We are Not Alone

Have you ever faced a crisis or problem in your life that made you feel truly devastated? Maybe it was a serious problem with your family’s finances or you lost a long-time job. It could have been an issue with your health, an illness that caused you to be bed-ridden or an injury that left you with constant, debilitating pain. Or maybe it was the death of a loved one – a parent, a spouse, or even one of your precious children. With this great loss, you experienced grief and an overwhelming sense of discouragement. Dealing with circumstances like these, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, to feel totally alone.

I Kings Chapter 19 gives us the account of Elijah, a faithful prophet of God, who experienced great feelings of both fear and discouragement. In the previous chapter, I Kings 18, Elijah had shown great courage when he had boldly confronted King Ahab, his many false prophets, and the assembled people of Israel. He had admonished them for their acceptance of idol worship and had challenged the prophets of Baal to produce proof of their god’s existence. This confrontation culminated with the power of the one, true living God being displayed by the consuming of both the sacrifice and the altar by fire from heaven and the people of Israel recognizing God as the one true deity. Following Elijah’s instructions, the people then seized the false prophets and assisted Elijah in their execution. When Ahab’s wife, the wicked queen Jezebel was informed of these events, she responded by calling for the death of Elijah. Fearful and dejected, the prophet fled the country of Israel in search of safety and refuge.

Reaching Beersheba, on the southern border of Judah, an exhausted, dispirited Elijah prays to God in I Kings 19:4, “…that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!’” [NKJV] Overwhelmed by feelings of discouragement and frustration, he wants his life to end! Nevertheless, sustained by divine assistance, Elijah eventually makes it to Mount Horeb in the Sinai. This is the place called “the mountain of God” in Exodus 18:5, the same location where Moses received the Ten Commandments.(1) It is at Horeb where God asks the prophet, on two separate occasions, the same question:  “‘What are you dong here, Elijah?’” Elijah responds to these repeated questions by offering the same answer in both verses 10 and 14 of I Kings 19: He had fled due to the unrighteous attitude and actions of the children of Israel and the threats made against his life. Facing these great troubles and tribulations, he believes that “…I alone am left.” Yet, Elijah soon learns that he was mistaken!

In I Kings 19:15 – 17, God answers Elijah’s complaints by basically telling him that he needed to: “Get back to work!” He then informs the prophet in v. 18 that seven thousand people in Israel had remained faithful and had not accepted idolatry. The important lesson that Elijah learned that day is one that we, too, need to learn: whatever our circumstances in life, we are never truly alone. Despite our situation, whether good or bad, despite our location in this world, God is there. The psalmist David reassures us in Psalm 139:10 that wherever we find ourselves: “Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.” How encouraging it is that God is there, ready to guide us, if we but turn to Him. Like Elijah and many other individuals described in the scriptures (such as Job and Jeremiah) who dealt with difficult circumstances, we need to place our trust in the Lord and learn not to depend on our “… own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). When troubles beset us, we need to turn to God in prayer and let our “…requests be made known” (Philippians 4:6).

Like the prophet of old, we also need to realize that we are not the only ones who deal, at times, with difficult situations. We are not alone! We need to remember that there are so many others experiencing some of the same types of trials and tribulations that we endure but are still remaining faithful to God. We need to reach out and help these folks and be ready to “bear some burdens” (Galatians 6:2). And we can be confident knowing that some of these same brethren, our good brothers and sisters in Christ, are ready also to help us when we are discouraged, ready to comfort us if we become “…fainthearted” (I Thessalonians 5:14).

Erik Smith

(1) Ronald F. Youngblood, F.F. Bruce, and R.K. Harrison, Nelson’s Student Bible Dictionary (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2005), 110.

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Building by Unity

Building the Lord’s Body Requires Unity

There are many endeavors in life. We may go to work, school, the voting booth, a baseball game, movie, concert, or some other event. Each of these activities requires a certain amount of involvement, and when we involve ourselves in them, we commit to a certain level of participation. Some of these activities may be summarily dismissed because our involvement in them is minimal. Others require more involvement and participation. The more effort we put into the activity, the more we will get out of it in the long run. The greatest endeavor in which one may be involved is the Lord’s Church.

There are many, however, who look at the church as simply another opportunity like work, school, or a game. This, however, is not the Lord’s view of the church. The church is the body of believers for which Christ died and shed His blood (Acts 20:28). He committed fully to her establishment, and he commits fully to her success. We must have the same level of commitment to the church if she is going to be successful. Lack of commitment to the church is one of the greatest threats to church unity.

