Extreme measures

 Jeremiah 16:19–21 (ESV)

19O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: “Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit.
20Can man make for himself gods? Such are not gods!”
21“Therefore, behold, I will make them know, this once I will make them know my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the LORD.”

The only way God could change the rebellious attitude of the people was to drive them out of the Promised Land into the hands of the Babylonians who served gods made by human hands. The land of Israel was given to Abraham as the inheritance God wanted them to inhabit and enjoy. Losing the land and become captives of another nation was their punishment designed to bring grief and loss that would compel them to repent. It was an extreme measure that God used to get the attention of the people and cause them to turn away from the lies of the false prophets who led them astray. Israel was God's chosen people who were to declare his glory to the nations, but they failed to be the people he called them to be. Their failure was met with God's power and might that drove them out of their homes and land. The sacred nation was going to be a scattered nation. Many would never return to the Promised Land and would be scattered throughout the world. Only a remnant would return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the city after 70 years of captivity.

Hardened by sin

 Jeremiah 13:23–24 (NRSV)

23Can Ethiopians change their skin or leopards their spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.
24I will scatter you like chaff driven by the wind from the desert.

The nation of Israel was a stubborn people who refused to change their ways. They were set on worshiping other gods, and nothing would cause them to repent and return to Jehovah. They were the nation that God would draw near to them and they in turn would cling to him out of love for him and what he had done for them. But they became attached to the false gods who could do nothing for them. The insanity of sin is seen in the vile behavior of people intent on doing evil. They become so corrupt that doing good is foreign to them. It will take extreme measures to bring about changes in the conduct of the people. For Israel this would mean captivity and destruction of the cities they inhabited. The land God had given to them was polluted by their sinfulness and God had to remove them from it. The nation would be scattered abroad and after 70 years of Babylonian captivity only a remnant would be permitted to return to Jerusalem. In spite of all of the warnings and demonstrations that Jeremiah would use to communicate the coming judgment, it had no effect. Sin had hardened their hearts, and change was impossible until the judgement fell and the people realized the gravity of their rebellion and were willing to repent.

Love and Hate

 Jeremiah 12:7–8 (ESV)

7“I have forsaken my house; I have abandoned my heritage; I have given the beloved of my soul into the hands of her enemies.
8My heritage has become to me like a lion in the forest; she has lifted up her voice against me; therefore I hate her.

We are able to see two aspects of God's character as he describes his relationship with Israel and Judah. God chose this nation from among all the nations on the earth to enter into a special relationship with him. They were the beloved of God; he chose them because he loved them and they were his heritage which would endure forever. They belonged to him, yet they did not want to be in relationship with him and turned away to worship the false gods. As a result, God's anger was stirred against them, and he hated them for what they had done. Seldom do people want to acknowledge that God' character includes anger and hatred. We often hear God loves the sinner but hates the sin. Yet these verses do not say this but rather that God hates those who have violated his covenant and turned to follow false gods forsaking the relationship he wants with each person. When the judgment day comes God punishes the person who has never submitted to his Lordship and rejected Jesus as the Savior of the world. He does not send sin to the eternal hell but sends the person. The love of God is demonstrated while we were sinners, he sent Jesus to the world to be the sacrifice he demanded as the penalty and payment for sin. God has made a way for all sinners to be made righteous through Jesus but if the sinners do not accept what he has done they will experience his wrath and be condemned to hell.

God's Covenant

 Jeremiah 11:9–10 (ESV)

9Again the LORD said to me, “A conspiracy exists among the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers.

God is a covenant maker and the covenant he made with Israel on Mount Sinai had very specific requirements of the people as well as the blessings and curses God would pour out on them if they kept the covenant or rejected it. God is always faithful to fulfill his part of the covenant, and his expectation is that his people will also be obedient to do what he has required of them. Israel and Judah broke the covenant and began to serve the gods of the heathen nations in direct defiance of God. The city of Jerusalem that was known as the city of the Great King and the joy of the whole earth was now polluted with idols on the streets and worshiping the false god of Baal. It was a slap on the face to God who had delivered the people from Egyptian bondage and brought them into the Promised Land that was flowing with milk and honey. As a result, God fulfilled the covenant he made with them by bringing the punishment that was also part of the covenant. Jeremiah's life was threatened by the people who did not want to listen to his warnings. They sought to kill him, but God intervened and saved him. The messengers who bring the word of God that is in opposition to the people are always under persecution. People lost in sin and are in rebellion against God do not want to hear the truth and do whatever they can to deny it and silence the messengers. Truth will always prevail, and God will justly judge all who have killed his messengers and tried to perpetuate the lies that lead people astray.

Stupidity

 Jeremiah 10:14–16 (NRSV)

14Everyone is stupid and without knowledge; goldsmiths are all put to shame by their idols; for their images are false, and there is no breath in them.
15They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.
16Not like these is the LORD, the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the LORD of hosts is his name.

Jeremiah does not hold back any words of opposition to those who make idols and worship them. He calls them stupid, lacking knowledge and understanding that these idols cannot do anything good. In contrast he gives praise to God who is the creator of all things. God cannot be created and to think that a wooden idol could be his equal is the height of stupidity. The false gods along with their idols will perish but God is the eternal God who always was and always will be. People who worship anything but the One True God are delusional. No one and nothing can compare to God and to worship anyone but God diminishes the value God has placed upon every human being he has created and given life. We find our worth, identity and purpose for living through our relationship with God.

