Musing – Are We Waiting for Someone Else to Start A Great Awakening?

 Hebraic Musing – Are We Waiting for Someone Else to Start A Great Awakening?

Any Christian tracking current news realizes that the only way America will recover from the Satanic degradation of her morality is by restoration of God’s blessings; and that requires another Great Awakening. 

It is not uncommon to feel frustrated, wondering “What can I do about it?”  Simple answer, get the nation to turn back to Jesus.  But how?  Let’s start with each one of us doing something very practical, and Biblical!  Tell people about Jesus and invite them to make Jesus their Lord.  What are some Biblical examples?

Encourage Brothers to Share their Faith – Paul encouraged to Philemon to continue sharing his faith.  “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.  … because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.”  Philemon 6-7 NIV

Pursue & Call a Follower – Elijah called on Elisha.  “So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.  Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. …. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.”   1 Kings 19:19-21   NIV

Casual Encounter with Working Men – I like the nonchalant way Jesus started His ministry with a casual challenge working men.  “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me … and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.”  Matt.4:18-20

Unlikely Non-Believers – Jesus showed us how to approach an unlikely non-believer.  “When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” … The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.  How can you ask me for a drink?’… Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’” John 4:7-10 NIV    I like the way Jesus initiated discussion with a casual question!

Seekers – And there are people like Zacchaeus the Tax Collector who are seeking but don’t know how to approach Jesus.  “He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd.  So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.  When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’” Luke 19-3-5   Jesus will gladly invite Himself into the heart and the home of seekers!

New Converts Have a Purpose – As soon as Jesus called Paul, He gave him an assignment as a new convert!  “You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.  And now what are you waiting for?  Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”  Acts 22:15-16  What have you seen and heard?

Evangelism is Essential – We all need to be evangelizing.  “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”  Romans 10:14   Thus Jesus had these final words for us – “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”  And “all creation” is all around us every day, everywhere!

How do we become evangelistic?  Simple - Ask, Seek and Knock!  “Ask and it will be given to you; Seek and you will find; Knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matt.7:7     I double dog dare you to ASK.

Points to ponder

Do new converts need to be challenged with a ministry?

Where is our “Mission Field”?

How many ways are there to draw people into discussion about God and Jesus?

If we open a discussion about Jesus, can we trust the Holy Spirit to give us the words we need?

Am I waiting for someone else to start an awakening?

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”  Romans 10:15

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          February 23, 2021

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings” http://insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

Musing – Are We Prepared to Give an Answer? (A Greek Insight*)

 

“Greek” Musing – Are We Prepared to Give an Answer? (A Greek Insight*)

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect,…” 1st Peter 3:15 NKJV

‘Set apart’ is from the verb ἁγιάζω (hagiazow) and means ‘make holy.’  It’s in the imperative mood, indicating that this is a command and that anyone can obey it if they choose to.  The key idea here is to settle the matter in our own hearts that only Christ is Lord.  Do away with anything else—they’re distracting idols.

The act of setting apart Christ as Lord necessarily precedes effective preparation and defense of the faith.  Without Christ already made holy in your heart, preparation and defense will be lukewarm and ineffective, and possibly even wrong.  (It is the Holy Spirit-inspired Bible, not us, that shows what is right and what is wrong.)

‘Answer’ in ‘to give an answer’ is from ἀπολογία (apologia) and means ‘defense.’  We get the English word ‘apologetics’ from this.  Peter calls us not to initiate a defense, but to reply with a defense of the faith to those who ask.  But defending the faith is often not done because it’s easier to assume that no one is asking than to recognize ‘ask’ signals in someone else.  There are more ways to ask than the mere speaking of the words.  I believe we’re called to be alert to that.

Even worse than missing an ‘ask’ signal is the rationale that has gained widespread acceptance even among those professing to be Christians.  It is that “the mark of tolerance is acknowledgement that people are free to believe and follow whatever they want—as long as they are sincere they’re in fine shape as far as God is concerned.”  This rationale may be acceptable in the world of men, but based on the Bible it stands in opposition.  To accept this rationale is to make worldly life seem much easier because you don’t have to share the Word of God with anyone no matter how Biblically ignorant their approach to life might be.  Different strokes for different folks, right?  Hey, live as you wish!  Wrong.  If this rationale was valid then Jesus did not have to suffer and die.

Let me tell you a story.  You and a friend both must cross a chasm.  There are two bridges, one red and one green, that span the chasm.  You’ve both been told by a trustworthy person that the green bridge is safe but the red bridge will break if anyone uses it.  You begin your crossing on the green bridge, but your friend prefers using the red bridge.  Since you feel that it’s wrong to correct anyone who believes differently than you, you cannot warn your friend of the coming disaster.  You think that to do so would be to “judge” him.  So you both pursue your crossings according to what you each believe.  Half-way across the chasm the red bridge suddenly breaks and your friend tumbles downward into the abyss.  You are horrified.  A voice comes to you saying: “Are you proud of not showing your friend what you knew to be the truth?  By your silence you did not withhold judgment—you withheld love.”

