7 Pentecost - Sunday

first posted 07/17/04

Numbers 21:4-9, 21-35    Fiery serpents; defeat of the Amorites
Acts 17: (12-21) 22-34    Paul’s speech at Athens
Luke 13: 10-17     Healing on the Sabbath

From Mount Hor (near Kadesh, on the border of Edom) the Israelites went north  to go around the land of Edom east of the Dead Sea, (because the King of Edom had refused to let them pass through his land; Numbers 20:14-21). The people continued to complain about the hardships of the wilderness: no food; no water; they hated the food the Lord provided. Then poisonous snakes came among the people and many people died from their bites, so the people came to Moses acknowledging their sin for speaking against the Lord and asking Moses to intercede for them to the Lord.

The Lord told Moses to make a bronze image of the poisonous snake and place it on a pole. Moses did as the Lord directed. When a person was bitten by a snake he would look at the bronze serpent and he would live. Israel sent messengers to the Amorite king, Sihon, who occupied former Moabite territory between the River Arnon to the River Jabbok. King Sihon refused to let Israel pass through his territory and came out and fought with Israel and was defeated. Israel took possession of all his cities, including the capital at Heshbon.  From Heshbon Moses sent spies to scout Jazer, further north, and they captured the villages and dispossessed the Amorites there. From there they went up to Bashan, and defeated the king of Bashan at Edrei, as the Lord had promised.  

Paul was on his second missionary trip originally intending to revisit churches he had established on the first trip, and then had entered Europe for the first time. He had traveled through Macedonia and had arrived in Athens where he was waiting for Silas and Timothy, his fellow missionaries. Paul was troubled that the city of Athens was full of idols, so he debated daily in the synagogue and in the marketplace with the local Jews and some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers.

The Athenians were well-known for their intellectual curiosity at the time, and they brought Paul to the Areopagus, a hill west of the Acropolis, where the Athenian court held session. So Paul began to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the assembled Athenians by noting that the Athenians seemed very religious (because of all the idols and altars), and that Paul had noticed even an altar to an “unknown god.” Paul was able to make known the true God, the creator and Lord of heaven and earth, who has no need for men to build houses for him to live in.  Paul declared that God had given life on this earth to all of us so that we might seek after God and find him (Acts 17:26-27.

God has not hidden himself very far from us. Paul, who was well-educated, quoted some Greek poems to illustrate his point that we are God’s offspring. We are the handiwork, the creation, of  God; God is not our creation or handiwork. God has excused times of ignorance, but now commands repentance by all people everywhere, because a Day of Judgment has been set, when God will judge everyone who has ever lived by Jesus Christ whom he has designated as his righteous judge; and God has confirmed that Jesus is God’s anointed judge by raising him from the dead.

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath. There was a woman who for eighteen years had had a disability which caused her to be bent over and unable to stand erect. When Jesus saw her he called her and freed her from her disability, so that she was made straight, and she praised God. But the leader of the synagogue was angry because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath (healing was considered work), and told the people to come on weekdays for healing, rather than on the Sabbath. The Lord called them hypocrites, pointing out that people unbind their farm animals on the Sabbath in order to lead them to water; they have more concern for their animals than they do for a “daughter of Abraham” (and a child of God) who had been bound by Satan for eighteen years. Jesus’ adversaries were put to shame, and the people rejoiced at all the glorious things Jesus was doing.

When the people sinned in the wilderness by rebelling against God’s will, they were bitten by poisonous snakes and many died. The people repented and asked Moses to intercede for them to God, and Moses did so. God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole so that it could be seen anywhere in the camp. (The serpent was probably attached perpendicularly to the pole; i.e. “cross-wise”.) When anyone was bitten, he or she could look at the bronze serpent on the pole, and be saved. The Israelites had failed to enter Canaan from the south, and Edom had refused to let them pass through, but they were able to skirt Edom and they pressed on and were victorious against Sihon and Bashan, giving Israel possession of all the land east of the Jordan, from the River Arnon to the foot of Mt. Hermon, the northern boundary of Israel.

Paul  set out on his second missionary trip with the intention to visit churches he had established on the first trip, but the Holy Spirit led Paul to enter Europe for the first time, instead (Acts 16:6-10). Paul had run into opposition to the Gospel along the way, was thrown in jail in Philippi, and managed to convert the Jailer and his family while there (Acts 16:19-34). He had to leave Thessalonica and Beroea because of opposition to the Gospel, which is how he came to be in Athens (Acts 17:13-15).

In Athens, because he faithfully continued to proclaim the Gospel, he had an opportunity to preach to the Athenian court. Paul believed that the meaning and purpose of life on this earth is to seek God, feeling after him (groping for him, because he is invisible to human eye, and we are spiritually blind). God hasn’t revealed him self blatantly to us, so that we are free to choose for ourselves, but he wants us to seek and to find him. He’s just waiting to be found. He has revealed himself in Jesus Christ (John 14:8-9). Jesus is the only way to know and have fellowship with God (John 14:6; Matthew 11:27; John 14:6)

We are all bound by sin, as the disabled woman had been bound by her infirmity. Only Jesus can release us from that bondage to sin. Only Jesus can straighten us up. Jesus came primarily to offer spiritual rather than physical healing. The people were obviously in need of spiritual healing, because they treated their animals better than they treated God’s children. Believers are spiritual descendents of Abraham (Romans 4:11b-12). Jesus is the source of the water of life (John 7:37-40; 1 Corinthians 10:4; John 4:10, 13-14).

