Messiah Archives – Page 2 of 3

October 12, 2022October 12, 2022

Read, Rehearse, Remember

Malachi 1-4 The Three “R’s”
Today if you speak to people about church attendance and Bible reading, they often turn up their noses and say, like the Israelites of old, it is useless, and besides that, there are hypocrites in the church. [Mal 3:14] They have a warped view and, like Asaph in Ps 73, see with their physical eyes that it is not the godly who are blessed but those who cut corners. So they ask, why then do I need God? Asaph learned, and Malachi also reminded the Israelites that God, who is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent, sees all. He has a book of remembrance of those who are faithful and true. [Mal 3:16] Will your name be there? God challenges them to test him and bring their tithe into His storehouse and see that He will pour out a blessing that is so great it will be beyond their wildest imagination. [Mal 3:10]

People think all they need to do is good works, but Isaiah wrote: our works are like filthy rags. It isn’t just enough to do good works; one must “read” and must “rehearse” His Word over and over, which causes one to “remember” what God has said. God never changes; He is the same today as He was yesterday. [Mal 3:6] His blessings are new every day. [Lam 3:23]

Is your name on the scroll or book of remembrance?

October 10, 2022October 10, 2022

Honest or Hypocrite?

Zechariah 7-8 God and People Notice
When others hear my voice or see my actions, what does it tell them about my Christian walk and talk? The leaders in Bethel came to inquire about their practices of fasting. They expected to hear that all they were doing was righteous and pleasing to God, but they were in for a rude awakening! God responded not with words of affirmation but words that questioned their hearts and motives. Were you really fasting for me, or was it just for show? Did others see a genuinely repentant heart? Did your actions show that you were truly doing it for God? “OUCH!” 🙁 God revealed that they were hypocrites in heart and actions. How about me? Do I go to church, read my Bible, and speak words of kindness to get my “ticket punched” with God, or do I do it because the Holy Spirit has spoken and I have responded willingly and with a true heart?

When our heart is pure and righteous, we do that which God loves, and others take note! They want to know why God is blessing us. They want to know the secret of our peace. They say, “let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” [Zech 8:23] Are others asking those questions of you and me? Are we ready to answer anyone who asks us about the hope we possess? [1Pet 3:15]

October 9, 2022October 9, 2022

Accuser meets Advocate

Zechariah 3-6 Saved, Sanctified, Service
Satan is the accuser of the brethren, but we have an advocate in Jesus Christ. He was the Advocate for Joshua, the high priest in Zechariah’s time, and he is our Advocate now. Why do we need an advocate? We need one because we are just like Joshua, blackened with sin, pulled from the fire by the gracious hand of the Almighty. As we stand in our filthy clothes, we hear” “I have freely forgiven your iniquity and will dress you in fine clothing.” [Zech 3:4] After our cleansing, we are now sanctified, set apart for the work of the ministry which is our service which is to introduce the Branch who is Messiah.” [Zech 3:8] We have been transformed by His grace to go and spread the gospel message.

Satan will always be the accuser, but we are cleansed, sanctified, and saved for service until His return. Until then, we must put on our armor because the battle will be constant. Even this a.m. I was baffled by thoughts from the enemy. When that happens, I must put on the helmet of salvation and grab my sword of the Spirit. I am saved and sanctified, but to do service, I will be walking in Satan’s realm. I won’t be wrestling with flesh and blood but spiritual forces unseen by the naked eye. [Eph 6:12]

Are you experiencing a spiritual battle? How can I pray for you?

October 4, 2021October 4, 2021

John the Baptist…

Mark 1; Luke 3; Matthew 3 The Traits of a True Servant of God

The prophets Isaiah and Malachi prophesied that God would open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing to his people in due season. John the Baptist was that blessing that came in the form of the true servant, humble and announcing that the kingdom of God/Heaven was now before the people and the nation. He challenged the status quo, challenged the hearts to repent of what Malachi called the false righteousness of works, and challenged the religious establishment. He knew he was not the Messiah and proclaimed as such to the religious leaders when asked. He pricked the hearts and many yielded to the message of the gospel. He obeyed the Law and yet challenged men to listen to the heart of God.

The mark of a faithful and true servant is that they do not take center stage, usurping the main speaker. John was that chosen one who offered to do the work of the ministry serving expecting nothing in return but God’s blessing. Jesus summarized his work and life: “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” [Matt 11:11] “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” [Matt 11:15]

Is this how we serve?

October 2, 2021October 2, 2021

Immanuel!

Matt 1 and Luke 2:1-38 The 400 yrs. of silence have ended, and God’s plan is revealed through the gospel writers of Matthew, the Jewish publican, and Luke, the Gentile physician. Also, that we might know and believe, Paul the Pharisee turned Believer, wrote: Gal 4:4 “But when the appropriate time/the appointed time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,” Both Matthew and Luke record the events surrounding our Savior’s birth, but long ago in eternity past, God’s plan was set in motion. He sent forth his Son born of a virgin to fulfill the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” [Is 7:14]

John the Baptist prepared the way by preaching a message of repentance and noted that Jesus was the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world. [John 1:35] Jesus is that perfect Lamb. John, the Apostle, records what that message was and is: 1Jo 4:10 In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Do you know Him?