Dark days ahead

 Jeremiah 9:11–14 (NRSV)

11I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a lair of jackals; and I will make the towns of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.
12Who is wise enough to understand this? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken, so that they may declare it? Why is the land ruined and laid waste like a wilderness, so that no one passes through?
13And the LORD says: Because they have forsaken my law that I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, or walked in accordance with it,
14but have stubbornly followed their own hearts and have gone after the Baals, as their ancestors taught them.

Jeremiah had very strong words of the disaster that would soon befall the people of Judah. Their land would be ruined, their cities destroyed without people to live in them. Their punishment was a consequence of their forsaking the laws of God and following after Baal, the god of the heathen nations. God is righteous and just in all of his ways. He does not act in judgment without reason or justification. Truly the heart of man is deceitfully wicked and easily convinced that his own ways are better than God's ways. The laws God had given the nation were for their good and would separate them from the practices of the heathen nations. Following God's laws would produce peace and prosperity. God would be glorified in their obedience. Yet the people would not obey and made choices that brought about the horrible punishment that was predicted by Jeremiah. How difficult it must have been for him to declare the future to the people and not see them repent. His heart was broken as he knew exactly what was going to happen and the unwanted changes that would be experienced in the captivity of the nation. The nation would lose everything God had given them and lives would be taken by the invasion of the Babylonian forces.

Sick sinful people

 Jeremiah 8:22 (ESV)

22Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?

Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. As he saw the fall of his people and the turning away from the God whom he served, he was distraught and concerned for the welfare of the people. He wanted them to be healed from their apostacy and once again live in the blessings of the Lord. His heart was broken by the sinful behavior of the people who refused to listen to him and continued in worshipping false gods. It was not a matter of ignorance of the commands of God but defiance of them. Their attitudes and actions provoked the anger of God which led to their captivity by the Babylonians. As we look at the situation in the world today our heart should be broken just as Jeremiah's heart was broken. It is sad to see the demise of the church that has abandoned the truth of the Word of God and embraced the desires of the culture that are in direct violation of what God has declared. There are pastors and leaders of the church who have violated the people they were called to serve and have been removed from their role. Sinful behavior is not rejected but embraced as normal and practices such as homosexuality, abortion and gender reassignment are acceptable among many who proclaim they are Christians. It is a sad day, a day of mourning for the church that has strayed from the ways of God and has led many into lives that are an abomination to God.

False prophesies

 Jeremiah 5:13–14 (NRSV)

13The prophets are nothing but wind, for the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them!
14Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts: Because they have spoken this word, I am now making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall devour them.

The prophets responsibility was to declare the word of the Lord just as they had received it. The prophets of Israel and Judah were unfaithful to declare the word and only spoke what they wanted the people to hear. They denied that judgment and captivity would be their future and declared that none of these prophecies would come to pass. We would use the phrase they were full of hot air. Nothing they declared had any basis in truth and as a result the people were led astray and continued in their rebellion. But God was making it very clear that the words spoken through Jeremiah and the other prophets who faithfully declared the word would be like a fire and would accomplish what God had spoken. God delayed his judgment in hope that the people would repent but it reached the point of no return and judgment had to be executed to save the nation from complete and total destruction. There would be years of captivity in a nation that was cruel and they would live among people they could not understand because their language was different. The lifestyle they had enjoyed in the Promised Land would be taken from them and they would become servants of another king. The delay in executing judgment does not negate the fact that it will occur. Today many people live lifestyles of sin and because there is no judgment and in fact there is approval from others, they think nothing will happen to them. Any kind of warning of judgement is denied and those who warn are considered bigots and hate mongers. They do not understand that sin has consequences and there will be a final judgment upon all of mankind to give account for their lives of disobedience to the word of God.

Hope after judgment

 Jeremiah 4:26–27 (NRSV)

26I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the LORD, before his fierce anger.
27For thus says the LORD: The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.

The judgment of God on Israel and Judah would be beyond what they had anticipated. The complete ruin of the cities and the desolation of the land would be the consequences of their refusal to turn away from evil and do what God required of them. This dire warning did not change the hearts of the people who were set on doing evil and rebelling against the God who had delivered them and brought them into the Promised Land. The suffering of the people would be great and measured according to their sins. Yet God would not bring about a complete end of the nation. Israel was still his chosen people and after they received their judgment, he would show mercy and compassion upon them to restore them to the land. God's wrath and anger against the nation would result in great suffering and loss but afterward he would make a way for them to return to the land he had given them. Often we do not consider how angry God is when we betray him and sin against him. Sin is highly offensive to him because he is a holy God who cannot tolerate sin. Our sins caused him to send his only begotten Son to die a cruel death on the cross to shed his blood to atone for our sins. The love of God for the world was displayed on the cross of Calvary. His great love should compel us to seek him and forever be thankful that the punishment we deserved was applied to Jesus the Savior of the world.

Confession

 Jeremiah 3:24–25 (NRSV)

24“But from our youth the shameful thing has devoured all for which our ancestors had labored, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.
25Let us lie down in our shame, and let our dishonor cover us; for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our ancestors, from our youth even to this day; and we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.”

Both Israel, the northern 10 tribes and Judah the remaining 2 tribes had forsaken the Lord and turned away from him to worship false gods and idols. Their rebellion led to God divorcing Israel and sending them into captivity in Assyria. These tribes never returned but the tribes of Judah after their captivity were given the opportunity to return to Jerusalem and reestablish the nation. Repentance was required and Jeremiah readily admitted the sins of the nation and the dishonor that resulted. Sin has consequences that can be devastating. God does not look lightly upon sin and when repentance is scorned his wrath must be fall upon the people. He patiently waits for true repentance so that he can restore the people but when they continue to do what he has commanded them not to do, there will be justice. The rebellion of both nations caused them to suffer and lose their inheritance. Israel today continues to suffer for the sins of the past as the land they once inherited has been greatly reduced. They only have a small portion of the land that was promised to Abraham and his descendants. When Jesus returns to rule during the millennium, the land will be restored, and Jerusalem will be the center of the world as all nations will come there to worship Jesus. Until this happens Israel will face tremendous opposition.

