The Church Steeple - A Poem

Today's post is some reflections on the place of the church and the Gospel which she preaches in the 21st century. 

The Church Steeple

 

The spire of hope, aiming to the sky

 

Overlooks the city, full of passers-by

 

Its white gleaming paint and golden cross

 

Pointing to hope for a humanity that is lost

 

The world is convinced that its message is no longer needed

 

They say the God of its claims went ignored and unheeded

 

Glamour and fame, bright lights and smart phones

 

Humanity defined as evolved flesh and bones

 

The steeple has seen many clouds go by

 

Suns have risen up and sunken in the sky

 

The Gospel preached under its point below

 

Has seen such claims come and go

 

An atheist said Christianity would be laid to rest

 

Yet his home became a Bible printing press

 

The church's identity rises no higher than the cross

 

The Savior will prevail despite culture's tempest toss

 

I fear not of skeptics ramblings, ebb and flow of culture's tide

 

The Steeple of the Gospel will stand and the Word will abide

The consequences of taking up offense

Mark 6:3 “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.

They thought they were dealing with a "safe" Jesus
Jesus was rounding out the first year of his public ministry.  His ministry circuit in Galilee would take him to Nazareth, the town where he grew up.  In Mark 6:1-2 we pick up the narrative: "1Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him. 2When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, 'Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?"' These people had known Jesus from his childhood days growing up.  They were familiar with him - or at least they thought they were. 

Jesus crossed their line - they took up the offense
The people of Nazareth had drawn lines around Jesus, pigeonholed him and concluded he was just "one of the boys" so to speak.  Upon his return, Jesus very quickly shattered their pre-conceived notions.  The Bible tells us that they uttered what they thought they knew about Jesus.  Their description of Jesus was a view of Jesus that was safe, non-threatening and non-intrusive.    However it was very clear - they had drawn a line that Jesus had crossed.  The people of Nazareth took up the offense and chose to remain bitter, rather than get right and get better. 

As saw yesterday, offenses come in this world.  Whenever you and I get angry at someone, it can be over something petty or over something that is downright wrong they have done to us.  The point being is that a line has been cross - preceived or unperceived.  What happens when we bear the grudge?  Note some key characteristics of these people in Nazareth as a case study of the consequences of taking up offense:

1. Refusal to honor Christ's authority. Mark 6:4
Jesus stated that a prophet is without honor in his hometown.  This fits in line with the modern day saying of "familiarity breeds contempt".  Whenever we take up offense, we will find ourselves progressively refusing to give honor to Jesus Christ.  The Bible is the authority of Christ written, since it is classified as the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)  People who take up offense will over time grow cynical to either God's word or spiritual authorities who minister in the name of Jesus.  Clearly these people would not honor Jesus.

2. Restriction of God's power.  Mark 6:5
The scripture says "he was not able to do many miracles".  Because the people took up the offense against Jesus, the consuequence was the limiting of the demonstration of God's power in their lives.  Whenever we are either defeated in our Christian walk or see defeat in another person's life, it is guaranteed that somewhere in the past  that individual took up offense.  Its as if they shut off God's power in that area.  Jesus did heal a few people, but not many.  Unless the offended person forgives and puts off the malice and anger that they have been carrying around, the power of God will not be fully experienced in their lives.

3. Rejection. Mark 6:5
I would add this third consequence of taking up offense - rejection.  Rejection describes the spiritual dimension of operating in resentment. When I say rejection, I mean that a person who is bearing offense will not receive a legitimate offer of help.  I believe Jesus was restricted physically as well as supernaturally by these people.  Because they could not get past their perception of Jesus as "mary's son", they simply refused His attempts to minister.  No doubt the restriction of God's power led to so-few healings, but I would also suggest that practically speaking, these people left Jesus.  I have had times in my life where I bore up offense, and whenever someone tried to help me, I got angry and thought they were patronizing me.  I know what it is like, and can tell you plainly that only through the cross and forgiveness can the bondage of rejection produced by offense be broken. 