“The sting of sin is death” (1 Corinthians 15:56); death is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23). We have all sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23). Jesus was lifted up on the cross, like the serpent was lifted up on the pole in the wilderness, so that all who are under death-sentence because of sin can look to him and live (John 3:14-15). Jesus is our intercessor with God; when we repent of our sins we are reconciled to God through Jesus. 

Only Jesus can free us from bondage to sin and lead us to the water of eternal life. God has created us and given us this life as an opportunity to seek and find him. He has given us the choice of whether to seek and follow him or not. When we choose to follow him we will have to go through some wilderness, and we will have to endure some opposition in this world. But if we obediently persevere, God will lead us to opportunities for service, and we will eventually be victorious. By obeying and persevering Israel was able to occupy and claim the land east of the Jordan. By obedience and perseverance Paul was able to proclaim the Gospel and claim new territory for Christ.

Is Jesus your savior and intercessor? Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received his indwelling Holy Spirit since you first believed? Are you confronting the idolatry of your society in your marketplace and in your church? Are you persevering and claiming new territory in the name of Jesus? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

7 Pentecost - Monday

first posted 07/18/04

Numbers 22:1-21    Balak sends for Balaam
Romans 6:12-23   The two slaveries
Matthew 21:12-22    Cleansing the temple; fig tree cursed

Edom had refused to let Israel pass through their land and so Israel had gone around Edom and what remained of Moab south of the River Arnon. The former land of Moab north of the River Arnon had been occupied by Sihon, king of the Amorites. The Israelites had defeated Sihon and Bashan, so that Israel occupied the land east of the Jordan from the Arnon to Mt Hermon (see Numbers 21:21-35). Israel encamped on the Plains of Moab on the east shore of the Jordan River opposite Jericho. Balak, King of Moab, was afraid of Israel because he had seen what Israel had done to the Amorites, and because of the great number of Israelites. Moab and their allies in Midian (south of Edom and north of the Red Sea) decided to send for a Mesopotamian seer named Balaam to curse Israel.

The elders of Moab and Midian went to Pethor (south of Carchemish, near the River Euphrates in Syria). When they came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message, Balaam invited them to stay overnight. The Lord told Balaam not to go with the elders to curse Israel, because Israel was blessed (by God). In the morning Balaam told the elders that the Lord had refused to let him go, so the elders returned to Balak and told him that Balaam refused to come. Balak sent a second delegation and they promised that Balaam would be rewarded with whatever he requested in exchange for coming. But all the silver and gold Balak might give him would not be sufficient to induce Balaam to go beyond the Lord’s command.  Once again Balaam consulted the Lord overnight, and the Lord allowed Balaam to accompany them on condition that Balaam would do only what the Lord commanded. So the following morning Balaam went with the delegation from Balak.  

Sinners are slaves of sin. When we are ransomed from sin the Lord becomes our master. We have no business obeying our old master, sin; instead we must be obedient to our new master. Believers are not to be tools that produce wickedness, but rather, tools of righteousness. Believers do not have to yield to sin, because sin no longer has authority over us, since we are no longer under law but under grace (free gift of forgiveness; salvation). But although we are under grace and not law, we are not free to sin. Whoever we willingly obey is our master. Obedience to sin leads to (spiritual, eternal) death; obedience to the Lord leads to righteousness (and eternal life).

Let us thank God that although we were once slaves of sin and death, we who have become sincerely obedient to the teaching of Jesus Christ have been freed from sin, so that we can serve righteousness. As we once yielded ourselves to ever-greater iniquity, let us now yield ourselves in growing righteousness to spiritual maturity. As sinners we were not obligated to be righteous, but the rewards of those shameful acts is death. Now, believers have been freed from sin, and the reward for obedience to righteousness is sanctification (spiritual maturity; completion of spiritual rebirth; the result of entire consecration to God) and eternal life. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Jesus had entered Jerusalem, hailed by the crowd as the Son of David (the Messiah and heir to David’s throne; Matthew 21:1-11), knowing that he would be crucified and raised again on the third day (Matthew 20:17-19). He went to the Temple and drove out those who bought and sold in the temple, overturning the tables of the moneychangers and those who sold animals for temple sacrifices, declaring that they had perverted a house of prayer into a den of robbers. Jesus healed the blind and lame who came to him in the temple. Children in the temple cried out “Hosanna to the Son of David!”

When the religious leaders saw what Jesus was doing, and heard what the children were saying about Jesus, they rebuked Jesus, asking if Jesus was hearing what the children were saying about him. Jesus answered by quoting Psalm 8:2 meaning that the songs of pure and innocent children glorify God. Jesus left Jerusalem and stayed overnight at Bethany. In the morning as he returned to Jerusalem he was hungry, and seeing a fig tree he went to it and found no fruit; only leaves. (Fig trees produce fruit first, and then leaves). Jesus cursed the tree saying “May no fruit ever come from you again!”  The tree immediately withered. The disciples were amazed when they saw it. Jesus told them that if one has faith and does not doubt, nothing is impossible, and that whatever disciples pray for in faith, they will receive (see conditions for answered prayer, sidebar, top right).  

What God blesses no one can curse with effect. Moab and Midian saw how God had blessed Israel and had given them victory over their opponents, and Moab and Midian were afraid of Israel. Because Balaam was obedient to the Lord, the Lord was able to use him to proclaim God’s word (later). Balaam didn’t let desire for material wealth interfere with his obedience to God. Balaam sought God’s guidance before making decisions. God reveals his will to those who are committed to obeying it.

