The Epistle of Jude: “Loving Rebels without giving up Truth”

Dr. John Powell, professor at a Christian University, writes about a student in his Theology class named Tommy:

angry rebelSome twelve years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our first session in the Theology. That was the day I first saw Tommy. My eyes and my mind both blinked. He was combing his long flaxen hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders. It was the first time I had ever seen a boy with hair that long. I guess it was just coming into fashion then I know in my mind that it isn’t what’s on your head but what’s in it that counts; but on that day I was unprepared and my emotions flipped. I immediately filed Tommy under “S” for strange…very strange. Tommy turned out to be the “atheist in residence” in my course. He constantly objected to, smirked at, or whined about the possibility of an unconditionally loving Father / God. We lived with each other in relative peace for one semester, although I admit he was for me at times a serious pain in the back pew. When he came up at the end of the course to turn in his final exam, he asked in a cynical tone, “Do you think I’ll ever find God?” I decided instantly on a little shock therapy. “No!” I said very emphatically. “Why not,” he responded, “I thought that was the product you were pushing.” I let him get five steps from the classroom door and then called out, “Tommy! I don’t think you’ll ever find Him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!” He shrugged a little and left my class and my life. …Later I heard that Tommy had graduated, and I was duly grateful. Then a sad report came. I heard that Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I could search him out, he came to see me. When he walked into my office, his body was very badly wasted and the long hair had all fallen out as a result of chemotherapy. But his eyes were bright and his voice was firm, for the first time, I believe. “Tommy, I’ve thought about you so often; I hear you are sick,” I blurted out. “Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs. It’s a matter of weeks.” “Can you talk about it, Tom?” I asked. “Sure, what would you like to know?” he replied. “What’s it like to be only twenty-four and dying?” “Well, it could be worse.” “Like what?” “Well, like being fifty and having no values or ideals, like being fifty and thinking that booze, seducing women, and making money are the real biggies in life. “I began to look through my mental file cabinet under “S” where I had filed Tommy as strange…”But what I really came to see you about,” Tom said, “is something you said to me on the last day of class.” (He remembered!) He continued, “I asked you if you thought I would ever find God and you said, ’No!’ which surprised me. Then you said, ’But He will find you.’ I thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly intense at that time… “But when the doctors removed a lump from my groin and told me that it was malignant, that’s when I got serious about locating God. And when the malignancy spread into my vital organs, I really began banging bloody fists against the bronze doors of heaven. But God did not come out. In fact, nothing happened. Did you ever try anything for a long time with great effort and with no success? You get psychologically glutted, fed up with trying. And then you quit “Well, one day I woke up, and instead of throwing a few more futile appeals over that high brick wall to a God who may be or may not be there, I just quit. I decided that I didn’t really care about God, about an after life, or anything like that. I decided to spend what time I had left doing something more profitable. I thought about you and your class and I remembered something else you had said: ’The essential sadness is to go through life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved them.’” “So, I began with the hardest one, my Dad. He was reading the newspaper when I approached him. “Dad.” “Yes, what?” he asked without lowering the newspaper. “Dad, I would like to talk with you.” “Well, talk.” “I mean … It’s really important.” The newspaper came down three slow inches. “What is it?” “Dad, I love you, I just wanted you to know that.” Tom smiled at me and said it with obvious satisfaction, as though he felt a warm and secret joy flowing inside of him. “The newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my father did two things I could never remember him ever doing before. He cried and he hugged me. We talked all night, even though he had to go to work the next morning. It felt so good to be close to my father, to see his tears, to feel his hug, to hear him say that he loved me.” [In that night, my father shared with me how he had become angry with me because of my life choices, in spite of the fact that he raised me in a Christian home. He shared his faith with me in a way I never heard before.] “It was easier with my mother and little brother. They cried with me, too, and we hugged each other, and started saying real nice things to each other. We shared the things we had been keeping secret for so many years. “I was only sorry about one thing — that I had waited so long. Here I was, just beginning to open up to all the people I had actually been close to. “Then, one day I turned around and God was there. He didn’t come to me when I pleaded with Him. I guess I was like an animal trainer holding out a hoop, ’C’mon, jump through. C’mon, I’ll give you three days, three weeks.’” “Apparently God does things in His own way and at His own hour. But the important thing is that He was there. He found me! You were right He found me even after I stopped looking for Him” “Tommy,” I practically gasped, “I think you are saying something very important and much more universal than you realize! To me, at least, you are saying that the surest way to find God is not to make Him a private possession, a problem solver, or an instant consolation in time of need, but rather by opening to love. You know, the Apostle John said that. He said: ’God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him.’ Tom, could I ask you a favor? You know, when I had you in class you were a real pain. But (laughingly) you can make it all up to me now. Would you come into my present “Theology of Faith” course and tell them what you have just told me? If I told them the same thing it wouldn’t be half as effective as if you were to tell it” “Oooh… I was ready for you, but I don’t know if I’m ready for your class.” “Tom, think about it. If and when you are ready, give me a call.” In a few days Tom called, said he was ready for the class, that he wanted to do that for God and for me. So we scheduled a date. However, he never made it. He had another appointment, far more important than the one with me and my class. Of course, his life was not really ended by his death, only changed. He made the great step from faith into vision. He found a life far more beautiful than the eye of man has ever seen or the ear of man has ever heard or the mind of man has ever imagined. Before he died, we talked one last time. “I’m not going to make it to your class,” he said. “I know, Tom.” “Will you tell them for me? Will you … tell the whole world for me?” I will, Tom. I’ll tell them. I’ll do my best.” So, to all of you who have been kind enough to read this simple story about God’s love, thank you for listening. And to you, Tommy, somewhere in the sunlit, verdant hills of heaven — I told them, Tommy, as best I could.

I mention this story because it sets up well the problem we have. People we love act badly sometimes, and sometimes we are called to oppose what they are saying or doing – but it is never comfortable if we truly love them. Add to that the fact that at other times we are called to overtly show love to them in a way that seems opposite of opposing them. The battle is confusing, and we don’t always get it right even when we have a right motive. There is a lot of pain involved in the process of defending truth that cannot be simply taught through… it is cried through. How can I fight the right battles and still love in a way that brings a ringing testimony? Fortunately, God didn’t leave us stuck…there is a book in the Scriptures that helps us sort this out – the short epistle written by Jude, the half-brother of James, Pastor at Jerusalem in the first century.

What did he say? In two sentences he said…

Key Principle: Believers must prayerfully identify the proper lines in defense of truth, but also seek practical ways to show love to opponents. Those two actions in balance will keep the church on track in both love and purity.

In his opening introduction, he recalled five gifts of God that helped believers to stand in grace and truth:

1:1 Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.

First, from the outset of his writing, he made clear:

Believers have a Divine call on their life. They were not a mistake or surprise to God – and you and I are not a mistake either. You were CALLED. God knows who you are and how you got in the family. The Spirit was there when conviction fell upon you to choose Jesus. The Spirit indwelt you when you surrendered to Christ. God’s call came with God’s gifts, seal and much more…

Believers have a Divine love in our life. They were BELOVED, and so are you! We can do heroic things for love. We can tolerate the intolerable, deny ourselves in areas of our most basic needs – if we know we are loved. Parents go without for their children – because of love. We have God’s love securely wrapped around us all them time. We do not simply hold His hand as we cross the streets of danger in our lives – He holds OUR HAND. In Biblical terms, I am ever gripped by His holy grasp.

Believers have a Divine guard over our life. They were KEPT, and so are we. The enemy may wish to have a shot at my life, but it must pass through my Father’s approval to hit me. He will not allow me to suffer temptation without an escape hatch, and He knows what I can withstand when walking with Him.

Believers have a Divine mercy multiplying in our life. Nothing about God’s rich blessings are deserved in my life! He overflows with mercy (eleos: undeserved compassion, usually in reference to a miserable situation). The more I understand myself, the more I see the deep and abiding mercy involved in saving me!

Believers have a Divine peace surrounding our life. Another result of my walk with God is the peace (eiréné: to enter in an undisturbed flow) that grows as I trust Him, and openly rely on Him (usually seen as a result of prayer – Philippians 4).

Don’t skip by these simple words of introduction, because they are key to standing strong. We must know WHO we are in Christ, in order to be able to DO what God has called us to accomplish.

Second, believers need to model the character of godly leaders that helped them gain insight into a walk with God.

1:3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Jude told them: “I wanted to write about the incredible salvation God has given us, but I cannot. There is a pressing problem… ungodliness has crept into God’s church.” He didn’t speak it with the voice of a master… he appealed to them in love. He was:

• Humble before the Lord: Jude appealed to them as a bond-servant, not a Lord (1:1).

• Open to Help: Jude called on them for assistance (appealing is from the word para-kaleo: one called beside to help) – not commanded them “from the top down” (1:3).

• Honest about mistakes: Jude made them aware that when the troublers arrived, they slipped in past the observing eyes of leaders (1:4).

• Forthright about problems: Jude didn’t mince words about the nature of the troublers:

1. They were “planted” by the enemy (though they themselves may not have been aware of it – 1:4).

2. They were not people of God – but ungodly in heart and action (1:4).

3. They used the grace of God to license wrongdoing (1:4).

4. Their actions (and perhaps their overt teaching) were a denial of Jesus’s Lordship over all of the life of a believer (1:4).

Step back for a moment and you can see the delicate balance. Jude didn’t come harshly, but he didn’t back down on the truth, either. This is the sound of balance and Godly commitment.

Third, he called believers to realize that ignoring ungodly behavior imperils all the people of God.

Look at the three perils Jude mentioned to them:

First, there was an imperiled testimony:

1:5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.

God may withdraw His use of a believer if we refuse to take Him seriously! Even those who began with a testimony of freedom may find God unable to continue using them as a testimony to Him. YOU MAY SAVE THE LIVES OF THOSE YOU CORRECT!

Second, there was an imperiled judgment:

1:6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

God may step in and cut off our work because it did not stay within the parameters He set for us. He may cut our life short so that we don’t continue to damage the work He is doing. He did it in Corinth when people improperly handled each other in the body. He made some sick and took others home.

The Bible argues that people caught in lifestyle choices that are not acceptable to God are people caught in blinding sin that need rescue – not people that need to be accommodated into churches that love in spite of their behaviors. Churches that do that are imperiling their people and mottling the message of the Lordship of Jesus. The teaching that such are not clean spiritually may be politically untenable, but Scripture makes clear that it IS a part of the Biblical world view.

Third, there is an imperiled temporal safety:

1:8 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties. 9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed.

Failure to recognize their place will cause them to be destroyed by powers that are stronger than they realize. Allowing deception to remain in the lives of people is a dangerous thing. Satan himself is the father of lies and deception, and he is well cloaked and appears harmless to many. When he is courted, he remains and grows stronger in our hearts. He is not an animal that can be truly tamed, but a lion that awaits the right time for maximum effect, to destroy us. Playing with lions is a dangerous way of living.

Fourth, Believers must wisely recognize the marks of these messengers of trouble – to mark and avoid them.

Note that Jude doesn’t simply tell Pastors to watch for people who are bringing error and ungodliness into the work – ALL believers are to spot people who are doing so – and their works imperil all!

He continued: 1:11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

How do we spot them? Their error mimics people God exposed already in His Word – so we should be able to spot them. Here are three examples:

The first is Cain and his unbridled bitterness. (He had a wrong heart, and that led him to wrong actions). Some who dwell among the believers are actually deeply bitter and jealous that God hasn’t given them what He has given others. They will not master their anger and blame others for a hurt they feel originated with God!

Gen. 4:2 Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. 4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” 8 Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

Look closely at Cain’s sin: disappointment about how God dealt with him became jealousy over how God dealt with his brother. God spoke conviction into Cain, but he ignored HIS responsibility and made his problem about some advantage his brother had. He made himself a VICTIM instead of taking responsibility for his choices. Deceived, his rebellion showed in an act of premeditated murder. Failure to yield his heart became open rebellion, which led to an innocent life taken.

The second example is Balaam and a hardened and greedy heart (He had a wrong heart, but had the right words), that was manifested in greed. God spoke to and through Balaam, but Balaam wasn’t truly seeking God through the process. In Numbers 22-24 the story is revealed of how Balak sent for Balaam, and God using Balaam’s donkey to see what he did not see – the angel of the Lord was preparing to strike him down for his hard and unyielding heart – ended in Balaam’s sharing the right words about Israel in spite of himself.

The third example is Korah during his rebellion against God’s chosen leaders (He had the wrong heart, and chose the wrong actions). Korah and his sons openly abetted a rebellion in Number 26 against Moses. They felt that he was taking power, and didn’t realize that GOD PUT HIM IN CHARGE. Standing opposed to God’s power structure meant that God destroyed them.

Jude continued with words that the people should recognize these things anew: 1:12 These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever. 14 It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” 16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage. 17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.

Look closely at their distinguishing marks so they can be recognized:

1. They are insiders to the church (1:12).
2. They are self-oriented and self-concerned (“caring for themselves”) – 1:12.
3. They promise much but deliver little (“clouds without water”) – 1:12.
4. They are inconsistent (“carried about by winds”) – 1:12.
5. They are not producing anything useful (“trees without fruit”) – 1:12.
6. They are not spiritually alive (“doubly dead, uprooted”) – 1:12.
7. They are unrestrained (“wild waves”) – 1:13.
8. They are unashamed of the trouble they cause (“casting up shame”) – 1:13.
9. They are unaccountable (“wandering stars”) – 1:13.
10. They mock God by living in lust (“ungodly lusts”) – 1:18.
11. They create divisions – 1:19.
12. Their minds are flesh and world focused – 1:19.

You will not oppose what you cannot identify. Keep your eyes open to these signs, and prayerfully and lovingly stand guard over one another.

Fifth and finally, believers must offer a positive, life-changing opportunity to those who truly desire to grow.

Some time ago, I read about a comedy movie called “Police Academy” that came out in 1982. Apparently one of the recruits, who loved his weapons, was walking down a residential street. A sweet little old lady is standing by the walk and as he approaches she says, “Officer, would you get my kitty out of the tree?” He looked up, said “Sure, ma’am”, draws his gun and shoots the cat. Sometimes that is the way we fix things in the church – but it isn’t the RIGHT way!

Jude offered seven positive words concerning what we must be prepared to do for people to whom we minister:

• 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith…We must adopt a Biblical world view. We must see the world through the Biblical eyes of God. That view is a view of faith. It is not spooky, but studied. It is consistent and can be measured against the book!

• 1:20…praying in the Holy Spirit… We must apply the power of the Spirit in constant prayer about the issues of our life – ever yielding and sensitive to His leading.

