Daily Bible Devotionals

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Genesis 29. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down on it. Yahweh was standing there beside him, saying, ‘I am Yahweh, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land that you are now sleeping on.’”  Genesis 28:12-13 (HCSB)

Anyone who has been in a music store over the past 30 years is familiar with the opening melody of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” They have, no doubt, been privy to countless bad renditions of it as well! If they lived in the days of Jacob, perhaps the band would have written: “Ladder to Heaven.”

Interestingly, traditionally, the rabbis have taught the “certain place” Jacob stopped to rest was Mount Moriah. If so, it would most likely have been the location where Abraham intended to offer Isaac and where Solomon’s Temple stood.

The description of Jacob’s dream is one of the most vivid Biblical images of the Lord and His angels working on the face of the earth. It’s like being privy to the whereabouts of that door where Disney characters enter and exit the theme park! It should be noted that the angels are first mentioned as “ascending” the ladder. That observation has caused some scholars to speculate that the angels had been accompanying Jacob on his journey the whole time and only now were returning to the Lord. Maybe it was a shift change at Heaven & Co.  Who knows? The Bible does not say.

It is safe to assume that Jacob was without any human friends, but unseen, angels had been by his side to protect and encourage him. Isn’t it comforting to know that the Lord has commanded His angels to watch over His children?

Abraham is mentioned as Jacob’s father because both Isaac’s blessing and Esau’s birthright now rested with Jacob. Jacob was the direct recipient and “conduit” of God’s promises to Abraham.

There is an excellent lesson concerning God’s faithfulness here. God’s guarantee of fulfilled promises depended on God’s character, not the patriarchs’. Jacob was a deceiver, and God would soon test Jacob’s mettle, but the Lord knew what kind of man Jacob would become once His work in Jacob’s life was completed.

I hope you are encouraged by this truth: God’s love for His children is great enough to lead them through hardships just to mold them into “inheritors” who would live up to the character of His name. If you are suffering through a time of molding and stretching, be encouraged! Asleep or awake, God Himself (and His angels) is ever-present and personally “there” for us, His children.

“…for God has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5b (NIV)

“Now Rebekah was listening to what Isaac said to his son Esau. So while Esau went to the field to hunt some game to bring in, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Listen! I heard your father talking with your brother Esau…’” Genesis 27:5-6a (HCSB)

Jacob answered Rebekah his mother, ‘Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am a man with smooth skin. Suppose my father touches me. Then I will be revealed to him as a deceiver and bring a curse rather than a blessing on myself.’ His mother said to him, ‘Your curse be on me, my son. Just obey me and go get them for me.’” Genesis 27:11-13 (HCSB)

It is important to remember what God told Rebekah in Genesis 25:23. When she inquired about her unborn children, she was told, “Two nations are in your womb; two people will come from you and be separated. One people  will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”  Rebekah knew God’s message concerning her two sons, which most likely explains why she kept Jacob so close.

God’s prophecy appeared to be in jeopardy by Isaac’s plan to bless Esau. Knowing how attached Isaac was to Esau, Rebekah must have felt how useless it was to dissuade Isaac. In desperation, she decided to circumvent him. Notice the Bible does not condone or condemn her actions. It just reports the facts. We are left to develop opinions as to the morality of these events.

At least, let today’s passage act as a warning to us all: God does a fine job backing up His own promises. He definitely does not need for us to sin to make His Word come true. God could have easily spoken to Isaac as He spoke to Abraham, back when he would sacrifice Isaac. Who is to say God did not communicate the same prophecy to Isaac concerning his sons?   Either way, Isaac was too rebellious, irrational, or forgetful to heed God’s Word.

Of course, because of Rebekah’s impulsiveness, Isaac was robbed of God’s intervention, and Esau was robbed of his blessing. Because Jacob was a partner in the deceit, we will soon read of his misfortune with an uncle named “Laban.”

Finally, Rebekah robbed herself. She was correct to say, “Your curse be on me.”  Not only did she never see her beloved Jacob again, but she was left behind, serving the two men she had deceived.

We must resist the temptation to fulfill God’s promises by our own wit, strength, and timing. Wait on the Lord and let Him unfold His plan as promised.

“Isaac reopened the water wells that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham and that the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died. He gave them the same names his father had given them. Moreover, Isaac’s slaves dug in the valley and found a well of living (spring) water there. But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen and said, ‘The well is ours!’ So he named the well Quarrel because they quarreled with him. Then they dug another well and quarreled over that one also, so he named it Hostility. He moved on from there and dug another and they did not quarrel over it. He named it Open Spaces and said, ‘For now the Lord had made room for us and we will be fruitful in the land.’” Genesis 26:18-22 (HCSB)

The Middle East is not unlike Southern California. Landing in Tel Aviv is somewhat like landing in San Diego, except the “Jesus” who walks around Southern California is probably of the Mexican variety, whereas the “Jesus” who walked around Israel was actually Jesus! I digress… My point is that both Israel and SoCal understand deserts.

Anyone living in the desert knows that water is the most critical resource. Where there is water, there is life. No water, no life. Water in the Bible, therefore, becomes a metaphor for spiritual life. It symbolizes God’s presence, His Ruach (Spirit), His blessing. Today’s passage is about more than water feuds. It symbolizes the “spiritual” family strife between the sons of Isaac and those of Ishmael.

In the New Testament, water imagery is also used. In particular, note how Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman at “the well.” Samaritans were “half-breeds”: ½ Jewish and ½ Gentile. They were the “ugly reminders” of Israel’s past national sin, where the children of Israel intermarried with Canaanites and adopted pagan ways. Jesus came first for the Jew, then the Gentile. (Romans 1:16) And He used water imagery to communicate that He accepted the Samaritans as if they were fully Jewish. In doing this, Jesus evoked memories of age-old feuds, which went beyond simple water fights.    

“He had to travel through Samaria, so he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar near the property that Jacob had given his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, worn out from His journey, sat down at the well. It was about six in the evening. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. ‘Give me something to drink,’ Jesus said to her, for His disciples had gone into town to buy food. ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?’ she asked Him.  Jesus answered, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and Who is saying to you, “Give Me a drink” you would ask Him, and He would give you living water.’” John 4:4-10 (HCSB)

Jesus draws another parallel that we would be wise to note in today’s Church culture: Religion, apart from a personal relationship w/Jesus simply cannot hold water.

“For My people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that cannot hold water..” Jeremiah 2:13 (HCSB) (See also: Proverbs 11:25)

“Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, exhausted. He said to Jacob, ‘Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I’m exhausted.’  That is why he was also named Edom. (Hebrew: Reddish) Jacob replied, ‘First, sell me your birthright.’”  Genesis 25:29-30 (HCSB)

I believe Abraham to be a man of struggles and contradictions. He always seemed to live somewhere between faith and faithlessness. With the birth of his twin grandsons, Jacob and Esau, it is as if Abraham’s personal spiritual conflicts were divided between the two.   Esau inherited Abraham’s impulsive short-sightedness, but Jacob got Abraham’s deceit. Later, we’ll see Esau displaying forgiveness and Jacob leaning on faith.

At first glance, Jacob’s conduct seems to be way out of line: demanding a birthright from a starving man. But on closer examination, we learn that the privileges of birthright that Jacob sought (at that time) were purely spiritual.

In the days of the patriarchs, the head of the clan acted as the family “priest.” The firstborn’s “right by birth order” was to inherit that priestly role unless the firstborn failed to accept his duty. In that case, the birthright could be passed on to the next qualified family member. Esau’s general demeanor was hardly in accord with someone who served the Lord.

It is possible that Jacob suspected his brother did not value the dignity and privilege of being firstborn. Therefore, when the opportunity came along, Jacob determined to put his brother to the test. He fully knew that withholding some stew would not kill Esau. However, he found out what Esau really thought about his priestly role. Esau was willing to trade his rights and responsibilities unnecessarily. Esau was impulsive, putting his fleshly desires above the family’s spiritual needs. Put simply, Esau was not fit to minister.  

Have you ever heard of the “Priesthood of all believers”? “You are a royal priesthood and a priestly kingdom” (1 Peter 2:9).

It is our spiritual “birthright” to minister. (See also: 1 Corinthians 4:1, Revelation 5:10, the book of Hebrews) Upon receiving salvation, all believers are called to minister to the Lord, each other, and those who are yet to believe. Some “believers” reject that notion. Just like Esau, they choose to satisfy the desires of their flesh rather than accept their “birthright” (or rather, “born again” right) to put others first.

What can we learn from Esau? If we reject the call to minister to others, two things will happen: 1) We will miss the blessing of serving, and 2) Someone else will take it and assume the ministry we rejected. God doesn’t need us for His will to be done. But in rejecting our God-given roles, we forfeit the blessing that accompanies obedience in favor of the temporary pleasure of sin, which always leads to the Lord’s rebuke.

“The servant said to him, ‘Suppose the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I have your son go back to the land he came from?’  Abraham answered him, ‘Make sure that you don’t take my son back there. The Lord, the God of Heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘I will give this land to your offspring’- He will send His angel before you and you can take a wife for my son from there.’” Genesis 24:5-7 (HCSB)

Some scholars suggest the story of finding Isaac’s wife is a multi-faceted metaphor. In one sense, it is an historical account. It also presents an image of God’s Spirit searching out the bride of Messiah. (the Church) From another angle, it is practical advice for anyone desperately seeking a marriage partner.

Abraham knew God’s promise fully rested in Isaac’s offspring. (Sarah was dead, and the promise was through her womb)  He sent his servant Eliezer to find a wife for the unmarried Isaac. Eliezer had strict orders to 1) Trust in the Lord’s leading and 2) Never take Isaac back to the land of Abraham’s forefathers.  

In Hebrew, “Eliezer” means: “God was my help.” In this way, Eliezer is considered symbolic of God’s Spirit, whom Jesus promised as a helper and comforter for His bride, the Church.

Similarly, God’s Spirit searches the earth for those willing to accept God’s invitation of spiritual “marriage” to Jesus. The resurrected and glorified Messiah awaits the day when His bride (the Church) will be raptured and united with Him.  

I have heard people say that God does not care who you marry as long as you both love the Lord. I disagree. Not only is that just about the most unromantic thing I’ve ever heard, but it is bad theology. The Bible recounts several episodes where God prepared specific people to be wed to each other. God prepared Eve for Adam and brought her to him. And in today’s chapter, He is directing Eliezer specifically to Rebecca.  

Furthermore, Jesus (the bridegroom) personally died for your sin. That means specific combinations of husbands & wives are woven throughout time just to make YOU, for whom Jesus died personally. Whenever you marry, you will probably have children, whom Jesus also died for personally. Of course, it matters who you marry! God is very concerned with whom you choose for a mate.  

Whatever you do, don’t go back to Worldly relationships. Trust God! Wait on His Spirit to bring you the one God has chosen. But what happens if you feel you have chosen wrongly? Trust God! He can redeem any situation for His glory: Romans 8:28.

“Abraham bowed down to the people of the land and said to Ephron in the presence of the people of the land, ‘Please listen to me. Let me pay the price of the field. Accept it from me, and let me bury my dead there.’  Ephron answered Abraham and said to him, ‘My lord, listen to me. Land worth 400 shekels of silver – what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.’  Abraham agreed with Ephron, and Abraham weighed out to Ephron the silver that he had agreed to in the hearing of the Hittites: 400 shekels of silver at the current commercial rate.” Genesis 23:12-16 (HCSB)

Once, I heard a rabbi say that this was the first recorded real estate deal in Jewish history! The land of Canaan was Abraham’s by promise, but the time to possess it had not yet come. Nevertheless, Abraham had the opportunity to buy a piece of it. This was not land for living on, which could be sold or taken away. It was land for burial…a FINAL resting place. Now, that is faith! Abraham said he believed God’s promises to the extent that he was willing to buy real estate and be buried in a land that would eventually become filled with a nation full of his offspring. Abraham wasn’t the only one to believe God’s promise on that same level.  

“So Jacob’s sons did for him what he had commanded them. They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased as a burial site from Ephron the Hittite.” Genesis 50:12-13 (HCSB)

“And Jacob went down to Egypt. He and our ancestors died there, were carried back to Shechem, and were placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. As the time was drawing near to fulfill the promise that God had made to Abraham, the people flourished and multiplied in Egypt.” Acts 7:15-17 (HCSB)

“Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am about to die, but God will certainly come to your aid and bring you up from this land to the land He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ So Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath: ‘When God comes to your aid, you are to carry my bones up from here.’”  Genesis 50:24-25 (HCSB)

“Now they buried the bones of Joseph, which the sons of Israel brought up from Egypt, at Shechem, in the plot of land which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money; and they became the inheritance of Joseph’s sons.”  Joshua 24:32 (NASB)

The writer of Hebrews melds the Patriarchal hope of Canaan with the believers in Jesus’ “hope for eternity” with the Lord in Heaven.

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16 (NKJV)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Genesis 22. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“The Lord came to Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what He had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time God had told him. Abraham named his son who was born to him – the one Sarah bore to him - Isaac. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him. Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, ‘God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me.’ She also said, ‘Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.’” Genesis 21:1-7 (HCSB)

God fulfills His covenant promises. That is the theme of today’s chapter. God is faithful to His Word, whether His promises are to His “Chosen” people (Hebrews like Abraham and Sarah) or the Goyim (Gentiles like Hagar and Ishmael). We learn faithfulness by experiencing His faithfulness…often through trials, which can only be endured by God’s intervention.

In my life, I have faced difficulty and cried out to God. In my desperation, I wanted to hear God say, “I’ll take care of it immediately!” Most often, though, I have heard the retort, “Trust Me.” Then, silence…for what seemed like an eternity. The heat would grow, and I’d be an emotional wreck. Still, the echo, “Trust Me.” I would struggle, groan, cry, and wail, but eventually, God would make good on His promise.

After all these years as a believer, I have only just begun to learn to wait on the Lord patiently. I have only begun to take Him at His Word because I don’t understand His timing. I am learning to trust Him, to distinguish His voice from that of the “Impersonator.”

As a child, I remember the great impersonator “Rich Little” on the TV variety shows. I recall closing my eyes and thinking, “He sounds exactly like… (insert celebrity)”. But there were subtleties in the voices of those people Mr. Little impersonated. Friends of the celebrity being impersonated could clearly distinguish those subtleties. Are you that close to God and His Word that you can discern His voice among the impersonators? Apparently, Sarah knew the Lord’s voice when she heard it because upon hearing it, she faithfully waited for the Lord to fulfill His promise.  

“By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the One who had promised was faithful. Therefore from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as innumerable as the grains of sand by the seashore.” Hebrews 11:11-12 (HCSB)

Who knows how much faith Sarah had when she first heard the Lord? I am certain that her faith ballooned when the Lord delivered on His Word! Let’s take today’s chapter as a challenge to continue seeking God’s Word and to rely on it. That way, we can rest in His promises until we rejoice at their fulfillment.

“Abraham replied, ‘I thought: “There is absolutely no fear of God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.”  Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father, though not the daughter of my mother. So when God had me wander from my father’s house, I said to her: show your loyalty to me wherever we go, and say about me: ‘He is my brother.’”  Genesis 20:11-13 (HCSB)

I have always had difficulty with Abraham’s lying…or, shall we say, “half-truths.”  I can understand his fear. I have been afraid. I can understand his lack of faith; I have often lacked faith. But as a husband, it is painful to observe how Abraham placed his personal security above Sarah’s physical and emotional well-being. And he profited from it.

**Note: The Bible does not condone Abraham’s behavior. It simply relays the facts. Scripture does NOT counsel, “So what have we learned? Men, the next time you’re facing a potentially life-threatening situation, you should passively lie and put your wife in jeopardy.” It also does not come straight out and say, “Women, you should participate in your husband’s lies, even if they cause you emotional (and perhaps physical) distress…because in the end, you will profit from them.”  No, Scripture is simply silent about this particular matter…or is it?    

Imagine yourself as Sarah. You have been hearing your husband speak of God and faith. That side of him really attracts you to him. But at other times, he does completely faith-less things!! After a while of this moral and spiritual back & forth, it must have been hard for Sarah to discern the voice of God saying, “Thus sayeth the Lord!” from the voice of Abraham saying, “Thus sayeth the Lord!”

Perhaps I’ve seen too many soap operas, but this is the dynamic I pick up between the two. Let’s review the timeline: A) God’s call of Abram, “I will make you into a great nation” (12:2). B) Abram goes to Egypt and profits from his lie. (12:10-20) Part of Abram’s profit is an Egyptian slave named Hagar. (16:3) C) The Lord tells Abram his heir will come from his own body. (15:4) D) Sarah offers her slave to Abram, and intimacy with Hagar leads to baby Ishmael…family strife ensues. (16:1-6) E) God tells Abraham he will have a son with Sarah, and Abraham laughs, for he didn’t believe God. (17:15-19) F) When the Angels tell Abraham that Sarah will have a son within a year, she laughs and doesn’t believe. (18:10-15) G) Now, Sarah was distressed anew: Abraham would profit from another lie. Is it any wonder Sarah doubted Abraham’s ability to understand, communicate, and lead by God’s Word? Men take note.

Sarah may not have been able to trust Abraham’s discernment, but she was about to learn that she could depend on God’s promise, spoken directly to her.  (18:10-13) We may be forced to endure all sorts of unforeseeable circumstances. Life is often unbearable to take were it not for God’s great, gracious, and merciful promises spoken directly to us. Where do we learn of these promises?   Right there in the Bible! Keep pressing on!!

“And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt..”  Genesis 19:27-29 (NKJV)

Speechless. That’s how I was the night a high school friend and I walked into his home at 2 am. His mom had been sitting in a chair by the front door for hours, just waiting for the moment he walked in so that she could slap his face! There, he lay on the floor. There she stood over him. I didn’t say a word. I just slowly turned around and walked back to my home across town.

That’s how I picture Abraham looking down on Sodom & Gomorrah, with rising smoke. Its simplicity reminds me of Hemingway’s writing. No dialogue, just a long stare…fade to black.

How can we accept the accounts of Noah’s flood or Sodom & Gomorrah, but when it comes to the Day of The Lord, almost nobody takes the coming judgment seriously? Just look at how similar the accounts are.

“They came up over the surface of the Earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from Heaven and consumed them. The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  Revelation 20:9-10 (HCSB)

What I appreciate about today’s passage is Abraham’s intercession on behalf of Lot. He pleaded with the Lord for Lot’s life and his entire family. When was the last time you pleaded with the Lord, even tried to negotiate with Him, on behalf of a non-believing friend? If we really considered the absolute inevitability of the coming judgment, perhaps we would have more of an evangelistic sense of urgency. Consider the angel’s words to the apostle John:

“He (the angel) also said to me, ‘Don’t seal up prophetic words of this book because the time is near. Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy go on being filthy; let the righteous go on in righteousness; and let the holy go on being made holy.’”  Revelation 22:10-11 (HCSB)

We need to preach the gospel in its entirety, as Abraham did, knowing some people will respond as the citizens of Sodom & Gomorrah, others as Lot’s wife, and still others as Lot. Nevertheless, we can stand before the Lord, knowing we seized every opportunity to lead the lost to salvation. May God’s Spirit make our testimonies effective!

“You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the judge of all the earth do what is just?’” Genesis 18:25 (HCSB)

In Abram’s day, the story of Noah must have still been fresh on the World’s psyche. It was a simple story of Justice: The wicked perish while the righteous escape.  Now, Abram poses a new question: Would God’s judgment on unrighteous Sodom bear collateral damage among the righteous?  More importantly, was Lot righteous?  Abram’s questioning supposes a couple of common misunderstandings about God: 1) God is fair, and 2) Righteousness can be attained by man, apart from being imputed by God.  

God is not fair. He is JUST, and His justice must be served. “Fairness” assumes everyone gets the same treatment. What’s FAIR is that we all get judged, apart from Grace and mercy. I am eternally grateful God isn’t fair in this regard!  God’s Justice, the penalty we deserve for our sin, was laid on Messiah, Jesus. When we believe in Jesus by faith, His atonement covers our sin, and His righteousness is imputed to our accounts.  At that moment, the Bible says we receive His Name.  

“Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings…” Ezekiel 20: 44a (NKJV)  

God’s satisfaction that Justice has been served on the sin of the World stands alone with Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross. It is verified by His resurrection and certified by God’s testimony in heaven, “Sit at My right hand…” (Hebrews 1:13, Ps 2:7). If you look for fairness with God, you will be frustrated. Sometimes, the righteous suffer, and the wicked prosper. Concerning Israel, God said, “Behold, I am against you, and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off both righteous and wicked…” Ezekiel 21:3 (NKJV)

It is possible that while Abram was negotiating with God, there may have been NO righteous people in Sodom. Lot’s first recorded act of righteousness was when he, believing God’s messengers about Sodom’s judgment, repented and left town. “Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?” Ezekiel 18: 23 (NKJV)

Have you left the “Sodom” that this World has become and chosen to follow Jesus?

