https://qagg.news/tweetimages/-xDMSV6PxaL38Z6J.mp4
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Sunday, December 6, 2020
The book of Habakkuk - a word of the Lord for our day
The
book of Habakkuk – a word of the Lord for our day
[Hab 1:1 NLT] This is the message that the prophet Habakkuk
received in a vision.
Habakkuk was written between about 612 B.C. when Babylon
conquered Nineveh and 587 B.C. when Babylon conquered Jerusalem. Habakkuk lived
through a period of national revival followed by a period of great spiritual
decline and a falling away from God. During a time of trouble, violence, and
just plain evil deeds Habakkuk cries out to the LORD for help.
This prophetic book has several partial fulfillments before
the final and complete fulfillment yet to come. In Habakkuk’s day, the prophecy
dealt with the coming Babylonian
army and its destruction of Judah. Israel went through several of these cycles
of revival followed by a time of falling away from the LORD and great troubles.
These cycles are reflected in the time of the Medes and Persians in the book of
Esther, in the times of the Grecian empires with Alexander the Great, and later
with the Antiochus the IV when he persecuted the Jews and desecrated the
Temple. Then came the Romans ending with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second
Temple, the dispersion of the Jews into all the world, and the holocaust. But
then came the regathering beginning in 1917 with the Belfour Declaration and
the reestablishment of the nation of Israel in 1948. The final fulfillment of
Habakkuk’s prophecy awaits Daniel’s last week of years to finish their
rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in
everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the
Most Holy Place (Dan 9:24). These seven years are the great tribulation that
end with the return of Jesus to the earth of King of kings and Lord of Lords.
In our studies, we look not only to the historical and
prophetic fulfillment concerning Israel, but we also look for the principles
presented, the hints that can be found, and finally to the mysteries that these
scriptures contain, mysteries that can only be known by revelation from the
Holy Spirit. Specifically, we want to look to see the relevance of Habakkuk’s prophecy
to our day.
The First Complaint
[Hab 1:2 NLT] How long, O LORD, must I call for help? But
you do not listen! "Violence is everywhere!" I cry, but you do not
come to save.
[Hab 1:3 NLT] Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must
I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am
surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.
[Hab 1:4 NLT] The law has become paralyzed, and there is no
justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice
has become perverted.
The lament presented
here is the lament of God’s people crying out for justice in a world filled
with trouble, violence, evil, and sin everywhere. The question to God is why is
He allowing this and when will judgment be rendered. When lawlessness and
injustice are seen in all areas of life it sometimes seems that God is not
listening when the righteous cry out and they do not see God moving to bring
judgment and justice.
In our world today we are
seeing the same conditions as Habakkuk saw in his day. Lawlessness, injustice,
sin, and evil are evident everywhere. Proverbs 6 tells us that God hates haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the
innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness
who pours out lies, and a person who sows discord in a family. All of these
things are prevalent in our world today. We are also seeing a passiveness and
lukewarmness in some of the church and even a falling away from God. So, what
is the LORD doing about it?
The LORD’s Reply
[Hab 1:5 NLT] The LORD replied, "Look around at the
nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day,
something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it.
[Hab 1:6 NLT] I am raising up the Babylonians, a cruel and
violent people. They will march across the world and conquer other lands.
1. The LORD replies to Habakkuk and actually to all who are crying out
in circumstances like these. The LORD tells us that He is doing something
astounding to deal with the sin and rebellion in the world and in His people.
Something so amazing that it will be hard to believe when told about it and
even as it is happening. This judgment will be "too
bad to be true," a work of judgment so astounding that it will be hard to
believe it.
The LORD says that
He is going to use another “nation” to be His instrument of judgment. In
Habakkuk’s day, this was the Babylonians. The hint here is that God often uses
nations like the Babylonians, or a cruel, violent, terrible, Babylonian system
of rule and government, to deal with the rebellion and sin of His people.
There is another
hint in these verses that tells us that in the fulfillment of this prophecy,
the “Babylonian system” will involve the world and will involve many lands or
nations.
[Hab 1:7 NLT] They are notorious for their cruelty and do
whatever they like.
[Hab 1:8 NLT] Their horses are swifter than cheetahs and
fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their charioteers charge from far away. Like
eagles, they swoop down to devour their prey.
[Hab 1:9 NLT] "On they come, all bent on violence.
Their hordes advance like a desert wind, sweeping captives ahead of them like
sand.
[Hab 1:10 NLT] They scoff at kings and princes and scorn
all their fortresses. They simply pile ramps of earth against their walls and
capture them!
[Hab 1:11 NLT] They sweep past like the wind and are gone.
But they are deeply guilty, for their own strength is their god."
