The Promise To Heal Our Land – Part 2

Wade Webster

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14). In the last part of this study, we noticed the requirements – humbling, praying, seeking, and turning.  In this installment, we will notice the recipients..

The Recipients - “…My people, who are called by my name…”

God calls them His people. He chose them. They are called by His name. What a blessing it is to belong to God. What an honor it is to be called by His name. However, with these blessings, come serious responsibilities. Because we are so closely identified with God, our actions reflect upon Him. When we do right, our actions glorify God’s name. However, when we do wrong, our actions bring reproach on the name of God. As you know, God is very protective of His name. His name is great and He wants to keep it that way. Through Ezekiel, God declared, “Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: “Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds; to Me their way was like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity. Therefore I poured out My fury on them for the blood they had shed on the land, and for their idols with which they had defiled it. So I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the countries; I judged them according to their ways and their deeds. When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy name—when they said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD, and yet they have gone out of His land.’ But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went. “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes” (Ezek. 36:16-23).

As we noted earlier, there are key differences between Old Testament Israel and modern-day America. God did not put His name on our nation as He did upon Israel. However, our nation was founded upon Christian principles. Many of our founding fathers sought God’s blessings upon the nation that they were trying to build and they gave Him praise for victories won. We have been identified on the world’s stage as a Christian nation. Sadly, today this moniker is largely a reproach . Again, the greater parallel is between Old Testament Israel and the church. We wear the name of Christ (Acts 11:26). Our actions can bring glory or reproach upon the worthy name that we wear (Jam. 2:5). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke of the glory that can be brought upon God by our good works. He declared, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mat. 5:14-16). Peter spoke of the reproach than can be brought upon the name of Christ if we don’t live holy lives. He wrote, “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (1 Pet. 4:14-16).

The Promise To Heal Our Land – Part 1

Wade Webster

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14). What a promise! God would heal their land and forgive their sins. Sadly, Israel did not ultimately enjoy this promise because they did not meet its conditions. The land that God promised to heal looks little like a land flowing with milk and honey today (Lev. 20:24). It was at one time a land that abundantly met that description, and as this promise suggests could have been that way again; but rather, as a dry, desolate, war-torn land today, stands as a witness to the fact that they failed to lay hold on the promise that God made to them. Let’s examine this promise and what it declares for us today. Let’s make sure that we don’t come up short of the promises that God has made to us.

The Requirements - “If…humble…pray…seek…turn”

The word “if” generally signifies a condition that must be met. Sometimes, this word signifies a condition that has already been met and could better be translated as “since.” In our passage, the “if” is clearly a condition that must still be met rather than one that has already been met. Four conditions are enumerated in the text:

• They must humble themselves. As you know, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Peter declared, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Pet. 5:5-6; cf. Jam. 4:6). When Peter speaks of being clothed with humility, he is likely referring back to the occasion when Jesus girded himself with a towel and washed the disciple’s feet (John 13:1-17).
• They must pray to Him. God wants us to pray. He wants us to ask for what we need and want, including forgiveness. Those who ask receive. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Mat. 7:7-11). Those which don’t ask, don’t receive. James wrote, “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask” (Jam. 4:2).
• They must seek His face. God’s face is against those who do evil. The psalmist declared, “Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all” (Psa. 34:11-19).
• They must turn from their wicked ways. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Through Ezekiel, God said, “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. “Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: ‘Thus you say, “If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?” ’ Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’”(Ezek. 33:7-11).

God’s blessings were dependent on them meeting these four conditions.

Although there are clear differences between Old Testament Israel and America today, there are still some things that hold true. Righteousness still exalts and sin still reproaches. In Proverbs, Solomon wrote, “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people. The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame” (Prov. 14:34-35). If we want God to have mercy upon us and to heal our land, we must humble ourselves and do His will.

The Devil’s “Classifieds” - Help Wanted

Neal Pollard

Everyone must have an occupation. Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla were, “by their occupation,” tent makers (Acts 18:3). Demetrius and others at Ephesus were “silversmiths” (Acts 19:24-26). Joseph and his household were shepherds (Genesis 46:33-34). Jonah was a preacher (cf. John 1:8).