September 23, 2021September 23, 2021

The Hallmark Movie of the Past

Esther 1 to 5 In every Hallmark movie, there is a knight in shining armor who swoops in to rescue a damsel in distress. God is Esther’s knight and He is ours as well. Since time began our arch-enemy, “Haman,” has sought to destroy the line of Christ. He tried it first in the Garden, then through the murder of Abel to the selling of Joseph to the “Hamanites” of Egypt, to the Samaritan’s ruse to destroy the work of the temple as we just learned in Zechariah and Haggai and in 2Chron 36. As Peter said, he roams about seeking whom he can devour. [1Peter 5:8] Now, in the story of Esther, we have Haman the Agagite seeking to destroy the line of the Messiah through an edict he has written and sealed with the signet ring of the king.

Satan hates God’s people, and he will go to any lengths to destroy them. But, God is the providential author, the knight in shining armor, of all that seems impossible. He is the author and finisher of our faith and His plans for our lives. He is the Savior who comes in at just the right time to end Satan’s plans in ways we could not imagine. Stay tuned tomorrow to see how that happens.

There may be a Haman in your life right now, and you don’t see how God will upend his evil plans. Will you fast (and pray) for His deliverance just as Esther proposed?

February 23, 2021February 23, 2021

“God Has a Plan and It includes You

Numbers 1-2 It has been two full years and still, the people are no closer to the Promised Land than the last experience of the Passover night or their exodus from Egypt. Yet, God’s plan is to bring the Israelites to the Promised Land. As part of that plan, He has Moses begin numbering the men twenty years and older to be His servants in peacetime and in war. What we lack in comprehension, the Holy Spirit reveals to us in our understanding. God wants us to know that He is a God of details. He knows when a sparrow falls; He knows each hair on your head. God has a plan, and your name was on it from eternity past.

God knew that Moses needed others to serve, and God devised a plan for His people. From every tribe, men were to be ready to serve in whatever capacity God had planned. That was then, and it is the same today. God cares for you, and He has chosen you for His kingdom’s work. He calls you His servant. A servant serves others even when inconvenient, whether he or she dislikes the duty. The circumstances are unimportant. God is looking at our heart’s attitude towards His work.

In eternity past, He chose you and me for His work, and God did all of that so men who are in spiritual darkness will hear the good news. He uses people like you and me. Amazingly God wants to be glorified through us. Stop and think about that today and praise God for His lovingkindness that He chose you for His work. It is called evangelism.

What work are you doing today that will glorify Him?

February 10, 2021February 10, 2021

Jesus’ Ultimate Sacrifice

Exodus 33 to 35 Prayer is the believer’s entrance into the Most Holy Place of God. The Tabernacle building held the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, which held the Ark of the Covenant. The High Priest passed through the Veil to the Most Holy Place only once a year – the Day of Atonement. The cry of Jesus, ‘it is finished’ tore that Veil from top to bottom so that all may enter. “He entered once for all into the Most Holy Place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured eternal redemption.” [Heb 9:12] The prayers of God’s people are now heard, not through an intermediary, but all are welcome into the most sacred place.

In this most sacred place, we are confronted with the character of God: “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness, keeping loyal love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” [Ex 34:5-7] In our time of praise to the Most Holy Father, we are comforted and reminded that we are, as He said, “a stiff-necked people” in need of His sovereign grace.

Spend time in prayer today thanking Him for the sacrifice of Jesus so that we may enter His presence, as a people who have been rescued from the coming wrath. [1Thess 1:10]

November 1, 2020

John Baptizes the Messiah

John 1 How often do we not “recognize” the Messiah? And so it was that God, after 400 yrs. of silence, sent John the Baptist to reveal Him. John testified: “This is the One!”

The news reverberated around Israel, so the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites in their flowing robes from Jerusalem to find this man they had heard about. They joined the many that walked miles through the desert to find this man everyone was talking about.

“Grumble, grumble, complain! Why are we out in this god-forsaken desert? Why doesn’t he come to the Temple?” On top of that, when they found him, John was dressed in his camel-skin garment, eating locusts and honey, and baptizing others in the River Jordan! This is the man with the answers? With eyes rolling, they stood on the riverbank and peppered him with questions: Who are you? Are you Elijah? Are you the Prophet? Why are you baptizing? John answered no to each question.

Are you at the place of the questioners? Like the religious leaders you too may not have recognized the Messiah yet, but if you are willing to allow God’s Spirit to speak, He will reveal Him to you. Then if you receive Him, you too will become a child of God.

It is just that simple! Recognize Him. Receive Him. He will reside in you!

October 31, 2020

“A Graveyard and a Tomb’s Story”

Luke 24 It is good to rehearse Luke 24 and the Resurrection story to remind us that Jesus has power over life and death and especially in this COVID scene when so many have perished. In the first century, the deceased’s names were marked only by a stone. On the morning of the first day, the women returning to anoint the body of Jesus were astounded to find the tomb disturbed and the seal broken. What would you think? Instead of a deceased body, two angelic figures asked them why they had come to the graveyard. Why are you sad? He is not here; he has risen just as he said.

Jesus was not, as Paul reminded the Athenians, a deity like gold or silver, an image made by human skill or imagination [Acts 17], but He, the very God of the very God, has risen from the dead.

The women and the two Emmaus walkers were asked; have you forgotten His words? Like them, we are slow of heart to believe. We have forgotten because we have not studied the OT scriptures which speak of Him, but when we open His Word, the Holy Spirit speaks, and our hearts burn within us.

The women and the two Emmaus walkers excitedly returned to tell the good news—HE HAS RISEN JUST AS HE SAID! How does this truth affect your heart?