These verses give us
a general description of the “Babylonians or Babylonian system” that He uses as
His rod of judgment. They are cruel, unconstrained by any laws, legal or moral.
They attack swiftly and fiercely. There are hints that they use “chariots”
which could be armed vehicles or tanks and “swooping eagles” which could be
aircraft these days. They take captives and their pride and arrogance are
unlimited. This is consistent with the conditions that will exist in the final
days of tribulation.
As we look at the
enemies of righteousness and the righteous today, it is easy to see many of
these elements. This could describe certain nations, or forms of government
like communism, extreme socialism, or globalism. What we are seeing today is
the rise of extreme socialism leading to Communism, and eventually to globalism
and a one world government. The final fulfillment of Habakkuk’s prophecy will
be the ten-nation coalition of nations that make up the Antichrist kingdom (Dan
7:23-24; Rev 17:12).
The Second Complaint
[Hab 1:12 NLT] O LORD my God, my Holy One, you who are
eternal--surely you do not plan to wipe us out? O LORD, our Rock, you have sent
these Babylonians to correct us, to punish us for our many sins.
[Hab 1:13 NLT] But you are pure and cannot stand the sight
of evil. Will you wink at their treachery? Should you be silent while the
wicked swallow up people more righteous than they?
[Hab 1:14 NLT] Are we only fish to be caught and killed?
Are we only sea creatures that have no leader?
[Hab 1:15 NLT] Must we be strung up on their hooks and
caught in their nets while they rejoice and celebrate?
[Hab 1:16 NLT] Then they will worship their nets and burn incense
in front of them. "These nets are the gods who have made us rich!"
they will claim.
[Hab 1:17 NLT] Will you let them get away with this
forever? Will they succeed forever in their heartless conquests?
The surprise is that
the LORD uses a “nation” more wicked than those He is bringing correction to as
His tool of judgment. The righteous ask, because you are righteous God, will
you not deal with the treachery of the “Babylonians”? Will they succeed forever
in their heartless conquests?
[Hab 2:1 NLT] I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at
my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the LORD says and how he will
answer my complaint.
It is at this point
that God’s watchmen need to take their post and resolutely wait for God’s
reply. Though it seems strange to us that God would use an evil nation or
system to deal with the sin and corruption in God’s people, God’s ways are
higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isa 55:9). In
our day, we must remember this as He uses evil people and systems to accomplish
His higher goals and purposes than our short-term desires and goals.
The LORD’s Second Reply
[Hab 2:2 NLT] Then the LORD said to me, "Write my
answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to
others.
[Hab 2:3 NLT] This vision is for a future time. It
describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait
patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
God’s wisdom that He
gives to Habakkuk and us is to be made very plain and straight forward so that
it can be conveyed correctly to the people around us. God tells us that this
prophecy or vision is for a future time. It is ultimately a prophecy of the final
chapter of the Bible when the Lord will come to end a seven-year time of trial
and testing for the people of the earth and for His people Israel. He will come
to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42, 2 Tim 4:1, 1 Pe 4:5). In the end,
the Lord will deal harshly with all of the evil in the world and establish His
Kingdom on the earth.
But, as we have seen in history, God moves in
precursor events and situations to deal with those that He has used to
discipline His people. The Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and even modern-day
nations and people that have persecuted and treated God’s people harshly have
well learned this lesson.
In our world, today
evil and evil people are rising, attempting to establish their evil kingdom
over the earth, and right now especially over the United States of America. Could
it be that this current attack against America could be God using these new
“Babylonians” to discipline His people, causing them to return to Him with a
new resolve and zeal? And as God’s
people repent and return to Him, could it be that the LORD might just move to
deal harshly with all this evil in the days to come?
[Hab 2:4 NLT] "Look at the proud! They trust in
themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their
faithfulness to God.
[Hab 2:5 NLT] Wealth is treacherous, and the arrogant are
never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave, and like death,
they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and
swallowed many peoples.
[Hab 2:6 NLT] "But soon their captives will taunt
them. They will mock them, saying, 'What sorrow awaits you thieves! Now you
will get what you deserve! You've become rich by extortion, but how much longer
can this go on?'
[Hab 2:7 NLT] Suddenly, your debtors will take action. They
will turn on you and take all you have, while you stand trembling and helpless.
[Hab 2:8 NLT] Because you have plundered many nations, now
all the survivors will plunder you. You committed murder throughout the
countryside and filled the towns with violence.
God knows how to
deal with evil and the people that serve evil. Their trust is in themselves.
Their god is mammon, wealth, and power. Their arrogance and greed are never-ending.
