Month: November 2024

Then the Commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Joshua 5:15

Joshua had been Moses’ general. Now he was supreme leader of all Israel. With more battle experience than anyone else, no one dared to challenge him, at least, not until that day. He was alone on a battlefield when a man approached him with a drawn sword.

“Friend or foe?” Joshua cried out.

“No,” the man answered, “But as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come” (Joshua 5:14). Joshua fell on his face to the ground and worshiped Him.

Theologians explain that this story is actually a theophany, a visible manifestation of God to mankind. The Commander of the LORD’s  Army had a human body but received worship from Joshua and declared the ground on which He stood to be holy. His appearance must have been remarkable because General Joshua immediately humbled himself and surrendered as soon as he knew who He was.

Revelation 19 explains that Christ will come on a white horse with the host of heaven to defeat the armies of the antichrist at the battle of Armageddon. His appearance will be terrifying. His eyes will be like flames of fire and his robe dipped in blood. A sharp sword will come out of his mouth to strike the nations. Behind Him will be every warrior angel and weapon in God’s arsenal.

I’m glad that He is my friend. How terrible it would be to be His foe. So, at the last battle in human history, Christ, the  Commander of the LORD’s Army, returns. Even so come Lord Jesus!

May 3

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1

You can’t look up Liberator in a concordance and find this title listed there. Yet, that is what He is. Christ set free more slaves than Abraham Lincoln and liberated more oppressed people than anyone else in history.

When Jesus preached his first sermon in the synagogue in Nazareth, He opened the Isaiah scroll and said that He came “…..to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18). What actually did He mean by this?

Those who were wanting a political liberator were openly disappointed with Jesus. Obviously, the iron-fisted Roman government still enslaved people, heavily taxed the occupied territory, and crucified dissenters. Although that is true, all the Caesars are long dead.  Other despots that have come and gone throughout the centuries were also temporary.

Political dictators, by their nature, don’t last long on history’s stage. Christ’s liberation transcends the centuries, cultures, and world governments, because He frees individuals from the internal tyrants of the soul.

Sin, certainly, is a huge self-destructive force that enslaves people to life styles and conditions they hate. The drunk really doesn’t look forward to waking up again another day with a splitting headache and covered in his own vomit. Few prostitutes, if any, feel they made the best career choice and jails are full of people who don’t want to be there. The Lord Jesus sets them free by taking away the power and compulsion of sin.

What most people don’t understand is that Christ, the Liberator, frees us from everything that enslaves us: guilt, anger, grief, addictions, doubt, anxiety, and even the fear of the unknown. Talk to the Lord and turn these over to Him one by one and one by one, the Liberator will take them away. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Note:  If you are weighted down with grief, anger, depression, or addiction issues, go to  www.tradingpain.com for Set Free Prayer Ministry.  It can help.

May 2

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good  works.
Titus 2:11-14

Some preachers struggle with presenting the gospel in just one hour. Others can adequately cover the main points in about a half hour and maybe a few can get the job done in ten or fifteen minutes. In Titus 2, Paul nails every important question in only four verses.

1.      What is the underlying power of salvation?  The grace of God.
2.      Who can be saved?  Everybody.
3.      What are we saved from?  The power and self- destruction of our ungodly and worldly lusts.
4.      What life changes should we expect as a result of our salvation?  We should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present evil age.
5.      How did Jesus save us?   He gave Himself to redeem us from our desire to sin.
6.      Why did Christ give His life to save us from our sin?  It was the only way to purify, for Himself, His own special people
7.      (The last question is one that should be answered in every meaningful presentation of the gospel) Who is Jesus Christ?

He is Our Great God and Savior.

May 1

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

Talk about a curve ball, I never saw it coming. I tried to look it up in more than twenty English versions, but the word “overcomer” doesn’t appear in the Bible. To me, that was strange since I’ve heard dozens of sermons, (not just a few of them being my own), with the central theme being Overcomers. However, preconceived ideas don’t die easily, so I’m going to write on this title anyway.

For the most part scripture commands Christians to “overcome the world” (I John 5:4-5). This is an expression of faith inherent in the act of believing in Jesus and not the optional choice for the spiritually mature.

Paul instructed believers to “not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). That is not how to become a Christian; that’s just what Christians do.