• 1:21 …keep yourselves in the love of God, We must walk in our lives in a way that acts deliberately to meet the needs of those around us, calling on God to supply for that need. We must not dilute ourselves into being the source of giving, but steward and be a vessel for what God chooses to do.

• 1:21…waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. We must not strive to build permanent comforts here, but seek the good work of God that lasts forever!

• 1:22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; Though unbending to those who desire to take the work away from the Spirit’s work, we must also that some walk in error but will follow truth. To the weak we must be gentle and firm, patient and true.

• 1:23 …save others, snatching them out of the fire; We cannot leave behind the work of an evangelist!

• 1:23…and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Uncompromised reverence for God and walking in truth without a shady motive must characterize our life!

At the end of his letter, Jude closed with a prayer! 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

There is a great article that illustrates the concept of grace written by Charles Stanley: “One of my more memorable seminary professors had a practical way of illustrating to his students the concept of grace. At the end of his evangelism course he would distribute the exam with the caution to read it all the way through before beginning to answer it. This caution was written on the exam as well. As we read the test, it became unquestionably clear to each of us that we had not studied nearly enough. The further we read, the worse it became. About halfway through, audible groans could be heard through out the lecture hall. On the last page, however, was a note that read, “You have a choice. You can either complete the exam as given or sign your name at the bottom and in so doing receive an A for this assignment.” Wow? We sat there stunned. “Was he serious? Just sign it and get an A?” Slowly, the point dawned on us, and one by one we turned in our tests and silently filed out of the room. When I talked with the professor about it afterward, he shared some of the reactions he had received through the years. Some students began to take the exam without reading it all the way through, and they would sweat it out for the entire two hours of class time before reaching the last page. Others read the first two pages, became angry, turned the test in blank, and stormed out of the room without signing it. They never realized what was available, and as a result, they lost out totally. One fellow, however, read the entire test, including the note at the end, but decided to take the exam anyway. He did not want any gifts; he wanted to earn his grade. And he did. He made a C+, but he could easily have had an A. This story illustrates many people’s reaction to God’s solution to sin.

Believers must prayerfully identify the proper lines in defense of truth, but also seek practical ways to show love to opponents. Those two actions in balance will keep the church on track in both love and purity.

An Enduring Legacy: “The Weakest Links” – Nehemiah 13

weakest-link-anne-robinson-8439893One of the BBC TV shows that was made famous in the first decade of the current millennium was that of “The Weakest Link”. The television game show first appeared in the United Kingdom in August 2000 and successfully ran until March of 2012. The show was so wrapped around the personality of its hostess, that when Anne Robinson ended her contract, the show was closed down. Ms. Robinson’s catchphrase “You are the weakest link. Goodbye!” dented pop culture, showing itself in overt references from TV shows like “Family Guy” and “Dr. Who” to ‘hat tips’ in pop culture movies like “Scary Movie 2” and “The League of Gentlemen”. The idea of the show was that contestants were pitted against one another, responding to increasingly tough questions. Though they worked as a “team”, they were eliminated by vote of the others. Anne stepped in each round to usher out the contestant voted to leave. Sometimes she seemed a bit gleeful, and sometimes quite harsh. At the same time, it was entertaining to watch people play a strategy against one another to gain personal advantage.

It is no secret; the weakest link determines the strength of the chain. If only one link is weak, the chain will falter exactly at that point– regardless of how strong all the other links are. What is true on your child’s bicycle is also true in a people project, or a ministry. Tensions will come, and the breaks will happen – leaders need to anticipate that from the beginning and keep an eye on those men, women and children who are struggling – because that is where a “break” will occur. That careful eye is made even more difficult when there are a number of people who are weak, all at the same time. The point is that building a work for God is not the same as maintaining and stabilizing a work of God. The necessary leadership skill sets are not identical. One can build well, but the ministry may not last if not maintained well.

One key to the successful navigation of trouble is the realism with which we set our expectations. When leaders don’t think trouble will come – their arrival brings a level of disillusionment that goes beyond the original problem. A second key is found in endurance… for no one ever accomplished a difficult goal without perseverance. This is a “given” in leadership. In Nehemiah 13, the leader we have been following ran his last lap on the job, and fell from the pages of history. The maintenance problems he faced were not new problems, but they were deeply discouraging ones that kept coming back around, again and again. The final chapter of the book records the struggle of a leader with three critical issues – inconsistent leaders, inconsistent practices and sliding malleable morals. The record is meant to warn us: building for God must be sustained by a careful approach to maintaining people. How? Nehemiah 13 offers…

Key Principle: People must be continually encouraged to stand firm, walk without compromise and see the value of a passionate testimony!

Before we look at the problem, let me share that I appreciate that Nehemiah was not a “Teflon man” – tough stuff stuck. He was passionate, and at times he became irritable and hurt by the people. His intense discouragement showed like the weft of a thread bare cloth in several places:

Note both his perception, and his pronounced reactions to those who brought sin troubles. When troubles were made known to him, they really got to him. I love the record of Nehemiah 13:8 “It was very displeasing to me, so I threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room.” Can you see yourself doing something like that? You get SO upset at the actions of someone who should know better, you give their room a full “clean out”? It is as though you could hear the sound of the making of a whip in the south porch of the Temple, as Jesus was welling up inside with the “zeal of his house”!

The text offered that he tossed out the property of Tobiah hastily (13:8), but also that he threatened to physically harm the Sabbath breaking merchants (13:21) after repeated violations. He smacked the men and pulled out the beard hairs (in disrespect, cp. Isaiah 50) of those who intermarried and then raised children that couldn’t speak Hebrew (13:24-25). He chased out a compromise-laden young man from the room! (13:28).

Because the issues of the text are SIN issues, that is, people acting out of lust or fallen values – they really got under his SKIN. I can attest to the extreme discouragement of facing people’s sin issues – especially those who KNOW BETTER. We all make choices that don’t honor our commitment and calling, but sometimes it just STINGS. I love that Nehemiah related that part of his own walk – where he just about LOST IT on the people who just wouldn’t quit rebellion!

Let’s move in close. Remember that Nehemiah 13 demonstrates three areas that undermine and destroy any good work that God has done. The three problems cited are:

#1) Inconsistent Leadership that keeps the vision without compromise (13:1-14).

#2) Incremental Easing of Commitment to the Passionate testimony in a walk with God (13:15-22).

#3) A Refusal of God’s People to walk distinctly in relationships in the world (13:23-31).

Let’s Look More Closely at Each:

First, Inconsistent leadership (13:1-14):

Nehemiah 13:1 On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and there was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, 2 because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 So when they heard the law, they excluded all foreigners from Israel. 4 Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah, 5 had prepared a large room for him, where formerly they put the grain offerings, the frankincense, the utensils and the tithes of grain, wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, the singers and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. 6 But during all this [time] I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had gone to the king. After some time, however, I asked leave from the king, 7 and I came to Jerusalem and learned about the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God. 8 It was very displeasing to me, so I threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room. 9 Then I gave an order and they cleansed the rooms; and I returned there the utensils of the house of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense. 10 I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not been given [them], so that the Levites and the singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field. 11 So I reprimanded the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” Then I gathered them together and restored them to their posts. 12 All Judah then brought the tithe of the grain, wine and oil into the storehouses. 13 In charge of the storehouses I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and in addition to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered reliable, and it was their task to distribute to their kinsmen. 14 Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which I have performed for the house of my God and its services.

The text opened with an issue that it did not close until the end of the chapter – like a summation. He started by relating that people were growing in the Word – when they heard it- and began to obey. That is the summary point of the first four verses – but the STORY of those verses appears at the end of the chapter. Suffice it to say that the first verses are a mere statement: “The people grew in the Lord as they heard His Word. One example I can share is what happened when they learned they were not to join families with the Ammonite tribe or the Moabite tribe. I will get back to that later…”

Between verses five and thirteen, Nehemiah engaged the problem of Eliashib and the Levites that literally halted the forward work of the Temple – a problem that occurred in a time of absence and travel of Nehemiah. The writer described the scene he discovered when he returned to Jerusalem from a trip to Babylon. Essentially, the original commitment to the Temple quickly waned in his absence, and the people were not bringing the tithes they promised. As the tithes shrank, the room they were stored in was not seen as valuable in a time when space – particularly well designed space – was easily attained. The priest in charge gave the hall of storage away to a relative so that he could live there – right in the courts of the Temple.

There are several layers to this problem that we are invited to observe. First, note that when the leaders didn’t fervently encourage the people to stay with their commitments before God, those commitments quickly dissipated. People have to be constantly called back to the place of commitment and surrender. It is a function of the work of a leader of God’s people to remind them, to exhort them, to encourage them to keep their commitments and surrender to God at the FRONT of their mind. Peter knew well that it was not a problem to remind people of things over and over (2 Peter 1:13). Paul reminded Timothy without hesitation (2 Timothy 1:6).

Second, we are reminded that leaders, like all people, make compromises – and they need to be careful about how that tendency affects the purity of God’s work. Eliashib, like many leaders, made personal compromises that affected his leadership:

His family was allowed to defect from the vision, but still gain from his personal sponsorship and enabling to sin. Eliashib’s grandson had intermarried into the family of Sanballat the Horonite who set himself as an enemy of Nehemiah (he was upset about Nehemiah’s work in 2:10; accused Nehemiah of rebellion in 2:19; mocked the attempt to build the wall in 4:1; attempted to lure and kill Nehemiah in 6:2; etc.). That connection was the weak link the enemy used to draw him into corrupting the whole work! God’s people, particularly leaders, need to be reminded that our personal connections affect our heart, our fervency, our walk. Choose your friends well. If you are a leader, choose them with even more scrutiny. Bad company corrupts good morals. Corrupted morals destroy great works of God.

Eliashib also forgot obligations he and the people made before God when the Spirit was at work in an earlier time (Nehemiah 10:39 “we will not neglect the house of the Lord”) as demonstrated by the way he gave Temple space for personal use to a friend that had been restricted by God to even be in that place (13:1-9; cp. Dt. 23:3-5). He gave something that belonged to God – not something of his own. Further, he did not maintain the God-ordained system of care for those who were to minister to the people and care for Temple (13:10).

Are there problems we face in our day that look the same? Sure there are. When we make the patterns prescribed from Heaven mere civil arrangements, we forget what they really are – commitments before God. If our country decides that marriage, for instance, is nothing more than a contract – that is fine. Yet, a believer knows the truth – they know it is a sacred symbol given by God and cemented in Heaven. They know “God has joined them together” and that is why they must not lightly “put it asunder” as the wedding ceremony reminds.

When we forget what our forefathers knew and enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, that life and liberty were not bestowed by government, but rather by God to people – we can be persuaded over time that government has the authority to remove those fundamental rights. Our freedoms as a society are held in place by firm memory of the truth – and the place from which truth comes. That is always the case. Nehemiah 13 demonstrates what happens when truth is allowed to slip from the minds of the leaders, and then the people. Good stops, while evil supplants it. Eliashib forgot that GOD instituted the Temple system, and made its precincts holy.

How can a problem like this be solved? Nehemiah took the necessary steps to model the answer for us:

First, he inspected what was done since his absence. Leadership requires investigation and consideration of events and facts (13:7). Second, when he determined the action to be evil, he acted against evil. He did not “tolerate” or “accommodate” – he never once suggested they move the tithe storage to another place, nor put it “together” with Tobiah’s things. There was no compromise with a breach of God’s holy precinct. He removed the things that were in violation (13:8) – though I admit he did it with some extra “gusto”! Next, he attempted to re-establish the vision by setting the problem aright (13:9). He faced those in the structure of the organization directly with the problem, and replaced them as necessary to reset the standard (13:11-13).

Toleration and compromise, when it comes to things God has commanded, leads only to a waning of God’s desired work. We need to remember that what God commanded to be sacred – IS – by virtue of God’s Word. It isn’t up to us to accommodate those who desire to rebel against truth – but to lovingly hold the line on what is true – because God said it is!

Second, Slipping Testimony (13:15-22):

A second issue also arose, and we can see how the first bled into the second…

Nehemiah 13:15 In those days I saw in Judah some who were treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sacks of grain and loading [them] on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs and all kinds of loads, and they brought [them] into Jerusalem on the sabbath day. So I admonished [them] on the day they sold food. 16 Also men of Tyre were living there [who] imported fish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold [them] to the sons of Judah on the sabbath, even in Jerusalem. 17 Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day? 18 “Did not your fathers do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath.” 19 It came about that just as it grew dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and that they should not open them until after the sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates [so that] no load would enter on the sabbath day. 20 Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. 21 Then I warned them and said to them, “Why do you spend the night in front of the wall? If you do so again, I will use force against you.” From that time on they did not come on the sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day. [For] this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness.

The first problem was a relaxing the standards of God in regard to a HOLY PLACE. The second problem also concerned the relaxing of God’s standards – this in regard to the HOLY DAY.

Note the way such laxities occur. Three symptoms are given:

1) Truth was ignored when it lost its purpose among God’s people. The Sabbath was a command to show they were a distinct people that belonged to God (Exodus 31). By ignoring the way God told them to act as a testimony before the world (Nehemiah 13:15). When God’s people forget what the symbols of God actually denote – they lose all their intrinsic value – and are eventually abandoned.

2) Truth was ignored by allowing those of the world to participate in their disobedience (Nehemiah 13:16). The world is only too happy to help us abandon things God told us to do! We can easily begin to rationalize a reason NOT to obey – it was FISH, and they needed to be fresh. That is all predicated on the idea that we need FISH available every day. The point for us is NOT whether we need to keep the Sabbath that was prescribed to the Jewish people in uniqueness – but whether we recognize the ease with which we can lose our distinctiveness when we drop the symbols of our faith. Take, for instance, those believers that think they don’t need association with a local church. Probe them, and you will find that many think they can walk in obedience without the body, and find a new way to advance the faith. They have no clue that they are damaging their testimony and weakening the distinctiveness of the message of the body of Christ. They have little positive impact on the world, and blur the lines of what a believer should be.

3) Truth was ignored by forgetting the penalties they suffer through disobedience (13:17,18). People quickly forget that when believers abandoned the things God commanded in the past – it went badly for everyone. Judgment comes when rebellion is allowed to fester unanswered.

How did Nehemiah address this issue? He modeled a solution in steps:

• First, he pointed out the wrong with no ambiguity or uncertainty (Note the words in Nehemiah 13:15- testified; 13:17- contended; 13:18- questioned leaders).

• Second, he stopped the practice immediately (13:19) and got the others to participate in the change.

