Zechariah 8
LORD jealous with a great jealousy for Zion verse 1- 2
Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me
saying
This says the LORD of hosts
I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy
and I was jealous for her with great fury
Presence of the LORD in Jerusalem verse 3
Thus says the LORD
I am returned unto Zion
and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem
and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth
and the mountain of the LORD of hosts
the holy mountain
Jerusalem full of people again verse 4- 5
This says the LORD of hosts
There shall yet old men and old women
dwell in the streets of Jerusalem
AND every man with his staff in his hand
for very age
AND the streets of the city
shall be full of boys and girls playing
in the streets thereof
Impossible possible with the LORD verse 6
This says the LORD of hosts
If it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people
in these days
Should it also be marvelous in MINE eyes?
says the LORD of hosts
Scattered with be returned verse 7- 8
This says the LORD of hosts
BEHOLD – I will save MY people from the east country
and from the west country
I will bring them
and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem
and they shall be MY people
and I will be their God
in truth and in righteousness
Obstacles removed verse 9- 10
This says the LORD of hosts
Let your hands be strong
you that hear in these days these words
by the mouth of the prophets
which were in the day that
the foundation of the
house of the LORD of hosts was laid
that the temple might be built
FOR before these days there was no hire for man
nor any hire for beast
neither was there any peace to him
that went out or came in
because of affliction
FOR I set all men every one against his neighbor
Time of blessing coming verse 11- 13
BUT NOW I will not be unto the residue of this people
as in the former days
says the LORD of hosts
FOR the seed shall be prosperous
the vine shall give her fruit
and the ground shall give her increase
and the heavens shall give their dew
AND I will cause the remnant of this people
to possess all these things
AND it shall come to pass
that as you were a curse among the heathen
O house of Judah – and house of Israel
SO will I save you – and you shall be a blessing
fear not – BUT let your hands be strong
LORD changes purpose toward Jerusalem verse 14- 15
FOR this says the LORD of hosts
As I thought to punish you
when your fathers provoked ME to wrath
says the LORD of hosts
AND I repented not
SO again have I thought in these days
to do well unto Jerusalem
and to the house of Judah
fear you not
Truth shall fill Jerusalem verse 16- 17
These are the things that you shall do
Speak you every man the truth to his neighbor
execute the judgment of truth and peace
in your gates
and let none of you imagine evil in your hearts
against his neighbor
and love no false oath
FOR all these are things that I hate
says the LORD
Change of purpose of feasts verse 18- 19
And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me
saying
This says the LORD of hosts
The fast of the fourth month – and the fast of the fifth
and the fast of the seventh – and the fast of the tenth
shall be to the house of Judah
joy – gladness and cheerful feasts
THEREFORE love the truth and peace
All nations will be seeking the LORD in Jerusalem verse 20- 22
This says the LORD of hosts
It shall yet come to pass – that there shall come people
and the inhabitants of many cities
AND the inhabitants of one city shall go to another
saying
Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD
and to seek the LORD of hosts
I will go also
YEA – many people and strong nations
shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem
and to pray before the LORD
Israelites will have many friends verse 23
This says the LORD of hosts
In those days it shall come to pass
that ten men shall
take hold out of all languages of the nations
EVEN shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew
saying
We will go with you for we have heard that God is with you
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 This says the LORD of hosts, I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. (7065 “jealous” [qana’] means to get heated, envy, become excited, to become desirous of exclusivity in relationship, or zealous.)
DEVOTION: There is nothing wrong with being passionate about what you believe. So often we try to hide what we believe. We don’t talk to people on a daily basis about the LORD. We don’t want to be made fun of or make people think we are not “cool.” We have been taught that we are not supposed to talk about politics and religion in public because they are private matters. That is not true
This election we have people talking about who to vote for and why in many pulpits in our country. Pastors didn’t tell people who to vote for most of the time but they gave the pros and cons for each candidate.
Now the elections is still coming so we should use just as much energy talking about our salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. This should be our number one priority all the time.
Don’t let Satan win by believing his lie about our conversations. We should have passion and that passion should be that we are jealous that people understand how much God is jealous about HIS people. We are HIS people in this age.