Christ admonishes all seven of the Churches of Revelation to be overcomers. To the persecuted church of Smyrna, the glorified Lord states, “He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:11). Don’t misinterpret this verse.  It is not saying that a Christian must overcome tribulation to be saved, but that all the saved will overcome everything Satan and the world throws at them because that’s what believers do.

To the lukewarm church at Laodicea, the Savior writes, “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21) This is the kicker. We are able to overcome because Christ already overcame sin, death, and hell (not to mention conventional wisdom, popular opinion and political correctness). We stand alongside the Conqueror on the winning side.

The bottom line is that true Christians are, in fact, overcomers because their Lord is the ultimate Overcomer.

April 30

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17

Unger defines immortality as exemption from death and annihilation, and with reference to humankind it is unending existence beyond the grave. Sounds good! Where do I sign up?

The unfairness of death is a reality that most people have to deal with before they themselves stop breathing. Why do some young people get cancer and die, while some bitter old grouches make it to a second century? Why does death have to be so final? Why can’t we earn extra lives like in computer games? Why?

Most religions propose one form or another of eternal life, but proof of life beyond the grave is woefully lacking. Sigmund Freud blew off religion as a classic example of wish fulfillment, but he never offered an explanation of why people would even want to live forever.

Being made in the image of God, we long for things that the animal kingdom is oblivious to. Humans are not just higher forms of animal life. We can distinguish between right and wrong and even right and left. We know beauty when we see it and attribute value to pieces of paper or round pieces of metal. The most intelligent dog or dolphin can’t do these things and they don’t aspire to live forever. Eternity isn’t hard wired into their brains as it is with people. Humans want to go back to their roots, go back home to their Creator.

Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28, 29). Christ makes it clear that there is consciousness forever after the body dies, even for those who don’t believe in Him. If someone wants to be with the Savior forever in heaven, he needs to believe the one who has been there and done that. After all, He is the Immortal.

April 29

And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’s Passover.
Exodus 12:11

Many Christians understand the historical significance of the Old Testament observance of Passover and even know that the “Last Supper” was actually Christ celebrating the feast with His disciples. Modern calendars mark when the Jewish holiday occurs today, but few believers have ever seen this Feast of the LORD celebrated.

John 6:4 describes Passover as a “feast of the Jews”, but it is also deeply Christian. 1 Corinthians 5:7 says: “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” In order to better understand this expression of the Savior, believers must grasp that this is the LORD’s Passover and not just the holiday of another religion.

Everything about the Passover belongs to the Lord, its history, its symbolism, its message and even the dinner itself. The LORD himself told Moses exactly what to say and do. A perfect lamb was chosen and then lived with the family for four days before it was killed and the blood was smeared on the headboard and sides of the doorframe. Judgment was to fall on every household in Egypt, so the sacrifice of the lamb was to protect the children of Israel who believed God’s instructions. God declared: “Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:13).

For over three millennia the Jewish people have celebrated the LORD’s Passover to remember what God did the night of the Exodus to deliver them from slavery. But the celebration is more than just historical; it was prophetic because it clearly illustrates the substitutionary death of the Lamb of God on the 14th of the month of Nisan, which was the very day the LORD’s Passover was to be sacrificed.

If you ever have had the chance to attend a Passover Seder service, go for it. It is well worth the price of admission (it usually includes a catered meal). The program is an object lesson of God’s faithfulness through the ages, Jewish culture and the telling of the Passover story. A traditional Jewish Seder service would be very edifying, but one with a messianic congregation would be even more enlightening. There, it would be even more evident that Jesus Christ is the LORD’s Passover.

April 28

Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed
Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
1 Corinthians 5:7

For at least a week before the Passover ceremony, a Jewish mother diligently purges the house of “leaven.” Bread, crackers and anything else that might contain yeast is tossed in the trash. The pantry is scrubbed with soap and water before storing the matzo meal used in many of the Passover dishes.

Finally, on the night of the ceremony, the father takes a few bread crumbs in full view of the others and drops them to the floor. He then sweeps them up as a symbol that the house is clean and ready for the Seder service to begin.

The Passover ceremony often lasts 3-4 hours and involves everyone seated at the table. Beginning with the lighting of candles, there is the washing of hands, the asking of questions, and the reading of the Old Testament story of the Passover. On the center of the table sits a bowl of salt water, a meatless lamb bone, cups of wine, roasted eggs, squares of matzo, and some horseradish. Each of these has its own special significance which is explained and considered during the course of the evening. To the Jewish people, the Passover is the festival meal that recalls Israel’s embittered bondage in Egypt and God’s wonderful deliverance.