• Third, he expected opposition and took it on openly. If the standard is God’s, no less can demonstrate obedience (13:20-21).

• Finally, he got all God’s people to respond: (especially their leaders) to repent (i.e. clean up) and get back to the testimony of former days (13:22).

Third, Failed Persistence in a Distinct (Holy) Walk (13:23-31):

Yet a third problem was made known to him:

Nehemiah 13:23 In those days I also saw that the Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon [and] Moab. 24 As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah, but the language of his own people. 25 So I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. 26 “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin regarding these things? Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin. 27 “Do we then hear about you that you have committed all this great evil by acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?” 28 Even one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove him away from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. 30 Thus I purified them from everything foreign and appointed duties for the priests and the Levites, each in his task, 31 and [I arranged] for the supply of wood at appointed times and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

Look at the progression. When people let down their guard on Holy Places (the standards of what they can allow and where) and Holy Times (faithful observance of God’s Word and the central place of worship), they will find themselves attracted to COMPROMISE in the standards of relationships in life. How does this happen?

• First, believers flirt with the world’s standard, and are not held to the call of the Word regarding distinction (13:23; cp. Dt. 7:3-11).

• Soon after, they compromise even the most basic identifications with the people of God, and go far beyond what their parents ever imagined they would (Nehemiah 13:24).

How can this painful situation be rectified? Nehemiah offered four examples:

• First, he took a stand! Altered obedience is disobedience. If the slip is not rejected outright, the problem will only grow (13:25).

• Second, he pointed out the problems caused by their sin, for the history of God’s people permitted such a lesson (13:26).

• Third, he reminded them that the standard was for THEIR GOOD because of the LOVE OF GOD (Nehemiah 13:26). God wasn’t trying to “spoil their fun”, but rather keep them from inherent danger.

• He made clear they couldn’t compromise for “important” or “well placed” people (13:28).

People must be continually encouraged to stand firm, walk without compromise and see the value of a passionate testimony!

Don’t mistake what I am saying. We are not talking about EARNING God’s love by doing right, we are speaking of RESPONDING to God’s love by obedience. A relationship with God begins when we surrender to Him and trust Him – but it is carefully grown and nurtured when we become DOERS of His Word and not HEARERS only.

Remember, God doesn’t simply judge men by what they SAY they believed, but by what they SHOW they believed. Theoretical musings are not equal to faithful steps of obedience. As you leave today, perhaps someone will approach you and say, “Is the sermon done already?” Tell them simply this: “No, just the speaking part. The sermon isn’t DONE until we stand firm, walk without compromise and see the value of a passionate testimony before the world. The sermon has been HEARD, but now it must be DONE.

The God of Silence – Resurrection Morning

reflections on Christ - crucifixionDid you ever feel like God was watching as injustice raged some place – but He was just sitting on the sidelines?

As we sit here today:

• Central Africa is still raging with waves of savagery, where innocent men, women and children are being killed – some in the name of a religious faith.
• Syria is still divided as many families have lost loved ones and others are clinging to fading hope – their life now in shambles. Churches have been targeted, and believers have been killed.
• In the Ukraine, people are living nervously, particularly Jews who have seen the return of terrible pamphlets that warn them to register as Jews, in anticipation of the return of Moscow’s power to the now independent country.

Those are just the political realities where evil seems to be having its day and its way. We could pile on top the literally millions of homes where children are neglected, and then add in the many who are today in elder care that has become a scandal in our times – and in all God seems like He is doing little or nothing to fix the problems we face on this little planet. Haven’t you been tempted, at least once, to wonder why God doesn’t step in? The truth is, He did, and He will – but even that didn’t look like a victory…yet.

Nowhere is that sentiment that God is sitting more close to the surface than your initial reading of the story of the last hours of Jesus’ life, as told by the Gospel writers. Jesus was being delivered from one bad situation to another, as men literally tortured Him without cause, and yet nothing bad happened to the torturers in the story. When you are a young believer, or new to the text of Scripture, you almost cannot help but feel like God was “sitting on high on the Holy Throne” with little engagement in the evil dances of defiled men and their demonic helpers… but you would be WRONG. God was doing something…He was winning. He was conquering sin – making a way of escape for man while beginning the war against death itself – that will one day be won as well. It just didn’t look like it at the time.

Key Principle: God isn’t being forced out of our country, nor is He losing His grip on our world – even when it looks like He is being shown the door. He is writing the next chapter of a story that ends in His victory!

Let me explain:

Long before George Foreman was the name of an electric grill – the man George (whose name is on the grill) was a top-tier world championship boxer. On October 30, 1974, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman squared off in the boxing ring in Zaire. Ali had dubbed it “The Rumble in the Jungle.” Ali had a catchy name for everything he ever did, and was never afraid to use a microphone to let you know what it was! Foreman was heavily favored, and considered the hardest puncher in heavyweight history. Ali did something in that fight that no other fighter had ever dared to try. He held up his arms against his face and leaned back against the ropes allowing Foreman to punch away at him for eight rounds. Ali barely scored a single point for landing a punch. The strongest boxer in history beat on Ali until he could punch no more. When the right moment came, Ali bounced off the ropes and knocked out Foreman, sending him into retirement. Ali called his technique “rope-a-dope.” Even though it looked like he was losing the fight, and losing badly, he was in control the whole time. He took all those punches because he knew he would deliver the final blow. (Adapted from Sermon Central illustrations).

That is the story of the last week of Jesus’ ministry. That is the story of the Passion Week, and that is the story of the Cross. It is a story about hard-hearted men, clueless disciples, a pounded Savior – and an unlikely but unmistakable victory… first over SIN at the Cross of Calvary… eventually over DEATH ITSELF beginning at a grave nearby.

It is worth your time to look at the story again. Not everyone sees it. Not everyone understands. The story isn’t over yet. For some in this room, the story may just have found its beginning. Some are still distracted by the punches that were landed by the enemy – blow by blow in the story – and they have missed that Jesus took the punishment, because He knew He could and would deliver the final blows that would mean victory…

Go back in the story… Remember three chapters of John’s Gospel outline the major events of the last hours of Jesus’ ministry – John 18, 19 and 20. We don’t have the time to dig deeply into any part of the story, but rather we are going to “skip a stone across the top” of these ending chapters of John’s Gospel. Start by picking up the story in the three settings of John 18, where an emotional drama unfolded:

John 18 begins with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, moves to the house of Joseph Caiaphas – the High Priest, and ends with the Roman Governor’s meeting (Pontius Pilate) at a building called the Praetorium of Jerusalem.

First, Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane in John 18:1-12. Look at who and what you observe there. If you listen closely to the words of the text, you will observe the worst attitudes of lost mankind. John wrote:

Macho Men

John 18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples…3 Judas then, having received the [Roman] cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”

• You can see a heavy dose of male macho “mojo” as the soldiers march into the dark grove beside the Kidron Valley in John 18:1-4. The rattling of swords, buckler shields and armor smacking against the lanterns as the men walked with power and aggression would have easily gotten your attention. These were men on a mission, and they were all about the power and domination – but they forgot love and care.

Dark Deceiver

In John 18:5 it continued: They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am [He].” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them.

• Stepping from the shadows was an unarmed tunic-clad Jewish man. He was nothing special to look at, but he had a sheepish look in John 18:5. Another Gospel writer tells us that Judas broke from the crowd and kissed the Master, but the gesture was unsure. Deception and betrayal is never comfortable.

Self-Righteous Religionists

John 18:6 So when He said to them, “I am [He],” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am [He]; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.”

• Jesus spoke. He asked the men who they were searching for. When they indicated they wanted Him in John 18:6-9, He turned and uttered words that rippled through the universe – “I Am” – a holy title… a name of the Most High. In obligatory reverence, they fell back. While Jesus spoke with the confidence of TRUTH, the men of the Temple guard fell back in the duty of their man-made religious fervor – just as they were about to assault the very One to Whom they claimed to give worship.

Misguided Followers

John 18:10 Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath… 12 So the [Roman] cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him,

• My flesh cries out in a “moment of victory” in John 18:10-12 when I read that Peter lunged out of the pack to attack with his sword, but I can’t help but notice he didn’t aim at one of the important men, or even a trained soldier – he took his shot at a mere slave – and then he missed his head! All he got was an ear! There is nothing worse than throwing an uncertain punch on a lesser man, and then elegantly missing in the process! So impressive was Peter’s display that they didn’t even bother to arrest him. If that was the level of the resistance – Rome was certainly secure of this sudden uprising among armed “flailing fishermen of Galilee”. How humiliating, he couldn’t even get himself arrested for the cause. Sadly, that was a “high water mark” for Pete’s night – things were about to get much, much worse.

In the face of bumbling disciples, self-righteous and pompous religious types, dark deceivers and stone-faced warriors God didn’t raise a finger to help His Son…

Move on to the second setting, where events at the House of the High Priest are recorded in John 18:13-27:

Three more emotional outbursts appear in the home of Annas and Caiaphas – the family called in Hebrew “Beth Hanan” or “household of Hanan”. If it helps, Eleazar ben Ananus was the Jewish High Priest in the years 16-17 CE, under Roman Governor Gratus, and Emperor Tiberius. By the time of our gospel text, Annas was old and retired… living in the family estate and still an “emeritus” of the office. His son-in-law Joseph Caiaphas did not succeed him directly, but became High Priest after Simon ben Camith. Caiaphas continued in office from 26 to 37 CE, until the proconsul of Syria named Vitellius (father of the Vitellius that became Roman Emperor for a short time in 69 CE) deposed him. His prestigious family villa on the western hill of Jerusalem was the backdrop of John 18:13-27:

Cruel Political Leaders

John 18:13 [they] led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.

• John 18:13-14 Who can miss the obvious story of the “Conniving Caiphas”? This was a man who was to intercede and represent his people as a priest, but our story reveals a leader who calculated that “sometimes you have to break an egg to make an omelet” – an echo of a cold heart that lacked full sensitivity. “One could die – even if innocent – for the others to have better lives?” Really?

Fear-driven followers

John 18:15 Simon Peter was following Jesus, and … 16 … Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also [one] of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the slaves and the officers were standing [there], having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself…25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also [one] of His disciples, are you?” He denied [it], and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied [it] again, and immediately a rooster crowed.

• John 18:15-18; 25-27 What would the story be if we missed the embarrassed and fearful Peter – lying about his associations but trying to keep his toes near to the action inside the High Priest’s judgment chamber? Fear is often the worst motivator for good action. Pete had a panic attack that made him shake in his sandals. Obviously the first place the fear hit was his tongue. All he seemed to be able to say is “I am not”. One little three letter word… NOT… that is all he had to keep inside. He could have said, “I am” – but he was too afraid. As troubles rose against Jesus, disciples were tempted to defect with their mouths. They stopped telling the truth. In our day – it happens again. When the message is not popular, some will chase the foolhearty errand of trying to make the message more palatable. The problem is they will change the message to something different – and it isn’t their message to change.

Belligerent and Arrogant Career Officers

John 18:19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. … 21 “Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” 22 When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” 24 So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

• John 18:19-24 On the first reading, we can barely contain ourselves when facing the belligerent guard – stepped forward and slapped Jesus. I guarantee you that is an action that will be remembered in the judgment if this man didn’t come to Christ. The was a man who thought himself of the appropriate rank to slap the Creator of the stars across the face! Yet, many in our day deem themselves of sufficient standing to shake a fist in God’s face.

All this was happening as the fate of Jesus hung in the balances – and yet GOD DID NOTHING…

A third scene emerges, as we read, we are quickly pulled from the house of Caiaphas to the Roman Praetorium in Jerusalem in John 18:28-40.

It might help to know that the Latin term praetorium originally meant a general’s tent within a Roman encampment (castrum). It was taken from the name of one of the chief Roman magistrates – a “praetor”- which simply means in Latin “leader” – but in this case denoted a rank just below a consul (one of Rome’s highest positions). By the time of Jesus, these buildings that took the name “Praetorium” simply meant the official center where Roman officials could conduct business in the name of the Emperor. Everyone engaged in significant business of the day would surely know where the local Praetorium was located in the city. Archaeologists have found the remains of a number of them in places around the Roman world. The buildings were profoundly important in Roman society, for on the outside they would normally display information regarding the sportulae (singular sportulus from the word for a “woven basket”; these were schedules of official gifts of benevolence (i.e. donatives), as well as fees and taxes) of its region carved directly onto tablets and placed on the walls of this important public building. This was the setting for John 18:28-40. Here we meet…

Shadowy Leaders

John 18:28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early … 29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” 30 They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.”….

John 18:28-32 It gets under your collar when you read of deflecting leaders that won’t offer a straight answer to a very simple question. Pilate noted the early hour of the day, and the fact that the men wouldn’t enter the Gentile quarters and thought there must be something very urgent for him to attend to. He asked a simple question: “What is the charge?” The response he got was this: “He did bad stuff! Trust us!”

Close-eared Power Broker

John 18:33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” … 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say [correctly] that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” 38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.

In John 18:33 we meet the classic “close-hearted, close-eared politician” – notice he TALKED, but he didn’t LISTEN. He asked about truth, but he didn’t stay there long enough to get an answer. He walked away and kept on about his important tasks of the day. If only he had actually engaged the TRUTH of what was going on that day. His life would have been changed. Sadly, he thought HE was the one with power. He did not know Who he was standing in front of. One day he will.

As chapter 18 closed and chapter 19 began, Pilate struggled to gain control over the situation. He tried to release Jesus – but the crowd insisted he surrender a criminal named Barabbas. When he argued that he “found no guilt in Jesus” the crowd insisted on punishment, and even made noise that they would get Pilate in trouble with Rome if he didn’t deliver Jesus for crucifixion. Finally, Pilate just “washed his hands of the whole affair. We pick up the story in John 19:16…

Finally, Jesus was nailed to the Cross.

John 19:16 So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified. 17 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. … 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. … 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

In all this, God sat in Heaven and did NOTHING!

How can you NOT be outraged. When you check even the most ardent critics of Jesus, no one called him guilty OF ANY CRIME.

• He was arrested without proper cause.
• He was chained like an animal, though he showed no resistance, and assisted one hurt by another of His followers.
• He was blindfolded, smacked, jeered and beaten.
• He was lashed, lacerated and mocked.
• Blood matted his hair, bruises covered his face and body… and He did NOTHING WRONG!
• The Roman official who questioned Him knew there was no reason to suggest guilt there…
• Yet, a Son’s life was forcibly taken by the state right in front of his mother’s weeping eyes.