In “do this with gentleness and respect” Peter is showing us how to defend the faith.  The word ‘respect’ comes from φόβος (phobos), a noun that is usually translated as ‘fear.’  F.H.Wardlaw explains: “This fear is self-distrust; it is tenderness of conscience; it is vigilance against temptation; …it is taking heed lest we fall; it is a constant apprehension of the deceitfulness of the heart, and of the insidiousness and power of inward corruption. It is the caution and circumspection which timidly shrinks from whatever would offend and dishonor God and the Saviour.”

One wonders how anyone could take offense at such an honest, self-effacing approach to defending our faith. But of course, some do.

Points to ponder

How powerful and  respectful is sharing our own testimony?

Are we looking for ways a person might be “asking” without them realizing they are “asking”?

God’s phone number is Jer.33:3 - “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you
 great and unsearchable things you do not know.”     Who needs to hear “the answer”?

“Make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ.”

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          February 16, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings” http://insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

*  A “Greek Insight” by Kurt Johnson, colleague who encouraged me 10+ years ago to start weekly Hebraic Musings.

Musing – Jesus told us to “Take Up His Cross Daily.” Why?

 Hebraic Musing – Jesus told us to “Take Up His Cross Daily.”  Why?

As Jesus was predicting His own death and resurrection he told His followers  “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,  and follow Me.” Luke 9:23 NKJV.  Jesus made four clear points in that well-known instruction.

First, He is addressing those who want to come after Him, to follow Him, and who will therefore lead a crucified life.  That was His call to ALL Christians, and it includes recognition that persecution is coming, resulting in a form of crucifixion (and a resurrection).  Is there a relationship between those two key words?
“Persecution” - the act of harassing, oppressing, or killing people because of their difference from society.  Persecution is cruel and unfair treatment of a person or group, especially because of their religious or political beliefs, or their race.
“Crucifixion” – a. the crucifying of Christ;  b. extreme and painful punishment, affliction, or suffering.

The Second point describes consequences of following Christ.  One must deny himself.  Jesus is asking us to die to ourselves.  He is Lord, and we no longer belong to ourselves.  What does “making Jesus our Lord” mean?

In Phil.3:10-11   Paul said he suffered “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”  And Paul recognizes his crucifixion in Gal.2:20  “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; …”

Jesus had more to say about denying oneself in Luke 9:25-26.  “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.” 

The Third point Jesus makes is to tell us to “take up His cross daily.”  Paul recognizes that the crucified Christ lives in him. “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Gal. 6:14   Key point – Jesus tells His followers to do this daily!  Have a daily funeral dying to oneself; AND a daily resurrection as you live for him each day; a pattern right from the Old Testament’s daily offerings  commanded in Numbers 28:1-8 and repeated in Exod. 29:38 “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight….”

The Fourth point is Jesus’ finale.  He wants us to “Follow Me.”  What might that mean?  A - Jesus had to carry His cross all the way through the city and out to the gate.  Can we carry His cross all day and everywhere? 

Jesus did not expect following Him to be easy for us, but He did promise a reward.  Paul reflected on his reward “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Phil.3:10

Points to ponder

Is His cross too heavy for you?

What might happen if umpteen times a day we were to ask ourselves WWJD?

“Daily” appears 59 times in the Bible (NKJV).  Might that be significant?
How often should we offer ourselves to our Lord?

Does putting on Jesus once a week qualify one as a follower of Jesus?

What does America and the world look like from Jesus view on the cross?

♫  Just a closer walk with Thee,  Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,  Daily walking close to Thee, … ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          February 9, 2021

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

Note –  Inspired by Pastor Tom Hatley’s Feb.7, 2021 message “The Carried Cross”

Musing – God Uses Drastic Measures to Get Man’s Attention!

 

Hebraic Musing – God Uses Drastic Measures to Get Man’s Attention!

Do we have examples in history?  Noah’s days?  Tower of Babel?  Babylonian exile?  His son Jesus’ crucifixion?  Need to hear more examples of God exercising judgement?**  BTW – after the Jews returned from the Babylonian exile, they no longer worshipped idols!  They learned their lesson!