Many years ago, a brother in Christ asked my opinion about where he ought to place his membership. He said that there was one congregation he was looking at that was small and didn’t have a lot of resources. There was another congregation that was large and had many resources. My question to him was, “Where can you better serve the Lord?” In our day and time, religion is looked on as a cafeteria experience. Many have the attitude that they may shop around until they find a congregation that they like and are comfortable. This is not how we ought to think about our relationship to the body of Christ. Rather, our desire ought to be, “How may I best serve the Lord?”

Being a member of the body is not about comfort, ease, and safety. This notion would likely insult many early members of the Lord’s church who endured severe persecution, suffered greatly, and even died for the Lord’s cause. Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matt. 16:24). Having Christian unity demands that we do just this. Such unity is not superficial, but truly profound, where Christians may have deep abiding personal relationships based upon true knowledge of one another—not just upon the niceties of making acquaintance.

What does it take to have Christian unity? The apostle Paul wrote about it in Ephesians 4:1-16. He commented upon four areas of focus that are absolutely necessary for Christian unity: attitude, doctrine, organization, and working relationship.

We must have the right attitude to have Christian unity. Paul wrote, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” The world may elevate, lift itself up in pride, cut others short, and run amuck of one another, but God calls all Christians to refuse the passions of the flesh, and bring themselves under control of the spirit. Unity is an endeavor, both personally and collectively.

We must have the right doctrine to have unity. Paul wrote, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Here are listed seven essentials on which we must not compromise. Certainly there are other areas of concern. However, if within these seven “ones,” we find disagreement with others, we must work to unite upon God’s truth.

We must have the right organization. Paul lists the following “offices” for church work: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Again, this is not an exhaustive list, but all of these offices are provided for today’s church. Some, however, are no longer filled because of their temporary nature. The church continues to benefit from the work of the apostles and prophets in the first century. Evangelists, shepherds, and teachers work with the church today to lead, guide, and teach others. The church must be organized correctly in order to be united.

We must have the right working spirit. Paul wrote, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” In all things we are to have love one toward another. This, however, does not mean that everyone does the same work. In Romans 12 and in 1 Corinthians 12, Paul discusses how each member has different abilities. Different parts of the physical body work differently. The eye cannot do the hearing, etc. So also in the church everyone has their role to perform. We need to make an effort to determine what those roles are and try to fill them to the best of our ability; otherwise, we will have disunity.

Unity is hard; it is an endeavor. Trying to find easy solutions to difficult problems never works out in the long run; this kind of attitude leads to the cafeteria mentality for churches. Strong and lasting relationships depend on our working out our differences according to God’s pattern. May God help us to so do.

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Hanged

Judge Isaac Parker hanged 79 men for their crimes against humanity in the years  1875 to 1896.  He was a kind and just judge once stating “in the uncertainty of punishment following crime, lies the weakness of our halting justice.”  In his time as judge he oversaw 9,454 cases “resulting in guilty pleas or convictions” (legendsofamerica.com).  Parker came to be known as the “hanging judge” for the manner in which capital punishment was carried out under his juristiction.

Hanging is thought of by many as hanging a body by the neck from a tree, gallows, or outcropping.  However, hanging has historically also been associated with impalement or crucifixion.  The first hanging read about in the Old Testament was that of Pharaoh’s chief baker in (circa 1800 BC).

Genesis 40:18-22 – And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: the three baskets are three days; within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.  And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and the head of the chief baker among his servants.

The nation of Israel was commanded the practice of hanging by the Law of Moses:

Deuteronomy 21:22-23 – And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree;  his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt surely bury him the same day; for he that is hanged is accursed of God; that thou defile not thy land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

 The hanging of the body was as a sign to others for the individual had already been stoned to death for his crimes.  There are numerous accounts of hanging throughout the Old Testament for crimes and in times of battle. One of the more well known hangings is the hanging of Haman, an officer of King Xerxes of the Persian Empire, who had plotted treachery against the Jews:

Esther 9:24-25 – because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; but when the matter came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

  Yet, even more famous than the hanging of Haman was that of Judas Iscariot by his own hand in the New Testament after he had betrayed Jesus:

Matthew 27:5 – And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.

The most famous hanging in the world, however, was a hanging by crucifixion.  The individual hanged was Jesus who was not a criminal, though He was hanged, alongside two of them.  He was the innocent lamb of God hung for the sins of mankind as seen in I Corinthians 15 and the following:

John 1:29 – On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!