But God promises that soon the victims will taunt and mock them. Suddenly they
will get what they deserve and they will lose all of their wealth and power
becoming fearful and helpless. The Babylonians
were perfect examples of the proud who set themselves against those who are
declared just by faith - and Habakkuk could (and we can) take comfort in the
fact that God would, and will in our day, deal with them.
Days of judgment
have come and gone in times past but what about today? Have we in America been
living in days of judgment for the past several years as discipline and warning
to God’s people to repent, turn from our wicked ways, and return to Him with a
new zeal and love? Are more days of judgment coming in our world today? Will
this coming judgment be against God’s people to bring them to repentance and a
return to God? Or is this judgment coming against God’s enemies, those that are
persecuting God’s people and wreaking havoc upon the earth these days? Because
these current enemies of God are working to establish a one-world government, a
global government controlled by a super-rich elitist group of people, could we
even be seeing the beginnings of the rise of the final world empire of Satan,
the evil in the world that will be destroyed by our Lord at His coming?
For this writer, I
do see the past few years under unrighteous government leaders and much evil in
our world as chastisement and discipline for a lukewarmness that had fallen
upon the church (Rev 3:14-22). But then in His mercy, we saw God move and bring
a period of good leadership and blessings in our nation. Recently we have and
are seeing, a new spirit of repentance, return, and a new zeal and love for our
Lord even as our enemies are mounting a vicious attack against all that is good
in our nation and indeed, even in the entire world. In response, I see the Lord
ready to come against our enemies, restraining them for a season to enable the
church to complete the great commission, the final gleaning of the wheat fields
before the great and terrible Day of the Lord and the day of His wrath comes
upon the earth. But I believe that time
is short. The Day of the Lord is coming quickly (Joel 2:1) and we are to be
found doing God’s work for the night is coming when no one can work (Jhn 9:4).
Three Woes for God’s enemies
[Hab 2:9 NLT] "What sorrow awaits you who build big
houses with money gained dishonestly! You believe your wealth will buy
security, putting your family's nest beyond the reach of danger.
[Hab 2:10 NLT] But by the murders you committed, you have
shamed your name and forfeited your lives.
[Hab 2:11 NLT] The very stones in the walls cry out against
you, and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint.
Only woe and sorrow
await the greedy, dishonest, and those that shed innocent blood. They have
forfeited their lives! The very stones of the earth cry out against them. The scripture
says that it would be better for them to have a large millstone tied around
their necks and be drowned in the depths of the sea if they caused even one of
God’s little ones to fall into sin (Matt 18:6, Mar 9:42). Think of the
atrocities committed by those who have shed innocent blood, especially that of
babies and children. Surely only woe, sorrow, and pain await them as God brings
His righteous judgments against them.
[Hab 2:12 NLT] "What sorrow awaits you who build
cities with money gained through murder and corruption!
[Hab 2:13 NLT] Has not the LORD of Heaven's Armies promised
that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard, but all in
vain!
[Hab 2:14 NLT] For as the waters fill the sea, the earth
will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the LORD.
This woe is directed
at those that build empires with money gained through murder and corruption. So
much of what we see in our day involves this. For these people, the LORD sends
Heaven’s Armies to turn their empires into ashes and they will be replaced with
an awareness of the glory of the LORD.
[Hab 2:15 NLT] "What sorrow awaits you who make your
neighbors drunk! You force your cup on them so you can gloat over their
shameful nakedness.
[Hab 2:16 NLT] But soon it will be your turn to be
disgraced. Come, drink and be exposed! Drink from the cup of the LORD's
judgment, and all your glory will be turned to shame.
[Hab 2:17 NLT] You cut down the forests of Lebanon. Now you
will be cut down. You destroyed the wild animals, so now their terror will be
yours. You committed murder throughout the countryside and filled the towns
with violence.
These verses deal
with promoting the use of substances like alcohol and drugs to manipulate,
control, and make people’s lives miserable through substance abuse. To those
who use things like this to destroy people’s lives, God promises that they will
drink from the cup of the LORD’s judgment. The murderers of the world will be
cut down and terror will be their cup to drink.
[Hab 2:18 NLT] "What good is an idol carved by man, or
a cast image that deceives you? How foolish to trust in your own creation--a
god that can't even talk!
[Hab 2:19 NLT] What sorrow awaits you who say to wooden
idols, 'Wake up and save us!' To speechless stone images you say, 'Rise up and
teach us!' Can an idol tell you what to do? They may be overlaid with gold and
silver, but they are lifeless inside.
[Hab 2:20 NLT] But the LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all
the earth be silent before him."
The last woe goes to
the idolater, those that trust in their own creations. Anything people worship
and give their lives to other than the LORD is an idol. They will all prove to
be useless in days of judgment.
