Week of 17 Pentecost - Odd
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Podcast Download: Week of 17 Pentecost - Odd
Sunday 17 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 09/10/05;
Podcast: Sunday 17 Pentecost - Odd
1 Kings 12:21-33 -
Jeroboam’s idolatry;
Acts 4:18-31 -
Boldness of the apostles;
John 10:31-42
- The Son of God;
1 Kings Paraphrase:
Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, had gone to
Shechem to gain the allegiance of the northern tribes, but was
rejected because of his arrogant indifference to the needs of
the people. The kingdom was divided and Rehoboam was king of Judah
(and part of Benjamin) only. Jeroboam became king of the
northern Kingdom of Israel.
The people of the northern kingdom refused to
submit to forced labor for Rehoboam, so he returned to Jerusalem
and raised an army of a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men
to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. Shemaiah, a prophet, was
directed by the Lord to command Rehoboam not to fight against
the northern tribes, because it was the Lord’s will for Jeroboam
to rule the Northern Kingdom.
The people of Judah obeyed
God’s Word and returned to their homes.
Jeroboam built his residence in Shechem (in
central Israel
west of the Jordan
with many historical connections in Israel’s
history beginning with Abraham’s first altar in the Promised
Land; Genesis 12:6). From there Jeroboam rebuilt the city of Penuel (east of the Jordan,
where Jacob had wrestled with the angel; Genesis 32:30).
Jeroboam was afraid that the people of the
Northern Kingdom would be drawn back into a unified kingdom
under Rheoboam, because of the centralized worship in Jerusalem,
and that Jeroboam would be killed, so Jeroboam had two golden
calves (idols) made; he placed one at Bethel (another
historically important site for Israel) and the other at Dan
(near the northern border of Israel). [This is the worst
imaginable apostasy, since the golden calves (bulls) were
symbols for Baal, and all images were forbidden (Deuteronomy
5:8-9, Exodus 32:1-35).] Jeroboam also built shrines on the high
places (hill tops) and appointed priests from the common people
of the northern tribes, rather than the priestly tribe of Levi,
and Bethel
became the priestly city.
Jeroboam created an annual feast, beginning
on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a date “he had devised
of his own heart” (not by God’s instruction; 1 Kings 12:33b), as
a substitute for the Feast of Tabernacles (which began on the
fifteenth day of the seventh month). Jeroboam offered sacrifices
to the calves he had made on the altar he had made on the feast
day he had made, and he commanded the people to observe the new
feast.
Acts Paraphrase:
Peter and John had been arrested by the
Jewish religious authorities for healing a man who had been lame
from birth, and for preaching the Gospel of Jesus to the people
in the temple (Acts 3:1-17). They were tried before the Jewish
Council (of priests and elders; the Sanhedrin)
The Council ordered them not to preach or teach in the name of Jesus. The Apostles answered that the Council could decide for themselves whether it was right in God’s judgment for them to demand the apostles to obey the commands of men rather than God, but the apostles could not be kept from testifying to what they had seen and heard.
The Council threatened them, but had no way to punish them without causing a riot among the people. The healing was widely known and acknowledged by the public as a miracle of God. The healed man was more than forty years old and had never walked, and had never learned how.
When released, Peter and John went to the
Christian congregation in Jerusalem and reported the
decision of the Council. Together the congregation prayed. They
acknowledged that God is sovereign and that God’s prophetic Word
of Psalm 2:1-2, had been fulfilled. Both Jews and Gentiles, and
kings and rulers of the earth, represented by Herod and Pontius
Pilate (Roman rulers; Gentiles), had gathered in Jerusalem
against Jesus, the Lord’s anointed (Christ, Messiah; both mean
anointed in Greek and Hebrew, respectively), but they fulfilled
God’s predetermined plan.
The congregation prayed that the Lord would deal with the threats against them by the Jewish authorities, and would give the Christians boldness in proclaiming the Gospel. They asked the Lord to use his power to heal and work miracles in Jesus’ name. “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31; compare Acts 2:1-4).
John Paraphrase:
Jesus was in the temple in Jerusalem.
The Jewish authorities gathered around him and asked him to say
plainly if he was the Christ or not. Jesus answered that he and
God the Father are one (consider Colossians 2:8-9). The Jews
took up stones to stone Jesus to death. Jesus asked them why, on
the basis of his good deeds, they judged him as deserving
execution. They replied that Jesus, whom they regarded as just a
human, had made himself equal with God, which they considered
blasphemy.
These Jews considered themselves experts in Jewish scripture, so Jesus showed them from scripture that all who trust and obey God’s Word are God’s sons (and daughters; both, by adoption; Psalm 82:6). (The test of God’s Word is that it is always, eternally true; Deuteronomy 18:22.) Jesus asked them if Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, was guilty of blasphemy for claiming to be God’s son and Messiah.
Jesus told them to consider his deeds; if what he was doing was not of God, then they shouldn’t believe in him. But if his deeds were of God, then even though they would not accept his testimony, they should believe him because of his deeds, so that they might know and comprehend that God is Jesus, and Jesus is God (John 14:8-11; 20:28; Colossians 2:8-9). The Jewish authorities “tried to arrest him but he escaped from their hands” (John 10: 39).
Jesus withdrew to Perea (a Roman
administrative district east of the Jordan)
where John the Baptizer began his ministry. People came to him
and they said that although John himself did no miracles, his
testimony to Jesus was true. “And many believed in him [Jesus]
there” (John 10:42).
Commentary:
It was God’s will for Jeroboam to be king of
the northern kingdom of a divided monarchy but, almost
immediately, Jeroboam stopped seeking, trusting and obeying
God’s will. Jeroboam was so self-centered that he put his
worldly ambition and his physical survival before his obedient
trust in the Lord. He turned to idolatry, and he led God’s
people to idolatry to satisfy his worldly personal interests.
This is just what the Jewish religious
leaders in the time of Jesus’ physical ministry also did. They
were trying to compel Peter and John to obey their worldly
commands instead of trusting and obeying God’s Word. They were
more concerned with their worldly status than their spiritual
responsibility.
The true people of God prayed for the
supernatural power to proclaim the Gospel with boldness. They
were praying in faith, according to God’s will, for a legitimate
need, and they received the immediate answer to their prayer
(see Conditions for Answered Prayer; sidebar, top right, home).
