Main Street Baptist Church

(Tuesday, Aug 31, 2010)  EZRA 1:1 - 2:67;   538 BC;   PERSIA & JERUSALEM

             “Do you think God is calling me to be a pastor?”  “I really love him, but do you think we should get married?”  “Does God want me to quit this job?”  “Should we buy this house?” “What should I do about ______ ?”  These and other questions come up all the time.  How are we to get the answers?  As men we are responsible to lead and guide our family God’s way.  But how are we to know just what God wants us to do?  It can get quite confusing sometimes.

CLOSE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT  The place to turn for answers is the Bible.  This article is the first in a series about Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi and Esther.  These people lived from 538 to 432 BC.  They close out the Old Testament.  After 400 silent years John and Jesus come on the scene.  This events of this time set up the conditions surrounding the birth of Jesus.  Very few of us know much about these people and these times, yet they are very similar times to today.  They are about a minority of believers living in an anti-God, post-Christian and very materialistic world.  As we see how they lived before the first coming of Jesus, we can learn how to better live for Jesus in these pre-second coming days. 

BACKGROUND FOR EZRA  The Jews were taken captive by Babylon in 605 BC (Dan 1:1).  In 586 Jerusalem was destroyed.  God said they would be in captivity for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10).  In 538 Cyrus let some of the Jews return (Ezra 1:1), roughly 70 years after they were first taken captive.  Or the 70 years could be from 586 BC (when Solomon’s temple was destroyed) to 516 BC (when Zerubbable’s temple was completed).  Either way, it shows that God remembers and keeps His promises, even when we don’t remember them. 

BEING ALLOWED TO RETURN TO JERUSALEM  On March 24, 538 BC, King Cyrus of Persia issued a proclamation that the Jews could return to Judea (Ezra 1:2-4).  He wanted to establish a strong buffer state around his empire and he also wanted to please the local gods so they’d pray to his gods, Bel and Nebo for him (so it says on the Cyrus Cylinder, written by him in 538 BC).  A total of about 50,000 Jews responded to the call to return (Ezra 2:1-67), a very small percentage of the total number of Jews in Babylon.  Why didn’t more return?  Were they too immersed in the materialism of Persia and didn’t want to leave the good life there?  Had they forgotten God?  Or didn’t God want them to return?  How were the godly men who did want to know God’s will able to discern if God wanted them to move hundreds of mils away to a raw, barren land to make a new start or to stay with family and friends and live in comfort and ease?  How were they to know God’s will?

“GOD MOVED THEIR HEARTS”  There is a phrase that is used that explains why those who returned did so.  “God moved their hearts” (Ezra 1:5) as he had “moved the heart of Cyrus” to allow them to return (Ezra 1:1; 2 Chronicles 36:22).  God is in the business of moving hearts.  Then it is up to men to obey Him.  The same phrase is used of the Jews who gave toward the construction of the Tabernacle: “Everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.”  (Exodus 35:21)  Notice the two elements that come into play here: God’s sovereign call (“moved their hearts”) and man’s free will (“everyone who was willing”).  That’s the basis of how God speaks to us today. 

            “Moved their hearts” literally, in the Hebrew, means “stirred up the spirit.”  The word, `uwr (oor); means to open the eyes, to awake (literally or figuratively).  “So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty”  (Hag 1:14; see also I Chron 5:26). 

            God does the stirring, the awakening.  He does it by His Spirit.  What He does is touch the spirit of man.  The Hebrew word used is ruwach (roo'-akh); from wind or breath.  It is the word commonly used for man’s spirit as well as God’s Spirit.  Thus what happens is that God’s Spirit stirs up, moves, man’s spirit and then man is responsible to be sensitive to this and obey it.  So how are we to know God’s will – listen for His Spirit to stir/move our spirit.  That’s what He did to draw Jews back to Jerusalem in Ezra’s day, too.

            While that answers one important question, it brings up other unanswerable questions.  On what basis did God choose whose heart to move to return (arbitrary choice, those most committed, those who needed to be weaned from materialistic Persia, etc.)?  Why didn’t He move in everyone’s hearts?  Shouldn’t they all have returned?  What about someone like Esther?  Were there any who wanted to return but didn’t have their hearts stirred?  Did any go whose heart wasn’t stirred?  Did any not go whose heart God moved – either for a good reason (to serve God) or self-centered (escape debt., etc.)?  Why did so very few spiritual leaders (priests) return – only 74 (Ezra 2:40)?

            Then, too, are the questions about how God did this.  Did He just move the hearts of the heads of the clans (the ones named in Ezra 2) or did He move the hearts of each one in the family? 

THE TRIP BACK  While we will never have the answers to those questions, do know about those who went back.  Neighbors gave them money and materials to take back.  We can assume God moved the neighbor’s hearts so they gave generously (Ezra 1:6), as when they gave to the Tabernacle (Exodus 35:21).  In fact, there are so many parallels between this return under Zerubbabel and the exodus from Egypt that could be called “Exodus # 2”.  Here even King Cyrus was moved to contribute (Ezra 1:7-8).

            Everything we give and do is important to God, and we see that in the record of what was taken back in Ezra 1:9-11.  Each person is important to God, too.  Imagine how encouraging it was to Ezra’s readers to see their names or those of their friends, listed in Ezra 2.  That they made a difference was very motivational.  Isn’t it great that God has all of OUR names listed in His books in heaven and knows us by name, too (Ps 69:28; Phil 4:3; Rev 3:5; Rev 13:8; 17:8; 20:12; 20:15; 21:27). 

