“And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who He was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see Him: for He was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him, and said unto him,
‘Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.’
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, ‘That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.’ And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.’ And Jesus said unto him,
‘This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.’ ” Luke 19:1-10 (KJB)
Restoration
Cause of Prayer – For the Restoration of Jerusalem to the Messiah – Jesus Christ
“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself…” Daniel 9:25-26a (KJV)
In the eighth place we are told of THE RESTORATION OF JERUSALEM UNTO THE MESSIAH – WHO IS CHRIST JESUS (vv.25-26a). A decree would go forth for the restoration of Jerusalem from a Gentile king. There was such a decree that went forth from a king to Nehemiah to go and rebuild the walls of the city (Nehemiah 2).
The restoration of Jerusalem was done in 49 years. This period of time equals the ‘seven weeks’. There are 7 days in a week times 7 weeks equals 49 days. Each day equals 1 year. After the restoration of Jerusalem it would be 62 weeks until Messiah was ‘cut off’ this would equal 483 years. The Messiah, that is Jesus Chris, would be crucified on a cross in Jerusalem.
NOTICE – Seventy (70) weeks times 7 equals 490 weeks. This means that only 69 weeks have been fulfilled. The first 483 have been fulfilled exactly as God told Daniel. There have been approximately 2000 years since the completion of the 483 years. There remains 7 yet to be fulfilled. That seven years is known by at least two different titles; first, “The time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7); secondly, we know it better; as Christians today by “Tribulation period” – “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). “Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds” (Rev. 2:22). It is also known as the “Day of the LORD” in many Old Testament passages.
I for one am anxiously awaiting the second coming of Jesus to restore His kingdom on earth, and rule from His throne in Jerusalem. Come quickly Lord Jesus.
Healing a Withered Hand
“And He entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched Him, whether He would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse Him. And He saith unto the man which had the withered hand, ‘Stand forth.’ And He saith unto them, ‘Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill?’, but they held their peace. And when He had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He saith unto the man, ‘Stretch forth thine hand.’ And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.” Mark 3:1-5
W4CL – Restore
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Galations 6:1 (KJV)
How many times have you without any fault of your own found yourself dealing with a sin? You found yourself, deceived, believing wrongly, doing wrongly. You were “overtaken in a fault”. You have grieved over it. Then a “Spiritual” brother/sister who is bearing all those fruit of the Spirit comes and ministers to your need. By the love, compassion, and meekness you are restored to fellowship with God and the Body of Christ.
That is what it means to be a “Spiritual” Christian. The spiritual Christian does not condemn the fallen brethren, but seeks to restore the one who is grieving in their sin.
The next time you see a brother/sister in Christ overtaken in a fault seek his/her restoration. You could find yourself in that situation sometime later.
Day 63 – A Bad Marriage and Restoration
How would you describe a “Bad Marriage”? For some men it might be described as “Having a wife that does not do what I tell her”. That would be domineering, power crazed husband. To some women it could be having a husband who “doesn’t put his dirty clothes in the dirty clothes hamper”. Men, how would you feel if you had an unfaithful wife? How would you feel if every time you turned around she was hanging out at the brothel, and participating with the prostitutes?
Most men would cry “Foul!” on that one I am sure. Women frown on a husband who takes on multiple women too. Women like their men to be faithful too. It is, as a matter of fact, part of the Marriage vows, to have no other. That goes for the husband and the wife.
My reading this morning was Hosea 3 – 14 and Joel 1-3. Hosea was a prophet who was told by God to marry “wife of whoredoms”. Now this is a little difficult to understand seeing how God forbade his men from marrying unclean women. However, we do see God in some places telling His prophets to do strange, and unusual things. Isaiah was to parade “naked” through the streets (Isaiah 20). He had Ezekiel laying on his side for several days eating food prepared with cow dung, and had first told him to use human dung (Ezekiel 4). Now God tells Hosea to marry a whore.
Hosea is to be a picture of Israel’s departure from the LORD. Israel has committed adultery, whoredom against God, and God in His love, mercy and grace calls out for them to come back to Him.
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.” Hosea 2:14-15 (KJV)
I realize this was not part of my reading today, but it is part of Hosea. If you will, remember the “valley of Achor”. It was the place where Achan had hidden contraband under his tent and brought judgment upon the nation of Israel after they had conquered Jericho (Joshua 7 and look at verse 26). You could even say of the word “allure” above that God had in mind, “romancing” Israel back to Himself. He has loved her with an everlasting love. What better romance can that be?