4. Repeats and grows worse if not let go. Matthew 13:53-57
In Matthew 13:53-57 we see Jesus return back to Nazareth after a period of time to attempt a second round of ministry.  Amazingly these people were still hanging onto their offense.  In fact the identicle words are repeated by them, indicating that they had not changed.  Matthew 13:56-57 states "And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief."

Whenever you and I take up offense, if left unchecked, our hurt and pain will start sounding like a broken record.  We will become "frozen" in the time and memory of those events.  An offense taken up years ago will still be fresh in the mind of the hurt person.  Presented with the same opportunity will issue forth the same response, the same hurt.  Furthermore, the hurt and pain can be repeated in others around us, which is why Hebrews 12:15 warns us to "not let a root of bitterness to rise up in us, lest we defile many". 

5. Root of offense is unbelief.  Mark 6:6; Matthew 13:57
So when did unbelief factor into the offense?  By the response.   You and I dear friend cannot, in a lot of ways, control others, nor our circumstances nor the level of hurt that may come at us.  However there is one thing we can control - our response.  If as a Christian I take my anger and resentment and "cast all my anxiety upon the Lord", the Bible promises "He will take care of you". (1 Peter 5:7).  Faith says: Lord, I don't know how to forgive, however you through me is more than able to love and forgive.  Thus I will be in you everything you want. Offense will prefer to "hang on" to the resentment, not ever speaking to God about it.  For those who have been truly hurt by careless or vindictive people, unchecked anger will lead you to conclude that God can do nothing about it.  This is why James 1:20 states: "the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God". (ESV) 

Forgiveness is the quickest route to be healed of the consequences of offense
James 4:6-7 tells us: "6But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 7Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."  I love this passage, since it states: "He gives greater grace" and "gives grace to the humble".  If we will but humble outselves to the Lord and say: "God, I don't know how, but you through me can teach me how", the promise is that His greater grace is there.  All we need to do is believe God, not doubt, and trust that what may not make sense emotionally is the only thing that makes sense in light of eternity.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32; Colossians 3:13)

P2 The healing power of thankfulness

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

To all of my readers I wish a happy thanksgiving in the Lord.  In light of today, we continue on with where we left off, explaining 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22 and the healing power of thankfulness to the Lord.  One of the greatest graces given by God to the believer in Jesus Christ is thankfulness.  Yesterday we explored 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18, noting how thankfulness combats the consequences occur when we harbor resentment, bitterness or what the Bible calls: "Take up offences". 

1. Thankfulness is the antidote to seeking vengance, since through it I can carry out God's command to "seek after that which is good for one another and for all people."  (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

2. Thankfulness is the antidote to complaining, since through it I can carry out the command to "rejoice always". (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

3. Thankfulness is the antidote to prayerlessness, since through it I can cultivate a lifestyle woven with prayer. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

4. Thankfulness is the antidote to be out of God's known will, since by it I can instantly get back in step with God. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

What else this grace of giving thanks do for hearts that have been hurt and harmed? Today we will look at the remainder of 1 Thessalonians 5:18-22. 1

Other symptoms of taking up offense that can be healed by giving thanks to God

5. Thankfulness to God can be the antidote to not being able to hear God. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
When Christians take up bitterness or resentment rather than forgiveness, they place a block between them and their ability to hear God.  When Paul speaks of "not quenching the Holy Spirit", He is saying "don't do anything whereby you would begin hindering the Spirit's work in your life".  Another set of passages, Ephesians 4:26-27 and verse 30 all state:  26 "BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and do not give the devil an opportunity....30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."  The antidote in the Ephesians passage is to "be kind-hearted to one another" (4:32), which can very easily be fulfilled by being thankful for one another and to one another. 

