paul was convinced that in Christ, nothing was unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks that it is. We should not use our freedom in a way that causes another to sin. Nor should we let others condemn us for what is good. The kingdom of God is more than issues of food and drink; the issues that really matter are righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Those who serve Christ in those (important) things will be acceptable to God and mankind. So pursue the things that make peace and mutual up-building, rather than the insignificant things which cause division. So we should abstain from anything which causes another to sin. Let us let the regulation of our own behavior be between ourselves and God. If we have no cause to blame ourselves for our behavior we should be content. Anything we do contrary to our faith is sin.

When Jesus had been arrested in Gethsemane, he was taken before Caiaphas, the high priest, and the scribes and elders (the Sanhedrin; the Jewish supreme court). Peter followed at a distance as far as the courtyard, and sat with the guards, to see what would happen. The court sought false testimony so that they could execute Jesus, but found none, although many false witnesses testified. Finally two came forward and testified that Jesus had claimed that he could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days.

The court questioned Jesus about this statement, but Jesus refused to answer, so they asked him to state directly if he was the Christ, the Son of God, and Jesus replied that they had said so. Jesus declared that they would see the Son of  man enthroned at God’s right hand, and coming (on the Day of Judgment) with the clouds of heaven (as he had ascended into heaven after his resurrection; Acts 1:9-11).

The high priest tore his robes and told the court that Jesus had blasphemed. The court ruled that Jesus had blasphemed and deserved execution. Then they spat in Jesus’ face and struck him, and mocked Jesus, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you” (Matthew 26:68)?

Joshua was faithfully obeying God’s word, passed on to him through Moses. Life in the Promised Land depended upon the people’s knowledge of and obedience to God’s word. As soon as possible after they entered the land they went to the place commanded by the Lord through Moses to renew their covenant with the Lord. Joshua was building up the kingdom of God.

Paul isn’t saying that nothing is sinful, or that one can do anything one pleases as long as one doesn’t believe the behavior is sinful. He is not saying that sexual immorality, for example, is acceptable as long as the parties involved believe it is not sinful (1 Corinthians 5:1-5; 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:9-11; Romans 1:18-27). The Bible specifically teaches that the practice of homosexuality* is sin.

Paul is just trying to show that, in minor matters which are not contrary to God’s word, we should be considerate of one another. Righteousness (doing what is right in God's Judgment) and obedience to God’s word are among the real issues that do matter.  Believers must ask ourselves if our behavior is causing others to sin. Are we faithfully and accurately proclaiming God’s word to the world, or are we adopting the world’s standards as a substitute for God’s word?

The trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin was in violation of Jewish Law. According to the law formal action could only be taken during daylight, but the verdict was rendered during the night. The defendant could only be condemned on the testimony of two or more witnesses, but the Sanhedrin couldn’t find any, and yet they condemned Jesus on the charge of blasphemy, based on what they said about him in charging him.

The Sanhedrin was composed of the high priest, the teachers of the Law, and the religious leaders. They were unfaithful leaders of the people, who disregarded God’s word and followed their own worldly agenda. They destroyed their religion instead of building it up. Judaism effectively ended at the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Which kind of “believer” are we? Are we the kind of believer that honestly seeks to know and obey God’s word, who builds up the Church by the faithful and accurate proclamation of God’s word, or are we the kind of “believer” who ignores God’s word, leads others to sin, and divides and destroys the Church by our unscriptural behavior?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

10 Pentecost - Thursday

first posted 08/11/04

Joshua 9:3-21    Ruse of the Gibeonites
Romans 15:1-13    Bear with the weak
Matthew 26:69-75    Peter’s denial

While the rest of the inhabitants of Canaan prepared for battle against Israel, the Gibeonites (Hivites from the vicinity of Gibeon) devised a ruse to avoid the fate of Jericho and Ai. They gathered worn out clothes and equipment, moldy bread and worn out patched and mended wineskins, and went to Joshua at the Israelite encampment at Gilgal, claiming to have come from a distant land. They wanted Israel to enter into a treaty with them. Joshua questioned them and they said that they had heard of the Lord God of Israel, and all that he had done in Egypt, and in the Transjordan (east of the Jordan) where Israel had defeated Og and Sihon.

They showed Joshua their provisions and claimed that their bread was hot from the ovens when they set out, and had become moldy on the journey. They said that their clothes and shoes had been new when they set out and had worn out on the trip. So the Israelites saw the conditions of the Gibeonites’ provisions and did not ask directions from the Lord, but entered into a treaty with them to allow them to live among the Israelites.

Three days later they discovered the truth that the Gibeonites were neighbors, and the Israelites set out to go to the cities of the Gibeonites, (four cities including Gibeon, northwest of Jerusalem and south of Bethel). Israel reached the Gibeonite cities on the third day, but they could not destroy the Gibeonites because of their treaty, so they let them live, and the Gibeonites became woodchoppers and water bearers for Israel.