I have heard the prophecy of Hosea referred to as the Old Testament’s “gospel of John”, particularly “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
One of the things we can see in the reading of Hosea is that God does not love blindly. You have heard the phrase, “Love is blind”. God’s love is not blind. I believe it is in front of our National Justice Department that there is an statue of what is often referred to as “Lady Justice” (Probably showing my ignorance here), and it is of a woman holding scales in her hands while blind folded; giving us a picture of justice being blind. God’s love nor justice is blind. He loves seeing clearly the sins, faults and failures of the one He loves. He judges justly as well without a blind fold.
That is what makes His love so powerful and wonderful. He loves despite our sin.
God says to Israel through the prophet Hosea,
“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.” 14:4-7
Yes! You could say Hosea had a “Bad Marriage”, but he also followed God’s plan and restored that marriage. It was based on open eyes, seeing clearly, and loving his bride anyway; alluring her back to himself. What a wonderful, holy, love.
The gift of Christ on the cross is the marvelous gift of God’s wonderful love. Jesus Christ bore our iniquities on His cross, took our sins upon Himself, and paid the price that was owed to God for our sins. By His bodily resurrection we are justified by God forever. You cannot find a stronger love than that.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Favorable Land
I believe that God has put His hand on the United States of America, and has raised her up for the glory of Himself in and through the nations of the world. He has blessed the U. S. of A. However, we are not that “favorable land”. Do not think me a traitor; the land the Psalmist speaks of is the land of Jacob. It is the land that has upon it the “City of David” – Jerusalem. It is the land where are Lord and Savior was foretold of and where He was born, raised, grew, died on the cross, was buried and rose again. It is the land to which He will one day return and rule the world from.
The Psalmist wrote so long ago of this land,
“LORD, Thou hast been favourable unto Thy land: Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.” Psalm 85:1 (KJV)
Of this Psalm it is said that it is “A Psalm for the sons of Korah”, and is mentioned in other Psalms as well.
There is some disagreement over the time and author of this song. Some believe it was David writing of the captivity by the Philistines; and yet others think it is another singer writing of the Babylonian captivity. I myself tend to go along with those who hold with the Davidic writing.
However, no matter the time of the writing of this wonderful song; it is a song for all ages, and all saints of God. When a child of God has strayed from the presence of the Lord in their lives we can know that He is faithful to restore us.
He is faithful to bring us back to our first estate, fill us with Himself, His presence, His power, His glory.
We are in “captivity” when we have allowed our sin to separate us from the presence and the power of God. Our prayer ought always to be sinned and strayed, “Forgive our sin. Restore us to our place with You LORD. Bring back the captivity of Your people.”
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
-Tim A. Blankenship
Psalm 109:9
“Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.” Psalms 109:9 (KJV)
From the TREASURY OF DAVID and Psalm 109 commentary –
“Those who regard a sort of effeminate benevolence to to all creatures alike as the acme of virtue are very much in favour with this degenerate age; these look for the salvation of the damned, and even pray for the restoration of the devil.”
from verse 9
“To us it seems better to agree with God’s curses than with the devil’s blessings; and when at any time our heart kicks against the terrors of the Lord we take it as proof of our need of greater humbling, and confess our sin before our God.”
from verse 9 as well.
-T.A.
The Spirit Of The Family
Galations 6:1
OUTLINE –
I. BRETHREN ACCORDING TO THE FAITH.
II. OUR RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD BRETHREN CAUGHT IN TRANSGRESSION.
III. THE TRANSGRESSION IS AN ACT AGAINST GOD AND HIS LAW.
IV. A WORD FOR THE SPIRITUALLY MATURE.
V. RESTORATION IS THE GOAL OF CORRECTION.
VI. SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS AT THE HEART OF CORRECTION/RESTORATION.
VII. LOOKING ATTENTIVELY AT ONE’S SELF IN CORRECTING/RESTORING A FALLEN BROTHER.
VIII. BEWARE, LEST YOU ALSO BE TEMPTED.
I refer to the family of God. Those who are in the faith of Jesus Christ.
Families have problems. Marriages of Biblical as well as non-biblical couples have problems, yet many times work things out or learn to live with each other in love. The same is also true within the church – the Body of Christ. Sadly some cannot, or don’t want to work things out.
The Christian family cannot do anything except love one another, as we have been given commandment; by our Lord Himself (John 13:34-35).