The Road Less Traveled...October 2008

Greetings from Guatemala. The past month we started the Kid's club at the base and have had 50-60 children coming on Saturday mornings. It is a blessing to be able to invite them in to the base and spend time ministering God's Word to them. It has been wonderful to see the progress of our staff who have been learning Spanish and are now able to communicate with the children without the aid of an interpreter. This Saturday night we will be showing the movie, 'The Cross and the Switchblade' in Spanish to the people in our neighborhood. This is a timeless film that has such a powerful message. We always give the people an opportunity to accept Christ at the end of the movie and I ask for your prayers that God will touch the heart of the children as well as the adults who will be coming.

A couple of weeks ago a brother in Christ, Paul, who is from England had an accident while riding his bicycle and broke his hip. It has been a challenge to get him the help he needs as he has limited financial resources. We are trying to get him back to England as soon as possible to help him get the care he needs. Please pray that God would bring healing.

The ministry at Higher Grounds Coffee House continues to reach out to the many students and missionaries who are in Antigua. We are so grateful to have a place where they can come to study, use the internet and fellowship with other believers. Business has been slow this month and we continue to trust the Lord to supply for all of our needs. This past month during our Sunday night services we have been looking a the lives men and women whom God has used powerfully in the ministry. Roberts Liardon has produced a series of DVD's entitled, 'God's Generals.' He profiles 12 people who God has raised up in the last couple of centuries who have had tremendous ministries. If you have opportunity to view these you will be blessed.

I have been invited to go to India October 26-November 12, with Oasis International Ministries that is based in Minnesota. I am in the process of securing the required visa and am making plans to go with them. The ministry will be digging a well in a community to be able to supply clean water and they will be hosting evangelistic crusades in the evening along with training sessions for pastors. Several thousand people attend the crusades and several hundred pastors attend the training sessions. I will be working with Darrell Dobbelmann conducting the pastor's training and we will be visiting rural villages to preach the gospel to people who have never had the opportunity to receive Christ. Would you please pray for this trip. Currently in India there is great persecution against Christians in a couple of areas. 50 believers have been killed, homes and churches destroyed and there are constant threats by radical Hindus to continue the violence until the Christians stop preaching the gospel and leading people to the Lord. The area where we will be going has not yet suffered the persecution and we are praying that we will have open doors wherever we go. I will need to raise support for this trip so if you would like to be a part of it through your financial gift it would be greatly appreciated. I do ask for all of you to pray for the team who will be going. Perhaps the Lord will open doors for our DTS students in the future to be able to return to India to preach the gospel to a nation that is filled with great darkness.

I am happy to report that Pastor Efrain's wife, Betty, is responding well to the cancer treatment. The growth that returned is shrinking and we will continue to pray that she will be cancer free.

We will have a new staff member, Sue, joining us in November. She is from England and will be with us for 2 years. Please pray for her as well as she gets everything in order to be able to come.

Thank you for your prayers regarding my residency visa. This week I finally received some information from Immigration officials regarding my status. I need to submit 2 more items this week and hopefully that will be the end of the year long process. Please continue praying for this that I will get a favorable response in a timely manner.

I am grateful for your partnership through your prayers and financial support. I am blessed to be able to serve the Lord in Guatemala and for the opportunity to be a part of what He is doing here as well as in India.

For Him,

Bruce

Correspondence address:
Bruce Ahlberg
6ta Avenida Norte #33
Antigua, Guatemala

Contribution address:
YWAM Chico
15850 Richardsons Springs Rd.
Chico, CA 95973

I will break you

 Jeremiah 1:17–19 (NRSV)

17But you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them.
18And I for my part have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall, against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land.
19They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you.

Jeremiah had a serious mission and message to share with the people. God promised he would give him the words to say but he had to have the courage to say what God had given him. If he failed in his mission there would be consequences that were not what he wanted to experience. God would break him if he failed in his mission. Any fears he had about sharing what God had spoken to him would be overcome by the promise that God would deliver him. Jeremiah needed to concentrate on fulfilling what God had called him to do and trust him to deliver him from evil. God was counting on Jeremiah and he did not want him to fail in his mission. God has called each person to a specific task or ministry and he is counting on us to do what he has called us to do. If we delay or fail to do what he has called us to do there will be correction to put us back on the path. He is always with us and will help us be victorious.

Glory exchanged

 Jeremiah 2:11 (NRSV)

11Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for something that does not profit.

Israel was guilty of forsaking God and seeking after gods that were not gods who could do anything to help them or deliver them from their enemies. The nation that was called to represent God to the other nations had exchanged the glory it once possessed for something that had no value or would be of any good to them. They exchanged the truth for a lie and began serving the things they created with their own hands using materials that had no life. It was a shameful act that betrayed their identity and brought the scorn of God upon them. Though the prophets warned them of the judgment to come, it had no effect on them. They continued in their evil ways and forgot the God who delivered them from Egyptian captivity. Today we witness the same attitude among many people who will not submit to the ways of God that bring freedom. They embrace the lies of the devil and follow after their fleshly desires that only lead to further captivity and destruction. They are destitute of the glory of God by following after sin instead of righteousness. Their actions are an abomination to God and relegate them to be something far inferior to the desires of God to conform them into the image of Jesus.

