To receive electronic version by email, contact David at churchofgodslove4@gmail.com 

An encouraging and challenging read for Christians ready to be stretched. In other words, 'a good rev up' in the nicest possible way.  

The apostle John exhorted the Laodicean Church to "be zealous and repent." The apostle Paul admonished the Corinthian Church telling them they were rich and full and reigning like kings whilst he and his companions were treated like the filth and offscouring of the world. Christians today are rarely exposed to such strong exhortations to holiness and service as were given by these early apostles.

Whilst traversing some interesting Bible terrain not commonly explored, and learning from some colorful episodes in the Bible, including Samson's exploits, David and Goliath's stoush, and the Rechabites' kept vow, the Christian reader will find encouragement to persevere along the narrow path Christ has paved for us.

Table of Contents

Part One – More Power

1.     Greater Strength

2.     Having Confidence

3.     Kingdom Now

4.     Desiring Spiritual Gifts

Part Two – Holiness

5.     Subduing Sin Samson’s way

6.     You are of Purer Eyes

7.     Sexual Purity

8.     Remembering the Rechabites

Part Three – Service

9.      Busy?

10.    The Ninety and the Nine

11.    Friend of Sinners

12.    Knowing the Terror of God

Part Four – Warnings

13.    The Deceitfulness of Riches

14.    The Queen of Sheba

15.    Could it Happen Today?

16.    You Shall Not Tempt the Lord Your God

17.    Travelling Safely Along the Narrow Way

18     Becoming as Little Children

Part Five – Perseverance

19.    Don’t Give Up – Young Adults Sharing Their Faith

20.    Final Encouragement From Zephaniah

2013 Published by David B. Kidd

Broadview, South Australia 5083

Scripture from King James Version or New King James Version (Copyright 1982Thomas Nelson, Inc.) Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

This book is for Christians. It’s actually not needed. The strong and divine encouragement and exhortation found in the Bible is really all that Christians need. The apostle Paul wrote that scripture was given to us to make us complete and to thoroughly equip us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Should you as the reader decide to stop reading now and decide to commit wholeheartedly to reading your Bible more instead, this would be the greatest outcome this book could ever hope to achieve. But perhaps you still might have time to read the essays herein as they aim to inspire you in many ways besides enhancing your reading of the Bible.

Many of the essays were originally written as sermons aiming to inspire zeal and holiness, and to stir the people of God to action for Christ’s sake. It is my hope and prayer that this work will do this. May the Lord open your heart to read this book with a spirit of humility and self-examination before Him, and may the Kingdom of God prosper on earth as you positively respond to the encouragement and exhortation.

At times, the message below may seem challenging, or confronting, and perhaps less than encouraging, but just remember:

God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.  2 Corinthians 9:8

and

… in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

Part One-  More Power

Chapter one  

Greater Strength

As Christians, and as the Church of God, we need greater strength to overcome many of our weaknesses, and to accomplish many things. In this essay, one of the most important sources of such strength will be discussed. The exciting thing is that it is within the grasp of us all.

If we look at our lives and look at our churches, and if we are honest, we will admit there is a falling short of the glory of God and need for improvement. As individuals we often fail to have inner peace, courage, and joyful hearts. We often lack the strength to sacrifice for a cause, or for God. There are members of the church who feel lonely and neglected. Further, our church does very little to relieve the poor and oppressed. If this less than perfect picture resembles your life or your church - read on, because there is a source of greater God-designed strength which is readily available to Christians.

Unity

God knew we would need special strength, so He created this source of strength for us. It’s simply this - a united church. As Christians we can have amazing strength if we are part of a truly united church. But let’s be sure we understand the type of unity meant.

When we hear the words ‘unity’ and ‘church’ used together we usually think of a conflict-free church where people are able to get along well together without fighting and pulling one another down. We generally don’t expect everyone will agree about everything, but we are satisfied if there is harmony in spite of the differences. This is not the type of unity which fuels the greater strength we need and desire. This kind of unity is very important, but it is far from sufficient.

The unity I am referring to is the ‘unity of a body.’ The apostle Paul clearly champions this kind of unity. It’s the true strengthening kind of unity we need to fully embrace and commit to, to enjoy amazing strength.  Paul, for example, in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 likens the church to a body, stating:

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews of Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member, but many.

This special unity referred to is the interconnectedness of a body. Paul continues in verses 15-18:

If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? [Of course not] … And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? [Of course not] … If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? [there would be none - the body would be deaf] If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? [there wouldn’t be any]  But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. *bracketed words added

In verses 21-22 Paul continues to stress how each part of the body needs and depends on the others by saying:

And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ No, much rather, those members of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary.

The significance of all playing their part

All parts of the body, functioning correctly and in unity, are necessary for the body to work at full strength and to fulfill its intended purpose. Another analogy Paul might have used was a sporting team, such as a soccer team which has several positions to be filled. It’s no good having excellent goal scorers if you have lousy defenders and vice versa. Every part of the team playing its specialized role in a united or interdependent way is vital.

The space shuttle Challenger disaster of 1986 provides the same object lesson. After just 73 seconds in the air the shuttle tragically exploded. It was made up of about one million components. All of the components did their job, except, as they subsequently discovered, one cheap o-ring, the failure of which is suspected to have caused the disaster.

Many in the church feel their role is insignificant or inconsequential and this causes them to believe that their behavior can’t hurt the church. But like that small and seemingly insignificant o-ring, one failed performance can have catastrophic results (McHenry’s Stories for the Soul, Hendrickson Publishers, 2001, p43). One study revealed that 95% of failures amongst the fastest growing companies were due to internal problems. It’s the same with the failure of the body. Heart failure, stroke, and old age account for far more deaths than external causes, such as murder or road accidents. It’s the same with churches. Often there is a perception that external sources are preventing the growth of the church, but usually it is internal problems that more significantly impede growth (McHenry’s Stories for the Soul, Hendrickson Publishers, 2001, p43-44).

Paul, using the same analogy of the body, also writes of the strength of the unity of interconnectedness and of Christians working together as a spiritual body in Ephesians 4:16 as follows:

from whom [from Christ] the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

The wonderful result this verse describes of being joined and knit together by what every joint supplies and from every part doing its share is the growth of the body, edification, and love. Wouldn’t we enjoy seeing our churches growing larger in size and our church members being built up more and more spiritually? And wouldn’t we cherish a church body where love abounds more and more amongst us?

Such an outcome is within our grasp! That’s the exciting news! This result can be achieved if we would only avail ourselves of the greater strength that is available through working together as a body.

A beautiful picture from nature of this kind of united strength is seen in the giant redwood trees of California. Surprisingly these giants have very shallow root systems that barely extend below the surface. Nevertheless their roots intertwine with each other and hold each other up so that the tree can endure strong winds. Together, if we support one another, we too can stand tall against the tough trials that come our way (McHenry’s Stories for the Soul, Hendrickson Publishers, 2001, p43-44).

God prepared the church as a place of support. Just think of the different talents that are found in your church. You will find some people who are exceptionally loving, kind, and generous. You will find others who have great wisdom and understanding to impart. You will find others who are gifted in comforting and encouraging. You will find some with great artistic and musical gifts to brighten your soul.

Sometimes talents are hidden or underdeveloped because the church has failed to recognize them, or the talented individual has isolated themselves from the body. Gifted individuals have therefore failed to receive the exhortation they need from the gifted exhorter in the church, or the instruction from the person best placed within the church to contribute to the development of their gift, or the prayer they need from the congregation to reach their full potential. Many have decided to go it alone, and like the eye in 1 Corinthians 12:21 who said to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ they say, ‘I don’t need the church.’ But essential bodily organs or limbs do not exist well when severed from the body.

Just imagine if your church became the type of community that God intended where everyone is enthusiastic about the church, about being together, and about contributing their talents for the up-building of all. Imagine if it was the type of place described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 where if one member suffers, all suffer (where one can find all the empathy needed); where if one member rejoices, all rejoice (where one can always find others to share their joys with); where no one lacks because those who have an abundance share with those who lack; and where our closest friends are. What a great source of strength we would have. Imagine that.

Well, we don’t have to imagine. We don’t have to dream. This can be the case today. All we need is to all genuinely want it. Once we all have the desire, all we have to do is to commit to what God commands us to do and the greater strength is immediately available.

Jesus said, “by this all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). We often fail to understand the type of love we need to have for one another that our Lord was referring to. Verse 34 reveals that the love He was meaning was the love that He had shown His own disciples. This love was real, not superficial. It was warm, not just cordial. It was committed, not casual. And it was sacrificial, not merely comfortable.

Increased strength can be ours from this moment forward if we just commit to one another with this kind of ‘Jesus love.’ We need to come together as a team comes together, or as an army comes together. What successful team just meets once a week at the game? What army just meets together at the battlefield? What soldier says to his fellow soldier, “I will see you at the battlefield next Saturday at 10.30 am?”

Wouldn’t you like a church that is tight-knit like a loving family? Wouldn’t you like the greater God-designed strength available at your fingertips?  Share this essay with all your church members and encourage them to come together for a special consecration meeting where ‘Jesus love’ and united togetherness in fellowship and service are fully committed to, and the Captain of our Salvation – Jesus Christ, will surely bless in even greater ways than described above.

Chapter two  

Having Confidence

The Philistine army stood on one mountainside and the Israelites stood opposite on another. There was a valley between them. A champion went out from the Philistine camp named Goliath. He was approximately nine feet tall. He had a bronze helmet on.  He had a bronze coat of armor weighing approximately 60kg. He had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. Just the iron spearhead of his spear alone weighed approximately 7kg.

Goliath’s taunt

This essay is about having confidence and being a confident people as Christians.  Now picture yourself on Israel’s mountain as the giant Goliath cries out with words to the following effect: why have you even bothered to come to fight us? Choose a man for yourself and let him come down to me. If he is able to kill me, we will be your slaves, but if I am able to kill him you will be our slaves. I defy the armies of Israel this day – give me a man to fight (1 Samuel 17:8-10 paraphrased).

The Israelites in response were dismayed and greatly afraid (v11).  They lacked confidence they could succeed against the giant. Many of us faced with the same situation would have too. People lack confidence for all kinds of reasons, including having various failures and setbacks in life such as failed relationships and job losses, or simply having to face their buck teeth or bald head in the mirror every day. Also when we are faced with new situations, such as living in a new town or country, starting a new job, learning to drive, or going to a new school we may struggle with confidence. Many Christians also lack confidence in sharing their faith.

Whatever area we might lack confidence in, here is Goliath taunting not only Israel, but us, saying “why have you come out to line up for battle? I defy the armies of Israel this day.” We all have our ‘Goliaths’ to slay. Incidentally, my email address used to be slewgoliath@picknowl.com.au. Perhaps you could adopt a confident sounding email address as a Christian, because I believe God wants us to be a confident people. How about icandoallthings@thruchrist.com? Just listen, for example, to the confidence of the apostles Paul (in the context of enduring hard trials) and John in the following Bible verses:

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14)

Confidence is a characteristic God wants His people to possess.

You might find it hard to have confidence because every day the thing that causes your lack of confidence confronts you. It was the same for the Israelites facing Goliath.  Verse 16 says they had to face him taunting them morning and evening for forty days, but according to verse 24, they just ran away.  It wasn’t until the little shepherd boy, David, came on the scene that confidence was seen in Israel. David enquired “who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (v26).

Knowing who we are

If we want more confidence the first tip for having it arises from this confident statement of David’s in verse 26. We must know who we are and what or who we stand for, as David did.  He realized he was special, as indeed were all his people.  Just like David, we are children of the living God, the Creator of the universe. We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, God’s own special people that we may proclaim the praises of Him Who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).

David had this initial confidence, but then people came along wanting to dampen it. His older brother in anger accused him of deserting his sheep and of having pride and insolence (1 Samuel 17:28). David was not deterred. King Saul heard of his confidence and sent for David. David said to him “Let no man’s heart fail because of [Goliath]; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” David sincerely believed that Saul was God’s anointed king and so when King Saul, the highest one in the land, began to try and discourage him by basically saying “you are but a youth and he a man of war from his youth” (v33) this must have been a great test of his confidence.

Would we have the confidence to continue now if someone we respected was putting us down and lifting up the opposition? What if a Women’s Weekly survey announced that we were the worst dressed in the land, or the Queen of England, as her custom is toward citizens of the Commonwealth, omitted to send us a letter for reaching 100 years because she honestly did not think we would make it, or our Pastor said, “it is impossible these days to successfully evangelize – let’s just hold the fort”? Would we lose confidence and give up?

Saul said David could not fight Goliath, but David said:

Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them … The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:34-37

Face your Goliath’s with God Almighty

We learn two more things from this about building confidence. David had developed confidence because he had not run away from the difficult situations in his life, namely the bear and the lion. He faced them, trusting in His God.  We will not develop confidence if we are always running away from challenges.  There comes a time when we must hold our ground and meet the challenge head on.

Further, by trusting in God to get him through tough situations, David had built a strong faith in His God. He was sure of his God. These ‘trusting God experiences’ had prepared him for facing Goliath.  The more we build our faith by trusting in God, in doing things His way, and through prayer, the more prepared and confident we will be to face the hurdles on our path too.

The story continues, but now David’s confidence is tested to the ‘max’ as he actually faces the giant Goliath in battle and hears the threatening words “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” (v44). David so confidently responds:

You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you … that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands (v45-47).

We see one further reason here why David could be so confident and why we can – we serve a mighty God, the God of the armies of Israel. Just read the Bible accounts of their amazing victories against impossible odds, where they suffered no loss of life, and where the enemy facing them mysteriously ran away or were destroyed (e.g. see 2 Chronicles 20). We serve a powerful God whose Son, His express image, also revealed His power and love in remarkable ways.