The Spirit of God’s family is His Spirit. His Spirit gives live, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness (Keep an eye on this word), temperance… How God’s family treats one another goes a long way in the way we deal with our neighbor, work associates, or ones we might consider “enemy”. We have no enemy but Satan, and he is the enemy of every human being.
BRETHREN ACCORDING TO THE FAITH. There are three ways in which humanity can be called brethren. The first is by being a part of creation some have a tendency of calling us all brethren because we are of the human race; but if that were the case, then we not be “brethren” with all created things. That would be okay with the pantheists I guess. Secondly, we are brethren with those who are born into our physical family. Thirdly we are brethren when we are born again in faith through Jesus Christ. Now there are probably other ways to be called “brethren”, but I will not consider any of those.
As brethren/family through Christ we have been born again. Raised from death in sin to life in the crucified, buried, and risen Christ. Called to be the brethren of Jesus Christ Himself. He being our Elder Brother (Hebrews 2:11-13).
OUR RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD BRETHREN CAUGHT IN TRANSGRESSION. Every Christian has died to sin and its power; but none are sinless in this world. The seed of Christ in us never sins (1 John 3:9-10). The flesh in which we labor to overcome sins, must be forgiven and cleansed, changed through the sanctification of God’s Spirit. We experience sin through the “lust of the flesh’, ‘lust of the eyes’, and ‘ the pride of life” (1 John 2:16).
This must be dealing with sin which has trapped, and holds the brethren, as he lingers within it. A follower of Jesus Christ can become blinded by rationalizing. It is often because we get away from daily prayer, daily Bible study and reading, church attendance/worship and living in the disobedience of it all; stuck in the mud pits of sin.
We must all be aware of sins entrapment. It can grab, and hold you by a lingering, overbearing doubt, fear, lust. It can bite or sting you through a simple luxury. It can be as subtle as a slithering serpent.
THE TRANSGRESSION IS AN ACT AGAINST GOD. Sin is transgression of God’s Law (1 John 3:4). The law is a “schoolmaster” to bring us to Christ (3:24). By the law we learn we transgress God’s law – we are incapable of obedience to it for the glorifying of God – thus “falling short of the glory of God”.
All mankind has transgressed the law of God making us sinners – transgressors. Unworthy of God’s love, mercy and grace.
It is sad to say, but sometimes, even the Christian willfully transgresses the law of God, and by their sin offend others. This is probably the “fault” or transgression of which Paul refers. O, God be merciful to the child which willfully disobeys and send a loving member of the family for correction and restoration.
A WORD FOR THE SPIRITUALLY MATURE. Shows there are levels of Christian growth. The apostle speaks to this when he says to the Corinthian church, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1). The apostle Peter even addresses this when he states, “…As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).
We cannot and should not expect new born Christians to suddenly become mature. Growing is a process, and is a good and godly thing. It will require prayer, Bible study, worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and witness. It will also involve trials, suffering, testing – and none that are really pleasant to prove their faith.
RESTORATION IS THE GOAL OF CORRECTION. How a piece of wood furniture is restored. First of all it is taken apart piece by piece; then each part is sanded and prepared for finishing; then if needed new bolts, screws, biscuits replace the old; and last new varnish, laquer, or other finish is brushed or rolled onto the wood restoring and renewing the surface.
Sometimes a fallen brother or sister needs the loving, mentoring/discipling of another brother or sister to guide them back into fellowship with the church. It is tough love that corrects and restores one loved. It is not love at all to let a brother or sister continue in sin without correction; anymore than it would be for a parent to allow a child to continue doing something that would hurt them.
SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS AT THE HEART OF CORRECTION/RESTORATION. Jesus spoke of meekness, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Meekness is not weakness – it is strength or power, authority under control. Two of the meekest men who ever lived are Jesus and Moses (Matthew 11:29; Numbers 12:3).
As one who knows and is aware of the weakness of the flesh; meekness serves as a means of godly wisdom with understanding of one’s own redemption story. One’s knowing from whence he/she came. Pulled, snatched from the burning, the cesspools, pits of fear, despair, doubt, destruction, sin and condemnation.
Meekness can be seen in Presidents, kings, potentates, teachers, pastors, preachers, or leaders from most walks of life; as they take off their “garments” of leadership, and put on a tool belt: for more than political promoting picture ops. Simply remembering our “roots”. Putting ourselves on equal/level ground with the “overtaken” brethren.