The Jewish authorities asked Jesus
to tell them plainly if he was the Messiah. Jesus “cushioned”
his response (so as not to intentionally offend them), but even
then it was unacceptable to them. They were offended by the
truth; not by the way in which Jesus presented it. Jesus was
condemned by them for telling the truth which they refused to
hear.
We’re invited to examine the Gospel and see for ourselves what Jesus is doing. We’re free to decide for ourselves who Jesus is. Do we seek the truth, or are we only interested in bolstering our own preconceived position? Are we truly seeking God’s will, or are we just interested in our own comfort and well-being?
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
First Posted 09/11/05;
Podcast: Monday 17 Pentecost - Odd
1 Kings 13:1-10 -
The
Prophecy against Jeroboam;
Philippians 1:1-11
- The Philippian
congregation;
Mark 15:40-47 -
Jesus’ burial;
1 Kings Paraphrase:
A prophet, directed by the Holy Spirit, came
to Jeroboam at Bethel
as he was burning incense, and prophesied that Josiah would be
born in the dynasty of David and he would sacrifice the priests
who were following pagan practices. The prophet declared that,
as a sign that this was the Word of the Lord, the altar would be
torn down and the ashes scattered.
When he heard the prophecy, King Jeroboam stretched out his hand to command that the prophet be arrested, and Jeroboam’s hand was dried up and frozen in position. The altar was torn down and the ashes scattered as the prophet had said. Jeroboam begged the prophet to pray to the Lord to restore Jeroboam’s hand and the King’s hand was restored.
The king invited the prophet to be his guest
and offered him a reward but the prophet declined, because the
Lord had commanded him not to eat or drink in Bethel,
and to return to his home by a different route, and the prophet
did as the Lord had commanded.
Philippians Paraphrase:
Paul was writing to the Church at Philippi,
(the capital of Macedonia,
a Roman province north of Greece). Paul
said that he continually gave thanks to God for the Philippian
congregation’s partnership with Paul in the Gospel. Paul was
sure that the Lord would bring to completion, on the Day of
Judgment, at Christ’s return, what the Lord had begun in them.
Paul’s joy in them was justified because they shared in the
grace (unmerited favor; free gift) of God, because they had been
Paul’s partners in Paul’s imprisonment, and his defense and
confirmation of the truth of the Gospel.
The Philippians were very dear to Paul’s heart and he longed for them with the love of Christ. Paul prayed that the Philippians would grow in Christian love, knowledge and discernment so that they might choose what is best and would be found pure and blameless on the Day of the Lord (the Day of Judgment; the Day of Christ’s Second Coming), that they might be “filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:11).
Mark Paraphrase:
There were women who had been followers of
Jesus in Galilee and had come with him to Jerusalem. They were
standing at a distance, witnessing Jesus’ crucifixion. Among
them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of “little” James, and
Joses, and Salome, the mother of James and John (and Mary, the
mother of Jesus; John 19:25), and many others.
Late that Friday afternoon, the day of
“preparation” before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a member
of the Jewish Council (Sanhedrin), who was personally looking
for the coming of God’s kingdom, courageously went to Pilate,
the Roman administrator of Judea, and asked permission to remove
Jesus’ body for burial. Pilate summoned the Centurion who had
carried out the crucifixion, who verified that Jesus was dead,
so Pilate gave Joseph permission to bury Jesus.
Joseph bought a linen shroud, then went to the cross and took the body of Jesus down and wrapped it in the shroud. He placed the body in a tomb which had been hewn from a limestone cliff, and rolled a stone in front of the door to seal it. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joses witnessed the location and entombment.
Commentary:
God’s Word is always completely reliable and
eternally true. The test of God’s Word is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:22). Jeroboam had been
made king of the northern Kingdom of Israel by God’s will, but
immediately departed from God’s will because of personal
ambition and self-interest (1 Kings 12:27), instead of
trusting and obeying God.
The prophet trusted and obeyed God, and faithfully proclaimed God’s Word to Jeroboam. When he realized that the prophet was speaking God’s Word, Jeroboam tried to manipulate God’s Word and God’s favor by offering the prophet food and refreshment, and attempting to bribe him with the promise of a monetary reward, but the man of God stayed obedient to God’s commands.
Jeroboam had let
worldly ambition and physical well-being lead him away from
God’s will and into idolatry. In contrast, Paul suffered
physical danger, abuse and imprisonment for the Gospel. He
trusted and obeyed the Lord, learning from experience that the
Lord was able to fulfill what the Lord promised.
Paul surrendered personal ambition and concern for his physical well-being to the Lord, and risked his physical life to faithfully and accurately proclaim God’s Word. Paul was following the example of Jesus Christ (although Paul had not known Jesus during Jesus’ physical lifetime on earth).
The Philippian
congregation was in partnership with Paul in the Gospel. Paul
was being guided by the Holy Spirit, and so were the
Philippians. They were disciples, growing to spiritual
maturity as they trusted and obeyed Jesus by his indwelling
Holy Spirit. Paul knew from experience that the Lord’s word is
true and that if we trust and obey Jesus he will lead us and
complete, in us, the process of growing to spiritual maturity
at the Day of Judgment.
The Jewish
authorities were like Jeroboam; they had departed from God’s
will and set up their own “religion.” They were concerned with
worldly status, success, and comfort instead of trusting and
obeying the Lord. They opposed God’s will and purpose, instead
of cooperating with it.
Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the Jewish Council who condemned Jesus but Joseph had not agreed with their verdict. Unlike the majority of the members, he was truly seeking the Kingdom of God. Joseph was cooperating with God’s plan.
Jesus trusted and obeyed God the Father, to the ultimate sacrifice of crucifixion and death. Jesus demonstrated by his resurrection that we need not fear physical death (Hebrews 2:14-15), and that cooperating with God’s purpose is more important that worldly success.
Jesus is the
true, eternal King of Kings, but he didn’t get there by
pursuing the worldly concept of kingship. He died physically
but rose to eternal life. In contrast Jeroboam pursued the
worldly concept of power, riches and life, but his
disobedience cost him his eternal life.
Tuesday 17 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 09/12/05;
Podcast: Tuesday 17 Pentecost - Odd
1 Kings 16:23-34 - Ahab becomes king;
Philippians 1:12-30
- Paul’s imprisonment;
Mark 16:1-8 (9-20)
- The first Easter;
1 Kings Paraphrase:
Israel
had been divided into two kingdoms, the northern Kingdom of Israel consisting of ten
tribes, and the southern Kingdom
of Judah, of the tribe
of Judah
and part of the tribe of Benjamin. At around 880 B.C., during
the reign of Asa, king of Judah,
Omri became king of Israel (the
northern kingdom) by military coup. For the first six years he
reigned in Tirzah (north of Shechem and east of Samaria, west of the Jordan).