Test your armor

We probably all know how the story ends. David slew Goliath with a single sling stone. God was with him. David was a very confident man because of his faith in God, but there was one thing about fighting Goliath that he was not confident about. He did not want to wear King Saul’s armor which Saul had offered him. It’s been said that the reason why he did not want to wear it was because it was too big for him. But that is not the reason given in the scripture. The reason given is because he had not tested it (v38-39). He had not practiced with it.

Maybe when it comes to the Christian faith we are not confident because we have not tested it wholeheartedly. We should not believe just because our parents believe or because someone else we respect believes. We should believe because we have personally searched the scriptures as the Bereans did to see if it is true that Jesus really is the prophesied Messiah/Savior and Son of God.

Maybe we have not even really practiced the Christian faith.  We might have gone to church a lot, or think we know the Bible very well, but maybe we haven't personalized the Word of God in our lives, or maybe we are not very experienced in the use of the spiritual armor God has given us. This armor is mentioned in Ephesians chapter 6 and includes the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, and prayer and supplication.  If we have not practiced with our armor, we will lack confidence in using it, as David did with respect to the armor King Saul offered him. 

The source of confidence

The Israelite soldiers standing on their mountain with the Philistines and Goliath taunting them were a lot like this. They had never trusted and relied totally on God as David had, and so they lacked confidence. However, finally, in the end they found their confidence. Verses 51-52 say:

And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines …

Why were they now so sure of themselves? It was because young David had showed them the way. They followed their great new leader who had given them every reason to be confident.

That is what God is inviting all of us to do – to follow our great leader, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to have confidence because we have such a great captain, master, and leader. He healed the broken hearted, set the captive free, made the lame to walk again and caused the blind to see. He is able to carry us through.

For when we were still without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

And now He is seated at the right hand of God on high in majesty watching over us and willing us on. So we can be confident in all things. Amen

Chapter three  

Kingdom Now

After the death of Moses … it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying:

"Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them – the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, that River Euphrates, all the land of that Hittites, and to that Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Joshua 1:1-6

The Promised Land, at last!

At last the Israelites had reached their glorious destination. They had finally made it to the Promised Land after all of their wanderings through the wilderness. They had experienced the harshness of the dry, rocky wilderness. They had experienced the perils and dangers of plagues, wild beasts, snakes, and scorpions. They had experienced the consequences of idolatry, of lusting after evil things, and playing silly games. They had also tasted the bitter fruits of rebellion.

A good summary of their wilderness wanderings, and the importance of their example for us, is found in 1 Corinthians 10:5-11:

But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.’ Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Now all of this was behind the Israelites. They had finally made it into the Promised Land. Are we still yearning for our Promised Land saying, "I hope I can just get there,” or “when I get there it will be so wonderful,” or “I can't wait to get to heaven." I want to suggest to you that we can even enjoy our Promised Land in a very real way right now!

It was brought to my attention that talk of a future paradise doesn't appeal to some Christians as much as others. Like little children who want to experience things now, there are Christians who focus much more on experiencing the joys of God and the glory of God now than the future hope set before them. Jesus did indeed encourage His disciples to be as little children in some respects. Maybe we ought to be more like little children in giving more emphasis to the wonderful ‘now’ aspect of the Kingdom of God.

Israel, the Promised Land, and us

The story of the Israelites entering the Promised Land actually provides many interesting parallels with the now aspect of the kingdom of God for Christians. For example, who led the Israelites into the Promised Land? It's interesting that it was Joshua. The names ‘Joshua’ and ‘Jesus,’ mean the same thing in Hebrew – ‘Yahweh is salvation.’ It's Jesus who has taken us into the first phase of the kingdom of God now. He prepared a place for us in the kingdom of God through His sacrifice and resurrection. When we respond to him with faith and repentance we enter into the kingdom of God now. This is confirmed by Colossians 2:13 which says:

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love …

Another interesting parallel between the Israelites entry into the Promised Land and our entry into the present Kingdom of God is what happened to them as they crossed the Jordan into Canaan. Do you remember what happened 40 years earlier when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea to escape Egypt? A strong wind caused them to walk through the sea on dry ground with a wall of water either side of them. 1 Corinthians 10:2 describes them as all “being baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” A similar thing happened as they were crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land – the Israelites passed through the waters of the Jordan on dry ground and the waters upstream (albeit far away) stood up to a great height (Joshua 3:13). Likewise the same parallel with Christian baptism could be made using the Jordan crossing as they headed for their new life in the Promised Land. Baptism in a Christian's life is symbolic of our being buried, dying to the old kingdom of darkness, and then being raised to live in the new kingdom of light.

So the Israelites crossed the Jordan and entered the Promised Land of Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. Deuteronomy 28:62 describes them as being as numerous as the stars of heaven. The Promised Land sounded like a land of bliss. No more struggles. Every place that the sole of their foot would tread was there’s. Perfect bliss? You might say then, how dare I compare their situation with the position of Christians in the present phase of the Kingdom of God when we still have struggles and battles in our lives? Was the Promised Land of Canaan though really the blissful place where their struggles ended, and where there was no more crying, or pain? Of course it wasn’t. No; in fact it perfectly mirrors the kingdom we as Christians have entered now – the kingdom that Jesus in His day on earth said was near, had come, and was in their midst.

If you read the book of Joshua, which describes the Israelites’ experience in the Promised Land, you will see that the Israelites had giants to contend with, walls to break down, deceivers to be wary of, armies to war against, sinners within their midst to discipline, and their God-given possessions to take, sometimes even by force. The situation in the Promised Land was very much like the situation facing us as Christians now. We have deceivers to be wary of. We have to war against spiritual wickedness in high places. We have sinners within the church to discipline, and we also need to possess what is ours.

Sometimes we forget that the Lord has won the victory and delivered us from Satan’s kingdom of darkness into His kingdom of light and that all we have to do is go out and possess by faith and obedience the many wonderful things that God says are ours for the taking as children of light – things like inner peace, self-control, wisdom, joy, courage, confidence, moral strength, security, righteousness, spiritual gifts, a spirit of love, and a sound mind.

Claiming kingdom possessions

Satan wants to fight us and prevent us from having these. But these are ours if we obediently seek to take them. The wonderful pattern for claiming our kingdom possessions is found in the book of Joshua.

Firstly, they entered into Canaan, which was a land of rest from their wandering in the wilderness. For us as Christians, Jesus is our rest from our wanderings from going our own wilderness way. Jesus said:

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

How can this be? Rest, ease, and light burdens. Don't we regularly hear from the pulpit about surrender, sacrifice, and mission? Did the disciples experience this rest and ease – they who experienced shipwrecks, beatings, and being thrown to the lions? So how should we understand Matthew 11:28-30 then? Well, we rest in Christ and He gives us strength that is more than sufficient to face all that comes our way.

The Promised Land was also a land of plenty:

a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. Deuteronomy 8:8

The first fruits and gifts of our land, of our present kingdom, similarly are rich and plentiful. It's a land of plenty in terms of our spiritual fruit and gifts. For starters, love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, faithfulness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control are listed as ours in Galatians 5:22-23. There is no reason to think that this wonderful list of the Fruit of the Spirit here in Galatians is exhaustive either. What other fruit might there be? How about courage, discretion, generosity, and humility, to name just a few? But also just think about the spiritual gifts that the early Church enjoyed such as wisdom, knowledge, discernment, healings, and miracles. The kingdom of God had come in power. There’s no biblical reason to suggest that such gifts are not available today. Consider also what Jesus in Mark 10:29-30 promised those who had left houses and families for Christ’s and the gospel’s sake. He promised them a hundredfold in this age, and in the age to come, eternal life. The value of the spiritual blessings available to us should never be underestimated. They are the true riches of this life.

In this present kingdom, just as Joshua told the Israelites that they would lack nothing, we are also told the same thing in Philippians 4:19 which say

And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Paul also tells us that:

All scripture … is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete ....

2 Timothy 3:16

Canaan was also a land of fresh water. Deuteronomy 8:7 says:

For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills.

Jesus Christ pours out the gift of living water, the Holy Spirit, to those who come to him and drink. Which is greater, the physical water or the spiritual? Praise God for the marvelous kingdom He has bestowed upon us (Luke 22:29).

The Promised Land was also a land of victory. Deuteronomy 11:25 says:

No man shall be able to stand against you; the Lord your God will put the dread of you and the fear of you upon on all the land where you tread …

What similar assurances of victory do we have as Christians in the kingdom of light now? If we pause and reflect for a moment we will notice that there are many, including:

I write to you, young men, because you are strong… and you have overcome the wicked one. 1 John 2:13

… on this rock I will build My church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil … that you may be able to withstand in the evil day. And having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:11, 13

And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.  1 John 5:4

So Joshua took the Israelites into the Promised Land. However, this did not mean they would automatically enjoy it to the full. No, they had to go and possess it. In a nutshell the book of Joshua is about the conquest and the settlement of the land. God said to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land:

Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.… No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so will I be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance a land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper where ever you go. Joshua 1:3, 5-7

The Israelites had to believe that what God said was true and then go and do exactly as God said. Their enjoyment of the Promised Land, just as our enjoyment of the kingdom of God now, was proportional to how much they followed God's instructions. The more they obeyed, the more they were blessed, and the more they possessed.

One interesting episode in Joshua was when the Israelites were given very specific instructions to follow in their conquest of Jericho. God said in Joshua 6:2 that he had given Jericho, the King, and the mighty man of valor into their hands, and they were commanded to march around the city once for six days and then on the seventh day seven times with priests blowing trumpets. They were also commanded not to take of the accursed things and they experienced wonderful success when they obeyed. But when God’s instructions were not followed carefully and diligently the men of Ai defeated them. When they disobeyed God, they did not enjoy the Promised Land as God intended. When the Israelites failed to drive out those God commanded them to drive out, but rather let them live among them, and even married them, they were also robbed of blessings and led astray. It's the same for Christians today. We are robbed of what is ours when we disobey and let sin remain in our lives.

One further very interesting thing about the Israelites was that they seemed to be a bit slack about taking what was theirs. We see this in Joshua 18:1-3:

Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them. But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: ‘how long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you’?

How long will we neglect to go and possess that which the Lord our God has given us? How long will we wait to possess what is ours by faith and obedience?

Conclusion

Let's conclude by reflecting on some of the wonderful things in this kingdom that God has given us now, things that He has blessed us with already, things we should be sure to possess and make our own.

Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). The Father and Son have made their home in us (John 14:23). There’s nothing for us to be anxious about because by making our requests known to God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds through Christ (Philippians 4:6-7).

Do we believe these promises? It's a test of faith. It's a deep test of faith. We must believe these promises. There are so many more promises. Consider 2 Timothy 1:7 which says God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of sound mind. The apostle Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:3-4 that God

has given us:

all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

We have every right to 100% spiritual well-being and strength, but we have to believe it’s ours in Christ. Courage, confidence, peace etc. is our right in Christ Jesus. We have to believe it is ours! We have to do the things that God says are necessary to possess the spiritual well-being and strength that is ours – things like prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and showing real commitment to sharing God’s love with others. We are citizens of the kingdom of God. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. You don't have to wait until Jesus returns before you can begin to enjoy much of what eye has not seen, nor ear has heard, nor has entered into the heart of man. You don't have to wait to enjoy many of the things that God has prepared for those who love them. Let's finish with the verse I just paraphrased. Just notice the beautiful conclusion to it in bold below that is so often forgotten:

But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have it entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

Chapter four

Desiring Spiritual Gifts

As a Christian you may have undertaken an exercise the purpose of which is to ‘discover’ your spiritual gift or gifts. After answering a series of questions, including such questions as ‘do you enjoy meeting new people’ or ‘have you offered to have strangers stay in your house’ (which both relate to the gift category of hospitality), you tally up the points you receive in each ‘gift’ category to give you an indication of your spiritual gift or gifts. The exercise is fun and helpful in that it helps a person identify their strengths and encourages them to develop them. However, it raises several interesting questions, and I wonder whether it diverts our attention away from a more biblical understanding of spiritual gifts.

Some questions that arise include, does God give every Christian a spiritual gift? Are we indeed exhorted or commanded in scripture to ‘discover’ our spiritual gifts? If God has really given us a gift, would it be obvious to us, or others, that He had?  If all Christians have at least one spiritual gift, then when do we receive our gift – at the same time we receive the Holy Spirit, or does it vary depending on God’s own timing? Would God indeed entrust every new born Christian or ‘babe in Christ’ with a spiritual gift? How does God determine which gifts we get and when we get them? Can we have any influence over the gifts we receive? Is it even appropriate to speculate or conjecture over whether what we have is a God-given natural ability or a spiritual gift from God?

I believe the following verses, whilst not providing definitive answers to all of these questions, at least provide important insight. 1 Corinthians 12:11 says that the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to each person individually as He wills. Despite the Spirit’s overriding discretion, however, Paul still exhorts Christians in verse 31 to ‘earnestly desire (or to covet) the best gifts,’ and in chapter 14:1 to ‘desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.’ The repetition in chapter 14:39, where the brethren are again reminded to ‘desire earnestly to prophesy,’ only serves to emphasize the importance of fervently wanting spiritual gifts.

Whilst the conduct of the Christians of Corinth in relation to spiritual gifts displeased Paul greatly, as we see in chapters 12-14, he was not unhappy with their zeal for spiritual gifts. This zeal was to their credit. In verse 12 of chapter 14, however, Paul seeks to redirect their zeal to excel through spiritual gifts, so that the church is benefited by them and not just the individual with the gift. Verse 13 of the same chapter further supports the notion that our sincere desire for a spiritual gift can bear upon (subject to the Holy Spirit’s overriding discretion) whether we receive it. There, Paul, by instructing the brethren to pray for the gift of interpretation of tongues, is obviously indicating that it is appropriate to ask God for a particular spiritual gift.