A plea for revival – a prayer to close the book
[Hab 3:1 NLT] This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk:
[Hab 3:2 NLT] I have heard all about you, LORD. I am filled
with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as
you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy.
This is our prayer
for our day. It begins with praise. We have heard and believed all that we have
heard about you, Lord. We are filled with awe by your amazing works. You truly
are our Savior, our Lord, our King, and our Commander of the Armies of heaven.
You are the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb of God who takes away all
our sin.
Now we are in
trouble once again. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in
years gone by. We confess that we deserve your wrath, as a nation we have gone
astray but amid your wrath remember mercy and restore us and send revival among
us. And we pray as David prayed that you would destroy those that seek to
destroy us and establish an evil, ungodly kingdom upon this earth.
[Hab 3:3 NLT]
I see God moving across the deserts from Edom, the Holy One coming from Mount
Paran. His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with
his praise.
[Hab 3:4 NLT]
His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. Rays of light flash from his hands,
where his awesome power is hidden.
[Hab 3:5 NLT]
Pestilence marches before him; plague follows close behind.
[Hab 3:6 NLT]
When he stops, the earth shakes. When he looks, the nations tremble. He
shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. He is the
Eternal One!
[Hab 3:7 NLT]
I see the people of Cushan in distress, and the nation of Midian trembling in
terror.
[Hab 3:8 NLT]
Was it in anger, LORD, that you struck the rivers and parted the sea? Were you
displeased with them? No, you were sending your chariots of salvation!
[Hab 3:9 NLT]
You brandished your bow and your quiver of arrows. You split open the earth
with flowing rivers.
[Hab 3:10
NLT] The mountains watched and trembled. Onward swept the raging waters. The
mighty deep cried out, lifting its hands to the LORD.
[Hab 3:11
NLT] The sun and moon stood still in the sky as your brilliant arrows flew and
your glittering spear flashed.
[Hab 3:12
NLT] You marched across the land in anger and trampled the nations in your
fury.
[Hab 3:13
NLT] You went out to rescue your chosen people, to save your anointed ones. You
crushed the heads of the wicked and stripped their bones from head to toe.
[Hab 3:14
NLT] With his own weapons, you destroyed the chief of those who rushed out like
a whirlwind, thinking Israel would be easy prey.
[Hab 3:15
NLT] You trampled the sea with your horses, and the mighty waters piled high.
These scriptures speak of the days of the wrath of
God. They are the days of the seven years of tribulation that precede the Lord’s
second coming to the earth. Even so, with all the saints of God, we say “come”.
They reveal the power of God on behalf of His people.
But as we have seen in the past the LORD has come
to His people in times of trouble to rescue them from the plots of evil men. So
now in our times of trouble, we can pray that the Lord would come to rescue us
today. God is slow to anger and longsuffering, not willing that any should
perish (2 Pet 3:9). So, we pray that the Lord will have mercy towards us and
give us time to finish the gathering of saints into His kingdom.
The “restrainer” is still restraining, evil and
lawlessness is being held back, delaying the coming days of wrath and testing
to come upon the earth (2 Thes 2:7-8). This restrainer is most probably the
Holy Spirit working in and through the Lord’s church. So, as long as we are
still here, we are encouraged and motivated to be busy at the Lord’s work and
the Lord will help us by coming against our enemies and the workers of evil in
our world.
[Hab 3:16 NLT] I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips
quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will
wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade
us.
[Hab 3:17 NLT] Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the
fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the
cattle barns are empty,
[Hab 3:18 NLT] yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be
joyful in the God of my salvation!
Knowing God’s strength, we can trust the Lord even
in times of crisis. We are to wait quietly and in peace for the Lord to deal
with all of the evil around us. We can and should rejoice in the Lord even in
these times of trouble and even loss knowing that God is greater than them all
and in full control of all of the events going on in our world.
[Hab 3:19 NLT] The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me
as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. (For the choir
director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)
Knowing God’s mercy, grace, love, and strength, we
can fully trust the LORD. Like a deer, we can walk and even dance and leap
securely with Him with live and joy, even upon the high, dangerous, and rocky
“mountains” in our lives.
It is His strength that He gives to us that we can
not only endure but be victorious in these days that we find ourselves in.
Victory is ours through our Lord Jesus. We have already won the battles through
our faith in our God! (Phi 4:13, Rom 8:37, 1 Jn 4:4, 5:4).
Saturday, November 21, 2020
Dealing with the current spiritual war going on in our world (11-21-2020)
Dealing with the current spiritual war going on in our
world (11-21-2020)
The current political situation in America is not what it
seems to be. It is really all about a world-wide program that is sometimes called
“the great reset” and “plan 2030”. It is about globalism and establishing a one-world
government where a few elites control a limited number of “peasants”. In
Biblical terms, this is called the Antichrist’s kingdom. We are seeing a Luciferian
system of government being set up. The plans for the implementation of this
kingdom or one-world government have already been laid and are available to be
seen if you have eyes to see and are not deceived by the lies and distortions
of truth that are being prorogated by the media throughout the world.
