From Praise to Persecution

The Word of God reminds us that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). During Jesus’ ministry, when many expressed belief in him because of the miracles he performed, he refused to entrust himself to them because he knew the condition of the human heart (John 2:24). What began as praise among the people could quickly shift to persecution. We witness this in Luke 4:22-30 when the crowd, who were praising Jesus, became infuriated by the truth and “drove him out of town,” seeking to throw him off a cliff.

Similarly, the apostles Paul and Barnabas experienced this quick transformation from favor to rejection while on a mission in Lystra and Derbe. After healing a man who had been crippled from birth, the people began to worship them rather than God, shouting, “The gods have come down to us in human form” (Acts 14:11-12). To stop them, the apostles declared their own mortality and testified to the Gospel – that God alone was worthy of worship as the sovereign creator. This truth encounter, along with the slander of Jewish people, laid the groundwork for persecution. The crowd quickly morphed from worship to murderous rage as they listened to lies spread about the apostles.

Seeking to destroy

The shift in their attitude is hard to understand since it happened so quickly – maybe within hours or days. It reveals not only the true nature of man but the power of the tongue to stir up strife. The slander, along with the apostle’s rebuke, so infuriated the people that they stoned Paul, dragging him “outside the city” to die (Acts 14:19). The scenario is disturbingly similar to Jesus’ interaction with the crowd in Luke 4, where they quickly moved from praise to an attempt to end his life – revealing the true condition of their hearts.

Different crowds; same problem

The crowds that sought to kill the apostles and the Lord Jesus had different group dynamics -- one was made up of Jewish people, and the other was primarily Gentile. But they shared a common problem. Though they appeared to desire to worship Jesus and the apostles, their real motivation was to make an idol that they could manipulate and control. Their worship was self-centered and flowed from a commitment to their own glory, bearing evil fruit (Matthew 7:17-20). When confronted with the truth by Jesus and the apostles – who called them to repent and worship God alone – this false adoration quickly transformed into persecution. In essence, their hearts were hostile to God and all that he stood for. True worship would have yielded to God’s Word and given glory to Jesus as King -- as the crowd did in Acts 2:37 when they sought repentance.

Warning from Jesus

Jesus knew that the disciples and followers of Christ would encounter similar opposition, so he warned about it throughout his ministry. In John 15:20, he promised that, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” He explained that the source of this persecution and opposition was a person’s hardened heart toward God and his truth (John 15:21). “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 15:18-19). Those living in this darkness despise the light because it exposes their inner wickedness and convicts them of their evil works (John 3:19). Since they cannot and will not change, their only choice is to attempt to extinguish the light.

What can we learn from this?

Jesus told us that in the world, we will have trouble and tribulations, but not to fear, because he has overcome the world (John 16:33). Paul, echoing his warning, said that we would have to go through much persecution to enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). Often, this comes suddenly on the heels of praise as it did for Jesus and his disciples. While we cannot predict the unreliable shifting of the human heart and emotions, we can be certain of the unmoving Rock – who is Christ. He urges us to put our hope in him alone and assures us that his heart does not change like shifting shadows. He will uphold us in trouble, shield us by his power, give us his wisdom, and enable us to continue advancing with the Good News despite great opposition.

“You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition” (1 Thessalonians 2:2).

Blesed is the One Who Trusts in the Lord

The LORD himself defines both the blessed and the cursed life in Jeremiah 17:5-8. He reveals in this passage that he is the source of all life and that trusting in him results in flourishing, even in the presence of fiery trials and seasons of suffering.

The Blessed Life – What is it?

In our culture, the blessed life is often defined by one’s ability to achieve the American dream. While this definition has been slightly modified over time, the overall description remains the same. In America, a person is considered blessed when their external circumstances meet certain requirements. As a result, the goal of this blessed life is to pursue things like a quality education that can secure gainful employment, along with a happy family, possessions, investments, and a surplus of resources. Flourishing occurs when families pursuing this dream live in community with other like-minded people who have similar goals and aspirations.

On the other hand, God’s definition of the blessed life begins with an emphasis on the source of all blessing – God himself. He describes human flourishing as the result of a person’s dependent relationship with himself, fueled by their desire to make him their greatest pursuit.

To help us better understand the essence of this life, he begins in Jeremiah 17 with a description of what he considers the cursed life. He declares that anyone who refuses to trust in him but instead trusts in other humans and their own fleshly strength are living the cursed life. This life is cursed primarily because they have turned away from total dependence on the Lord. And God likens it to living in a lonely salt wasteland without inhabitants and no hope for prosperity. 