Spiritually, everyone will have a “vocation.” Christians have a calling of which they are to “walk worthy” (Ephesians 4:1). An individual, in obeying the gospel, is “hired” by God to “fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness” and work “the work of faith…” (2 Thessalonians 1:11). The workers are “holy brethren,” the work a “heavenly calling,” the foreman is “Christ Jesus,” and the work order was appointed by “Him” (the Father) (Hebrews 3:1-2,4). but. even within the context of Hebrews 3, there is warning that Christians might, through hardness of heart, switch employers. The devil surely considers Christians as his most coveted and prized workers, for he already had the world on his “roll” (cf. 1 John 5:19). If the devil advertised, can you imagine the enticing tasks he would list to draw away God’s child?

“Needed: Hungry Cannibal. Must enjoy the taste of division and have an appetite for ‘devouring your brother.’ This job is risky, as you may get consumed by him. But, if you enjoy having ‘the brethren for lunch,’ this job is definitely for you. Ignore Galatians 5:15.”

“Skilled stage-actor wanted. If you are an experienced pretender at religion, enjoy playing church, and wear the name Christian only as a ‘front,’ your skills are needed immediately. Impure motives (Matthew 6:16), lip-service (Matthew 15:7-8), a knack for pretending to be holy while actually being wicked (Matthew 23:13-15,23, et al), and a joy of danger (Matthew 24:51) all are pluses!”

Opening for sheep thieves. Must employ ‘innovative approaches’ (John 10:1), have a willingness to ‘finish the job’ (John 10:10), have a glaring disrespect for the Shepherd, and intimidate the Shepherd’s hired hands (John 10:12). Will supply one camouflage uniform (Matthew 7:15).

“Work for pirates available. Can you shipwreck faith (1 Timothy 1:19)? Are you the type who enjoys ‘lying in wait’ to upset the ‘vessel’ of weak Christians (cf. Ephesians 4:14)? Are you bold enough to take hostages for your employer (2 Timothy 2:26)? An ability to take away from God’s word is an asset (Revelation 22:19). Apply immediately. Too much good is being accomplished.”

“Would you like a sales position? We need you to sell Divine truth (Proverbs 23:23), bargain for this world’s goods with your soul (Matthew 16:26), and be willing to make your children expendable to be a ‘success’ (cf. 1 Timothy 5:8; Proverbs 22:6). All receipts are kept on file (cf. 2 Peter 2:13).”

“Experienced travel agent desired. Can you give tours of the :Far Country” of sin (cf. Luke 15:13)? Applicant needs to be able to lead others on our charted destinations (2 Timothy 3:6; 2 Peter 3:17). If you can find creative routes away from the worship assemblies (Hebrews 10:25) and provide distracting excursions that lead groups away from involvement in church work (cf. Haggai 1:4,6; John 4:35; Matthew 25:24), we want you! Slothfulness (Hebrews 6:12) an appreciated quality for this job! Must be willing to travel away from your first love (Revelation 2:4).”

“Calling all unskilled carpenters: We are looking for individuals who build on the sand (Matthew 7:26-27). We will provide every foundation for you to build upon except Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10). You don’t even need to be good at framing (cf. Ephesians 2:21). We prefer that you keep busy rebuilding the sinful lifestyle you tore down by coming to the Lord (cf. Galatians 2:18; 2 Peter 2:0-22).”

All the while, Christ calls for workers, too (Matthew 9:37-38). Too many have answered the adversary’s ads (2 Corinthians 11:13; Philippians 3:2). both the Lord and “the Liar” (John 8:44) provide extensive retirement plans [after all, they’re both everlasting] (Matthew 25:46). While everyone will be rewarded according to his works (Matthew 16:27), the devil’s “perks” are profitless (cf. Romans 6:23)! Who are you working for?

Jesus is the Mighty God

David Sproule

It is amazing how some people have tried to depict Jesus over the years to be a weak, ineffectual man who could not save His own life.  Endless efforts have been made to mischaracterize Jesus, in order to prevent people from truly getting to know Him and follow Him.