Worship or the Worm

 Isaiah 66:22–24 (LEB)

22“For just as the new heavens and earth that I am about to make shall stand before me,” declares Yahweh, “so shall your descendants and your name stand.
23And this shall happen: From new moon to new moon and from Sabbath to Sabbath all flesh shall come to bow in worship before me,” says Yahweh.
24“And they shall go out and look at the corpses of the people who have rebelled against me, for their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

When Jesus returns to reign in Jerusalem, he will once again establish his people, and they will bring sacrifices to the temple. He will reestablish the priesthood and all nations will bring their offerings to him. He will receive the worship he alone deserves but all who have rejected him and lived according to their own desires of false worship will be destroyed by fire. Jesus mentioned the fact that the worm shall not die, and the fire will not be quenched when he taught about the final judgment and the destiny of all who have rejected him. For all who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior it will be time of great rejoicing and uniting of all believers in joyful worship of the Savior. But for all who have rejected him it will be a time of pain and judgment. They will receive what they deserve. The reality of this judgment should cause the unbelievers to turn away from their rebellion and receive the forgiveness and redemption that has been provided for them through Jesus. Yet many will continue to rebel and receive the just consequences they deserve.

A New Jerusalem

 Isaiah 65:17–19 (LEB)

17For look! I am about to create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered, and they shall not come to mind.
18But rejoice and shout in exultation forever and ever over what I am about to create! For look! I am about to create Jerusalem as a source of rejoicing, and her people as a source of joy.
19And I will shout in exultation over Jerusalem, and I will rejoice over my people, and the sound of weeping shall no longer be heard in it, or the sound of a cry for help.

When Jesus returns Jerusalem will be transformed into a city of praise. The blessings of the Lord will rest on the people, and the sins of the past will no longer be remembered. Jerusalem will be the city where Jesus will establish his rule during the millennium. It will be a city of joy and the gathering place for the redeemed people to worship the Lord. The troubles of the past will no longer plague the people who have suffered for their rebellion and denial of the Messiah. They will acknowledge that Jesus is their true King and enjoy all the goodness that he will pour out upon the people. These prophetic words will come to pass and are an encouragement to people today. The years before the coming of Jesus will be difficult times for Israel as the nation will continually face troubles and opposition from their enemies. God continues to plead with them to repent and seek him in order that they will receive Jesus as the promised Messiah, but their hearts are hardened.

The power of sin

 There is no one who calls on Your name, Who arouses himself to take hold of You, For You have hidden Your face from us And have delivered us into the power of our iniquities.  Isaiah 64: 7

Sin is a powerful force that controls the lives of those who have turned away from the truth and live under its rule. When people reject God's rule and will not repent, he turns them over to the devastating power of sin. He gives them what they desire, and the reprobate mind takes control.  His restraining force is lifted in order to give them over to the power of sin. Sin is the most destructive force in the world today, and those who live under its power can only be rescued by Jesus

Making God's name glorious

 As the cattle which go down into the valley, The Spirit of the Lord gave them rest.So You led Your people,To make for Yourself a glorious name.  (Isaiah 63:14, NASB95)

God chose Israel to be the nation that he would bless all the nations of the earth. He would make himself known through his acts of deliverance and mercy they would receive. People would see the goodness of God and be drawn to him. God's name and fame would spread throughout the earth. God wants people to know him as a loving,holy, and righteous God.  But Israel rebelled against him and caused his name to be mocked among the nations. For the sake of his good name, he had to act to bring punishment but also restoration of his people.  As believers, we represent God in all of our actions.  People understand the character and nature of God through our acts of submission and obedience to him. When we fail and sin against him, we denigrate his name and drive people away from knowing him as he has revealed himself to us. When we allow him to lead and guide us, we enter into his rest and enjoy the peace he desires for us.

Watchmen

 Isaiah 62:6–7 (LEB)

6I have appointed watchmen upon your walls, Jerusalem; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who profess Yahweh have no rest.
7And you must not give him rest until he establishes, and until he makes Jerusalem an object of praise in the earth.

Jerusalem today is a city that has no rest. It is constantly on guard against its enemies who desire to kill the people and take possession of the land. The watchman on the walls are the people who are aware of what is happening around the nation and within the nation to be able to alert everyone of an imminent attack. Unfortunately, the watchman were not paying attention to the enemy in Gaza and a horrible attack was executed killing many people and taking captive others. The diligence of the watchman is crucial for the safety of the nation. In the life of the believer the same strategy applies. We have an enemy who is constantly planning ways to attack us and destroy us. We must be on the alert all the time to recognize when he is trying to attack us. We must constantly look to the Lord for protection and security.

The nation of Israel will one day become an object of praise instead of one of scorn that it is experiencing today and, in the days, to come. When Jesus returns to rule during the millennium everything will change and Jerusalem will be a transformed city of peace.

Injustice

 Isaiah 61:8 (LEB)

8For I, Yahweh, love justice, hate robbery and injustice, and I will faithfully give their reward, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

God is a God of justice and anyone who violates justice will give an account to him. God has set his standards in the Scriptures, and he has placed moral laws in man to guide decisions and teach how we are to treat one another. Robbery is hated by him as it is a violation against what the person has worked to achieve or gain. In all work there is gain and to violate this principle takes away the dignity of work. Things gained through robbery have a curse on them and unless there is repentance and restitution the conscience will always remind the robber of the violation. Stolen items may at first bring some pleasure but as the proverbs declares it will turn into gravel in the mouth, something disgusting

The fruit of evil

 Isaiah 59:7–8 (LEB)

7Their feet run to evil, and they hasten to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; devastation and destruction are in their highways.
8They do not know the way of peace, and there is no justice in their firm paths. They have made their paths crooked for themselves; everyone who walks in it knows no peace.