Pure evil is becoming more and more evident and those
involved are not even trying to hide it anymore. This video is an attempt to
document and expose some of what is happening. Make no mistake about it, we are
currently involved in a great spiritual battle that is associated with the events
of the second coming of our Lord Jesus.
From a non-Biblical perspective, it is frightening. But,
from a Biblical/prophecy point of view, it is just what the Lord has told us
would happen one day. And that day seems to be growing ever closer. We are so
close to experiencing Revelation chapter 6, seeing war in Israel, and the
release of the Antichrist.
[Rev 6:1-4 ESV] 1 Now I watched
when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living
creatures say with a voice like thunder, "Come!" 2 And I looked, and
behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him,
and he came out conquering, and to conquer. 3 When he opened the second seal, I
heard the second living creature say, "Come!" 4 And out came another
horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so
that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.
This release of the Antichrist or the “lawless one” is
currently being restrained by a “he” and the Antichrist will not be released
until this restraining “he” is taken out of the way.
These are important scriptures to remember these days.
[2Th 2:1-8, 10-12 ESV] 1 Now
concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together
to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed,
either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the
effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way.
For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts
himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his
seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember
that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is
restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery
of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so
until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom
the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by
the appearance of his coming. ... 10 and with all wicked deception for those
who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11
Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is
false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but
had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The timing of this release of the “lawless one” is
debatable. Some say that it is at the breaking of the first seal of the great
scroll (Rev 6:1-2). Others believe it is at the point where a political/warrior
figure negotiates a 7-year peace treaty or cease-fire in the Middle East (Dan
9:27). Still, others believe that it will be at the time when the man who negotiated
the peace treaty stands in a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem and declares that he
is God (2 Thes 2:3-4). In any case, the “lawless one or Antichrist” will not be
revealed until “he” who restrains is taken out of the way. This is good
news. Many believe that this “he” is the Holy Spirit as He is manifested in
and through the born again, Spirit-filled true church. Others think that it
just might be an actual he, a person. In any case, this “he” is still here and
doing the job of restraining. As we the true church are still here, we are
supposed to be restraining all this evil and the rise of the Antichrist system.
The tasks of spiritual warfare for the church have never
been so important. Many prophetic voices are calling the church to an intense
time of warfare prayer. I wrote down my
thoughts about this along with some suggested prayers from the Psalms in a
posting I called “Defeating the Enemy – A Call to Serious Spiritual Warfare for our Nation”. You can find it on my blog:
dpweary.blogspot.com. I suggest that we pray these out every night until this voting
fraud and the corruption in our government gets resolved. That does not mean
that we cease our spiritual warfare of restraining the rising evil in our world.
We resist until “he” that restrains is taken out of the way.
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face
to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon
you and give you peace. [Num 6:24-26 ESV]
Shalom
How to find joy during the current troubles in our world.
Finding Joy in the storm
Christians all over the world are facing increasing
persecution, lawlessness, chaos, and just plain evil. Evil men seem to be
prospering in many areas of life. The stress and trouble are causing some to
even fall away from the faith. Amid all this trouble and evil, can we find
hope, peace, and even joy?
[Mat 24:12 NKJV] "And because
lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
[2Ti 3:13 NKJV] But evil men and
impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Our Lord Jesus once found himself in such a time as this.
One night, as his enemies were coming to arrest him, Jesus faced what he knew
would be a day of torture, agony, and eventually death. Evil was abounding.
Evil men that were in positions of leadership and power were coming for him.
Can you imagine how his disciples were feeling? Their dreams, hopes, and future
were seemingly being dashed to the ground. Their Lord was about to be arrested
and most likely killed. Sorrow is probably not a strong enough word to describe
their emotions. Despair, hopelessness, dread, and fear were probably consuming
them. There seemed to be no hope and certainly no peace or joy.
[Luk 22:41 ESV] And he withdrew
from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed,
[Luk 22:42 ESV] saying,
"Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my
will, but yours, be done."
[Luk 22:43 ESV] And there appeared
to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
[Luk 22:44 ESV] And being in agony
he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood
falling down to the ground.
[Luk 22:45 ESV] And when he rose
from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,
[Luk 22:46 ESV] and he said to
them, "Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into
temptation."
Yet in the midst of all of this, Jesus found the strength to endure the hours that lay before him. The scriptures tell us that there was a joy set before him that enabled him to say, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." What was this “joy” that enabled Jesus to endure the cross?