We must choose whom we will serve. We will either serve the Lord or we will serve sin. Jesus gives us the power to make the choice; we can be free of sin if we choose Jesus. Believers are not to use grace (the free gift of salvation) as an excuse for sin. If we live according to our carnal nature we will die in our carnal nature, but by living according to the Holy Spirit we can put to death the deeds of  our carnal nature so that we can live eternally (Romans 8:13). The Lord gives the Holy Spirit to those who trust and obey Jesus. (Isaiah 42:5e, John 14:15-17).  The gift of salvation is free, and priceless!

Jesus came to the city and went directly to the “Church” to see how things were going. He found that people were using the "Church" and their religious affiliations to promote their own selfish interests; to conduct their worldly business; to enrich themselves materially. The "Church" was allowing the blind and lame to go unhealed. The "Church" is supposed to be healing sinners; not encouraging them to remain in the "Church" unhealed. Jesus healed the blind and lame who came to him.

The pure and innocent children saw and recognized that Jesus was the Son of David (the Messiah; heir to the throne of David) and rejoiced, but the religious authorities, those who should have known the scriptures, been able to understand what was happening, and recognize Jesus as the Messiah, instead attacked him as guilty of allowing blasphemy (for allowing the children to call him the Christ). The fig tree is a symbol of what was wrong with the Jewish religion in Jesus’ day. It was mature enough to have borne fruit; it had plenty of leaves, and it looked like a fig tree, but it hadn’t produced any fruit.

How are we doing Church? The Church often isn’t considered much of a threat by our worldly neighbors in this society because many “Christians” haven’t been obedient to God’s word and persistent in conquering much territory in Jesus’ name. Mostly the Church, in America at least, seems to more successful in recycling Christians from one denomination to another than in making new converts; and in making “fair-weather Christians” rather than disciples for Christ, who are obedient to his teachings (Matthew 28:18-20). The Church is warned to avoid being used by the secular government or society to bless what the government or society wants blessed and curse what the government or society wants cursed, in exchange for material benefits and contrary to God’s word. The Church is to dispense Christ's healing to sinners; not to enable them to continue their sinful lifestyle by the blessing of the Church.

We must each individually choose whether we will serve the Lord or not. The Church should require its members to be disciples, obedient to Jesus’ teachings Matthew (28:18-20). Ultimately we will each individually be accountable to the Lord for what we have done (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46). On the Day of Judgment, what Jesus blesses will be blessed for eternity, and what Jesus curses will be cursed for eternity.

Jesus’ curse of the fig tree is a parable and a warning to the Church in our day. The fig tree symbolized the condition of the Jewish religion in the day of Jesus’ coming in the flesh. The Jewish religion effectively ended at the Crucifixion of Christ (see entries for Monday of Holy Week through Maundy Thursday, Even Year Lections). The condition of the Church today is very similar to the Jewish religion at the time of Jesus.

Jesus is coming again. Is the Church blessing what the secular world wants blessed, contrary to God’s word? Do our Churches need to be cleansed? Is the Church healing sinners or enabling them? When Jesus returns will we greet him with Hosannas? Will we be pure and innocent like children, through trust and obedience to Jesus? Is our desire for material riches keeping us from obedience to God’s word and spiritual blessings? Will we have produced fruit for the kingdom of heaven, or just a lot of leaves?

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)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

7 Pentecost - Tuesday

Tuesday, July 20, 2004

posted 07/19/04

Numbers 22:21-38    Balaam’s ass speaks
Romans 7:1-12     Sin and God’s Law
Matthew 21:23-32    Jesus’ authority

Men had come from Balak, King of Moab to bring back Balaam, the seer, from Pethor in Syria. Balak wanted Balaam to curse the people of Israel because they were a threat to Moab (see entry for yesterday). Balaam had sought the Lord’s will and had been allowed to go, provided that he do only as the Lord commanded.

In the morning Balaam saddled his ass and went with the men. Three times the angel of the Lord stood blocking the way, with sword drawn, and three times the ass saw the angel and turned aside or halted, and each time Balaam struck the animal trying to make it do what he wanted. Then the Lord caused the ass to speak, and she asked Balaam why he had struck her these three times. Balaam accused the ass of making him look foolish, and wished for a sword to kill the ass. The ass replied that she had served Balaam faithfully for many years and had never acted this way before. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his sword drawn, and Balaam bowed down.

The angel asked Balaam why he had struck the animal. The angel told Balaam that he had come to oppose him because Balaam’s way was perverse. The angel would have slain Balaam if Balaam's ass had not prevented him from  blindly going ahead. Balaam repented and confessed his ignorance. Balaam promised not to go if it was evil in the angel’s sight to do so. The angel allowed Balaam to go with the men to Balak on the condition that Balaam speak only the word that the Lord would give him. So Balaam continued on to Balak with the men.

Paul points out that the law has power only over the living. A woman is bound by the laws concerning marriage only as long as her husband is alive. When the woman’s husband dies she is free to marry another. So believers have died to the law through the death of Jesus Christ, so that they may belong to the risen Jesus in order to bear fruit for God.

While we were living in the flesh our sinful nature was bearing fruit for death, (the consequence of sin under the law; Romans 6:23). But if we have been joined to Christ in his death we are discharged from the law, dead as far as our old master, sin, is concerned, so that we are free to serve the new master, not under the written code, which kills, but in the Spirit, which gives new life. The law is not sin, but the law reveals sin and incites sin. Once one becomes conscious of sin, one is forced to struggle against one's own sinful nature, increasing the temptation to satisfy one's own desires instead of obeying the law. The problem is not the law, because the law is holy, just, and good. (The problem is us; our sinful nature is not holy, just or good).