The nation of America is going through many facets of turmoil with both believers and non-believers wondering why; and what should we be doing; and how bad will it get; and most important – why did God let the election fail us?  Let’s look at a few possible considerations:*

1.   Why do we think we should know why God does what He does?  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isa.55:9  Were the “prophetic” voices merely looking at what would be good for America?  Or prophesying the result they would like to see?  Or were they trying to fulfill a celebrity status, forgetting the words of John the Baptist – “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Jn.3:30

2.   Many have been saying that America is ripe for judgement.  God has a history of two ways to bring judgement on His people.  (1) using foreign enemies to take over; and (2) allowing internal corruption and ungodly behavior to destroy the heart and soul of a nation.  We lost our moral compass a long time ago.  Need I reiterate all the atrocities tolerated in our nation?  These are not just recent events; prophetic dystopian novels written years ago were supposed to warn us – like “1984”, “Animal Farm”, “Fahrenheit 451”, “Brave New World”, and more.

3.   We look for a Godly leader, but isn’t a Godly Church more important?  Our government is designed to be representative of the people; so we cannot expect God-fearing leaders if they are elected by lost non-believers.  Those in power reflect the people who voted for them.  Has the church today become comfortable and unchallenged?  Which is the most important – Our American citizenship or our Kingdom citizenship?

4.   Could our problem be lack of persecution?  I heard of someone in a “Persecuted” country praying for relief from persecution.  The Pastor corrected them saying “It is because of persecution that the church in our country is growing.”  As we reflect on the comfortable nature of churches in America, have we pursued “nickels & noses” so that our churches are attended by a blend of sheep and goats, believers and non-believers (pretenders)?  Do the sheep need to be separated from the goats?   “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Matt. 25:32-33 NKJV

So is it time for a “Reset” in America’s Church (capital “C”)?  Do we need an “Awakening” like the first, second and third ones that caused people to commit their lives to the Lord and forsake their ungodly lifestyles?

To be friendly, my father advised me against talking religion or politics.  He was right on one topic - politics.

Ever notice that you can’t tell if a flashlight is on in a lighted room, but it is much more noticeable in the dark!
And those beautiful stars in the heavens are unseen in the daylight, but are breathtaking in the dark of night!!!

Points to ponder

What have I done to preach, share and stand for the Gospel?

Do you find more people interested in talking about possible “End Times” possibilities?

Are we Christians better able to openly question the ungodly behaviors around us?

Are we willing to pay the price, tolerate persecution, if necessary?

Have we done enough yet to warrant or bring on persecution?

It’s about winning souls for the Kingdom; it’s not about winning arguments.

♫  This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine, Let it shine, all the time, let it shine, All around the neighborhood, I'm going to let it shine! … Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm going to let it shine …  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          February 2, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

*    Inspired by & excerpted from Shane Idleman’s article in Charisma Magazine, January 18, 2021
**  Next page has more examples from a 2011 H.M. of Drastic Measures God has already used to get attention.

Hebraic Musing – Would God Use Drastic Means to get Our Attention?   December 20, 2011

When I published “Are ‘acts of god’ really acts of GOD?” many thought it can’t apply because we serve a loving God who would not do those things to His people. If a parent does not apply discipline, sometimes drastic, to get a child’s attention, is the parent really showing love to the child?

Regardless of where you might be in your perspective of our standing with God, let us explore what we are already told in the bible about the disciplining actions His children required. (all from NIV)

·      Exod. 11:5-7 – Every firstborn son in Egypt will die from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl …

·      Exod. 11:9 – When Pharaoh did not listen, the wonders multiplied.

·      Gen. 18:14 – Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.  And Sarah laughed but God promised a ‘wonder’.

·      Jonah – Spent three days and nights in the whale’s belly until God had his attention.

·      Exod. 4:1-7 – Moses’ staff becomes a snake and his hand becomes leprous. God had Moses’s attention!

·      Num. 20:8 – “Take the staff… Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. … Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community … drank.  But the LORD said to Moses … “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” Is being deprived of the ‘goal’ a drastic measure?

·      Lev. 10:1-7 – Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, …  So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. … Aaron remained silent.   Interesting that Aaron remained silent when his two sons died.  God had made His point!

·      Num. 16&17 - …they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram…Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: … the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them …   The people learned a lesson that day!

·      Num. 25 – Zimri was killed for worshipping Baal, and 24,000 were killed by plague.

·      2 Sam. 12:18 – David lost his son, conceived in sin. I personally know that will get one’s attention, since I lost a 10 month old daughter and have seen the impact on our family.

·      400 silent years – from Malachi to Matthew. Do you think God enjoyed cutting off communication with his wayward children?

·      John 3:16 – God so loved the world that He sent His Son to us.

·      Matt. 27:45-50 – GOD DID THE MOST DRASTIC ACT POSSIBLE – permitting the crucifixion of His own Son.  God did the most drastic act of all to get our attention.   Did He get yours?

Points to ponder –

1.     Could some of the more recent ‘acts of god’ have been ‘Acts of GOD’?

2.     Might our loving Father God need to discipline us at some point?

Yosef                                                          December 20, 2011