Israel had fallen away from the Lord and was practicing sins that were grievous to the Lord. They continued in their sinful ways and reaped the results of God's punishment. Killing innocent people, running to do evil, continuos thoughts of doing evil described their mental and spiritual condition. These same traits are common among people groups that have turned away from the truth and allow hatred of other people to rule their lives. We see this actively today in Hamas and the radical Muslims in Nigeria who are murdering Christians who have done nothing to them that would justify any of their violence against them. There is no peace in people who allow hatred to govern their lives and do not know the truth. They propagate lies and convince others to follow their evil ways. Indoctrination begins at a very young age and hatred, violence and deception become the way of life. The only solution is recognizing their error and receiving truth God has given all of mankind in Jesus the only Savior of the world. He is the Prince of Peace and he is the truth that can set people free from the sins that control their lives.

Unimpressed

 Isaiah 58:3–4 (LEB)

3‘Why do we fast, and you do not see it? We humiliate our soul, and you do not notice it?’ Look! You find delight on the day of your fast, and you oppress all your workers!
4Look! You fast to quarrel and strife, and to strike with a wicked fist. You shall not fast as you do today, to make your voice heard on the height.

Fasting was a requirement for Israel on specific days. Though they did fast, it was not done with the right heart attitude and treatment of the people that were part of the nation. They thought that God would honor their fast and be delighted that they were doing it, but he was not impressed because of the way they were treating their fellow man. Quarreling and fighting and oppression of their workers was happening at the same time they were fasting. This was not the correct way to fast, and God was not going to hear their prayers or bless them unless they changed their behavior and started to care for people in need. Religious activities done with the wrong attitude and unchanged behavior that is contrary to what God has required become meaningless activities.

A lost vision

 Isaiah 57:15 (LEB)

15For thus says the high and lofty one who resides forever, and whose name is holy: “I reside in a high and holy place, and with the contrite and humble of spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Israel had wandered away from God and began serving the gods and idols of the heathen nations. They lost their vision and understanding of who God is and who God would honor. When we do not regard God as one who is far above us who transcends all things we diminish him into something and someone inferior. He is the eternal God who always has been and always will be in contrast to the man-made gods who are temporal and will pass away. God is holy, separate from all of creation, there is none like him who is pure and righteous in all his ways. God brings life to those who are humble and contrite of heart. Those who willingly admit their need for him and are truly repentant for their sins that have separated them from God.

All nations

Isaiah 56:6–7 (NRSV)
6And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant—
7these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

Though God has specifically called the nation of Israel to be his chosen people, he always welcomed other nations to become part of his kingdom. He welcomed all who would choose to follow his ways and keep his covenant. He would accept their sacrifices and invite them to temple, the house of prayer for all nations. We see the heart of God for every person to be a part of his family and experience a joyful life of service and devotion to him. He is not a respecter of persons but has open arms to everyone who desires to become one of his adopted children. The gospel message is the message that will unite all believers in Jesus. As this message is proclaimed throughout the earth everyone will have the opportunity to join God's family and receive the gift of eternal life.

Seeking God

 Isaiah 55:6–7 (NRSV)

6Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near;
7let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

God has promised that if we seek him with our whole heart, we will find him. He is not so distant from us that he cannot be found, and he wants us to seek him. When we seek him, it demonstrates our need for him as he is the only one who can forgive us as we turn away from a life of sin. God is merciful and when we confess our sins, he is faithful to abundantly pardon us. God wants us to be in right relationship with him. When we seek him and call upon him, we are pursuing him and desiring to be made righteous before him. Living a life of alienation from God is vanity and can never be compared to living in harmony with God allowing him to transform our thoughts to conform to his way of thinking and responding.

Intimidation

 

#1  Intimidation

One of the main tactics of the enemy to keep us from sharing to the gospel or doing anything for the advance of God’s Kingdom is intimidation.  He has used this tactic in many situations in the Old Testament as well as in the life of the church since its inception.  He continues to use this tactic today to keep believers silent and limit their ministry and effectiveness.

#2  The definition of intimidate

1.  to make timid; fill with fear.

2. to overawe or cow, as through the force of personality or by superior display of wealth, talent, etc.

3. to force into or deter from some action by inducing fear

 We will look at some of the Old Testament examples how intimidation was used as well as what was the response or the result.

#3  Goliath and the Israelites.

We are all familiar with the story of Goliath and the stand down battle with the Philistines.  His stature was very intimidating roughly ten feet tall depending on what standard was used to measure him.  He was covered from head to toe with armor and had another person with a shield in front of him to protect him.  In addition to his intimidating physical presence he taunted the Israelites.

1Sa 17:8-11  He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." And the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together." When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

#4  Goliath defied Israel, he reproached them, stripped them bare and exposed them, railed against them.

His tactic worked but Israel’s response was one of fear, they were broken down like they were prostrate on the ground as if they had feinted.

#5   Only David was willing to take up the challenge.  He was not intimidated by Goliath’s stature or his words.  He did not take Goliath’s words to heart but responded in faith and assurance that His God would deliver him into his hands because he had defied the God of the armies of Israel.  The battle was not up to David, it was the Lord’s battle and he would be victorious.

The enemy would like to overexaggerate the problem. He intimidates by trying to cause us to think he is more powerful than our God and we are helpless.  He always wants to bring fear because fear will cause us to be paralyzed or feint in the battle.  He will speak words to us to tell us how incapable we are of defeating him.    We cannot listen to his threats or intimidating words and take them to heart.