Round after round of pounding, and not a single punch thrown back… but VICTORY was already in sight. Jesus cried: “It is finished!” because He was working a bigger plan! The work that would provide a path back to God that was severed in the earlier mutiny of man. His death would break the absolute power of sin over mankind, and eventually even abolish death itself. His plan was slowly dripping out, with each drop of blood, and each pang of pain. Jesus was taking MY PLACE, and paying MY PENALTY on that Cross. As Isaiah had long before foretold: Isaiah 53:5 “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being [fell] upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.” The prophet knew the plan.

As a Christian, my past ended at the Cross of Calvary. My guilt, despair and mutiny was destroyed there, crushed and eliminated in the body of a substitute. My stains were purged with each blow of the hammer, in the eyes of the only Judge Who eternally matters. Yet, I was not gone. I was being transformed. In dying with Him, I would find life. My future began when His stone rolled away, and my new life saw its first dawn, and felt its first morning dew. He was Risen, His sacrifice accepted. My new life came with assurance that all was completed well…. It is a true saying: In His death my past was done; from His tomb emerged my new life.

empty-tombGod wasn’t ignoring His Son’s pain – He was using the “rope-a-dope” technique on the world of evil… watching His Son take back what was lost. Paul made the situation clear in his treatise on salvation in Romans…

Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous..”

Demons may have danced at Calvary, and mocked their angelic cousins from the outside of the tomb – but that only went on for a short time. Jesus lay crushed in the ground, broken. Yet God wasn’t done the fight.

UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE… AND WHEN HE DID…

Evil’s power WAS EMPTIED. It became a smoke screen – broken at the Cross. Satan’s credentials as lone prince of the world were made counterfeit. Jesus broke the curse, cancelled the choke hold of sin, and soon will rescind the very power of death itself. Don’t miss it, because even today evil just wants to empty the message of its victory and discredit the work of God. Consider this story:

One lady wrote in to a question and answer forum. “Dear Sirs, Our preacher said on Easter, that Jesus just swooned on the cross and that the disciples nursed Him back to health. What do you think? Sincerely, Bewildered.”

The forum writer replied: “Dear Bewildered, Beat your preacher with a series of heavy blows. Place a barbed wire crown on his head. Keep him up all night. Strap him to a post and remove his skin with a leather lash embedded with glass and lead using some 39 times with heavy strokes. Give him lumber to carry up a hill. Nail him to a cross; hang him in the sun for 6 hours; run a spear thru his side…put him in an air-tight tomb for 36 hours and see what happens. Sincerely, Charles.” (Sermon central illustrations).

His death was no surprise, nor was it His end. Jesus testified death and the grave would not be His end. He said: “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31; see also Matthew 17:22; Luke 9:22). He offered the people of His day the “sign of Jonah”—three days in the heart of the earth.”

Jesus PROMISED He would throw the last punch – even when no one would believe He could. But He was right! The first disciples saw the Risen Jesus walk among them, even after that awful Crucifixion experience – and they were forever changed. The clueless and fearful men from the Passion Week were suddenly transformed by the Spirit into bold witnesses of the Resurrection (Acts 2:24, 3:15, 4:2).

Don’t stop at the tomb. Keep walking…

That is the symbol of the payment for all that was broken. Wait until you see the stone rolled back. Watch Jesus throw the final blows…

Every year, thousands of people climb a mountain in the Italian Alps, passing the “stations of the cross” to stand at an outdoor crucifix. One tourist noticed a little trail that led beyond the cross. He fought through the rough thicket and, to his surprise, came upon another shrine, a shrine that symbolized the empty tomb. It was neglected. The brush had grown up around it. Almost everyone had gone as far as the cross, but there they stopped. Far too many have gotten to the cross and have known the despair and the heart break. Far too few have moved beyond the cross to find the real message of Easter. That is the message of the empty tomb. (Lavonn Brown, The Other Half of the Rainbow.)

God sat back long enough for the payment to be made in full, but then He stepped in, and raised up His Son.

GOD WASN’T IMPOTENT, HE WAS PATIENT.

Even though the enemy has been so very strong and destroyed so many for so long, he will not win… the Lamb will win the fight and become the Lion that will again roar over His wayward Creation.

Remember: God isn’t being forced out – even when it looks like He is being shown the door. He is writing the next chapter of a story that ends in His victory!

An Enduring Legacy: “Celebrating an Outrageous God” – Nehemiah 12

injusticeHave you ever been OUTRAGED at an injustice you saw or heard about? Have you ever had to hold back anger or tears because someone you loved deeply was brutally taken advantage of – and there was little or nothing you could do to help? “Outrage” is a boiling over that comes when we encounter a seemingly immovable injustice… Our Creator encountered one in the Garden of Eden long ago – when men mutinied against His leadership – but there was something He could do. God answered one injustice with yet another – by allowing a sinless man to be beaten, and summarily executed for crimes He did not commit. Have we forgotten how outrageous that was? Not everyone has… There is a report of what happened to a tribe in the jungles of East Asia, when missionaries showed them the Jesus film a few years ago, reported by Ben Patterson. He wrote a few years ago:

It was a big deal when I was in Seminary and one of my friends was a missionary telling me about all that was going on with the Jesus Film. The movie was being shown as an evangelistic tool to people all over—in the desert, and in the jungles Not only had some of these people never heard of Jesus, they had never seen a motion picture. And on that one unforgettable evening, they saw it all—the gospel in their own language, visible and real. Imagine again how it felt to see this good man Jesus, who healed the sick and was adored by children, held without trial and beaten by jeering soldiers. As these East Asians watched this, the people came unglued. They stood up and began to shout at the cruel men on the screen, demanding that this outrage stop. When nothing happened, they attacked the missionary running the projector. Perhaps he was responsible for this injustice He was forced to stop the film and explain that the story wasn’t over yet, that there was more. So they settled back onto the ground, holding their emotions in tenuous check. Then came the crucifixion. Again, the people could not hold back. They began to weep and wail with such loud grief that once again the film had to be stopped. The missionary again tried to calm them, explaining that the story still wasn’t over, that there was more. So they composed themselves and sat down to see what happened next. Then came the resurrection. Pandemonium broke out this time, but for a different reason. The gathering had spontaneously erupted into a party. The noise now was of jubilation, and it was deafening. The people were dancing and slapping each other on the back. The Christ is Risen, indeed Again the missionary had to shut off the projector. But this time he didn’t tell them to calm down and wait for what was next. All that was supposed to happen—in the story and in their lives—was happening. SOURCE: Ben Patterson, “Resurrection and Pandemonium,” Leadership Journal.net 4-13-04

What happened when people encountered the story of God’s outrageous love and sacrifice of His Son for men – people who knew NOTHING of the story? They DANCED. They CELEBRATED. They were OVERJOYED. They… WORSHIPED! Why? Because worship is the right response to properly reckoning Who God is, and what God has done for us!

Key Principle: Real worship is the celebration of WHO God is and what He has done!

In our series in Nehemiah, we are nearing the end. We enter chapter twelve, and the people are in a time of worship. The passage holds the key to the secret of a great testimony for God! Though it includes something as mundane as an historical interlude with name lists, it was provided by God in part to remind us Nehemiah’s priorities included the WORSHIP of His people (as becomes clear in places like Nehemiah 12:47) – not simply the physical security of the CITY WALLS, and the social ethos of a wounded people. Worship was a central issue to the great “wine steward become contractor” of the Bible. He knew worship needed to be restored, taught and encouraged. He recognized that worship provided a key to the testimony that allows others to hear from God – it is the JOY that comes from obedience to Him and a real encounter with Him! That is why he made a note that “joy” was “heard from afar” in Nehemiah 12:43.

Before we dive into the worship scene, it would be good for us to walk back through the story and recall how this scene became a reality for the people. We have learned incredible lessons from Nehemiah as we have studied together:

• In the beginning of the book, we saw that if God burdens your heart–He is about to work and wants to honor you by using you to work through.
• We watched as Nehemiah planned and recalled that faith is NOT a synonym for disorder or substitute for careful planning (Nehemiah 2).
• Shortly into the book, we noticed that when we move forward for God, the opposition came to the surface to fight back. We should expect trouble and hindrance in God’s building work, as we started to observe in Nehemiah 2:19.
• We examined Nehemiah’s assignments of practical work, and recalled there are laws of people work that God wanted us to recognize in the “job list” portion of Nehemiah 3.
• Next we saw the testing of a leader that began with his facing unjust and destructive Criticism (4:1-6). Next was…
• Test #2: Facing discouraging winds of gossip in the ranks of the ministry (4:7-23).
• That was followed by Test #3: the handling of broken spirits – people who were wounded by the behavior of others in Nehemiah 5:1-13.
• Another test followed – Test #4: the leader was tested by the temptation of “perks” he could enjoy to the detriment of the work (Nehemiah 5:14-19).
• When that failed, the enemy threw Test #5: open intimidation from political enemies of the work” (Nehemiah 6:1-9).
• Still another test followed – #6: an opportunity to be trapped in practical situational ethics and turn from reliance on God (Nehemiah 6:10-14) as the men tried to entrap Nehemiah and push him to do wrong.
• Finally the troubles relented, and the people began to learn about starting clean before God, as the principles in reestablishing the work by the Word were unfolded in Nehemiah 7.
• We looked carefully at some principles of revival (Nehemiah 8:1-8) as the Word was given and explained.
• We saw the people feel a sense of shame, and then need to be re-directed into celebration in a community clean-up – in their observance of God’s appointed times (Nehemiah 9:1-38).
• We watched as their leaders discovered the joy of prioritizing their walk with God in Nehemiah 9:38-10:39.
• We identified leaders who were willing to pay the price in Nehemiah 11.

Now we face the end of the story. It includes two scenes – one of WORSHIP and one of CORRECTION. This lesson zooms in on the response to God’s goodness – a joyful response that makes an impact on a lost world!. The entire chapter deals with the Priests and Levites and their work among the people. Like Elders and Deacons – these were the functional servants of God before the congregation.

The chapter divides simply:

• The first part of the narrative includes a record of the priests and Levites (12:1-26).
• The second part records the details of the holy processional on the walls of Jerusalem to dedicate the work they did (12:27-47). The purpose of the dedication was to refocus the reader on the purpose of the project – to regain safe worship in Jerusalem.

Look closely, for in the narrative, we can observe important principles of worship that help us reach out:

FIRST, NOTICE GOD’S PEOPLE OF THE PAST (12:1-26):

This looks like a shopping list of names broken into three groups:

Group #1: The first group was a record of those who returned with the original group under the order of Cyrus in 536, many years before Nehemiah was born (12:1-11) as recorded in the “Scroll of Zerubbabel” (in our Bibles as Ezra 1-7):

Nehemiah 12:1 Now these are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah and Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah. These were the heads of the priests and their kinsmen in the days of Jeshua. 8 The Levites [were] Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, [and] Mattaniah [who was] in charge of the songs of thanksgiving, he and his brothers. 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brothers, stood opposite them in [their] service divisions. 10 Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, and Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and Eliashib became the father of Joiada, 11 and Joiada became the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan became the father of Jaddua.

Scanning the list, you will note there are twenty-two names – connecting it with the twenty-four courses of priests of Davidic “courses,” from 1 Chronicles 24:7-18. Eight names match those of David’s time – probably priestly families that named sons after names of their priestly fathers. Sixteen of the names are the same as found in Nehemiah 10:2-8, with six absent from the list of Nehemiah 12. Perhaps six declined to seal to Nehemiah’s covenant given in Nehemiah 10.

Groups #2: The second group was the list priests of the second generation –the one led by Joiakim, the replacement priest to Jeshua of Zerubbabel’s generation.

Nehemiah 12:12 Now in the days of Joiakim, the priests, the heads of fathers’ [households] were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; 18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.

Groups #3: The third group of names appears to interrupt the list (that continues in 12:24). These verses interrupt the account of the Temple officers in the time of Joiakim, resumed in Nehemiah 12:24. This group appears to be a “drop in” insert to the text – a later addition from the time of Alexander the Great, to help fill in the gap for later Bible students. The “Darius” intended may be Codomannus, the adversary of Alexander the Great, as a contemporary with Jaddua – or perhaps his father.

Nehemiah 12:22 As for the Levites, the heads of fathers’ [households] were registered in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan and Jaddua; so [were] the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The sons of Levi, the heads of fathers’ [households], were registered in the Book of the Chronicles up to the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.

Continued from Group #2: The fourth list appears to belong immediately after 12:20, as the “second wave” of leaders of the Levites under Joiakim’s time:

Nehemiah 12:24 The heads of the Levites [were] Hashabiah, Sherebiah and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers opposite them, to praise [and] give thanks, as prescribed by David the man of God, division corresponding to division. 25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon [and] Akkub [were] gatekeepers keeping watch at the storehouses of the gates. 26 These [served] in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest [and] scribe.

“Fascinating!” you are no doubt saying. “Thanks so much for unfolding that riveting list of names”….

Don’t despair if you find that section boring and mind numbing. It doesn’t mean you aren’t a godly person. At the same time, if you will give it but another minute, you may find there are important principles from this seemingly dry litany of historical names!

• First, we cannot please God in our work without a thankful spirit to those who have gone before in the work. Heritage IS important, history IS essential. When we forget those who have gone before us, we misunderstand the level of our own accomplishments. Modern worship is built on the worshippers of the past!

• Second, God thought rejoicing was so important He instructed a dedicated few to lead the children on Israel in singing and praise (12:8) and to guard a heart of worship (12:24).

• Third, people who draw others into worship are remembered by both God and men (12:23)! This is a special commission of men and women that God selects and recalls!

FOR THE BALANCE OF THE PASSAGE, LET’S RECALL THE PARADES OF THE PRESENT (that is, from his time – Nehemiah 12:27-47).

Let’s begin by recognizing that God loves celebration and joyful singing – if it is a response of our heart to His love and goodness to us!! Singing can be empty if it celebrates, as so many songs do, OUR lusts, OUR passions, and OUR desires. God wants our hearts – that includes our emotions – to be deeply engaged in our surrender to Him. We need not fear emotions as some believers have done in the past, but we need to use our emotional expression in a way that pleases Him.

Look briefly at six details that set the scene:

First, Nehemiah tells us of the PULLING IN THE PEOPLE to a time of dedication (12:27-29).

Nehemiah 12:27 Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs [to the accompaniment] of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 So the sons of the singers were assembled from the district around Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth-gilgal and from [their] fields in Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built themselves villages around Jerusalem.

Bear in mind that even though it is to be an emotional celebration, proper preparations are necessary. It is not wrong to plan, and even practice what God will do through leaders in worship. In fact, it is necessary! Don’t get caught up in the “it cannot be the work of the Spirit if there was a plan” mentality.