In the book of Hebrews, we are admonished to run with
endurance the race that is set before us. The strength and courage to do this,
to stand in the midst of great trouble and evil just might be found in the very
thing that enabled Jesus to endure his cross. It was the joy set before him.
[Heb 12:1 NKJV] Therefore we also,
since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [us], and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us,
[Heb 12:2 NKJV] looking unto Jesus,
the author and finisher of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God.
There are many people in our world today that are feeling
much the same as Jesus’ disciple did that night in the garden. Their dreams,
hopes, and future are seemingly being dashed to the ground. Good leaders are
being displaced and persecuted. Evil men seem to be prospering in many areas of
life. Sorrow is probably not a strong enough word to describe their emotions.
Despair, hopelessness, dread, and fear are probably common emotions. There
seems to be no hope and certainly no peace or joy.
What was the “joy” that was set before Jesus that night in
the garden? If we can define this “joy” and set our eyes upon it, perhaps we
also can find all that it will take to endure our present time of distress and
suffering; even finding peace and joy in the midst of the trouble and turmoil.
Scripture tells us that it is the Lord’s “joy” that is our
strength.
[Neh 8:10 ESV] Then he said to
them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to
anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved,
for the joy of the LORD is
your strength."
Let’s
define what the “joy” set before Jesus was and focus our thoughts and emotions
on these things that “our joy may be full”.
[Jhn 15:11 ESV] These things I have spoken to
you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
[Jhn 17:13 NKJV] "But now I
come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
1.
Jesus knew that on the third day He would
rise from the dead, defeating sin and death forever.
a.
[Mar 10:34 NKJV] "and they will mock Him,
and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise
again."
b.
[1Co 15:54 NKJV] So when this corruptible has
put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in
victory."
c.
[Rev 20:14 NKJV] Then Death and Hades were cast
into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
2.
He knew that He was stripping the devil
of his authority and power.
a.
[Col 2:15 NKJV] Having disarmed principalities
and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
b.
[1Jo 3:8 NKJV] He who sins is of the devil, for
the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
3.
He knew that His death and resurrection
would pay the entire penalty for sin.
a.
[Mar 16:16 NKJV] "He who believes and is
baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
b.
[Act 13:38 NKJV] "Therefore let it be known
to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of
sins;
c.
[Eph 1:7 NKJV] In Him we have redemption through
His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
d.
[Col 1:14 NKJV] in whom we have redemption
through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
4.
He knew that He was paying the bride
price for His Bride who would rule and reign with Him forever.
a.
[Isa 62:5 NKJV] For [as] a young man marries a
virgin, [So] shall your sons marry you; And [as] the bridegroom rejoices over
the bride, [So] shall your God rejoice over you.
b.
[Rev 21:9 NKJV] Then one of the seven angels who
had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked
with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
5.
He knew that He would send the Holy
Spirit to bring new birth to all who would receive His gift of new life and
give them new bodies and eternal life.
a.
[1Pe 1:23 NIV] For you have been born again, not
of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word
of God.
b.
[1Co 15:51 NKJV] Behold, I tell you a mystery:
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
c.
[1Co 15:52 NKJV] in a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will
be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
d.
[1Co 15:53 NKJV] For this corruptible must put
on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.
e.
[1Co 15:54 NKJV] So when this corruptible has
put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in
victory."
f.
[Jhn 3:15 NKJV] "that whoever believes in
Him should not perish but have eternal life.
g.
[Jhn 10:28 NKJV] "And I give them eternal
life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My
hand.
h.
[Jhn 17:3 NKJV] "And this is eternal life,
that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
i.
[Rom 6:23 NKJV] For the wages of sin [is] death,
but the gift of God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
6.
He knew that He would send the Holy
Spirit to give His people spiritual power from heaven.
a.
[Act 1:5 NKJV] "for John truly baptized
with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from
now."
b.
[Act 1:8 NKJV] "But you shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
7.
He knew that He would establish God’s
Kingdom on the earth and rule with a rod of iron for 1000 years.
a.
[Rev 2:27 NKJV] 'He shall rule them with a rod
of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'--as I also
have received from My Father;
b.
[Rev 12:5 NKJV] She bore a male Child who was to
rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His
throne.
c.
[Rev 19:15 NKJV] Now out of His mouth goes a
sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will
rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness
and wrath of Almighty God.
d.
[Rev 20:4 NKJV] And I saw thrones, and they sat
on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then [I saw] the souls of those
who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who
had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received [his] mark on
their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a
thousand years.
e.
[Rev 20:6 NKJV] Blessed and holy [is] he who has
part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but
they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand
years.
8.