“So Abraham said to God, ‘If only Ishmael were acceptable to You!’ But God said, ‘No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his future offspring. As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will certainly bless him; I will make him fruitful and will multiply him greatly. He will father 12 tribal leaders, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will confirm My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.’ When He finished talking with him, God withdrew from Abraham.” Genesis 17:18-22 (HCSB)

In Jewish religious culture, lineage is traced through the mother. There are several reasons for this thinking. One is that the mother is the children’s chief nurturer. She does the primary function of instilling religious values until adolescence.  

When a Jewish boy (from a religious family) comes of age, the occasion is recognized with a ceremony called “Bar (son) Mitzvah (commandment).” Thus, he becomes a “son of the commandment.” This ceremony happens at age 13.  

**There is no Biblical command to perform the ceremony of Bar Mitzvah, but that is not to say that there is anything wrong with committing oneself to follow God’s Word!

For the Orthodox and Chassidic Jews, women are not allowed to participate in religious services. Thus, Bar Mitzvah also acts as a handoff from the maternal to the paternal guidance.

When God told Abraham that Ishmael would not live in His presence, it was less a curse and more a statement of the Lord’s knowledge of the future. Hagar’s Egyptian mindset and values were transferred to Ishmael. By the time Ishmael was circumcised, interestingly at age 13, his values were well established. It’s not that Ishmael could not live in God’s presence; he simply would not faithfully choose God, given his upbringing. It is also not that Ishmael could not have turned to the Lord, but God, in His wisdom, knew that he would not. And God ALWAYS chooses rightly.

Isaac and Ishmael shared the same father, but Isaac was nurtured by his mother, Sarah. Having experienced God’s fulfilled promises, Sarah raised a faithful son. Furthermore, faith was built upon faith throughout the generations, confirming God’s Word to Abraham.

Similarly, how “baby believers” are taught and brought up in the Lord is very important. Early discipleship experience is essential to the long-term maturity and faithfulness of the individual.

“Abram replied to Sarai, “Here, your slave is in your hands; do whatever you want with her. Then Sarai mistreated her so much that she ran away from her. The Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. He said, Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”  Genesis 16:6-8a (HCSB)

Throughout my church experience, whenever Hagar has been mentioned, she has been vilified with the overtones of being the mother of radical Islam. That may be excessive criticism towards one whom the Lord blessed.  

Interestingly, God never pronounced Abram’s intimacy with Hagar a sin. What is clear is that Abram’s intimacy was a symbol of his intimacy with Egypt. Hagar was an Egyptian slave whom Sarai had obtained while in Egypt.  

It is important to remember that Abram profited from his sin in Egypt. All the while, Sarai suffered the personal burden of keeping Abram’s lie a secret as she fought to stave off the advances of Pharaoh. Similarly, Abram profited from his relations with Hagar at the emotional risk of Sarai. Old Abe had issues with passivity. Instead of taking God’s promises & direction at face value, Abram injected human reason to accomplish God’s purposes. Perhaps he was the “father of our faith” in more ways than one…

On both occasions, Sarai was left to fend for herself. Sarai’s reaction to Hagar’s pregnancy (which led to Hagar’s change of attitude) within the context of Sarai’s marriage relationship with Abram was an explosion of pent-up emotion against Abram’s neglect of her in Egypt. That’s not to say Sarai was justified in abusing Hagar. I simply want to paint an accurate emotional portrait of Abram and Sarai’s marriage.

So what of God’s response to Hagar and her unborn son? Today’s passage mentions the “Angel of the Lord” visited Hagar on the way back to Egypt. Shur was the boundary wall that protected Egypt from raiding nomads.  

The narrative beautifully illustrates the Lord’s regard for the saddened and abandoned soul. It is the first time “angel” is found in the Bible. The phrase “Angel of the Lord” denotes more than simply one of the Lord’s angels. Most theologians believe the Angel of the Lord to be the Messiah Himself. Remember, Messiah has existed from eternity past, and He will exist for eternity future. (Micah 5:2)  

It is important to note that even though God knows the outcome of our decisions, He still gives us the option to choose or reject Him. As for us, the results of our choices are generally a mystery right up to the point that we make them. So, do you know where you have come from and where you are going? Don’t go back to “Egypt,” as it were. Choose to trust the Lord and follow the Messiah, Jesus!

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Genesis 15. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“The four kings took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food and went on. They also took Abraham’s nephew Lot and his possessions for he was living in Sodom, and they went on.”  Genesis 14:11-12 (HCSB)

“Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities of the valley and set up his tent near Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning greatly against the Lord.”  Genesis 13:12-13 (HCSB)

Here is a familiar scenario. A well-intended believer unplugs from Godly community and sets out on his own. I confess there was a time in my life when I was “a lot like Lot.”  Some call it youthful pride or a strong-willed, independent nature. God calls it compromise and sin.

Soon after leaving Egypt, burdened by their collective abundance, it became apparent to Abram that he and Lot must separate. Lot chose the well-watered plain and camped in all the cities “near” Sodom. Eventually, Lot settled in Sodom. Sodom “absorbed” Lot, as it were. Let this be a warning to all who desire to affiliate with worldliness. You will eventually become so worldly-minded that you are no Heavenly good! Consider this pattern from Scripture:

“How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers!” Psalm 1:1 (HCSB)

That’s Lot’s inevitable story, but let’s look closely at his back story. An orphan seeking a father figure, he settles on Uncle Abram. Abram receives the call of God, and Lot tags along. So far, so good. Where did Lot go astray? I believe some of the blame rests on Abram.

Everything seemed fine until Abram led the whole troop into a lying compromise in Egypt. The moral injustice of Abram profiting from a lie (Sarah is my “sister”) must have profoundly impacted Lot. Furthermore, the “abundance” gained from Abram’s sin is the exact source of Lot’s and his conflict. Sin led to unjust gain, which led to unnecessary conflict and the eventual break-up of the extended family. It is also possible that Abram’s bailout of Lot was (at least partially) motivated by guilt over how things turned out as a result of Abram’s deception in Egypt. Lot was simply expanding on what he had observed Abram do: Operating out of fear, compromise, and half-truths.

Let this be a sober warning for all who seek to lead: When we turn away from the Lord’s path, those who follow us turn right along with us.

“After Lot had separated from him, the Lord said to Abram, ‘Look from the place where you are. Look north and south, east and west, for I will give you and your offspring forever all the land that you see. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. Get up and walk from one end of the land to the other, for I will give it to you.’” Genesis 13:14-17 (HCSB)

It is one thing for a person to choose the way he will go. It is another thing to let someone else choose first, allowing our “lot” to be what’s left over. Some would say followers of Jesus should be shrewd when dealing with the World, not letting anyone take advantage of them. While that may be wise counsel in some instances, Abraham chose differently, and so did Jesus. We should consider their success.

Once Abraham chose graciously and wisely, the Lord swiftly came to encourage him. God repeats His blessing to Abraham and his offspring in chapter 12. God also reinforces the reality that following Him into the unknown is always better than following the World into the supposed “obvious.”

The Bible says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”  Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)

Lot used the World’s logic. He was in the desert, owned large flocks, and had many servants. It seems wise that he chose the well-watered plain. (Even if it did seem to leave Uncle Abe in the lurch!) The problem is that EVERYONE in the desert wants to possess the well-watered plain. Lot’s decision proved to be a near-fatal strategic mistake.

Lot was also tired of following Abram (who was following the Lord) around the desert. He was ready to forsake the tent of a nomad in favor of the “stability” of Sodom’s city life. I see this situation repeated, all too often, by the children of believers. They buy into the World’s promises of quick pleasure & success and begin to despise their parents’ faithful steadiness. Sadly, they are being led into trouble in their journey down the world’s “wide road,” which always dead ends in tragic consequences.

Of this logic, the Bible remarks:

“The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will stand.” Proverbs 14:11 (NKJV)

Life is not about hoarding all we can get. It is about trusting the Lord and looking out for our fellow man. We should rest in the knowledge that (for the righteous) whatever unfolds is part of the perfect plan and purpose the Lord has designed for our lives. (Romans 8:28)

“The Lord said to Abram: ‘Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation; I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3 (HCSB)

When Abram was 75, God called him. This moment is known in Hebrew as “Lech L’Cha,” which means “Go!” or “Leave!” It is considered to be the official beginning of the Jewish people.

This moment is important to all mankind because Abram’s faithful response resulted in his fruitless (childless) seed taking root and bearing a child (Isaac), whose offspring grew into the nation of Israel. Through Israel, God designed for Messiah to be brought forth. Through Messiah, all who believe in Him by faith (as Abram) receive atonement for their sins. Turning from our sin and committing to follow Jesus is how we become eternally “saved”...the true people of God. The gift of God toward mankind is that our faith in Jesus’ righteous atonement would be counted as if WE were righteousness, although we each sin and are by no means righteous. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:10)

Abram was asked to leave three things: Land, Relatives, and his Father’s house. Interestingly, these are the main influences that mold a person’s thoughts & actions. In a spiritual (and sometimes physical) sense, we are all called by God to cut ourselves entirely adrift from all associations that could possibly hinder our completion of the mission God calls us to.

But God’s call to “Leave!” comes with blessings attached.

Jesus said, “I assure you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more at this time and eternal life in the ages to come.” Luke 18:29-30 (HCSB)

Notice that God calls Abram to no certain place: The land I will show you. Of course, God knew where He was taking Abraham. Abram’s great faithful act was to simply trust the Lord’s voice, contrary to his own understanding or personal wisdom. (Proverbs 3:5-7)

Are you struggling with whether to trust the Lord? I’ll tell you by experience it’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do…but Jesus has prepared a specific place to lead the faithful to. I am not speaking exclusively about Heaven. He has also set aside work for each of us in this life; He has given us a Kingdom purpose. Let’s respond as Abram (and Jesus’ first disciples) did: Leave everything and follow Him. (Luke 5:11)

“Then the Lord came down to look over the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, ‘If as one people all having the same language, they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down there and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech.’ So the Lord scattered them from there over the face of the whole earth and they stopped building the city.” Genesis 11:5-8 (HCSB)

When I was a child, there was no internet, and we had very limited access to cable TV. The information people received concerning the world around them was very limited. Our Worldview was filtered through 3 network TV channels, a couple of newspapers & radio stations, and some magazines.

It never dawned on me that I could write a letter to another kid in a foreign country or that we could develop a friendship. I would never have assumed we could communicate several times a day, forming a real-time face-to-face relationship at no expense. The world was vast back then, and nations & cultures operated almost entirely independently.

But today, through satellite communication and wireless broadband internet, our world has become relatively small. English is the primary language of commerce. eBay is the world’s flea market. Amazon is the world’s vendor. Electronic banking handles all currency exchanges.

So, how does the story of Babel apply to our lives, today? What is so wrong with people sharing the same language and working together? Is society in & of itself “evil”?

As we learned in Genesis 2, both God and Adam knew it was not good for man to be alone. Man was made to live in community. It is necessary for us. Furthermore, God blesses our community when it honors Him. This “community of necessity” is not limited to the male/female relationship. It extends to our children, friends, and beyond.

The problem arises when men attempt to unite to the exclusion of God. In the days of the tower of Babel, if their designs had not been frustrated, mankind would have eventually employed their united strength for outrageously sinful purposes. We see this scenario ultimately played out in the book of Revelation…and developing rapidly in the World culture we are presently in.

All human collaborative effort, divorced from the ultimate goal of acknowledging and worshipping God, is nothing more than collective self-exaltation. Humanism is, in essence, self-worship. It is idolatry, with self-achievement as the idol of worship.

“These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their family records, in their nations. The nations on earth spread out from these after the flood.” Genesis 10:32 (HCSB)

I have friends who are really into genealogy. They spend countless hours online researching their family trees. Perhaps it can be attributed to the breakdown of the family in America, but a whole culture of these types has developed. I suppose we would all like to believe we are related to someone famous. Maybe it gives us hope that some of the old “magic” for success may still be in our DNA.

I once heard a preacher say he traced his family tree back to a lying nomad and a drunken sailor: Abraham & Noah!

The Bible says Noah was a RIGHTEOUS man, but let’s not forget that, at his core, he was a righteous MAN. That means he was by no means perfect, but like Abraham, Noah was considered righteous because he believed in God BY FAITH. Point to consider: The Bible says nothing of the righteousness of Noah’s wife or his sons and their wives. Only Noah is singled out as righteous.

At the end of chapter 9, we see Noah’s flaws, warts & all, because he is found to be drunk & naked…a sailor to the end: Go Navy! One redeeming note is that two of his sons seemed to have learned to honor the Lord (and their father) through the flood experience.

Chapter 10 sets up the story of worship after the ark. It is hauntingly reminiscent of Israel, one generation after entering the Promised Land, the generation after Joshua, who did not know God. How quickly we forget.

For me, the takeaway is the profound similarity of origins we share with all other people on earth. Perhaps, the most profound is the similarity between our sin and our collective need for salvation. Tomorrow, we will read what happens when men, apart from God, decide to unite, work, and worship together. Did I mention “Apart from God”?

These are pertinent chapters because the cry is still going out from the World for nations to unite. I have nothing against unity, but if the nucleus of that unity is anything other than Messiah Jesus, those unifying efforts are destined to fail. Sure, the nations have a strong unifying factor: Our sin. And their unity may appear to have positive consequences for a season. But the only One who can restore everlasting unity is Jesus.

“And God said: ‘This is the token of the covenant which I make with Me and you and every living creature with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a token of a covenant with me and the earth. Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember My covenant between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh: water will never again become a deluge to destroy all flesh. The bow will be in the clouds and I will look at it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh on earth.’ God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I have confirmed between Me and all flesh on earth.’” Genesis 9:12-17 (NKJV)

When I was a kid, I loved seeing rainbows…and it seems I saw more of them back then. Perhaps, I should look up more because I suppose they happen pretty frequently.

A while back, I was down in San Clemente for a day of surfing. As I was about to enter the water for a surf session, the cloudy sea layer began to dissipate, and I noticed a rainbow. The irony was not lost on me. As I was about to ride the waves, I was reminded of the day when those waves came up and covered the whole earth. Then, just as quickly, I remembered God’s covenant never to do it again.

God had promised that He would flood the earth, and He did it. Then, He promised never to do it again, and He hasn’t. (Nor will He ever.) It sounds like a simple Sunday school lesson, but with every rainbow, we are reminded that God’s promises can be trusted.

Back when we read through the book of Revelation, we learned that God has promised to judge sin again. It won’t come by way of water because God promised never to do that again. The next time will be by an all-consuming fire. The coming Judgment will be even greater than the ancient flood because it will completely eliminate sin in the world.

That “promise of God” is not one that people claim often. When was the last time you prayed, “Lord, judge my sin with fire! You promised!”

But with the promise of Judgment comes the assurance of Salvation. There is a way out, an “ark,” so to speak. And that “escape” comes when we fully surrender our lives to Jesus, turning from our sin and receiving the atonement offered through Him.

Whenever you see a fully devoted believer in Jesus, think of a rainbow. Every believer can be assured of the forever promise of God’s salvation.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Genesis 8. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“‘For in seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and nights; I will wipe out every living thing that I have made from the face of the earth.’ Noah did all that the Lord ordered him to do.” Genesis 7:4-5 (NKJV)

Have I shared the story of the “devil school”? Perhaps I have, but I feel it is important to share it again!

There was a demon school, and the Devil was quizzing 3 of his students. He asked them, “What will you tell people to ensure they go to Hell?”

Demon #1: I will tell them there is no evil.

Devil: No, it’s too obvious that some things are good, and others are evil. They’ll never believe that.

Demon #2: I will tell them there is no Hell.

Devil: No, if they believe in good & evil, they will naturally assume God dwells in Heaven, and evil resides in Hell.

Demon #3: I will acknowledge there are good & evil, Heaven & Hell…but I will tell them they have MORE TIME to decide between the two.

Devil: Now, THAT they will believe.

The whole time Noah was building His ark, collecting his food, and assembling the animals, people watched. No less than a few times, they must have asked him what and why he was undergoing such an enormous building project. I’m sure they all had a good laugh at poor Noah’s expense down at the local tavern. The Bible says that Noah was “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5). Perhaps, some even entertained the idea of helping him or joining in his belief system. But nobody did, except, perhaps, his sons. Surely God would have invited anyone who honestly repented, yet that was not the case. They all rejected God’s Word through Noah’s testimony and paid eternal consequences. (1 Peter 3:19-20)

Eventually, everyone would come to believe God’s Word and Noah’s testimony…but they were too late. Their “sun-setting” opportunity had become eclipsed by the dawn of God’s judgment. Even today, the World scoffs at us believers: Those of us who have rushed into the “ark” of Jesus’ grace & mercy, having believed God’s warning of coming judgment. Who knows what is going on in their minds, why they would reject so great a salvation? Perhaps, they have believed in the lie: You have MORE TIME to decide. Whether it is from natural or apocalyptic causes, we will all die someday. Make sure you jump into Jesus’ “lifeboat” while it is still offered.

“When the Lord saw that man’s wickedness was widespread on the earth and every scheme that he thought of was nothing but evil all the time, the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth and He was grieved in His heart. Then the Lord said, “I will wipe off the face of the earth: man, whom I created together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky – for I regret that I made them.” Noah, however, found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6: 5-8 (HCSB)

When mankind was created, God said, “Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness. (Genesis 1:26) The text describes God in the plural form instead of a singular “I will make man in MY image, according to MY likeness.”

This usage of God in the Plural is similar to the Bible’s opening statement, “In the Beginning, God…” (Elohim: Gods). Genesis 1:1

Because of the Bible’s statement that God is ONE (Echad) (Deuteronomy 6:4), the non-Messianic rabbis have traditionally rejected the notion that God exists as a Plurality. That is, they do not believe in the “Trinity” or tri-unity of God.

Two main arguments these Rabbis use to explain away the notion of God as a “singular plurality” are:

1) The traditional Hebrew use of plurality to a single person illustrates power, i.e., “one” possesses the strength of “many.” This is certainly true of omnipotent God.

2) Plurality denotes internal debate. That is, they believe that God debated as to whether to create man. That is, the terms “us” and “our” are simply representative of the different opinions God held (within Himself) while debating whether to create mankind at all.

If you agree with the rabbis’ argument over God’s internal debate, it is easy to understand His statement, “I regret that I made them.” God is represented as being “singular,” “One.” But that argument has a problem: It is impossible for God to be double-minded. (1 Samuel 15:29, Malachi 3:6) Remember God pronounced creation “Very Good” at the end of the 6th day. So, how can creation be “very good” and “regrettable”?

Perhaps, the answer lies in the primary roles of the individual members of the Trinity. God: Justice/Mercy Jesus: Redemption/Grace, Spirit: Revelation of Truth. In the creation of man, we are allowed a glimpse of the Trinity conversing with each other as a single unit: “God said, ‘Let Us…’”. In the pronouncement of judgment in the days of Noah, we see the persons of the Trinity represented individually with respect to their ministries: The Spirit: reveals widespread wickedness. The Father: weighs the Spirit’s testimony and pronounces regret over mankind’s sin. The Messiah: provides grace for Noah and the rest of his family. (Remember: only Noah was “pronounced” righteous, not the others in his ark) Therefore, we conclude that, while still in communion with the Spirit & Son, it is altogether possible for God’s pronouncement to be as an individual.

“These are the family records of the descendants of Adam. On the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God; He created them male and female. When they were created, He blessed them and called them man (Adam). Adam was 130 years old when he fathered a child in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.” Genesis 5:1-3 (HCSB)

Some believe nature is evolving and changing for the better. Attached to their belief is the notion that society is also evolving. Obviously, we have more technology than any generation before us. Medicine, education, and science are more prominent than ever. But are we “better” people than our ancestors? How does this generation’s morality compare to that of our grandparents? Or Great-grandparents?

Despite all of our technical innovations, society is actually morally worse than ever. I would put forth that morality has been on a downtrend, devolving since Adam. Here are a couple of examples:

First off, the Bible identifies every successive generation as “Descendants.” That downward verbiage doesn’t sound very optimistic. It states the obvious: the more generations we produce, the more we descend spiritually. On the contrary, God’s children could be characterized as “Ascendants.” We all share the hope of resurrection and are co-inheritors of Messiah’s blessing. All who faithfully believe in Jesus have been given the right to be sons & daughters of God. Now, that’s an up-trend!