Second, he related the account of PURIFYING THE PROCESSIONAL (12:30).

Nehemiah 12:30 The priests and the Levites purified themselves; they also purified the people, the gates and the wall.

God is invited when the lives of the worship leaders are cleansed and prepared. Sin left unattended in the lives of the leaders can, and often does, hinder the free work of God’s Spirit. It is not that God CANNOT work – it is that He is forced to do so with sadness.

Third, he recorded the PARTING OF THE PARADES (12:31).

Nehemiah 12:31 Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two great choirs, the first proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward the Refuse Gate.

The people were led into worship and joyful response. The leadership directed each step of the way. When people are instructed by properly prepared leaders – spiritually and technically prepared – the joyful response is not quenched!

Fourth, he related the specific PATHS OF THE PARADING (12:32-40).

Nehemiah 12: 32 Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah followed them, 33 with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 and some of the sons of the priests with trumpets; [and] Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his kinsmen, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah [and] Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them. 37 At the Fountain Gate they went directly up the steps of the city of David by the stairway of the wall above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east. 38 The second choir proceeded to the left, while I followed them with half of the people on the wall, above the Tower of Furnaces, to the Broad Wall, 39 and above the Gate of Ephraim, by the Old Gate, by the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate; and they stopped at the Gate of the Guard. 40 Then the two choirs took their stand in the house of God. So did I and half of the officials with me;

The paths led both groups to join together in praise at the end. It is a good thing for leaders to praise God and give thanks for the work (v.40), and not simply praise the people or themselves. We lift people in a way that nothing else can do when we reach to the throne of Heaven with praise!

Fifth, he shared the names if the PEOPLE OF THE PROCESSIONS (12:41-42a).

Nehemiah 12:41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah, with the trumpets; 42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam and Ezer. And the singers sang, with Jezrahiah [their] leader,

Listen to the sound of these who were walking about and praising God! They interceded as priests led the way in the loudest praise! They had trumpets blasting and singers praising – what a day!

Sixth, all that noise led to a POWERFUL TESTIMONY OF THE PEOPLE (12:42b-44).

Nehemiah 12:43 and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar. 44 On that day men were also appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the first fruits and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions required by the law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who served.

The focus was NOT on the people’s teamwork, the dedication of the leaders, but rather on the goodness of the God that made the whole project possible. The louder they proclaimed this, the more the world heard them (v.43)! The secret to a powerful testimony was (and is) a heart filled with thanksgiving for God’s goodness!

• The world will not be changed by sour-faced believers that disagree with their moral innovations – they will see us energized with praise and wonder what we are doing!

• The lost do not want to prescription of a God that will bind them from satiating their lusts – but they will have their curiosity peaked when we are celebrating and praising His goodness continually.

• The excitement of true worship must energize our people in a day of rising darkness.

• The sounds of praise for God’s goodness must drown out the constant hum of our grousing and complaining for God’s name to be lifted among the nations.

• Missionaries must be sent with JOY of the message of freedom in the Gospel!

• Proclamations of testimony of God’s goodness should pervade the people of God!

Seventh, look at the closing words about the PRAISE OF THE PURIFIED (12:45-47).

Nehemiah 12:45 For they performed the worship of their God and the service of purification, together with the singers and the gatekeepers in accordance with the command of David [and] of his son Solomon. 46 For in the days of David and Asaph, in ancient times, [there were] leaders of the singers, songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving to God. 47 So all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the portions due the singers and the gatekeepers as each day required, and set apart the consecrated [portion] for the Levites, and the Levites set apart the consecrated [portion] for the sons of Aaron.

Praise is a holy act before God, a tool that helps separate us to His purposes! Those who made it possible were deeply loved and cared for by the congregation – because they understood the importance of the work of worship.

Don’t make this mechanical – it is far more than that! God loves a good song a mighty praise to His goodness! The Bible records that God rejoices! (Zephaniah 3:17).

• Singing and praise are prominent in His Word.
• Creation evoked songs (Job 38:6.7), as did the coming of Jesus (Lk. 1.2).
• There will be trumpets blasting again, and shouts of praise at the return of the Savior (1 Cor. 15:52; Ps. 47:4.5; Rev.18:1-4).
• Spirit-filled believers are to be filled with this praise! (Eph.5).

Margaret Sangster Phippen wrote that in the mid-1950’s her father, British minister W.E. Sangster, began to notice some uneasiness in his throat and a dragging in his leg. When he went to the doctor, he found that he had an incurable disease that caused progressive muscular atrophy. His muscles would gradually waste away, his voice would fail, and his throat would soon become unable to swallow. Sangster threw himself into his work in the British home missions, figuring he could still write and he would have even more time for prayer. “Let me stay in the struggle Lord,” he pleaded. “I don’t mind if I can no longer be a general, but give me just a regiment to lead.” He wrote articles and books, and helped organize prayer cells throughout England. “I’m only in the kindergarten of suffering,” he told people who pitied him. Gradually Sangsters’s legs became useless. His voice went completely. But he could still hold a pen, shakily. On Easter morning, just a few weeks before he died, he wrote a letter to his daughter. In it, he said, “It is terrible to wake up on Easter morning and have no voice to shout, “He is risen!” — but it would be still more terrible to have a voice and not want to shout. – (Sermon Central illustrations from a sermon by David Scudder, The Four Hallelujah’s, 10/25/2009).

Sanger knew that real worship is the celebration of WHO God is and what He has done!

Shine the Light: “Sock Puppets” – Daniel 10

puppet2I have always been fascinated by puppets. I love marionettes in particular, as they were a staple of entertainment for nearly two thousand years in villages and towns of the western world. If you ever get the opportunity to travel to Palermo in Sicily, one of the oldest marionette puppet museums can be found in the “Opera dei Pupi” that opened in the thirteenth century, and still maintains some of the traditional shows and themes. The detail of each marionette, particularly that of the soldiers and courtiers is stunning.

I don’t believe that I could operate something that complicated, but I do understand the principle of pulling strings, and manipulating the movements of the puppet. My level of puppet operation lends itself better to “sock puppets”, however. If that were the level of skill required, I believe I could attain real accolades as a champion… but my dreams are probably misplaced. At any rate, isn’t it incredible how quickly we can transfer living character to something as simple as a sock or piece of paper-mâché? We can watch a puppet “move”, and listen to it “talk” as though it had its own personality. We KNOW that within it there is a puppet master’s hand – but we seem to easily forget that when we are watching. Anyone who grew up on a diet of “The Muppets” will quickly agree…We seem mesmerized and quickly tricked into believing that controlled devices are “self-driven” beings – and that is a lesson we should not shake off too easily… In fact, our enemy counts on that trick in daily life to discourage us. Let me explain.

There is a verse in 2 Corinthians that I have come to believe was ABSOLUTELY TRUE when the Apostle Paul wrote it, but I am almost certain is NOT TRUE if he were walking through life with believers that inhabit the planet now. I don’t believe Paul would write this if he knew the church and her people today… He was writing on the subject of forgiveness to one who was disciplined by the church and he made this passing comment in 2:11 “…so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” Really? Paul said that people who served Jesus and traveled with him were able to see how the enemy was at work in the world – they could peer through the breach between the physical world and the spiritual world and spot the “puppeteer that was pulling many strings” behind events in their world… I find that amazing. In fact, if you look even deeper, you will find the ability to recognize the agenda of the hidden world was a key factor in his ability to stay encouraged when things weren’t going well in his life and ministry.

Key Principle: We gain courage and proper perspective when we recognize the physical world is not the only world, and in fact, not the REAL world. What we see, feel and experience is often caused by something we cannot see from a spiritual world well hidden.

Paul knew he was primarily a spiritual being. He recognized and taught that the eternal and spiritual world is the real (or lasting) world, while the temporal world is the shadow we are passing through in our “earth time”. That knowledge gave him strength and endurance – and it will do the same for us as well. On our way to Daniel 10, let’s thing about that truth and its implications for a moment….

beaten-with-rodsSay what you want about the Apostle Paul… but the guy knew how to “take a punch” and stay on his feet until the final bell rang. In 2 Corinthians 11:24 he offered a “quick trip down memory lane” of battles fought during his thirty one years of ministry on earth from the time he received Christ in 36 CE up to the time of his third mission journey that ended in 58 CE (during which he wrote the account in 2 Corinthians). What an unbelievable twenty-two years! He wrote about the events…:

11:24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine [lashes]. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 [I have been] on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from [my] countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 [I have been] in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

Wow! That sounds like a mission brochure bound to get new recruits to sign up, don’t you think?

Here is my question…How did a guy passing through these kinds of tough persecutions keep an un-jaded perspective, and press forward toward honoring Jesus with his life regardless of the circumstances? He had some secret many of us don’t seem to have – and yet both Paul and Daniel long before him shared it. Listen again as Paul wrote to Corinth to explain his encouraged heart in spite of his physical circumstance.

2 Corinthians 3:15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; 16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away…18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 4:1 Therefore … we do not lose heart…7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 [we are] afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed… 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh….16 …we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Did you catch the secret to his encouragement? He focused, along with his companions, on the world NOT SEEN, because he knew it was the REAL WORLD. It would last eons after the physical world was nothing but a distant memory…In fact… he wasn’t the only believer that got COURAGE and REINFORCEMENT from the other side of the veil – from the eternal and “spiritual” world. Great men and women of God know this secret – they recognize the NEED TO LOOK BEYOND the physical world to find the TRUTH about events. Daniel did it as well… in fact he was a great example of this idea…and that story is captured at the end of Daniel’s writings.

Daniel 10

Let’s take a few minutes and finish our studies in the book of Daniel by going to the chapter that should be LAST if the account were collected chronologically. It is organized thematically, therefore chapter 10 is not at the end – but in TIME and ORDER of events it SHOULD BE LAST chapter of the book – so we are looking at is to end our series..

Mourning Prayer (10:1-4).

Yet another story opened with the practice of Daniel to seek God’s direction and understanding of life as he prayed. This time he also fasted, and was deeply struggling with a message from God. It wasn’t that the message didn’t make sense – it was simply a hard message to stomach. He wrote:

Daniel 10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the message was true and [one of] great conflict, but he understood the message and had an understanding of the vision. 2 In those days, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks. 3 I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris…

There are three specifics Daniel offered about the time he spent seeking God:

First, he reminded us of the period of time (10:1a):

The year was 536 BCE, some sixty-nine years after Daniel was taken captive into Babylon. He was in his eighties, and near the end of his life. The time block was a full three weeks of mourning, fasting and praying to gain understanding of God’s message. Note that Daniel took his query to God on his knees, and remained there. He sought and sought God’s clarification and response. Need we ask why he was so very strong in his witness for so long, and under such extraordinary experiences?

Second, Daniel made clear the pains of trouble (10:1b-2):

Sometimes we feel uncertain because we don’t KNOW what God wants us to do about something. In Dan’s case that wasn’t it! Daniel understood a vision from God, but suffered because he was troubled about how God was going to work. Have you ever been deeply troubled by God’s Word? There are wonderful parts of the Word that relate to Heaven, blessing and God’s powerful saving and transforming work in me –and I cherish those passages! Yet, there are also other places, where God speaks very specifically about those who reject Him – even those among people I love deeply – and those parts are hard to read when I have my friend or loved one in mind. If saved is a reality, then so is lost. If acceptance of Jesus and His work at Calvary changed my destiny, then I must also understand the direction I was already headed when it was changed, and acknowledge that many in my life are still on that path!

Third, Daniel specified the practice of seeking (10:3):

Daniel set aside the good food that God provided him, and even the daily bathing and normal hygiene of his life. He didn’t go out among people, and he waited on God. Proverbs 27:9 offers these words: “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.” Daniel set aside the delights of this world to focus on the message from the other world. He took his spiritual life, and the Words of God about reality to heart – and God used him powerfully.

Magnificent Person (10:5-13).

Not only did Dan’s journal tell us about his prayer, it also related the story of a “magnificent person” that visited him from the eternal world to help him grasp what God revealed, and allow it to inform him without wounding him further. Daniel described the visitor, detailed his response to the appearing one, and then offered us an opportunity to glimpse into the spiritual world of which he was a part.

First, look at the description of the visitor (10:5-6):

Daniel 10:5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with [a belt of] pure gold of Uphaz. 6 His body also [was] like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult.

Bible students immediately catch the similarity to the vision of the Risen Christ found in Revelation 1, as John the Apostle met Jesus on Patmos. Many descriptions are so similar, that some students conclude this is the same person, but I don’t think so. I believe this is an angelic servant that served in Heaven’s Tabernacle and bore a resemblance in dress because of that function. The visitor was:

• Clothed in linen. (As in Rev. 1:13, where the description is “one who looked as a man with a robe that reached His feet.”)
• Girded with a golden sash as a priest was supposed to be in Lev. 16:4 and as Jesus was in Rev. 1:13b.
• Though he appeared as a man, his color was clearly different than Daniel – with descriptions of his body “like beryl gemstone” (Tarsheesh: yellow gemstone as chrysolite; the color of the wheels of God’s moving platform from Ezekiel’s vision of chapter 1:16; as well as the color of part of the garb of Lucifer before his fall from Heaven– Ezekiel 28:13. That color seems to be an indicator of Heaven and beings from that place. Note that some of the foundation stones of the heavenly city were beryl –cp. Revelation 21:20).
• The face of the visitor shone as lightning. The description is not clear: was the visitor bright? Were they white in color as in Revelation 1:14?
• The visitor’s eyes blazed with fire, just as we see in the description of Jesus in Revelation 1:14. This may denote a holder of God’s revelation of truth, but clearly had something to do with the knowledge and understanding of the individual.
• The visitor’s arms and feet appeared to be made of polished brass, and matches the description of Revelation 1:15 as Jesus’ appearance.
• The visitor brought God’s voice, as is indicated by the multi-voiced sound of the words of Jesus in Revelation 1:15.

Clearly, Daniel knew this wasn’t a distant relative from his homeland – but a Heavenly messenger – a revered visitor that required his complete attention.

Second, Daniel noted his response as a servant of God (10:7-11).

Daniel 10:7 Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. 9 But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. 10 Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.

• Daniel made clear that he alone saw the visitor, but others experienced a dread that caused them to flee – and he was left alone with his Heavenly friend (10:7).
• He had been fasting, but just as John before Jesus, he experienced such a drain on his energy that he was totally without strength (10:8).