Those who are strong in faith should be tolerant of those who are weak in faith. We should put what is best for our neighbor ahead of our own self-interest. We have as our example, Christ, who did not pursue his self-interest but humbled himself and endured reproach and suffering in obedience to God’s will and for our salvation (compare Matthew 20:28). The scriptures recorded the history of God’s work on behalf of his people for our instruction, so that by our endurance and the encouragement of scriptures we might have hope.

Paul prayed that God, who provides steadfastness and encouragement, might help believers live in harmony so that together all would glorify God. We should welcome others as Christ has welcomed us, so that God may be glorified. Christ came to the Jews in fulfillment of God’s promise, but the promise of salvation was also for the Gentiles, as Paul shows with quotations from Psalms 18:49; 117:1, Deuteronomy 32:43 and Isaiah 11:10. God provides hope, joy and peace through faith, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

When Jesus had been arrested, Peter had followed at a distance to see what would happen. He was sitting with the guards in the courtyard outside the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. A maid came up to Peter and said that he must have been with Jesus the Galilean, but Peter denied it, claiming not to know what she was talking about.

Peter went out to the entry, and another maid told those standing nearby that Peter had been with Jesus of Nazareth, but again Peter denied knowing Jesus. After a little while, bystanders approached Peter and told him that Peter must surely have been with Jesus because he spoke with a Galilean accent. Peter swore that he did not know Jesus, and at once the cock crowed. Peter remembered that Jesus had told him that he would deny Jesus three times before the cock crowed, and Peter went out and wept bitterly.

While the rest of the inhabitants of Canaan tried to resist and oppose the people of God, the Gibeonites realized that it was in their self-interest to join the people of God and become servants of the Lord. As a result their lives were spared. The leaders of Israel were deceived and they misguided the people because they didn’t seek the Lord’s guidance; instead they relied on their own wisdom and judgment.

Jesus came to show us a better way to live. It is the nature of life in this world that if we aim to satisfy our self-interest we will miss. What we think we want is not truly in our best interest. The way to achieve what is in our best interest is to humble ourselves, serve the Lord, and put the interests of others ahead of our own.

The Lord provides salvation and eternal life in the Promised Land of Heaven for all who submit themselves in trust and obedience to Jesus Christ. The Bible is our instruction manual for successful living. It is God’s provision for our hope and encouragement. God provides his indwelling Holy Spirit to guide, encourage and sustain those who trust and obey Jesus.

Peter had told Jesus that he was willing to die for Jesus rather than deny him (Matthew 26:35), but Peter denied Jesus, as Jesus had said, because Peter was thinking of his own self-interest instead of how to glorify the Lord. In fairness, remember that Peter had not yet been filled with the Holy Spirit. After Pentecost (Acts Ch. 2) Peter had a new character; he’d been "reborn." After that, he preached with a boldness he didn’t have on the night Jesus was betrayed (see Acts 3:12-26, 4:18-20 for example). Although denial seemed in his self-interest at the time, it didn’t give Peter joy, peace and hope but the opposite.  

Are you joining and working with the people of God, or are you resisting and opposing them? Are you serving the Lord and others or are you serving yourself? Are you seeking guidance and encouragement from the scriptures and the indwelling Holy Spirit, or are you relying on your own wisdom and judgment? Does your behavior glorify or deny the reality of Jesus Christ?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? 

10 Pentecost - Friday

first posted 08/12/04

Joshua 9:22-10:15     Victory over the five kings
Romans 15:14-24    Personal greetings
Matthew 27:1-10    Jesus before Pilate

The Gibeonites deceived the Israelites, claiming to be foreigners from a distant land because they had heard that God had given the land of Canaan to Israel and had promised to destroy all the inhabitants of the land so that Israel could possess it. Because of the treaty which Israel had entered into with the Gibeonites, Joshua allowed them to live among the Israelites and they became woodchoppers and water carriers for Israel and for the altar of the Lord.

The King of Jerusalem, Adonizedek, heard of Joshua’s defeat of Ai and Jericho, and how Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and he made a coalition with four other Amorite cities to fight the Israelites. The kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon attacked Gibeon. Gibeon sent word to Joshua at Gilgal, asking for help. So Joshua led his army from Gilgal to assist Gibeon. The Lord assured Joshua that Joshua would be victorious over the five Amorite kings.

Joshua’s forces came on the Amorites suddenly, having marched all night. The Lord threw the Amorites into panic, and they were slaughtered by the Israelites. The Lord caused a great hailstorm which slew more than the army of Israel slew with the sword. Joshua praised the Lord for the victory over the Amorites, and said that the Lord had caused the sun to stand still until Israel had slain the Amorites. The Lord had fought for Israel and had won the victory.