Secondly, Adam was created in God’s image and likeness. But Adam’s descendants were created in Adam’s likeness. That’s a descending trend if I ever saw one! Adam was made perfect in God’s image and then sinned. Adam’s descendants were born into his cursed image & likeness, with the need for atonement. Only Messiah Jesus can break that curse.

“As in Adam all die, so also in Messiah all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22 (ISV)

Again, amid society’s degradation, we have the reminder of Grace: While we were yet sinners, Jesus atoned for our sin. More than simply giving us a fresh start, Jesus’ salvation transforms His followers, forever altering their downward trajectory. Being transformed into the image of Jesus is literally the difference between eternal death and eternal life.

“Adam was intimate with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, for she said, ‘God has given me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.’ A son was born to Seth also and he named him Enosh. At that time, people began to call on the name of the Lord.” Genesis 4:25-26 (HCSB)

Many, especially those in Eastern religions, believe the World must be held in a BALANCE of Good & Evil. The World is not designed for such balance. It runs most efficiently on Goodness alone. We see this scenario displayed in the latter chapters of the Revelation, where all evil is expelled, and sin is nowhere to be found. Yes, for a season, there are Evil and evil men, but God’s desire is for ALL to come to repentance.

“The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some people understand slowness, but is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to perish, but wants everyone to repent.” 2 Peter 3:9 (ISV)

So, is there balance in the World today? Is “Good” held in check by an “Evil” counterweight? No. There is only the perception of balance because God’s Spirit restrains humanity from becoming completely evil. This restraint is only for a season and expressly to call men unto repentance & submission to God. (John 16:8-11)

Perhaps, Eve believed that Cain & Abel provided that balance of Good and Evil. The Bible doesn’t say. After Cain’s murder, she named her next son Seth. (Hebrew: Placed; appointed) Seth may have been a wonderful guy, but humans will never provide a moral balance because, at our core, we are ALL sinners. There will never be enough “Mother Theresa’s” to offset the “Hitlers.”

Furthermore, while we all wish to bestow names to our children that pronounce a blessing for their future, our fates are not determined beforehand. We each must choose to receive God’s grace. This means of salvation through faith was God’s design, not mankind’s.

“Yet to all who did RECEIVED Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13. (NIV)

Seth’s son, “Enosh” in Hebrew, can be translated as “mortal man” or “sick.” In one of the most misunderstood statements of the Bible, Enoch’s birth is considered by many theologians to have brought about revival as a balance to Cain’s sinful family traditions. The word interpreted as “BEGAN to call on the name of the Lord” in Hebrew is “huchal.” This word is also interpreted as the homonym “PROFANED.” Looking at the degradation of society leading up to Noah, it could be that Enosh may not have brought about such an expected revival. Instead, men began to PROFANE God’s name through idolatry. Perhaps, this was part of God’s reasoning for the first three Commandments.

Salvation comes not from a balance of good men but exclusively from the righteousness of the “God-man,” Messiah Jesus.

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord walking in the garden at the time of the evening wind and they hid themselves from God among the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:7-8 (HCSB)

Before I was married, I had a friend who had several children. I remember him telling the story of how his youngest son, still a toddler, had overheard his older brothers talking about sex. The young boy approached his father and asked what sex was. Grasping his son’s lack of comprehension, the father asked the boy to bring him the large toolbox from the garage. The boy answered, “It’s too big for me to carry.” The father replied, “Yes, but someday you’ll be big enough to carry it, and when you can, I’ll answer your question. Now, tell your brothers to come see me!”

We will never know if God would have eventually allowed Adam & Eve to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil. Perhaps, He would have spoon-fed them bits as they grew in maturity and faithfulness. We only know that they ate when He forbade them…and as a result, we are all still paying for it because we are all born into sin. From sinful people come sinful offspring. When will we learn from Adam & Eve’s example and stop trying to deny and cover up our sin? When will we repent, confess our sin and receive not only God’s covering but His complete cleansing through Jesus’ blood and righteousness?

When we read through the Revelation, we were reminded of the image of Adam & Eve cowering, trying to cover themselves with fig leaves. There is a time forthcoming when the earth’s sin will again be exposed, and all who have denied God’s Salvation and Lordship will be revealed.

“Then I saw Him open the sixth seal. A violent earthquake occurred, the sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair; the entire moon became like blood; the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind…” Revelation 6:12-13 (HCSB)

“…and they said to the mountains, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?’” Revelation 6:16-17 (HCSB)

Can’t you picture Adam and Eve cowering, dressed in fig leaves, looking like two young figs, dropped before their ripening…unduly heavy from the knowledge of their sin, and blown off the branch as the Lord moves through His garden as an evening wind?

So, what is our takeaway? We all sin, and all sin will be judged. It is impossible for mankind to cover his own sin, and only the atoning blood of Jesus fully satisfies the Lord’s requirements for “covering.” Best of all, salvation is a free gift offered to all who will believe in Jesus by faith, confess their sin, and turn from it to follow Him.

“And the man said, “This one, at last, is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called woman, for she was taken from man.” This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh. Both the man and his wife were naked, yet they felt no shame.” Genesis 2:23-25 (HCSB)

Several years ago, I was sitting in a movie theater in Memphis when I heard Tom Cruise utter those fateful words to Renee Zellweger, “You complete me….” It all seemed sweet at the moment, but in the months to follow, I heard football players, waiters, cab drivers, and even Austin Powers’ “Dr. Evil” repeating the phrase. Removed from their proper setting, these words lost their romantic inclinations.

As far back as the Garden of Eden, it was apparent to both God and Adam that 1) Mankind is not meant to be alone, and 2) Even a sinless man (as Adam was at the time) cannot, apart from Divine intervention, find enduring communion with God. In short, man needed woman for his life to be complete, and God knew that.

Even the word “mankind” tells us that Adam was a creature of a certain kind. So, after parading all the animals past Adam, God made him a creature of his own “kind,” one that actually came from his own flesh. Important to note is that God could have made Adam another dude, a guy who shared his passions for sports and shoot-em-up movies. But In His wisdom, the Lord made a woman for Adam. The Lord instituted marriage to be between man and woman, and nowhere in Scripture does He indicate otherwise. So, there we have it, man & woman: a perfect, God-made match. But where does that leave God in terms of personal relationship & communion with His human creation?

“Creature” could never elevate itself to the level of “Creator.” So, the only way for communion to happen between the two is for the Creator to 1) Condescend, “come down” to the level of the Creature, or 2) Elevate the Creature. In both instances, true communion with God is only found in the “God-man” Jesus.

Made greater than the animals and a little lower than the angels, mankind has always been the object of God’s affection. Redemption & adoption, through Messiah Jesus, is God’s solution to our inability to commune with Him.

In the flesh, man is incomplete without woman. She restores to him what is missing in his flesh. The gravity between man & woman is so strong that both will leave their families just to attach themselves to each other. In the flesh, man & woman complete each other; “Rib” is restored to “body,” bringing wholeness.

But what of the Soul & Spirit? Only Messiah’s atonement and imputed righteousness make us whole spiritually. Perhaps, that is why the Bible calls Jesus the “Groom” and us (followers of Jesus) the “Bride.” Only He can complete what mankind lacks spiritually. Even before the fall of man, being complete in the flesh was not enough for true spiritual wholeness. There was “grace in the garden” even before there was sin.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Genesis 1. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:1-3 (NKJV)

Keep this list to practice and teach others The Ten Commandments!

1st COMMANDMENT: “I am the Lord thy God...thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:2-3 (NKJV)

Hold up your pointer finger. Look at your finger and say, “There is only ONE God.”

2nd COMMANDMENT: “You shall not make for yourself any carved images...” Exodus 20:4 (NKJV)

Hold up two fingers like a peace sign. Look at both fingers and say, “If there is only ONE God, there shouldn’t be two, so I won’t make anymore.”

3rd COMMANDMENT: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain...” Exodus 20:7 (NKJV)

Hold up three fingers (like a “W” for Wiggins). Say to yourself, “Do not use the Lord’s name in vain,” which refers to Spiritual adultery. **Also, remember Commandment #7

4th COMMANDMENT: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:10 (NKJV)

Hold up four fingers, look at them and say, “Commandment #4: Remember the Sabbath day and set it apart for God, because that’s what it’s there FOUR (for)!”

5th COMMANDMENT: “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12 (NKJV)

Hold up one hand in a “High-Five” and say, “Honor your father and mother, and you will live long in the land the Lord is giving you.” Then, wave your hand down at about knee-level, like you’re spanking a kid! Because at my home, we were spanked if we disobeyed mom & dad.

6th COMMANDMENT: “Thou shalt not kill.” Exodus 20:13 (NKJV)

Hold up a “High-Five” in one hand and hold up the “pointer finger” of the other. Then, point the pointer finger (like a gun) at your best friend and say, “Don’t commit murder!!!”

7th COMMANDMENT: “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14 (NKJV)

Hold up a “High Five” in one hand and a “Peace sign” in the other. Say to yourself, “Don’t commit adultery.” (Relational Adultery) **Remember Commandment #3

8th COMMANDMENT: “Thou shalt not steal.” Exodus 20:15 (NKJV)

Hold up a “High-Five” in one hand and three fingers in the other hand. Say, “Commandment number 8: I stole the bread, and I EIGHT (ate) it!

9th COMMANDMENT: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” Exodus 20:16 (NKJV)

Hold up a “High-Five” on one hand and a “High-Four” on the other, and say, “Commandment number Nine: no lying!” “Nine” and “Lying” sort of rhyme…

10th COMMANDMENT: “Thou shalt not covet...” Exodus 20:17 (NKJV)

Hold up two “High-Fives” and say, “Number Ten is the end: We LOVE IT! But we still don’t covet.”

“Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16 (HCSB)

“Do not covet your neighbor’s house; do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20: 17 (HCSB)

“Celebrate Good Times,” balloons & confetti!) Good times, indeed. It is always a good idea to recite these commandments among friends & family. This practice is intended to encourage one another and a positive testimony to any onlookers. We want to communicate that we are serious about knowing the Lord, as well as seeking His requirements for the people who bear His Name.

9th COMMANDMENT: Hold up a “High-Five” on the one hand and a “High-Four” on the other, and say, “Commandment number Nine: no lying!” “Nine” and “Lying” sort of rhyme…

“Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16 (HCSB)

Today, we finish the 10 Commandments! (Cue the Pointer Sisters’ “Celebrate Good Times,” balloons & confetti!) Good times, indeed. It is always a good idea to recite these commandments among friends & family. This practice is intended to encourage one another and a positive testimony to any onlookers. We want to communicate that we are serious about knowing the Lord, as well as seeking His requirements for the people who bear His Name.

9th COMMANDMENT: Hold up a “High-Five” on the one hand and a “High-Four” on the other, and say, “Commandment number Nine: no lying!” “Nine” and “Lying” sort of rhyme…

“Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16 (HCSB)

Pretty much everyone knows that lying is a sin, but as with the other commandments, this one goes deeper than the general pedestrian understanding. God foresaw a time when the people of Israel would take each other to court and lie about the evidence. ( Surely, that would NEVER happen today. Ha!) We see this sin most prominently displayed in the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin. Some Pharisees convinced people to testify falsely against Jesus, but none of their stories could be corroborated. When we consider the idea of what modern Christianity calls “witnessing” (or sharing your faith), the command not to “Bear false witness” carries extra gravity. After all, don’t we sin when we profess to love Jesus, yet our lifestyles bear witness that we really love the World?

10th COMMANDMENT: Hold up two “High-Fives” and say, “Number Ten is the end: We LOVE IT! Don’t covet!”

“Do not covet your neighbor’s house; do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20: 17 (HCSB)

The correct understanding of coveting is somewhat foreign to our culture. Coveting is not simply wanting something your neighbor has. That is no sin. If your neighbor gets a new car, for instance, and you want one too, all you have to do is simply work hard and buy one like your neighbor’s. Coveting is more like an evil craving to have something INSTEAD of your neighbor. Coveting is the deep compulsion to envy and hate your neighbor for having some “thing” instead of you, and it generates the desire to destroy your neighbor, if necessary, to obtain that “thing.” It is the root of all spiritual and relational adultery. It is the root of all sorts of greed, thievery, malicious intent, and warring.

So, now can you recite ALL 10 Commandments by memory??

“Do not murder.” Exodus 20:13 (HCSB)

“Do not steal.” Exodus 20:15 (HCSB)

“High-Five” in one hand and hold up the “pointer finger” of the other. Then, point the pointer finger outward at your friend (or family member) and say, “Don’t commit murder!!” Then say, “Lucky for you, this thing wasn’t loaded.” (That part is optional! Ha!)

Today, we are focusing on Commandments 6 & 8. If you remember, we already learned Commandment #7 when we learned #3 because they both deal with infidelity. (#3 deals with spiritual adultery, while #7 deals with physical adultery.)

6 & 8 are my kids’ favorites. Let dig-in.

6th COMMANDMENT: Hold up a “High-Five” in one hand and hold up the “pointer finger” of the other. Then, point the pointer finger outward at your friend (or family member) and say, “Don’t commit murder!!” Then say, “Lucky for you, this thing wasn’t loaded.” (That part is optional! Ha!)

“Do not murder.” Exodus 20:13 (HCSB)

There is an ongoing debate among pacifists concerning the 6th Commandment and how it is to be interpreted as pertains to War and the Death Penalty. To be exact, the Commandment does not prohibit killing. It does not say, “Thou shalt not kill,” as many wrongly assume. Commandment #6 does prohibit murder. It says, “Do not murder.” This is entirely different from when the government punishes a heinous crime versus when a soldier fulfills his duties. There are times when taking another human life is absolutely necessary and lawful in the eyes of God. I recall an interview with U2 lead singer Bono when he commented on this very issue. He described how his personal political views, and his alignment with pacifist organizations like Amnesty International, did not always jive with the realities of imminent danger. He said he always considered himself a pacifist until he saw a man with a gun in his backyard. He told the reporter how he grabbed a knife and would have used it to defend his family. He said he did not doubt that he would have killed the intruder if necessity demanded it.

8th COMMANDMENT: Hold up a “High-Five” in one hand and three fingers on the other hand. Say, “I stole the bread, and I EIGHT (ate) it!

“Do not steal.” Exodus 20:15 (HCSB)

Images of Les Misérables come flooding in…stealing bread in times of trouble. Seriously, do we have to go into the intricacies of stealing? It is simply taking what is not yours.

So, how are you doing so far? Can you recite all of them so far? #1…..#2….#3…..#4…..#5…..#6……#7……#8…..

“Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart for God. You have six days to labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath unto the Lord your God. On it, you are not to do any kind of work – not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property. For in six days, the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them; but on the seventh day, He rested. This is why the Lord blessed the day, Sabbath, and separated it for Himself.” Exodus 20:8-11 (CJB) ‍

“Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12 (NKJV)

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“Commandment #4: Remember the Sabbath day and set it apart for God… ’cause that’s what it’s there FOUR! (For)”

Today, we are focusing on Commandments 4 & 5. They are not as intimately related as the 1 & 2 and 3 & 7, so let’s consider them individually.

4th COMMANDMENT: Hold up four fingers, look at them and say, “Commandment #4: Remember the Sabbath day and set it apart for God… ’cause that’s what it’s there FOUR! (For)”

“Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart for God. You have six days to labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath unto the Lord your God. On it, you are not to do any kind of work – not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property. For in six days, the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them; but on the seventh day, He rested. This is why the Lord blessed the day, Sabbath, and separated it for Himself.” Exodus 20:8-11 (CJB)

A friend once asked me how well I observe the Sabbath, as the Lord has directed us: A total day of rest. I had honestly never considered the question before. I guess I’m too busy trying not to break the other Commandments that I simply overlooked the command to do nothing! Today I want to challenge you with the same question. How well are you obeying God’s command to set aside a day of rest? I’m not talking about setting aside a couple hours to attend a church service. I’m not talking about setting aside a day to play because, in our extreme sports culture, we work at our play. I want to challenge you to set aside a day where you simply do NOTHING. Try it. It’s harder than you think!

5th COMMANDMENT: Hold up one hand, like a “high-five,” and say, “Honor your father and mother, and you will live long in the land the Lord is giving you.” Then, wave your hand down at about knee-level…as if you’re spanking a kid. Because at my house, we got a spanking if we disobeyed mom and dad!

“Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12 (NKJV)

Our generation has lost much of its sense of honor and respect, even in my lifetime. Perhaps, the Asian culture is the last holdout for honoring elders. The Biblical command to “honor your father and mother” means much more than simply obeying them. It means to live a life that brings honor to them…which is impossible apart from a life wholly devoted to God through a relationship with Jesus. As a matter of fact, if your parents are against your following Jesus, you actually bring honor to them by disobeying them in that regard. Between the ages of 18-25, people generally detach themselves from their parent’s authority and set out to find their own way. They are developing their own value systems. Make sure you fulfill the 5th Commandment (and reap its articulated blessing) by establishing your value system fully and completely upon God’s Word.

"Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain..." Exodus 20:7a (NKJV)

"You shall not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14 (NKJV)

I know what you’re thinking: Shouldn’t we be learning 3 & 4?  Well, I was educated in Arkansas, and that’s how we count! Ha!

In reality, I teach 3 & 7 because they are closely alike. They both deal with infidelity, or “adultery.” Also, because 3 & 7 are Biblical numbers associated with God.

The number 3 reminds us of the Trinity (or tri-unity) of God: Father, Son, Spirit.

The number 7, as we learned in the book of Revelation, is the Biblical number of “completion.”

That being said, the Third Commandment deals with SPIRITUAL infidelity, and the 7th deals with RELATIONAL infidelity.

3rd COMMANDMENT: Hold up three fingers (like a “W” for Wiggins). Say to yourself, “Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.”

“Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” Exodus 20:7 (NKJV)

Remember how the Bible says Jesus is the Bridegroom and WE (the Church) are the Bride? Imagine a man & woman marrying. In a wedding ceremony, the woman takes the man’s name for her own. The two become “one.” But what if, afterward, she decides to cheat on the man, leave him, and live with another man while claiming to be the first man’s wife? She would have taken that man’s name in vain. Her life did not match up with her vow.

God is telling us that it is a sin to receive His Name, claim to be His “Bride,” and then live our lives devoted to the World. It is SPIRITUAL ADULTERY. He is saying to Israel, in a sense, “If you are going to be a people, called by My name, you had better live like it!”

7th COMMANDMENT: Hold up a “High Five” in one hand and a “Peace sign” in the other. Say to yourself, “Don’t commit adultery.”

“You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14 (NKJV)

Number 7 is pretty cut & dried. Be faithful to your spouse. Sadly, this is a hard one for our culture. Again, just as Commandment #3 dealt with SPIRITUAL infidelity, #7 deals with RELATIONAL infidelity. That’s why we teach them together.

So, review for yourself: #1….#2….#3….#7.

“When He had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the testimony, stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God.” Exodus 31:18 (HCSB)

A while back, I was asked to speak at a men’s conference in the Northeast. There were about 400 men in attendance. The topic and text of my message was “Book Of The Law Found,” 2 Chronicles 34:14-21. (I suggest you take the time and read that passage.) See, I believe the Church-at-large has largely lost the Bible. That is, the Bible is often treated as a “resource” instead of “the Source” in that so few churches reinforce the urgency for God’s people to aggressively pursue His Word. To establish whether my message was even applicable to the group, I asked that everyone who could recite the Ten Commandments would stand and do so. Only about 1/3 of the men stood up. When I asked who could recite the Commandments in order, every man sat down.

I was guessing there wouldn’t be many who could recite them, but I was blown away to discover not a single man could do it with confidence! Could you?

For this week (before we begin reading the Old Testament next week), I would like to teach you the Ten Commandments. This is the same method I use to teach my children.

“He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, ‘Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:2-3 (NAB)

FIRST COMMANDMENT: Hold up your pointer finger. Look at your finger and say, “There is ONE God.”

“Do not have other gods besides Me.” Exodus 20:3 (HCSB)

SECOND COMMANDMENT: Hold up two fingers (peace sign). Look at both fingers and say, “If there is only ONE God, there shouldn’t be two. I shouldn’t make anymore.”

“Do not make any idols for yourself” Exodus 20:4a (HCSB)

**Now, there is more verbiage to commandment #2, so I suggest you read it all. That said, we’re covering the gist as one would teach a child.

OK. That’s it for today. Memorize those, and we’ll cover two more tomorrow.