In contrast, God reveals that the person who puts their trust and confidence in him is truly blessed and will flourish. This life, portrayed throughout Scripture, is not one that is free from hardship and suffering but prospers and produces fruit in the midst of fiery trials and hardship. God explains in Jeremiah 17:8 that this thriving happens because the person is planted near to him and dwells in his very presence. Since he is the “spring of living water” (17:13), their roots drink from him a steady supply of his sustenance.

Flourishing in the Heat

God assures those who put their confidence in him that they do not need to fear when trials come (17:8). Despite the heat of the hardship, they remain confident that their leaves will remain green. The Bible has a lot to say about trials and often refers to them as fiery, indicating the purifying purpose of their presence designed to test the heart. While the very nature of the trial is painful, God amazingly promises in this passage that those who trust him will not live in fear of being burned up or consumed by the hardship. Because God is with them, they have peace and know that he will keep them safe. This assurance, along with the Lord’s daily nourishment, enables them to continue growing and producing life.

Confidence in the Drought

In seasons of drought or shortage, God declares that the one who trusts in him will experience “no worries.” This also defies human logic since a drought in the land was a sign of God’s judgment, which usually resulted in panic and anxiety among the people. But this passage shows that those who dwell in God’s presence and drink from his water will “never fail to bear fruit”—even in the most severe drought.

We see from God’s description of the blessed and cursed life that there are essentially two ways to live and two outcomes. One is to trust in ourselves, others, and our resources, and the other is to recognize our deep dependence on the Lord and trust in him with all our hearts. One refuses to rely on God and instead puts its confidence in the flesh, while the other knows that in the flesh dwells no good thing. One results in parched, desolate wasteland living, where there is no ability to thrive, while the other is anchored to the life-giving source of water – God himself -- and never ceases to bear fruit. 

The question we must ask ourself is this — Which one describes my life?

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jeremiah 17:5-8). 

Character Sketch of a False Prophet

As Barnabas and Paul were being led by the Holy Spirit to Cyprus on their first missionary journey, they encountered opposition from a false prophet named Bar-Jesus. Like the false prophets of the Old Testament, his life exhibited distinct characteristics that revealed his true identity as an enemy of God. By examining these qualities, we can be prepared, like Paul and Barnabas, to stand in the Spirit’s power against the lies of impostors of the Gospel with boldness and wisdom.

Opposers of True Faith

In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas set out on an exciting mission to proclaim the truth of the Gospel to unreached people in Cyprus. One of the stops they made on this journey was the city Paphos, where they had an unusual encounter with a sorcerer and false prophet by the name of Bar-Jesus. Luke writes that he was an attendant to the proconsul -- an office that was similar to an appointed governor today. He heard news about the work and witness of Paul and Barnabas and sent for them. On learning about this, Bar-Jesus began opposing them and sought to “turn the proconsul from the faith” by speaking against the disciples (Acts 13:8).

Interestingly, Paul did not try to discourse with the false prophet or to evangelize him, but instead boldly opposed him. In the power of the Holy Spirit, he declared to Bar-Jesus, whose name ironically means “son of the Savior,” that he was the exact opposite – a child of the devil (Acts 13:10). Paul’s rebuke, which sounds harsh in our relativistic culture, was based on Jesus’ very words to those who opposed him in John 8:44. He declared, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires.”

This reminds us of the central truth throughout Scripture that there is no neutrality. We are either for God or against him. The ones in the Bible and those we encounter in this life who not only reject God’s words for eternal life but who also actively speak against it show their true identity as false prophets and children of the wicked one.

Enemy of All That Is Right

Paul continues to tell Bar-Jesus that he is an “enemy of everything that is right” (Acts 13:10). To oppose the truth of the Gospel and the Lordship of Jesus is to oppose God himself and become his enemy. One of the chief characteristics of the false prophet is the inability to speak truth, just like Satan. Jesus describes him as a “murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

While Bar-Jesus and other false prophets masquerade as people of insight and integrity, the rottenness of their hearts prevents them from doing anything righteous. Not only are they unable to do good, they have yielded to the fleshly desire to destroy all that is good and comes from God. We can recognize them by the fruit of their lips, as they go about opposing the truth of the Word of God, and by their lives. About this, Jesus warned, “By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit” (Matthew 7:16-18).

Full of Deceit and Trickery

It’s interesting to note the difference in the way Paul and Barnabas were sent off and how Bar-Jesus was driven. We see that they went out in the power and the fullness of the Holy Spirit while he was driven along by the power of the wicked one. Paul rebukes him for being filled with deceit and trickery rather than truth and revelation from God, which he pretended to bring (Acts 13:10). Jesus warned about this in Matthew 7:15 when he said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves."