Tirzah had been established as the capital of the Northern Kingdom by Jeroboam. He bought the hill of Samaria from its owner and built the city of Samaria which became his capital. Omri was more wicked than all the kings who preceded him. He continued in the idolatry which Jeroboam had begun. He died and was buried in Samaria, and his son, Ahab, ascended the throne around 870 B.C.
Ahab reigned over Israel for
twenty-two years, and was more wicked than Omri. He not only
continued the idolatry established by Jeroboam, but also
married, for political reasons, Jezebel, the daughter of the
Phoenician king. She was a worshiper of Baal, and Ahab began to
worship and serve Baal also. Ahab built a shrine and altar to
Baal in Samaria
and made an Asherah (a wooden pole symbolizing the Canaanite
fertility goddess, Asherah).
During Ahab’s reign, Hiel, a resident of Bethel, rebuilt Jericho,
which had been destroyed by Israel when they
had first entered the Promised Land (Joshua 6:1-27). Joshua had
prophetically declared that anyone who rebuilt Jericho
would be cursed by God, and that person’s children would die as
a consequence (Joshua 6:26). That curse was fulfilled; Hiel
rebuilt Jericho
at the cost of his children’s lives (1 Kings 16:34).
Phillipians Paraphrase:
Paul was writing to the Church at Philippi
from imprisonment, probably in Rome. Although he would
rather not have been imprisoned, he saw his situation as an
opportunity to spread the Gospel. His guards had become aware of
the Gospel of Christ and that news had spread throughout the
military headquarters. Also, other Christians had learned to
trust in the Lord and had been encouraged to proclaim the Gospel
boldly by Paul’s example.
Paul had some rivals who were jealous of
Paul’s authority (for example, 1 Corinthians 1:11-13; 2
Corinthians 10:10, 12). Some preached the Gospel to build
themselves up and diminish Paul. But others were proclaiming the
Gospel in partnership with Paul, motivated by love. Paul was not
seeking any personal glory from his ministry. As long as the
Gospel was being faithfully and accurately proclaimed, Paul
rejoiced.
Paul was confident that the circumstances of
his imprisonment would turn out for his deliverance as a result
of the church’s prayer and “the help of the Spirit of Jesus
Christ” (the Holy Spirit; Philippians 1:19), no matter what
happened to Paul. Paul could expect and hope with confidence
that he would not be ashamed by his testimony to the Gospel, and
that Christ would be honored and glorified by Paul, whether Paul
lived or died physically.
Paul lived to serve Christ; to die physically would be to Paul’s advantage (to be with the Lord in paradise for eternity would be better than the suffering he had experienced in this life for the Gospel). But Paul felt a responsibility to help fulfill Christ’s mission and to disciple and grow the Church toward spiritual maturity. Paul was willing to sacrifice his personal desires for the sake of Christ. He hoped that he might return to the Philippian congregation so that they might rejoice and glorify Christ.
Paul urged them to live life in obedience to
the Gospel unified by the Holy Spirit and working together for
the faith of the Gospel boldly, without fear of those who oppose
Christ. Such a lifestyle is a warning of condemnation to the
enemies of the Gospel, and a testimony to our salvation in
Christ. It is God’s will that believers should share in the
suffering of Christ in the conflict of good versus evil in which
Paul was engaged.
Mark Paraphrase:
Jesus’ body had been removed from the cross
and placed in the tomb late Friday afternoon (the beginning of
the Sabbath), but the burial rites had not been carried out.
When the Sabbath ended (at sundown Saturday evening), Mary
Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought the
spices required to prepare Jesus’ body. The next morning
(Sunday) at sunrise they went to the tomb (the two Marys had
witnessed the entombment Friday afternoon; Mark 15:47). They
were wondering who would open the tomb for them (the tomb was
sealed with a large stone disk rolling in a track hewn in the
rock.
When they arrived they found that the stone
had been rolled away. They entered the tomb and found a young
man (an angel) dressed in a white robe. He told them not to be
amazed. The angel knew that they were seeking Jesus of Nazareth,
and told them that Jesus wasn’t in the tomb. The angel told them
to look and see that this was true. The angel told the women to
“tell his disciples and Peter” (Mark 16:7) that Jesus was going
to Galilee before them, and
there they would see Jesus, as Jesus had told them. “And they
went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment
had come upon the; and they said nothing to anyone, for they
were afraid” (Mark 16:8).
Commentary:
Jeroboam was made king of the northern tribes
by God’s will, but once he was king he became worried about
keeping his worldly position and his physical life (1 Kings
12:26-27) instead of trusting and obeying God. He led his
kingdom to turn from worshiping and serving the Lord into
idolatry (1 Kings 12:28-33). Despite the warnings of prophets (1
Kings 13:1-10) the Northern Kingdom
did not repent and return to obedient trust in the Lord.
A series of assassinations of the kings of
northern Israel
ensued, and Omri became king by military coup. His wickedness
and idolatries were worse than Jeroboam’s. Omri’s son, Ahab,
succeeded Omri to the throne of Israel, and he
was worse than his father. The Northern
Kingdom was descending into spiritual and moral
corruption. During Ahab’s reign, Hiel disobeyed God’s Word
warning not to rebuild Jericho,
and God’s curse was fulfilled on his household.
The Kings of northern Israel
had disregarded God’s Word and had misused their position and
vocation to pursue their own worldly interests, and brought down
the kingdom into disobedience and immorality. In contrast Paul
had surrendered his personal will and had become a servant of
Christ who built up God’s kingdom, making disciples of Jesus
Christ and teaching them by word and example to live in obedient
trust in God’s Word. He had no reason to be ashamed of the
ministry he had done by the Lord’s calling and direction.
Jesus had told his disciples repeatedly that
he was going to be crucified and would rise from the dead on the
third day (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:32-34). Jesus had told them he
would see them in Galilee
after his resurrection (Mark 14:28). Jesus’ promises were
fulfilled (John 21:1-23).