Don’t miss this detail – because it is terribly important. Strength in THIS WORLD doesn’t denote strength in the other world. Standing before a visitor of Heaven, men are drained of their physical might – for that might has little effect on the eternal world. Those who are mighty here must not anticipate that might to be great there. The kind of strength one exhibits in Heaven comes from a different source, and is manifested differently.

• Daniel notes that he had a discolored face. The blood drained from his coloring, as he collapsed into a deep sleep.
• Slumping down as if he fainted or fell into a sleep – he was face down (10:9) until set up on “all fours” (10:10) by the touch of the visitor.
• He stood when instructed to do so, but found himself trembling, without the ability to stop (10:11).

Finally, Daniel included the revelation brought by the visitor (10:12-13)

The visitor arrived with purpose, and in response to Daniel’s prayer. Listen to the account of the beginning of the conversation:

Daniel 10:12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding [this] and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

There are two important details found in those words:

• First, Daniel’s prayer was IMMEDIATELY heard (10:12) in Heaven. Though a battle exists in Heavenly places during this time, the lone voice of one man in a room crying out to God reaches Heaven. Don’t ever forget that!
• Second, the delay in the response was not in any way related to Daniel’s piety, some lack in his person or prayer – but explained SOLELY by spiritual warfare in Heavenly places. The Archangel “Michael” is the noted one who (with much help) cast out Satan to the earth in Revelation 12:1-9 as the war eventually will take a turn in the future.

When Daniel mentions these “princes,” we are left to wonder who they are and what role do they seem to play in the events which take place on earth? We have only shadows from God’s revealed word, but it appears as though they are not human rulers, but angelic powers. In the case of Michael, he serves as Israel’s “prince,” in the Word, and is a faithful servant of God. The princes of Persia (10:13) and Greece (10:20) appear to be fallen angels, whose dominion is restricted to a particular geographical and political nation. This follows the pattern of Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, where the descriptions of Satan are begun as odes to political rulers, and then the Satanic power behind their moves is revealed in metaphoric terms. Don’t forget, when demons encountered Jesus in Mark’s Gospel, they begged Him not to cast them from “their country” (Mark 5).

If you continue reading, it becomes clear that there was a purpose for the arrival of the visitor that was declared (10:14):

Daniel 10:14 “Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet [future].”

Daniel had deep respect for the spiritual world, and his strength was sapped from him. His paralysis and anguish was expressed, as it was clear that he needed angelic help to bear up in this circumstance (10:15-18):

Daniel 10:15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16 And behold, one who resembled a human being was touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, as a result of the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 “For how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.” 18 Then [this] one with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me.

The account continued, as the prophet gained strength and encouragement from the visitor, and Daniel requested the visitor deliver his message (10:19):

Daniel 10:19 He said, “O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

The visitor offered an important and unusual glimpse into the spiritual world before he departed (10:20-21):

Daniel 10:20 Then he said, “Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. 21 “However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these [forces] except Michael your prince.

Obviously the account in truncated, and we don’t have everything that passed between the two – prophet and visitor. What we do have is incredible. We have one of the most clear glimpses through the veil over the spiritual world that we will see in the Word, as it relates to the active battle in that world.

Go back to the beginning of the whole account. It started with Daniel becoming aware, by God’s power and revelation, of a GREAT CONFLICT. Something was brewing in Heavenly places, and Daniel was made aware of it. It put him on his knees, kept him from his bath, and left him weak and hungry. The demonic world was at work pressing Cyrus the ruler and the angel came to tell Daniel that mortal men of God could be knowledgeable and helpful in the conflict.

The passage does not reveal any specific VISION of future events, nor words of direction for the Jewish people. This story wasn’t about the FUTURE, but about the PERSPECTIVE and RECOGNITION that the other world that is engaged in the fight right now. It is about grasping that MORE IS GOING ON THAN MEETS THE EYE. It is about knowing that our physical world is not the REAL WORLD, but merely exhibits the symptoms of a deeper world – a spiritual world. We gain courage and proper perspective when we recognize the physical world is not the REAL world. What we see, feel and experience is often caused by something we cannot see from the REAL WORLD.

That is why we cannot simply fight politically and expect to win back territories with truth – the battle isn’t always being fought where you think it is. Prayerful engagement is a threat to those we battle against, while prayer-less political action is ineffective.

Listen thoughtfully and reflectively to the words of Paul to the Ephesian church. Don’t recite the words in your mind. LISTEN to their message:

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. … 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints…

Do you want the church to stand firm in the faith against the tsunami of moral compromise of our day? Spiritually, we must “armor up”! We must see the battle in Heavenly places, and drop to our knees. We must pray for ourselves and other believers – that God’s church will persevere and fight in spiritual ways! We must ask God to give the churches strength, the believers, endurance, and power to stand against the pressure to buckle to the world’s mold.

We gain courage and proper perspective when we recognize the physical world is not the REAL world. What we see, feel and experience is often caused by something we cannot see from the REAL WORLD.

Sometimes the warfare looks like opposition to someone hearing about Jesus and salvation. Paul warned in 2 Corinthians 4:4: “The God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers”. You try to share the Gospel, but feel like you hit a wall – because you did.

Sometimes you just feel incredibly guilty and condemned by things long forgiven by God. You can’t see it, but like Joshua the High Priest of Zechariah 3, Satan islobbing mud at you in the spiritual world – that is why they call him “Accuser”.

You hear about a tragedy or experience intense pain and even after many years of following Jesus, you find yourself suddenly doubting God’s goodness. You start muttering: “I don’t know why I’m the only one who has this constant financial challenge!” or “I don’t know why I should have kids who didn’t follow what I told them.” The deceiver may well be at work discouraging you.

One day you get so angry at someone that you just want to walk away for good. You don’t think about what you can accomplish together for God – just your personal peace (as if distance will fix everything). You forget the Bible revealed, “Don’t let the sun go down while you are angry, and don’t give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:27).

Men and women, the other world is at war, and we are seeing symptoms. It isn’t “spooky” and we shouldn’t be embarrassed to admit the truth. We must look with knowledge and understanding. We must pierce through prayerfully. Not everything adds up here, because it didn’t all happen here. The war ends when God declares it will, but the whole story is not yet told. Don’t miss the truth by focusing only on this world – that isn’t where the secret is.

An Enduring Legacy: "Leaders Who Pay the Price" – Nehemiah 11

leader2There is no need to convince any room of people who are passing this time in history together that leadership is desperately needed and vitally essential for the complex times we live in! In fact, we would readily agree with John Maxwell’s well stated axiom: “Any person can steer the ship but it takes a leader to chart the course”. The course of our nation, and the course of our community is surely in jeopardy, and we are crying out for ethical, moral and stable leadership.

We need humble, other-person-centered leaders, not self-aggrandizing and disconnected leaders. Our nation has some, and we have built some! I think of the Marine corps, that has experience in constructing men of character. This story encouraged me:

Several years ago, when our embassy in Beruit was bombed, several people were injured. One marine was injured physically and he was also blinded. A general who was the commanding officer of that area went into the hospital and commended this man for suffering. A few days later, the commanding officer was advised that it was the birthday of the young marine who had been blinded. The general said, “Cancel everything on my schedule this morning, I need to go over to the hospital.” He got insignia stars from his uniform and arrived at the hospital, where he sought out the blind marine. When he found him he said, “I understand it’s your birthday today.” And he said, “Give me your hand.” And as he held up his hand, the general put the stars in his hand and said, “these are for certainly more for you than I, young man, HAPPY Birthday.” The young marine then asked for the hand of general and gave back the stars and said, “Semper fie” which means “always faithful.” This young marine was simply saying, “I do not deserve anything extra. I was simply remaining faithful.” That young man understood what leadership and sacrifice really meant. He was trained well.

Key Principle: Leadership is both a gift and divine appointment. Though it is bestowed, it must be deliberately cultivated.

We are heading to Nehemiah for the bulk of the lesson, but on our way, I want to look at a man who understood the need to cultivate leadership… an example from the early church found in a man known for his ENCOURAGEMENT – Joses, whose surname was Barnabbas.

• Barnabas was born on the island of Cyprus of Jewish parents of the tribe of Levi, a appears to have come to Jerusalem because of his priestly connections (some have surmised he was a fellow-student with Paul of the sage Gamaliel).

• A “cousin” of John Mark, he became an early leader in the Jerusalem church and was given the nickname Barnabas (son of encouragement) by the apostles (Acts 4:36-37).

• When Jerusalem’s early Messianic community “had all things common” (Acts 4:32-35), Barnabas sold a piece of property and turned the proceeds over to the apostles.

• After the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, Barnabas found the Jerusalem believers so suspicious of Saul’s motives, that he took Saul “under his wing” and introduced him to the apostles (Acts 9:26-27).

• Sent by the Jerusalem church to supervise the burgeoning Christian work at Antioch, Barnabas found the enterprise so demanding that he brought Saul from Tarsus to help him, and the two labored together in Antioch for a year (Acts 11:22-26).

Look at how the story is relayed by Dr. Luke:

Acts 11:22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Stop and think about what God did later through the Apostle Paul. Thirteen letters from his heart fill your New Testament. Ten thousand land miles were traveled presenting the Gospel message. The defense of the completed work for sin in the Cross was chiefly defended by this servant of God. We understand many things because of God’s work in Paul’s heart:

• The coming place of believer’s in God’s work – even sitting in judgment over spiritual entities.
• The concept of the church as the “body of Christ” that is joined together with Christ as her head.
• The place of men and women in ministry and relationship to one another.
• The teaching of God to the church concerning the communion service.
• The reality and description of Resurrection bodies.
• The proper principles of giving for the believer… and many, many other truths.

We have these because God used Paul… but we have Paul’s words because God used Barnabas. He saw the makings of a leader in the thirty-something year old Pharisee. He invited Paul into the chamber of leaders. He invited him into the heart of the work at Antioch. He joined Paul in the call of God to the first mission journey work. God COULD HAVE USED OTHERS to bring Paul in, but Barnabas was open, and Barnabas was obedient. He saw potential where others saw only problems. That, in its essence, is the heart of a leader.

God chooses to use men and women who will be obedient, but also those who will keep their eyes on people and see possibilities. Two thoughts should push us forward:

1. People follow examples better than words! Because of that, God is looking for more than truth dispensers – He most effectively uses those who embody the truths they espouse. Time and time again Jesus warned that His words were not for mere memorization – but a call to obedience!

2. “There are rocky danger areas that every leader needs to be conscious of in deliberate navigation:

a. First, no leader can afford to think too highly of himself. A good leader is not worried about making sure he gets the credit for things – but rather they must not concern themselves with what is visible over what is truly important. Leaders do what is necessary, regardless of whether people see it, or whether they know who took care of the need. God sees. God remembers – and that is the only focus a godly leader need have.

b. Good leaders see potential, and constantly seek to recognize others who have helped in the work. They not only don’t SEEK the credit – they LOVE to bestow the credit for the work on others!

Let’s take those thoughts with us as we look back at the text of Nehemiah 11.

Nehemiah included a record of the contributions of those who worked to repopulate and reestablish the city of Jerusalem, and what they gave up to make the vision a reality! He WANTED to credit them with the work, and he recognized their sacrifice.

Essentially, Nehemiah made clear four truths about leadership that were recorded to help us:

1. The Problem of Leading – it requires sacrifice (11:1).

First, there is a PROBLEM with the role of leadership that one must recognize and accept – or they cannot effectively lead.

11:1 Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine- tenths remained in the other cities.

To lead means to serve a greater purpose than self-satisfaction and to seek to place the needs of others ahead of personal comfort and convenience. In short, there IS a price to leadership! While it is TRUE that there are often great perks and affirmation involved in leading – these cannot and must not be the drawing factor to leadership. Let uis say it plainly: leaders who take on the task for what they can GET are not real leaders – they are self-interested people wearing the costume of a leader.

Add to that the reality that some in our day have misunderstood TROUBLE for redirection from God. Some believers have fallen prey to the false teaching that COMFORT is God’s chief form of CONFIRMATION. Craig Larson talks about being at a lunch party on a warm, Chicago day in early September with a dozen of his fellow workers. The windows were left open, and soon a bee found its way in. After buzzing around for a while, it landed on some food on the table. Then someone took an empty bottle of sparkling grape juice and put the mouth of the bottle near the bee. Without a moment’s hesitation, the bee flew to the mouth of the bottle and climbed inside the narrow opening. Immediately, Larson’s colleague put the cap on the bottle and screwed it shut. The bee spent the rest of the party drinking at the bottom of the bottle, and as far as anyone knew, the bee was never released. The people at that table were not concerned about the bee. Their purpose was not to make sure it enjoyed itself and had a good time. No! Their only concern was capture and control. That’s the way it is with Satan. He is not concerned about us. His purpose is not to make sure we have a good time. No! He despises us, and his only concern is capture and control. (From a sermon by C. Philip Green, Pitfalls of Leadership, 7/29/2010)

Sacrificial leadership is best seen in the choice to surrender the comfortable thing for that which will bring blessing to the group we serve. If you are called to lead – you are called to put those you lead ahead of yourself. Think about what would happen if:

• A boss decided to work in place of an employee that was exhausted from the overtime of the high pressure goal they had just attained for the company. Would that worker ever forget the sacrifice of the boss? Would they see their efforts as deeply appreciated and rewarded? Would they recognize that boos as specifically taking on the cost to make things work better?

• A father decided to recognize the low self-esteem of his daughter and began to set up a weekly date night with her to help her see how beautiful she truly was! Would the young woman grow in confidence and be more prepared to accept her identity in Christ?

• A husband chose to really listen to his wife, and asked her what would help her grow in Christ and be more fulfilled and happy. What if he really heard what she said, and made a careful and prayerful effort to bring into her life the things that would bless her?

• A community leader decided that he or she would take a difficult stand because they recognized larger principles involved. Maybe in the short term their popularity would suffer – but in the long term the community would truly benefit.

• A committee chairwoman decided to appoint the best people to a task even though she personally found those people difficult to deal with. Would her sacrifice yield a better outcome?

Leadership isn’t about comfort, it is about energizing people to move to the vision God calls them to. Not only is there misunderstanding about comfort and leadership… but there is also misunderstanding about the value of mistakes involved in leadership. Mistakes WILL happen. How a leader responds to them can be the difference between success and failure! We must be willing to take responsibility for leadership mistakes! I love this little example:

Several years ago, Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Bob Patterson described one of his pitches, which the Cincinnati Reds’ Barry Larkin hit for a game-winning home run: “It was a cross between a screwball and a change-up. It was a screw-up.” (Wall Street Journal, 7/9/96; Leadership, Vol. 17, no.3)

Nehemiah got the walls up, the guards in, the worship going, and now was calling on long term leadership to set Jerusalem on a course to full rebirth. The casting of lots filled Jerusalem with families, children, movement and life. It wasn’t a great place to be… yet. At the same time, leaders look ahead. They see, not simply what IS… but what CAN BE.