Pervert the Right Way of the Lord

Paul uses another all-inclusive word to explain Bar-Jesus’ actions in subverting the truth. He declares, “You never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord” (Acts 13:10). By this, Paul meant that he always distorted and twisted the way of Truth, which echoes God’s own declaration in Genesis 6 about sinful humanity -- that all the inclinations of the human heart are evil (Genesis 6:5). Paul’s words in Romans 3, which describe all of humanity in Adam, provide a detailed character sketch for the false prophet who knowingly has distorted the right way of the Lord.

The Hand of the Lord Against Him

Since Bar-Jesus was resisting and rejecting the person and work of Christ, Paul reminded him that the very hand of the Lord was against him (Acts 13:11). At this, God struck him blind so that he couldn’t even see the light from the sun. This physical demonstration of God‘s judgment, which happened immediately and left him groping about in the darkness, was a picture of his utter depravity and the spiritual darkness that he lived in. God exposed the wickedness of his heart through the apostle Paul’s rebuke and then laid bare his hidden sin before all those he sought to deceive. This immediate judgment revealed to all who were present that God was the sovereign Lord. His power, which trumped the power of the sorcerer and the demons controlling him, left the proconsul in awe. When he saw what happened, “he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord” (Acts 13:12).

Like Bar-Jesus, the false prophets today seek to lead others astray. They oppose the Spirit’s revelation of the Messiah and work to hinder the advancement of the kingdom of God by spreading messages that are contrary to the Word. While it’s important to remember that God is sovereign and reigns over them all, it’s also vital that we remain sober-minded and alert so that we can discern and lovingly but firmly stand against their deception.

"Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion” (Jude 1:11).

Whoever Has Ears, Let Him Hear

I had the chance to sit at the table with Jesus today and watch a scene play out that I’ve seen countless times before. Lazarus reclined at the table with Jesus and his disciples, while Martha rushed about preparing a meal. Amid the ordinary, Mary brought out a pound of perfume from pure nard, worth a year’s salary. Then, in front of everyone, she poured it out and anointed Jesus’ feet -- wiping it with her hair. The smell of sweet perfume filled the air, but along with it was the tension of Judas’ disapproving presence. He criticized her for being too extravagant, saying that the sale of the perfume could have been given to the poor. Jesus spoke up and with words of compassion defended Mary. “Leave her alone” he calmly said, reminding Judas, Mary and all the others that the Father had sent Mary for this specific task to anoint him in preparation of his upcoming death.

Shift in perspective

For the first time in reading the passage I noticed something different. It’s like gazing at a picture repeatedly only to notice a detail one day that changes the whole meaning of the picture. My eyes had always been fixed on Mary’s extravagant and unusual sacrifice. This time my attention shifted to the heart posture of Judas instead of Mary. Both journeyed with Jesus through towns and villages and witnessed his divine power and goodness. Both sat at his feet and heard his teaching about the principles of the Kingdom of God and that he was the promised Messiah-King. The seed of the Word spoken by the eternal Word fell on the soil of both of their hearts, receiving the same sunshine, rain and air. But the outcome was completely different.

Different kinds of soil

Jesus talked about this reality in the parable of the sower, showing that the same seed has different outcomes based on the condition of the soil. In a similar way, the seed that fell on Judas’ heart was like the seed that fell among the thorns and on the rocky ground. “The worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth [choked] it out, making it unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). But the seed that fell on Mary’s heart fell on good ground and yielded a plentiful harvest (13:23). 

This provides an accurate picture of what is happening today in the evangelical church among professing believers in America. We all sit at the table with the risen and reigning Christ when we come to hear the Word, worship and participate in the sacraments. We encounter his glory as the God-Man in the Gospels as he exhibits power over sin, sickness, death and even nature. We hear his declaration that he and the Father are one, and that he is the only way to eternal life – the living bread and the only source of true sustenance. And then we hear him calling us to become his disciples – to yield our treasures to him so that we can embrace him as our true Treasure (Matthew 13:45-46). 

Like Mary and Judas, some 2000 years ago, the condition of the soil of our hearts impacts the way we listen to and respond to the message of Christ’s call to discipleship. Though we have the same access to the Truth, some listen to understand while others “are ever hearing but never understanding” (Matthew 13:14). Some offer their lives as living sacrifices to the reigning King, holding nothing back. Like Moses, they choose to regard “disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt” because they are looking to their eternal reward (Hebrews 11:26). 