LOOKING ATTENTIVELY AT ONE’S SELF IN CORRECTING/RESTORING A FALLEN BROTHER. Knowing your own weakness to sin will help you to mercifully deal with brethren. The Christian who says, “This would never happen to me”, is in for a big disappointment somewhere down the road of their lives.
Correcting is showing/teaching the errors or wrong as well as teaching the right, and without further condemnation. Usually, the fallen brethren are feeling guilt, shame, and don’t quite know how to deal with what they have done, or are still doing. A loving example, “considering yourself”, in their presence could be all that is necessary to bring them back.
BEWARE, LEST YOU ALSO BE TEMPTED. Jesus was tempted, but not unto sin. Temptation is not sin. James writes, “…Every man[everyone] is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15). We are drawn away by our lust, our ungodly desire. Temptation only becomes sin if it is not quickly dealt with and terminated.
Temptation can be so subtle, quiet, and deceptive. “I am not happy in my current marriage” says a wife and mother to her friend, “so, I am leaving my husband for Joe who I am happy being around”. “God wants me to be happy”. Temptation comes in the form of obtaining happiness, wealth, things, even health outside God’s law, grace and provisions.
It helps each of us to know and confess our own weaknesses. It could be a proclivity toward lying. It could also be love for the luxurious. It could be an almost overbearing desire for wealth; or the sin of greed. What about gossip, talebearing, or a froward (trouble making) attitude and lifestyle. There are so many; far too many, but each individual must deal with them accurately and adequately.
All sins were dealt with by Jesus and the Father on His cross. The Spirit of the Family is the Spirit of God given to all who believe that Jesus is the Christ Son of the Living God. Believing that Jesus is God [Immanuel] come in flesh.
-Tim A. Blankenship
Please note: This message will be preached in Carr Lane Baptist Church in two parts – Sunday morning and Sunday evening.
The Renewed Covenant
Abraham’s faith is really amazing. He believes God to within inches of taking the life of his son Isaac. We must not overlook, though, the faith of Isaac; the trust he places in his father, and in God. The two, father and son have gone that journey up the mountain which the LORD told Abraham of, and they have gone alone.
The man of faith built the altar, tied the hands and feet of his son, laid him on the wood, then took the knife to slay his only promised son. His hand is stayed by the angel of the LORD; and the LORD speaks to Abraham:
“And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.” Genesis 22:15-19 (KJV)
The “angel of the LORD” speaks as being the LORD Himself. “By Myself have I sworn…”. The beginning covenant is renewed. His son has been restored to him, and totally given to the LORD at the same time. He gave up what he could not keep to gain what he could never lose. This “angel of the LORD” is most certainly, again, the preincarnate manifestation of the Living Word of God; the Son of God who would become flesh and dwell among us. He spoke as God, for God, because He is God. This was no created being who was speaking; this was God speaking. This was God who spoke with authority. It was God who made, and renews the covenant with Abraham.
It is sad to see that in our day many nations are turning against Israel, the people who have been given this covenant. In the end it will mean certain judgment upon any and all nations who will not be a blessing to Israel. All the nations have been blessed through Israel.
It is through Israel that we have the written word of God; from Genesis through the Revelation these have been written and preserved by the people of Israel; their priests, prophets, kings, fishermen, with the exception of maybe one; and that is the doctor Luke who penned down the Gospel of Luke, and the book of “The Acts of the Holy Spirit” or “Acts”. We have also received from Israel the One who has done more for Israel and the nations of the world than all the men and women who have ever lived; and done more for every individual who has ever lived – He is Jesus.
The final verse of our text for today tells us that only Abraham returned to the servants who were left while Abraham and Isaac went to the mountain top alone. Where is Isaac? There is another picture given us here by the silence, and the absence of Isaac in the text. He is not mentioned, nor seen again until chapter 24. There Isaac is mentioned as father Abraham and his servant prepare to find a bride for him.
The picture given is of our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ from the grave, ascended to glory in the presence of His Father, while the Father and the Servant who glorifies our Lord, seeks for Him a bride. Isaac is not seen again in the text until Genesis 24:62-67, and it is when Rebekah is brought to him to be his bride.
The Father and the Holy Spirit are working today in the absence of our Lord Jesus preparing a Bride for our Savior, the Son of the Living God. While He is absent from us in body, we; those of us who know Him; have the promise of His soon appearing to claim His chosen Bride. We are daily being prepared to appear before Him.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Fire and Hammer 