Jesus’ word is the Word of God (John 1:1-5,
14). His word is utterly reliable and true. Those who do not
trust and obey it will be condemned by it. We must choose
whether to trust and obey Jesus or to pursue our own interests
and worldly success. Are we building God’s kingdom and making
disciples of Jesus Christ, or are we pursuing our own kingdoms?
Is America
growing spiritually as a Christian nation or are we sinking into
spiritual and moral corruption as our leaders and our people
pursue their worldly goals of wealth, power and success, and
sacrifice our descendants, our children, for their worldly
ambitions? Are our churches making disciples and teaching
obedient trust in Jesus’ commands, or are they willing to
compromise Biblical standards in order to remain “popular?”
Wednesday 17 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 09/13/05;
Podcast: Wednesday 17 Pentecost - Odd
1 Kings 17:1-24 -
Elijah prophesies famine;
Philippians 2:1-11
- Humility and obedience;
Matthew 2:1-12
- The wise men;
1 Kings Paraphrase:
Elijah was apparently from Tishbe, east of
the Jordan
on the Brook Cherith. Elijah told Ahab, King of the northern
kingdom of Israel, that by the living Lord God of Israel, there
would be no rain or dew in the kingdom until Elijah gave the
Word (from God). Then the Lord told Elijah to hide himself by
the Brook Cherith. The brook would be Elijah’s source of water,
and Lord would command ravens (crows) to bring Elijah bread and
meat both morning and evening. Elijah lived as God had
commanded, and after a while, when the brook dried up because of
the drought, the Lord told Elijah to go to Zarepath (between Tyre and Sidon
in the Phoenician kingdom northwest of Israel on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea).
Elijah went to Zarepath as the Lord had
commanded, and at the city gate, he encountered a widow
gathering sticks. Elijah asked for a drink of water, and as she
was going to fetch it, he asked her for bread also. She replied
that she had only a small amount of flour and oil, and that she
had been about to prepare and eat it with her son as their last
meal before starvation.
Elijah told her to go ahead and prepare it as
she had said, but first to make a small biscuit for Elijah; he
assured her that, by the Word of the Lord God of Israel,
her containers of flour and oil would not be emptied before the
Lord sent rain to end the famine. She did as Elijah had said,
and she, her son, and Elijah ate for many days without
exhausting her supplies.
Then the widow’s son became so seriously ill
that he stopped breathing. The widow thought that Elijah must
have been sent by the Lord to punish her by taking her son’s
life for some sin she had committed. But Elijah took the son up
to his room and placed him on his bed. Then Elijah prayed to the
Lord asking if it was God’s will to bring calamity on the widow
who had provided lodging for Elijah. Then Elijah stretched
himself out on the son three times, praying that the Lord would
restore the boy’s soul, and the boy revived.
Elijah took the boy downstairs to his mother, and she saw that the boy was alive. The widow told Elijah that she was now certain that Elijah was a prophet of the Lord and spoke the true Word of God.
Philippians Paraphrase:
Paul told the Philippian Christians (Philippi
was the capital of Macedonia, north of Greece; now in modern
Greece) that if they realized the encouragement and incentive to
love which are in Christ and shared in the gift of the Holy
Spirit, having any affection and sympathy, they should respond
in unity of purpose and love, so that Paul’s joy might be
complete. Paul urged his hearers to put the interest of others
ahead of their own self-interest, and not to be motivated by
selfishness or conceit.
Christians are to follow the example of Jesus, who although he was God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9), did not assert his equality with God. Instead he denied his own self-interest and will, and humbled himself, becoming the servant of all and completely obedient to God the Father, even unto death on a cross. Because of his humble obedience God has exalted and glorified Jesus above all and made Jesus’ name exalted above all other names, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).
Matthew Paraphrase:
Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, during
the reign of King Herod the Great (from approximately 47~ 40 to
4 B.C.). Wise men [Magi; of an educated class of Persians
(Iranians)] from the east came to Jerusalem seeking to
worship the king of the Jews whose birth had been revealed to
them in the stars (i.e., by astrology). Herod was troubled to
hear of a potential rival, and the news stirred up a commotion
in Jerusalem.
Herod assembled the Jewish religious authorities to find out where the Christ (Messiah; both mean “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively; the Lord’s promised eternal king and heir to the throne of David; Jeremiah 23:5; Numbers 24:17) was to be born. The Jewish authorities told Herod that according to scripture, the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea (Micah 5:2).
Herod summoned the wise men privately and
found out what time the star had appeared, and then sent them to
Bethlehem,
asking them to report back to Herod when they had found him,
claiming that Herod wanted to worship him also. As they headed
to Bethlehem
the star they had seen in their homeland “went before them, till
it came to rest over the place where the child was” (Matthew
2:9).
When they saw the star indicating the child’s location they rejoiced greatly, and when they entered the place, they found the infant with Mary, his mother. The wise men fell down before him and worshiped him, and then they presented their treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The wise men were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they returned to their homeland by another route.
Commentary:
Elijah trusted and obeyed the Lord, and was
guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Ahab was the most
wicked of all the kings of the northern kingdom before him. When
the Lord told Elijah to present God’s prophetic Word of judgment
to Ahab, Elijah went and did as the Lord commanded. Ahab
couldn’t have been happy to hear Elijah’s prophecy. Ahab might
have attempted to manipulate the prophet and God’s Word to his
advantage, as Jeroboam had attempted to do (1 Kings 13:7-9). The
Lord commanded Elijah to hide by the brook, east of the Jordan
River (in Gilead; probably beyond Ahab’s authority), and the
Lord proved abundantly able to provide for Elijah’s needs in the
most unlikely circumstances, first by ravens, and later by the widow, as they obeyed God’s Word.
The widow responded in faith (obedient trust)
to the Word of God by the prophet, and the Lord provided for the
needs of herself and her son as well as Elijah’s, and because of
her faith her son’s illness was healed and he was restored to
life from the dead. Through her obedient trust in God’s Word,
the widow had come to know with certainty that Elijah was a
prophet of God and spoke the true Word of God (compare John
6:68-69 RSV). Fulfillment is the hallmark and test of God’s
Word; God’s Word is always eternally true and is always
fulfilled, over-and-over, as the conditions for its fulfillment
are met.