6. Thankfulness to God can be the antidote to lack of interest in the Bible. (1 Thessalonians 5:20)
When you and I as Christian stop being a thankful people, it will greatly affect how we view the Bible.  The same affect occurs whenever we take up offense.  People that take up offenses demonstrate an increasing inability of not being able to digest spiritual truth. (Matthew 13:53-58; Mark 6:1-6)  Bitterness will never make it better, however forgivness will enable you to flourish.  This principle not only works in the realm of your emotional life and thought-life but also in your attitude towards God's word.  A person who comes into a church service with a bitter heart will despise the preaching of God's Word at some point.  What thanksgiving does is that that demonstrates that I am aiming to see God.  Guaranteed, whenever you come into a church service with thanksgiving, my friend you will be able to hear God. 

7. Thankfulness to God can be the antidote to wanting to live right and do right for God. (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)
In this final observation on the healing power of thanksgiving, we are commanded to essentially: "hold to what is good and let go of what is evil".

Lets say I gave you a bag of broken glass to carry in one arm and a bouquet of flowers to carry in the other - how long could you enjoy the flowers?  I guaranteee you'd be so worried about the broken glass cutting you or coming out of the bag that the flowers would be the last thing on your mind. 

Whenever you and I harbor bitterness, we carry around in our hearts the broken glass of a former friendship, a soured business deal or misunderstanding.  Either we have to let go of that bag and "hold fast" to the sweet aroma of "every good and perfect gift coming down to us from God" (James 1:17), or else forget the flowers and carry that broken, which over time will cut and hurt even more.  This is Paul's point in 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 - "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." 

Only when I choose to thank God, rather than grumble, will I be able to begin healing from hurt.  Only when I forgive, rather than fight and snap at that person who intentionally or unintentionally hurt me, will I then see healing take place in my heart.  It all begins with thanksgiving to God in Christ, and ends with a heart healed and ready to move on in one's walk with the Lord. 

Endnotes
1 I find 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to be central to these bullet-point commands of Paul for two reasons.  First, the phrase "for this" in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is a word that gives a reason for do a particular action.  Thus in giving thanks, I can go back and connect to the other commands in 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18, as well as those following the passage.  The second reason I find 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to be central to this string of commands is because it plainly states: "this is God's will".  What does it look like when I am functioning in God's will? I will look out for others, rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks, not quench the Spirit, hang onto that which is good and abstain from evil.  Thanksgiving to God gets me back into that pattern, a pattern that can be exited out of when I choose to complain and hold resentment.  These two reasons are why I have been laboring like I have been in today's blog and yesterday's.   

P1 - The healing power of thankfulness

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

Yesterday's blog defined and introduced the reader to the biblical teaching on "taking up offense".  When you and I take up offense, we choose to retain resentment, anger and bitterness, rather than "letting go" and forgiving.  In Matthew 18 and Luke 17 Jesus warns the reader about the dangers of offenses, how they are inevitable in this world and how easily they can be "taken up" and retained.

Today, in light of thanksgiving, I want to offer the reader a very effective antidote to the heart that is racked by resentment, bombarded by bitterness and refuses to quit rehearsing past hurts.  When coupled with a heart that is confessing of hurt and pain to God, the simplicity of giving thanks marks the first step towards enjoying God.  Lets consider some thoughts from 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22

How being thankful can bring healing to a heart that has taken up offense
In 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22 Paul lays out a series of commands, with the exhortation of 5:18 for thanksgiving being in the middle of the series.  I find it interesting that what Paul mentions in these verses deal with the debilitating affects that occur when we take up offense, with thanksgiving being the solution for each one:

1. How thanksgiving to God solves the need for vengance.  1 Thesslonians 5:15  
People who take up offense will over time become more and more caustic, finding ways to repay the evil that was no doubt unfairly done against them or perceived to have been done against them.  Paul says that rather than repaying "evil for evil", believers need to:  "always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people."  The way I begin to carry out 1 Thessalonians 5:15 is by giving thanks to God.  When I direct my thanks to God, I am expressing trust and appreciation to the only one who can heal the hurt of my heart.  The Lord in turn will teach me how to forgive as the Lord forgave me. (Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:31-32)  In the context of this passage, we are not just getting mere behavior modification, rather for all these commands there is the provision of grace of thanksgiving. (5:18)