Malcolm Muggeridge was a very famous and highly respected British journalist who for many years was an ardent atheist. His opinions and thoughts were coveted by American publishers and he occasionally wrote the editorial page for Time magazine. Toward the end of his illustrious career as the Dean of British broadcasters, he became a Christian. Several years ago he was a guest at a breakfast in Washington, D.C. where he shared his life story. When he had finished his testimony, he made a number of comments about world affairs, all of which were very pessimistic. One of those present asked, “Dr. Muggeridge, you have been very pessimistic. Don’t you have any reason for optimism?” He replied, “I could not be more optimistic than I am, because my hope is in Jesus Christ alone.” He allowed that remark to settle in for a few seconds, and then he added,” Just think if the apostolic church had pinned its hopes on the Roman Empire!”(Halverson/ The Living Body). I love that story! It reminds me NOT to place my hope on my political system – even if I have lived in its benefits for a long time.

America is NOT the hope of the world – Jesus is. Democracy won’t fix the world – the transformation of the Spirit will. Lasting world peace will not come because of a negotiated process – the Prince of Peace will bring it with Him! My hope is not in the characters of the story, but the Author of the book.

2. The Process of Leading – deliberate affirmation (11:2).

There is not only a PRICE to lead, but there is also a deliberate FOCUS one must grasp to be a leader. Look at the text:

11:2 And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. 3 Now these are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah each lived on his own property in their cities —the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants.

The leaders recognized (as did the congregation of returned Israel) that some among them were volunteering for hardship – and they joined in public praise of them. Those leaders who respond personally to the needs of the people they are leading are the most loved by them. At the same time, they DON’T HOARD AFFIRMATION – they focus on spreading it out for the purpose of encouraging people. The Bible is clear that blessing falls to those who place the others first!

3. The Personalities Who Lead – they bring fullness (11:3-24).

I think it is interesting how the passage honored the spectrum of leaders by recalling them and their families by name and type of service they performed. Note the groups of leaders mentioned. First the summary:

11:4 Some of the sons of Judah and some of the sons of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. ..

Though they were CLOSE to home, they didn’t live at home – because the priority of getting Jerusalem restarted was more important! Five groups or titles were delineated in the record:

Laymen (4-9). Note the names of the men from each tribe:

From Judah: 11:4 “…From the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez; 5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col- hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite. 6 All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 able men.

From Benjamin: 11:7 Now these are the sons of Benjamin:Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah; 8 and after him Gabbai and Sallai, 928. 9 Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second in command of the city.

God began His work among the people who were brave enough to take a chance on God’s protection! These were the courageous “first followers” that became examples to all the people. Thank God that he calls some who will follow Him in profound ways – even when we cannot see the gift that they truly are to us:

Leadership Magazine offered a story of four young men who were Bible College students; the four were renting a house together. One Saturday morning someone knocked on their door. And when they opened it, there stood this draggled old man. His eyes were kind of marbleized, and he had a silvery stub of whiskers on his face. His clothes were ragged and torn. His shoes didn’t match. In fact, they were both for the same foot. And he carried a wicker basket full of unappealing vegetables that he was trying to sell. The boys felt sorry for him and bought some of his vegetables just to help him out. Then he went on his way. But from that time on, every Saturday he appeared at their door with his basket of vegetables. As the boys got to know him a little bit better, they began inviting him in to visit a while before continuing on his rounds. They soon discovered that his eyes looked marbleized not because of drugs or alcohol, but because of cataracts. They learned that he lived just down the street in an old shack. They also found out that he could play the harmonica, that he loved to play Christian hymns, and that he really loved God. So every Saturday they would invite him in, and he would play his harmonica and they would sing Christian hymns together. They became good friends, and the boys began trying to figure out ways to help him. They finally collected a bunch of clothes and secretly left it all on his doorstep, no note attached or anything. The following Saturday morning, the story says, right in the middle of all their singing and praising, he suddenly said to them, “God is so good!” And they all agreed, “Yes, God is so good.” He went on, “You know why he is so good?” They said, “Why?” He said, “Because yesterday, when I got up and opened my door, there were boxes full of clothes and shoes and coats and gloves. Yes, God is so good!” And the boys smiled at each other and chimed in, “Yes, God is so good.” He went on, “You know why He is so good?” They answered, “You already told us why. What more?” He said, “Because I found a family who could use those things and I gave them all away.”

Priests (10-14). Beyond the laymen, there were also priests that were voluntarily part of the rebirth of the city of Jerusalem.

11:10 From the priests:Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin, 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the leader of the house of God, 12 and their kinsmen who performed the work of the temple, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, 13 and his kinsmen, heads of fathers’ households, 242; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 and their brothers, valiant warriors, 128. And their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.

I would wager, if I were a betting man, that the water system of the city was not all fully functioning. I doubt the city was comfortable, and that all the rubble of the destruction was fully cleared away. Yet, some priests chose to stay there, because that would make the function of the Temple work better. They understood that God’s continued blessing was dependent on the priority of worship in the people. It was essential that the Temple function well and its services remain steady – or the whole process of rebirth would quickly fall apart.

Real leaders know that spiritual growth is at the heart of economic growth and embittering of the social welfare. In our day of rising militant secularism, young people are trained to think that spiritual commitment is a drain – that the work of caring for people belongs to the government – not God’s people. In earlier days it was not so. Our great universities were begun, not to fight the church and disprove the Bible – but to teach it. There was, in days gone by, recognition of the positive role of the church in society. In secularism, society must now be protected from the church – and the downward spiral of morality is not connected in the public mindset with the deliberate isolation of the church.

The priests volunteered because they were leaders. They stepped out because they knew what God wanted, even if many of the people did not know how important their work truly was.

Levites (15-18). In addition to Priests, Levites were also called to be among those in Jerusalem.

11:15 Now from the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God; 17 and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the leader in beginning the thanksgiving at prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city were 284.

The Levitical corps provided the back bone of practical leaders that were essential to stable ministry and a good testimony (note v. 16). Some of the men were ordained to build and repair – while others directed ministry. All were essential.

Civil Servants: Porters, Nethinim, Singers (19-23). The record of the work also included those with civil service jobs:

11:19 Also the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brethren who kept watch at the gates, were 172. 20 The rest of Israel, of the priests and of the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each on his own inheritance. 21 But the temple servants were living in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of the temple servants. 22 Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, from the sons of Asaph, who were the singers for the service of the house of God. 23 For there was a commandment from the king concerning them and a firm regulation for the song leaders day by day..

Every work for God included bold men and women of service. Civil servants had wives, children and dreams – just like everyone else. Worship leaders, Temple clean up crews, gatekeepers – these were all people with families… but they knew what God’s call in their life was – and they worked in an uncomfortable situation to fulfill that call.

The Ruler’s Staff (24): the king had an ambassador who also lived among the people, and represented the king’s policies to the people:

11:24 Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was the king’s representative in all matters concerning the people.

What keeps people from misunderstanding one another? Communication is the key. Wise administration and clear communication (the ability to respond to needs quickly and efficiently) cleared the way to effective team work!

4. The Promise of Leading – their vision brought blessing and stability (11:25-36).

Beyond those who lived in Jerusalem – there were those who went back to each town and village that had been abandoned in the captivity to begin to rebuild. This was the benefit to rebuilding Jerusalem – the people could establish it as a center from which the whole land could begin to be resettled…

11:25 Now as for the villages with their fields, some of the sons of Judah lived in Kiriath-Arba and its towns, in Dibon and its towns, and in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26 and in Jeshua, in Moladah and Beth-pelet, 27 and in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its towns, 28 and in Ziklag, in Meconah and in its towns, 29 and in En- rimmon, in Zorah and in Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, Azekah and its towns. So they encamped from Beersheba as far as the valley of Hinnom. 31 The sons of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, at Bethel and its towns, 32 at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36 From the Levites, some divisions in Judah belonged to Benjamin.

The beautiful and lush lands of their ancestral homes were for followers. Those who would lead, needed to surrender things that others have. We must see the worth of the vision – but that is not always easy. In the struggle of leadership, we can lose sight of what we are really doing!

David Kraft was a big, strong man — all muscle. At the age of 32, he was six feet, two inches tall and weighed 200 pounds. He had been to seminary and ended up working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, because of his athletic background. Then he was diagnosed with cancer. It wracked his body, and over a period of time, he dropped from 200 pounds to 80 pounds. When he was about ready to pass from this life into eternity, he asked his father to come into his hospital room. Lying there in bed, he looked up and said, “Dad, do you remember when I was a little boy, how you used to hold me in your arm close to your chest?” David’s father nodded. Then David said, “Do you think, Dad, you could do that one more time? One last time?” Again his father nodded. He bent down to pick up his 32-year-old, six-foot, two-inch, 80 pound son, and held him close to his chest, so that the son’s face was right next to the father’s face. They were eyeball to eyeball. Tears were streaming down both faces, and the son said to his father, “Thank you for building the kind of character into my life that can enable me to face even a moment like this.” (Ron Lee Davis, “Introducing Christ to Your Child,” Preaching Today, Tape No.92) .

Leadership is both a gift and divine appointment. Though it is bestowed, it must be deliberately cultivated.

Shine the Light: “Peering into the Darkness” (Daniel 9-12)

bats in cave2I don’t like caves, and I have never been partial to bats… in fact they really creep me out. During my archaeological training, a group of young students in Jerusalem – my roommates and I – decided to go exploring in some caves in Wadi Tekoa – a site in the Judean Wilderness near the ancient home of the Prophet Amos. The caves were not excavated, and still retained all their antiquities, most of which were buried as much as twenty feet below the surface of the current cave floor. What I didn’t know at the time was that much the floor was nothing more than bat dung… several feet of bat dung… old bat dung from hundreds of years of bat relief! The word “disgusting doesn’t ‘scratch the surface’ – if you will forgive the obvious pun!

Worse than the condition of the floor were the residents on the ceiling, lined with an innumerable scene of winged, hanging, hairy rodents. The bats were thick in the cave, and the cave was as dark at pitch, even though outside the cave it was midday and the burning desert sun was relentless. The only thing about the cave experience that was pleasant was the cool air… a very slight breeze that eased out of the cave from deep inside the darkness. What I found most unsettling was that I could not see as we crawled forward. If we used a flashlight, it stirred the bats, and they would pelt us and the light. If we didn’t – there was only a very eerie darkness, and no way to perceive the depth of the cave, nor where we were in relationship to the opening… it was a scary experience I will do my best never to repeat. I have come to realize that I treasure my sight. I love color and visual beauty. I can sit in a gallery and look at a famous Monet for an hour and not realize the time was passing… I hate the thought of not being able to see. My cave experience cemented that fear within…

What is true of physical sight is also true in most of us when we think of the future. We cannot really see where the story that God is crafting is headed on our own. Our nation has made such dramatic changes in our life time, most of us confess we cannot begin to reckon the course of the coming years. We simply cannot peer into the darkness… but we who know God know a secret – there is nothing too dark for His eye. He can see it all. He is weaving the tapestry of history, and He knows where it goes and what story it will reveal when all the threads are in place. Sometimes He decides to share it with a believer, and even better, lets that follower share it with us. The prophecies of an ancient Jew in captivity in Babylon are a record of just those very truths – God shining a light forward in the dark cave of the future of His people…

Key Principle: History is “His” story – and God is never surprised by it. The path of the future is as the path of the past in His eyes – secure, known and unwavering from the Master craftsman’s hand.

Today we glimpse directly into the cave, in a set of prophecies given hundreds of years before Christ, that all but spell out His name before He was born. That peering ahead includes much detail that to Daniel was prophecy, but to us it is history. To God, the past and the future are the same – finished in His mind…. Let’s take a look at the course of the future of the Jewish people as exposed from the shrouded darkness to Daniel.

There are seven parts to the prophecies Daniel received during the first year of Darius the Mede recorded in the book:

Unfortunately, they have been divided into separated chapters in Daniel 9, and then rejoined in Daniel 11 and 12. We will look at the whole picture together, though we cannot tell if Daniel received the whole picture at one time, or over the course of that first year.

Part One: The “big frame” of the future of God’s chosen people was offered. This vision included an overview from rebuilding Jerusalem, Messiah’s coming and departure, and a Period of Great Tribulation (9:24-27).

Part Two: Starting “now”: the immediate future of the Media Kingdom (11:1) was revealed to encourage the Persian ruler.

Part Three: “Buck Goat” rising: the coming rise of the Hellenic Kingdom (Alexander and the Diadoche – 11:2-4) was predicted:

Part Four: Divisions and Strife: the battles of Hellenic Monarchies (Seleucids and Ptolemies) are revealed (11:5-20)

Part Five: Template: a Seleucid ruler shows the pattern of hatred toward God’s people (Antiochus IV-11:21-35).

Part Six: Destroyer: a future ruler – the hateful Antichrist was described (Daniel 11:36-45)

Part Seven: Free at Last: the restoration of the Jewish people was made clear (Daniel 12).

Of this detailed list, we will choose two prophecies to look at with greater intensity – because they are the ones most relevant to the present and future story of God’s move through and in His people… We will examine “Part One” and “Part Six” – the vision of the coming Christ (9:24-27) and the vision of the coming Anti-Christ (11:36-45) with only a quick nod to the stories of the other prophecies.

Look closely at Part One, and watch the entrance and exit of Messiah…

Part One: The “big frame” of the future of God’s chosen people was offered. This vision included an overview from rebuilding Jerusalem, Messiah’s coming and departure, and a Period of Great Tribulation (9:24-27).

Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. 25 So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty- two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 26 Then after the sixty- two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. 27 And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.

Look closely as this incredibly detailed prophecy was disclosed:

Remember it came through desperate prayer (9:20-21) by a prophet that was holding God to a literal fulfillment of His Word. It was delivered by an angelic messenger (9:22-23). He opened a “decree” from Heaven (9:24-27), and it was about a period of time – some “Seventy Weeks”. The description is VERY SPECIFIC:

• The full extended time was decreed specifically for the Jewish people and Jerusalem (9:24a). God placed a limit on how long everything in their future would continue and closed the plan’s end.