“Born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christians are
disciples of Jesus Christ who have trusted and obeyed Jesus and
have received and experienced the gift of the indwelling Holy
Spirit (John 14:15-17; Acts 19:2). Jesus is the only one who
“baptizes” with the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:32-34; John
16:7). Christians who have experienced the encouragement and
love of the indwelling Holy Spirit will respond in unity with
the purpose and love of God in Jesus Christ. They will join and
cooperate in unity with the eternal plan of God in Jesus Christ,
which is the forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and
the establishment of the eternal kingdom of God’s people who trust
and obey him.
God’s plan from the beginning of Creation has always been to establish an eternal kingdom of people who will trust and obey him, and this life is the opportunity for us to seek and come to a personal relationship with God and to choose for ourselves where we will spend eternity (Acts 17:26-27). Jesus is God’s only plan for our salvation from eternal death (Acts 4:12, John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
Jesus trusted and obeyed God the Father’s
will rather than his own will, and Jesus was raised from
physical death to eternal life. Jesus came in order to become
the sacrifice once for all time for the forgiveness of our sins
(Hebrews 9:26b RSV). His life demonstrated how to live according
to God’s Word. His resurrection from physical death demonstrates
the truth of existence beyond physical death. Jesus demonstrated
the eternal truth of God’s Word; Jesus is the ultimate
fulfillment of every promise of God in the Old Testament.
The wise men used worldly “wisdom” to lead
them to God’s Word, but they needed God’s Word to complete their
journey. With the divine wisdom of Scripture they were prepared
to be guided to their final destination. When they had consulted
God’s Word, God’s Spirit guided them to Jesus Christ, God’s
anointed eternal king, and they worshiped and “invested” their
“treasure” in him. They obeyed and were guided by God’s Word and
returned to their home by “another way.”
Instead of seeking and truly worshiping Jesus
himself, Herod attempted to use his worldly power to destroy
Jesus, but God’s will ultimately prevailed. The Jewish
authorities were no better. Even with their knowledge of
scripture they were unwilling to surrender their worldly
interests to trust and obey God’s will. Have we inherited
religious tradition and scripture, and yet reject the lordship
of the Messiah because we are unwilling to surrender our worldly
status or material possessions?
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke
6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and
obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling
Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you
making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all
that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with
certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13;
Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Thursday 17 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 9/14/05;
Podcast: Thursday 17 Pentecost - Odd
1 Kings 18:1-19 -
Elijah returns to Ahab;
Philippians 2:12-30
- Christian life;
Matthew 2:13-23 -
Flight into Egypt;
1 Kings Paraphrase:
Elijah, the prophet, had prophesied drought
to Ahab, the king of northern Israel, and then
had hidden from him by God’s instructions. In the third year of
the drought, God told Elijah to show himself to Ahab and
prophesy the end of the drought. Samaria, the capital of the
northern kingdom, was experiencing severe famine.
Ahab called Obadiah, the steward of the king’s household, and told him to go throughout the kingdom to all the springs seeking enough grass to sustain some of the horses and mules. Ahab would also search, and they divided the search between them.
Obadiah was a worshiper of God. When Jezebel,
King Ahab’s Phoenician wife who was a worshiper of Baal, the
Canaanite idol, persecuted the prophets of God, Obadiah had
hidden a hundred prophets in two caves, and had fed them with
bread and water.
While Obadiah was searching for pasture, he
met Elijah coming to Ahab. Obadiah bowed before Elijah and
Elijah told him to go to Ahab and tell him where he could find
Elijah. Ahab had been searching everywhere for Elijah.
Obadiah was afraid that if he told Ahab he had found Elijah and then Elijah disappeared again the King would kill Obadiah. Obadiah told the prophet that he had worshiped the Lord from his youth, and had rescued the hundreds of prophets from Jezebel’s persecution. Elijah swore that he would show himself to Ahab that day, so Obadiah went to Ahab and told him where to find Elijah, and Ahab went to the prophet.
When Ahab found Elijah he called Elijah a
“troubler of Israel”
(1 Kings 18:17). Elijah replied that it was not he who had
troubled Israel,
but Ahab, because Ahab had turned away from obedient trust in
God’s Word and to idolatry. Elijah told Ahab to gather to Mount
Carmel all of the people of Israel, and also the four hundred
and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of
Asherah (the Canaanite fertility goddess, a consort of Baal) who
were supported by Jezebel.
Philippians Paraphrase:
Paul urged the Philippian Christians to apply
Paul’s teaching of the Gospel in their daily lives in reverence
and humility, even though Paul was not there to disciple them in
person, because the Lord was at work in them to desire and do
what would please the Lord.
Paul taught Christians to conduct themselves
in every situation without grumbling or complaining, so as to be
beyond reproach, shining like lights in the darkness of this
corrupt and perverse age, trusting firmly in God’s life-giving
Word, so that at the Day of Judgment Paul could rejoice that his
labor had not been wasted. Even if Paul was sacrificed so that
others could worship the Lord in faith, Paul could rejoice in
them, and the Philippians should also rejoice in Paul.
In Jesus Christ, Paul could hope to send his
assistant, Timothy, to the Philippians, to encourage their
welfare and cheer Paul up with a favorable report. Paul regarded
Timothy like his own son in their partnership in ministry.
Timothy’s character is an example of a Christian disciple who
puts the interests of others ahead of his own. Paul also hoped
that his situation might be resolved so that he could visit the
Philippians in person.
The Philippian congregation had sent
Epaphroditus with a gift from them to Paul in prison, probably
in Rome.
Epaphroditus had been seriously ill and nearly died while with
Paul in Rome.
Paul and Epaphroditus wanted to reassure the Philippian
congregation that Epaphroditus had recovered, and he was looking
forward to being reunited with his friends in Philippi. Epaphroditus was commended for
risking his life for the work of Christ and the Church.
Matthew Paraphrase:
After the wise men had departed, the Lord
told Joseph in a dream to take the infant Jesus and his mother,
Mary, to Egypt and remain there until the Lord told him
otherwise, because Herod was about to search for Jesus to
destroy him. Joseph did as the Lord had said, departing during
the night. They remained in Egypt until Herod
died. Thus the words of Hosea, the prophet, were fulfilled: “Out
of Egypt
have I called my son” (Hosea 11:1)
Herod had told the wise men to return to tell
him where the Christ child was, but they had been warned in a
dream not to return to Herod. When Herod realized the wise men
had deceived him he became furious and had all the male children
two years and younger in Bethlehem and the
surrounding region killed, according to the time the wise men
had said the star appeared.