We have to stand against him knowing that God is the one who will fight the battle with us and give us victory.  David was confident while the rest of Israel was cowardly.  He had faith in His God that his God would defend his name and not be defied by Goliath or any of the Philistines. 

When people come against us they are also coming against God and God will defend his name.  Goliath was defeated just as David proclaimed he would be.  His death mobilized the army to charge into battle and defeat the Philistines.  Our faith response, our stand against the enemy and our prophetic proclamations when realized will be an inspiration to others in the battle.

#6  A second example of intimidation is found in David’s life when he became King of Israel and set out to take the city of the Jebusites, Jerusalem.  When the Jebusites saw David and his army coming to take the city they tried to intimidate him by saying: "You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off" 2 Sam 5.6

In other words David’s army was no match for the Jebusites.  They were so pitiful that the blind and lame could defeat them.  They thought that their words would intimidate David and keep him from invading.  These were not wise words to say to someone who had led Israel in many victorious battles.  It was an insult to David and his army and it has the opposite effect. 

2Sa 5:8  And David said on that day, "Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack 'the lame and the blind,' who are hated by David's soul."

The Jebusites became odious to David by the words they spoke to him.  He challenged his men to take the city via the water ducts going into the city.  He was not at all intimidated by the Jebusites.  The words spoken against him and his men became fuel to inspire the men to take the city.

#7  I think we need to learn from David’s example that when the enemy tries to intimidate us and belittle us or make us think we are blind and lame, incapable of taking on any initiative by rising up and using the very words of the enemy against him.  We cannot sit back and take it, there has to be a holy rising in us to come against the very words of the enemy and take what belongs to God.

It seems today that the church is under more attack than it ever has been for its stand against moral issues that do not reflect the values of God or His Word.  We have allowed the enemy to take ground because of our lack of action or lack of standing for the truth and denouncing the words of the enemy.  We have been labled “bigots, haters, judgmental, closed minded, intolerant,biased”, and a list of other things by people who do not agree and even hates Christians yet these same people are guilty of having the same attitudes as they accuse us of having.  If we say nothing in our defense what message are we communicating?  Are we in agreement or are we just unwilling to take a stand to come against these untruthful accusations?

David was pretty upset with these words to the point that he made a policy that no blind or lame person could enter the house.  He did not want to be reminded of these demeaning words by seeing the lame and blind in his house.  These words offended him deeply and he responded accordingly.

#8  Nehemiah faced intimidation when he was building the walls of Jerusalem that had been completely destroyed by the Babylonians when they invaded Jerusalem and took Israel as captives.  There were some people who had been living in the area of Jerusalem during the captivity and they were trying to stop Nehemiah from building the wall.  Sanaballat and Tobiah were leaders who spoke against the work of Nehemiah and the people who were doing the work.

Neh 4:1-3  Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?" Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Yes, what they are building--if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!

They spoke against the feeble Jews who in their minds were not able to accomplish the huge task.  The also spoke against them by claiming the quality of their work would be so inferior that a little fox could easily jump upon the low wall and cause it to crumble when it walked on the stones.    The walls of the city were thick walls not simply one stone place on top of another so this insult as to the quality of their work was pretty demeaning.

#9  The enemy would like to make us think that we don’t have what it takes.  We don’t have the right people working with us to get the job done.  He wants us to think that we and they lack the qualifications and abilities needed so why even attempt to do anything? God knew what he was doing when he called Nehemiah to the task and he supplied the right people to get it done.  God will put each of us on a team that will work together to accomplish his mission if we allow him to and are willing to go.  He will supply the resources we need and will give us the resolve to get it done.

 #10  The enemy likes to do whatever he can to delay us from taking action.  I am not opposed to training and education to prepare you for ministry but there comes a time when you have to step out in faith and be willing to take on things that seem to be beyond your training or abilities.  We can rationalize ourselves out of doing anything if we listen to the intimidating words of the enemy.  I don’t know that Nehemiah was a professional wall builder, I don’t know if he had any training at all but he had a calling from God and a desire to see his people restored and was willing to move forward to get the job done.  He faced the naysayers who tried to discourage and intimidate him and the people he brought with him to do the work and settle in the city.  The wall was erected in 52 days to the surprise of the enemies.  The people were motivated and obviously had the skills needed to do what was needed and do it well. 

The enemy will always fight progress.  He does not want the Kingdom to advance.  He wants us to just stay where we are and do as little as possible.  I love the words of William Carey who is called the “Father of Modern Day Missions.”  He went to India called by God to reach the people with the gospel.  It was a huge task and he experienced many setbacks in his ministry but he persevered and did not allow the intimidation of the enemies of the cross to keep him from his call.  He said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.”

William Carey and Nehemiah had this in common that they were willing to attempt great things for God.  They were not content to let things stay as they were but took action as led of the Holy Spirit to do what was in their hearts.  God came through for them and gave them the people and resources and knowledge of what to do and how to do it.  They both accomplished great things for God because they did not allow the enemy to intimidate them and cause them to stop what they were doing.

This past week I was at a YWAM Conference in Nicaragua and I was able to see the work the God has done through the leaders of the base in Nicaragua.  They have had tremendous challenges through the years, having begun the work during the civil war in the early 80s.  They have faced opposition from the government, from their neighbors, health issues, staff issues, financial challenges that would cause most people to give up and go home.  But they have stayed faithful to the call and now have a great YWAM Base that is impacting many lives.  They have not allowed the intimidation of the enemy to cause them to stop doing what they have been called to do and God has honored and blessed their lives and ministry.  They have accomplished great things for God and they have seen God come through time after time when they have faced the challenges of the enemy.