Others, under Judas’ guise of widsom, refuse to pour out their life as a sacrificial offering to the Lord and instead give themselves to the ruler of this age. They appear to be authentic followers of Christ, but hidden below the surface are hardened hearts filled with every form of evil (Romans 1:29). The apostle John explains the reason for this in John 12:43 when he writes, “They loved human praise more than praise from God.” They are incapable of hearing God’s message and trusting him because rather than love God, they are lovers of themselves and money (2 Timothy 3:2). They have “a form of godliness but [deny] its power” (3:5).

Day of Reckoning

It may appear on the surface that they will escape the judgment of God, like it did when Judas was sitting at the table with Jesus. Jesus’ words to him were mildly confrontational as he told him to leave Mary alone, much like a parent would do with a troublesome child. However, as we fast forward a few chapters, we see that his rebuke became an eternal one – recorded on the pages of Scripture. John refers to him as the “son of destruction” and (John 17:12) we see that the money he treasured over Jesus was thrown to the ground and memorialized as cursed, along with his life (Matthew 27:6-10).

The sobering message I’m reminded of today as I gaze upon this scene along with Jesus’ teaching in the parable of the sower is the importance of bending my ear to carefully listen to the instruction of the Lord (Luke 8:18). He promises that if we listen to understand and obey what he tells us to do, we will  produce a good crop – “a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 13:8). Like Mary, our faith will flourish, and we’ll bring glory to the Lord. If, on the other hand, we close our ears to his instruction and allow the cares of the world and the praise of man to grab our hearts, even what we have will be taken away (Matthew 13:12). 

There are two kinds of people. Both sitting at the table with Jesus. One has ears to hear. The other does not. Praying that we will be those who listen to understand and who then pour out our lives in a sacrificial way to honor God and bring him glory.

“Whoever has ears, let them hear” (Matthew 11:15).

Bless God!

One of my favorite new songs, “Bless God," is a bold declaration of determination to praise and thank God at all times. This includes when things are going well and when they’re not, when there’s plenty and when there is little, when the battle forms and the walls fall, when others are present and when I’m all alone. This decision is not based on my life circumstances but on the unchanging goodness of God and the reality that he is worthy of all praise.

He's worthy of whole life worship

From the first verses of Scripture, God declares his identity as the Creator God, speaking the whole world into existence and crafting humanity in his image to reflect his glory. Because he is the only True God, he is worthy of our whole-life worship. About this John writes, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Revelation 4:11). Here and throughout Scripture we’re exhorted to praise and bless the Lord at all times. Psalm 103 outlines some of the many reasons for praising him including his faithfulness to care for and heal us, his gift of redemption and forgiveness and his loving mercy and compassion for all he has made. 

Because of his greatness and glory, we’re called to whole-life worship. This differs significantly from the way the Christian culture in America has redefined worship – which is primarily relegated to Sunday mornings. While whole-life worship includes gathering with believers to study the Word and praise his name, it expands to all of life. Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians 10:31 when he says that whether we eat or drink or whatever we do – we’re to do it for the glory of God. He goes on to show in Romans 6:13 and 12:1-2 that true worship involves our  physical bodies. We’re called in these passages to present ourselves continually to God as living sacrifices, offering the very parts of our bodies to him as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13, 12:1-2). As one writer notes, we offer our hands, eyes, ears, hearts, minds and more to him, realizing that what we do with each part of our body is our worship.

He is faithful and will never fail or forsake us

God’s faithfulness can also be traced to the first pages of Scripture. He created Adam out of nothing and Eve from his rib, breathed breath into their lungs and then sustained them after the Fall. He lovingly covered their shame and nakedness and led them to safety so that they could flourish and take dominion over the earth. 

He does the same for us and all his beloved children. At regeneration, he pours out his Spirit upon us, cleanses us from all sin and declares us righteous and holy in his sight (1 John 1:7; Colossians 1:22). He promises to be with us throughout all of life to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Though he assures us we will encounter suffering and trials, he simultaneously promises that he will strengthen us through hardships and will never fail or forsake us (Isaiah 41:10; Hebrews 13:5). 

He is our shield and exceeding great reward

In speaking with Abram, God encouraged him not to fear and promised to be his shield (Genesis 15:1). His covenant with Abram and his descendants included God’s promise that he would guard him against his enemies and protect him from danger. Abraham was called simply to remain in God’s plan – listening to, trusting and following him where he was leading.

In a similar way we, as Abraham’s offspring, are given this promise. God says that he is our “sun and shield”, the one who keeps us from the fiery arrows of the enemy (Psalm 84:11; Isaiah 54:17). As we take shelter in Christ through faith, we are guarded from every evil attack and held on high, kept in safety (2 Timothy 4:18; Psalm 18:16-19). 