CHALLENGE: We need to be exclusively on the side of the LORD during any voting we do. We are to bring honor to HIM at home and in society!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 This says the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. (571 “truth” [‘emeth] means firmness, faithfulness, reliability, sureness, stability, or reliability)
DEVOTION: How many of us like change. Our world is full of change. Some we like and others we don’t like. Change is what is going to happen to the children of Israel.
They were in captivity. They are going to come out of captivity into a city that is going to be blessed of the LORD. The LORD was jealous for HIS city. It had become full of sin. HE had to judge the people but HE promised that remnant would come back to the city and receive a blessing.
In the future it was going to be known as the city of FAITHFULNESS to the LORD. It had been unfaithful. But now the streets were going to be full of elderly people who could walk the streets at any time in peace. There were going to be children playing in the street withou any worries. It sounded impossible but we know that the LORD can do the impossible. Too often we limit God. Too often we don’t think that the Bible could be true. However, it has always proved itself true because the God of the Bible is Sovereign and Omniscient. HE knows the beginning from the end.
This Hebrew word for “truth” is used five times in this chapter. The LORD repeats things to get our attention. HE wanted the Israelites to know that HIS future kingdom was going to be built on sureness. We can be sure that the LORD always tells us the reliable facts. HE never sugarcoats things. HE has been honest with the children of Israel throughout HIS history with them. Still in their future there is going to come a time that ten men will take hold of one Jew and ask if they can go with him to worship the LORD. What is very amazing is that there is going to be someone from every language asking for this permission.
HE has been honest with us throughout HIS history with us. We can count on HIM. HE is firm. HE is faithful. HE is reliable. HE is stable. HE is going to be there at all times. When we think about HIS treatment of the children of Israel and how they treated HIM, we could wonder why HE stayed with them. Well, HE stays with us the same way. We let HIM down on are regular basis but HE never gives up on HIS children. HE loves us. Praise HIS name. The future is bright for those who have Christ in their hearts and not just in their heads.
Our present is secure with HIM at our side. Our past is forgiven. Our future is GLORIOUS. HE always gives HOPE to HIS people. Isn’t that a great state to be in? We should be content each day with what HE sends our way because it is always for our good.
CHALLENGE: God values truth in our teaching and life. Manifest HIS truth to those around you. Make sure that you worship the LORD with an attitude of truth.
______________________________________________
: 8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be MY people, and I will be their God in truth and in righteousness. (571 “truth” [’emeth] means firmness, faithfulness, trustworthiness, constancy, duration, fidelity, or sure.)
DEVOTION: God always gives hope to HIS people. Each prophet has a message of hope in the midst of judgment. God is holy and needs to deal with sin in the lives of HIS people. HE chastens them because HE loves them. HE knows that the only way people change is through suffering. HE stays with them during their suffering but none the less still sends suffering.
At the end of a time period of suffering there is blessing. There are promises made to the remnant who are true believers. There is always a group that genuinely belief. They are few but they are willing to walk with the LORD while others walk in the other direction.
In the end God wins. HE wins because HE has a plan that gives a future where HE will be with HIS people and will reign in truth and righteousness.
That is not happening now. We definitely live in a time period where there is little truth and very little right living going on in our world. Good is declared evil by our society and evil is declared good. People are voting for drugs and gay marriage to be legal. They have voted in the past that babies in the womb are not really human beings until they are born out of the womb. None of these beliefs are taught in Scripture.
Many nations have been judged for shedding innocent blood and we are doing it in the millions each year and think nothing of it.
CHALLENGE: Do we think God is in favor of these actions?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 22 Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. (2470 “pray” [chalah] means entreat, appease, flatter, beseech, beg, seek the favor, or asked.
DEVOTION: The prophet deals with all three time periods: past, present and future. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish what time period he is talking about. We have to study the context to see and sometimes we have to really study the working for the tenses of the verbs. God wants us to understand HIS plan but it can only happen if we are willing to meditate on HIS Word.
This verse deals with the future. There will be visitors to Jerusalem from strong nations seeking the guidance of the LORD. In the last verse we find that ten men will seek one Israelite to hang onto so that they can be in the presence of someone who is in the presence of the LORD.