One more thing: It would be good for you and your friends and family to learn & recite the Commandments together. It would be an encouragement for each other, as well as a testimony to anyone looking on, wondering if you are truly serious about God’s Word.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Revelation 22. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Then I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer.” Revelation 21:1 (HCSB)

The Bible depicts Creation as warring against itself. For instance, light conquers darkness:  

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.” John 1:1-5 (HCSB)

But the sea is also allied with the darkness. Therefore, the sea had to be contained and limited. This is done on the second day of Creation. (Genesis 1:6-10) Consider God’s statement to Job:

“Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket when I determined its boundaries and put its bars and doors in place, when I declared: ‘You may come this far, but no farther; your proud waves stop here’?” Job 38:8-11 (HCSB)

The sea is active in bringing destruction and death through the flood of Noah, an event mentioned five times in the New Testament. But the sea is under God’s control, as seen clearly in the Exodus, where God’s “strong hand and outstretched arm” turned the Red Sea into a means of salvation for the Israelites. God also used that same sea as a means of destruction for the Egyptians. Furthermore, Isaiah prophesies God’s vindication of Israel when He defeats a great demonic sea beast.

“On that day, the Lord with His harsh, great, strong sword, will bring judgment on Leviathan, the fleeing serpent – Leviathan, the fleeing serpent – Leviathan, the twisting serpent. He will slay the monster that is in the sea.” Isaiah 27:1(HCSB)

Because the Bible speaks so much about judgment by “sea,” a Jewish superstition arose that claimed evil spirits lived at the bottom of deep bodies of water. To the average Jew, when Noah’s flood receded, those eternal evil spirits of that generation, judged by God, rested like dregs in the deep. The same was assumed for Pharaoh and his army’s souls. This is possibly why the disciples thought Jesus was a ghost when He came walking on water. It is, perhaps, why demons (begging to be cast into the pigs) ran into the Sea of Galilee. That action, no doubt, reinforced this superstition among Jesus’ disciples.

Today’s chapter indicates that in the new Heaven and Earth, just as there is no darkness for light to compete with, neither do such deep waters exist. The point is that both Creation and mankind will again be at peace with each other and God.

“Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and Heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15 (HCSB)

I have heard it said by some “new age” and liberal religious types that all roads lead to God. The foundation of their statement is heresy, which assumes that all religions will eventually lead to some kind of eternal salvation. To them, it doesn’t matter which road you choose because they will all arrive at the same destination.

According to today’s passage, though, their assumption has some truth. All roads eventually DO lead to God. That is to say, all roads lead to the judgement of God. We will all, great & small, stand before the Lord’s judgment. The real question should be, “Which road gets me past God’s Judgment?” There is only ONE true way, and if the “narrow path” had a street sign at its entrance, it would read: “MESSIAH JESUS”…or perhaps, “THE Way.”

Some skeptics would argue that such an exclusive assumption is a New Testament fable, an idea that Judaism doesn’t teach. While there are many Old Testament references to the “Day of the Lord,” the “Last Day,” “The Judgment,” etc., consider this one from the prophet Zephaniah:

“Therefore wait for Me – the Lord’s declaration – until the day I rise up for plunder. For My decision is to gather nations to assemble kingdoms, in order to pour out My indignation on them, all My burning anger; the whole earth will be consumed with the fire of My jealousy.”  Zephaniah 3:8 (HCSB)

The Bible gives a symmetrical picture of salvation history. In its first two chapters, at the beginning of history, a sinless World is described. At the beginning of the third chapter (Genesis 3:1-7), Satan entices Eve and Adam into sin, resulting in damage to humanity and the World. From the beginning, God’s plan was to remedy this damage through the death and resurrection of the Messiah—the remaining 1256 chapters of the Bible deal with the outworking of this plan.

At the end of history, in the third-to-last chapter, Satan is judged, with the wicked condemned to the lake of fire. Then, the final two chapters of Revelation present a newly created earth and humanity restored to Eden-like sinlessness. But there is one asymmetry: Satan and the first man, Adam, cause sin at the beginning, while God the Father and the second man (aka 2nd Adam), Jesus, cause sinlessness at the end.  (1 Corinthians 15:45-49, Romans 5:12-21)

“Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself. She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. The fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.” Revelation 19:7-8 (HCSB)

Jesus, as the “Bridegroom,” is found in many places in Scripture.  

The Song of Solomon describes the intimate and passionate love between Solomon, the King of Israel, and his Shulamite wife. Most Bible commentators have seen The Song of Solomon as a typical representation of the loving relationship between the Messiah and His people.

In Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus taught the parable of the King who gave a wedding feast for His Son. This is an apparent reference to the union between Himself and His believers.  

Matthew 25:1-13 gives another parable of the ten virgins who met the bridegroom, typifying the Church going out to meet Jesus when He returns.

John the Baptist said of Messiah, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.” John 3:29 (NKJV)

The apostle Paul wrote, “For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure virgin to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2 (HCSB)

Today’s passage in Revelation describes the marriage ceremony between Jesus and His bride.  

Often in the Bible, the unfaithfulness of God’s people is referred to as infidelity or spiritual adultery. Everyone has sinned and been unfaithful to God. That is why Messiah’s redemption is so valuable… “in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.” (Romans 3:23). Perhaps another reading of Hosea is in order.  

God's great grace allows us (collectively, His bride, the Church) to be clothed in white linen despite our past infidelities. His grace is not simply a cover-up. Upon receiving the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, we are literally washed white by His blood and are considered spiritually “virginal” to God. So, at the marriage of the Lamb, will you be among those wearing white or sackcloth?

“All this will happen because your merchants were the nobility of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery, and the blood of prophets and saints, and of all those slaughtered on earth, was found in you.” Revelation 18:23b-24 (HCSB)

The idea that the “Great Prostitute” would seduce and collect kings & merchants is not new to Scripture. Jeremiah records that Babylon’s king, Evil-Merodach, “pardoned King Jehoiachin of Judah and released him from the prison. He spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the thrones of the kings who were with him in Babylon.”

Babylon’s king Nebuchadnezzar often captured & imprisoned the kings and officials of nations he defeated. Then, he redistributed those nations’ people throughout the Babylonian kingdom. His purpose was to kill cultures by creating melting pots of nationalities.

Mystery Babylon dominates the World by enticing, enslaving, and assimilating mankind into her adulteries. How do nations, merchants, and kings become deceived by “Mystery Babylon”? They willingly choose to be enslaved by succumbing to her enticements. They sell themselves into bondage and then respond with appreciation when their “master” promotes them within her system.  

“But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires.”  James 1:14 (HCSB)

Mystery Babylon’s methods are very different from God’s. He certainly doesn’t want men to live in forced bondage because He gives us the freedom to choose Him.  God does not tempt men. Nor does He desire that they sin and undergo judgment.  

“The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (HCSB)

It isn’t until we feel the impact of our fall and recognize our powerlessness to recover that we cry out for God. When we repent in humility and sincerity, He answers gracefully and mercifully.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 (NKJV)

We do not have to live in the bondage of this World. We are free to choose whether to serve God or the World, which the Lord has now revealed to us as the great enticer and “Mystery, Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots…” (Revelation 17:5)

“The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on the earth, whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the World will be astounded when they see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present again.”  Revelation 17:8 (HCSB)

One of the best ways for a company to grow is to diversify. Take the soft drink industry, for example. Many years ago, there were two main soft drink brands: Coke & Pepsi. Soft drink buyers were polarized. So, what did these companies do to take away business from each other? They began to diversify.  

Let’s focus on Coke. Coke doesn’t only want to sell you a Coke, per se; they’re after your beverage-buying dollar. Today, whether you purchase Dr. Pepper, Sprite, A&W, Nescafe, or over 400 other brands worldwide…the money goes back to Coca-Cola. To compete with Pepsi, all Coke had to do was introduce new brands into the marketplace and get out of the way. People who may have had a negative opinion of the Coke brand would have a higher probability of buying one of these other products instead of Pepsi. No problem. Coke still makes money.      

Some people are surprised when they discover that Coke manufactures their favorite beverage, like Dasani water, for example.  

There is a notion in our culture that following Jesus is one choice among many gods & religions. The reality is that the followers of those so-called gods & religions will be astonished to see the originator of their belief systems was Satan! Satan diversified.

In Revelation 17, the angel reveals that Satan “was, is not, and will be present again.”  This is opposed to God, who “was, and IS, and is to come.”  While God’s presence has remained constant throughout history, Satan’s approach has been stealthier. Satan’s goal is to increase mankind’s “options” for religious choice. Instead of choosing between God and Satan, mankind can choose between several religious opinions. Then, Satan hid himself because only a crazy person would choose to worship Satan outright! Only in the end will Satan be revealed as the father of ALL false religions.  

If Satan had a name for his “parent company,” it would be “Mystery Babylon.”  Described as a prostitute, Mystery Babylon has made the nations drunk with idolatry and false religion.

Satan’s downfall is his pride; he is jealous of worship. Of course, ALL worship belongs to God alone. Soon, it will not be enough for Satan to lure worship away from God. Eventually, Satan will expose himself as the originator of all false religions by demanding all men worship him directly. This will effectually destroy “the Prostitute.”

In the end, everything comes back to only two choices for the worshipper: God or Satan. Since only Messiah Jesus leads to salvation, why not choose Him today?

“Look, I am coming like a thief. The one who is alert and remains clothed so that he may not go around naked and people see his shame is blessed.” Revelation 16:15 (HCSB)

“…for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 (NIV)

Have you ever had anything stolen from you? I have. I remember coming out of the Mall one day, getting into my car, turning on the radio, and…no sound. I turned around to discover that someone had stolen my car stereo speakers!! Serves me right for leaving the convertible top down. My dad warned me it would happen someday. Nevertheless, I was totally shocked on the day I got ripped off.  

So, it will also be for unbelievers on the Day of the Lord. Despite the warnings, many will be totally surprised when it actually comes. Friends, there is a reckoning forthcoming. A final and harsh lesson awaits all who reject the Lord, who have refused to be clothed in His righteousness.

“I greatly rejoice in the Lord, I exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness.” Isaiah 61:10b (HCSB)

Remember the story of Adam & Eve, how they lived in the Garden of Eden before the fall? Their flesh had not been corrupted by sin, so they had nothing to hide. Their nakedness bore witness to their sinlessness.  

“Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.” Genesis 2:25 (HCSB)

After Adam & Eve sinned, their corrupted flesh bore witness to their sinful act. So, they attempted to cover themselves.  

“I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” Genesis 3:10 (HCSB)

Listen, it is impossible to hide our sins from the Lord. We cannot cover ourselves with enough good deeds. Sin is a mark, impossible to rub off. It is a disease that is impossible to self-medicate and recover from.

In the days of Adam & Eve, the Lord clothed their sinful flesh with animal skins…but this was only to “cover their shame.”  It didn’t permanently atone for sin. Nor did it change their inner conditions or impending judgment.

When Jesus took the sin of the world upon Himself, He paid the penalty we deserve for our personal sin conditions. The Salvation Jesus offers clothes us with His righteousness. The day of the Lord will come, like a thief, upon the whole world. Only those clothed in Messiah’s righteousness will be able to stand without shame. Would you receive His atonement, His “garments of righteousness” today? Admit (to Jesus) that you are a sinner and tell Him you want to receive the atonement He freely offers.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Revelation 15. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Then I saw another angel flying in mid-Heaven, having the eternal Gospel to announce to the inhabitants of the Earth – to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He spoke with a loud voice: “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the sea, and springs of water.”  Revelation 14:6-7 (HCSB)

In this chapter, God is shown working behind the scenes of history, preparing rewards for His people and punishments for those who disobey Him.  Believers are warned against falling away and encouraged to remain faithful.

It is not easy to suffer, all the while blessing God. The whole scenario of “God-willed” suffering is askew with much of what the modern Church has adopted as doctrine. But it is important to remember that the suffering of believers is Scriptural and thus good. We suffer for several reasons. God teaches us the depth of our faith when situations He ordains demand that we either trust Him or seize control. God rebukes the Enemy when we faithfully endure trials, such as is the case with Job. Our shared suffering with non-believers is a beautiful opportunity to witness the objects of our faith: peace, joy, and a right standing with God.

Until now (in the book of Revelation), what has seemed like God’s judgment, compared to our present-day life existences, has actually been intended to provoke people to repentance. Consider these verses in light of the angel’s testimony in today’s passage:

“Even now – this is the Lord’s declaration – turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him so that you can offer grain and new wine to the Lord your God.”  Joel 2:12-14 (HCSB)

“The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the Heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the Earth and the works on it will be disclosed.”  2 Peter 3:9-10 (HCSB)

Before the bowl judgments, even at this late hour of this World’s season, there is a final plea for salvation addressed to anyone who would accept the message of the Gospel.

Have you come to the point in your spiritual life where you know for certain that you have eternal life? The Lord has delayed His return so that as many as possible might believe. But there is coming a time when that invitation will be withdrawn, and it will be as if a thief had stolen your moment away. Don’t let that “thief” be your own stubbornness. Turn to Jesus today and plead with others to join you!

“And he requires everyone – small and great, rich and poor, free and slave – to be given a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark; the beast’s name, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom: the one who has understanding must calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of man. His number is 666.”  Revelation 13:16-18 (HCSB)

Much has been made about this passage and the mysterious meaning of “666”. To add further drama, there are no numbers, per se, in Hebrew. Therefore, each letter has a numerical value. So-called “end times experts” have gone to great lengths to develop computer programs that look for “666” patterns in numerical and literature worlds. My favorite is the guy who determined that if A = 100, B = 101, C = 102, etc., the numerical value of the name Hitler totals “666”!  

It all makes me wonder what else these people could do with their time to be more productive for the Kingdom. Shouldn’t we spend more time sharing the Gospel instead of trying to convince our neighbors that their dog has the “mark of the beast” because the veterinarian placed a micro-chip in Fido?

Here’s what we know. As we learned earlier in Revelation 1, the number 7 is the number of completion. The number 6 is the number of Creation. The Lord took 6 days to establish Creation. He rested on day 7: Completion. Whenever we see the number 6 in Scripture, it is generally related to something that man originated and is usually compared/contrasted to what God had intended. For instance, there were 6 steps to Solomon’s throne. The number 6 is used 273 times in the Bible.  

So, there are two distinct images we are focusing on today: Where the mark is attached and what the mark means.

John tells us the beast’s mark is seen on the hand and the forehead. This is a direct mockery of the tefillin (phylacteries) (Matthew 23:5) that Jewish people were commanded to wear. The “forehead” represents our mind/thoughts, and the “hand” represents our actions.

“You shall bind them (God’s commands) for a sign on your hand, and they shall be frontlets for your eyes.” Deuteronomy 6:8 (NKJV)

Now, about the three sixes. This represents a mockery of the tri-unity of God. It is Mankind’s attempt to be their own judge & savior and to define their own truth. When you combine the beast’s number with its placements on the non-believers’ bodies, it becomes clear that those bearing the “mark of the beast” are simply those whose minds & actions testify that they have forsaken the Father, Messiah, and the Holy Spirit in exchange for Satan, the Flesh, and the World.

“Then I heard a voice in Heaven say: The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah have now come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown out: the one who accuses them before our God day and night. They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death.”  Revelation 12:10-11 (HCSB)

When I was a kid, I used to fake being sick so that I could watch TV at my Grandparents’ house. My folks didn’t have cable, but my grandparents did. One of my favorite old cable TV shows was “Perry Mason.” Forgotten by most, “Perry Mason” was a show about an attorney…the old school “Law & Order.” No matter what the case, Perry Mason always had a way of winning. Back in the days when “Matlock” (Andy Griffith) was still “Sheriff Andy Taylor,” Perry Mason was the man.

The key to portraying a good courtroom drama is to make the spectator believe the innocent client will be found guilty and that evil will win over justice. But right at the end, when all hope is lost, new evidence and a surprise witness show up. Based on this new evidence and testimony, the judge has no option but to throw the case out of court. Then truth and justice prevail. That’s good TV!

This is similar to what happens in Revelation 12. Satan is the Accuser, and Israel & the Church are the accused. There is irrefutable evidence of our sin, set against the backdrop of God’s standard. Finally, there’s the last-minute evidence of the Blood of the Lamb atoning for the sins of Believers. The last-minute evidence is coupled with the eye-witness testimony of the Messiah’s act of redemption by those who love the Lord above their own lives in the face of death. These are the Martyrs and those who were willing to testify on behalf of the Messiah to the point of their personal physical death.

The Lord’s Judgment is to throw the whole case out of court, along with the Accuser, holding him in contempt. Did you know that your Accuser is before the Lord at this moment? Are you confident that Jesus is your Advocate (attorney), or are you attempting to defend yourself before the Righteous Judge (God)? Do you know what they say about the man who defends himself in court? He has a fool for a client.

**Images to consider when reading this chapter:  Verses 1-5 depict Jesus’ birth and ascension into Heaven after being resurrected. The “woman” in the narrative is not Mary (Jesus’ mother). (Compare Isaiah 66:7-10, 26:17, and Micah 4:10) Instead, the “woman” is Israel, from whom Abraham’s “seed” came forth. (Gen 17:7, Luke 1:55) The Dragon is, of course, Satan. And the “rest of her children” are the Gentile believers. After failing to destroy Jesus, Satan seeks to destroy both Israel (Messianic and non-believers) and the Church, which bears Jesus’ Name.

“Then I was given a measuring reed like a rod, with these words: ‘Go and measure God’s sanctuary and the altar, and count those who worship there. But exclude the courtyard outside the sanctuary. Don’t measure it, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.’”  Revelation 11:1-2 (HCSB)

The apostle John was given the task of measuring God’s sanctuary, altar, and worshipers. To accomplish his mission, John was given a measuring rod…the standard by which all things are measured. This represents God’s Word, the Bible. The plans given to Moses concerning the Holy of Holies are precisely written in the Torah. And in a greater sense, God’s standard for all humanity is written in Scripture.  

God’s Heavenly sanctuary and altar are up to His standards, but what about His people? What about yourself, for that matter? How do you measure up to God’s requirements? If a “building inspector” were to observe your life, would you be “up to code”? The follower of Jesus need not be afraid of such a measurement, for He has fulfilled the Torah’s requirements on our behalf.

That being said, 2nd Peter and 1st John are solemn reminders that TRUE followers of Jesus believe by faith and seek to obey His commands. We should never cease from seeking God’s Word, the standard by which mankind will be judged, to conduct ourselves in such a way that honors Him, Who saved us.    

There is a tendency among some believers to measure the Church against the World’s standards for righteousness—a bad idea.  

Some Christian leaders say that the Church would never do “the World” better than the World does “the World.” Their point is that when it comes to secular standards of art, music, and media, and how they minister to the flesh, believers in Jesus simply cannot compete. Sure, the Church may occasionally send a music hero, actor, or filmmaker into international prominence, but that is hardly making a dent in the darkness.  

On the other hand, the World will never do “Church” better than the Lord commands His Church to operate on earth. By way of worship, what the World offers consistently fails to live up to its hype. It always leaves us short of what we truly desire at the soul level.

Who knows what our effect on the Kingdom of Darkness would be if we simply determined to conduct ourselves by God’s requirements? The Enemy has no effective long-term defense against a sold-out believer!

“Then I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I ate it, my stomach became bitter. And I was told, “You must prophesy again against many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.” Revelation 10:10-11 (HCSB)

A few years ago, I was lying on an emergency room gurney with bright lights overhead and hospital staff swarming around me. My heart is beating a zillion miles an hour, and there’s a tight pain in my chest. A nurse said, “Mr. Wiggins, put this little pill under your tongue,” so I did.

Then the nurse asks, “Mr. Wiggins, can you tell me exactly what you’re feelinnnnnzzzzzzzzz….”  

Her voice became metallic, and my vision diminished to a pin-sized hole. I was fading fast. Then, slowly, the world started coming back like a boomerang:

“….zzzzznnnnnnaaaare you with us, Mr. Wiggins?” the nurse asked.  

I was back. I nodded, “Yes.” One nurse turns to another, “He’s not having a heart attack. Must be stress.”

I felt a little embarrassed for taking up their vital ER time, but I was relieved to know my worst fears were invalidated by the news that all I needed was a vacation! Sadly, that was not the case for others in the cardiac unit that night. Many folks had developed severe symptoms that they sweetly passed off as heartburn. Later, they were rushed by ambulance to the hospital, where family members were given the bitter news of their loved one’s passing.

I have shared in the sweet experience, alongside the Apostle John, of having received the Gospel. I have received the sweet gift of salvation (which the Gospel offers through faith in Jesus) with great joy, but salvation has a bitter aftertaste in that it carries the reality that many will reject it. It is bitter because I know that on the Day of the Lord, bitter judgment awaits all who are found without Messiah’s atonement. It is bitter because the means of deliverance were so easily obtainable. God’s Grace is offered freely to all who would accept it!