Jesus had entered Jerusalem to shouts of Hosanna, knowing that he would be crucified. He had gone to the temple, and had cast out the venders. He had healed the blind and lame. He had stayed overnight in Bethany.  Now he returned to the temple. The priests and elders came up to him and asked him by what authority he was doing these things. Jesus promised to tell them if they first answered Jesus’ question: Jesus asked them whether John’s baptism was from heaven or from men. The priests and elders argued among themselves.

They were unwilling to acknowledge that John’s baptism was from heaven, because they would be vulnerable to criticism for not having believed John. But if they said that John’s baptism was of men, they were afraid of the people, since the people regarded John as a prophet. The priests and elders therefore told Jesus that they did not know. So Jesus also declined to answer their question about his authority.

Jesus then told a parable about two sons. Their father asked each son to go and work in his vineyard. One son said, “No”, but later repented and did as he had been told. The other son agreed politely to go and acknowledged the father’s authority verbally, but didn’t go. Jesus asked the priests and elders which son had done the will of the father. They agreed that it was the first son. Then Jesus declared that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before those priests and elders, because John the Baptist preached righteousness, and tax collectors and harlots believed, but the priests and elders hadn’t repented and believed even when they saw sinners repent and turn to righteousness.

The account of Balaam’s ass is a parable emphasizing Balaam’s obligation to speak only what the Lord gave him to say. Balaam had a reputation as a great seer, which is why Balak sent a delegation all the way to Syria to bring him back. But Balaam’s ass could see the angel of the Lord blocking the way, while the great seer could not, until the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes. The Lord is able to make an ass speak according to the Lord’s will. Is Balaam committed to being as good or better, as a seer and spokesman for the Lord?

If we have been baptized into Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are no longer to serve the old master, sin. We have a new Lord and Master whom we are to serve. We have been freed from the bondage of sin so that we can serve the Lord and bear fruit for his kingdom.

The religious authorities had seen the works that Jesus had done in the temple which demonstrated who he was, and they had full knowledge of the biblical prophecies, but yet they demanded that Jesus prove his authority. They had the word of God, but it did them no good because they did not apply it to their individual lives. They did not acknowledge Jesus’ authority.  The priests and elders wouldn’t give Jesus an honest answer. Instead of telling (or honestly seeking) the truth, they formulated their answer to suit their personal interests.

Jesus formulated his question to expose their hypocrisy. The priests and elders were using their position to pursue their own interests, rather than the will of God whom they claimed as their Lord and Father. They were using their God-given authority to challenge and obstruct the authority of God’s anointed Son. Jesus was the Son of the Father who was obedient to his Father’s command. Jesus faithfully proclaimed God's word in the face of opposition and threat of death from the "authorities". They were the sons who talked like they were obedient, but didn’t do the Father’s will.

The Lord does not need well-educated, famous and successful people to proclaim his word. What he wants are faithful, obedient spokespersons. Every "Christian" is a spokesperson for the Lord. Do we call Jesus our Lord and not do what he says (Luke 6:46)? Do we call God our Father and yet disobey his will (Matthew 7:21-23)? Christians have an obligation to proclaim God’s word (and to see that it is proclaimed) faithfully. In order to do that we must read God’s word, the Bible, and know what it says.

The Lord will open our eyes to see his will and his truth if we earnestly seek it. The Lord will open our mouths to proclaim his truth if we have allowed him to show it to us and are committed to speak it faithfully. We must be careful not to use our “religious authority” to further our own interests and agenda, and we must oppose those who do so. We must be careful not to set out to proclaim God’s word with unopened eyes, and without having been trained in obedience by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

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 bearing fruit for the kingdom of God? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

7 Pentecost - Wednesday

posted 07/20/04

Numbers 22:41-23:12    Balaam’s first discourse
Romans 7:13-25    Inner conflict
Matthew 21:33-46    Parable of the vineyard

Balak, King of Moab had sent for Balaam, the Babylonian seer, to have him curse Israel because they were a threat to Moab. Balak brought Balaam to Bamoth-baal (“Heights of Baal;” south of Heshbon), where he could see the Israelite encampment. Balaam ordered seven altars built there, and seven bulls and seven rams offered upon the altars.

 Balaam left Balak at the altars and went to the top of a nearby mountain to meet with God. The Lord told Balaam what to say, and Balaam returned to declare God’s word. Balaam said that he could not curse what God had not cursed. Israel was not like other nations. Israel had become vast beyond counting. Balaam prayed that he might die righteous and receive the same destiny as Israel. Balak was angry at Balaam, because he wanted Balaam to curse Israel, and Balaam had done nothing but bless them. Balaam replied that he must be careful to speak what the Lord gives him to say.

It isn’t the law that brings death; it is sin which kills, through what is good (the law), so that sin can be shown to be sin. The law is spiritual, but we are carnal, slaves of sin. We may desire what is righteous in our hearts, but the desires of our flesh go against what we desire in our hearts. If we desire what is right but do what is sinful, we acknowledge that the law is good, and that sin dwells within us.

We may desire what is right, but fail to do it. Whenever we want to do what is right, evil is close by. We recognize the righteousness of God’s law in our minds and hearts, but there is another law in our flesh that is at war with the law of our minds, making us slaves of the law of sin which dwells in our flesh. The mind serves the law of God, but the flesh serves the law of sin. Thanks be to God for providing Jesus Christ, the only one who can deliver us from enslavement to the flesh, sin and (eternal, spiritual) death.