They want to communicate with the ruler of the world. During the Millennial reign of Christ this is going to take place. No other time period seems to answer this question.
Today it seems like every nation wants to either kill the Jews or distance themselves from the Jews to make sure they don’t fall with the Jews. Will the Jews fall? The Bible says that there will be at least on more falling of the Jews for a time period of seven years when they will be judged for their treatment of the LORD and HIS people.
There is always a remnant that follow the LORD who are Jewish but have chosen to follow Jesus. They are called Messianic Jews. They witness to their fellow Jews about Christ. Recently a Jewish synagogue in Buffalo was brought by a Messianic Jewish congregation. They are teaching the New Testament.
We are to lead others in entreating the LORD for HIS blessings on our congregations and for those congregations that teach the Word of God according to the whole counsel of God.
People will follow us if they see that the LORD is working in our lives and in the life of our church. Set an example of seeking the favor of God in our daily walk with HIM.
CHALLENGE: Praise the LORD to others when we see HIM answer our prayers. They will see that HE is still working in our world.
__________________________________________________________
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Fasting at the feasts of Israel verse 19
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Time when everyone will pray verse 21, 22
Pray before the LORD verse 22
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Foundation of the house of the LORD verse 9
Temple verse 9
Joy and gladness and cheerful feasts verse 19
____________________________________________________________
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORD verse 1, 18
This says the LORD of hosts verse 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 14, 19, 20, 23
This says the LORD verse 3
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1- 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 14, 17- 23
LORD of hosts verse 2- 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 14, 18- 21, 22
Jealous verse 2
Fury of the LORD verse 2, 14
Truth verse 8
Righteousness verse 8
House of the LORD of hosts verse 9
Control of nature verse 12
Punish verse 14
Relent not – sent judgment verse 14
Hate false oaths verse 17
Pray before the LORD verse 21
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign, Plural name) verse 8, 23
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Neighbor verse 10, 16, 17
Heathen verse 13
Inhabitants of many cities verse 20
Nations verse 22
All languages of the nations verse 23
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Curse among the heathen verse 13
Provoke the LORD verse 14
Imagine evil verse 17
Love false oath verse 17
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Presence of the LORD verse 3, 23
Truth verse 3, 8, 16, 19
Save verse 7, 13
Righteousness verse 8
Strength verse 9, 13
Hear verse 9
Prophets verse 9
Affliction verse 10
Prosperous verse 12
Blessing verse 13
Fear not verse 13, 15
Execute judgment of truth verse 16
Peace verse 16, 19
Love not false oath verse 17
Fasting verse 19
Joy verse 19
Gladness verse 19
Cheerful verse 19
Love of truth verse 9
Pray verse 21, 22
Seek the LORD verse 21, 22
Heard that God is with you verse 23
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Zion verse 3
Jerusalem – city of truth verse 3- 5, 8, 15, 22
Mountain of the LORD of hosts verse 3
Remnant of Jerusalem verse 6
God’s people verse 7, 8
Judah verse 13, 15, 19
Israel verse 13
Jew verse 23
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
_______________________________________________________________
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
__________________________________________________________________
QUOTES regarding passage
23 “In those days” is equivalent to “in that day” (see comment at 2:11). “Ten” is one way of indicating a large or complete number in Hebrew (e.g., Gen 31:7; Lev 26:26; Num 14:22; 1 Sam 1:8; Neh 4:12). Baldwin (Zechariah, p. 156) points out: “The word Jew … occurs first in Jeremiah 34:9, and only for the second time here. It is frequent in Ezra-Nehemiah.” Feinberg (p. 146) says, “The prophecy teaches, then, that Israel will be the means of drawing the nations of the earth to the Lord in the time of the Messiah’s reign of righteousness upon earth.” The verse closes with the reason for the Gentiles’ desire to accompany the Jews on pilgrimages to Jerusalem: “We have heard that God is with you.” What better reason could there be? Ellis (p. 1039) puts it thus: “True spirituality is attractive to those who exercise genuine faith; but to others it may be a deterrent. The universalism with which the first part of the book ends is therefore not one of expediency, brought about by dialogue or conference. It is the work of God, initiated by him and mediated through his people.” And Baldwin (p. 156) comments: “The renewed covenant of the post-exilic period (8:13) includes the nations, who, as Ezekiel saw (36:23), would recognize the Lord as God when, through the renewed Israel, He vindicated His holiness. True godliness draws others to Him (1 Cor. 14:25), and is a factor used of God in completing the number of His people.” (Barker, K. L. (1986). Zechariah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, p. 655). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
____________________________________________________________
23. ten—a definite number for an indefinite. So in Le 22:26; Nu 14:22. of all languages of the nations—that is, of nations of all languages (compare Is 66:18; Rev 7:9). take hold of the skirt—a gesture of suppliant entreaty as to a superior. Compare Is 3:6; 4:1, on a different occasion. The Gentiles shall eagerly seek to share the religious privileges of the Jew. The skirt with a fringe and blue ribbon upon it (Nu 15:38; De 22:12) was a distinguishing badge of a Jew.