Paul sent personal greetings to the members of the church at Rome. Paul urged believers to note those who oppose and dissent from sound scriptural, apostolic (as taught by the apostles) doctrine so as to avoid associating with them. Paul warned that such people do not serve the Lord but their own appetites and desires. They use pleasant words and flattery to deceive those who are simple-minded. Paul commends the Roman Christians for their obedience, but warns them so that they will know what is good and avoid what is evil. If they do that, the Lord will soon give them victory over Satan.

When morning came the chief priests and elders of Israel (the Sanhedrin; the Jewish supreme court) decided to put Jesus to death, and they had Jesus bound and sent to Pilate, the Roman governor. When Judas saw that Jesus was condemned, he brought back the thirty pieces of silver he was paid to betray Jesus, saying that he had sinned in betraying innocent blood. The chief priests and elders declared that Judas’ sin was of no concern to them.

Judas threw down the money in the temple and went and hanged himself. The chief priests couldn’t return the money to the treasury since it was blood money, so they used it to buy a potter’s field as a cemetery for foreigners, which became known as the Field of Blood. This fulfilled the prophecy of scripture in Zechariah 11:12-13 and Jeremiah 18:1-3; 32:6-15.

The promises of the Lord are completely dependable; what he promises is fulfilled. We are free to choose whether to trust and obey or not. Our eternal destiny will be determined by our decision.  The Gibeonites heard that the Lord had promised to give the land to the Israelites and they believed the promise. They chose to cooperate with God’s plan, and they were saved from destruction and became servants of the Lord. The kings of the five Amorite cities also heard the Lord’s promise, but they chose to resist and oppose it. They were utterly destroyed, as the Lord had promised. The Lord has unlimited supernatural power to fulfill his promises. Scripture will be fulfilled; the question is whether we, individually, will be on the winning or loosing side.

Paul advised believers to stay away from those who oppose and dissent from sound scriptural, apostolic doctrine. It is necessary for believers to know the Bible so as to be able to do this. Paul warns believers to stay away from those who serve their own self-interest instead of God’s will. Our obedience must be to God’s word, rather than to human leaders. The issue is not what our pastor says, or what some theologian says, but what the Bible says. We must seek God’s word and obey it; then we can be assured that the Lord will give us victory over evil.

The chief priests and elders of Israel were not interested in doing God’s will; they were pursuing their own will. They were not seeking God’s council; they were seeking council from among themselves. They were not cooperating with God’s plan; they were carrying out their own plan. They were the spiritual leaders of the people of Israel. They were responsible for the spiritual welfare of the people, but they encouraged Judas to join them in sin, and when Judas repented they didn’t care, and they offered no help in restoring Judas. People cannot follow such leaders and not be misled.

The Amorites were destroyed because their leaders led them to oppose God’s will. The Gibeonites were saved and became servants of the Lord because their leaders led them to join with the people of God and work with them to accomplish God’s will. The leaders of the Jews chose to oppose God’s will by pursuing their own self-interest. Judaism effectively ended at the crucifixion of Jesus. The Temple was destroyed in 70 AD and the people were scattered throughout the world. Israel ceased to exist as a nation, until after World War II.

The scriptures warn believers to be careful about whom they allow to be their leaders. Each believer must be responsible to know what the Bible says for him- or herself, to avoid being misled by false teachers and false prophets. We can’t expect the Lord to give us victory unless we make sure we’re doing God’s will. If we earnestly seek God’s will, with the commitment to obey it, he will reveal his will to us.

Jesus has promised to return to judge everyone who has ever lived on Earth (John 5:28-28, Matthew 25:31-46). Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal life in the Promised Land of Heaven with the Lord; those who have rejected and refused to obey Jesus will receive eternal death in Hell with all evil. Jesus is God's only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12, John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Do you believe these promises? Are you joining with God's people and obeying God's word, in order to accomplish God's purpose?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
 

10 Pentecost - Saturday

first posted 08/13/04

Joshua 23:1-16    Joshua’s farewell to Israel
Romans 15:25-33   Paul’s plans and God’s will
Matthew 27:11-23    Jesus before Pilate

At the end of his life, Joshua gathered all Israel together and told them that he was getting old, and that they had seen all that the Lord had done to give them the land and how the Lord had fought for them. There were still occupants of the land to be dealt with, which Joshua left to them. Joshua told them that the Lord would push these enemies back before Israel as he had done with the others, just as the Lord had promised. Joshua warned the people to be careful to keep God’s word, as recorded in scripture, and not to mix with the natives of the land or adopt their customs and religion.

Joshua charged Israel not to depart from following the Lord, because it was the Lord who fought for them and gave them victory over their enemies. Joshua warned that if Israel turned from obedience to the Lord and made alliances with the remaining inhabitants of the land and intermarried, that God would not continue to fight for them, and that they would become a snare and trap to the Israelites and cause them all kinds of trouble until Israel perished from the land.