I remember my great desire for a bicycle when I was very young. I even tried to make one myself. Having very poor manufacturing skills, a lack of necessary bicycle parts, and living on the top of a very steep hill did not bode well for me. My Father and Mother saw my great desire and were moved by it, and eventually (just before I was about to take my dangerous contraption on its maiden ride) they gave me my heart’s desire.

We likewise know how our heavenly Father can be moved by the earnest prayers of His people. He particularly loves to see zeal in us towards serving Him through the church and He also loves to see us properly equipped to serve Him well. Just as my Father did not want to see me go down that steep hill on the death trap I was building on my own, our heavenly Father does not want us ill-equipped in His service. He will supply our need and He will take into account our desires for spiritual gifts, but let’s first show an earnest desire to see the church prosper.

Spiritual gifts are so wonderful that one might desire them all for oneself. However, that is not the will of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, since the church is a body, it seems reasonable to eagerly desire and to pray that the gifts be spread throughout the whole church. 

Whilst God in His wisdom has not granted me every spiritual gift I have asked for, I believe He has granted me the one I have desired the most. I pray that this will be your experience too and that you will be mightily empowered.

Part two - Holiness

Chapter five  

Subduing Sin Samson’s Way

Like me, you may find it hard to relate to a man who tore a lion apart with his bare hands, who killed 30 men to steal their clothes to honor a vow, who caught 300 foxes, tied them tail to tail and torched them, and who killed 1,000 men with the jaw-bone of a donkey. These are just a few of Samson’s violent exploits recorded in Judges 13-16.

Samson, as we might remember, also had very long hair which he regarded as being the secret of his great strength. When Delilah finally deceived him into divulging this secret he was taken captive by the Philistines. The lesson we can learn from Samson’s life is one that goes far deeper though than being careful not to tell our beloved our deepest secrets after they have already given us strong reason to distrust them. There is a much deeper message to be gained from Samson’s story when we understand his life from a New Testament perspective. It will help any of us struggling with the terrible grip of sin and lead us on to victory over it.

Subduing the Philistines

Hebrews 11:32-33 reveals the main life lesson for us from Samson’s life:

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail for me to tell of Gideon… Samson … and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (my emphasis)

Samson, although not a model for us in some respects, did most, if not all of the above. However, one very specific thing he did, which is relevant to those of us in the bondage of sin, was to subdue by faith the Philistine kingdom which kept Israel in bondage. Judges 13:5 tells us that, indeed, Samson’s purpose in life was to “begin to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines.”

Samson wrought much havoc on the Philistines during his life, but not as much as he did by his dying actions. This is recorded in Judges 16:25-30 as follows:

So it happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, ‘Call Samson, that he may perform for us.’ So they called for Samson from the prison, and he performed for them. And they stationed him between the pillars. Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, ‘Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them.’ Now the temple was full of men and women. All the Lords of the Philistines were there – about three thousand men and women on the roof watching while Samson performed. Then Samson called to the Lord saying, ‘O Lord God remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!’ And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars that supported the temple, and braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. Then Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines!’ And he pushed with all his might and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed in his death were more than he had killed in his life.

Such violence, but if we are going to subdue a kingdom perhaps the best way to do so is indeed to kill the king and all his powerful supporters, just as Samson did. He deliberately sacrificed his life to kill thousands of important people. “Let me die with the Philistines,” he said. Such terrible violence, but what can we learn from it? What place does violence, or more precisely, violently subduing kingdoms at the cost of our lives have in the lives of those of us wanting to please God by being victorious over sin? The answer is – a very high place.

‘Violently’ breaking sin’s dominion

Just as the Philistine kingdom kept Israel in bondage, the kingdom of sin keeps mankind in bondage. Sin enslaves many with diabolical debt, sexual disease, alcohol and drug-related illnesses, family problems, imprisonment, guilt, fear and the list goes on and on. The lesson I propose we can learn from Samson for overcoming the kingdom of sin or Satan’s kingdom, is to overcome it, figuratively speaking, in a ‘violent’ or radical way.

The apostle Paul in Romans 6:14 said, “sin shall not have dominion over you.” The Bible is full of examples, of how we are to violently break its dominion. For example, to become a Christian we have to engage in one of the most violent acts of all – repentance. Repenting involves taking a radical change of direction in our lives – to turn 180 degrees from serving ourselves to serving God.

We don’t say “Let me die with the Philistines,” as Samson did, but we do say “let me die with the sin.” To cast off the dominion of sin in our lives we have to die to self. Paul, while explaining the symbolism of baptism, makes this point well in Romans 6:6 when he writes “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him (Christ), that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” That sounds violent to me. We have to kill the lord of our lives – self, just as Samson sacrificed himself and killed the lords of the Philistines.

And there’s even more violence that we’re specifically called to engage in (at least in a figurative sense). We are told by Jesus that it is better to pluck out our eye if it causes us to sin, as it is better to enter into life with one eye rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell where the worm dies not and the fire is not quenched. Paul instructs the church to purge out the old leaven (the sin) from our church and our lives. We are told to take up weapons and go to war (spiritual weapons and a spiritual war of course). He writes:

For though we walk in the flesh we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds … bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

We have to take captives. We’re in a violent struggle – its war! And like Paul, as a good soldier does, we must “discipline our bodies and bring them into subjection lest when we have preached to others, we should later become disqualified (through sin overcoming us)” 1 Corinthians 9:27.  Our life of faith is indeed likened by Paul figuratively to a type of violence. “I have fought the good fight,” he said.

Many of us long for the victory over sin and its terrible effects in our lives. Perhaps one particular sin has plagued us for many years. Our efforts to overcome it may have succeeded for a while, but alas, it always comes back to bite us. It is worth considering whether it is time to deal with our sin issues in a far sharper or radical way, as scripture instructs us to do. Too often we treat the sin as our friend when in fact we need to treat it as a soldier would treat his worst enemy. We need to recognize that sin will not only cause us harm in this life, even potentially fatal harm, but ultimately it will destroy our soul. To us sin must equal Philistine! Only then will we stop underestimating its destructiveness. Only then will we be prepared to take the radical measures that are absolutely necessary to gain victory over it. Only then will we be prepared to discipline our bodies as a good soldier does to survive.

If we have been failing miserably against sin, perhaps now we can see why. Maybe we have been trying to defeat it too gently, or in a piecemeal fashion. We’ll try to gradually cut back our nights of excessive drinking from once a week to once a month, to once a year and then hopefully give up, or we won’t remove ourselves from the temptation that causes us to stumble; we’ll just pray for more strength to overcome the temptation. We will live alongside the enemy.  However, the enemy needs to be banished, because Jesus said “if your foot causes you to sin cut it off” (not literally of course).

Selfless prayer

The importance of prayer must also be emphasized. Note that before Samson took out the pillars of the temple he cried to God “remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God.”  It is interesting to note that one prayer was enough in this instance for Samson to have all the strength he needed to defeat his enemies. Many of us in relation to our sin have prayed countless times and been prayed for countless times, but to no avail. A preacher I once heard shared the story of a man who wanted very much to be rid of his smoking addiction. At prayer meetings his church leaders would ask if anyone wanted prayer and many times this man would come forward for prayer for overcoming his addiction. One day when he came forward yet again with the same request one of the brothers who was tired of him coming forward time after time with no result asked the man if he truly, truly, really, truly believed that God would help him. The man said ‘yes,’ so he agreed to pray for him. He fervently prayed, “God if this man smokes again strike him down dead!” Reportedly the man never smoked again.

I can’t say for certain why this one final prayer was enough in this addict’s life, except to suggest that the fear of God was imparted to him. Nor can I recommend, without some hesitation, praying for others in the way this disgruntled brother prayed, but I believe there is a clear reason why one prayer was enough in Samson’s case. Samson’s prayer was extremely fervent. He was ready to sacrifice himself completely to fulfill his mission of subduing the Philistine kingdom and for his prayer to be answered. In fact, if his prayer was answered, he knew he would have to die. His prayer was answered, he died, the pillars supporting the temple fell, the lords of the Philistines were killed, and Samson succeeded in fulfilling his God-given purpose.

Conclusion

Interestingly for us, in the English language the word Philistine has three ‘i’s in it. ‘Sin’ has one ‘i’ right in the middle. Samson knew that in subduing a kingdom the best place to start was to kill the king and all his powerful supporters by giving his all. In our case the king that first has to be destroyed for victory to be won is ‘self, me, mine and I.’ Let’s also win the victory over whatever sin is hurting us by dying to self. This means that a radical redirection through repentance is required in our hearts and in our lives. Once we truly realize the terrible nature of our sin and truly repent of our sin, having a strong determination never to do it again, God will impart to us His awesome strength through the Holy Spirit. Let’s take out the pillars of sin and the lords of sin in our lives, pulling down strongholds, just as Samson did. We will be set free from bondage as slaves are set free and we will be more powerful through the death of our old selves than we ever were, just as Samson was.

Chapter six

You are of Purer Eyes

One day about 600 B.C. the Prophet Habakkuk of Judah was having a very intense conversation with God - a very serious discussion. In this conversation Habakkuk says something very important about purity and holiness that impacts our lives today. Before we get to that though, it's important to follow the conversation between God and Habakkuk to understand its context.

Habakkuk 1:1-4 says:

The burden which the Prophet Habakkuk saw. O Lord, how long shall I cry and you will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ and You will not save. Why do you show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.

Habakkuk was disturbed. He was very troubled, basically for two reasons. Firstly he was troubled at what he saw – violence and sin all around. Are you troubled at seeing violence and wickedness in this world? Are you really? Think about it. How violent and evil are many of the things you enjoy watching on your television or computer screens. How troubled are you really?

The second reason why Habakkuk was disturbed and troubled was because he didn't think God was doing anything to stop the sin and violence. Are you likewise troubled in this way? Do you know people who won't come to Christ because it seems to them that God doesn’t care or isn’t doing anything about the suffering in the world?

Now God responds to Habakkuk in a surprising, shocking, and astounding way. He says:

Look among the nations and watch – be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told to you. For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation which marches through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling places that are not theirs. They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; they fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. Habakkuk 1:5-8

So God tells Habakkuk what He’s going to do about the violence and wickedness. He’s going to cause fear and dread to come upon the world and against Habakkuk’s people by raising up the Chaldeans. Things are going to get worse before they get better. Do you think this made him feel any better? This only troubled Habakkuk even more.

In verses 12-13 Habakkuk says:

Are You not from everlasting, Oh Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, you have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, you have marked them for correction. You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness. Why do you look on those who deal treacherously, and hold your tongue when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he? (my emphasis)

Can you see that Habakkuk is still trusting here in the holiness and purity of God? "My holy one," he says, "we shall not die.” He trusts that God will judge the wicked.

Notice again in verse 13 how Habakkuk tells God that He is of purer eyes than to behold evil or wickedness. The highlighted part of this verse is sometimes taken away all by itself and separated from the rest of the verse. As a result, some reach the strange conclusion that God cannot look upon wickedness at all, despite the second part of the verse questioning why He indeed looks on those who deal treacherously? Therefore, in context, the verse can't really be meaning that it is impossible for God to look at evil. Certainly, elsewhere, the Bible contradicts such a conclusion. Just consider God’s omnipresence and omniscience (being everywhere and being all seeing). Consider also Psalms 53:2-3 which says:

God looks down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there are any who do good … They have together become corrupt …

So what then is Habakkuk really saying about God when he says in verse 13 "you are of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on wickedness”? Habakkuk is expressing his bewilderment that his holy and pure God would tolerate such wickedness.

God does see evil, but Habakkuk is surprised that His holy God would allow it to continue. Let me explain this in another way. Has a non-Christian ever apologised to you for their evil? Perhaps it was their bad language and they apologised because they thought that Christian ears shouldn’t hear such things. Or perhaps you were watching a movie with them and there were some vile scenes appearing and they didn't feel this was suitable for you as a Christian viewer to behold. Even the unbeliever knows that there are certain standards of purity for the believer that should be upheld!

Habakkuk, like the unbeliever toward us, was thinking the same about God. He’s too pure and therefore shouldn't have such evil before His eyes. Habakkuk wondered why God didn’t stop all the wickedness that was afflicting His pure and holy eyes. Now God could have stopped it, but everyone on Earth would have had to die because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Thank God for his everlasting mercy!

Conclusion

Habakkuk was right. God shouldn't have to see all of this wickedness. Nevertheless, His merciful hand is still outstretched to all mankind. But what about us – are there various types of evil that we should seek to avoid looking upon and can avoid looking upon? Are our eyes too pure to look upon evil too? David, the Psalmist, prays in Psalm 119:37:

Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things and revive me in Your way.

The King James Version uses the words “and quicken me in your way.” ‘Quicken’ means to bring back to life. Do we need to be revived? Let's turn away our eyes from looking at worthless things and be quickened or revived in the ways of the Lord.

Chapter seven

Sexual Purity

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3

Our bodies are holy to God

The above passage contains a high call to sexual purity. Sexual immorality was rife in the city of Thessalonica, and it must have provided strong temptation to the Thessalonian brethren, many of whom would have indulged in such pleasures of the flesh before their conversions. Paul also wrote to the Corinthian brethren on the same subject in 1 Corinthians 6:13-20 as follows: 

… Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body … Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For ‘the two,’ He says, ‘shall become one flesh.’  But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.  Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

This passage provides three strong reasons why our sexual purity is so important to God. The first reason is because our bodies are holy to the Lord. This holiness is emphasized in three special ways.