For the Christian, Our Passover is simply Christ. He is our sacrifice that delivers us from the bondage of sin and brings us into communion with God. We celebrate Our Passover by remembering who our Savior is and what He has done for us. This is best done when the “old leaven” is first purged out, that is to say, laying “aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us” (Hebrews 12:1) so that we can truly show Him our appreciation.

March 30

And [they] said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him
who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!”
Revelation 6:16*

Who’da thunk it! The whole world is going to be afraid of the Lamb! He gave Himself as a willing sacrifice so that the wrath of God would pass over those who trusted in Him. He died without protest or struggle and had peace and joy which sharply contrasted to the hatred of His tormentors. Jesus Christ was God’s Lamb that would atone for the sins of His people but He will also be God’s instrument to bring judgment on the God-haters and Christ-rejecters of this world.

A squadron of Roman soldiers scourged Christ and then crucified Him. Some in that group repented. The rest will stand before the Great White Throne before being cast into the lake of fire.

Throughout the subsequent centuries, followers of the Lamb have been beaten, tortured, had property confiscated and were put to death because they were guilty of having lamb-like qualities.

During Roman persecutions, they were crucified, fed to lions, or burned alive while they prayed or sang hymns. During the Inquisition, they were tortured with machines of death for possessing the Word of God in their own languages. And in Jihads both past and present they were either sold into slavery or beheaded.

“And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You  judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’” (Revelation 6:10).

“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

*also mentioned 27 other times in Revelation

April 26

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
Isaiah 53:7

I saw a lamb die. In fact, I killed it! I think I’ll never be the same again!

The lamb I slaughtered didn’t struggle or cry out. It didn’t try to bite or kick me. It quietly and without a fight just bled to death at my feet. It was then I realized that God created a special species of animal just for sacrifice.

Sheep are in a category by themselves when it comes to dying. Their passive acceptance of death is contrasted by the survival instinct of every other creature in the animal kingdom. Even evolutionists will have to admit that natural selection should have weeded out sheep a long time ago.

Pigs never die gracefully. In the open country, squeals can be heard for a good half mile away on butchering day. They will thrash, kick, and bite, making killing a hog a pretty risky business. Pigs were never designed to give their lives willingly.

The universe was confounded at the thought of the LORD meekly shedding His blood to redeem the human race.  The angels must have been confused and amazed to see the grace of God in action.  This love, too difficult to explain, needed an illustration, so the Creator formed a little animal and sent it to earth. This creature is born for the purpose of dying – a Lamb.

Wonderful,merciful Savior,
Precious Redeemer and Friend,
Who would have thought that a lamb
Could rescue the souls of men.
Oh, You rescue the souls of men.

Song by Selah

*see also John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 21:22, plus 21 other verses.

April 25

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
Luke 7:34*

We have a very small home church. On a very good Sunday it can push 25 in attendance but sometimes it isn’t even half of that. We do, however, have a lot of outreach. We had printed up 10,000 gospel tracts with our name and address on them and went to places the un-churched go. One man got a tract handed to him in a fast food restaurant and  he ended up visiting us after looking us up on our website. It wasn’t at all what he expected, so after the service he tried to tactfully say why he didn’t expect to come back. “No offense,” he said, “but you people definitely give the impression that you’re a lot bigger than you really are.”

The comment was his way of saying that we were too small to meet his needs. Although not exactly an insult, it was meant to be a reality check for us, showing us that we missed the mark. No offense was taken, because we considered it a great compliment. We were doing things that even big established churches weren’t doing. 

The enemies of Christ really thought they put Him down by showing to the world who His friends were – the low class and the dead-beats. Wow! How neat is that! The King of kings can even be my friend!

The night Judas had betrayed the Master, Christ said to His traitorous disciple, “Friend, why have you come?” (Matthew 26:50). Judas had de-friended his Lord, but Jesus remained the Friend of Sinners. 

His is love, ‘tis love unbounded,
Without measure, without end;
Human thought is here confounded,
‘Tis too vast to comprehend!
Praise the Savior! Praise the Savior!
Magnify the sinner’s Friend!

                                                                                Thomas Kelly 1769-1854

*See also Matthew 11:19

April 24