2. How thanksgiving to God solves the lack of joy. 1 Thessalonians 5:16
Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 "rejoice always".  Whenever we take up offense, our hearts are characterized by complaining and lack of joy.  Whenever I have taken up offense, I discover myself complaining and being negative about everything.  The command to "rejoice always" can only be accomplished whenever we give thanks.  All of God's commands require His grace to carry them out.  Whenever you and I give thinks to God, we open the door for Him to release His power and grace into our lives.  Furthermore, whenever you choose to give thanks, you will find more things to be thankful for - leading you to be a more joyful person.  Again the command here in verse 16 is grammatically and in context connected to the command to give thanks in 5:18.

3. How thanksgiving to God solves prayerlessness.  1 Thessalonians 5:17
People who take up offense will soon be a people who struggle to pray or stop praying all together.  Paul states here in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 "pray without ceasing".  How is that possible?  It all starts with thanksgiving to God.  Naturally thanksgiving is a mode of prayer, since it is also the first step in praise to God. (Psalm 100:4-5).  If your prayer-life is dried up, thank God for what He did for you by sending Jesus Christ.  Scriptures such as Ephesians 1:7; Romans 5:6-10 and 1 Peter 2:22-24 are excellent passages to think on before praying.  I guarantee whenever you start thanking God, your prayer life will go from crawling to soaring.

4. How thanksgiving to God gets you back into the known will of God. 1 Thessalonians 5:18-19
1 Thessalnians 5:18 states: "to give thanks in all things, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  I love passages that tell me what God's will is for my life.  Whenever you and I believer take up offense, hold the grudge and refuse to let go of past hurts, we begin to drift.  The known will of God is the Word of God. (Deuteronomy 29:29) When Christians finds themselves either wanting to hurt other people, complaining and not praying, then its a sure sign they are operating out of the known will of God.  What I find encouraging about the simplicity of thanksgiving is that it enables me to get back immediately to doing what the Lord saved me for - "to do good works", "to be zealous to do good deeds" and "to be the praise unto His glory". (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14; Ephesians 1:12)

The truth of this section of scripture is so important that I would like us to continue on tomorrow.  May you dear reader have a wonderful Thanksgiving day tomorrow.

Don't be offended

Matthew 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! (KJV)

Matthew 18:7 "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!" (NASB)

What it means to take up offense
What is Jesus referring to here when he warns about "taking up offenses" or "stumbling blocks"?  The Greek word used for "offenses" and "stumbling blocks" in this passage is the word "scandalon" from whence were derive our English word "scandal".  Offenses are those events or words that hinder or greatly diminish belief in the Lord.  To take up offense means to perceive the crossing of a line in a response of anger or bitterness.  Its another way of saying that I retain resentment, bitterness or a grudge rather than forgiveness.  Offenses or stumbling blocks cause by the wrongdoing of others are by nature contrary to God's word.  Thus in taking up an offense as one being wronged, my heart's responses to spiritual truth will be affected - often leaving me with a limited ability or no ability to appreciate Christ and His word.  As Proverbs 18:19 reminds us - "A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel."

In what circumstances do offenses occur?
Often a stumbling block or offense occurs when a misplaced word or misperception of a person's actions or words results in you and I being bitter rather than forgiving.  Jesus is telling us here in this passage that "in this world it is inevitable, there will be offenses".  If you have not ever had the opportunity to be hurt, or be at the
receiving end of thoughtless words and deeds - just wait!  
In the parallel account of Luke 17:1-2 Jesus says:  "He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2“It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble."

So its not a matter of "if offenses will come", rather it is more a matter of "when they will come".  You and I cannot control what people will say or what events will come into our lives.  We also are not living in a fair world, since our world is a fallen one.  The only thing we can control is our response.  Will you be bitter, or better?  Will you retain a grudge, or forgive as the Lord forgave you?  (Colossians 3:13) Unless the cross is in our center-line of vision, the vulnerability to taking up offenses will be pretty high. 