The prophet Isaiah got a glimpse of Jesus as the promised Messiah, and he was overwhelmed with what he saw.  The coming Messiah would reign as King “upon the throne of David and over His kingdom” (Isa. 9:7).  We saw in last week’s article that Jesus is the “Wonderful Counselor” (9:6).  Isaiah also described Jesus as the “Mighty God.”

The Hebrew word for “mighty” carries the idea of being a “mighty warrior” as a “strong, valiant man,” and interestingly is often defined as “hero” or “champion” (cf. 1 Sam. 17:51).  When Isaiah saw Jesus, he saw deity, for Jesus is God (John 1:1-2), possessing “all the fullness of Deity” (Col. 2:9).  As God, He is the “Heroic God,” the one possessing all power and ready to engage on behalf of His people.  Let us think about the “might” of Jesus Christ.

As the Mighty God, Jesus did many “mighty works” while He walked this earth.  Both believers and unbelievers recognized this.  Nicodemus, who became a faithful disciple, exclaimed, “No one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (John 3:2).  Even His enemies “were astonished” at His “mighty works” (Matt. 13:54).  Peter could tell the crowd on Pentecost that “you yourselves also know” of the great might demonstrated by Jesus (Acts 2:22).

As the Mighty God, Jesus overcame sin and the world.  Hours before His death, He told His disciples, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  He did that by living a sinless life (1 Pet. 2:22; Heb. 4:15), so that He Himself could (and did) “put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:26).

As the Mighty God, Jesus conquered death.  Paul told Timothy that Christ had “abolished death” (2 Tim. 1:10), for having been raised from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20-26), He is “alive forevermore” and has “the keys of Hades and of Death” (Rev. 1:18).

As the Mighty God, Jesus triumphed over Satan.  He came “that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8), and “through [His] death,” He did “destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:14).

Jesus, the Mighty God, has done so much in demonstrating Himself to be our Heroic God, and even today, He is still “upholding all things by the word of His power” (Heb. 1:3).  Best of all, He has and continues to use His might for the good of His people (Rom. 8:31; Heb. 13:6).

Serve – Part 2

Wade Wester

Jesus is at the heart of true Christianity. He was a servant, and if we as Christians are going to be like Him, then we are going to have to be servants too.  In the first part of this study, we noticed the mind and the mission of Jesus were all about service.  In this installment, we are going to notice two more things that show that Jesus to be a servant. 

The Message of Jesus

The message of Christ was also a message of service. The disciples often argued about who would be the greatest. On one such occasion (Mark 9:30- 35), Jesus asked them what they were disputing, and they remain silent out of embarrassment. Jesus then said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” This is the message of Christ: to be great, one must serve. James and John asked Jesus to grant them the seats at His right and left in His glory (Mark 10:35-45). Jesus responded by teaching them about true greatness. He says, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” Jesus exemplifies this by stating, “Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Jesus’ message was clear: greatness in the kingdom of God is measured by service. This is counter to the world’s view of greatness, which often involves being served and lording power over others. Jesus flips this notion on its head, teaching that true greatness is found in humility and service.

The Model of Jesus

Finally, the model of Jesus was one of service. In John 13, we find Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. This act, performed on the night before His crucifixion, exemplified His teaching on service. Jesus, knowing that His hour had come, rose from supper, laid aside His garments, took a towel, and began to wash His disciples’ feet. Peter, initially resistant, ultimately submits to Jesus’ act of service. Jesus explains, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him” (John 13:15-16).Peter never forgot this lesson. Years later he wrote, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-6). Peter understood that to follow Jesus is to be a servant, clothed with humility. Jesus’ act of washing the disciples’ feet contrasted starkly with Pilate’s act of washing his hands to absolve himself of responsibility for Jesus’ crucifixion. While Pilate sought to evade service and responsibility, Jesus embraced it fully.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the word “serve” encapsulates the mind, mission, message, and model of Jesus Christ. To be a Christian is to be a servant, following in the footsteps of Jesus. As we strive to embody this key word of Christianity, let us remember that true greatness is found in humility and service. May we, like Jesus, be willing to serve others, putting their needs above our own, and thus fulfill the desire for us as His disciples.