This “slaughter of the innocents” fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:15. Rachael, the wife of Jacob (Israel) had died in childbirth and was buried near Bethlehem (Genesis 35:16-20). Ramah, north of Jerusalem, had been the site where Jeremiah witnessed the deportation of Judah to Babylon (Jeremiah 40:1).
Herod died (in 4 B.C.), and the Lord appeared
to Joseph in a dream and told him it was safe to bring Jesus and
Mary back to Israel.
Joseph did as the Lord had told him, but when he learned that
Archelaus, Herod’s son, ruled Judea, he settled in Nazareth in Galilee,
fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 11:1: “He (the Christ) shall
be called a Nazarene.”
Commentary:
The Lord revealed his Word to Elijah for him
to proclaim to Ahab. Elijah was obedient to the Lord’s commands,
and the word that Elijah prophesied to Ahab was fulfilled. The
Lord was able to preserve and sustain Elijah during three years
of famine, and against Ahab’s attempts to oppose Elijah’s
message. The Lord told Elijah when it was time to announce the
end of the drought and famine and Elijah did as the Lord
directed him.
Obadiah was a believer and worshiper of God.
He trusted in the Word of God and in the prophet, and he helped
accomplish God’s purpose. In a sense, he risked his life in
obedient trust in the Word of God proclaimed by Elijah.
The hallmark and test of God’s Word is its
fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:22).
God’s Word is completely reliable and eternally true; it is
fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment
are met.
In a sense Paul is the “New Testament
Elijah.” He was guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit of the
Lord to proclaim God’s Word and he trusted and obeyed God’s
Word. Paul made disciples of Jesus Christ and taught them to
trust and obey all Jesus’ word (compare Matthew 28:18-20).
Jesus’ word is the Word of God; Jesus is the embodiment of God’s
Word in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus’ word is the word of
eternal life (John 6:68).
Timothy and Epaphroditus are examples of
disciples of Jesus Christ, discipled by Paul to trust and obey
Jesus’ Word. They put the interests of others before their
self-interest, and they risked their physical lives, as Obadiah
had, in obedient trust in God’s Word.
The Philippians were being discipled by Paul, even though Paul was unable to be with them in person. They were being taught to trust and obey Jesus’ word, and Paul assured them that as they trusted and obeyed, the Lord was at work in them to cause them to grow to spiritual maturity at Christ’s return on the Day of Judgment.
Joseph trusted and obeyed God’s Word revealed
to him in a dream. He didn’t break his engagement when Mary was
found to be pregnant (Matthew 1 18-25), although he knew he
wasn’t the father of the child (Matthew 1:25). When the Lord
told him, in a dream, to go to Egypt, Joseph
went that very night.
The Lord had promised to tell him when it was safe to return to Israel, and Joseph waited for the fulfillment of that promise. When the Lord told him to return he returned in obedient trust. He settled in Nazareth as God’s Word had prophesied long before. By his obedient trust in God’s Word, Joseph and his family were protected from the enemy of God’s Word, as Elijah had been.
Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Old
Testament prophecies. Hosea prophesied that the Son of God would
be called out of Egypt, and so
Jesus was. Jeremiah’s prophecy was fulfilled by the Babylonian
exile of Judah, witnessed by Jeremiah. It was fulfllled again as
Rachael, the “chosen” (Genesis 29:15-18) wife of “Israel”
(Genesis 32:28), became the symbol of “Mother Israel” weeping
for her children slaughtered by Herod, in Ramah, which earlier
had been the scene of the exile of the remnant of Israel, Judah,
to Babylon (Jeremiah 40:1). Joseph and his family settled in
Nazareth of Galilee, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy.
The scriptures bear witness over and over to
the power and faithfulness of God to supply the needs of those
who place their trust in him, and each of the countless number
who have trusted in him since then add their testimony of God’s
faithfulness. No one in his own strength can stand up against
the Herods, Ahabs
or Jezebels of this world. Those people get their power from the
Baal, the god of this world, who is Satan.
Whatever we ally with to ensure our survival is our god. Surely we don’t individually trust in ourselves alone for our security. Do we rely on our good job, or money in the bank, or guns, or a “panic room” for our security? We must choose whether to trust and serve God, or Satan. Jesus said “No one can serve two masters; for he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon” (Matthew 6:24). Security based on material things seems so much more dependable right now, but all those things will pass away and they offer no security for eternity. God is abundantly able to meet our needs and he is completely faithful. Jesus offers the only real security, for right now, and for eternity.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew
7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are
you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received
the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed
(Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and
teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew
28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend
eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Friday 17 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 09/15/05;
Podcast: Friday 17 Pentecost - Odd
1 Kings 18:20-40 - Contest between God and Baal;
Philippians 3:1-16
- A warning;
Matthew 3:1-12 -
John the Baptizer;
1 Kings Paraphrase:
Elijah the prophet told King Ahab, of the
northern kingdom of Israel, to assemble the people of Israel and
the eight hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and his consort,
Asherah, the heathen idols of Ahab’s wife, Jezebel at Mount
Carmel ( on the Mediterranean coast south of the Phoenician
kingdom in northern Israel). Elijah said to the assembled
people, “How long will you go limping with two different
opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then
follow him” (1 Kings 18:21).
The people made no response, so Elijah told them that he alone was left, of the prophets of the Lord and he proposed a contest between himself and the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. The prophets of Baal would sacrifice a bull as a burnt offering on an altar, but they would call on Baal to answer by striking with fire to consume the burnt offering. Then Elijah would do the same, and the priests of whichever sacrifice was consumed by fire would be the winner.
The priests of Baal killed their bull, cut it
up and placed it on the altar with the wood for the fire, and
then called on Baal from morning until noon to light the fire.
Their sacrificial ritual involved a limping dance around the
altar. Baal made no answer.
Elijah mocked them, telling then to call
louder; perhaps Baal was musing or sleeping; perhaps Baal had
gone to the bathroom, or maybe he was on a journey. The priests
of Baal cut themselves with knives so that they bled, as was
their custom. They continued their ritual until three p.m., but
their cries to Baal were not answered.
Then Elijah called the people to draw around
him. He rebuilt the altar of the Lord which had been torn down
(1 Kings 13:1-3, 5). He dug a trench around the altar, and then
laid the bull and the wood for the sacrifice upon it. Elijah
commanded that jars of water be poured upon the sacrifice on the
altar three times, so that the wood was thoroughly wet and water
had run down and filled the trench.