He is our portion and our prize

The Psalmist declares “LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup” (Psalm 16:5).  The prophet Habakkak echoes these words when he writes, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him” (Lamentations 3:24). The word portion here is translated inheritance in some versions, which further shows the depth of the meaning. These men were declaring that God was their ultimate treasure – that which gave them purpose, meaning and sustenance. They were not looking to personal strength, wisdom or riches or relying on their own ability to uphold themselves (Jeremiah 9:23, 17:5). Instead, they fully put their trust in God. 

As God’s adopted children, he promises that we have an inheritance in his Kingdom, both now and for eternity, that is imperishable (Hebrews 9:15). Our present inheritance includes the riches of our union with Christ, which Paul outlines in Ephesians 1 saying we’ve been “blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:3). At the resurrection we will receive the fullness of this treasure as we’re brought into his presence and fully freed from all sin, suffering, sickness and death (Revelation 21:4).

He is our hope and our future

The prophet Jeremiah reminds the people of Israel that God had given them “hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). In a similar note, David exhorts Israel in Psalm 134:7 to “Put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.” This kind of hope is not like the hope of the world – which relies on non-substantial things, people and ideas to sustain them and give them life. Jesus warns that hoping in anything in the world is like building our house on sinking sand (Matthew 7:24-27). If, however, we put our hope in God and his promises, he assures us this hope will serve as the “anchor” for our soul. It will hold us fast to him until the end (Hebrews 6:19). Paul reminds us that the hope of God will not disappoint or put us to shame (Romans 5:5) but will instead enable us to patiently endure. 

For these reasons and thousands more, we bless the Lord! 

“I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the LORD” (Psalm 34:1-2).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK0fbhGdX4A

When Man's Rejection is God's Redirection

Jesus began his earthly ministry calling humanity to repent and believe so that they could both see and enter the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:15). He declared himself to be the rightful King and then explained the dynamics of his upside-down Kingdom, which is diametrically opposed to the kingdom of this world. Central to his teaching in the Sermon on the Mount was Jesus’ emphasis on the reality of persecution for those who would follow him. He assured them -- and us -- that man's rejection is not an accident or something to fear but often the natural result of darkness encountering light and seeking to extinguish it (John 15:18; 16:3). Jesus then demonstrated from his own life how we should respond when this happens.

God’s preparation

God prepared humanity for Jesus’s coming with hundreds of Old Testament prophecies, so that when he arrived they would recognize him. One of the clearest and most detailed accounts of his character and work was given in the book of Isaiah. Here we see a poignant description of the suffering-servant King who the prophet shows will be “despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces” (Isaiah 53:4). 

When we fast forward about 700 years from this prophecy to Jesus’ life and ministry, we see how it was perfectly fulfilled. To begin with, Christ’s family rejected and persecuted him, refusing to believe his testimony that he was the Messiah (John 7:4-6). In addition to this, the religious leaders mocked, slandered and sought to kill him (Matthew 12:24; John 11:53). The masses tried to manipulate him to get miracles and bread and then many of the disciples deserted him (Luke 6:60-66). On the cross, his enemies heaped insults on him (Matthew 27:38-44). He was hated in his hometown Nazareth and rejected in many cities like Samaria, Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum (Luke 4:14-30; 9:51-56; Matthew 11:21). 

How did Jesus respond?

Regardless of what the rejection and persecution looked like, Jesus responded in a consistent way. Peter describes this in 1 Peter 2:23: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” Jesus was not triggered or discouraged by the rejection, nor did he allow it to stop his mission. On the contrary, he set his face like flint against the opposition and continued to travel from town to town sharing the Good News and calling people to repentant faith (Matthew 9:35). 

When man’s rejection is God’s redirection

When rejected and persecuted in one city, Jesus shook the dust off his feet and moved on. He instructed the disciples to do the same saying, “When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another” (Matthew 10:14). He forgave, blessed, prayed for and showed love to those who cursed him, but at the same time he did not remain among them (Luke 6:27-28). We see the same pattern emerging in the apostles’ lives, namely Paul who went from city to city when he was often violently rejected (Acts 19:23-41; 2 Timothy 3:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:2). Rather than seeing this as a sign that God was not pleased with him or that the message of the Gospel had failed, he used it as a springboard to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). To encourage him to press on, the Lord even visited him in prison saying, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome" (Acts 23:11). The apostle John spent his last years in an unexpected place on the Isle of Patmos, having been redirected from what he thought was the mission of God due to persecution and arrest (Revelation 1:9). However, it was there on the remote island that he received “revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place” (Revelation 1:1).

How should we respond?