Jesus had come to Jerusalem, knowing that he was going to be crucified and raised again from the dead (Matthew 20:17:19). He had thrown the vendors out of the temple, and had healed the blind and lame in the temple. The religious leaders should have recognized that Jesus was the Messiah by the things he was doing, but they refused to acknowledge him as the Son of David (the Messiah; heir to David’s throne) and had challenged Jesus’ authority. (Matthew 21:12-32).

Jesus told this parable (compare Isaiah 5:1-7) about a vineyard: A householder planted a fine vineyard, with a hedge around it, a winepress and a tower. He leased it to tenants and went into another country. At the harvest season he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit, but the tenants killed one of the servants, beat another and stoned another. The owner sent a larger delegation of servants, but the tenants did the same to them. Then the owner sent his son, saying that the tenants would surely respect the son. But the tenants killed the son, realizing that he was the heir, and hoping that they would then inherit the vineyard for themselves.

What will the owner do to those tenants when he comes? He will put those wicked servants to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his fruits in their seasons. Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22-23: “The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner (cornerstone); this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” Jesus declared that “the kingdom of God will be taken away from you (the Jews) and given to a nation producing the fruits of it” (Matthew 21:43).

Balaam was a faithful spokesman of God’s word. He sought God’s will and direction, and then he obeyed and declared God’s word faithfully and accurately. He acknowledged that no one can curse what God has blessed (and no one can bless what God curses), and he himself was committed to serving God’s will. Balaam recognized that Israel had special status among the nations; she had prospered beyond human expectations, and she had a unique eternal destiny, because of her relationship with God. Balaam prayed that he might share in her eternal destiny. Balaam acknowledged that, as God’s spokesman, he must be careful to speak God’s word faithfully and accurately.

We are all sinners and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23). God’s word has revealed our sinful nature so that we can have the opportunity to repent and be forgiven. Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). We will never be judged righteous by keeping the law, because, apart from Jesus, we are unable to fulfill the law’s requirements (Ephesians 2:8-9). If we are in Jesus Christ, we have no excuse to continue living in the flesh and sin. If we live to gratify the flesh we will die in our flesh (Romans 8:5-6). We will only have eternal life if we are filled with and obedient to the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13-14).

In one sense the vineyard is the Nation of Israel and the Jewish religion. The Jewish Nation lost her special status as God’s people among the nations, and was scattered over all the earth. The Jewish religion effectively ended at the crucifixion of Jesus. (See specifically the entry for Holy Week - Tuesday, Even Year lections). The Temple was destroyed in 70 AD and has never been rebuilt. Only recently, following World War II, has the Nation of Israel been restored to her land. In another sense, the vineyard is a symbol of the entire earth, which God has leased to us, and from which he expects a return, a harvest of obedience to his Son and his word.

The parable is also a warning to the Church, and to America, which are each, in a sense, the New Israel. What God blesses no one can curse, and what God curses no one can bless. Be warned that God can and does lift his blessing from his nation, his people and his Church, if they refuse to honor and obey his Son and his Word. On the Day of Judgment those who the Lord blesses will be blessed eternally, and those who the Lord curses will be cursed eternally. It will be too late to repent.

The worldly ruler, Balak, asked Balaam, the faithful spokesman of God, to curse God’s people by saying something other than God’s word, but Balaam refused. As a result of his obedience to God’s word, he built seven altars glorifying the Lord on the “Heights of Baal,” the false god, and through him God’s people were blessed.

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 producing fruit for the kingdom of God? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity?

7 Pentecost - Thursday

posted 07/21/04

Numbers 23:11-26     Balaam’s second discourse
Romans 8:1-11     Life in the Spirit
Matthew 22:1-14    Parable of the marriage feast

Balak, King of Moab, had summoned Balaam, the Babylonian seer, to curse Israel, because Moab felt threatened by Israel. Balaam had blessed Israel instead, in faithful obedience to God’s word (see journal entry for yesterday). Balak was dissatisfied with Balaam’s discourse, but Balaam replied that he could speak only as the Lord directed him. Balak took him to the top of Mt. Pisgah, where Balaam could only see the nearest of the Israelites, hoping that Balaam would then be able to curse them for Balak.

Balaam had seven more altars built, and sacrificed a bull and a ram on each altar. Balaam withdrew to talk with the Lord, and the Lord told him what to say. Balaam returned and began to speak, saying that God is not like man; God doesn’t lie nor change his mind. What God says, he does.

Balaam had been commanded to bless; God had blessed Israel and Balaam could not revoke the blessing. There is no misfortune foreseen for Israel, because the Lord is with them and they acclaim him as king. “God brings them out of Egypt” (Numbers 23:22a). They are strong and unfettered. No occult techniques will be effective against Israel. God will be glorified by what he is doing with Israel. She is rising up like a lioness, and will not lie down again until she has devoured her prey. Balak wanted Balaam to stop his oracle; Balak didn’t want Balaam to bless Israel further, but Balaam said that he must do all that the Lord had told him.

Those who are in Christ are no longer under condemnation. The law of the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ has set us free from the law of sin and death. The law is incapable of making us able to fulfill its requirements. By sending his Son in human flesh as an offering for sin, he condemned sin to death in the flesh, so that we could fulfill the requirements of the law, provided that we walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh.