God is with you—the effect produced on unbelievers in entering the assemblies of the Church (1 Co 14:25). But primarily, that produced on the nations in witnessing the deliverance of the Jews by Cyrus. Finally, that to be produced on the nations by the future grand interposition of Messiah in behalf of His people. (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 726). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
__________________________________________________________
8:20–23. In the future day of blessing, peoples of the whole earth will join with Jews because of their relationship with the Lord. People will know that God is with Israel and that they are His people (v. 8). As a result, many nations will come to Jerusalem to worship during the Millennium (cf. 14:16–19; Isa. 2:3). (Lindsey, F. D. (1985). Zechariah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1561). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
________________________________________________________________
The Gentiles will be redeemed (Zech. 8:20–23). God called Abraham and established the nation of Israel so His people would witness to the Gentiles and lead them to faith in the true God (Gen. 12:1–3). In setting apart one nation, God was seeking to reach a whole world. Many of the great events in Jewish history recorded in Scripture had behind them a witness to “the whole world”: the plagues of Egypt (Ex. 9:16); the conquest of Canaan (Josh. 4:23–24); God’s blessing of the nation (Deut. 28:9–11); and even the building of the temple (1 Kings 8:42–43). When David killed Goliath, he announced that God would give him victory so “that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Sam. 17:46).
But Israel failed in her mission to the Gentiles. Instead of the Gentile nations coming to worship the true God of Israel, the Jews forsook Jehovah and worshiped the false gods of the Gentile nations. The “court of the Gentiles” in Herod’s temple became a market where Jews visiting Jerusalem from other countries could exchange their money and buy approved sacrifices. However, before we criticize the Jews too much, we had better examine the track record of the church when it comes to winning the lost at home and taking the Gospel to nations abroad.
When Messiah restores His people and establishes His kingdom, the Gentiles will trust the true and living God and come to Jerusalem to worship Him. Isaiah saw a river of Gentiles “flowing” into the city (Isa. 2:1–5) and Micah used the same figure (Micah 4:1–5). Zechariah describes a scene in which ten men (a Hebrew expression for “many men”) will take hold of one Jew and beg to go with him to the temple!
It’s a wonderful thing when God so blesses His people that others want what God’s people have. “We have heard that God is with you” (Zech. 8:23). This sounds like what should happen in our local churches when an unbeliever beholds our worship of the Lord. “He will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, ‘God is really among you!” (1 Cor. 14:24–25, niv)
“I say then,” wrote Paul, “has God cast away His people? Certainly not!” (Rom. 11:1, nkjv) There’s a bright and blessed future for God’s people Israel, even though the nation has been oppressed and persecuted by the Gentiles, some of whom claimed to be Christians. Our privilege is to love them, pray for them, and tell them that their Messiah, Jesus Christ, has come and will save them if they trust in Him. The Gospel of Christ is still “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Rom. 1:16, nkjv). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Be heroic (pp. 127–128). Colorado Springs, CO: ChariotVictor Pub.)