As Christ’s disciples, we also experience rejection and persecution. And because we’re human, we’re often tempted to retaliate or to run in fear -- to seek revenge or to shut down. But it’s clear from Scripture and these examples from the life of Christ and the apostles that neither is appropriate for the child of God. Instead, we’re to follow in the footsteps of the Lord and continue entrusting ourselves to our faithful Creator and doing good (1 Peter 2:21; 4:19). He promises that we’ve been called and created for a righteous purpose to do the work he’s given us to do (Isaiah 42:6-9; Ephesians 2:10). Additionally, he assures us that we will be hated by the world and rejected because of his name (John 15:18). If we give up or run when this happens, we will fail to flourish and bear fruit for his glory (Matthew 25:14-30; John 15:8). And if we retaliate we will discredit the Gospel, which is demonstrated by our love for one another (John 13:35). 

God calls us to be sober-minded so that we’re able to prayerfully observe and discern each situation to ensure that the rejection and persecution are real and not perceived and that they are the result of someone else’s sin and not our own (1 Peter 5:8-9). When the Holy Spirit makes this clear, we’re called to move on – blessing, praying for, doing good to and loving our enemies – just as Jesus did. Rather than seeing this as a setback or failure, we can commit ourselves to our loving Father and thank him for this unexpected gift -- trusting that man’s rejection is God’s redirection. 

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).

God's Sovereign Plan and Foreknowledge

This morning as I was reading about Jesus’ interrogation by Pilate and the Jewish leaders, I was reminded of God’s sovereign design of his betrayal and crucifixion. Not only did he foretell the suffering Christ would endure in many Old Testament passages, but he allowed the crucifixion to unfold this way under the hidden agenda of wicked men to accomplish his divine purposes. What Satan meant for evil, God most certainly meant for good and for the saving of many lives (Genesis 50:20).

Sovereign over every detail

What if God really is in control of every detail of our lives and knows what will happen millions of years before it comes to pass? Thankfully, this is the reality of our loving God and Father, who has existed for eternity with the Son and the Spirit. As the Psalmist writes, “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the productive land, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God (Psalm 90:2). Not only that, he knows and chooses us before we’re even born and then masterfully orchestrates the most minute details so that we fulfill his plans and purposes (Psalm 139). God assures Jeremiah of this at the beginning of his ministry when he says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).

Masterful plan of redemption

The same is, of course, true regarding his foreknowledge of redemption. He first unveiled this master plan on the heels of the Fall of Adam and Eve into sin and rebellion in Genesis 3:15, when he promised to send the Seed of the woman to crush the Serpent Satan’s head. Through more than 300 prophecies in the Old Testament, God continued to add detail upon detail, like brush strokes of a painting, until at last he presented a clear picture of the coming Seed-Messiah and how he would save his people from their sins. At the center of the picture, he revealed Christ as the suffering, servant King, who would lead his people into freedom and victory through his own brutal death and atoning work on the cross (Isaiah 53). 

In order to accomplish this, the Son had to come to earth as the second Adam as both fully God and Man. He had to be wholly God to serve as the propitiation or atoning sacrifice for our sins and fully Man to reverse the curse of the first Adam, who chose to disobey God (1 John 2:2; Romans 5:12-21). He then had to be put to death by sinful men, since God is holy and cannot commit murder (Deuteronomy 5:17). By divine concurrence, God allowed the religious community, who were steeped in sin and filled with murder, to accomplish what they naturally desired to do in the flesh. Peter explains this in Acts 2:23 when he says, “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.” 

While allowing them to fulfill his purposes through their evil plans, he further displayed his divine wisdom and power through the means of the cross. It appeared to the human eye only be an instrument of shame and death, but God transformed it into a vehicle for his glory and made it a symbol of hope and life. He saw to it that the beams which once held the tortured Christ are now empty and serve as a reminder to the entire world of his resurrection victory over sin, Satan and death (Luke 10:18; 1 Corinthians 15:55-58; Colossians 2:15). 

As we reflect on the crucifixion and God’s masterful plan of redemption, we can be greatly encouraged that we serve a sovereign Lord. Yes, it is sorrowful to remember Satan’s and humanity’s plan to destroy the King of glory. But if we will turn our gaze upward, we will see the empty cross and grave and remember that Jesus is not dead but alive (Luke 20:38). God was able to use even the wicked plans of evil men and a shameful cross to accomplish his purposes.

What does this mean for us?

We can apply these principles to our own life in many ways. Often, the evil that happens to us threatens to discourage and defeat us, causing us to lose sight of the goodness and sovereignty of God. But like Jesus’ crucifixion, our story is not over. God is speaking to me this morning, reminding me to look up in trust to see his divine wisdom and power at the cross. He’s the living God, who is able to work all things – even the most painful – for our good and for his glory (Romans 8:28). Like the cross, the cup he’s given us often looks like the losing one, but God…

“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:10).