• The end of the time would leave a fully atoned Jewish people, a permanent disposal of all their unrighteousness, an end to all prophecy, and a pure place of worship in the holiest place of the Temple (9:24b). This was not a mere statement that the atonement would be PROVIDED, but rather that the atonement would be EFFECTIVE. Interpreters that reckon this to be a reference to the COMING of Messiah, fail to grasp this prophecy is not only about the availability of the ultimate solution to sin – but the actual resolution of the disobedient people and their defiled worship center!

• The announced time clock commenced with the human decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem – which could have been one of four such times Jerusalem was
“restarted” (9:25):

(1) Cyrus II and the original decree (538/537 BCE).
(2) Darius or Cyaxeres (c. 519 BCE).
(3) Artaxerxes to Ezra (c 458 BCE).
(4) Artaxerxes to Nehemiah (445 BCE, Neh. 1).

The last one appears to be the correct one – because it fits the whole of the narrative’s detail. This is the only decree that is explicit to include the defenses of the city. The walls and gates were still broken down when this decree was given. This decree was given in March of 445 BCE (cp. Neh. 2:1-8). If that is correct, the clock started at that point, and explains the essential nature of why God provided the record of Nehemiah (beyond the fact that it is a great story!).

• The unfolding of time is told in SABBATICAL YEARS–in groups of seven years – just as the people had neglected the celebration of those over a long period of 490 years and now were in captivity for seventy years to correct this specific desecration of the land. 2 Chron. 36:21 says, “The land enjoyed its Sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah.” (a reference to Jeremiah 25:11). After 69 blocks of seven years (9:25), Messiah the Prince would come. That left us with a MATH PROBLEM if the sixty nine sevens were consecutive and unbroken – which was not certain in the prophecy. In that case, commencing with decree to restore Jerusalem (plaza and moat) until Messiah the Prince comes was to be 69 x 7, reckoned as 483 years. If we count the time between the decree given in March of 445 BCE (cp. Neh. 2:1-8) in 69 sets of Sabbatical years (seven year blocks), using the 360 day year common to the time, we move forward 173,880 days, ending on or about 32-33 CE with Messiah the Prince. That appears to be in the reference of Jesus’ announcement in Luke 19 at Palm Sunday.

To be clear, I didn’t discover this problem. It was long ago documented by Sir Robert Anderson, who developed the chronology based on March 14, 445 BCE. That date was later corrected by scholars as 444 BCE. The dates of the end of this period have also been carefully studied and debated, as there are a few variables – leap years, the year “0” etc, and the point is that it brings all scholars to a date between 30 CE and 33 CE – the time of Jesus’ appearance in Jerusalem.

• After Messiah entered the scene, according to the prophecy, He will be somehow reduced to “having nothing” in the wake of a Wicked Prince and his people that will destroy the Temple and the City. This appears to be a reference to the Crucifixion, followed by the destruction of the upper city of Jerusalem and her Temple that occurred in 70 CE (9:26).

• A sustained period that includes unending wars and desolations in the region of the Near East (9:26) is detailed, until a political entity appears that can settle the strife with a pleasing treaty that appears to uphold all parties for a period of time (9:27a). The key player in making this treaty will also be the one who violates it after three and one half years (9:27b) as war revives. By the end of that conflict, the treaty maker (and breacher) is slain (9:27b).

The overall frame, then was this:

1) Decree and return from Babylon.
2) Coming of Messiah.
3) Cutting off of Messiah.
4) Destruction of Jerusalem.
5) Near East Wars and Strife.
6) An Eventual Peace Treaty.
7) The Violation of the Treaty by its creator.
8) A time of destruction and warfare.
9) The death of the violator.

Wow, that is clear. Can we prove that Daniel was written as predictive prophecy BEFORE the events it detailed? Sure we can! Cave four of the eleven caves found near Qumran (of the so-called “Dead Sea Scrolls”), seems to indicate that Daniel was a treasured by that community – because so many fragments of that work were found. The “Yahad” community of Qumran lived during a very anxious period and may have thought the end prophecies were being fulfilled in their day. Though it is true that the fragments of 4QDanc, published in November 1989, do not include but a few words from Daniel 9 (scraps from Cave 4 contain “five tiny fragments, all from the prayer in chapter 9 but none with more than one complete word”), and 12 – these have not been yet discerned from the fragments as yet – the rest of the writing was dated to the C2 BCE – allowing us to demonstrate chapter 11 comments of the Hellenistic period of wars as clear, detailed, predictive prophecy! This also forces the date of the original writing back before that time, as copies were clearly being made by the C2 BCE for distribution of a document that internally dates itself to the C6 BCE. (*The most extensively preserved scroll of the book of Daniel from Qumran is 4QDana, which contains large portions of Daniel. Preserved are parts of Daniel 1:16–20; 2:9–11, 19–49; 3:1, 2; 4:29, 30; 5:5–7, 12–14, 16–19; 7:5–7, 25–28; 8:1–5; 10:16–20; 11:13–16. Scroll 4QDanb contains Daniel 5:10–12, 14–16, 19–22; 6:8–22, 27–29; 7:1–6, 11(?), 26–28; 8:1–8, 13–16; and 4QDanc has Daniel 10:5–9, 11–16, 21; 11:1, 2, 13–17, 25–29 (Ulrich 1987:18).

The lesson here is unmistakable. God isn’t “making up the plan” in response to men’s ideas and strategies, nor is He flexing based on the work of His enemy. God has the plan – and God is working it. Men can reject God’s right to do so – but that won’t change anything. The enemy can lie and tell us that God has lost control – but that doesn’t make it so. When God set the plan of human history in place, that was the plan.

When Job asked God about WHY terrible things happened, God answered without any sense of defensiveness and merely replied:

Job 38:2 “Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?

That doesn’t seem like much of an answer – but the very question implies something that is NOT at all true – that we have the standing to question the Creator. I am not His peer, nor am I able to think on His level. That is the simple fact, regardless of how I feel about it. Professional ball players don’t need tips from amateurs, nor do they truly benefit from the shouted insights of angry fans. The Creator isn’t a Heavenly parent that is desperate to make me happy at the expense of the truth. It may sound harsh, but when I express an arrogant attitude of equality – truth is the right prescription to set me straight.

Part Two: Starting “now”: the immediate future of the Media Kingdom (11:1) was revealed to encourage the Persian ruler.

God not only opened the door to the whole future of the people of Israel, He opened the immediate future of the Median Achaemenid Empire – and explained how it would create its own collapse in the future.

Daniel 11:1 “In the first year of Darius the Mede, I arose to be an encouragement and a protection for him. And now I will tell you the truth. Behold, three more kings are going to arise in Persia. Then a fourth will gain far more riches than all of them; as soon as he becomes strong through his riches.

Daniel offered encouragement to the King Cyaxeres (Darius) about the immediate future of his kingdom, perhaps at some time when Darius thought it was being usurped. The encouragement was this: there shall stand up yet three kings – (Gabriel already spoke of Cyrus) who was now co-reigning; and after him three others should arise. Though not as familiar to many in our day, the Achaemenid Persian Empire (550–330 BC) was the largest kingdom the ancient world had seen to that time, extending from Anatolia and Egypt across western Asia to northern India and Central Asia. The rulers referred to are: 559-530 – Cyrus II the Great, 529-522 – Cambyses (son) who reigned seven years and five months; 521-486 – Darius I, the Great and 485-465 – Xerxes I (son). He was the fourth king that was prophesied to be “far richer” and that was demonstrated in his extended party in Esther 1 (where he was called Ahashverosh). The prophecy that he would “stir up against Grecia” was realized in battle after battle – and loss after loss by the Persians. Money couldn’t buy him victory.

The historian Herodotus, recorded that his army amounted to five million, two hundred and eighty-three thousand, two hundred and twenty men. Three years were invested preparing for the expedition against the Greeks, and Daniel foretold it all…Eight more rulers would follow in the Median Empire, but they would never best Greece, and were eventually overtaken by it… but that is no surprise, because Daniel foretold that as well!

What does this prophecy teach us? There are times a kingdom is not undone by others, but is destroyed by the ambitions of its own rulers. The richest and largest still hungered for more, and their insatiable desire for “just a little more” destroyed them. Greed is a killer force.

Part Three: “Buck Goat” rising: the coming rise of the Hellenic Kingdom (Alexander and the Diadoche – 11:2-4) was predicted:

The details of the Median Kingdom are matched by the prophecy of the rise and fall of Alexander the Great, as the Hellenic Kingdom swallows up the eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf.

11:2 “…he will arouse the whole empire against the realm of Greece. 3 And a mighty king will arise, and he will rule with great authority and do as he pleases. 4 But as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four points of the compass, though not to his own descendants, nor according to his authority which he wielded, for his sovereignty will be uprooted and given to others besides them.

Swift in conquest, the Greeks swept the world, but their kingdom was quickly divided after the death of Alexander the Great. Don’t miss the lesson here…

The lesson: Even powerful and successful men can be cut down in short order. A lifetime of accomplishment can be washed away as swiftly as a sand castle at the incoming tide. We cannot put trust in accomplishments, awards, fame and power – they are all temporal and fleeting.

Part Four: Divisions and Strife: the battles of Hellenic Monarchies (Seleucids and Ptolemies) are revealed (11:5-20)

A large section of Daniel 11, from 11:5-20 details a long litany of battles and conflicts between two Greek ruling households – one located in Egypt, the other is Syria. One is the noted “king of the south”, the other “king of the north”.

The historical detail can seem overwhelming in the text, but there are a number of insights that are worth considering when looking through this chapter:

The prophecy of Daniel 11 is both LONG and SIMPLE. It reveals the most detailed prophecy in the book and one of the longest in all of the Hebrew Scriptures, yet it is without symbolism.

Daniel 11 is EARTH BOUND. The text presents physical war, peace and treaties– not heavenly conflict.

Daniel 11 is CONFIRMED in history as written before the events:

• The historian Josephus Flavius (a younger contemporary to the Apostle Paul and other Apostles, died c. 100 CE) recorded that Alexander the Great read a copy of Daniel at the time of his annexation of Jerusalem in 332 BCE (Antiquities of the Jews XI, chapter viii, paragraphs 3-5).

• Furthermore, two ancient historical sources record that Ptolemy Philadelphos (308-246 BCE) commissioned the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (called the Septuagint or LXX) in the 3rd century BCE, and Daniel was included in the LXX collection.

• Finally, Daniel is also included among the Dead Sea Scrolls (1Q and 4Q) which date from about C 2nd BCE (the oldest manuscript is 4Q114, dating from the late 2nd Century BCE).

The simple lesson: God will offer just enough evidence to commend believers as He allows us to “uncover” the truth. Don’t ask for PROOF, but don’t think there is NO EVIDENCE either.

Fifth, the Template: a Seleucid ruler shows the pattern of hatred toward God’s people (Antiochus IV-11:21-35).

Daniel 11:21 “In his place a despicable person will arise, on whom the honor of kingship has not been conferred, but he will come in a time of tranquility and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22 “The overflowing forces will be flooded away before him and shattered, and also the prince of the covenant. 23 “After an alliance is made with him he will practice deception, and he will go up and gain power with a small [force of] people. … 35 “Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because [it is] still [to come] at the appointed time.

Daniel 11:21-35 sets up a TYPE that is later mimicked by an end time villain. Mentioned because of their rabid hatred of the Jewish people, two kings rise up in Israel’s future that will apply pressure on the Jews. The first, Antiochus IV Epiphanes demonstrates an important lesson to God’s people (11:21-35). A second “willful king” (Antichrist, 11:36-45) is exposed for his special cruelty and troubles for the Jewish people.

The lesson: The enemy hates God, and hates anyone God makes promises to. He wants to show that God cannot do what He claimed, and doesn’t deserve the position He holds. He does this in grand scale – but he also does the same in my life. Satan tries to make me think that God doesn’t lead well – and pushes me to show my independence from God. In my arrogance, I can even come to believe I know better than God about y future, my plans and my best path.

Sixth, the Destroyer: a future ruler – the hateful Antichrist was described (Daniel 11:36-45)

1,600 years ago, the Bible scholar Jerome, who translated the Vulgate, wrote: “Those of our persuasion believe all these things are spoken prophetically of the Antichrist who is to arise in the end time.” (Jerome, Romans, p. 129).

This passage offers our first deep glance at four specifics regarding the Antichrist and his system. We know:

1. His time (36): He will be active during “the time of wrath.” As Jesus made clear in Matthew 24. “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ [that can’t refer to Antiochus because that happened 200 years before Jesus spoke these words] spoken of through the prophet Daniel–let the reader understand–For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now–and never to be equaled again.” Jesus says the Antichrist will be active during this time of great distress.

2. His temperament (37-39): He will be a charismatic, ambitious, egotistical, arrogant politician– that really narrows it down, doesn’t it? Verse 37 says, “He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers.” That means he will reject his spiritual heritage and worship another kind of god: power, money, and military might. He may begin as a man of peace, but he becomes a vicious and cruel warrior.

The Apostle Paul wrote about the Antichrist in 2 Thessalonians 2:4: “He will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” We should recognize the essence of sin is not atheism; it is self-worship. Basically, he man is a man of violence, a man of war and will be responsible for a renewal of war between parties in the Middle East.

3. His territory (40-44)

Daniel 11:40 suggests he will war in the Near East…in 41 “He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many [countries] will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. Skip down to verse 45. “He will pitch his royal tents between the seas [the Mediterranean and the Dead Seas] at the beautiful holy mountain [Jerusalem]...” He will ultimately set up his throne affirm some kind of peace treaty between Israel and her neighbors. In order to maintain this “peace” he will set up a residence in Jerusalem.

4. His termination (45)

Daniel 11:45 “…yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

During the seven years of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will be the lead dog in the pack. Listen to how John describes this devastating defeat of this demonic demagogue in Revelation 19:20: “But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.”

Here is the truth: God is going to allow some wicked men and women to take advantage of His people – both Jews in the future and believers today. Evil isn’t winning, it is fulfilling its assigned role – and it will end when and how God says it will.

Seventh, Free at Last: the restoration of the Jewish people was made clear (Daniel 12).

We’ll be back here. It is worth noting the story doesn’t end in the rise and fall of evil – but in the promise of God to fulfill His promises to His people… that is the essence of the reason for the glimpse ahead in the first place.

Israel’s future is about His promises. Our lives are about His promises.

  • Do not despair when evil gains – God is in control of the story. His patience is a benefit to my lost friend – not an inability of His strong arm.
  • Do not complain when darkness rises – God will used the dark threads in His needlework just as He uses the bright colors – to show Himself on the tapestry of human history.

Look into the dark cave with confidence. The story is His. The glory is His. The victory is His. The promise is ours… and we celebrate it!