Often, people will violently reject the messenger of the Gospel. That is the bitter downside of having received (and committed to sharing) God’s Word. Yet, we press on because our salvation experiences prove that people are out there, hungry to taste the Gospel’s sweetness. People like us need people like us to share the Gospel with us!

“The rest of the people, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands to stop worshipping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which are not able to see, hear, or walk. And they did not repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.” Revelation 9:20-21 (HCSB)

For those without a Catholic upbringing, Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”) is the day before the day Catholics observe as Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the 40 days of fasting leading up to Easter.

On Ash Wednesday, a priest smudges the foreheads of worshippers with black ash in the sign of a cross (Reminiscent of the “seal of the Lord” placed on believers’ foreheads in The Revelation). This act echoes the Near Eastern and Biblical tradition of throwing ash over one’s head, signifying repentance before God. The minister offers the worshipper an instruction while applying the ashes, such as:

“For you are dust, and you will return to dust.” Genesis 3:19b (HCSB)

Getting back to Mardi Gras, this celebration basically mocks Lent by communicating, “We are going to gorge ourselves, fat with worldliness before God makes us act humble.”  The fact that “Fat Tuesday” is an annual holiday for some people reinforces the insincerity of their Lent fasting. For the Mardi Gras celebrant, Lent is not a voluntary turning from sin but a reluctant duty.

Mardi Gras is celebrated in several cities worldwide, including Rio de Janeiro, Venice, Bahia, Mazatlan, Mobile, Alabama, and most famously, New Orleans.

I bring all this up to focus our attention on post-hurricane Katrina New Orleans. After all the apocalyptic-type conditions we witnessed on television (America’s lowest humanitarian moment), what was the response of the city’s leaders once the dust settled? Was it humility, self-reflection, or repentance? No.

The city’s official response was to get Bourbon Street up and running in time for Mardi Gras. They wanted to send the world a message: The party continues!

What is your response to the Lord’s warnings of impending judgment? Have you determined to abandon your sins and turn to Him? A reckoning is forthcoming. The Bible exhorts us to be “broken” before the Lord in anticipation of His Judgment so we will not harden our hearts towards Him in response to it.

“The person who falls over this stone (Messiah Jesus, the Cornerstone of our faith) will be broken to pieces, but it will crush anyone on whom it falls.” Matthew 21:44 (ISV)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Revelation 8. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“After this, I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were robed in white with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  Revelation 7:9-10 (HCSB)

Some believe that the Church has replaced Israel in the heart of God. They would go as far as to say the Church “is” Israel, and those whom Scripture once considered “Israel” are now just numbered among the multitude of unbelievers.  

Don’t be fooled by this argument. God’s Old Testament promises to Israel are listed as “forever” so often in the Bible that they are too numerous to mention. In the passage preceding the Scripture above, John testifies to having seen 144,000 “sons of Israel” with God’s seal on their foreheads.

Making a distinction between Gentile believers and those believers from Israel who will be saved, John also observes an innumerable “vast multitude” of believers “from every nation, tribe, people, and language.” This is excellent news because it tells us that God is not exclusively Jewish or Gentile. His promise of salvation is for ALL who believe by faith in Messiah Jesus. Still, God makes a purposeful distinction (between Jewish and Gentile believers) in Scripture.

Contrary to the teachings of certain “Christian-themed” cults, John does not give an exhaustive accounting of all the people who will be in Heaven. The 144,000 are a specific number of Jewish evangelists sealed for the service of God. John immediately observes the result of their evangelism when a vast number of believers appear. These new believers are “the ones coming out of the Great Tribulation.” (Revelation 7:14)

Perhaps you are suffering a difficult season of life, a tribulation, as it were. I hope you find comfort in knowing that Jesus understands your situation. He cares about you and extends His grace & mercy (in this season) to all who will accept it. In short, The Revelation is not just a detailed account of God’s Rejection of unbelievers but also the story of His acceptance of ALL who would believe by faith.  

“The One seated on the throne will shelter them: They will no longer hunger; they will no longer thirst; the sun will no longer strike them, nor will any heat.”  Revelation 7:15b-16 (HCSB) (See also how Revelation 7:14-17 matches up with Psalm 23 and Mark 6:30-44)

“When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!”  Then another horse went out, a fiery red one, and its horseman was empowered to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another.  And a large sword was given to him.”  Revelation 6:3-4 (HCSB)

Several years ago, someone in my family researched our “roots.”  For as far back as we can search, someone in my family has been at war.  In the 1700s, the Wiggins fought in the American Revolution.  In the late 1800s, they fought in the Civil War.  They fought in WWII, and my dad is a retired Lt. Colonel in the Air Force.

These days, the world is at war again.  When I lived in California, occasionally, I led music for the Marine boot camp chapel at Camp Pendleton.  And every time I attended those chapel services,  I witnessed what seemed impossible for a Marine: surrender.  That is, many young soldiers surrendered their lives to Jesus’ command.  

A growing number of Religious scholars believe these are the last days.  Perhaps you have wondered if things could get worse.  Well, they can get worse.  And they will.

The Bible speaks of a time when the Lord will command that peace be taken from the earth.  Peace won’t be momentarily suspended or diminished to only reside in remote communities.  Peace will be taken entirely away.  People will slaughter each other.  This is not the kind of slaughter that pits political opponents.  It is that kind of desperate mayhem that we caught just a glimpse of in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans—complete chaos.

After the rapture of the Church, the Lord will withdraw His Spirit from the earth.  All mankind will be so completely and selfishly unrestrained that they lose control.  As bad as modern Islamic terrorism may seem, God’s Spirit still restrains evil from mankind for the most part.  

Our world comprises mostly simple, hard-working people who want to earn a living, raise a family, and live peacefully.  They can do so because they perceive that there is hope that their law-abiding efforts will advance their station in life and provide a better future for themselves and their families.  The Holy Spirit’s message to the world is that there is hope.  Hope in Jesus.  Without the Spirit’s message of hope, even the simplest of men will resort to unthinkable evil.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Paul states that when people say “Peace and safety,” sudden destruction will come.  

Friends, know that while there is a general “peace” in the world today, it won’t always be so.  Furthermore, there is no true Shalom (Heb. “peace”) aside from the Grace and mercy of God through a saving relationship with Messiah Jesus.

“When He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you redeemed people for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. You made them a kingdom, and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.”  Revelation 5:8-10 (HCSB)

As a musician, I am overjoyed by the fact that there are instruments in Heaven because I’ll likely have a job! I love music and how it resounds with us emotionally. Alongside prayer, music is a natural human conduit for worship. When people feel happy, they sing. When they are sad, they sing. When celebrating victory, mourning a loss, or in the heat of competition, people look to music to facilitate the experience.

As a songwriter, I am glad to know there is songwriting in Heaven. The apostle John describes a “new song” being sung in the Heavens as God’s prophecy unfolds. It makes sense because if singing is a natural form of worship, then each time God reveals something new about Himself, we respond with a “new song.”

I used to live under the assumption that once people enter Heaven, they are somehow immediately fully aware of everything about God. I don’t know why, but I believed everyone would be eternally frozen in a perpetual state of worshipful awe. Obviously, they aren’t because John describes some varied activities that he witnessed going on in Heaven.  

Perhaps that is a glimpse of what our time in Heaven will be like. Instead of standing in a circle, frozen in worship, maybe eternity with the Lord will be more…kinetic, with God revealing facets of His infinite greatness to us. I would assume that we would continually sing a new song in response. Either way, we’ll know when we get there, and we’re sure that we’ll get there if our faith is in Jesus’ atoning righteousness!  

In a sense, the experience of God’s revelation happens to us already. Paul said that before Love and Spiritual Gifts, we should seek prophecy. (1 Corinthians 14:1) That is to say that we should seek that God would reveal Himself to us through His Word, the Bible, so that we could worship Him deeper and share Him with others.  

Just when we think we have God figured out and we’ve fathomed the depths of the Bible, He reveals something new about Himself. Then we’re blown away all over again. Now, there is something new to sing about!

“…the 24 elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, worship the One who lives forever and ever, cast their crowns before the throne and say: ‘Our Lord and God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You have created all things, and because of Your will they exist and were created.’”  Revelation 4:10-11 (HCSB)

I’ve had the privilege of leading music at several funerals. There is great ministry opportunity at funerals. Of course, the funeral of a Christian has a bittersweet element. Bitter because a loved one is no longer with us, and sweet because we know they are with the Lord.

The funeral of a non-believer is a different story. It’s simply bitter.

A thing to remember about funerals is that the ceremony is not really for the deceased. Funerals are for those of us left behind. They help us mourn by giving us a chance to say goodbye. Before our memories begin to fade, funerals give us a chance to memorialize the departed.    

After the death of an unbeliever, the family will often ask the minister if their loved one is in Heaven. I once heard a pastor wisely answer that question. He said, “I am certain that wherever they are, your loved one would tell you to trust in Jesus!”

Heaven and Hell are not merely theological concepts. They are real places. I could see why you might not trust the testimony of the average person. But at least consider the testimony of those who are there! Those in Heaven would say that trusting Jesus was the best decision they ever made! Those in Hell would say rejecting Him was their worst mistake.

The apostle John was enabled to see Heaven through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. He saw 24 elders worshipping God. These elders were once people like you and me living on earth. When they passed, they joined the Father and the Son in Heaven. By their own admission, they received salvation and honor only because of God’s grace. The same grace is extended to us. It is free and immediate if you would only choose to turn from your sin and accept it.

“The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation says: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:14b-16 (HCSB)

What a bummer to be the church of Laodicea! They are forever known as the “lukewarm” church. I have performed over 1000 concerts around the world. Most of them were in church ministry settings. Sadly, I have seen far too many “lukewarm” ministries. The church of Laodicea, while barely showing signs of life, is still alive, well-marketed, and well-attended in our generation.

Here’s what I mean. Let’s say a preacher moves to a city. He gathers a group of believers, buys a building & sound equipment, and advertises to the community, “Come!”  But when people show up, the preacher never teaches the Bible to be understood comprehensively; he never exposes sin, warns of the coming wrath, or challenges with urgency that people must believe in Jesus.  

Afraid of scaring people away, that pastor only highlights the positive aspects of the Gospel…love, acceptance, and peace. While this approach may draw a sizeable crowd with interesting topics, highly involved productions, and activities, nobody’s life is being “transformed.”  The congregation eventually becomes more like a Bible-themed club.

That’s a lukewarm church. It’s not entirely “Cold” because it utilizes Biblical principles. But it’s not “Hot,” either, because it denies the power & the passion of God’s Spirit to move boldly.

While it’s reasonably easy to understand why God would want people to be Hot with zeal, why would He wish anyone were Cold? I believe God would desire a Cold person because a Cold person is under no delusion that they are saved!  

Cold people live for themselves. They’re in the World, and they know it. A Cold person is more likely to become a believer because when confronted with the Gospel, they can compare it to their lives and see a marked difference. Eventually, they may hear the Gospel, backed up by the white-hot testimony and lifestyle of a passionate believer. In response, the non-believer would be more likely to trade their worldliness for God’s righteousness, becoming a faithful follower of Jesus. Are you yet to believe in Jesus? Have you traditionally been “cold” to the Gospel? I pray you will believe it today! Because while Jesus is the only Way, He liberally offers salvation to anyone who would turn from their sins and believe. “...today is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

But if you are already a believer, living a Worldly lifestyle, consider Joshua:

“But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve….” Joshua 24:15 (NKJV)

“Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in God’s paradise.” Revelation 2:7 (HCSB)

“Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor will never be harmed by the second death.” Revelation 2:11 (HCSB)

“Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.”  Revelation 2:17 (HCSB)

“Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:29 (HCSB)

There is an old saying, “Born once, die twice. Born twice, die once.”  “Born once” means rejecting the gospel and living only for this world. When such a person dies, they actually have died twice because they were dead in their sins while alive, and now, through physical death, they are dead for all eternity, separated from God.

When a person is “Born twice,” it means they have recognized they were born, dead in sin, and have received the “New Life” offered by Messiah…who died on our behalf. That person “lives twice” because they were given life on earth, plus eternal life with the Lord in Heaven. In today’s passage, the apostle John speaks of the benefits of listening to God’s Spirit and following the Messiah. He is speaking of being “born twice” or, as the Bible puts it, “born again.”  

The believer (called a “victor” because, through Jesus, they have obtained victory over death) lives forever with God. This is illustrated by the image of eating from the “Tree of Life.” It carries the idea that whoever eats from it has life and will never cease eating from it. Again, John writes the “victor” will never be harmed by “second death.” Concerning being a victor, referencing Psalm 44:22, Isaiah 53:7, and Zechariah 11:4-7, in his epistle to the Romans, Paul said:

“No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him Who loved us.” Romans 8:37 (HCSB)

John goes on to say the victor will be given “hidden manna,” which represents God’s miraculous provision and sustaining of His people.

Finally, we are to receive “a white stone” inscribed with a new name, signifying that God will remember us…not for who we were (our old name) but for who we have become (new name) by grace, through faith in Messiah Jesus.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Revelation 1. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh." Jude 20-23 (NKJV)

How do we build ourselves up in the faith? It’s much the same way bodybuilders increase muscle mass: little by little. Let’s say a fitness trainer wants you to lift 300 lbs. Maybe that’s easy for some of you, but for most of us, it’s downright impossible! So, how do we reach our goal?  

The fitness trainer assesses your strength and pushes your limits a little. Whenever you reach that goal, the trainer increases the limit…eventually challenging you to lift all 300lbs. If you can’t meet your goal, the trainer is right there to “spot” you, literally lifting the weight off you.    

Seldom does God demand a new believer to perform at the highest possible faith level. We mostly start with simple beliefs. Maybe we walk an aisle or pray a prayer, but it’s hardly a Herculean leap of faith in the beginning. We do the basics: prayer, Bible study, and Godly community. Pretty soon, God calls us to do something we don’t think we can accomplish…but we meet the challenge through His power.

Our faith doesn’t grow until the object of our faith is reached. Once we’ve reached our goal, perhaps we can rest a bit. At the very least, we say, “Thank you, Lord!” Eventually (and sometimes immediately), He steps up the challenge…and off we go again. That’s how faith grows. God doesn’t just “Poof!” bestow faith. We build faith upon faith. Of course, He’s always there to “spot” us.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation, He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (HCSB)

We should grow stronger and wiser enough to become trainers ourselves. Because Jesus has mercifully “spotted” us when we doubted, we have learned to show mercy to others who doubt. Because He has valiantly “Saved” us from God’s wrath (and continues to rescue us from various scenarios), we accept the call to “snatch others from the fire.”  Some challenges will seem impossible, but we must trust God because He always chooses rightly. Our faith to move forward is emboldened when we remember His past faithfulness.

“Dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health physically just as you are spiritually.” 3 John 2 (HCSB)

It’s a natural inclination to value our physical needs above spiritual ones. We often have a higher opinion of God when we’re successful. We generally say, “God is good, because I have everything I need.”  Ironically, we call on God less when we are successful.

When times are difficult, we generally have a lower opinion of God. We ask, “Lord, why are You allowing these troubles?”  Strangely, though, it’s during hard times that we call on God the most because we’re most aware of our helplessness.

Here’s what Jesus says our priorities should be:

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” Matthew 6:33 (NASB)

The bottom line is that a paradigm shift is for many of us. We must move beyond the concept of God, which views Him as a “genie” whom we order to provide things we want. Instead, we must acknowledge Him as Lord and recognize the un-surpassingly abundant value of His grace towards us…something He has already done for us. If we had proper value for what He has done for us, we would be more likely to ask what we could do for Him!  

Our relationship with God is lost whenever earthly prosperity (or the lack thereof) is more important than spiritual prosperity. God’s top priority is for His purposes to be accomplished. While He doesn’t need us to establish His agenda, He chooses to give us limited participation in the process.  

As a general rule, the acquisition of earthly abundance is not an adequate means to establish our long-term faithfulness. Conversely, our enduring hardship and experience of God’s faithfulness through adversity draw us closer to Him. It is only after we recognize the frailness of our humanity that we best perceive our dependence on Him, as well as the abundance of His great love and provision towards us.

What if our EARTHLY prosperity & health were proportional to our SPIRITUAL prosperity and health? What if they were dependent on each other? How would you fare? Suppose someone followed us around, taking notes. What if, after a month, he had to write you a “blessing”? Would he hope you would prosper “as your soul prospers,” or would he hope your soul could catch up with your physical and Worldly prosperity?

I pray that as you grow in Messiah Jesus, your health and earthly success will match your spiritual awakening.

“And this is love: that we walk according to His commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love.”  2 John 6 (HCSB)

Funny, this devotional will be longer than the whole book of 2nd John!

As a young believer, I really wanted to honor the Lord in all I did. But I was unwilling to submit to the Lord when it came to dating relationships. My attitude problem brought me great trouble! I used to get so uncomfortable sitting through sermons on love & dating. I knew what the Bible said concerning the subject, but I continued to disobey God’s Word. I simply didn’t want to submit. I had my idea of what love was, and I wasn’t willing to accept God’s definition.

Steely Dan once sang, “The things that pass for knowledge, I can’t understand.”  I would say the same about love. Much of what passes for “love” in our society…even among professing followers of Jesus…is just plain fleshly lust & desire. To be blunt, pre-marital sex is not love. For believers, it is the opposite. It communicates this idea: “I know it offends God, and I know it makes you a partner in that offense, but I don’t care.”  

I remember a close friend sitting down and trying to discuss my sin issues, helping to lead me in the way of righteousness, so to speak. I knew he was right, but something deep inside kept telling me, “You’re in love! Listen to your heart because nobody understands you like me!”  Let’s just say it wasn’t God’s voice.

God created sex, and we are sexual creatures. But that doesn’t mean our carnal drives should override God’s Word. True love is not an overwhelming feeling or emotion that lifts us and carries us away from honoring the Lord. True love is just the opposite. It is walking according to His commandments, surrendering our desires, and making our flesh submit to His purposes.

“Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 (HCSB)

Just as Jesus loved us, we are commanded to love others. True love says, “I will honor the Lord by upholding the honor & reputation of my Lord, my church, my partner, and myself.”

“Walking in love” means walking according to God’s commands. What’s more, confronting a sin issue and convincing a brother (or sister) to turn back to the Lord is not being judgmental. It is love in action. And it may just save a fellow believer from a load of trouble and shame.

“We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the One who is born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true One. We are in the true One – that is in His Son Messiah Jesus. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:18-21 (HCSB)

The Biblical ideas of “sinning” are not as clear-cut as one might think. Obviously, followers of the Messiah, Jesus, sin. Otherwise, Jesus would not have needed to teach His disciples to pray:

“And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.”  Matthew 6:12 (NKJV)

Also, earlier in 1 John, the apostle exhorted:

“My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Messiah Jesus the Righteous One.”  1 John 2:1 (HCSB)

So, what does John mean when he says, “Everyone born of God does not sin”? He is referring to the Jewish concept of “sinning willfully.”  More than simply sinning on purpose, “sinning willfully” means approaching the Lord without an atoning sacrifice.

“He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the World.”  1 John 2:2 (HCSB)

When it comes to approaching the Lord, the follower of Jesus never sins “willfully.”  Although they may sin of their free will, they never approach the Lord without atonement. That is how John can exhort believers in Jesus (like ourselves) who sin, yet later make the statement that believers do not sin. Of course, we sin, but we can stand before the Lord boldly because our sin has been atoned for. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

This is also part of why John is going to such great lengths to make sure people know that a true believer would never abuse God’s grace long term. Instead, true believers live to obey the Lord’s commands out of thankfulness for having their sins atoned for.

Finally, John ends his letter by eluding to the Tri-unity of God. He uses the Hebrew understanding that God is “ONE” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) to describe the Messiah, God the Father, and the One who “has given us understanding,” which is the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Whom Jesus sends to all believers at the moment they believe.

Any other concept of God is a lie of the “evil one,” and thus idolatry. We must stay away from any teaching that denies (or adds to) these attributes of God.

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the World. This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Messiah Jesus has come in the flesh is from God.” 1 John 4:1-2 (HCSB)

A few years back, I worked for a church in Chicago. When the church renovated its offices, I often took the train downtown and worked from a coffee shop. At lunchtime, I would walk across the street to the Chicago Art Institute.

One of my favorite sections of the museum was the modern art exhibit. As a kid, I remember seeing some of those paintings in textbooks and wondering what kindergartener painted them! Abstract art can seem boring in books, but it can be quite compelling in person.

God’s Spirit, alive in a person, has an even more riveting effect! Reading the accounts of the apostles often seems black & white and clinical. One can feel detached from the page. But when you are confronted with an actual Spirit-filled believer, faith in the Messiah takes on a whole new dimension!    