An illustration of someone taking up an offense
One day a man decided to take his friend from overseas to see a football game. The friend had never been to a game, nor was he familiar at all with football. As they were up in the stands, watching the game, the crowd around them was cheering, and the man himself was whooping and hollering, for the home team was winning. However his friend sat motionless with a scowl on his face.

After the game was over, the excited man asked his friend: "So what did you think of your first football game"? His friend sharply responded: I have never been so offended in all my life! Those fellows in the stripped shirts kept ever so often getting together in the middle of the field, stopping the players from playing. And you know what, I think they were talking about me!"

Now this illustration conveys the truth of what Jesus is teaching. The friend in our little story perceived a line had been crossed. He came to the game, not knowing what to expect. As he watched, he began to draw conclusions about what he thought he saw.  All we know is that the man chose to respond in anger and bitterness, resulting in his inability to appreciate the effort of the other man in treating him to his first football game.

The warning about taking up offense
Now Jesus is not dismissing from responsibility the one who says careless words or does thoughtless deeds.  Often when an offense is taken up, a legitimate hurt has been committed, and not just merely a misunderstanding.  Certainly those who are careless or reckless in their treatment of us should be held accountable for their actions.  The key of course is by whom should they be held accountable - us or God? 

Jesus is warning us who have been at the receiving end to be careful not to "hold bitterness" or "take up offense".  Again in Luke 17:3 we read - 3“Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4“And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

So in this world of ours, and even in the church, the likelihood of someone saying something wrong, or not saying something that should had been said, can yield in us a response of anger or bitterness if we're not careful.  If we have taken strides to guard are hearts through reflecting on God's Word and God's forgiveness in Jesus Christ, the chances of taking up offenses will be greatly diminished.  More tomorrow....

Disappointment - His Appointment: An anonymous poem

Today's post features a poem I read recently that was written by an anonymous author.  I figured since we had been studying about forgiveness this past week, this poem would fit quite well.  May the Lord bless you on this day dear reader.

Dissapointment - His Appointment
Author: Unknown 

Disappointment - His Appointment

 

Change one letter - then I see

 

That the thwarting of my purpose

 

Is God's better choice for me

 

His appointment must be blessing

 

Tho' it may come in disguise

 

For the end from the beginning

 

Open to His wisdom lies

 

Disappointment - His Appointment

 

No goodwill He withhold

 

From denials oft we gather

 

Treasures of His love untold

 

Well He knows each broken purpose

 

Leads to fuller deeper trust

 

And the end of all His dealings

 

Proves our God is wise and just

 

Disappointment - His Appointment

 

Lord, I take it, then, as such

 

Like clay in the hands of a potter

 

Yielding wholly to thy touch

 

My life's plan is thy molding

 

Not one single choice be mine

 

Let me answer, unrepining

 

Father, not my will, but thine



Having Zeal like Jesus

Numbers 25:11 (KJV) Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.

When zeal for God intersects with youth
In Numbers 25 we find God's people reeling from the heels of compromise.  The Bible tells us that the people heeded the counsel of the pagan prophet Balaam and began to commit fornication with the women of Moab and spiritual fornication through the worship of Moabite deities. (Numbers 31:16; Revelation 2:14)  Needless to say God pronounced judgment upon the leadership of Israel, a plague broke out and the people were desparately weeping at the entryway of the tabernacle along with Moses. (Numbers 25:4, 9) To compound the situation, an Israelite man decided to flagrantly commit sin by parading both he and one of the women before the people who were gathered. (Numbers 25:6) 

Phineas, the young grandson of Aaron and son of Eliezer, the high priest of Israel, could not stand it any longer.  The Bible records his response in Numbers 25:8  "he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel." We know that Phineas could not had been older than 20, since his name does not appear in the census of men 20 years and older in Numbers 26.  He was but a youth, and yet he displayed the wisdom of the aged.  He was zealous for His God, so much so that God pledged he would have a perpetual priesthood. (Numbers 25:12-13)

What is zeal for God?
Phineas the youth, in the priestly line of Israel, a young lad, took up the cause as God's man - he was zealous for God.  In fact redemptive history has this to say about Phineas' zeal in Psalm 106:29-31"Thus they provoked Him to anger with their deeds, and the plague broke out among them. 30Then Phinehas stood up and interposed, and so the plague was stayed. 31And it was reckoned to him for righteousness, to all generations forever." What did Phineas exhibited that stands out in scripture in defining him with the zeal of God?