At three p.m. Elijah prayed to the Lord, the
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (earlier called Jacob), asking
him to show that he alone is God, and that Elijah was the
servant of God, acting in obedient trust in God’s Word. He
prayed that the Lord would turn the hearts of the people back to
obedient trust in the Lord.
The fire of the Lord fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, stones, dust, and even the water in the trench. When the people saw it they declared that the Lord is God. Then Elijah told the people to seize the prophets of Baal, and they took them down the mountain to the Kishon River, and killed them.
Philippians Paraphrase:
Paul urged Christians to rejoice in the Lord.
He warned them to be on guard against false teachers and false
doctrines contrary to scripture, like those who insist on
physical circumcision and the keeping of the laws of Judaism
(Judaisers; legalists), the outward appearance of righteousness
[or the opposite false doctrines of those who do not teach
discipleship and obedient trust in Jesus' words. For example the
Corinthian congregation was rebuked by Paul for taking advantage
of God’s grace (free gift of salvation; without obedience to
God’s Word; for example: Romans 6:1-11; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13;
10:1-23)].
True circumcision is a matter of inner heart
attitude (Jeremiah 4:4; Romans 2:28-29; Galatians 6:14-15;
Colossians 2:11-13) rather than outward religious rites, and
those who truly worship God worship in spirit (by the indwelling
Holy Spirit). If outward circumstances were the measure of one’s
righteousness, Paul would be well qualified by his Jewish
ancestry, upbringing, formal training and advanced education. He
was, as a Pharisee, the strictest legalistic division of
Judaism, blameless according to Jewish law. But Paul surrendered
the appearance of righteousness, which is the accomplishment and
judgment of man, for the greater spiritual value of a personal
fellowship with Jesus Christ through his indwelling Holy Spirit,
and the true righteousness in God’s judgment, which is received
only through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.
Through a personal relationship with Jesus, Paul experienced the power of Jesus’ resurrection. For the joy of knowing Jesus personally, experiencing the power of Jesus’ resurrection and the hope of attaining eternal life, Paul was willing to share and follow Jesus in suffering and physical death.
Christian discipleship is a spiritual growth
process. Paul didn’t claim that he had reached spiritual
perfection, but he continued to press on to claim the promise
because Christ had claimed Paul. Paul taught by example that we
must let go of the past and press on toward the goal in order to
claim the prize which God has promised through Jesus Christ.
Those who are spiritually mature will acknowledge and do
likewise, and God will reveal this to those who are less
spiritually mature; but we must hold on to what we have already
attained.
Matthew Paraphrase:
John the Baptizer was born about six months
before Jesus, to Elizabeth, the kinswoman of Mary, the mother of
Jesus (Luke 1:36). When Jesus was about to begin his public
ministry, John was led by God to begin preaching in the
wilderness of Judea (southeast of Jerusalem, along the shore of
the Dead Sea), a baptism of repentance, and heralding the
imminent coming of the kingdom of heaven. John was the
fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 40:3: the voice crying in
the wilderness, heralding the coming of the Messiah and calling
the people to repent (return to obedience to God).
John dressed and lived in the manner of the
Old Testament prophets (Matthew 3:4; compare 2 Kings 1:8;
Zechariah 13:4), foraging locusts and honey in the wilderness
for food. People came to him in the wilderness from Jerusalem and Judea
and the surrounding area. They confessed their sins and were
baptized in the Jordan River.
When many Pharisees and Sadducees (Jewish
leaders) came for baptism John said to them, “You brood of
vipers (snakes)! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bear fruit that befits repentance and do no presume to say to
yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father;’ for I tell you that
God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree
therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire” (Matthew 3:7-10).
John said that he had come to baptize with water for repentance, but the Christ, whose coming John heralded, was far greater than John as Christ’s baptism was greater than John’s; the Christ would “baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11). The Christ would be the winnower of the spiritual harvest of Israel, separating the “wheat” (spiritual fruit) from the “chaff” (the unproductive part of the harvest). The Christ would gather the “wheat” into his “granary” (the eternal kingdom) but the “chaff” would be burned with unquenchable fire (eternal destruction in Hell).
Commentary:
Life in this world is a struggle between good
and evil, between God and the heathen god of this world, Satan.
The people of the northern kingdom thought they could have the
blessings of God’s chosen people while serving the idols of this
world. If we recognize that the Lord is the only true God, we
must follow him. Faith in anything other than the Lord God will
ultimately disappoint and lead to spiritual disaster, as it did
for the prophets of Baal. But those who obediently trust in the
Lord will receive a response to their faith, and will see the
confirmation of the truth of God’s Word.
The struggle between good and evil can be
seen in the first century Christian church. Satan is a deceiver
and a counterfeiter. The false doctrines circulating in the
world today were seen and refuted in the first century, New
Testament, Church. We cannot save
ourselves by being “good people,” by keeping the Law of Moses,
because we have all sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness
(Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin (disobedience
of God’s Word) is eternal death (Romans 6:23). If we fail at any
point of the law we are as guilty as if we failed all (James
2:10; see God’s plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
Neither can we be saved by claiming faith in Jesus without
obedient trust in his word. (Matthew 7:21-24; Luke 6:46; James
2:14-18).
The Pharisees and Sadducees were examples of
unfruitful spiritual harvest. They sought the outward appearance
of righteousness without bearing the fruit of repentance. They
trusted in their genealogical pedigree and formal education
rather than true inward conversion and personal experience. They
knew all about God, but didn’t have a personal experience or
relationship with God. They considered themselves expert in the
scriptures, but did not recognize Jesus as the fulfillment of
scriptures. The Pharisees and Sadducees refused to be corrected
by the Word of God proclaimed by John.
There is a Day of Judgment coming, when
everyone who has ever lived on earth will be accountable to
Jesus for what each has done in this life. Jesus is the standard
by which all will be judged. Have we tried to serve the Lord
while also serving the idols of this world? Will we produce the
fruit of repentance and salvation, or will we be the unfruitful
“chaff.”