Many profess to know the secrets of God. Many call themselves “experts and teachers,” even amassing large followings. They may be highly educated and have instant answers to criticism. Some of them become extremely wealthy from their “ministries.” Yet, none of that external evidence guarantees the person is speaking on behalf of God on any particular issue. This scenario was true even among the early Messianic (Christian) community, so John felt compelled to address it.

To not be led astray by false teaching, how can we test the spirits? First off, we should know the Bible. God would never contradict His Word, nor would His spokesmen. I teach the Bible linearly (chapter-by-chapter) instead of topically because I want people to understand the Bible as an entire narrative…how it all fits together. I personally seek to have a comprehensive knowledge of God’s Word so that when a person says, “I have heard from the Lord!” I respond, “Show me in the Bible where God would agree with you.” I never rely on a “gut feeling.”

There are many “spirits” or “suggestions” offering spiritual direction. Many of them cozy up nicely with a person’s belief in Jesus. The best counterfeits are those that look like the real thing. In the end, the source of all spiritual direction is either the Lord or Satan. How must we discern the truth amid such mixed messages? We cannot assume to know God’s unrevealed will for our lives unless we pursue His revealed will, the Bible.  

Think of it this way: A sign of sickness is a “Gut feeling.” Only the Bible brings true healing.

“Look at how great a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God’s children. And we are! The reason the World does not know us is that it didn’t know Him.” 1 John 3:1 (HCSB)

I recently saw a documentary on “Children of the Rich & Famous.” To me, the kid who stood out most was Paris Hilton. It’s not because she’s a pop singer, a fashion model, or a reality TV diva. It’s because I used to live in hotel rooms, touring around the globe in a rock band.

When a band is just starting out, nobody pays them any money! They usually drive a rusty van and sleep on strangers’ floors and in run-down hotels. Glamorous, huh?

I remember one concert promoter early in my career. He put us up in a Hilton hotel. It was incredible! The carpet didn’t smell like stale beer, and the sheets didn’t have stains. There wasn’t the “38-caliber” 2 am wake-up call we had become accustomed to.   For me, Hilton meant Heaven!

Enter Paris. What upset me so much was that she had diminished the Hilton name to “Motel 6” status.

How well do God’s children represent the name they have inherited? I often think about that question, usually whenever I have to make a decision that involves me choosing to be a servant or be served! What about you? Have you entered a saving relationship with Jesus? How have you represented and honored the new name the Lord has given you?

The third commandment says: “Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.” Many followers of Jesus believe this commandment tells us not to use God’s name as a curse word. While it is never a good idea to flippantly say the Lord’s name, the 3rd commandment is actually telling us a whole other thing.

The 3rd commandment carries the idea that we should not “receive” the Lord’s name in vain. That is, don’t receive His Name (as a bride receives a groom’s name) and then act like you’re still married to the World.

I am glad I experienced “Hilton,” the hotel before I learned of “Hilton,” the heiress. Let’s pray she comes to know Jesus in a saving way soon. The apostle John says the World does not know us because it does not know God. Let’s do our best to live at a level of Biblical integrity, with hopes that the World chooses to know God because they know us...not despite knowing us.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of 1 John 2. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:8-10 (HCSB)

“There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”  Blaise Paschal 1623-1662

What is sin? As a child, I learned that “sin” is an archery term, meaning “to miss the mark.”  I believe everyone knows they sin because everyone feels empty or incomplete to some extent. We all feel as if we have fallen short of “some” standard.

The pertinent question is not, “Do you sin?” meaning, “Do you feel incomplete?” Instead, “Do you believe the standard you fall short of is God’s standard, as written in the Bible?”

Missionary martyr Jim Elliot expanded Blaise Paschal’s statement by saying, “The soul is a vacuum that longs to be filled. It cares not with which it fills itself, as long as it is full.”  He was describing the scenario where a person could visit a church and be filled & satisfied with the things of God, only to leave that place and (shortly after that) satisfy the flesh with the things of the World. When our standard for righteousness is “how we feel,” we simply live for whatever satisfies the flesh. When our standard is God’s Word, we live to deny the flesh to honor God.

Many believe that if they deny the Bible as God’s standard, they don’t have to compare themselves to it, fill themselves with it, or conduct themselves by it. Those foolish people say, “I have not sinned against the Bible because I don’t believe its claims to authority.”  

They deceive themselves because the Bible doesn’t need man’s approval to be right. It simply IS right. But mankind needs the Bible to live rightly unto God. Where else will we learn of His standard, our sins, and Jesus’ gift of forgiveness & cleansing of unrighteousness?

To say, “We don’t have any sin,” makes God a liar, who gave Messiah Jesus to pay the penalty for our “missing the mark” and complete what is lacking. It makes Jesus a fool, suffering needlessly. And it means we are condemned, without atonement, wandering this earth trying to fill our “God-shaped vacuums” with “World shaped” stuff.

“The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.”  2 Peter 3:9-10 (HCSB)

I often say there are two things about God that baffle a fool:  1) How long He takes to act and 2) How quickly He arrives.

Concerning Jesus’ return, everything in God’s plan is unfolding right on time. The clarion call of the “Jesus movement” of the 1970s was, “People get ready; Jesus is coming.”  Now, decades later, Jesus still hasn’t returned to redeem His Bride, the Church. As a result, many are laughing at those “Jesus freaks” today. “Where is Jesus?” they taunt. Well, Jesus has delayed His coming because of His desire for all to repent. He is patient, but His patience has a limit.

In the days of Noah, there was plenty of time for the scoffers to inquire about what Noah was doing, building this giant thing called an “ark.”  Surely, they laughed at him as he diligently and faithfully (seemingly nonsensically) followed God’s instruction. They had every opportunity to repent, even as word about Noah’s labors spread. But when the rain-turned-floodwater rose, the time for their repentance had expired. Likewise, turning to Jesus, which seems so convenient today, will be impossible on the Day of the Lord when Messiah returns to judge the unfaithful.

Concerning His quick arrival, there is the story of the three demons standing before Satan. Satan asks, “What will we tell these humans that will send them to Hell?”

One Demon says, “I’ll tell them there is no God.”

Satan answers, “No, they’ll look at creation and figure out it had to come from somewhere.”

The second Demon says, “I’ll tell them there is no judgment.”

“No,” answers the Devil. “There’s too much evil in the world for them to think it will all go unpunished.”

The third Demon smiles, “I’ll tell them they’ve got time, and they can follow Jesus tomorrow.”

“Yes,” answers Satan. “They’ll believe that!”  

Many have said they’ll believe in Jesus “tomorrow,” only to die today. I’m not trying to scare anyone unnecessarily. If you are an unbeliever, I hope you are necessarily scared! Necessary because there is no other name by which men MUST be saved. (Acts 4:12)  The Bible says, “Today is the day of salvation” for a reason. Joshua told the Israelites, “Choose you this day whom you will serve.”  Today is the only day you’re sure of.

A wise man knows Jesus is coming, and he is prepared. Are you? Spread the word. People get ready…

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their unrestrained ways, and the way of truth will be blasphemed because of them.”  2 Peter 2:1-2 (HCSB)

My main concern for you is that you know, obey, and share the truth of God. You know I have asked nothing of you other than you seek the Lord without abandon.

Many of you are in that season of weighing the Bible’s values against those of the World. In a sense, that process never changes, but between 18 and 30 yrs. of age, there is a strong desire to determine whether you will adopt your parents’ values or create your own value system.  

To make that valuation, we naturally use our personal experience to filter the truth. That is, in our natural human state, how we feel determines what is real: Perception is reality.   Anyone who’s ever been through a relationship break-up knows you can’t always trust your feelings. Life needs more of a solid foundation for truth than simply feeling good. We need the Word of God.

I hope you never trade your Christian experience for a Worldly one, but I’m aware it happens. Most of us can see a blatant heresy from far away. For example, you’re probably not toying with choosing between Christianity and Ritual Satanism. But that doesn’t mean Satan isn’t trying to keep you from rightly following God.

For instance, one of the most divisive environments for young believers could be a Christian college campus. That’s right. The Devil loves to present himself as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I read a recent statistic that the faculties of 3/4 of America’s Christian colleges cannot even agree that the Bible is the infallible truth, holding absolute authority. This should not surprise you because heresy within the Church at large is an issue that even the apostles dealt with.  

The most effective heresy is the one that looks closest to the truth. It is the one that de-motivates you to pray because it says everything has already been planned, for instance. It says you cannot fully trust the Bible because sinful men wrote it. It tells you not to share your faith because it will make potential converts uncomfortable.

Several years ago, I committed my life to reading God’s Word, walking in His ways, and sharing His truth. I have found it is the only trustworthy foundation, the value against which the World will be judged. Keep reading the Bible and asking the Lord to reveal His truth to you so that you won’t be fooled by false teachers. See for yourself what the Lord reveals to those who completely give themselves to Him.

“Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you have. I consider it right, as long as I am in this bodily tent, to wake you up with a reminder, knowing that I will soon lay aside my tent, as our Lord, Jesus Christ [the Messiah] has also shown me. And I will also make every effort that you may be able to recall these things at any time after my departure” 2 Peter 1:12-15 (HCSB)

Several years ago, an evangelical philosophy began to spread throughout the “Christian” music and entertainment community. Based primarily on the ideas of a book called “Roaring Lambs,” many artists in the business became preoccupied with the notion that people weren’t becoming followers of Jesus because there weren’t enough Christian “stars” in the secular entertainment industry. A quasi-movement arose in response to the perceived “need” to raise prominent Christian artists to influence the World with their art and star power.  

I find nothing wrong with evangelism or doing ministry in secular venues…but attached to the philosophy mentioned above was the negative sentiment that Christian artists who didn’t adopt this approach, whose music was primarily designed to disciple and encourage believers in Jesus, were “selling out.” The term used was “preaching to the choir.” In response, many artists decided to forsake the Church (as a marketplace) and rush to the general market, where all the “lost” people are perceived to be dwelling.  

Being a follower of Jesus and a member of the music business community, I became keenly interested in this movement. I have observed that the secular siege has more to do with marketing music than winning souls. Christian music, TV, radio, and retail combined reach less than 15% of people who attend churches. Preaching to the choir? On its best day, the Christian music industry has not yet reached 85% of the “choir”! Surely, there are lost and discouraged people in that 85% of congregation attendees who need to be reminded of the truth and hope of God’s Word.

Many of my colleagues felt they were on the cusp of an awakening and that the secular initiative would be the fulcrum from which a colossal revival would be leveraged. A few even obtained general market success. But for the most part, the Church-at-large is still waiting to receive the wave of “converts” these stars and their music have produced. The lack of “revival” (through the mainstream efforts) is because the closer we get to the World…with the intent of selling them a product…the more the World demands, we diminish our message. Quite literally, They won’t buy it.  

Friends, the World will not be won from a stage. “The revival will not be televised,” to paraphrase the ’70s protest song. God wants laypeople to win souls. By the way, that’s YOU. More than a rock star persona, we need a generation of well-versed believers who can do the work of an evangelist and remain present in the lives of those whom they lead to faith: Discipleship. This was precisely the Apostle Peter’s point. One doesn’t become well-versed and disciplined without repetition and support from a Godly community.

“Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.”  1 Peter 5:8-9 (CSB)

Israel was at a stalemate in its war against the Philistines. A giant Philistine named Goliath was taunting Israel to send a man to settle the conflict, mono-a-mono. A worship-leading shepherd boy named David, who was not even old enough to be in the army, found himself standing before King Saul. Saul considered letting the whole war come down to a match-up between a giant and a kid. Can you imagine their conversation? (1 Samuel 17)

David: “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by the giant; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!”

Saul: “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth and he is an experienced warrior!”

David: “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, I went after it, struck it down and rescued the lamb from its mouth.”

David got the job…and he killed the Giant. But David did not defeat the Philistine army. The Bible says that David’s victory encouraged the Israelite army so much that THEY took courage and routed the Philistines!

The Devil roars and intimidates like a lion or a giant, perhaps.

“Because GREATER is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”  1 John 4:4b (KJV)  

Take courage and faithfully resist the Devil. He will flee from you because your faith is backed by the promise, power, and presence of God!

The real question is: would you rather be a “David” or just another “Israelite soldier?”  Those who choose to be “Davids” are willing to take on the enemy, whatever form he takes (lion, bear, giant), to rescue God’s oppressed “Lambs.”  “Davids” endure suffering and take on giants, knowing that one man’s personal victory can encourage an army to win a war!  

Of course, like David, Peter knew a lot about the importance of shepherding, watching the Lord’s flock, and defending them against that “lion,” the Devil. (John 21:15-17)

“…Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’” John 21:17b (NKJV)

“Therefore, since Christ [Messiah] suffered in the flesh, equip yourselves also with the same resolve – because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin – in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires, but for God’s will. For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the pagans choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.” 1 Peter 4:1-3 (HCSB)

Let’s admit it: we are selfish. We live in an “i” culture, complete with “iTunes,” “iMovie,” “iChat”…. “iYaiYai”! Those are all useful programs on my Mac computer, but they are also icons that remind me of our self-centered society. Burger King advertises, “Have it your way.” We have all seen “YouTube,” “Myspace,” and the list goes on. Corporate America has our number, and they are targeting our selfish nature to sell us products.

I don’t blame these vendors and manufacturers for my selfishness. They are just responding to market research that identifies the personality and buying traits of the average consumer. What I should do is blame myself for being the “average consumer”!

By convincing us the world should revolve around us, advertisers condition us to consume without accountability. Have you ever seen a car commercial that said, “This is the most elegant automobile, but remember…you have a mortgage to think about?”  Merchants don’t care about our personal well-being. They just want us to buy their wares. They’re feeding our egos, and we are devouring every morsel they serve.  

What happens if we resist the trends? We may become out of style or out of step with the culture, but I bet we’d also be out of debt! America has more credit card debt per household than any country in the world. Statistically, you are at least $2000 in the hole right now. Why? We simply won’t say “NO!” to our flesh.

Peter tells us there has already been enough time spent feeding the flesh, “doing the will of pagans.” It is time that we resolve ourselves, by the power of God’s Spirit, to starve the flesh, making it meek (submissive) to the Lord’s will. Of course, there will be pain, and the flesh will howl! But let us spend our remaining time on earth denying the flesh, obeying the Word of the Lord, and sharing the liberty freely offered through faith in Messiah Jesus.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of 1 Peter 3. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Coming to Him, a living stone – rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God – you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer sacrifices acceptable to God through [Messiah] Jesus Christ. For it is contained in Scripture:  Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame!”  1 Peter 2:4-6 (HCSB)

The first thing that happens in home construction is a clearing of the land. Next, a foundation is laid. Then, carpenters raise walls and trussing. After that, electrical is wired, then drywall, flooring and roofing, and paint…

On the day the lot is cleared, nobody but the architect and the contractor know the plans. The workers might get a glimpse of the blueprints, but they could hardly fathom all the details. They simply follow orders, laboring at the direction of the contractor. As the construction progresses, onlookers guess what the structure will be used for. Will it be a home, business, or, perhaps, a church?

Speaking to the Jews in the Diaspora, Peter connects with their longing to be accepted by God and worship Him properly. But Peter distinguishes between the earthly temple in Jerusalem, made of cut stones, and God’s temple of the New Covenant, built with human stones. When Peter wrote this first letter between 60 and 64AD, nobody would have guessed the Romans would destroy the Jerusalem temple in 6 to 10 years. It has never been rebuilt.

In contrast, the Temple of Messiah (The greater community of Messiah) cannot be destroyed. It is not made of earthen stones sitting on a strategic piece of property. It is made of human stones, and it extends beyond the earth into eternity. Speaking of His bodily crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus said,

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2:19 (NKJV)

Now, there’s a warranty we can count on!  

With Jesus as the cornerstone, this “spiritual house” is unrecognizable to those who are perishing. The architect is God, and its contractor is the Holy Spirit. We are called to be both “stones” and “laborers.”  No man has seen all of God’s plans in full detail. But God has revealed enough of His plan to keep us busy! We know enough to exhort all mankind: believe in Jesus, worship Him, and never be put to shame!

“Peter, an apostle of [Messiah] Jesus Christ: To the temporary residents dispersed in  Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ [Messiah]. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”  1 Peter 1:1-2 (HCSB)

Peter’s introduction is similar to that of James’. He begins his letter to the dispersed Jews. But Peter adds that their situation was only “temporary.”

Driven from the land and persecuted for generations, the dispersed Jews felt forsaken by the Lord. They first needed to be reminded that they were still “chosen, according to the foreknowledge of God.” They needed to understand that God still loved them, and He had a purpose for their lives, both personally and for the Jewish community altogether.  

That is what we all need to hear. Before we were even born, God knew we were sinners yet chose to love us.

“In that while we were still sinners, Christ [Messiah] died for us.”  Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

The next thing these Jews needed to hear was that they were “set apart for obedience” by God’s Spirit. God’s purpose for us is that we enter into a saving relationship with Him, which affects us to the point that we live to honor and obey Him.  God offers the same challenge to people of all nationalities, calling us to “bear fruits worthy of repentance.” Luke 3:8

The Diaspora (Dispersion) was part of God’s rebuke towards Israel for not following Him as He had prescribed. Peter tells his Hebrew brothers that the Lord had not forsaken them altogether. It is a message to us as well. No matter how far you have fallen, God has one message for you: “Follow Me!”  Jesus’ blood has provided atonement for the sins of all who would repent and receive salvation. More than temporary situational forgiveness, Messiah’s atonement covers ALL sin: past, present, and future.

Here, in the introduction to Peter’s letter, we have the whole gospel. 1) God is Tri-unity (Father, Spirit, Messiah). 2) God knew our sin yet chose to love us. 3) By the power of His Spirit, we have been set apart to obey Him.  4) We are guaranteed God’s approval, not because of our righteousness, but because the object of our faith is the infinite worth of Messiah’s atoning blood, shed for the remission of our sinfulness.

“My brothers, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his life from death and cover a multitude of sins.”  James 5:19-20 (HCSB)

Before expounding on the last sentence of James’ letter, I think we should refresh our memories of its beginning.

“James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: To the 12 tribes in the Dispersion.”

This letter is, first and foremost, a Jewish letter. More than simply “Jewish,” it was directed to a specific group of Jews: Messianic (Christian) Jews living outside Israel. These Jews had been scattered abroad for several generations, and their newfound acceptance of Jesus as Messiah did not reflect the norm in Jerusalem.  

Part of the reason the apostles like Paul began planting congregations outside of Roman-controlled Israel was that the Jews abroad were more likely to assess the gospel, apart from the politics of Jerusalem. James’s letter was one of the first distributed 17 years after Jesus’s resurrection. James’ audience would have been more apt to weigh his words against Scripture than they would in later epistles simply because non-Messianic Jewish opposition had yet to saturate the dispersed Jewish culture worldwide.

Speaking to the “Dispersion,” James was not trying to make his readers “Christians,” as we understand the Church today. At the time of James’ letter, believing that Jesus was Messiah was considered a sect of Judaism by non-Messianic Jews and Romans alike. Of course, to Messianic Jews, believing in Jesus was considered the fulfillment of all they and their forefathers, the patriarchs, had longed for. That is, in Jesus, the Jew is completed in his search for restoration and communion with the Lord. Jewish believers today often refer to themselves not as “Christians” but as “Completed Jews” because Messiah Jesus completes what was lacking in the Law with respect to Israel’s salvation.

James encouraged his Jewish brothers to be good JEWS by submitting to the Lordship of Messiah Jesus. That is not to say that Gentiles were excluded or that Jewish believers are more special than Gentile believers. It’s just that Gentiles were not the primary people group targeted by James’ letter. Jesus, speaking to His disciples (all Jews), said, “I am THE Way” (John 14:6), not, “I’m setting up another way.” Judaism had strayed from God’s original design, and Jesus was restoring it to the way it should always have been. It was the Apostles’ articulated belief, through the revelation of God’s Spirit, that faith in Jesus constituted salvation for both Jews and Gentiles. Apart from Him, there is no salvation.

Jesus had ONE goal: Glorify the Father by atoning for the sin of the world. The primary goal of James’ letter was to exhort the local Jewish believers and persuade the dispersed non-believing Jewish people to turn from their sin to a saving relationship with Jesus. Furthermore, James challenged all believers, Jew or Gentile, to do the same.

“What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings that are at war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires.”  James 4:1-3 (HCSB)

I have heard the arguments of those who propose we must change the “Image” of the Church-at-large, to keep up with the times. I have sat in the planning meetings of large ministries and heard many creative approaches, all designed to win people by aligning ministry with secular standards. All these efforts perceive that the battle over souls is one of marketing, finesse, and fashion. Here’s a sample argument:  

“We’ve got to compel people without offending them, so we must create a non-threatening environment. If we come off preachy, we’ll turn people off with our message, so let’s focus more on topics and art and lay off rigid Bible teaching.”    