1. Promoted God's work.   Numbers 25:1-7 
The Lord said to Moses, who in turn told the judges of Israel, that all who joined themselves to the revelry of Baal of Peor and the immorality of the people were to be executed. (Numbers 25:4-5)  Phineas took up the cause of God's work.  Lest the plague be stayed, lest the rebels parading the cause of unrighteousness be ceased, God's work would be jeopardized.  Phineas, the youth of his time, promoted God's work.  But notice also...

2. Prioritized God's Word.   Numbers 25:8-9
Phineas did as God and Moses had told the judges - he went in and slayed those who were alligned with the rebellion against God.  He heard the word of God - and he acted accordingly.  Zeal for God does not know slow nor delayed obedience - only instant obedience to God's word.

3. Empowered by God's Holy Spirit.   Numbers 25:10-18
God said that Phineas did what he did with "His jealousy" (NASB) or as the KJV renders "His zeal".  Undoubtedly Phineas acted under the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  The "zeal of the Lord" or "jealously of the Lord" is used elsewhere to describe the power of the Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 9:6-7) 1

Phineas' zeal was like Jesus zeal
In John 2:13-17 we find Jesus at the beginning of His ministry.  We see Him going into the temple and throwing out the money changers
The zeal of God finds its zenith in the life of Jesus.  Phineas foreshadowed what would be the fulfillment in Jesus Christ.2  Jesus too exhibited zeal for God:

1. He promoted God's work John 2:13-16
He told those in the temple they were making the Father's house into a house of merchandise.  What was profane had trespassed on the grounds of the sacred.  Zeal for God draws the line between the two.  God's work needs zealous people who will defend and promote the glory of God.

2. He prioritzed God's word  John 2:17
In acting out Psalm 69:9, Jesus is placing God's word above popularity and favor with men.  The zeal of God consumed him.

3. He was empowered by the Holy Spirit  John 2:17
Luke 4:18 records Jesus at the beginning of His ministry as being empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Undoubtedly what he did in the temple was directed and empowered by the Spirit of God. 

Phineas' zeal for God was ultimately like Jesus' zeal.  As we close out this blog today, I want to urge you and I to have zeal for God like Jesus.  Two passages in the New Testament describe the kind of people Christians ought to be like with regards to zeal for God:

As Christians, may we have the zeal of Jesus
Romans 12:11 (NIV) "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."

Titus 2:14 (NASB)  "who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."

May we be those who promote the work of God, prioritze the word of God and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. 


Endnotes

1 The phrase "zeal for God" is used in scripture to describe the ministry of the work of the Holy Spirit.  Compare 2 Kings 19:31; Isaiah 9:7; 37:15.  I would suggest that since Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, and since Isaiah 9:6-7 predicts the Messiah with the phrase "zeal of the Lord of hosts", then it follows that "zeal of the Lord" refers to the activity of the Holy Spirit working in the Messianic ministry of Jesus and in the life of the believer who exhibits zeal for God.


2 Phineas is a type or shadow of Jesus Christ. Like Jesus, he made atonement, or satisfaction for the people. (Numbers 25:13; 1 John 2:2) Secondly, like Jesus, Phineas was declared by God to have a perpetual priesthood and covenant of peace. (Numbers 25:12; Hebrews 7:24-25) Phineas' priesthood in terms of its ongoing nature would last as long as the Aaronic priesthood, which terminated once Christ came. Thirdly Phineas' name in the Hebrew means "face open to God". 2 Corinthians 4:4 describes the glory of God being in rhe face of Jesus Christ.