____________________________________________________________
8:23 In those days. In the days in which the messianic kingdom on earth is inaugurated (see note on Joel 3:18), the Jews will truly be God’s messengers as originally intended, and will bring multitudes to Christ. The 10 to 1 ratio represents a vast number of Gentiles who will come (cf. Ge 31:7; Lv 26:26; Nu 14:22; 1Sa 1:8; Ne 4:12). The Messiah, in the midst of millennial Israel, will be the attraction of the world. People, seeing the Jews so blessed in their kingdom, will demand to go and meet the Savior King. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Zec 8:23). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
____________________________________________________________
Verses 1 to 8 form a lovely millennial picture, describing the conditions which will prevail when “Jerusalem shall be called, A city of truth, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, The holy mountain.” Because of their idolatrous ways the Lord had been “jealous for Zion with a great jealousy,” and with great wrath had delivered Judah into the hands of their enemies, that they might learn in the strangers’ land the folly of trusting in graven images and sacrificing to the demons behind the symbols (ver. 2). Their sojourn in Babylon had cured them of this for the time, though our Lord Jesus showed that they were but as a house empty, swept and garnished, to which the unclean spirit who had gone out will yet return, bringing with him seven demons worse than himself. This will be fulfilled when idolatry of a worse kind than ever before is established among them—even the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place.
______________________
The chapter concludes by portraying the happy spiritual conditions which will prevail in the day that Messiah’s kingdom is established. It shall be no matter of hardship or cold, formal obedience to come together in a solemn assembly before Jehovah when Israel shall be a regenerated and sanctified people. Each city shall then vie with the other in “provoking unto love and to good works,” saying one to another, “Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also” (vers. 20, 21). His service will then be their joy and delight. The 122d Psalm will be fulfilled, and the voices of the restored remnant will sing with exultation, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” It is ever thus when Christ Himself is before the soul. The gatherings of the children of God become in very deed as foretastes of heaven when He is to His own the altogether lovely. There are no dry, listless meetings then; but every heart thrills with a joy not earthly as He fills the vision of the enraptured soul. If right with God, there would ever be this holy freshness and fervent longing for His presence. But when permitted sin has been allowed to do its deadly work unjudged, the Holy Spirit is grieved, Christ is hidden, and what would have been a delight becomes a weariness of the flesh, (Ironside, H. A. (1909). Notes on the Minor Prophets. (pp. 383–384). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
__________________________________________________________
Ver. 23. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, &c.] For the further confirmation and illustration of this prophecy: in those days it shall come to pass; this shall be done in the times of the preaching of the Gospel by Christ and his apostles: that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew; which may be understood either of our Lord Jesus Christ; who was a Jew by nation, the Jews were his own people, and Judea his nation; by descent, he springing from the tribe of Judah, and the family of David; by religion, being made under the Jewish law; by his habit and dress, by which, as well as by his language, the woman of Samaria knew he was a Jew, John 4:9 and very probably he wore the fringe the Jews did on the border of his garment, Matt. 9:20; Mark 6:56 and which the Jewish doctors think is here meant by the skirt; but this may intend, in a spiritual sense, the skirt being put for the whole garment, Ezek. 16:8, the robe of Christ’s righteousness, which sensible sinners take hold of by faith, and put it on as their justifying righteousness: and ten men out of all nations being said to do it, and this number signifying many, Lev. 26:26; 1 Sam. 1:8. may denote that the number of them that believe in Christ for righteousness, and are justified by it, are many, Isa. 53:11. though they are but few when compared with others; and that as God has chosen, Christ has redeemed, so the Spirit calls some out of all nations; and God is the God of the Gentiles as well as of the Jews, since the one are justified by him as well as the other, Rom. 3:29, 30. or this may be understood of any of the apostles of Christ, who were all Jews; and especially the Apostle Paul, who was the apostle of the Gentiles; who were sent into all the world to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, by which means they came to hear it; and many of them out of every nation laid hold on the skirts of these men; believed and embraced the doctrines they preached; were greatly affected towards them; gave up themselves to them; consorted with them; accompanied them, and cleaved unto them; did not care to part with them, as children, that lay hold on their parents’ skirts, won’t leave them, but go with them where they go, as follows: saying, we will go with you; either with Christ, resolving to follow him whithersoever he goes; to hold to him the Head; to abide by his truths and ordinances; to walk on in his ways, whatever they suffer for his name’s sake: or with his ministers and people, determining to go along and join with them in all religious exercises; see Ruth 1:16: for we have heard that God is with you; with Christ, as he always was; in the council and covenant of grace before time, and at the beginning of time to his incarnation; and during his state of humiliation, and in his sufferings and death; and now in his state of exaltation; hence his name Ithiel, God with me, Prov. 30:1. see John 1:1 and 8:29 and 16:32. or with his ministers and people, which he has promised to be unto the end of the world; and this the Gentiles heard and understood, by the power that went along with their ministry, to the conversion of multitudes of sinners; and by the miracles which they wrought, for the confirmation of the doctrines they delivered. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 716). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
______________________________________________________________________
FROM MY READING:
Acts 1
After the Ascension, the apostles meet in an upper room to choose a replacement for Judas.