Those who live in the flesh are focused on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit are focused on spiritual things. Concentrating on fleshly things leads to death, but concentrating on the Spirit leads to life and peace. The mind focused on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not and cannot submit to God’s law. Those who focus on the flesh cannot please God. If the Spirit of God really dwells in you, you can be assured that you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit. “Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (Romans 8:9b). But if the Spirit is within us, although our bodies are dying because of sin, our spirits are alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells within us, he will raise us to eternal life through his Spirit.

Jesus described the kingdom of God as a marriage feast: A king gave a marriage feast, but those who were invited refused to come. The king sent his servants to the invited guests to remind them that all the preparations had been made and all was now ready. But the guests ignored the invitation and some went on about their business while the rest seized the king’s servants and mistreated them.

The king was angry and sent troops who destroyed the people and burned their village. Then the king sent servants into the surrounding area to bring whoever they found, so that the wedding hall was full. When the king came in to see his guests he noticed a man who had no wedding garment, and the king asked the man how he had gotten in without one. The man was speechless. Then the king had the man bound and cast “into outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. For many are called but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:13-14).

Balak was trying to use a servant of the Lord to accomplish his selfish agenda, instead of trying to cooperate with God’s plan. Balaam was a faithful servant of the Lord who was committed to proclaiming God’s word fully and accurately, regardless of whether his patron liked the message or not. No amount of material riches or political power could influence him to alter the message, or procure his silence. Balaam’s message is that God is absolutely faithful, and his word is completely reliable.

What God says he’s going to do, he does. God was with Israel and there was no misfortune in Israel’s future, as long as she acclaimed the Lord as her king. Unfortunately, Israel later refused to acclaim Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God and the heir to David’s throne. The result was that the Jewish nation and the religion effectively ended (See specifically entry for Holy Week - Tuesday Even Year lecctions). The Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, and the people were scattered all over the earth. The people only began to be restored to their land following World War II.

A principle reason that the Jewish religious leaders rejected Jesus was because they were using their religious positions to further their own selfish agendas; they were manipulating God’s word to their own advantage, rather than committing themselves to faithfully and accurately uphold God’s word. They were using God’s word to further their own wills, rather than earnestly seeking and doing God’s will.

The Jews in the days of Jesus are an example of people walking in the desires of their flesh, rather than in fellowship with God. Balak was pursuing the desires of his flesh; Balaam was concentrating on serving the Lord and obeying God’s will. Each individual must choose for him- or herself whether to live to pursue their own will or to seek and obey God’s will.

One cannot serve or please God apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ” (Romans 8:9). It is possible for one to know for oneself with certainty whether one has received the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2), and I personally testify to that truth. God does not give the Holy Spirit to those who do not trust and obey Jesus. (John 14:15-17, 21, 23-24; Isaiah 42:5e). Jesus is the only one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33). Jesus gives his Holy Spirit only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Jesus Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Heaven is the marriage feast of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) and his bride (the Church). We are all invited. All the preparations have already been made: Jesus has been sacrificed on the Cross as an offering for our sins, so that we can attend. Are we concentrating our attention on preparing to attend the feast, or are we making light of the King’s invitation and pursuing our worldly business? 

In one sense, the villagers represent the Jews, who were originally invited; but the villagers also represent all those, both inside the Church and out, who are not seriously preparing to honor the invitation. The wedding is entirely free; everyone is invited, and the King has provided everything required for us to attend. The King has provided each one with a wedding garment of righteousness through Jesus Christ, which is the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, but each guest must wear it in order to attend.

No one can attend apart from Jesus Christ. The indwelling Holy Spirit is the wedding garment. One must be born-again through the indwelling Holy Spirit in order to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). The alternative is eternal death and destruction in Hell, separated eternally from God (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). There is no “Plan B;” death is not “nothingness;” there is no such thing as reincarnation; we die once, and then face God’s judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

As much as a warning to unbelievers, this should be a warning to all who call themselves “Christians;” who name the name of Jesus, but are focused on pursuing their own wills, and not focusing on preparing for the “wedding feast” (see Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46). Are we pursuing the Lord’s will and proclaiming his word faithfully and accurately, or are we using religion to pursue and further our own interests? Are we living according to the Spirit or according to our flesh? Are we willing to hear and obey God’s word even when it is in opposition to our personal desires?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you sought and received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you spending time with the Lord, seeking his will, and then proclaiming his word faithfully and accurately? Are you bearing fruit for the kingdom of God? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

7 Pentecost - Friday

posted 07/22/04

Numbers 24:1-13    Balaam’s third discourse
Romans 8:12-17    The Spirit and sonship
Matthew 22:15-22    Paying taxes to Caesar

Balak, King of Moab, had called Balaam, a Babylonian seer, to curse Israel because Balak perceived Israel as threat to Moab (see preceding entries beginning with last Sunday). Balaam realized that it pleased God to bless Israel. He no longer needed to use divination to determine God’s will. He proceeded to act on God’s will and the Holy Spirit came upon him, and he began to speak. He had become a seer whose eyes had been opened. His ears had been opened to hear the words of God; he was seeing the vision of God. He bowed down, but his eyes were uncovered.

Balaam saw security and prosperity for Israel. Israel’s king would be greater than the king of Amelek, and his kingdom would be exalted. God brings Israel out of Egypt. Israel would be politically powerful. Those who bless Israel would be blessed, and those who curse Israel would be cursed. Balak was angry at Balaam for blessing his enemies. Balak told Balaam to flee to his homeland. Balak had promised to honor Balaam, but now said that the Lord had held Balaam back from honor. Balaam replied that he had warned Balak that he would not go beyond the word of the Lord, whether good or bad, for any amount of silver and gold; Balaam was committed to speak the word of God fully and accurately.