To this end, a ministry environment emerges that puts forth God’s Word as a “Resource” instead of “The Source.”  Concerning this approach to evangelism and discipleship, I ask, “How do we want people to respond, given we reached them with this approach?”

The response: “We hope they would respond by fully devoting their lives to Jesus, reading the Bible, praying, living in community with other believers, and passionately sharing their faith.”

If that is what we want people to become, then that’s how we must lead them. That’s who we should be, what we should model—speed of the leader, speed of the team.

The problem with mankind is internal. You cannot win internal battles by employing the tactics of external warfare. People may be entertained and impressed by a production, but it ministers primarily to the flesh. It may impress at the moment, but it doesn’t “change” someone long-term.  

Furthermore, an over-fed flesh is a malnourished soul. It conditions the congregant to judge spiritual matters by how they feel, as opposed to being led by God’s Spirit to find joy in being uncomfortable for the sake of the Gospel.   Eventually, someone else will devise a more clever approach, and all your sheep will follow a newer, hipper shepherd.  

Only the Gospel reaches souls because only that has the power to reach us within. When the internal is ministered to, our desires and motivations change. A transformed heart asks and receives from the Lord because it has become molded to His revealed will by the power of His Spirit as we search His Word.

“Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.”  James 3:13-16 (HCSB)

I have been in the music business all my adult life, singing songs about Jesus. While many great songs of praise come out of Nashville, Tennessee’s “Christian” music industry, it also has its share of ENVY and SELF-AMBITION. Those two negative attributes are fueled by money, notoriety, and an over-anxious need for God’s acceptance. They pretty much define all human competition. A friend once said, “When you take God’s business and mix it with the music business, you get monkey business!”

While self-ambition is somewhat self-explanatory, what is envy? Envy is pride wounded in competition. Think about it. When have you been envious? Has it not been when you felt someone else was succeeding despite your efforts?

The classic Biblical case of envy (while there are many) is Cain and Abel. Two brothers make offerings to the Lord.  Cain’s offering is from the field, and Abel’s is from the animals. The Lord looked more favorably upon Abel’s offering for reasons we won’t get into now. The point is that Cain’s reaction was bitter envy, which, left unchecked, led Cain to murder his brother. Think about it: At that time, Cain slaughtered 1/4th of the world’s population!

In business, especially business that deals with the ministry, this happens all the time—envy, not murder. Hundreds of artists write songs to the Lord and record them for distribution in the marketplace. When one record becomes more successful than another, envy creeps in. Competition can be healthy, but unchecked competition incubates envy.

Here’s another saying: If it were that easy to grab, there wouldn’t be any left. Given the rules of economics, supply, and demand, very few artists can succeed in the competitive market. It is lonely at the top, and often, it is vicious. After the “big grab,” most artists are left feeling underpaid, underappreciated, and, sadly, they often feel rejected by God.

Who among you is wise? Reject the tendency to be envious and self-ambitious. Find your identity in the Lord. Rest in His plan and provision, and show your works as one who has already received God’s blessing of abundant and eternal life through Messiah Jesus.

“For whoever keeps the entire law, yet fails in one point, is guilty of breaking it all.”  James 2:10 (HCSB)

I am an artist. Being an artist is a “condition” that should be covered by insurance. When a group of pastors gets together, it’s called a “conference.”  When artists get together, it’s called a “support group.”  As an artist, I get stuck in the conceptual realm of thought and depend on others to handle my details.

Periodically, my wife will ask me to help her by writing a list of chores for me. Usually, she’ll say, “There’s a lot here, but PLEASE MAKE SURE you do #’s 1, 2, 3…”  Those items are the PRIORITY items. If I don’t complete the list but cover the priorities, she’s usually happy.

While not everyone is an artist, if we’re honest, we must admit we’ve all had the “priority list” approach to God’s Law. None of us has completely followed God, so the natural assumption is that God won’t hold anyone accountable for falling a little short.

We try to avoid the BIG sins: murder, stealing, and adultery (although our culture seems to be growing more tolerant of adultery). But when it comes to lying, coveting, or observing the Sabbath, we figure God doesn’t care as much. We say, “If I do the PRIORITIES on the list, God will be happy.”  Guess what? God’s standard is perfection.  

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is Perfect” Matthew 5:48 (HCSB)

The Ten Commandments are not a prioritized list. They are God’s directive, His character, and standard articulated to mankind. He itemized the Commandments so that we can comprehend facets of His Holiness. By commanding that we keep the entire Law, God is commanding us to keep His character. Anything short of the complete Law is unacceptable because it humiliates God’s character.

You may say, “Well then, NOBODY can please God through the Law!”  I agree, and so does Scripture. That is precisely James’ point, as he was writing to the Jewish believers dispersed worldwide. James laid out the impossibility of men being justified before God strictly on the merit of their good deeds.

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)

The only way to keep the entire Law is through a saving relationship with Messiah. Jesus took upon Himself the judgment that our sin deserves. He atoned for our sin. He fulfilled the Commandments on our behalf. Furthermore, He offers that atonement to us (lawbreakers) free of charge if we turn from our sin and receive His salvation.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of James 1. Click the links below to watch or listen.

“Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s Word to you.  As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.  Jesus Christ [the Messiah] is the same yesterday, today and forever.”  Hebrews 13:7-8 (HCSB)

Reading today’s chapter, I am reminded of King David, whom the Lord called “…a man after God’s own heart.”  (1 Samuel 13:14)  

When I was young, the story of David confused me.  Sure, killing the Philistine was impressive.  David’s integrity in battle, sparing the life of evil King Saul, and his humility when the ark returned were all great stories of faith.  But his acts of adultery and murder were obvious no-no’s of the 10 Commandments.  So, exactly what is “a man after God’s own heart,” and what does that mean to us?

First, we know for certain that all people sin.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

“There is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:10 (NKJV)  

It has been said that the Church-at-large’s biggest obstacle is that it must recruit from the human race.  People sin.  That is why we need a Savior.

Although our goal and direction should be to honor the Lord, even followers of Jesus sin.  If we didn’t sin, how could Satan accuse us?  If there were no accusation, why would Jesus need to intercede for us?

“Who is the one who condemns?  Christ [Messiah] Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.” Romans 8:34 (HCSB)

So, what of our leaders?  Are they human?  Yes.  So, they sin?  Of course!  Just as in the case of David, we must carefully observe our leaders.  We must respect them because they have spoken God’s Word to us.  We must observe the outcome of their lives, and although no man is perfect, we must imitate their FAITH and not their sin.

We teach children to follow David’s faithful deeds and steer clear of his faithless ones.

While faithful men are the reflection of God’s glory, only Jesus was the embodiment of it.  We follow leaders in as much as they follow Messiah.

“No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.  Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but healed instead.”  Hebrews 12:11-13 (HCSB)

“This is crazy!  This is crazy!” I told my son one wintry morning a few years ago.  We were driving to meet up with some friends to go surfing.…the temperature outside was 38 degrees!  It was the January meeting of the Harvest Surf Fellowship, and I had agreed to lead the music and teach the Bible study.  In short, I HAD to go!

While I had to be there as a leader, I didn’t have to get into the water.  At least, that’s what I kept telling myself as we passed the gate at San Onofre State Beach.  The cold was almost unbearable, and the waves were pitifully small.  In the summers, Surf Fellowship can draw well over 100 people.  In the winter, only the hard-core crazies show up!  Seven of us huddled together and worshipped the Lord.  It was more for warmth than brotherhood.

Finally, I was done with the Bible study.  It was the moment of truth.  Was I going to be a surfer or not?  

Against all common sense, I stretched on my wetsuit, booties, and hood.  I unstrapped my 10’ board off the top of my car and headed out for (what turned out to be) my most fun day of surfing ever!  It took a little discipline to prepare my songs and Bible study.  It took a little discipline to wake up early.  It took a little discipline to drive to the beach and teach the lesson.  It took sheer courage to get into the water, but it was all worth it.

Paddling out on the ocean with my fellow Christian brothers and catching a few waves was awesome.  The pleasure was worth the discipline!  The Lord even cleared away the clouds to give us the warmth of the sun.  

Nobody likes spiritual discipline either, but we find joy in the end.  Reading your Bible every day may not seem like the most exciting way to grow your faith.  Some days, it may seem tedious or even torturous.  But give it time.  You are sowing the seeds of righteousness and readiness.  It takes a while for seeds to show any signs of growth, but you are growing.  We are depositing Scripture into the banks of our hearts and minds so that we can always be ready to give a reason for the hope within us. (1 Peter 3:15)

Keep reading and be patient.  Allow the seeds of God’s Word to take root and sprout shoots.  It won’t be long before you can enjoy the fruit of faithfulness.

“These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.  Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.  If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had opportunity to return.  But they now desire a better place – a heavenly one.  Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16 (HCSB)

Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets…all these people were considered righteous by God because of their faith.  Faith, in and of itself, is not sufficient to save a person.  God’s standard is that people be perfectly righteous.  The system of salvation, which allows our faith to be counted as righteousness, is itself a gift from God.  That is His Grace towards mankind.  Faith of only human value is considered righteousness.  That is because the value of our faith is not in its origin (us) but rather in its object (Jesus).  If I pull the trigger on a pistol, faithfully believing a bullet will be fired, it is not my faith that has hit the target but the bullet propelled by the object of my faith, the loaded pistol.  

“For by grace you have been saved through faith – and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

These heroes of the Bible are generally known for the great things they accomplished.  It is easy to assume they earned their salvation through good works.  Every Jewish parent would want their children to succeed in the manner of these patriarchs and tsadiks (righteous men).  But each of these spiritual giants was also human and fell short of God’s standard.  The Bible tells us so.

The writer of Hebrews is drawing attention away from the accomplishments of these people and focusing on the root of their success: Faith.  He didn’t say, “Seek to build an ark, or have a child in your old age, or slay a giant Philistine,” etc.  He is challenging us to employ the FAITH that led these patriarchs to accomplish such feats.  The Holy Spirit, working through their faithfully surrendered lives, was the source of their strength.  Whenever those so-called “spiritual giants” departed from the path of faithfulness, they ceased to live victoriously.  Perhaps King David is the best example.  

God is not ashamed to be called “the God” of those who faithfully respond to His call.  Though we may be ashamed of some of our decisions, thoughts, or behaviors, God honors faithfulness.  Most of these “heroes of the faith” committed extremely faithless acts: adultery, murder, drunkenness, and cowardice…yet God recognized their faith as righteousness.

As the patriarchs did not know when Messiah would come, we are unaware of when He will come again.  Those whose hope is Messiah see God’s kingdom from a distance.  We greet it by living faithfully and waiting for God to unfold His plan in His timing.

“Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame, for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him.  For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Hebrews 10:11-13 (HCSB)

Let’s revisit a point I briefly raised back in the Hebrews 6 devotional.  It is the notion that Israel’s deliverance into Canaan is symbolic of our fleshly deliverance through Jesus.  Just as Israel was commanded to drive out the land’s inhabitants, so are we commanded to drive out the former “inhabitants,” i.e., our old sinful patterns.  The “land symbolism” becomes clearer when we consider that Adam was created when God breathed into a handful of earthly dust.  We are, in a sense, God-breathed land.

Again, the former inhabitants of our “land” (our flesh) were the inward motivations of our “sin nature,” made evident by our sinful ways.  Sin always leads to self-destruction because it is always self-serving.  That is why it is urgent that we drive out those inhabitants by the power of God’s Spirit.  That is also why Jesus was unlike anything anyone had ever seen.  He was above all, yet chose to save us through serving instead of mandating we live up to an impossible standard.

Now, when Jesus offered Himself to atone for sin, His work was completed.  Sin was atoned for.  He does not need to get up and re-offer His sacrifice.  As evidence of God’s satisfaction for Jesus’ atonement, the Bible says Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father right now.

When we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord and receive His atonement, we are “delivered.”  Just as Israel was delivered into Canaan by God’s grace yet was commanded to drive out its enemies (the former inhabitants), we, too, must drive out the former inhabitants of our flesh once we have been delivered.

Now, if Jesus is sitting next to God, waiting for His enemies to be put under His footstool, who will do that work?  The Holy Spirit will accomplish this through the surrendered lives of believers.

Everyone has a “former inhabitant” (or several), which they are battling.  It has been given to us to drive out the old self, combining the strength we have with the desire and power of God’s Spirit.

Take courage, and submit to the Spirit’s leading!  Allow Him to manifest Himself in power in your life, driving out your former “sin self.”  What is impossible for us is easily doable with God.  There is no panic in Heaven.  Jesus is not worried about whether His enemies will be placed under His footstool.  He is only waiting.  Therefore, we should be confident in God’s Word, Jesus’ atonement, and the Spirit’s power to overcome.

“And just as it is appointed for people to die once – and after this, judgment – so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.”  Hebrews 9:27-28 (HCSB)

The concept of reincarnation is attractive to people who are discontented with this life – which is to say, it is appealing to most people!  And understandably so.  It satisfies deep romantic needs to suppose that one might have been something or someone important in a past life.  Moreover, it builds upon the non-Biblical notion that only the soul is pure, and the body is unclean, inferior, and unworthy of being immortal.

The first half of today’s passage refutes the idea of reincarnation, which is found in most Eastern religions and incorporated into a number of recent Western imitations.  Reincarnation is based on the notion that, although the body is mortal, the soul is not.  So that after one’s body dies, the soul that was in it migrates (perhaps after an interval of time) to another body or organism.  But God has so organized the universe that human beings die once, not “many times.”  

Obviously, if God has appointed mankind to die once, it is impossible to be reincarnated.  You may say, “But what about people who were clinically dead, yet were revived by some medical procedure?  Didn’t they die twice?”  In short, no.  What modern medicine calls “impossibly dead” (that is, to be beyond recovery) is in no way limiting to God.  The only time we are “inches from death” is when we’re actually “inches from death.”  All other times, we just think we’re “inches from death.”  Plus, when those people are revived, they’re never revived to another body, butterfly, or whatever.

The second half of today’s passage deals with Jesus’ first and second comings.  His first coming was in relation to Isaiah 53: The suffering servant Who would atone for sin.  Being fully God yet fully man, He too (as a man) was appointed to die only once.  Good for us that He was blameless before the Lord (for He was the Lord, Himself) because once was all it took to atone for our sin!

By His sinless perfection (in that while He knew no sin Himself, He became the sin offering for us), Jesus rose from the grave so that He could appear a second time.  This “second coming” fulfills prophecies such as Isaiah 2:2-5 and 9:6-7, which say that Messiah will bring peace to the world and deliver His people Israel from oppression.

However, speaking of “Israel,” since “not everyone who is descended from Israel are Israel” Romans 9:6, only those who eagerly await Jesus’ return can have assurance they will be delivered in His second coming.

“For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one.  But finding fault with His people, He says: Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah – not like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by their hands to lead them out of the land of Egypt.’”  Hebrews 8:7-9a (HCSB)

I have been in the record business my entire adult life.  A few years ago, I began making arrangements for my 16th commercially released music project.  The terms of my first recording agreement outlined that (if the company wished) I was obligated to record six albums.  Well, they DID wish, and I ended up recording eight projects for them.  I was blessed.

Most artists record one or two successful projects, but typically, their music sours in the marketplace by album #3.  Every artist dreads that phone call from the record executive when they are politely “dropped” from the label.

It has been said that a record deal is like borrowing money from your grandmother.  If your record is a flop, “granny” won’t make you pay her back.  But she’ll also probably never loan you money again!  Very few record companies would endure long-term market failure just because they loved the artist and wanted them to grow and succeed on a personal level.  After all, it’s not “show friends;” it’s “show BUSINESS.”

In music industry terms, God is the world’s most benevolent A&R guy!  (Artist & Repertoire)      

A covenant is a contract, and there are MANY covenants in the Bible.  Here’s a short list:  Edenic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Covenant with Lot, Caananic, Davidic, National, Personal, and, of course, the NEW Covenant.

If God were a record company, and mankind’s existence was based on market performance, we’d have all been dropped from the label long ago!!  But all those covenants, taken as a whole, paint a compelling picture of a Holy God’s desire to have a personal relationship with His human creation.  

Let’s praise the Lord that our redemption through His “New Covenant” is not based on our performance/faultlessness but on Jesus.  There is indemnity/security in our salvation because Jesus Himself is the guarantor.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Hebrews 7. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you showed His name when you served the saints – and you continue to serve them.  Now we want each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the final realization of your hope, so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.” Hebrews 6:10-12 (HCSB)

When my grandfather died, he left my mother some property in rural Arkansas.  We were all excited!  I recall driving down a maze of dirt roads to view her “estate.” What we found was 30 acres of dense forest, swallowing some rickety old shack.  My mom shook her head and said, “Not worth it,” so we drove away.  To my knowledge, nothing has ever been done with that land.

Sometimes, dreams and reality collide with damaging consequences.  Seldom are we told that we will have to work hard at things we’ve been given by grace.  When this reality sets in, people often lose interest.

This was the case with Israel after they entered the Promised Land.  God had sworn to deliver them, and He was faithful to His Word.  But once Israel crossed over, it was their job to “dispossess the land’s former inhabitants.” This, too, God promised would be completed if Israel boldly went forth, trusting Him as before, to drive out their enemies.  He did not need their labor to accomplish His purposes, but He gave them opportunities to be faithful so they could experience His faithfulness to His Word.  Hence, the pedestrian Israelite was given limited participation in fulfilling God’s promise.   God intended to use their hard work, empowered by His Spirit, to reach goals outlined in His Word.  God chose to elevate Israel’s faith through faith-stretching tasks.  

Some of the tribes obeyed, driving out the former inhabitants.  Others compromised and made their enemies slaves.  Still, others cowered, so they never took hold of what God had promised.  Once they had been delivered, by grace through faith, discipleship stalled.

The author of Hebrews (scholars cannot agree on its author) was drawing a parallel of the deliverance of Moses-era Israel with salvation through the Messiah, Jesus.  While we are saved by grace, apart from works, once we have been delivered (i.e., are saved), we must bear the armor of God and dispossess those former “inhabitants” (attitudes, influences, thoughts, and actions) that once controlled our lives.

Our command to fight does not diminish God’s saving grace.  The Lord still delivers us, but under the condition that we remain vigilant and diligent.  Again, God gives believers limited participation in things He doesn’t need us to do to experience His faithfulness.  Why?  Because He loves us and has chosen to show Himself faithful through our faithfulness.

Let us strive to be imitators of those “who inherit the promises, through faith and perseverance.” Again, we are not saved by faith and works; instead, by faith that works.

“Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again.  You need milk, not solid food.  Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant.  But solid food is for the mature – for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish good and evil.”  Hebrews 5:12-14 (HCSB)

I started working full-time when I was in 8th grade.  My poor kids have that to live up to!  I held the “cart boy” position at the Fianna Hills Country Club, and working at the club taught me two important things: 1) NEVER wear plaid polyester pants!  2) Money doesn’t buy class.

From my “caddy shack” vantage point, I observed men yelling at their wives during tennis matches, marital infidelity, binge drinking, gambling away expensive cars…and so on.  Being educated and affluent doesn’t make you classy or mature.

Likewise, just because a person attends a church doesn’t necessarily make them a mature believer.  Maturity comes when we apply the Bible’s teaching and move beyond being “hearers” of the Word to being “doers” of it.  If we fail to employ the Biblical teaching we learn, our maturity as believers is stunted.  

Imagine my adult son eating the same baby formula as an 8-month-old.  How pathetic would that be at a barbecue?  It’s the same image Paul uses for believers who refuse to faithfully employ Biblical teaching.

How did Jesus mature as a young Jewish man?

“Though He was God’s Son, He learned obedience through what he suffered.” Hebrews 5:8 (HCSB)

In our efforts to make our churches more attractive and “relevant,” have we, perhaps, missed the most important lesson of faith?  Faith must be employed for a person to realize its worth.  Only after we have chosen to trust God, endured the conditions of our calling, and been delivered through various trials can we truly say we were faithful.  

The problem with the world is not that they don’t have access to the Gospel or good preaching.  With the internet, we have more access to Gospel answers and good preaching than ever in History.  The problem is that people don’t have VALUE for the Gospel preached.  Those who value the Gospel will be willing to suffer for it.