 I Peter 2:21-24 – For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.

Details of His crucifixion were spoken of centuries before they occurred (Psalms 22, Isaiah 53).  Though Jesus was hanged until dead, the most important part of His story is what happened afterward.

Acts 5:30 – “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree”. 

In the resurrection of Christ, man was given direction for his life.

2 Corinthians 5:15 – “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

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Be Not Deceived

Be Not Deceived

God says quite a bit about the subject of deception. He warns us repeatedly about the consequences of such. In fact, the worst type of deception is self-deception: “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise” (1 Cor. 3:18). Several examples include when one develops the attitude of conceit (Gal. 6:3), hears the word of God but does not apply it (James 1:22), does not control his speech (James 1:26) or claims to be sinlessly perfect (1 John 1:8). In addition, the inspired writers on a few occasions wrote very plainly to their readers (including us) to “be not deceived.” Notice these examples more closely.

“And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived : for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them” (Luke 21:8). In the context of Jesus discussing the future event of the destruction of Jerusalem, He warns His disciples not to follow false teachers who would lead them away from the truth. False teachers disguise themselves well as sheep, “but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matt. 7:15). Hence, the activity of deception is relatively simple and effective to all but those who love the truth (cf. 2 Thess. 2:8-12). In both the religious world and the church where we find so much false doctrine taught by false teachers, this is a worthy admonition for us today.

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Including Christians, everyone should understand that sin has no place in the presence of God (Isa. 59:1-2). For humanity to act as if God will overlook those who commit sin is tragic. For Christians to act as if they are able to enter heaven simply because they were baptized earlier in their lives without any regard for the spiritual condition of their souls is nothing but deceptive. These are worthy words to the many who loudly proclaim false messages of tolerance!

“Be not deceived : evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor. 15:33). While we usually teach this diligently to our teenagers, this is a message for adults as well. Who are our closest friends? Do we live our lives with anticipation of the fellowship of the saints (cf. Heb. 10:25)? The wise adage rings true: “Birds of a feather flock together.” We fall to the deception of the devil when we do not watch our associations.

“Be not deceived ; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7). The law of retribution is a law that has been in effect since the dawn of creation. Youth cannot sow their wild oats without reaping a wicked harvest! Christians must not fall into deception by thinking that one can slip by God. Every action in our lives will have consequences to come. We need to live our lives in constant attention to these facts.

Therefore, here are but a few examples to encourage us in warning against “the wiles of the devil” known as deception. May we all be keenly aware of the damaging effects it can render in our lives!

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The Bible Says, but…

“I know the Bible says that, but I do not see it that way.”

I am amazed at the arrogance of those whose attitude toward the Bible is, “I know the Bible says that, but I just don’t see it that way.” You would think that anyone who knows what the Bible says would immediately embrace it, but that is far from the case. Have we never considered that it is not just a book which “says it,” but because that book is from God, it is God who says it?

The Bible did not come from mortals giving their private interpretation about spiritual matters. If this were the case, then our decision to ignore what their views were becomes a viable option. Yet hear the words of Peter.  “Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:20-21, ESV). When the prophets delivered their message, it was not their message but God’s!

Take time to look at the words of Ezekiel. He was God’s prophet sent to rebellious Israel. Before he ever began his work, God told him that he would be rejected by the Jews (Ezek. 3:7). The irony was that they “came to church” to listen to his preaching, but had no intention of obeying the words of God which he preached. God described it this way, “They come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them. . . . Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them” (Ezek. 33:31-32). They enjoyed listening to the prophet, but they despised his message. It was as though they said, “I know Ezekiel says this, but I do not see it that way.”

They were so mistaken! It was not Ezekiel giving his lecture; it was the voice of God speaking through him! Ezekiel tried to remind that nation of this truth. Many would be amazed to discover that Ezekiel uses the phrase, “Says the Lord,” 210 times and the phrase, “The word of the Lord came, saying” 50 times.  That’s more than five times on every page of the book of Ezekiel.

So the next time you hear someone say, “I know that is what the Bible says, but I do not see it that way,” just remember they have not rejected a book, they have rejected the Author of that book! Our place is not to elevate our wisdom above the wisdom which God has clearly expressed in His word. Our place is to humbly come before Him and say, “Speak, for Your servant hears” (1 Sam. 3:10).

Let us never forget this truth; write it on your heart. Ours is not to judge the book, the book will judge us!

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