God's Battle Plan: Prepare, Pray, Trust and Do

As I was having lunch with friends several months ago, we started talking about the reality of the spiritual battle we’re engaged in as God’s children. Each of us shared about some of the challenges we were facing and how we needed prayer. One friend looked at me after I shared and in a serious tone asked, “What’s your battle plan?” The question stayed on my mind throughout the weeks ahead and providentially converged with my quiet time one morning as I was reading 1 Chronicles 5. Through this seemingly obscure passage, God revealed his prescribed battle plan which involves preparation, prayer, trust and doing what he’s called us to do.

Preparation

Amid a genealogical list of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, God records a battle that occurred when the Reubenites, Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh, waged war against four other leaders and their armies (1 Chronicles 5:18-22). The Israelite army consisted of 44,760 men, who were ready and prepared for service. They were “able bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow and who were trained for battle” (1 Chronicles 5:18).  They had been preparing for upcoming battles and were adept at using all the necessary weapons so that they could win, and not just fight, the war. 

This principle of preparing for physical battle can be applied to our lives as believers. The apostle Paul reminds us that we have a fierce enemy and are engaged in an ongoing epic battle, which is primarily a spiritual one that requires preparation (1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6). Paul exhorts us to “be alert”, to “be on guard”, and to be prepared to “resist [the devil] by standing firm in our faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9). 

In several key passages he outlines our weapons so that we know how to prepare for the battle. The weapons we are given to fight with are spiritual “weapons of righteousness” to be ‘held in the right hand and left” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 6:10ff; 2 Corinthians 6:4, 7). He then provides a complete list of the weapons we will need in Ephesians 6, beginning with the offensive ones and ending with the defensive weapons – the sword of the Spirit and prayers. 

The double-edged sword we’ve been given is the spoken Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). The Bible implores us to prepare by meditating on the Word day and night and memorizing it, so that we can live and speak it at all times (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:11).  It is only as we prepare each day by suiting up in the whole armor of God and making use of his weapons of righteousness that we can stand firm and keep standing when the day of the evil, fierce battle comes (Ephesians 6:13). 

Prayer

The writer of Chronicles does not document the details of their battle against the opposing armies but includes the important reality that “They [the Israelites] were helped in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands” in answer to their prayers (1 Chronicles 5:20). 

While there is no record of the troops and the commanding officials leading them in worship and prayer as we see with Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20, we know that they offered prayers that God both heard and answered. In humility, the army and its leaders daily prepared for war but knew that ultimately the battle belonged to the Lord, who is the captain of all the great armies of the earth (Deuteronomy 20:4; Joshua 5:13-15). He alone can break a bow of bronze and deliver his people from the jaws of the enemy, causing wars to cease (Psalm 46:9). 

As we prepare for the spiritual battle by daily meditating on and memorizing the Word, we also need to remain watchful in prayer. Paul writes about the essential role of prayer in his armor passage, where he exhorts believers “to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18). Throughout his epistles, Paul records specific prayers that further reveal how we should pray. Among these, he exhorts us to keep praying earnestly and at all times. 

As we pray according to the Word of God, the Holy Spirit strengthens us, gives us wisdom from on high and fills us with his power, love and soundness of mind (Ephesians 1:17, 3:16-17; 2 Timothy 1:7). Through these prayers he prepares us to withstand the lies which the enemy sends like fiery darts – seeking to accuse God and malign his Word so that we cease trusting him (Ephesians 6:16). He reminds us of our own identity in Christ and the role we have as soldiers in his army – that we are more than overcomers in Christ (Romans 8:31-39). And he assures us that all our future battles have already been won at the cross. This confidence enables us to remain in his peace and trust him for victory in the battle (Colossians 3:15). 

Trust

The next and most important aspect of the Israelite’s victory is recorded in the last part of verse 20: “He answered their prayers because they trusted him” (1 Chronicles 5:20). Scripture doesn’t say he answered them because they merely prepared or even prayed, but because they trusted in him.  This crucial position of their hearts was somehow necessary for them to experience God’s prevailing victory over their enemies. 

We see in the Bible that trust is the heart position that resolutely declares that God alone is God and that he is able and willing to do everything he promises (Job 42:2). Not only that, but trust believes that God desires our best and is a “rewarder of those who diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). As our younger daughter likes to remind us when we face insurmountable obstacles by human standards, “God can, God does, and God will.” 