The author of Hebrews begged his disciples to share in his suffering.  He knew faith-in-action moves “Faith in Jesus” from theory to reality.  Maturity grows, faith upon faith.  Our challenge is to press on faithfully, transcending intellectual ascent and striving to obtain the life that makes suffering worthwhile.  This moves from milk to meat, training our senses to distinguish good from evil and obeying the Spirit’s leading.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.” Hebrews 4:15-16 (HCSB)

There is an unwritten rule: Men don’t ask for directions.  Maybe it’s our primal hunter/warrior instinct.  Maybe it’s our stupidity, but it’s hard to get men to admit they don’t know where they’re going.  It threatens both their manhood and their on-time arrival.  

Women generally ask for help.  In contrast, women’s lateness is more related to getting dressed than getting lost!  Arriving in style often trumps arriving on time.  

At the risk of further over-generalizing, I have observed gender-specific trends when it comes to spiritual directions, as well.  It is hard to get men motivated about Bible study.  We would rather compete, joke around, or build something.  On the other hand, women can put together a Bible study group with a few phone calls.  

While women may be more inclined to congregate, image-shattering honesty is often missing from the group.  If you could ever get men together, they’re usually pretty open and honest about challenging one another.  As I said, I’m over-generalizing, and I’m sure none of this applies to you…Ha!

Bottom line: We all have weaknesses.  Just because we don’t share the same weakness doesn’t make one gender superior or inferior.  It simply means we’re different yet equal in our need for mercy and grace.

People tend to gravitate to communities of faith that support their moral strengths and deemphasize their weaknesses.  This is not a healthy approach to seeking a church family.  Nobody wants to be judged all the time, but part of a loving community is the honest assessment of our spiritual conditions, which leads to a plan of healing.  As they say in recovery, “The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.”  

Satan uses the fear of “being exposed” to keep many Christians “in neutral” when God is calling them to “go forth” boldly.  Today’s passage is an empowering challenge for us to take courage and approach the throne of mercy and grace with boldness!  Jesus is familiar with our weaknesses and has overcome them all.  He is sympathetic, which means He relates to us on the level that He knows how it “feels” to be us.  

By virtue of His sinless victory over fleshly weakness, we can trust Him to lead us out of our bondage into the life He has prepared for us.

“For who heard and rebelled?  Wasn’t it really all who came out of Egypt under Moses?  And who was He provoked with for 40 years?’  Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?  And who did He swear to that they would not enter His rest, if not those who disobeyed?  So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.”  Hebrews 3:16-19 (HCSB)

I love mountain biking.  I love the equipment, the trails, and the magazines.  I even love Power Bars and the Camel Back full of Gatorade—one problem.  I don’t actually like to RIDE mountain bikes!

Several years ago, my “extreme” friends bought mountain bikes, and so did I.  I was really excited about joining the extreme sports culture…until they took me out on a trail ride.  Screaming down narrow trails, inches between tree limbs and the ends of my handlebars, was no treat for me.  It was my third fall that convinced me my new Gary Fisher bike had just become a monument to impetuousness, on permanent display in my garage!  

It is easy to get into the culture of mountain biking.  But you have to be committed to being an actual mountain biker.

Similarly, it can be easy to get into Christian culture, but it’s often difficult to live the life of a Christian.  I am not talking about our salvation, which is by God’s grace alone, through our faith in Jesus.  I’m talking about living out your faith once you have received salvation.

Following Jesus is more than saying a prayer, signing a card, lifting a hand, or walking an aisle.  Those action items may be methods of “crossing the line of faith,” but the acts themselves are only external indicators of an inward transformation.  Jesus calls us to a life of faith and service, not just a one-time decision.  To paraphrase the old preacher, D.L. Moody, “New believers are to be weighed, not counted.”  If your last act of following Jesus was your decision to follow Him, maybe it’s time to examine your life to see whether the gospel you received was the real thing.  We are not saved by faith and works.  Instead, we are saved by faith that works.  Salvation is less about a moment of decision and more about generating momentum for a disciple.  Belief is a starting line, not a finish line.

For the Israelites, simply leaving Egypt didn’t mean they were ready to follow God in obedience.  All but two men of that generation were unable to enter the Promised Land because of unbelief.  Similarly, salvation in this generation comes only through belief in Messiah, Jesus.  Simply leaving the World and attending a church is not necessarily an indicator that we have entered a saving relationship with Jesus.  It never hurts to examine our spiritual lives to ensure we know the difference between “leaving” and “following.”  The indicator that we have received the real thing is most often found in how we worship God in those “desert” seasons of our lives.

“We must, therefore, pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away.  For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding, and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”  Hebrews 2:1-3a (HCSB)

One of my friends used to own a home on Lake Michigan.  In the summers, my family would drive over to their house to ride jet skis.

Lake Michigan has waves and moods, just like an ocean.  It’s not as much a lake as it is an inland sea.  It ebbs and flows.  At times, it can be quite treacherous.  Many large ships have sunk in Lake Michigan storms.  Gordon Lightfoot’s song, “The Wreck of The Edmond Fitzgerald,” is about one such Lake Michigan shipwreck.

One summer afternoon, I was pretty far out in the lake when I decided to jump off my “water hog” and swim around a bit.  No big deal, I just hopped into the lake.  Very quickly, my jet ski began drifting away.  I had to paddle like crazy and was almost completely exhausted before I caught it!

It can be that way sometimes with the gospel.  When we turn our attention away from the gospel, we quickly drift away.  That is why Godly community is so important.  Hanging around worldly people to minister to them is important.  But a steady diet of worldliness will dull your sensitivity to sin.  Often, we don’t even realize it.  

Have you known people who have drifted away from the church community?  Have you been one of those people?  I have.  

We know we are drifting when we begin to feel uncomfortable around fully devoted believers.  Their proximity makes us feel convicted because of the difference in their attitudes and lifestyles, exposing our sin.  Those awkward encounters are gifts from the Lord because true believers cannot find sustained joy outside of Godly fellowship with other believers.

We must keep a sharp spiritual focus.  If we drift from the life Jesus calls us to, we neglect the parameters He has set up to protect us.  When we disengage from spiritual community, we risk becoming completely disenfranchised.  This is how Satan picks us off one by one.

If we reject the Lord’s provision, especially that of salvation through faith in Jesus, there are always negative consequences.  If we neglect God’s grace, how will we escape our just punishment?  Praise the Lord that salvation is offered freely to all who would turn from their sin and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior!

“Now towhich of the angels has He [God] ever said: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool?  Are they not all ministering spirits sent outto serve those who are going to inherit salvation?”  Hebrews 1:13-14 (HCSB)

It has been said, “Pertaining to angels, there are two things to avoid: giving them too much thought and not enough.”

I have met people who are overly preoccupied with angels.  It seems like everything that happens in their lives is mystically attached to some demonic or angelic influence.  It is hard to discuss the practical aspects of faith with those people.  If it’s not spooky, they aren’t interested.  It seems nothing is ever their fault, claiming, “The Devil made me do it!”

On the other hand, many people don’t believe in angels.  They believe in God and people.   One of the most challenging things to overcome when sharing the gospel with the Jewish community, for instance, is the prevalent unbelief in the angelic, which is taught in many synagogues.  Because of this, it is almost impossible to communicate the realities of Satan’s influence, the antichrist or hell, for that matter.

I don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on angels.  I know they are there, but I don’t worship them by giving them excess honor or fear.  I pray that God will protect me, support me, and give me influence for His gospel.  How He answers those prayers in the angelic realm is His business.

Two very important lessons about angels can be found in today’s passage of Scripture.

1) Jesus is above angels.  Some people believe God’s holiness is balanced by His “evil equal” Satan.  That is simply wrong.  Satan’s counterpart is Michael, the archangel.  They are both ANGELS.  God has no equal, evil or otherwise.

2) Angels are ministering spirits sent out to serve believers…or those who WILL believe.  You may say, “No.  Angels serve only God.”  But the text indicates that angels serve anyone in the family of God.  One of the benefits of being a believer is that angels influence conditions in our lives by God’s will and direction, which is ultimately in our better interest.

Followers of Jesus are co-inheritors with Him.  As Jesus lived up to the character of the Name He inherited, so should we strive to honor the Lord, Whose Name we have inherited as believers.  To do otherwise would be to receive His Name in vain, to say we are His, yet live as if we belong to the World.  (By the way, that is the essence of the 3rd commandment!)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Philemon 1. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works.  These are good and profitable for everyone.  But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.  Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning, knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.” Titus 3:8b-11 (HCSB)

Much of my “early believer” experience revolved around avoidance.  By avoidance, I mean all my energy was focused on not sinning.  I didn’t fully understand God’s grace, so I thought He was always keeping score with me.  All I could think about was how my sin was displeasing God and storing up some kind of punishment.  I became disenchanted as a young believer, and I wondered where a believer’s “abundant life” was.  

You may ask, “What’s wrong with NOT sinning?” Nothing at all.  My problem was that I considered “not sinning” as the ultimate goal of a Christian.  It took a while before I learned that morality was not the goal of my faith; it is simply the byproduct of it.  I shouldn’t have to focus the majority of my attention on avoidance if Jesus has truly given me the power to live abundantly.

After a Christian friend shared this idea with me, my efforts shifted from “not offending God” by avoiding sin to “pleasing God” by doing good.  By focusing my energy on pleasing God, I worried less about offending Him.  From this vantage point, we naturally avoid sin, plus we also avoid the guilt of sinning.  Perhaps this all sounds like semantics, but these are very different mindsets.

In today’s passage, Paul instructs Titus that those who have believed in God should be careful to devote themselves to good works.  More than simply avoiding sin, we must discipline ourselves to replace sinful behavior with that which honors God and reflects our inner transformation.  Our behavior is always the outworking of an internal heart condition.  It is the same with properly motivated good works.  If we have been genuinely transformed by Jesus, our desire to please Him should override the fear of offending Him.  

In sports, there is a saying: The best defense is a good offense.  People with an “avoidance” or “spiritually defensive” mindset are generally legalistic and judgmental towards anyone who doesn’t adhere to their legalism.  They love to draw others into lengthy debates concerning the rules of avoidance.

Paul instructs that we should “avoid” such debates on avoidance!  The best way to refute false religion is to know the Bible and to live within the parameters that God has set up.  Don’t add to or take away from His requirements and freedom.  Put simply, A God-honoring life is the best apologetic, for which we need no apology.

“For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, [Messiah] Jesus Christ.”  Titus 2:11-13 (HCSB)

There is an idea present in the Church-at-large about God’s Grace that it covers all sin and requires no accountability.  I have friends who firmly believe this, to the point where they distort God’s Grace by removing themselves from Godly accountability with other believers.  They live however they want, and when confronted about their lifestyles, they answer, in essence, “God’s grace covers all sin, and it cannot be revoked.”

While that is a true statement about God’s Grace, my friends’ attitude does not reflect the heart of Jesus.

“The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me.  And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father.  I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.” John 14:21 (HCSB)

Paul instructs us to “…deny Godlessness and Worldly lust and to live in a sensible, righteous, and Godly way.”  Nowhere in that verse is a license to live apart from God’s standard.

The observable power of salvation in the believer’s life is not fully displayed because we have been saved from God’s wrath to come.  It is primarily revealed in that we are changed today!  We are called “converts” because we are changed, meaning our desires to sin are also being replaced with the desire to please God.  Salvation is not the ability to sin without consequence; it is more of a fresh start, where we are freed to serve the Lord rightly.

To me, the sweetness of Grace is displayed in today’s passage.  God’s grace brings salvation to “all people.”  That’s not to say that all people will be saved.  Rather, salvation is offered and available to all people by grace through faith in Jesus’ atonement for our sin.  It is still the individual’s choice to respond to it.

Those who recognize their need for God’s Grace and receive it enter into an unexplainable joy.  We, who are receivers of His Grace, should also desire to be givers of it.  In this way, we become “living testimonies” by virtue of our transformed lives, along with the words of the gospel we share.

Lastly, we have hope in the Grace of Messiah because we acknowledge the deity of the Messiah.  (Micah 5:2, Isaiah 9:6) Grace without deity is just a kind gesture.  Deity without Grace is unforgiving judgment.  We have hope because Jesus is both “God and Savior!”

“For an overseer, as God’s administrator, must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.”  Titus 1: 7-9 (HCSB)

Many years ago, I committed myself to reading a chapter of the Bible each day.  The text seemed awkward and obscure at first.  I wondered how much of the Bible was actually applicable to my life.  I would begin with this prayer: “Lord, give me something today and someone to share it with.”  While the reading was laborious at times, God was faithful to answer that prayer.  He gave me something relevant each day, and He began leading people into my life who were asking spiritual questions that corresponded to the truth God was revealing to me.

Over time, I realized that I could add some Biblical truth to almost every conversation.  I began ministering to people by virtue of the cache of Biblical truth the Spirit was stockpiling daily in my heart.  

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense [answer] to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV)

When we study the Bible, we are sowing the seeds of readiness.  We are preparing to give reason for the hope that is in us.  By preparing in such a way, we become active participants in spiritual battle.  We are in a state of spiritual war, and in a sense, we are both the soldiers and the battlefields.  We are the “land” that God and Satan both long to possess.  The difference between spiritual warfare and all other warfare is that the “battlefield” is given the right to choose who will possess it.

When we choose to follow Jesus, He gives us the gift of His Spirit, Who exposes the truth of God’s Word.  A great tragedy of the Church is that we have the potential to know deep mysteries of Scripture, yet so few believers realize it.  Not only do they forsake their calling to share the hope of the gospel, but they also deny themselves the source of vital optimism, which is needed to get through life.

Biblical knowledge bears interest by building your faith.  Before you become intimate with God’s Word, your faith is shallow.  As we gain knowledge of God’s Word, we begin viewing life through the lens of the Bible.  Instead of seeing only pain and despair, we learn to live in hope, even through seemingly hopeless situations.

As you develop a Biblical worldview, you begin trusting God’s plan more than the World’s.  This is exactly the state that God wants spiritual leaders to be operating in and that we all should strive for.  We should be moving from being overseen by spiritual shepherds to being overseers ourselves.  You don’t have to be a “Minister” to minister.

“Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.  For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new.  They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4 (HCSB)

The term “share the gospel” has been limited to evangelism in our generation.  Although evangelism is essential, Jesus called us to “Go and make disciples.” Evangelism originates a disciple, but “discipleship” is the ongoing accountable pursuit of learning to live out the gospel.

It is safe to say we have become dependent on convenience.   Our generation yells at the microwave for being too slow.   In response to societal trends, so-called “generationally-savvy” congregations have designed ministry paradigms to make the congregational worship experience more convenient and less challenging.

There is nothing wrong with understanding a culture to reach its people.  But the greater “body of Messiah” fails in its God-intended purpose when it becomes preoccupied with not offending people.  By avoiding the hard truths of the gospel (intended to lead to repentance for those who fall short of God’s standard for believers), the “soft sell” approach is needlessly prolonging the suffering an individual incurs through unrepentance.  In seeking to not offend the non-believer, these congregations don’t seem to be worried about offending God, Who desires that ALL come unto repentance.  Practically speaking, it takes more energy to pursue cultural relevance than simply teaching the Bible constantly.

The discipleship process of rebuking, correcting, and teaching is not always convenient.  People will often hate you for teaching the undiluted Bible.  Why?  When people become aware of God’s standard, they are confronted with their personal sin problem, and that’s uncomfortable.  But rejecting the gospel is not always the unbeliever’s response.  Often, they believe.  Paul tells us what to expect when we share God’s Word as He reveals it.  

“But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all.  The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, ‘God is really among you.’” 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 (HCSB)

We must preach the Bible as His Spirit has revealed it to us.  And we should trust God to change lives.  We cannot be afraid to teach sound doctrine.  Anything less is a distraction from the real issues people need to address to grow as believers.

We cannot let fear of rejection discourage us from sharing the gospel.  Paul teaches the Church’s lack of effectiveness stems not from our lack of cultural relevance.  It’s our lack of passion, persistence, perseverance, and patience.

“But know this: difficult times will come in the last days.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness [religion] but denying its power.  Avoid these people!” 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (HCSB)

The first American President I remember was Gerald Ford.  He was the only president not to be elected as vice president or president, and he manned the helm during a turbulent time in our nation’s history.  For that, I am thankful.

Shortly after Ford’s death, on the CBS Early Show, Charles Gibson interviewed the Ford family’s Episcopal Priest, Robert Certain.  The discussion soon turned to comments Ford had made to reporter Bob Woodward, criticizing the Bush administration.  President Ford had asked that his comments not be published until his passing.

As the priest and Mr. Gibson discussed Ford’s political stance on Iraq, the conversation turned toward moral issues.  Soon, Mr. Certain was bashing what he called the “radical religious right.” (Let me be clear that I do not “carte blanche” endorse anyone or any organization.  Rather, I weigh everyone’s claims by my understanding of the Bible.)

That said, the Episcopal priest began to denounce anyone who believed the Bible’s claims against homosexuality and several other moral issues.  He went on to say that the “golden rule” (do unto others…) was present in the writings of over 20 world religions, and no religion has any exclusive claims to absolute truth.

I could not believe this man was allowed to shepherd a Sunday school class, much less a Head of State!  

Wearing his black suit and priest’s collar, he looked very authoritarian.  Reading 2 Timothy 3 is sobering.  In the last days, men will hold to the form of religion but deny its power.  They are lovers of convenience more than lovers of God.  “From such people, turn away!”

Nobody knows when Jesus will return, but I am convinced we are living in the last days.  Thank you for your commitment to read God’s Word, and to share it with whomever He leads your way.  As it was to Paul and Timothy, it has been given to us to be guardians of the Gospel.  We must not add to or take away from God’s Word and distance ourselves from those who do.  This is so that the Gospel, as the Lord has designed it, would retain its integrity and thus its power to save in our generation.

“Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart.  But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels.  The Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness.  Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.  Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:22-26 (HCSB)

I’m not much of a handyman around the house.  I get by, but generally, I would rather pay a professional to do a job right than to struggle all day on a project, only to have a professional redo it because of my ignorance!

I have learned that having the right tools can make all the difference when doing a job.  The same is true when we’re doing the Lord’s work.  Good intentions must be matched with the Lord’s will and ways.

In today’s passage, Paul instructs Timothy on the finer points of “meekness.” Meekness is not the same as weakness.  Weakness is a deficiency of power, while meekness is power under submission.  Imagine a horse, a mighty creature that must be made to submit to saddle and bridle before being useful to the rider.  Timothy had to be reminded to take his youthful enthusiasm and submit it to the Lord’s will.

In a rush to do “something big for God,” often new believers forget that evangelism aims to win souls, not arguments.  Un-meek renegade believers often make more messes than they do converts.

Beyond resisting the foolhardy passions of worldly youthfulness, Paul is exhorting Timothy against the tendency of young believers to attempt the Lord’s work in their own strength: the wrong tool for the job.  

“Then he said to me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6 (ESV)

It is important to remember that as we pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, we are preparing for (and engaging in) spiritual battle.  Those with whom we share the gospel are captured in the Devil’s trap, caught up in believing the delusions of worldliness.  It is not as if we will be effective by the loud volume of our arguments.  It is the power of the Holy Spirit, working through the life surrendered to God’s will, which accomplishes His purposes.

There is no limit to what the Lord will do with a surrendered and selfless life.  Have you given Him yours?

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of 2 Timothy 1. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.  Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good reserve [foundation] for the age to come, so that they may take hold of life that is real.”  1 Timothy 6:17-19 (HCSB)

No matter what time of the year it is, it’s always fun to think about the winter holidays.  I remember Christmas growing up.  And more specifically, I remember Christmas mid-morning.  I’m not talking about Christmas “morning,” where you ran into the living room and ripped through the wrapping paper.  I’m talking about an hour after you got dressed and went to the sidewalk to meet up with your friends to see what THEY got for Christmas!

One of my childhood friends was “Mark” (name changed).  Mark always had the best of everything.  His parents were well-to-do, so he had to practically machete through dense layers of presents to reach their Christmas tree.  I was lucky to get three gifts, including the yearly underwear and socks package, from my grandmother.

Two cool things about Mark: 1) he always complimented whatever I got, and 2) he let me play with all his stuff!!!  We’d meet on the sidewalk mid-morning.  I would be holding a football.  He’d be holding professional football tickets…then he’d invite me to the game.  He was rich in money but also generous.  Rich in good works.

Years later, I heard that Mark’s dad lost most of his money in a stock market crash.  Wealth is uncertain like that.  I wondered how their family coped with living on an average income.  I know they loved the Lord, so I hope they drew strength from their church.  

This year, when the season arrives, and before we share what we got for Christmas, how about letting people know how much they mean to us?  For that matter, why wait for the holidays?  It’s always good to praise the Lord for getting us through another year and for giving us hope for the future.  Let’s take hold of what’s real in this life and set our hope on God, Who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.