He knew that He would judge the earth
with righteousness and bring vengeance upon God’s enemies.
a.
[Nah 1:2 NKJV] God [is] jealous, and the LORD
avenges; The LORD avenges and [is] furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His
adversaries, And He reserves [wrath] for His enemies;
b.
[Luk 21:22 NKJV] "For these are the days of
vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
c.
[Rom 12:19 NKJV] Beloved, do not avenge
yourselves, but [rather] give place to wrath; for it is written,
"Vengeance [is] Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
d.
[2Th 1:8 NKJV] in flaming fire taking vengeance
on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
e.
[Heb 10:30 NKJV] For we know Him who said,
"Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again,
"The LORD will judge His people."
f.
[Psa 98:9 NKJV] For He is coming to judge the
earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with
equity.
g.
[Isa 11:4 NKJV] But with righteousness He shall
judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall
strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He
shall slay the wicked.
h.
[Rev 6:10 NKJV] And they cried with a loud
voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and
avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
9.
He knew that He would defend the
defenseless and His servants.
a.
[Psa 30:1 ESV] A Psalm of David. A song at the
dedication of the temple. I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
b.
[Psa 30:2 ESV] O LORD my God, I cried to you for
help, and you have healed me.
c.
[Psa 30:3 ESV] O LORD, you have brought up my
soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the
pit.
d.
[Psa 5:11 NKJV] But let all those rejoice who put
their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let
those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.
e.
[Psa 20:1 NKJV] To the Chief Musician. A Psalm
of David. May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God
of Jacob defend you;
f.
[Isa 31:5 NKJV] Like birds flying about, So will
the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver [it];
Passing over, He will preserve [it]."
g.
[Zec 12:8 NKJV] "In that day the LORD will
defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that
day shall be like David, and the house of David [shall be] like God, like the
Angel of the LORD before them.
10. He
knew that He would heal the sick and deliver those oppressed by the devil.
a.
[Mar 16:17 NKJV] "And these signs will
follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak
with new tongues;
b.
[Mar 16:18 NKJV] "they will take up
serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them;
they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
11. He
knew that He would keep His people from the time of testing and judgment that
was to come upon the whole earth.
a.
[Rev 3:10 NKJV] "Because you have kept My
command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall
come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
b.
[Psa 27:5 NKJV] For in the time of trouble He
shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall
hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
c.
[Psa 37:39 NKJV] But the salvation of the
righteous [is] from the LORD; [He is] their strength in the time of trouble.
d.
[Psa 41:1 NKJV] To the Chief Musician. A Psalm
of David. Blessed [is] he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in
time of trouble.
e.
[Dan 12:1 NKJV] "At that time Michael shall
stand up, The great prince who stands [watch] over the sons of your people; And
there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation,
[Even] to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one
who is found written in the book.
12. He
knew that one day He would come to the earth in the clouds to take His Bride to
her heavenly home.
a.
[1Th 4:16 NKJV] For the Lord Himself will
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the
trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
b.
[1Th 4:17 NKJV] Then we who are alive [and]
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in
the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
c.
[1Th 4:18 NKJV] Therefore comfort one another
with these words.
13. He
knew that one day He would fulfill His covenant promises to Israel.
a.
[Rom 11:25 ESV] Lest you be wise in your own
sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial
hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
b.
[Rom 11:26 ESV] And in this way all Israel will
be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will
banish ungodliness from Jacob";
c.
[Rom 11:27 ESV] "and this will be my
covenant with them when I take away their sins."
d.
He will give them a National
Land forever (Gen 12:1; 13:14-15, 17; 15:18-21).
e. He will give them a
dynasty (Kingdom of no end), a nation (the house of Jacob), and a throne (the
throne of David, 2 Sam 7:11, 13, 16; Jeremiah 33:3-26; 31:35-40; 1 Chron. 7:12;
22:10; Isa. 55:3; Ezek. 37:25; Hosea 3:4-5; Ezek. 37:21-28; Amos 9:11-12; Jer.
30:7,11,18).
f. He
will keep His promise that Israel would be His special possession or treasure,
a kingdom whose citizens were all priests with access to God, and a holy
nation, separated from all other nations and devoted only to God (Exodus
19:5-6).
g. He will complete the “new covenant” promises of spiritual blessings and redemption (Isa.
61:8; Jer. 31:31-40; 32:40; 50:5; Heb 8:6-13; 13:20). This new covenant is unconditional (Jer. 31:31:34, i.e. "I will") and everlasting (Isa. 61:2). It promise’s a renewed mind and heart (Jer. 31:33), favor and blessing of God (Hosea 2:19-20), forgiveness of sin (Jer. 31:34), indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Jer. 31:33; Ezek. 36:27), the
teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit and that the will of God to be known by obedient hearts (Jer. 31:34). It promise that Israel will be blessed
materially (Jer. 32:41; Isa. 61:8; Ezek. 34:25-27), that God’s sanctuary will be in the midst of them
for evermore (Ezek. 37:26-27) and that wars shall cease and that peace shall reign (Hosea 2:18).