They are holy to him because they have a holy purpose. According to v13, they are ‘for the Lord.’ Let’s imagine we were working in God’s kitchen (hypothetically of course) and He had a special wine glass that was specially designed for Him to use as a toasting glass to celebrate the angels’ achievements on important occasions. Would we take something of God’s that had a holy purpose, such as this glass, and use it to make ourselves drunk? Surely not! Nor should we use our bodies in unholy ways, because they are holy to Him.

Our bodies are also holy to God because they are ‘members of Christ’ (v15). The Lord Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son. How dare we then use our bodies, which actually are no longer ours, but Christ’s, in impure ways, such as fornication! 

Further, our bodies are holy to God because they are described as the ‘temple of the Holy Spirit’ (v19). We are usually on our best behavior when we simply enter a church, let alone the holy temple of God.  Most people would be appalled to see sexual immorality in the public streets, let alone in the temple of God. A temple is to be a great house of prayer, praise, obedience, worship and sacrifice. Our bodies are to be the same for our holy God.

Degrading God

The second strong reason provided by the text for why we must stay pure is because if we don’t, we degrade God. “Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!” Would you like to associate God with sin – with a harlot? Such is unthinkable. True, all sins are serious enough to merit the wrath of God, but perhaps this passage indicates that the sin of fornication for Christians is especially frowned upon by God. To show the gravity of sexual sin the passage even makes a comparison with other sins by stating in verse 18 that “every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.”

Hurting ourselves

The third strong reason stressed in the passage why we must stay pure is because if we don’t, we hurt ourselves – we sin against our own body. Millions of people in fact have died because of sexual sin. AIDS has been, and continues to be, a devastating disease. Countless millions more have suffered terribly from sexual disease. Millions have chosen to abort their unborn and unwanted children conceived as a result of sexual sin. And many of those who had the courage to have the children have endured the pain and struggles of raising children without a spouse. In turn, many children have suffered. The harm sexual sin has done to ourselves, our children, and our world is far more than the world would like to admit. We can add to this the terrible lives many prostitutes, deserted spouses, and abused children have had to live, the pain those who committed abortion have felt, the family breakdown and personal heartache because of adultery or other forms of sexual betrayal, the medical and social cost to society of sexual disease, and psychological problems resulting from all kinds of sexual sin.

Indisputably the world would be a far better place if sexual activity was preserved for only the sacred union of a man and a woman in marriage. God knows best. His ways are higher and purer than our ways.

Conclusion

God sets a very high road for Christians with regard to sexual purity, and as we have seen, He does so for very good reasons. It might seem too high, or too hard for us in this permissive age, but the fact that the world we live in is generally lacking in scruples as regards sexual conduct does not mean that Christians are allowed to compromise on God’s standards. It’s worth noting though, that even many who are not religious are waking up to the many problems associated with free sexual behavior. You will find many women, for example, who are more cautious of intimacy before commitment as they are wary of men who only seek to use them.

We need to believe that the high road can be walked. I hope you can agree that God would not command us to do something if He didn’t believe that through Christ we can do it. Scripture also says that God is faithful and will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear.  It says He will provide a way of escape so we can bear it (1 Cor. 10:13). Of course we have to use God’s way of escape. We have to call upon Him for the strength and not shut Him out. He will strengthen us and we will be blessed if we turn to Him in times of temptation.

We were bought with a great price – the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore let us glorify God in our bodies and spirits, which are God’s.

Chapter eight  

Remembering the Rechabites

Ever hear of the Rechabites? Their story is in Jeremiah 35. They promised:

‘We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, “You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever. You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, nor have any of these; but all your days you shall dwell in tents, that you may live many days in the land where you are sojourners”’ (v6-7).

Can you just imagine how the children of the Rechabites might have complained? “Dad, I want to live in a house. This tent is cold; my friends live in houses. There’s no privacy; everyone can hear what everyone else is doing. We need a permanent place to live. I’m sick of saying good bye to friends. C’mon, it’s a wedding! Can’t we celebrate with a little wine?”

Amazing obedience

What’s amazing about the Rechabites is not so much what they were called to do by their Father (as burdensome as it was), but the fact that they actually faithfully lived it out (v8-10). Let’s consider some of the factors which made their obedience so special.

First, even their children obeyed (v8)! The Rechabite parents passed their customs on to their children even though the children lived among those who had things they couldn’t enjoy. These parents must have been great role models. No hypocrisy!

Second, the Rechabites obeyed even though they could never drink wine or live in a permanent place. They could never celebrate anything with an alcoholic drink and never have a place to call home.

Third, the Rechabites kept their father’s command even when God gave them express permission not to. The Lord told Jeremiah to take them into the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink (v1-6). So Jeremiah set out bowls and cups full of wine and told them to drink. God invited them to His house for a drink, and they said, “No, God. We will honor our father.” Can you imagine having the strength to honor your father like that?

God honored their obedience by using their good example against disobedient Judah: “Surely the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them, but this people has not obeyed Me” (v16).

Encouragement for holiness

What can we learn from the Rechabites? We learn that we can be holy and obedient. If they could make sacrifices to obey their earthly father, how much more should we to obey our heavenly Father? If they paid attention to the word sent by one man, how much more should we pay attention to the Word sent from God through His prophets and ultimately through His Son who died for us? And if the Rechabites obeyed their father without the Holy Spirit in them, how much more should we who enjoy the permanent divine presence obey our heavenly Father?

People have done awesome things based on their human strength alone. But God’s strength given to us by the Holy Spirit is much more incredible. The apostle Paul, in the context of enduring his many trials, said that he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him (Philippians 4:13).

May our belief that we can live holy lives increase more and more. In the light of the Rechabites, may our determination to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God be greatly strengthened. May we ever be diligent to observe all that God has commanded us to do and to be all that God has called us to be.

Part Three-  Service

Chapter nine

Busy?

Almost everyone seems to be busy. Australia seems more like the ‘busy country’ than the ‘lucky country’ (as it is called), with so many people working long hours. Both parents usually work. People have little time or energy for one another after work, or are unable to connect with each other because they work different shifts. A recently arrived African immigrant once expressed his amazement to me about all the busyness. Now he is very busy too.

Despite our industriousness, many of us feel however that we are not really getting anywhere. Maybe we can relate to the lamentation of Haggai the prophet who wrote:

‘You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.’ Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways! Haggai 1:6-7

God’s work remains

Limited time is a big problem, and many of us are busy and tired. Yet our Bibles tell us that we must be fruitful in every good work and zealous for good works. We are instructed to grow in knowledge and to be doers of the word and not hearers only. Jesus said that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers few. When He said these words He looked at the multitudes and had compassion on them as He saw just how weary they were and how they were scattered abroad like sheep having no shepherd. If we look at the multitudes today we will also see many people in great need spiritually and physically, but we are too busy or too tired to help.

We know however that if some of our workmates were unable to come to work (so that the laborers were few) then we would have to work longer and harder because of the urgency of the situation. The shortage of laborers for the Lord is also an urgent situation, but Satan has us trapped, bound, or ensnared. He’s laughing at us and mocking us. Some of us feel frustrated and sorry before the Lord because we know that in our busyness we are barely doing the work of the Lord at a time when greater urgency is required.

It’s a bad situation, the gravity of which I hope we realize. Many Christians don’t. Many don’t even appreciate that being a Christian involves surrendering our lives to serve the Living God. Many people have been going to church for years, but are not servants of God. Satan has done a really good job because many of us are tied up, busy and tired, and doing very little for the kingdom of God. That’s the bad news. But what can we do about it if our conscience is being pierced? What are our options?

Our options

Firstly, we could do nothing and go on pretending that nothing is wrong. The parables of the sower and talents would however come into play. We would be like the seed sown amongst thorns that was choked by the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches, or we would be like the wicked and lazy servant who buried the one talent he was given and was cast out.

Secondly, we could forsake all and follow Jesus on faith alone. That’s what one tax collector named Levi did. Perhaps God is calling us to step out in faith as He also called Abram (Abraham) to do.

Is there another option we might be wondering, because certainly the first is out, and the second one is a very godly one, but it might just seem too hard or too radical at this time? Is there anything else the busy and tired might do? Maybe God’s call for us is to take the second option, but then again, maybe it’s not, as we certainly don’t see every Christian in the Bible taking up their sandals and knapsacks and following the Lord or the Apostles on their arduous journeys. Many first century Christians lived and worked in one area where they could feed their families, support the local congregation, and provide funds to help other Christians and the work of the Lord. Perhaps we are extremely busy in our occupations and earning a good income. Well the Lord can even use us greatly, as busy as we are, if we are willing to obey and give. Giving financially is a ministry that does not put a drain on our time.

As the scripture says:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:7-10

Not only are many Christians failing in their service to God’s kingdom because Satan has them bound, being B.U.S.Y (Burdened Under Satan’s Yoke), but he has also deceived many of us into not even giving generously of our income to the Lord’s work – something we all at least have time for.

Not every Christian literally took the second option of leaving their jobs and leaving all and following Christ or the Apostles over land and sea. Many stayed in the state they were in when they were called by God. Some were literally slaves when they were called, while others, like many of us today, felt enslaved to their circumstances. However, one thing they did do in their circumstances (our third option) is something expressed in Colossians 3:22-24 which all of us today can and must do. That is, striving to glorify God in all that we do. Even while we are busy at work we can work to the glory of God, be a good witness to our co-workers and/or clients, and share the gospel with them when the opportunity arises.

There is one final option I want to exhort us all to consider though. If we do not feel we are called to leave all and follow in the same manner as Abram and Levi did, then let’s at least pray and plan to one day be free of our busyness and tiredness. This might seem impossible now, but all things are possible with God. God has blessed me personally in this way. I obtained a law degree, but realized that if I did become a lawyer I would be too busy and too tired to make as great a contribution to the Lord’s work as I wanted. Praise be to God though, as I found a creative way of using my legal skills in a way that was not too taxing on my time or energy. I am very thankful to God for what He has given me as a result of seeking His kingdom and righteousness first. Now I have a successful business as an author and publisher in the law and I have the flexibility and time to serve the Lord where needed.

Not busy?

A final note for those of us who may not be busy and who have a lot of free time: we should value such time very highly as it is an extremely valuable thing in this day and age. Learn to appreciate it and to use it wisely. Be like the slave discussed in 1 Corinthians 7:21 who was told to use his freedom for the Lord if such freedom should come his way. Don’t be like the carnal Christian who gets bored and feels like a new challenge, but seeks that challenge in everything but the service of the Lord. There are plenty of difficult and exciting challenges in Christian ministry, from overseas missions, to evangelism, to helping the oppressed, to great works of kindness and generosity, to name just a few. Neither be like the rich man in Jesus’ parable in Luke 12:6 who was very successful, but decided to build bigger barns, take it easy, eat, drink and be merry, but soon after was dispossessed of his life by God. Don’t be side-tracked either with things that are not likely to make a real difference in the lives of people. As Christians we sometimes waste out time in areas of ministry that we are not really suited or gifted for, or which do not provide real benefits to others. Let’s be careful to use our time wisely.

Some of us have had plenty of time on our hands for a long while, but don’t seem to know how to use it fruitfully for the Lord, and this is very frustrating to us. One sure answer I suggest is to follow Jesus’ example of being busy caring for the physical and spiritual needs of people. I urge you to find ways to serve people through personal contact with them because people hardly have time for one another these days and they will therefore greatly appreciate your spending time with them. You will make a great difference by doing this! The Lord will be well pleased because, as the parable says, when we feed the hungry, visit the sick, or visit those in prison, we are doing it to Christ.

Conclusion

This essay invites a response from the reader other than a ‘do nothing’ response. If your heart has been hardened – tremble. Reconsider, because God has sacrificed His Son for you and He has a wonderful gift for you of eternal life with Him. Show Him your gratitude, or risk falling away through the cares of the world or the deceitfulness of riches. If something in it has pricked your conscience, say “hallelujah” or “amen” – you are alive spiritually. Now wholeheartedly take up one of the options, other than the first.

“Thus says the Lord of Hosts, consider your ways.”

Chapter ten

The Ninety and the Nine                  

How many baptized believers do you know who have turned away from Christ? It’s likely that if you have been in the church for a decade or so you would have noticed a significant percentage do so. This is not just a modern day phenomenon. It has always happened. The Apostle James was very concerned about it in James 5:19-20 where he counselled:

Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

We see that to wander from the truth is potentially a very serious thing to do because if the wanderer is not turned back, ‘death’ is the consequence. Since all die, whether they have wandered from the truth or not, this must be speaking of an eternal death. The wanderer is like a straying sheep which must be found, for if the lost sheep is not found that sheep is doomed!

There are many reasons why a Christian might stray. Jesus, in the parable of the sower gives several, including persecution, tribulation, cares of the world, and deceiving riches. Christians are warned by the apostle Peter that Satan goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He’ll use any method he can devise to see us fall from grace. That’s why Paul in Ephesians chapter six exhorts us to put on the whole armor of God, and that’s why Peter warns and instructs us to be sober and vigilant and to resist the devil, steadfast in the faith (1 Peter 5:8-9). However, many Christians are not steadfast and do stray into dangerous territory.

Hope for the wanderer

The latter part of James 5:19 shows there is still hope for the poor wanderer though ‘if someone turns him back’ – perhaps one of his brothers or sisters in Christ; maybe you or me. Jesus, in Luke 15:4 said:

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

Not only can the wanderer be turned back to Christ by one of us, but Jesus points the finger at the man who would undoubtedly rescue a straying animal, but who would not go after the sinner to bring him back. What man of you, He says, wouldn’t be diligent in restoring the sheep? Who among us wouldn’t search until we found the sheep even if it means having to compromise the safety of the other sheep by leaving them alone in the wilderness? What man among us wouldn’t rejoice when the lost sinner is found - only a person who doesn’t care; only a person who doesn’t love their brethren. Such a one, even if he or she has faith to remove mountains, or gives all their goods to feed the poor, will receive no reward from God, due to lack of love (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

Jesus also said, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” This statement gives us great insight into the value of the poor wanderer’s soul. His or her soul is worth more than us owning or ruling the whole world. So, who among us would not seek to turn back the one who has wandered from the truth?