#11  A final example of not being intimidated is found in the lives of the apostles during the early days of the church.  Peter and John after receiving the power of the Holy Spirit were constantly going to the temple to tell people about the Messiah Jesus who fulfilled the prophesies in the Old Testament and is now seated in glory with God.  This message was burning in their hearts and they would not be stopped from sharing it.  The Jewish leaders were upset with what they were doing and what was happening to the people they led.  They were losing thousands of people who were becoming Christ followers and they did not know what to do to stop this mass exodus.  They only solution was to try to silence them and throw Peter and John into jail and hope that this would end the problem.

Act 4:15-20  But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, "What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name." So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."

#12  Peter and John would not be intimidated by the demands of the religious leaders.  What they knew to be true could not be contained or restrained.  Their obedience was to God and not to man when given the choice between the two.  They were convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that the message they preached was the truth.  Imprisonment was not enough punishment or intimidation to stop them from speaking. 

Peter was not soft peddling the gospel message.  He told it like it is and did not hold back.  He wanted the Jews to know exactly what they had done in rejecting the Messiah Jesus.

Act 4:8-12  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Peter was addressing the highest leadership of Israel.  Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he made some hard statements…”who you crucified…was rejected by you, the builders”  Peter spoke the truth, he did not make it soft for them but spoke clearly and directly to their actions against Christ.  There was a boldness in Peter to declare the truth.  He did not let the status of the Jewish leadership hinder him from declaring the truth of what they had done and the truth that Jesus was the cornerstone and the only way for them to be saved.

We can never be intimidated by the threats of prison, punishment or even death to keep us from speaking the truth.  We have to make a stand for the truth and believe that God is always on our side to defend us and if we are martyred for our faith it is only a testimony of its power and truthfulness.  Jonathon Goforth was a Canadian missionary to China in the early 1900s.  He told a story of a group of students who were arrested for being believers.  The officials told them that they would not punish them if they would deny their faith in Christ.  As an act of their denial they placed a cross on the ground and told those who wanted to recant their faith to walk on the cross to despise it and denounce their belief in Jesus.  The first few students were intimidated by the demand and the fear of punishment.  They walked out one the cross and renounced their faith, several more students followed them.  But then one student refused to trample upon the cross and renounce her faith.  She walked to the side of the cross in defiance of their orders.  Her act of bravery inspired the others to do the same thing.

We are living in a time where the darkness is growing darker and the light is growing brighter.  There is a clearer separation between good and evil as we see the world moving away from the truth of the Bible and embracing the philosophies of man based in human desires that are in opposition to God.  The acceptance of homosexual marriages is one act that is helping clarify those who believe God’s word and those who distort it to make it mean what they want it to mean.  We are clearly entering an era where Christianity is going to be opposed and we will be intimidated to not speak the truth.  But we must be like Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, led of the Holy Spirit to speak the truth and confront the actions of those who are opposing God’s truth.  We cannot be silent but we must be submitted to the Holy Spirit to speak as He directs us.  We need not apologize for our obedience and our directness in speaking the truth.  Truth is on our side and if we remain silent we give ground to the enemy.

#13  Intimidation is a primary tactic of the enemy to keep us from fulfilling our calling.  We must constantly remind ourselves of the truth of who God is and his desire for us to stand strong in the face of intimidation.

1.     God is greater than any enemy of the cross.

2.    God will defend his name, he will fight the battle for us and with us.

3.    False accusations to intimidate must be confronted.

4.    God will supply, we will have what it takes to accomplish his work.

5.    We cannot give in to compromise, give up the battle or get out of the calling to be the messengers of the truth to a lost world.

A Life of Submission

 Isaiah 50:4–6 (LEB)

4The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of a pupil, to know how to help the weary with a word. He awakens morning by morning, awakens an ear for me to listen as do the pupils.
5The Lord Yahweh has opened an ear for me, and I, I was not rebellious. I did not turn backwards;
6I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from insults and spittle.

These verses describe Jesus during his life on earth. He daily sought the counsel of his father, spending time in prayer listening to his father. He did nothing apart from the instructions of his father. His obedience was complete; rebellion was never an attitude or action during his life. He courageously faced his opposers who abused him and insulted him. Yet he stayed steadfast on his mission and accepted the consequences of his obedience and persecution. His life is our example to follow and imitate but it is only by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to do it. Our lives must be lived in submission to the will of God and dependence upon him to be able to accomplish what he has planned for us.

The man God uses

 

The Man God Uses

Acts 3:1-16

I.                Introduction

A.    Desire of Each Person to be used by God or be useful

1.     God has created us for good works, He has a plan and purpose for each of us.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Eph. 2.10

2.     Personal illustration of wanting to be involved in sports, teaching, job at motorcycle program, missions.  Being a spectator is not fulfilling when you know you can be in the action and making a difference.

B.    God is looking for people whose hearts are fully devoted to Him.

1.     When God finds the right person at the right time miraculous things will happen.

⁹“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him 2 Chronicles 16.9

2.     History is full of people who were “God’s man or woman” for that specific time.

a.      Biblical Examples:  Joseph, Moses, Deborah, Esther, David, Paul etc.

3.     Example of Peter and John being used by God in Acts 3

a.      Learn the principles of being used by God through them.