14. He
knew the Heavenly City, the New Jerusalem.
a.
[Rev 21:2 NKJV] Then I, John, saw the holy city,
New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned
for her husband.
b.
[Rev 21:3 NKJV] And I heard a loud voice from
heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and He will
dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them
[and be] their God.
c.
[Rev 21:10 NKJV] And he carried me away in the
Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy
Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
d.
[Rev 21:11 NKJV] having the glory of God. Her
light [was] like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
e.
[Rev 21:18 NKJV] The construction of its wall
was [of] jasper; and the city [was] pure gold, like clear glass.
f.
[Rev 21:22 NKJV] But I saw no temple in it, for
the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
g.
[Rev 21:23 NKJV] The city had no need of the sun
or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb
[is] its light.
h.
[Rev 21:24 NKJV] And the nations of those who
are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory
and honor into it.
15. He
knew that in the end, He would create a new heaven and a new earth.
a.
[Rev 21:1 NKJV] Now I saw a new heaven and a new
earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was
no more sea.
b.
[Rev 21:3 NKJV] And I heard a loud voice from
heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and He will
dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them
[and be] their God.
c.
[Rev 21:4 NKJV] "And God will wipe away
every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor
crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed
away."
d.
[Rev 21:5 NKJV] Then He who sat on the throne
said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me,
"Write, for these words are true and faithful."
16. He
knew that one day He would rule on the earth with His Throne in Jerusalem as
King of kings and Lord of Lords.
a.
[Dan 2:37 ESV] You, O king, the king of kings,
to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and
the glory,
b.
[Rev 5:12 ESV] saying with a loud voice,
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom
and might and honor and glory and blessing!"
c.
[Rev 5:13 ESV] And I heard every creature in
heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in
them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing
and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"
d.
[Rev 7:12 ESV] saying, "Amen! Blessing and
glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God
forever and ever! Amen."
e.
[Rev 19:16 ESV] On his robe and on his thigh he
has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
17. He knew the whole plan of God
and it was joy to Him. From creating mankind in Their image to be
His companions, to having His Bride ruling and reigning with Him for all
eternity, His plan is magnificent and full of glory. It is truly, the greatest
story ever told.
a.
[Eph 3:6 NLT] And this is God's plan: Both
Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches
inherited by God's children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the
promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.
b.
[1Co 1:25 NLT] This foolish plan of God is wiser
than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the
greatest of human strength.
c.
[1Co 2:1 NLT] When I first came to you, dear
brothers and sisters, I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell
you God's secret plan.
d.
[Eph 6:19 NLT] And pray for me, too. Ask God to
give me the right words so I can boldly explain God's mysterious plan that the
Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.
e.
[Col 2:2 NLT] I want them to be encouraged and
knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence
that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.
f.
[Rev 10:7 NLT] When the seventh angel blows his
trumpet, God's mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he
announced it to his servants the prophets."
These things are His joy that is set before us. In them, we
find hope, peace, and joy. In them, we are more than conquerors.
[Col 3:1 NLT] Since you have been
raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in
the place of honor at God's right hand.
[Col 3:2 NLT] Think about the things of
heaven, not the things of earth.
[Rom 8:31 NKJV] What then shall we
say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [can be] against us?
[Rom 8:32 NKJV] He who did not
spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him
also freely give us all things?
[Rom 8:33 NKJV] Who shall bring a
charge against God's elect? [It is] God who justifies.
[Rom 8:34 NKJV] Who [is] he who
condemns? [It is] Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
[Rom 8:35 NKJV] Who shall separate
us from the love of Christ? [Shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
[Rom 8:36 NKJV] As it is written:
"For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for
the slaughter."
[Rom 8:37 NKJV] Yet in all these
things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
[Rom 8:38 NKJV] For I am persuaded
that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor
things present nor things to come,
[Rom 8:39 NKJV] nor height nor
depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love
of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[Act 2:28 NKJV] You have made known
to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.'
[1Th 2:20 NKJV] For you are our
glory and joy.
Although
we are currently walking through a storm, we must remember to think on the
things above, the joy set before us, for:
[Jhn 16:20 NKJV] "Most assuredly, I say to
you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be
sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
[Psa 30:5 NKJV] For His anger [is but for] a moment, His favor [is for] life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy [comes] in the morning.
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful
face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory
and grace.”
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