Before considering how the wanderer might be turned back, it would do us well just to pause and reflect for a short moment on who we know right now who is wandering from the truth, or may be in the sad, sad process of turning from Christ. Maybe one of those who come to your mind is the very person God wants you to pursue. Maybe they respect you more than any other person. Maybe you are the only one they will listen to.

Turning them back

There are several things we need to remember if we are to be used by God to turn the straying brother or sister around. Discernment is needed. We need to ask God to reveal to us what their stumbling blocks are. We need to show them we really do have the love of God in our hearts for them. We need to be careful we don’t criticize or reproach them behind their backs or harshly to their face. At the same time we mustn’t be afraid to humbly show them their error at the appropriate time. This poor wanderer might not have gone completely into the world. They might have come under the deception of some false teacher. In this case we are going to need to know our scriptures or to get help from someone who does. Most importantly, we will need to be in prayer constantly for them and for God to work through us or someone else to bring about their restoration.

A noble work

Verse 20 of James 5 says:

Let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

James wants us all to remember what a great and noble thing it is to turn a sinner from the error of his or her way. Whilst Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep was not strictly dealing with straying believers, but rather sinners in general, Jesus did stress what a wonderful thing it was for the one who searched and searched and found the lost sheep:

And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

Luke 15:5-6

Again I encourage you to apply this practically. Remember that one straying person who comes to your mind and who you have that special connection with. Seek after them with all your heart. There could be great rejoicing in heaven and earth.

Covering a multitude of sins

Finally, James tells us that the one who turns a sinner back will cover a multitude of sins. This is referring to the sins of the poor wanderer, not the sins of the restorer. We can’t go around bringing sinners back and expecting this to result in pardon for our own sins. It doesn’t work that way. Only true repentance will cover our own sins through the blood of Christ. However, the sins of the repentant wanderer will be pardoned. Their sins will once again be hid in Christ. Not only that though; many of their future sins will be prevented and the terrible influence they might have had on others as an apostate will be averted.

Conclusion

Brethren, if you allow God to use you in this noble way, to turn someone back to the truth, you not only save a soul from death, you not only cover a multitude of sins, but you also bring great rejoicing in heaven, and joy to God:

I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.   Luke 15:7

Chapter eleven

Friends of Sinners  

There once was a man who wanted to catch fish, so he spent lots of time with other fishermen. He loved talking with them and learning from them. He loved singing fishermen songs and admiring fishing equipment, but he didn't go to the fishing spots because he hated the smell and feel of fresh fish. Day after day, he came home to his wife without fish for supper and no tangible benefit from being a fisherman.

Jesus, unlike this would-be fisherman, was friendly with those He came to ‘catch’ - even being accused of hanging out with thieves and prostitutes. When He dined with sinners at Levi's house, the Scribes and Pharisees complained, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?" (Mark 2:16).

Again, Jesus ate at the house of Zacchaeus, and some said, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner" (Luke19:7).

Jesus spoke strongly to such criticism. To those who asked, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?" He said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance" (Mark 2:16, 17). And to the complainers who said, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner," Jesus explained, "The Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost" (Luke 19:7,10).

Most of us are not very good imitators of Christ in His friendship with sinners. Before following Jesus in this way, we might reflect on the potential consequences. We might receive criticism for it, as Jesus did, or even hate mail. Our friends and relatives could distance themselves from us, and we might be tarred with the same brush as our friends.

Jesus suffered such indignity. His reputation was called into question because He befriended people of poor reputation. But none of this stopped our Lord from His mission, nor should it stop us from the same.

Jesus was not just an acquaintance of sinners but their friend - someone who loved them. Nor was He just their friend in secret, but in the open; He was known for it. Not too many Christians have a similar reputation.

Several Scriptures offer caution about how we choose our friends (Proverbs 12:26). We are warned about making friends with fools (13:20), with angry persons (22:24), with those given to rebellion (24:21), or with gluttons (28:7). We are not to be enticed into sin by either relatives or friends (Deuteronomy 13:6ff).

In light of these warnings, we must relate to people we know who are leading very wayward lives with wisdom and discretion. Being the ‘Jesus’ kind of friend to sinners means that we openly show them real love. We can do this without associating in ways that will lead us astray. We need to know our own strengths and weaknesses and be careful, relying upon God at all times.

Sometimes Christians are like the would-be fisherman. Called to be ‘fishers of men,’ we spend most of our time huddling with the righteous, learning their righteous lingo and singing holy songs, while spending very little time with the sinners whom Jesus came to seek and save. Too many of us don't have the concept of a fishing spot, and end up fishing nowhere.

Let's practice friendship with sinners in the way Jesus did - even to those who have personally offended us. The marvellous hope we have in Christ is for them too, if they could only see Him in us and repent.

Part Four-  Warnings

Chapter thirteen

The Deceitfulness of Riches

Jesus, in explaining the parable of the sower as it related to the one who received the seed among the thorns said:

Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. Matthew 13:22

The deceitfulness of riches is one of the biggest enemies of Christians today, even if we don't think we have riches. Whether we have riches or not, we can be deceived by them. In fact, if you asked me who I think are deceived more by riches, those who have them, or those who don't, I would find it difficult to give a sure answer. Both are deceived greatly. In this essay I will describe six unsavory things which the deceitfulness of riches can lead Christians into.

Slavery

Firstly, riches are so deceitful that they actually cause many to volunteer to do what they would normally only do if forced to by violence. Many volunteer to live like slaves. They buy houses or cars they can’t really afford and then have to work like slaves to be able to meet their burdensome financial obligations. The bank becomes their slave master.

We all know people who are workaholics. Riches are deceitful. They can cause many to volunteer to do something that has been outlawed for many, many years in most parts of the world – to work like slaves for mortal men. They cause many to accept working seven days a week with the constant feeling of exhaustion, the loss of personal liberty, and separation from spouses and children.

Any Christian in a situation like this must stop and make radical life changes because such is a hindrance to a close relationship with God, and where's doing the Lord's work in all of this? How can one be found obeying Jesus Christ's command to lay up treasures in heaven when bound up in occupational slavery? Even if one is able to squeeze in church once a week, one’s treasures in reality are really being laid up on earth. Choking of the word and unfruitfulness are the result.

Miserliness

Secondly, we can be led to behave like misers, lacking generosity, because of the deceitfulness of riches. Being stingy, being tight, or acting like a scrooge is a poor reflection on the very giving nature of our Lord Jesus Christ who has commanded us to give to those who ask of us. We can be tempted to live like paupers when we are totally concerned about saving every last cent so we can quickly pay off the mortgage or the car. We might miss meals to save money (and deceive ourselves into calling this 'fasting'). We might be so concerned about saving money that we only take a shower once or twice a week to save on water, not caring that we smell. We might endanger others by driving vehicles that are not roadworthy because we are holding our purse strings too tightly. We might take advantage of the generosity of others without showing them any hospitality or giving anything in return. Riches are so very deceptive. They can deceive us into having the opposite character to that of our most generous Lord who we claim to be imitating, and who, ironically, we might even think we're following better than most.

Jesus gave without measure. Jesus gave His whole life to others, not only at the cross, but also before the cross. He was so generous that He gave up the comforts of heaven to come and save us by purchasing us not with corruptible silver and gold, but rather with His own blood. We can be deceived into thinking that we will only be miserly toward ourselves, whilst still being liberal toward others. However, nine times out of ten our tight behavior will spill over into our relationships with others, because our mind and life are too much in the groove of minimizing our expenditure.

Sound familiar? Even worse, miserly behavior with our money often spills over into miserliness with our time and our love. I don't think I know anyone who is tight with their money, but on the other hand gives their time and love abundantly to others. Don't be deceived by riches in this way because you will miss out on the blessedness of giving and the brotherly and sisterly love that comes with it. Again, your laying up of earthly treasures will prevent you laying up heavenly treasure in your life, and quite likely the word of God will be choked in your life causing you to be barren and unfruitful in the Lord.

Recklessness

Thirdly, Satan and our flesh can tempt us and get us both ways. If we are not miserly, we might by contrast be reckless with our finances. We see others enjoying the riches of this life and we might be deceived into thinking that we can do the same regardless of whether we can truly afford to or not. We all know people who have over-committed themselves financially, and this type of behavior can be downright dangerous and reckless. It leads many into bankruptcy. Consequently, our neighbor, who we can't pay back, is out of pocket and we have failed to obey the essential command to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Lotto happiness syndrome

Fourthly, riches deceive people into believing that if they could just have more they will be happy and content. If they can win the lottery, or can increase their wealth some other way, they think they will be happy. However, the wisdom of God in the scriptures through one of the richest men who ever lived says otherwise:

Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun: There is one alone without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, "For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?" This also is vanity and a grave misfortune. Ecclesiastes 4:7-8

Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven. Proverbs 23:4-5

Riches undeniably can be satisfying for a time, but ultimately our happiness depends on many other things that are more important than riches, such as God, health, love, friends, and family - to name but a few.

Covetousness

Fifthly, riches deceive us into breaking the tenth commandment about not coveting. Really, all the deceptions mentioned so far are to do with covetousness - the spirit of longing for or lusting after things we don't have. However, if we hate covetousness, we are given a great promise in the Bible – “… [H]e who hates covetousness will prolong his days."

The world though does not hate covetousness, and sadly the Christian church does not hate it enough either. Many television evangelists and the churches they represent sadly appeal to humanity’s covetous nature by emphasizing a health, wealth, and prosperity message. Many do not experience length of days because their striving for riches wears them out, stresses them out, exhausts them, and makes them sick. Sometimes it also puts them in dangerous situations.

I believe that riches have deceived us into being soft on covetousness. It's like a virus in the church that has spread and made a great percentage of Christians unfruitful or substantially less fruitful. I would guess that very few Christians in the last 100 years have been disciplined in the church for their covetousness. Probably none, or very few have, as compared with thieves, murderers, blasphemers, or adulterers. Yet the Word of God so strongly condemns covetousness, and even says in 1 Corinthians 5:11:

...I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner - not even to eat with such a person. (my emphasis)

The Word also lists amongst those who will not inherit the Kingdom of God, right beside fornicators, drunkards, adulterers and homosexuals – yes you guessed it - 'the covetous' (1 Corinthians 6:11). I wouldn't be surprised if there have been many Christians sitting around condemning the sin of homosexuality while at the same time not seeing the plank of covetousness in their own eyes. Oh how deceptive riches really are, just as Jesus said!

Short changing God

Finally, riches can deceive us into not being generous toward God. The prophet Malachi wrote:

Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.  Malachi 3:8-9

Now that we are in the new covenant, someone might want to argue about whether or not there is a scriptural requirement binding on the Christian to give 10% (a ‘tithe’) of their income to the church, or any other similar requirement. There are good grounds for arguing that such a legal requirement does not transfer into the new covenant. However, surely the 10% standard is a reasonable standard of giving for most.  Someone may want to rebel against even the suggestion of such a standard, but let the Holy Spirit say "will you not be generous with your money even towards God?"

Riches are indeed terribly deceitful. Believe it or not, they can even cause us to short change God, the one who lovingly and generously sustains us. To think we can get away with defrauding God or being miserly toward the One whose stewards we are would have to be one of the stupidest things to be deceived into doing. It would be like a one-eyed, one-toothed, seven-foot giant wearing a bright pink shirt and pants without a balaclava thinking he could get away with robbing a bank in broad daylight.

Conclusion

The words of Jesus are sufficient to conclude this essay on the deceitfulness of riches. The words of Jesus are necessary to conclude with. The words of Jesus are living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow. Jesus said:

Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. Luke 12:15

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Where is your heart today? If you have not given your heart to God you have no treasure in heaven. Your heart is for earthly treasure, and God, who like a hen who wants to gather her chicks, wants you to be gathered to Him and to accept His true riches. Don't be deceived by riches any longer. And don't let them choke the Word of God making you unfruitful and worthy to be cursed like the fig tree Jesus cursed. The only true riches are with God. God loves you. He purchased and saved you with the greatest price - the life and suffering of His only begotten Son. We all must strive to love God with our whole hearts. We cannot serve both God and money. If we concentrate on laying up treasures in heaven this is one sure way we can overcome the deceitfulness of riches. Amen!

Chapter fourteen  

The Queen of Sheba

*Please note that this essay was based on the work of another writer (source now unfortunately unknown)

"The queen of the South [the Queen of Sheba] will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here."

                                                                                        Matthew 12:42

Scholars are uncertain as to where Sheba was, but it is suggested that possibly it is in the south western Arabian peninsula in the vicinity of modern Yemen. Others suggest the horn of Africa, near modern Djbouti. What is more certain, however, is that Jesus, in the hope that they might change, meant to rebuke at least three kinds of people by pointing to the Queen's good example – those lacking an inquiring spirit, those not inquiring of God in acceptable ways, and those failing to respond appropriately to Him.

Do you have an inquiring spirit?

Firstly, I believe Jesus meant to rebuke those who have not curiosity enough to care to hear the gospel, or who are not zealous enough for learning more about God and His ways. The Queen's inquiring spirit was special in many ways. By contemplating 1 Kings 10:1-13, where we find the account of the Queen's encounter with King Solomon in Jerusalem, we see just how special it was.