Is Jesus your Lord
(Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John
8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have
you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly
believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ
and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew
28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend
eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Saturday 17 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 09/16/05;
Podcast: Saturday 17 Pentecost - Odd
1 Kings 18:41-19:8
- Elijah flees to Mt. Horeb;
Philippians 3:17-4:7
- The Christian life;
Matthew 3:13-17 -
Jesus’ baptism;
1 Kings Paraphrase:
The prophets of Baal (the Canaanite idol) had
been killed following the contest of Mount Carmel (on the coast
of the Mediterranean Sea in northern Israel), where
the Lord had revealed that he alone is God, by sending fire from
heaven to consume Elijah’s sacrifice. Elijah told Ahab, king of
northern Israel,
to return to the feast associated with the sacrifice. Elijah
believed that the drought would end very soon and Ahab should
not delay, or he would be caught in the rain. Elijah went up to
the top of Mount Carmel and
prayed.
Seven times Elijah told his servant to look out to the Mediterranean Sea and report what he saw. On the seventh time the servant reported that he saw “a little cloud like a man’s hand rising out of the sea” (1 Kings 18:44). Elijah told his servant to tell Ahab to get in his chariot and head for home, or he would be caught in the storm. Soon there was a great rainstorm. Ahab had headed for Jezreel (his alternate residence; his capital was Samaria). “The hand of the Lord was on Elijah” (1 Kings 18:40), and Elijah ran and reached the entrance to Jezreel before Ahab.
Ahab told Jezebel (Ahab’s Phoenician wife who
had sponsored the worship of Baal in the northern kingdom) what
had happened. She was furious and sent a messenger to Elijah to
tell him she would do to him within twenty-four hours what he
had done to the prophets of Baal. Elijah was frightened and fled
to Beersheba in the southern Kingdom of
Judah.
Elijah left his servant there and went a day’s journey into the
wilderness (the Negeb).
Elijah sat under a tree and prayed that he might die. He lay down and slept, and an angel awakened him and gave him a biscuit and a jar of water. Elijah ate and then went back to sleep. The angel awoke him again with another biscuit and told him to eat or the journey would be more than he could do. Elijah ate again, and then, in the strength of that food, went forty days and nights to Mount Horeb (Mt. Sinai; where Moses had received the Ten Commandments).
Philippians Paraphrase:
Paul urged Christians to follow the example
of Paul and others who live in obedient trust in Jesus’
teachings, rather than the “many who live as enemies of the
cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18), following the idolatries of
this world; those who serve their worldly appetites, seek
worldly glory in ungodliness, and focus on worldly things. Their
end will be destruction. In contrast, Christians are citizens of
the heavenly kingdom, who await the return of our Savior, Jesus
Christ, who will transform us from a body of corruptible flesh
into an incorruptible glorious body like his, according to his
sovereign power over all things.
Paul urged Christians to hold firmly to the
Lord in obedient trust. The Christian disciples at Philippi were Paul’s joy and his reward
for faithful ministry, and he loved and longed to be with them.
He urged the members of the congregation to agree and work
together and help one another, and with all genuine Christian
disciples, in the Gospel.
Christians should rejoice in the Lord in all
circumstances. We should practice forbearance with all people.
We should not worry about anything, but instead pray about
everything with thankfulness, asking the Lord to provide for our
needs. “And the peace of the Lord which passes all
understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
Matthew Paraphrase:
John the Baptizer had begun his ministry of
calling Israel
to repent (to return to obedient trust in the Lord) and be
baptized (with water) to prepare themselves for the coming of
the Christ. Jesus came to John for baptism, but John said that
it was he who needed to be baptized by Jesus. Jesus told John to
let Jesus be baptized in order for each to fulfill all
righteousness, so John consented. As Jesus came up from the
water after baptism “the heavens were opened and he saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him”
(Jesus; Matthew 3:16), and a voice from heaven declared, “This
is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
Elijah trusted and obeyed God’s Word. He had
confronted Ahab, the wicked king of the northern Kingdom of Israel
and prophesied drought that would not end until the Word of God
ended it. God had told Elijah to return to Ahab and declare the
end of the drought. The contest between God and Baal on Mount Carmel was to establish that God,
and not Baal, is in control, even of rain and drought. Elijah
believed that rain was coming and he prayed in faith for it and
watched and waited until it did.
Elijah’s obedience to God’s Word put him in
danger from heathen worldly rulers, but “the hand of the Lord
was with Elijah” (1 Kings 18:46) to guide him, to provide for
his physical needs and to give him supernatural strength to
accomplish what God called him to do. He was able to flee to the
mountain of the Lord, far from Jezebel’s worldly power and
jurisdiction.
Paul (formerly called Saul) is the prototype
and example of a modern, “post-resurrection” “born-again”
disciple of Jesus Christ, since Paul, like all of us today, did
not know Jesus during Jesus’ earthly life (Acts 9:1-20). Paul
was making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to trust
and obey all that Jesus had taught. Paul was fulfilling the
Great Commission which Jesus gave to his disciples after his
resurrection (Matthew 28:19-20), which is conditional upon their
spiritual rebirth (John 3:3, 5-8) by the baptism (anointing;
gift) of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Paul is the example of a
“born-again” Christian disciple, in contrast to unbelievers and
also to “nominal,” “carnal” “Christians,” who follow the
idolatries of this world; those who serve their worldly
appetites, seek worldly glory in ungodliness, and focus on
worldly things.
The “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit
is the provision the Lord gives to guide and empower his
disciples to accomplish his will and purpose. The Holy Spirit is
the hand of God upon us. The Holy Spirit is our source of
strength and spiritual sustenance. The Holy Spirit supplies the
sovereign power of the risen Lord to transform us from bondage
to corruptible flesh and to prepare us to receive incorruptible
bodies at the Day of the Lord.
John the Baptizer’s ministry was to call
people to repent and return to obedient trust in the Lord, and
to prepare them to receive the coming Christ (Messiah; both mean
“anointed” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively). John’s baptism
was a water baptism of repentance (John 1:31; Acts 19:4). John’s
ministry was to herald and identify the coming Christ (John
1:31).
Only Jesus gives the baptism of the Holy Spirit (John 1:33-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible for one to know with certainty for oneself whether or not one has received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2).
Christ’s ministry is still being carried out
by his disciples today. The Great Commission applies to all
“born-again” Christian disciples. We are to call people to
repent and turn to Jesus in obedient trust, to seek the coming
of Christ, individually and personally, through the gift of his
indwelling Holy Spirit, and to join and cooperate in ministry
with the true Church, holding firmly to the scriptural,
apostolic Gospel of Jesus Christ, as we await Jesus’ promised
universal return (Matthew 24:27, 30) on the Day of Judgment.