Trusting God does not mean that he will do all things according to our understanding or wisdom or that he will deliver us from every evil attack the way we envision deliverance (Isaiah 55:8-9). Sometimes he delivers us into the lion’s den to show us his greater glory or he delivers us into a prison to teach us to trust him in the darkness and to prepare us to lead others out of their prison. But he delivers us, nonetheless. He is with us in resurrection power in the lion’s den, giving us courage to stand firm as the enemy roars relentlessly and seeks to devour us. He is with us in the prison cell, where there are sparse supplies of everything we thought we needed to survive and yet we find ourselves content, singing hymns of praise at midnight (Acts 16:25-26; Philippians 4:11-13). 

Do

After preparing, praying and trusting, the Israelites stepped out in faith and fought the battle. God gave them victory, enabling them to seize livestock, take captives and occupy the land. It’s likely they felt fear and maybe even dread about what could happen, but instead of allowing feelings to dictate their actions they stood firm and advanced against the enemy. 

Like the other three principles, this one applies to us in the spiritual battle. If we prepare, pray and trust but then shrink back in fear we will not move forward. True faith always moves us to listen to, trust and do what God has asked us to do. We may not see, sense or feel God’s presence during times of intense battle, but we can be certain that he is with us and will not forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). Our feelings may try to tell us that what he’s calling us to do is too hard, the battle too intense, and the odds too high, but we can be sure that if God is calling us to this battle it is one we are equipped in Christ to fight – as we remain in him (Philippians 4:13; John 15:7).

Summary

Standing in God’s victory in the spiritual battle requires the golden chain of preparation, prayer, trust and then doing what God has asked us to do. As we begin by submitting to him each day and releasing everything we are and have into his holy hands (Romans 12:1-2), we are able to stand in a position of humility to receive his marching orders for that day (James 4:7). He promises to train our hands for war and teaches us to walk in the Spirit so that our lives bear much fruit for his glory (Psalm 144:1; John 14:26; John 15:8). 

As we remain in him and use our gifts and talents to prepare for the battle, we can pray confidently – knowing that if we ask anything according to his will, he will do it (John 14:14). With each promise we pray, our confidence grows stronger in the Lord, so that we begin to trust him with all our heart, refusing to rely on our own understanding (Romans 10:17; Proverbs 3:5-6). This kind of authentic trust always moves us to bold action (Hebrews 11;). Like David when he heard about Goliath, our seasons of preparing, praying and trusting will give way to victory for the glory of God. And just as he delivered Israel from the hands of their enemies in the battle, he will deliver us and take care of us. “The one who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). 

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:18).

Repent and Believe

There are different ways of sharing the Gospel and different experiences people have when they become Christians. However, the core truths of the Gospel must be present along with Jesus’ call to “repent and believe,” which involves being born again of God’s Spirit (Mark 1:15; John 3:3.

Some say that in order to receive this transforming gift of salvation all one needs to do is believe, which is true. But when they use the word believe, they take it out of the biblical context, which always infers a change of heart and direction or rather the ingredients of knowledge, assent and trust. Because of this, true belief always includes repentance -- turning from trusting in ourselves to trusting in Christ alone to save us. Isaiah 30:15 emphasizes this as a basic, biblical principle. “In repentance and rest is your salvation. In quietness and trust is your strength.”

Proponents of easy believism often refer to the act of making a decision to follow Christ as if they are talking about merely believing something exists and that it's good. But Scripture never talks about salvation through this lens except in a negative way. James writes, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that — and shutter” (James 2:19). Instead, Jesus began his earthy ministry with the call to repentant faith when he said, "Repent and believe" (Mark 1:15). He is repeatedly referred to as Lord in the Gospels and calls for his disciples and us to "Take up your cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). He says that we need to carefully count the cost before putting our trust in him -- loving him so much that we are willing to forsake all to be his disciples (Luke 14:33). 

Jesus' instruction to Nicodemus are his very words to us -- we must be born again of the Spirit. While many come to faith in Christ as children and cannot remember turning from a dark lifestyle of rebellion, it's important that we all know that we have been born again. This radical regeneration is not a moving around of furniture as one pastor is known to say, but is a dying to sin and the flesh and being made new in the likeness of Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:20). This transfer from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light cannot be missed just as one could not miss it if they were brought up from the dead and given new life in their lungs (Colossians 1:13).

The charge from the apostle Paul for all is to "examine yourself to be sure you're in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5). I've included a link below to a Desiring God article that provides clear evidences that a person has experienced regeneration. In reading the article I hope you will know with certainty that you have been born again. And if you realize that you are not, you will get on your knees today, repent of your sins and surrender your heart and life to Christ —  declaring him to be your Lord and Savior.

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/am-i-truly-born-again