II.              The Person God Uses

A.    Peter and John had been with Jesus

1.     Jesus invited them to be with him before He sent them out.

2.     Our first and most important ministry is ministry to Jesus, spending time with Him.

3.     They saw Jesus in action, they learned from him for 3 years before they were sent out on their own.

4.     Developed an intimate relationship with him

5.     Witnessed the compassion and power of God.

6.     We must be filled with the knowledge of the Word of God and the ways of God.

B.    They were filled with the Holy Spirit  Acts 2.4

1.     Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem to receive the promise of the Spirit.

2.     Their lives were radically transformed after receiving the Holy Spirit.  Revelation of the Truth, Boldness in their witness, Faith, to believe God’s promises, Action compelled by obedience and compassion.

3.     Our ministry must be empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit.

4.     If we are not being led by the Spirit then we are not operating in the power of the Spirit.

5.     The Holy Spirit must empower and lead us in ministry.We have to be cued into the H.S. who is in charge of the work on the earth today.  He is the Divine, initiator, motivator and administrator for the work of God.

C.    They lived with a Sense of Expectation

1.     Peter & John had seen Jesus do the miraculous on a regular basis.

2.     They had seen God use them to heal the sick and cast out demons. (sending out of the 70)

3.     On this “one day” God invaded time and space and change happened.

a.      God can take the mundane daily rituals and perform miracles.

b.     God can take the ordinary and make it extraordinary.

c.      God can take the hopeless situations and bring transformation.

4.     We must always live with a sense of expectation of what God can and will do through us on a daily basis.

a.      Satan wants us to be hopeless, lacking in faith, unbelieving, doubters, destined to repeat the same errors, never seeing change, accepting of anything less than God’s best.

1.     Alma with her back problems.  Wishing for death.

b.     This could be the day a miracle will happen!

D.    They had a Spirit of Cooperation/Unity

1.     Peter & John were going up together to the temple.  They were opposites who had being united by Christ.

a.      Peter-impulsive; John-contemplative

b.     Peter-quick to speak; John leaned on Jesus’ chest

c.      Peter stood from afar in the courtyard; John stayed close to Jesus.

d.     Peter was a man of action and was called on to preach the first sermon after Pentecost.  John was the apostle of love and intimate revelation of Christ.

2.     Men and women God uses have learned to overcome their differences.

a.      The Mission is greater than my pet peeves, preferences and pride.

b.     Our differences can not serve to divide us.
Delight in our differences!

3.     The synergistic effect of 2 being in agreement is woven throughout the Bible.

a.      No lone rangers, hi ho silvers or hermit crabs allowed.

b.     One can chase a 1000, 2 can chase 10000.

c.      70 were sent out 2 by 2.  Security, synergy, solidarity.

d.     Remember even the Lone Ranger needed Tonto.

E.     They were men of prayer, “they went at the hour of prayer”

1.     Regularly scheduled time of prayer.  They had seen the example of Jesus’ life of prayer.

2.     The gathered to pray for 10 days of constant prayer before the Holy Spirit was given. Acts 1:14

3.     they devoted themselves to prayer Acts 2:42

4.     Prayer must be both scheduled and spontaneous.

5.     John Hyde, “Praying Hyde” was greatly used of God to reach the nation of India.  “Give me souls or I will die” was his battle cry.

6.     Hudson Taylor was a man of prayer who changed the course of China.

7.     George Mueller was known for his faith and his life of prayer.

8.     People of prayer are often more in tune with what God is doing and wants to do.

9.     Be ready for anything.  Pray throughout the day and ask God what you should do in situations that you see.

F.     They had a Sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit  “And Peter looking steadfastly upon him with John said, Look at us.”

1.     Something happened to Peter and John to change their normal encounter into a supernatural encounter.

2.     We must live with an expectation of God’s intervention but we must also develop a sensitivity to the winds of the Holy Spirit.  A lot of ministry happens “on the way.” To do ministry

a.  Jesus was interrupted by the woman with the issue of blood.

b.      Witnessing to the Muslim at the Gopher game.

3.     Develop spiritual eyes to see what God sees.

G.    They knew  the power and authority of the Name of Jesus.

1.     They knew their financial limitation but also understood the unlimited power of the Name of Jesus!!!

2.     When we operate in the Name of Jesus and re-present Him to the world, we can expect the miraculous to happen.

Mark 16:17-18

17 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;18 “they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

     Colossians 2:9,10

     9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

     Philippians 2:9-11

     9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

     James 5:14

     14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

 

 

3.  I wonder if Peter had a flash back to the time when Jesus rescued him in the water by extending his hand to him.  Peter was so convinced that he pulled him up and commanded him to walk.

H.    They quickly gave Jesus all the credit for the healing of the lame man.  They knew who deserved all the glory because they recognized that without Jesus nothing would have happened.

“John 15:5

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

 

 

     God has good works waiting for me.

     He desires to use me each day.

     He wants me to be full of the knowledge of His Word and His ways.

     He has given me the power of the Holy Spirit.

     I will live with expectancy each day!

     I will strive for unity with other believers.

     I will be a person of scheduled and spontaneous prayer.

     I will be sensitive and obedient to the Holy Spirit

     I will act in the power of the Name of Jesus and give him all the glory.

      

 

III.  Conclusion:  God is moving in these days through His people who are living in expectation of His intervention.  He delights in the unity of His body and desires that we reconcile our differences and stay focused on the mission He has given the Church.  He is calling His people to become people of prayer because people of prayer are ready to hear His voice.  He wants to make us sensitive to the working of the Holy Spirit so we can respond in faith and obedience when He gives us the inner witness of the Spirit.  Finally, God is desiring to work through people who know the authority of the Name of Jesus and will be quick to give Him all the praise.