For example, she was indeed a queen who undoubtedly had many important and pressing cares of state to attend to. Being such a person of royal status she did not consider it beneath her dignity to search after King Solomon's wisdom. She also did not consider herself too busy to do so. How many vain excuses do we sometimes make which might prevent us searching after wisdom? Her royal court was no doubt already filled with wise and learned people. Yet unlike those who think they know it all, she was prepared to search on. She travelled a great distance to hear the wisdom of Solomon. The journey would have been a very long, arduous, and expensive one in those days, and she embarked on the journey with a large party of people, animals, and goods (v2). There would have also been many dangers on the way. Many people of Jesus’ day who refused to hear Him, and many today who make little or no effort to read or hear His word, even though it costs them little, stand rebuked.

Presumably, given the nature of the times, the Queen also already had her own religion, and it was not the same as King Solomon's. It has been suggested that it was the Sabean worship of the sun. Nevertheless, she was willing to take the time and make the effort to hear King Solomon. What a contrast to those in Jesus' day and in ours who might say "I was born a Pharisee," or "I was born a Catholic and I will die one," and who won't inquire much further, or at all. Also, it is not recorded that the Queen received any invitation to see King Solomon. Nevertheless, she went after him. How many people are invited to church today and do not come? The sting of this first rebuke, however, is most clearly felt when one recognizes that the Queen was only going to hear one who was wise - King Solomon. Many people in Jesus' day rejected the one who was wisdom Himself. 1 Corinthians 1:30 says of Jesus Christ, He "became for us wisdom from God!”

The Queen was only going to hear earthly royalty, not Jesus who is the King of heaven and earth. She was only going to hear the richest man on Earth, not the one with unspeakable riches of grace and glory. Will we have an inquiring spirit towards Christ Almighty, or will the Queen of Sheba rise up in the judgment and condemn us?

Do you inquire of God in the right way?

Secondly, I believe Jesus meant through the Queen's example to rebuke those who do inquire, but inquire amiss. You will notice firstly from 1 Kings 10:1-13 that the Queen conducted her enquiry in person. She was not content just to listen to someone else who had heard King Solomon's wisdom. How many people in Jesus' day did not seek His presence, but only spoke to someone else who had? How many people today won't go personally into God's presence with the saints at church, or more directly, through personal prayer?

In going in person, the Queen indeed went to Solomon directly. She did not just go to his writings or doctrines. If one is to inquire of Christ we must first and foremost look into His person. We must become fully acquainted with Him, which means believing He is the Son of God who died for our salvation and learning of His wonderful attributes and personality. After we grow to love Him, then we will accept His doctrine.

The Queen in conducting her enquiry also tested King Solomon with her hard questions (v1). When we inquire of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Heavenly Father they expect us to prove them. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says ‘Test all things.” The Bereans of Acts 17 were commended for searching the scriptures to see whether the things that had been preached to them were really true. Our faith will be made stronger when our hard questions are answered. And just remember, without faith it is impossible to please God.

Finally, in conducting her enquiry the Queen told King Solomon all that was in her heart (v2). When we inquire of God we should open ourselves up to Him and speak freely. He knows all about us anyway. In recognizing this fact we will surely repent of our sins as we will know we can't hide them from God. By speaking to Solomon about all that was in her heart the Queen may also have been sharing all her desires. Our Heavenly Father invites us to do the same. He is willing to give us good gifts and to answer our prayers. How greatly blessed were those few in Jesus' day who dared to voice to Jesus what was in their hearts and who were healed by Him?

Do you respond as the Queen did when you hear wisdom?

How did the Queen respond? Her heart was melted and then melded to King Solomon’s. She was struck with awe. Verse five says "there was no more spirit in her." She confessed her faith. In verse six she said to the king, "It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom."

She also confessed her unbelief. In verse seven she said, "However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes." She then declared her expectations were exceeded and gave Solomon adoration saying, "and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard."

She also spoke a kind word for King Solomon's servants, saying, "Happy are your men and happy are those your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom (v8). By analogy, one is no lover of Christ if one does not love the brethren. She blessed King Solomon's God (v9). She gave the King her treasures (v 10). We stand rebuked by Christ if our response to Him does not exceed the Queen of Sheba's response to King Solomon. A greater than Solomon is indeed here!

Conclusion

"Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity." Just as our response to Christ should exceed the Queen's response to King Solomon, God's response to us will greatly exceed Solomon's to the Queen. A servant of the Lord has treasures stored in heaven that we just can't imagine. More than our desires will be met, especially in the Kingdom to come. Even now, those who seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness can witness to the wonderful favor and blessings of God which exceed our expectations. I pray that none of us will be condemned by the Queen of Sheba in the judgment to come!

Chapter fifteen  

Could it Happen Today?

If Jesus were to return today to the society we live in, could Christians be found to be behaving in ways similar to the Jewish sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Herodians who were in great conflict with Jesus at His coming about 2,000 years ago? As individuals we ought to each reflect on this since it is easy for the religious to suffer the same pitfalls, even after having started on a good footing or solid foundation.

Each of the above mentioned sects had the background of being Jewish.  This was a wonderful foundation when we remember that the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:1-2 that the Jews had an advantage in every way, especially because to them were committed the oracles of God. The Pharisees, known as the ‘separated ones,’ and the Essenes, also had a good foundation in so far as they were descended from the Hasideans who from approximately 150 B.C. showed much dedication to God by fighting against the corrupt influence of Greek culture (hellenization) on the true worship of God. The Sadducees around the same time, whilst being more politically minded, could be commended for at least supporting the Hasmonean priests/kings who sprang from the noble Maccabees who had zealously opposed the desecration of the temple and the corruption of the true worship of God. These sects therefore had some admirable roots.

However, despite these roots, when Jesus came on the scene in first century Palestine their behavior greatly displeased Him. The middle-class Pharisees, who were dominant in the local synagogues and who were admired by many of the average Jews, were exposed by Jesus as being nothing more than hypocritical ‘legalists.’ Jesus, for example, pointed out to them their double standard of being willing to get their ox out of a ditch on the Sabbath whilst not permitting the healing of the sick on the same day (Luke 14:1-6).

The Essenes, who lived like monks and who probably wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls, whilst not specifically mentioned in the Bible, would have attracted the same, but probably sterner rebukes from Jesus since it is said that their Sabbath observance had become so rigid that they refrained from bowel movements on the holy day. The still politically influential Sadducees, who controlled the priesthood and the temple, and who wanted things to stay as they were (or to maintain the status quo), were often criticized by Jesus for their faulty doctrine. For example, they did not believe in angels or in the resurrection of the dead. Jesus in Matthew 16:12 warned His disciples to beware of the leaven, or doctrine, of the Sadducees and Pharisees.

Finally, the aristocratic Herodians, who were a Jewish group supporting Herod Antipas (and hence Roman rule) joined with the Pharisees and others in opposing Jesus. For example, they joined the Pharisees in wickedly plotting Jesus’ death (Mark 3:6) and in trying to trick Jesus into angering the Roman authority by speaking against it and in not paying His taxes (Mark 12:13-17).

One may well ask how religious people of such good pedigree could fall or fail so miserably? The answer in a nutshell I believe is because commitment to God and His Word had given way to tradition and self-interest. As Christians we have no better foundation than Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us not allow tradition or self-interest to similarly affect us, or what was true of these sects at Christ’s appearing in the first century may also be true of us when Jesus comes again in His glory.

Chapter sixteen

You Shall Not Tempt the Lord Your God

The command, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God,” is elsewhere translated “You shall not put your God to the test.” (Matthew 4:5-7). This essay helps us to begin to delve into its relevance for us today.

When Satan took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and said, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down,” Satan believed that this would indeed be tempting to Jesus. Satan, who must have thought that Jesus would have been very weak physically after enduring 40 days and nights of fasting, hoped to deceive Jesus into the sin of putting God to the test. Satan also said, “For it is written: ‘He shall give his angels charge over you … In their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone’.” Jesus, who was very alert to Satan‘s evil temptation, replied, “It is written again, ‘you shall not tempt the Lord your God’.”

To fully understand the relevance of this command we must read where Jesus quoted from. He quoted Deuteronomy 6:16, which in turn leads us to Exodus 17:1-7, where the Israelites at Massah committed this terrible sin of putting God to the test. Basically, at Massah, not long after God had already heard their strong complaints about lack of food and had responded by giving them manna, the Israelites again contended with Moses and God over their lack of water. They were almost ready to stone Moses and complained that they had been brought out of Egypt by Moses (and hence God) to die of thirst. Verse seven defines their sin in a few words – “They tempted the Lord, asking, ‘is the lord among us or not?’” Delving deeper into the nature of this sin, we also see that it involves the following five aspects which Jesus was wise enough to avoid even whilst under severe duress in the wilderness.

Rebelliousness

If we do anything we know Satan wants us to do, it is rebellion against God, because we should never heed Satan. It amounts to not following God‘s will, but rather our own, thus putting God to the test. The Israelites at Massah rebelled against Moses, who was appointed by God. Rebelling against God‘s authority and His appointed leaders, which includes pastors, elders, and deacons, puts God to the test. If Jesus had jumped He would have been doing His own will in rebellion against God.

Unseemliness

The Israelites at Massah were seeking something from God (water) in the wrong way. They not only complained against God‘s anointed, but they also rudely demanded water. Jesus also would have been found to be seeking something from God (God‘s protection) in the wrong way if he had jumped in response to Satan‘s challenge.

We are putting God to the test when we seek anything from Him in the wrong way, or in inappropriate ways. One modern day example in the church is when people pray to God: “I command you Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus.” I heard these words recently at a prayer meeting in relation to a particular need someone had. A significant section of Christianity has turned the boldness we are to have in prayer into rudeness and irreverence towards God. This surely and sorely puts God to the test.

Presumptuousness

The sin of presumptuousness is very similar (see Psalm 19:13 & 2 Peter 2:10). We put God to the test when we behave inappropriately, but nevertheless presume God will still help us. Certainly that was what the Israelites did at Massah. So too, if Jesus had jumped, he was really inappropriately presuming upon God‘s rescue efforts. Common examples of such presumptuous behavior include praying for good health whilst neglecting or abusing our bodies, or praying for our children’s spiritual well-being, but not bringing them up in God’s ways. Do we ever recklessly or carelessly do the wrong thing while still trusting in God to work things out for us for good? We can‘t insist that God should back us up whatever we do. The apostle Paul writes “shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:1-2).

Faithlessness

The Israelites at Massah also failed to trust God when they had every reason to trust Him, given the many miracles He had previously done for them, including the very recent one of the manna. We also test God, whom we have every reason to trust, when we start to doubt Him.

Sometimes those who seek sensational miracles really have doubt in their hearts toward God and whether God is really with them. Satan, in light of what God had just allowed Jesus to endure, challenged Jesus as to whether He was truly God’s beloved Son. However, Jesus, being God in the flesh, was mature enough and secure enough not to doubt His Father’s love for Him and not to need His Father to confirm it with miracles.

We too should consider the subtle ways we might be showing faithlessness, hence putting God similarly to the test. Examples of this might be when we pray to God, “if you … then I will,” or “I won‘t do this or that unless you do such and such.” We may also sin this sin when we question whether God is amongst us (as a church) or in us (as an individual), or when we question “where is God?” Let‘s not forget all the wonderful things we know He has already done for us, as the Israelites did.

Provocativeness

The Israelites insolently and provocatively challenged God through Moses to see what His reaction might be. They even went so far to ‘contend’ with God in an angry way, condemning God and justifying themselves. Job erred in a similar way, although more from despair than anger. God said to Job, “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it … Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?” Job contritely responded, “Behold, I am vile …” (see Job 40:1-9).

Jesus, if He had jumped, would have been behaving in a similar way as it would have been a provocative and insolent (disobedient) challenge to the Father to save Him from hitting the ground. The slightest disobedience from the Son would have been extremely serious behavior because of its far reaching consequences for all of humanity. To insolently and provocatively challenge God is to put Him to the test.

Conclusion

Our Lord Jesus had the wisdom and the strength not to fall into the sin of putting God to the test even whilst under Satan’s severe testing. Knowing the Word of God and being very close to God through prayer and fasting were vital to His spiritual strength. Sometimes we fall into sin when we are tempted because we are ignorant of what the Bible really says or because we have not remained close to God. May Jesus’ example encourage us. May He always be our inspiration.

Chapter seventeen

Travelling Safely Along the Narrow Way

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.      

 Matthew 7:13-14 (KJV used below)

How can we understand it when someone close to us leaves the narrow way that leads to life for the broad way that leads to destruction, and walks away from God? It really hurts when our spouse or our children or a close brother or sister in Christ walks away from Christ altogether. Sadly, this happens all too often, so we should never be complacent about it. We ourselves are also in danger of being corrupted by this world and Satan and of being deceived by our own lusts. It’s therefore on my heart to give you the following advice and eternal warnings for traveling safely along the narrow way.

Keep moving steadily forward

The apostle Paul in Romans 1:21 wrote of people who knew God but who somehow reached a point where they did not like to retain God in their knowledge and preferred to suppress the truth in unrighteousness. He writes in Romans 1:28-30 how, because of this, God gave them over to debased minds. They were therefore filled with “unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, … envy, murder, strife, deceit … [and they became] haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things,” and the list goes on and on.

Paul in Romans 2:7-8 gives some important advice which I think partly explains why those mentioned in chapter one strayed. He expresses how eternal life is for those who patiently continue doing good. He himself was one who kept pressing on, reaching forward, and pressing toward the goal (Philippians 3:12-14).

The problem we face when we lose momentum on a narrow vehicle such as a bicycle or motor bike is comparable to the danger we face as a Christian if we stand still on the narrow way. If we are on a bicycle and we stop without putting our feet down to balance, we will fall off and probably get hurt.  