INSIGHT
God is moving. For thousands of years He has worked in the world through the nation of Israel and the Law of Moses. Now He will work through the church and the gospel of Christ. God instructs the apostles to wait in Jerusalem until they receive power from on high. Then when they are baptized with the power of the Holy Spirit, they are to be the Lord’s witnesses in their city, the surrounding country, and the entire world. (Quiet Walk)
______________________________________________________________
DOUBTFUL CHRISTIANS
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8
Christianity, as has often been pointed out, is Christ Himself. He is not only central, He is absolutely vital, and therefore we have to see that we are concerned primarily and always with Him. What reveals at once that so many people who call themselves Christian are not Christian is that Christ as a person is not at all essential to them.
I am referring here to people who think that a Christian is just a good man or woman. Obviously you can be a “good” man without even mentioning the Lord Jesus Christ; but in Christianity He is vital, and if the truth concerning Him is not the truth, the whole position vanishes. Now that is something that one cannot overemphasize. The Christian faith is entirely concerned about Him “who He is, and what He has done, and what He has made available and possible for us. And therefore you see the vital importance of our being quite clear in our minds and absolutely right about all of these things.
So I make no apology for putting it as dogmatically and as bluntly as that. To me, those who apologize for saying such a thing are very doubtful Christians, if indeed they are Christians at all. There is an intolerance about the Christian faith, expressed like this by the apostle Paul: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). And we must say the same thing. The truth is clear, it is well defined, it is perfectly definite; and we must be certain, therefore, with regard to what we believe about Christ. It is not enough to say, “I believe in Christ.”
A Thought to Ponder: Christianity, as has often been pointed out, is Christ Himself.
(From God the Father, God the Son, p. 246. by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
___________________________________________________________________
Conformed to His Image
“And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” (1 Corinthians 15:49)
One of the most amazing promises of the Word of God is that those who “love God” and are “the called according to his purpose” are those whom “he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:28-29).
Adam and Eve were created in His image physically in the beginning. “So God created man in his own image . . . male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27). Presumably this means they were created in the physical form that God knew He would assume when, in the fullness of time, He would become man Himself, in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ.
That image was marred when Adam (and, in Adam, all men) sinned. Nevertheless, it can be restored spiritually when we receive Christ and “have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Colossians 3:10).
But this is not all. As our text reveals, we who have been made in God’s earthly image (both physically and spiritually) will also, in due time, receive His heavenly image. This will take place when Christ returns. At that time, “we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye . . . and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
In what way shall we be changed? The Lord Jesus Himself “shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21). His body, after His resurrection, was still His physical body, but it was no longer subject to pain or death and was able to pass through walls and to speed rapidly from Earth to heaven. That is “the image of the heavenly” to which we shall be conformed some day soon! For “we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
____________________________________________________________
Each Pastoral encounter was new and adventurous because he was led by the Spirit and loved people too much to manipulate them. (p. 119)
________________________________________________
Humanly speaking, there were seeming failures, but from the divine perspective, all that he did pleased the Father and accomplished his will. It was the people who failed, not the LORD. (p. 119)
———————————————————————–
“We must leave to God all that depends on Him” wrote Fenelon, “and think only of being faithful in all that depends upon ourselves. (p.120)
(10 POWER PRINCIPLES for CHRISTIAN SERVICE by Warren W. & David W. Wiersbe)
_____________________________________________________________
We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.