Now Joshua was about to die, and he declared that not one of the promises of the Lord had failed to be fulfilled. But Joshua warned that just as the good promises of the Lord are fulfilled, so are the warnings of evil fulfilled to those who disobey and transgress the covenant with the Lord.

Paul planned to visit the Roman church on his way to Spain. He had wanted to visit for some time, but had been prevented by other responsibilities. At present he was apparently in Corinth (Macedonia and Achaia were the two provinces of Greece at that time) on his way to take a financial contribution from them to Jerusalem. Paul thought it was only right that the Gentiles who had received spiritual riches from the Jewish Christians, might share their material blessings with the poor among the Jewish Christians.

Paul intended to come to Rome on his way to Spain, after he had delivered the contribution. Paul asked the Roman Christians to pray with him that Paul might be delivered from unbelievers in Judea, and that his objective in Jerusalem might be accomplished successfully, so that Paul might enjoy his visit with the Roman church.

Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor. Pilate asked Jesus if Jesus was the King of the Jews, and Jesus replied, “You have said so.” The chief priests and elders made many charges against Jesus, but Jesus made no answer to any of them. Pilate asked Jesus why he made no answer but Jesus kept silent, and the Governor was puzzled. It was the Governor’s practice to pardon a prisoner each year at the Passover feast, so Pilate asked the crowd if they wanted Jesus released, or a notorious prisoner named Barabbas instead. Pilate realized that Jesus had been condemned to death because of envy.

Pilate’s wife had had a premonition about Jesus in a dream and had sent word to Pilate, as he was sitting in judgment of Jesus, not to bear responsibility for the punishment of Jesus, whom she was convinced was righteous. But the leaders of the people convinced them to ask for the release of Barabbas. So Pilate asked the people what they would have him do with Jesus, and they told Pilate to crucify Jesus. Pilate asked them what Jesus had done to deserve crucifixion but the crowd just kept insisting on Jesus’ crucifixion, without any justification.

Throughout their history, when Israel trusted and obeyed the Lord, they prospered. Many times they had turned from obedience to the Lord and had suffered defeat as a result. The first Temple, built by Solomon, was destroyed by Nebuchadrezzar (Nebuchadnezzar) at the time the Jews were taken into Babylonian exile. The Temple was rebuilt by Zerubbabel and the high priest, Jeshua, from 535 to 516 BC. It stood for five hundred years but was in disrepair when Herod became ruler.

Herod offered to build a new temple in order to win political favor with the Jews. The Jews cooperated with Herod the Great, who had wanted to kill Jesus as a new born baby, and who did slaughter all male children under two years of age in Bethlehem and the surrounding region, in the attempt (Matthew 2:16), to build the new Temple (Matthew 2:16).  Herod’s Temple was not yet completed during Jesus' lifetime.

The Jews had gone into Babylonian captivity because they had not heeded the warnings of the prophets to repent and return to obedient trust in the Lord; and they had forgotten the lessons taught by Babylonian captivity. At the time of Jesus’ coming, they were unprepared. They had fallen away from the Lord; they were following the customs of their Roman occupiers.

They had the choice to either turn to the Lord and accept Jesus as their Messiah, God’s anointed king, or to continue to follow their Roman governors and their corrupt religious leaders. The people followed their leaders and rejected Jesus as their Lord and king; they cooperated with the Romans rulers to crucify Jesus. Crucifixion was a Roman custom. The Jewish form of execution was by stoning.

The Jews had the scriptures which contained the promises of God as well as the warnings against disobedience, but they rejected God’s will, and chose instead to pursue their own will. Paul is the example of trust and obedience to the Lord and the acceptance of God’s will (see Romans 15:32).

The Jews rejected God’s word and God’s will for them, and chose to pursue their own will. As a consequence their religion effectively ended at the crucifixion of Jesus (See entries for Holy Week, even year). The Temple was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans, the people were scattered over the Earth, and the nation ceased to exist until it was reestablished following World War II.

The history of Israel is also a parable about life in this world. God’s word continues to be fulfilled over and over, as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. The Church is the "New Israel," the "New People of God." We have the scriptures and the promises of God. Let us not forget that the scriptures also contain warnings of punishment for turning away from the Lord, and for disobedience of his word. There is still territory to be claimed in the Lord’s name.

Are we following the Lord and keeping his commands, or are we adopting the customs and making alliances with the occupants of the land (worldly people)? Jesus has promised to return to judge everyone who has ever lived on earth (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46). Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal life in the Promised Land of Heaven with the Lord. Those who have rejected Jesus as their Lord and have refused to obey him will receive eternal death in Hell with Satan and all evil.

Are you ready for Jesus second coming? Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?