If however we are driving or riding on a broader vehicle and we stop we will not be in danger of falling. The narrow way is more difficult than the broad way and it requires us to keep moving steadily forward. The apostle Peter described the necessity of continuing to move forward on the narrow path very well in 2 Peter 1:5-11:

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Do not take excess baggage

The second eternal warning or piece of sound advice for the narrow way is ‘do not take excess baggage with you along the narrow way’ because it’s narrow! You will get jammed with excess baggage, and you will block others, especially when the path gets very narrow and difficult.

It’s interesting that when Jesus called some of His disciples they left their fishing nets immediately (Matthew 4:20). It sounds like they did not have any time to pack their bags. It’s also interesting that when He sent them out to preach He said to them:

Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. Matthew 10:9-10

Jesus sent them out without any baggage.

My real concern in this warning not to take excess baggage, however, is not hair dryers or i-pods (physical baggage); rather it’s our past. Have we become a new creation since we came to Christ, or do we still have the same insecurities, obsessions, ideologies, and weaknesses (the same old baggage)? Have we left behind the harmful things of our former life outside of Christianity and taken advantage of our new strength in Christ? If we haven’t, these will hinder us on the narrow way and hinder others too.

If we haven’t already, we would be well advised to pause and reflect on what our biggest weaknesses and sins were before our conversion. Have we dealt with them? Are they still cropping up? If they are, we need to deal with them. We can’t put them in the ‘too hard basket’ and ignore them. They won’t just disappear.

Many have failed to realize who they are in Christ. In Christ we are strong, we are forgiven, we are greatly beloved, we are light, we are accepted, we are chosen, and we are blessed. No longer need we wallow in guilt, negativity, or worthlessness.

Jesus strictly warned us to dispose of the things that harm us and prejudice our souls:

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. Matthew 5:29-30

The apostle Peter also counseled Christians experiencing difficult circumstances to leave all their worries, insecurities, and problems with God:

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

Jesus had a powerful warning for us if we don’t. In Matthew 13:22 He shares about the seed that fell among the thorns. The seed symbolizes the Christian who is choked by the cares of the world and the riches and pleasures of life. They did not put off their old man sufficiently. They carried him around as old baggage. He hindered them and they became unfruitful.

Look forward, not back, down, or to the left or right

If we are walking a narrow path on the edge of a cliff, looking down or looking behind may destabilize us, particularly if we are fearful of the height we are at and the possibility of falling. Similarly, if we are walking on a tightrope it’s a bad idea to look beyond the rope below or to look to the side. It’s best to look forward.

We can learn from a wonderful piece of advice the apostle Paul gave the Philippians in Philippians 3:13-14 where he wrote:

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The Lord Jesus gives this warning oh so strongly in Luke 9:62:

… No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Sometimes as Christians, when the path gets difficult, we look back at what our lives were like before we were converted. Sometimes we look around at the tantalizing and titillating things of the world. We need to remember that the grass is not always greener on the other side. Let’s not forget where God has brought us from and what marvelous place He yet intends to take us to. When we are going through tough times we often have a tendency to look back with rose-colored glasses. Our past life was probably not as great as we might think. ‘Lest we forget’ the consequences of sin that we had to endure back then.

Stay sober on the narrow way

In the past, traffic officers asked drivers to walk in a straight line to determine their level of intoxication. The drivers who were not sufficiently sober strayed off the straight narrow line and suffered the consequences. Just as drinking and driving don’t mix, so too, Christians and alcohol make bad bedfellows.

The Bible does not prohibit Christians from drinking alcohol. It condemns drunkenness, not having a drink. However, how many drinks do we need to have before our tongues or minds get a bit too lose? King Solomon in Proverbs 20:1 warned that “wine is a mocker and strong drink a brawler.” He didn’t say “so much wine is a mocker” or “so much is a brawler.” King Solomon makes no reference to quantity, so we must be extremely careful with alcohol. Playing around with it is dangerous, especially in the company of non-Christians.

Let us take heed to the apostle Peter’s sound warning in 1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Peter’s call here to be sober has far wider implications than alcohol. He’s really urging us to live serious, temperate, and circumspect lives so that the devil is not afforded an opportunity to gain a foothold in our lives. This leads nicely into the fifth important warning to keep us safely negotiating the narrow way.

Don’t underestimate Satan

Satan will try and lead you away from the narrow path. He is like that infamous cartoon villain Dick Dastardly who in the Wacky Races cartoon played all kinds of devious tricks on the other drivers to prevent them from reaching the finishing line. The other racers would encounter tacks on the road, holes on the road, mirages, skunks in their vehicles – you name it. There was not a trick this villain did not know or try. That is why we are exhorted in Ephesians 6:11 to put on the whole armor of God so that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.

God doesn’t want us to underestimate Satan. That is why He warns us over and over again about him. Let’s just reflect on some of the descriptions of Satan in the Word and the things it says he can do, and then ask ourselves if the Bible would have included all of this if Satan was not actually a threat to true Christians?

We’ve already seen how Satan is described as cunning, given his many wiles. We are also told he can transform himself into an angel of light. He often puts on a nice disguise. He is called the ‘Father of lies,’ ‘arch-deceiver,’ and ‘destroyer.’ We are warned not to be ignorant of his devices lest he should take advantage of us. He is called our ‘Adversary’ and the ‘god of this world.’ So we must not only be sober, we must also be vigilant!

Never be ashamed of walking the narrow way

Finally, never be ashamed of walking the narrow way. Jesus warns in Luke 9:26:

For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

The apostle Paul said:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:5

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. … For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 2 Timothy 1:8,12

And the apostle Peter repeated the same sentiments as follows:

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 1 Peter 4:16

Never be ashamed brethren of walking the narrow way, because remember the narrow way leads to life and the Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died so you can enjoy the blessed opportunity of everlasting life with Him. And also remember that the broad way leads to destruction, shame, and everlasting contempt. Be ashamed of the broad way with all of its vanity, falsity, and perversity.

Conclusion

I hope we can better understand how someone close to us can so easily depart from the narrow way. May it never happen to us or our loved ones in Christ. Just heed these warnings. Don’t be tempted by the broad way. Its pleasures are just fleeting fancies. They are like a mirage in the desert.

If you are still on the broad way, why not join us on the narrow way. It’s not so narrow that no more people can fit. All kinds of people are here. How do you join the narrow way you may ask? You need the strait gate – enter ye in at the strait gate. How did you enter this physical life? You had to go through the narrow gate of your Mother at birth. You had to be very small to go through the door at birth.

Jesus is the door to everlasting life. He says ‘knock’ and He will answer and open the door to the narrow way for you. And when you come by faith to Jesus, humbling yourself (making yourself small) by confessing your sins, you will be born again and will enter the narrow way through Christ the Door.

I urge you. Consider the three frogs. There were three of them on a lily pad and one decided to jump. How many, I ask, were left? The answer is three. Why three, and not two? Well, because the one who decided to jump never took the leap. It's not enough to make a decision.  You've got to take the leap of faith and follow through with it.

If you are marveling at Jesus Christ and believe that He suffered and died for you, it’s time for you to act on your faith and leap onto the narrow way.

Chapter eighteen

Becoming as Little Children

At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, ‘Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven’. Matthew 18:1-3 (my emphasis)

My name is Linda. I was born with my umbilical cord wrapped around my neck for 49 hours, and as a result I have cerebral palsy. I have lived most of my life being totally dependent on others for my every physical need.

Jesus’ words in the above passage were really brought home to me and my friends when we studied it. We reflected upon the meaning of ‘becoming as little children.’ We talked about how little children have to humbly trust, depend, and totally rely on their parents and guardians. We discussed their innocence, inquisitiveness, submissiveness to, and love for their parents. I also noted how little children really have no real choice other than total dependence.

I was then caused to reflect upon my own life. What choice did I have, but to totally depend on family, carers, support workers, and friends? They are effectively my arms and my legs. My arms are literally tied up because of my spasms and I have not supported myself on my legs for decades. I was now really starting to relate to the phrase Jesus used (becoming ‘as little children’), as that is how I physically live my life every day. I realized that, even as an adult, I had a special insight to share with others on being like a little child.

It has not been an easy life for me. I am mentally sharp and alert, so you can just imagine my frustration at times. It has been an awful struggle. In many ways my life has been more unpleasant than the life of a little child. At least most little children only have to trust and depend on a few close relatives. From week to week I have numerous different carers who attend to all my physical needs, including my most basic needs of eating, drinking, and bathing. Whilst being fed, the childish tactic of, “Open wide, here comes the choo-choo train,” has even been used on me. I thank God though for those who assist and care for me and I pray for them.

Reflecting upon my life, the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:1-3 really hit me. What really impacts me more however, is seeing the deeper meaning Jesus has for us all. It impacts all of us whether we like it or not.

Unless we become as little children toward God we will not enter the kingdom of heaven! Based on my experiences, I now see this to mean that unless we are prepared to humble ourselves and allow God to be our arms and our legs (our strength), and unless we are willing to depend upon Him for everything, every day, and to totally trust the way He wants to lead us, which includes obedience (just like me with my carers etc.), then forget the kingdom of heaven.

Just as I have no choice but to trust my carers, we have no choice but to trust God if we desire to be in the kingdom of heaven. Just as it has been a struggle for me physically, each and every day, it will not always be easy for us to trust God and go His way. Nevertheless, a comforting thought is that if God had the power to make the entire universe, He has more than enough strength to see me through, or you for that matter. It is also comforting to know that if God and Jesus were willing to suffer and sacrifice so much for us, and to pay such a high price for us, then our eternal future is secure in them. God will never leave us or forsake us. Won’t you join me on this incredible journey to paradise?

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Linda Norcott (with David Kidd)

Part Five-  Perseverance

Chapter ninteen  

Don’t Give Up - Young adults sharing their faith

The long path ahead

As young adult Christians we have come to appreciate just how narrow the path ahead of us is. We fully realize the enormity of the commitment we have made to Jesus Christ. We have begun to realize that life is less carefree and more painful than it was in our childhood. We now know all too well the various negative attitudes that people show toward the gospel. We know that the assignment the Lord has given us to share our faith with others is a very challenging one, and even more challenging with the heavy daily life pressures we also now face. And having lived 20-30 years already we can appreciate just how long another two-score and ten years is. In light of all this I believe the key thing to emphasize about sharing our faith as young adults is sharing with implacable perseverance.

Faint not

Readers may have heard over and over again some of the many techniques that are out there for sharing one's faith – from artificially engineering spiritual conversations, to being a living light (using words if necessary), to the S.A.L.T. evangelism method (Start a conversation, Ask questions, Listen, Tell the story) Whilst using good techniques is important, I believe that in the faith-sharing I have done God has been quietly speaking to me as a young adult saying "David, keep going, persevere and in due season you will reap if you faint not."

The apostle Peter counseled in 2 Peter 1:5-8:

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (my emphasis)

In sharing our faith, the faith we show, the virtue we show, the knowledge we show, and even the love we show will be of little worth if we do not persevere. We must show consistency. No one likes a flickering light or a light that fails. Perseverance is golden. It is a quality we must have in abundance if we are going to be effective in sharing our faith because few, if any, true converts are produced in our one-off encounters. Young adults, we have the time (God willing) to plan and steadily work toward the goal of hauling in that net blessed with the Lord's touch filled with a multitude of fish.

Perseverance that paid

Several Godly characters in the Bible went through many very lean years before the results of their dogged perseverance showed. The number of years it took Noah to build the ark is not clearly specified in the Bible, but the details we have about the ark’s design in Genesis 6 tell us that building it would have taken many years. However, God had ordained that Noah, a ‘preacher of righteousness,’ would save seven of his family on the ark. Joseph, as a young adult had to endure over ten years of slavery and imprisonment before God, whom he was so faithful to, finally caused him to be elevated to a position of great influence. Even then it took 7 years of plenty and then some lean years before he helped his own people. His perseverance helped save a nation, God's nation. Moses persevered as leader of the Israelites in their wilderness wanderings for 40 years before he was finally able to deliver his people into the Promised Land. Alas he could not enter in himself.

Many of us may be beginning to feel like our faith-sharing efforts are like endless wanderings in the wilderness that lead nowhere. We may feel like we are in the lean years. Noah, Joseph, and Moses at times must have had similar feelings. I sincerely believe though that if we persevere as they did we will find fulfillment and see great fruit from our labor of love in the Lord.

Find your place

In sharing our faith, perseverance is required in two areas. Firstly, we need perseverance in seeking and finding our niche or place. It took me about 5 years at a nursing home visiting and playing games with residents before I could see any benefit in terms of spreading the gospel. Sure there were benefits in brightening people's miserable finite lives, but I really wanted to be doing more than that. I wanted to be helping the people to believe in the Lord. The institution forbade me as a volunteer from sharing my religion. So I was a bit frustrated. I therefore tried other outreach approaches in other areas such as letter-boxing, door knocking, putting up posters, preaching, assisting refugees in our country, writing articles, and writing to prisoners. In general, I did not feel that these things were particularly fruitful.

One lesson in diligently and patiently searching for our place that we must learn though is that sometimes we do not realize the mighty thing God is doing through our efforts. In June 2001 while I was in San Jose, California, a brother shared an encouraging story about a man in Australia who just stood on a street corner saying "Are you saved? Jesus is coming soon." Years later in the US at a meeting a man testified how he had heard this Australian man and started thinking for the first time about where he would be spending eternity. Two further men at the same meeting stood up and incredibly said they had been influenced by the same Australian man. One of the men resolved to find the Australian man to tell him of the positive effects of his ministry. When he did find him, he found a man who was dejected and discouraged about the apparent lack of response to his efforts in sharing the gospel. He was ready to quit, but praise the Lord he found joy and was greatly encouraged when he heard of the men he had influenced.