We are obligated to live according to the Spirit. If we live according to our human desires we will die eternally, but if we put to death the deeds of the flesh we will live eternally. “All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Romans 8:14). The Spirit is not given to enslave us and make us afraid, but to make us sons (and daughters) of God. When we are moved by the Spirit to praise the Lord, the Spirit is bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God. If we are God’s children, then we are his heirs with Christ, provided that we suffer with him so that we might share his glory.

The religious leaders tried to get Jesus to make statements which could be used against him. They allied with the Herodians, who were loyal to the Roman governors, in order to entrap Jesus. They called Jesus “teacher;” saying that they “knew” Jesus to be “true” and to “teach the way of God truthfully” (Matthew 22:17). They also said that they “knew” that Jesus cared “for no man;” that Jesus was not influenced by worldly status. They asked Jesus if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not.

 Jesus was aware of their malice and called them hypocrites, asking them why they were testing him. Jesus told them to show him the money for the tax. When they produced the Roman coin, Jesus asked whose likeness and inscription were on the coin, and they replied that they were Caesar’s. Jesus then said that we are to render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God. When the leaders heard this they marveled at his answer, and left him and went away.

Balaam was committed to doing God’s will. When he sought God’s will with the intention of doing it faithfully and fully, whether good or bad, God revealed his will to Balaam. Once Balaam was certain of God’s will, he proceeded to carry it out; and as he was obedient to God’s will he was filled and guided by God’s Spirit. God had opened Balaam’s eyes to see God’s will; God had opened his ears to hear God’s word.

The King that Balaam foresaw is Jesus Christ. Balak refused to pay Balaam for his services because he didn’t like Balaam’s message, and he blamed his injustice to Balaam on God. But Balaam hadn’t done it for money. Balaam was committed to proclaiming God’s word fully and accurately, regardless of whether he was paid or not.

If we belong to Jesus we are obligated to live according to his Holy Spirit. If we continue to live according to our own will and human desires, we are going to die eternally in our own flesh, but if by the Spirit we overcome our human weakness we will live eternally with the Lord. The Lord gives the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit to those who are committed to seeking and doing his will (Numbers 24:1-2; Isaiah 42:5e).

The Holy Spirit makes it possible to resist our human nature, and to accomplish God’s will. The Holy Spirit is not given to enslave us, but to free us. The Holy Spirit is our helper, our counselor, our comforter. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that we belong to Jesus and that we have eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:11, 15-16).

Those who do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit do not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9b). It is possible to know with certainty whether or not we have been filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2; it is not like “wishing on a star;” it’s not a matter of having the Spirit if you believe hard enough). We must choose to live according to the Spirit instead of continuing to live according to our human nature. We must sacrifice our own wills and do God’s will, if we want to share his glory.

Hypocrisy is saying one thing and doing something else. The religious leaders trying to entrap Jesus were hypocrites. They called Jesus “teacher;” claimed to “know” that Jesus was “true” and taught “the way of God truthfully,” when it was obvious from their actions that they did not believe what they were saying.

They were telling Jesus what they thought he wanted to hear, to deceive and manipulate him, so that they could destroy him. Jesus was not partial to any person or group, but although he knows the inner attitudes of each individual, he cared enough for us, while we were sinners, to give his life for our salvation (Romans 5:8). He even cared for his enemies. His answer was an honest and loving response; it offered them forgiveness and life. The leaders marveled at his answer, but they didn’t learn from it and apply it, so it did them no good.

Balak was a secular leader who was attempting to use a spokesman of God to accomplish Balak’s secular agenda. Balaam was committed to seeking and doing God’s will, and proclaiming God’s word fully and accurately, uninfluenced by money or political power. Christians are called to be committed to seeking and doing God’s will, and to proclaiming God’s word fully and accurately, uninfluenced by worldly power or riches. Jesus is our example who sought to know and do God’s will and to proclaim God’s word fully and accurately, uninfluenced by money or political power.

The religious and political leaders of Jesus’ day were attempting to manipulate the ultimate spokesman of God, Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, the Living Word (John 1:1, 14), to accomplish their own secular agendas. We have a choice: we can live according to God’s will and God’s Spirit, or we can live according to our own will and our own agendas. If we trust and obey Jesus, he will give us his Holy Spirit so that we can accomplish God’s will and proclaim God’s word fully and accurately. Those who profess to be Christians but live according to their own will and agendas and not according to God’s word are hypocrites (James 1:22).

Balak sent for the messenger, and then didn’t like the message. He didn’t want to hear God’s word. Balak wanted to hear what he thought he wanted; what he thought would make him feel good. The religious and political leaders of Jesus’ day didn’t want to hear God’s word; they wanted to hear what would help them accomplish their secular agendas.

How are we doing? Are we willing to hear God’s word when it is critical of us? Are we seeking God’s will so that we can do it, or are we seeking a message that makes us feel good, and allows us to do what we want contrary to God’s word? Do we tolerate and encourage religious and political leaders who try to manipulate the word of God to serve secular agendas? 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 producing fruit for the kingdom of God? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

7 Pentecost - Saturday

first posted 07/23/04

Numbers 24:12-25    Balaam’s fourth oracle
Romans 8:18-25    Christian hope
Matthew 22:23-40  The Resurrection; the great commandment

Balaam, the Babylonian seer, had been called by Balak, King of Moab, to curse Israel, because Balak considered Israel a threat to Moab. Balaam had told Balak that he could say only what the Lord gave him, and that no amount of money could persuade Balaam to go beyond the word of the Lord. Balaam had blessed Israel three times, and Balak had not liked what he heard. Balak had ordered Balaam to get out, but before leaving, Balaam had given one last oracle.