I would like to say that Australian man was me, because that would make just the best story, but that would be a lie. Nevertheless, it is still a very encouraging story. Even if we feel we are in the lean years, we could be wrong. It is God who gives the increase and sometimes we will be doing the planting while others are doing the watering and reaping (John 4:38). Hopefully through persevering we will be doing more reaping as we get older.

I said above that it took about 5 years at the nursing home before I could see any benefit in terms of sharing the gospel. It was about then that one of the residents asked me where I go to church and could she come? Very soon after, she and another woman mentioned how they missed having people come in regularly to sing hymns with them and share the Bible. I asked the chaplain about starting a Bible study/singing group and within a month or two I was driving one of the residents to church and together with other brethren from my church leading a monthly gospel session with about 12 residents.

Commit long term

Having found a fruitful area, the second way in which perseverance is required, is to simply stick at it. Keep feeding the sheep when they are hungry and keep fishing where the fish are biting. There are still times when you get discouraged because you want to see more results in terms of conversions or spiritual growth, as I do, but I trust that God is doing a mighty work in His own good time. I tell myself that we are giving God a lot more to work with than a fleeting gospel message on a street corner, and just look what God did with that!

I also tell myself this in my market and door knocking ministries which we do here in Adelaide. This really encourages me to persevere because through these ministries we have people receiving Bibles, books, magazines, tracts, and recorded sermons. Also we have ongoing communication with some regulars at our market ministry and are building some promising relationships. The results for our local church have not been spectacular yet, but we have had about ten people added to our church number as a result. We even ran a children's class at the market for a few children for a while. Apart from this though, I am confident the Lord is using the ministry to convert a multitude. It's good also that our local church is getting known more widely because of the ministry. Some other brethren in Australia started a similar ministry for a while, but unfortunately did not persevere.

Conclusion

I wholeheartedly believe that with prayer and perseverance these ministries over 10-20 years will reap a bountiful crop for the kingdom of God. I am sure God is convicting me of this as I try to wait patiently at the market gospel stall for some hungry soul to show some interest. I am also convicted, that as young adult Christians, if we can find a ministry we are prepared to commit to long term in which we can demonstrate to the world the faithfulness, perseverance and love of God, God will bless His work abundantly.

Chapter twenty

Final Encouragement From Zephaniah

As a Christian do you ever feel downtrodden, used, abused, worthless, or insignificant? Do people you know see you as foolish for believing as you do? Perhaps we receive some of this treatment partly because of the bad name given to Christians by many Christians who are not walking in a way worthy of Christ. Perhaps, sometimes we bring it on ourselves.

If you relate to the feelings above, I believe you will be encouraged by what God did for the faithful remnant of His people who went into captivity in Assyria and Babylon. This is part of their story. Zephaniah 3:19-20 in telling their story says:

Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, and gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame. At that time I will bring you back … for I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I return your captives before your eyes says the Lord.

The shame, distress, and insignificance of the people mentioned here was turned into praise and fame throughout the Earth. Since we have the same God ‘yesterday, today, and forever,’ we can draw relevant applications from this fulfilled ancient prophecy that will give us a brighter hope for no longer being the objects of taunts, abuse, ridicule, and rejection.

Putting ourselves in Judah’s shoes

As we consider the encouragement from the book of Zephaniah, I want us all to think like Jews for a moment. This will help us to correctly understand the prophecy. It’s also necessary for us to do so because we notice from Zephaniah 1:1 that Zephaniah prophesied in the days of King Josiah of Judah. The Jews received the prophecy about 630 B.C. and, as we will see, it was all about them and their enemies.

The introduction in my Holman Experiencing God New King James Bible emphasizes the Book of Zephaniah's historical fulfillment as follows:

About 630 B.C. Assyria was growing weak, so Judah began to look for God’s promised judgment on Assyria as the beginning of a new era of power and hope for Judah. Zephaniah had to point out that Judah was not living as God’s people and thus must again face His judgment, only a remnant being reserved for hope. He sought to picture coming judgment for a people indifferent to God and satisfied with worship of Him along with other gods but also to give hope to a faithful, humble remnant.

So then, thinking like the Jews who received this prophecy, let’s see how it would have impacted upon us as Jews living then. We must do this, because if Zephaniah, God’s Prophet has spoken, then it must have some relevance for us as Jews. The Lord warned:

‘I will utterly consume everything from the face of the land,’ … ‘I will consume man and beast … I will cut off man from the face of the land,’ says the Lord. ‘I will stretch out my hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, the names of the idolatrous priests with the pagan priests … (Zephaniah 1:2-4)

In some Bibles the word ‘land’ in verse one is translated ‘earth.’ The context, however, tells us that ‘land’ is probably more accurate as verse four says “I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”

Let's also put ourselves, not only in the shoes of the contemporary Jews, but also in the shoes of the Jews living in Jerusalem, for if our country is going to be attacked and we live in a small country town we might think we will be reasonably safe compared to someone living in the capital city – a more prominent target. We have just been told that God is going to consume everything from the face of the land, and our city – Jerusalem, is singled out.  It is also singled out in verse 12 which says:

And it shall come to pass at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men who are settled in complacency, who say in their heart, ‘the Lord will not do good, nor will he do evil.’

Settled in complacency?

Is that us? Are we not expectant of God doing good or evil? Does God seem distant and removed from our lives or the affairs of our country? Do we think that God is not going to punish and that God is not going to bless or heal. And, if that's us still walking in the shoes of Zephaniah’s contemporaries, then the following verses from Zephaniah 1:13-18 probably won't bother us much at all because most of us are Jews settled in our complacency.  But, if we are meek, humble, and God-fearing Jews we are going to recognize the truth of what the prophet is about to say about our nation. Zephaniah’s news in verses 13-18 will come as terrible news to us:

Therefore their goods shall become booty, and their houses a desolation; they shall build houses, but not inhabit them: they shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine. The great day of the Lord is near; it is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter; There, the mighty man shall cry out. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet and alarm against the fortified cities and against the high towers. I will bring distress upon men, and they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like refuse. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy, for He will make speedy riddance of all those who dwell in the land.

Hope for the repentant

Where to now then? Is there any hope? It seems throughout the history of the Jews that God nearly always, if not always, provides hope for the repentant. Chapter 2:1-3 indeed gives such hope:

Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, before the decree is issued, or the day passes like chaff, before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you … Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger.

If one believed Zephaniah was God's chosen prophet of the day, these words would have provided a very welcome glimmer of hope. God has not changed.  I tell you there is still hope today for the truly repentant.

God kept His promises

Let's continue to think like Jews though. Now, however, we are Jews looking back on Zephaniah's prophecy well after we have returned from our prophesied punishment in Babylon. Let's say that we are living in about the year 420 B.C. We would clearly recognise that God's wrath was indeed poured out on Judah and Jerusalem mainly at the hand of the Babylonians who came against us in full force from about 600 B.C. We became a reproach, and we were taunted, mocked, plundered, and shamed by many nations to whom we were scattered and through whom God chose to punish us, just as the Prophet Jeremiah also foretold. They were arrogant and haughty toward us and against our God. They destroyed our temple and holy city, and plundered our sacred things. Many of us were killed, but the faithful remnant was spared, and, just as God had prophesied through Jeremiah, our captivity ended after 70 years.

Also, Cyrus the Persian came, just as the prophet Isaiah had foretold (Isa. 44:28-45:1). He conquered our oppressors, including the Canaanites, Ammonites, Midianites, Assyrians, and Babylonians. Isaiah, in chapters 10-24 and Ezekiel, in chapters 25-33, wrote volumes about how God would punish these arrogant nations. After punishing us by these nations, God returned to us in a remarkable way. The remarkable men and women who God raised up amongst us from about 570-430 B.C. to gain great power and favour from the ruling powers, including Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach, Abed-nego, Ezra, Nehemiah, Mordecai, andEsther, caused decrees to be made in our favourwhich brought our God world-wide glory and brought us fame and renown. We were filled with hope and optimism again and again, and proclaimed the Holiness of our God. Many from the nations heard of the great God of Daniel and Mordecai and received the empire-wide decrees which protected us and aided our restoration. Many from other nations feared our God and gave him homage and adoration.

When the temple and city walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt in about 440 BC against great opposition, Nehemiah wrote of our enemies in chapter 6:15-16:

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

There was great religious revival among us too - much confession and repentance. Ezra and Nehemiah both wrote of the changed hearts among our purified and faithful remnant and how we were set apart for holiness. Nehemiah, in chapter eight, proclaimed how all of us came to understand God's law and how we wept when we heard it. Our hearts of stone had been changed into hearts of flesh. Nehemiah also wrote in chapter nine how we covenanted with God as a nation to keep His law.

Modern secular historians confirm many of these things, including Judah’s captivity for 70 years in Babylon, and Cyrus’ involvement in restoring Israel. They confirm that in the Persian period the Pentateuch, or the Law of Moses, obtained its definitive form and became a holy book binding on the whole Jerusalem community, and that the remnant of Israel were strict followers of Yahweh. The Persian period had reunited Israel as a great community gathered around the temple. Judah and Jerusalem became the religious centre, not only for Israelites in the area, but for those scattered throughout the world. Scholars also confirm how the Jewish nation grew significantly in number, resources, and infrastructure.  (See Hayes & Miller, ‘A History of Ancient Israel and Judah’ (1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Westminster Press, 1986, 440,445, 456, 462); J.M. Cook, ‘The Persian Empire’ (London, Dent & Sons, 1983, p11-12); J.A. Soggin, ‘A History of Israel from the Beginnings to the Bar Kochba Revolt, AD 135’ (SCM Press 1985, p261, 284, 294, 297); Noth, M, ‘The History of Israel’ 2nd Ed. (London: A & C Black, 1960, p338-339, 341, 394); and G.A. Smith, ‘Jerusalem: The Topography, Economics and History From the earliest Times to A.D. 70’ (London: Hodder & Stoughton MCMVIII, p361-362)

Bearing this history in mind then, and remembering you are a Jew living in 420 B.C. after all this came about, how would you understand the following aspect of Zephaniah's prophecy in chapter 2:3-7?

Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger. For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon desolate; they shall drive out Ashdod at noon day, and Ekron shall be uprooted. Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: ‘I will destroy you; so there shall be no inhabitant.’ The seacoast shall be pastures, with shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks. The coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed their flocks there; In the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the Lord their God will intervene for them, and return their captives.

Don't you think that as a Jew living in 420 B.C. you would recognise the fulfilment of this prophecy in the woes God brought against the nations that came against you and Israel, your sister nation, and in His marvellous intervention to restore you as part of the remnant from captivity in Babylon and Assyria. The rest of the chapter should confirm this to us even more. Consider verses 8-10:

I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the insults of the people of Ammon, with which they have reproached My people, and made arrogant threats against their borders. Therefore, as I live, says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, surely Moab shall be like Sodom and the people of Ammon like Gomorrah – overrun with weeds and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation. The residue of my people shall plunder them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. This they shall have for their pride, because they have reproached and made arrogant threats against the people of the Lord of hosts.

And at the same time, in the same vein, continuing in verses 11-13:

The Lord will be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; people shall worship Him, each one from his place, indeed all the shores of the nations. You Ethiopians also, you shall be slain by my sword. And he will stretch out his hand against the north, destroy Assyria, and make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as the wilderness.

A timely encouragement

As an Israelite living then, would you think this is a prophecy about the end of the world, as many interpreters of prophecy do today? Unlikely, I think. Wouldn’t you rather recognise this as referring to the great destruction brought upon many nations, including the once great empire of Assyria, in your more recent history?

So we now turn again to the third and final exciting chapter of Zephaniah, where we started, and where there is an encouraging application for any of us feeling downtrodden or insignificant as God’s people, like the Jews of the captivity period. God will greatly exalt the humble and bring them fame and praise. Verse one of chapter 3 says:

 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city!

As a post-captivity Israelite, who would this term ‘the oppressing city’ cause us to think of first and foremost – of course, none other than Babylon whom Jeremiah 51:29 foretold would be a desolation without inhabitants. But more than her too, as God says in verse six that He has cut off nations.

In verses 8-14, God's faithful remnant, who the nations have oppressed, and whom He is jealous for, are encouraged to wait upon Him until He gathers the oppressing nations to pour upon them His fiery indignation. God's fiery discipline, as fire does, purifies. It purifies many from the nations who have heard of His awesome deeds. Even those from beyond the regions of Ethiopia come and worship and bring offerings (v10). A meek and humble and obedient people (verse 12) are left in Israel, just as Ezra and Nehemiah report occurred. A time of peace comes again. Verse 13 says no one shall make them afraid. The Lord has forgiven them, cast down the enemy, and again He is in their midst - He is with them. Verse 17 is beautiful. It says:

The Lord your God is in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

It's the same for the faithful meek and humble amongst us today. The Lord is with us, mighty to save. He will rejoice over us with gladness. He will quiet us with His love. He will rejoice over us with singing.

For those of us who feel the captivity-like rejection and scorn of this society in which we live, and who know all too well how foolish many people think we are for believing in Christ and the Bible, we come again to the closing verses of Zephaniah where we started.  From them we glean an encouraging personal application. Just as God dealt with those who afflicted Judah and Israel - He will deal with those who afflict us and He will raise us up:

‘Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, and gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame. At that time I will bring you back, even at the time I gather you; for I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I return your captives before your eyes,’ says the Lord. Zephaniah 3:19-20

Conclusion

Let’s be like the meek and humble remnant of the captivity and post-captivity periods who were steadfast in the days of oppression.  God will quiet us with His love and rejoice over us with singing. My prayer is that many will see Christ in us, turn to Christ, and glorify our Father in heaven.

Email David at churchofgodslove4@gmail.com if you would like to receive more in depth prophetic material approaching the major and minor prophets from a historical perspective similar to that used in this chapter.