The Lord had opened Balaam’s spiritual eyes and ears and mind to know God’s word. He no longer needed to resort to divination to obtain his oracles, because the Holy Spirit was upon him (Numbers 24:1). The final oracle concerned latter days (Numbers 24:14); not now; not nigh (Numbers 24:17). “A star shall com forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17). The coming king would crush Moab and break down the sons of Sheth (Seth, third son of Adam; or, “sons of tumult;” see Jeremiah 48:45). Edom would be dispossessed; Israel would be victorious. Amalek, once pre-eminent, would be destroyed (Exodus 17:14-16). The Kenites, friendly to Israel, would endure, but would be captives of Assyria. Ships would come from Kittim (Greece) and afflict Assyria and the Semitic people east of the Jordan River. Balaam had finished his oracles, and he departed for his home.

Christian life requires suffering and self-denial, but the rewards of life in Heaven with the Lord will make it all worthwhile. All creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons (and daughters) of God. Creation will be freed from bondage to decay and futility and will share in the glorious liberty of the children of God. Believers and all creation are like a woman in labor, groaning with labor pains, as we await the “delivery,” although we already have the security deposit on eternal life through the indwelling Holy Spirit. We await our adoption as children of God; the redemption of our bodies. This is the hope we received when we were saved. We have not yet received everything we have been promised. If we already had everything that was promised, there would be no reason to hope for more, but because the best is yet to come, we can wait patiently for it in hope.

The Sadducees (a Jewish religious faction which did not believe in resurrection) asked Jesus a hypothetical question concerning resurrection. If a married man died, Jewish law required the man’s brother to take the widow as his wife, to produce children for his brother. Supposing a situation in which seven brothers each successively married the widow and then died, the Sadducees asked Jesus whose wife she would be in the resurrection. Jesus told the Sadducees that they were wrong because they did not know the scriptures or the power of God. Jesus said that in eternal life there is no marriage.

He also showed them from scripture that they were wrong in rejecting resurrection. The crowd was amazed at Jesus’ teaching. The Pharisees (who did believe in the resurrection) heard that the Sadducees had been silenced by Jesus’ teaching, and they asked Jesus which commandment was greatest. Jesus replied that the first and greatest commandment was to love God with all one’s heart, soul and mind, and the second and great commandment is to love others as much as we love ourselves. Jesus declared that these two commandments summarize all God’s word.

Balaam was a faithful spokesman of God’s word who was committed to proclaiming God’s word fully and accurately. He refused to let his message be influenced by offers of money or political pressure. Balaam had committed to seeking God’s will and then doing it. As Balaam sought God’s will with the commitment to do it, God revealed it to him, and as Balaam began to carry it out in obedience, God gave Balaam the Holy Spirit (Numbers 24:1-3), through whom Balaam’s spiritual eyes, ears and mind were opened to know and understand God’s will, so that he no longer had to resort to his former manner of divination.

Balak was a political leader who attempted to manipulate God’s spokesman with money and political pressure. When Balaam’s message didn’t suit Balak’s purpose, Balak ordered Balaam to cease and leave, but Balaam defied the order and delivered his final oracle. The prophecy of the star and scepter was fulfilled in the time of King David, who defeated Moab and Edom (2 Samuel 8:2, 13-14) but it also refers to the Messianic King, Jesus Christ, who is the “Son of David;” the heir to David’s throne. The “star” is the star of Bethlehem which led the Magi (“wise men;” practitioners of occult arts; astrologers) to Jesus’ birth (Mathew 2:1-2).

Christian life in this world is like childbirth. There is new life within us now, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, but we have to endure some suffering and self-denial now in order to be freed from this “womb” into eternal life. The spiritual new life we have now is like the life of a fetus. Resurrection is the “delivery.” The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that we are in Jesus and have eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). We have fellowship with the Lord now, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, but not like the fellowship we will have with the Lord in Heaven.

The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. They thought they understood the scriptures and they thought they knew God, and that resurrection was thus impossible because of the “legal” problems it would create. They didn’t understand the scriptures at all, or they would have recognized and acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah. The Pharisees did believe in the resurrection, but they were also “legalists.” The Pharisees taught strict adherence to the Law, but did not practice what they taught. They used the law to manipulate God’s word to suit their own agendas. They had greatly expanded the Law to narrowly define their obligations (and create “loopholes”). Jesus deleted the loopholes.

Balaam sought and obeyed God’s will, and as he obeyed, God gave him the Holy Spirit. He no longer had to rely on the old worldly practices of divination. He faithfully proclaimed God’s word, fully and accurately, and it is evident that it was God's word, because what he foresaw and foretold was fulfilled. The Lord has promised to give his Holy Spirit to those who trust and obey Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives us new life in Jesus Christ. If we walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit we are freed from bondage to the law of sin and death.

We have new life now, and the hope of eternal life in the resurrection. Jesus demonstrated the resurrection. The Sadducees and Pharisees could have had new life through Jesus, but they clung to the old life; the old covenant of the Law of sin and death; "tradition." Are you seeking God’s will with the intention of obeying it? Have you read the Bible? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Have you received his Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus, and teaching them to obey what Jesus taught (Matthew 28:18-20 RSV)? Are you bearing fruit for God’s kingdom? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?