            Another interesting note in this list is that those who returned to Bethlehem are listed – ancestors of Joseph, Mary and Jesus.  They didn’t know their crucial part, they just faithfully returned as moved by God.  It may well be that God is using your faithfulness now to set things up for your grand children or great children.  Time will show it.

Anyway, the 900 mile trip back took four months, but no details are given. 

KNOWING GOD’S WILL TODAY   So what do we learn from this?  Listen to the “still, small voice” of God (I Kings 19:12) when He speaks to your spirit.  Learn to identify His voice.  Be sensitive.  Use your free will to obey.  God speaks to you just as He did to His people then.  Just listen, then obey.

(Sunday, Aug 29, 2010)             After his third missionary journey Paul went to Jerusalem where he was falsely accused and arrested.  For his safety he was taken to Caesarea where he spent 2 years in house arrest.  Paul appealed to Caesar and was taken to Rome.  On the way he was shipwrecked.  Eventually he was released because the Jews couldn’t prove any charges against him.  Paul then went to Ephesus and left Timothy there to help churches in that whole area.  Paul continued on to northern Greece and wrote back to Timothy, encouraging him in his work and explaining about church order and organization (I Timothy).  Next Paul went to Crete and left Titus there to supervise those churches.  Soon Paul left Crete and went to Corinth.  From there he wrote back to Titus encouraging him.  Eventually he ended up in Ephesus again where he was arrested for the second time and taken back to Rome for the crime of being a Christian.  From prison there he wrote to Timothy again (II Timothy). 

 BACKGROUND  Sandwiched between I and II Timothy is the book of Titus which is very similar to I Timothy.  Titus was a Gentile whom Paul led to salvation.  Paul took him to the Jerusalem council to show the leaders a Gentile could be saved without being circumcised.  At the end of the third missionary journey Titus again is mentioned.  Paul sent him to Corinth to deal with delicate problems there (much the same as Timothy was sent to Ephesus).  Mainly, though, Titus worked with the churches on Crete, just as Timothy worked with the churches in Ephesus.

 I. CONDUCT OF THE LEADERS  (1:5-16)  Paul begins by reminding Titus how the church leaders were to live and act.  Qualifications and requirements were given for deacons and elders.  Paul also warns them about false teachers and their danger.  Titus couldn’t be everywhere on the island of Crete so he needed dependable leaders to oversee the various house-churches there.  This was the same set-up used in all the cites where there churches. 

 II. CONDUCT OF THE LAITY  (2:1-10)  Paul tells Titus how all believers are to live.  Older men are to be self-controlled, women reverent and faithful, younger men are to be sensible.  All are to set godly examples for others.  Servants, too, are to live godly, submissive lives.

            In all things they are to live by grace.  They are to turn from ungodly lusts and desires.  They are to live remembering that Jesus could come back for them at any time and they are to always be ready.  Holiness must characterize God’s people. 

            In relationship to the government they are to be good citizens.  To all people they are to be ready to do what is good, honest in all they say and do, gracious and forgiving to all, and considerate and humble at all times.  This will show others what a Christian really is.  They are to avoid stiff and contentions among themselves.

            Any who don’t follow these principles are to be disciplined so they repent or are removed.  This will show the seriousness of sin and keep the church pure.  Living the Christian life is mandatory, not optional.  It is a requirement, not suggestion.  How are you doing?

TITLE: Named for recipient

AUTHOR:  Paul

DATE of WRITING:  62 AD

PLACE of  WRITING:  Corinth

RECIPIENT:  Titus, a young pastor Paul is training for ministry

KEY VERSE:   For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It

teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.  …  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.   2:11-14; 3:4-8

KEY WORDS:  “Good” (11 times); “good works” (6 times); “sound” (5 times)

PURPOSE:                                                                         

THEME: How to live a godly life

Spend some time reading this book this week.

(Friday, Aug. 27, 2010)  When I started pastoring 40 years ago I never imagined I’d have a ministry in spiritual warfare.  I didn’t even know what spiritual warfare was until about 25 years ago.  I knew some Christians who struggled with sin and didn’t seem to have victory no matter how hard they tried or how much they trusted God. No amount of counseling helped.   It seemed like something greater than themselves was controlling them.  One of my own children was being influenced by something evil as well.  God in his mercy brought some men into my life who taught me about spiritual warfare and deliverance from demonizing. 

Paul says “we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices” (2Corinthians 2:5-11) but I was very ignorant.  Since that time I have been ministering to those in need of spiritual warfare counseling.  I have read many books and talked to lots of people.  God has been teaching me and helping me learn how to help those who are attacked by Satan and his forces. 

Being involved in this is very humbling but also very encouraging.  Seeing God’s power at work in such a real way is simply awesome.  Having a front row seat as lives are changed and people who have been defeated begin to live in victory is wonderful to see.  The internet opens up many doors to minister and daily I hear from people throughout the world.  I counsel them through email and a web site.  I thank God for the privilege!  I have no idea why He chose me to be trained and gifted in this but I’m glad He did!

Satan really covers his trail in our ‘sophisticated’ culture where his workings are given psychological terms and explained away as chemical imbalances or some such thing.  But in the New Testament when Jesus ran into people with the same symptoms He cast demons out of them and they were instantly healed.  As our culture moves further and further from a Biblical foundation the powers of darkness are getting a stronger hold and becoming more bold in their actions.  Still, most American Christians don’t really take Satan and demons seriously until they run into their blatant work on a mission trip somewhere.

The greatest impact this has had on me personally is to deepen my faith in God and to better appreciate the power of the cross.  All hail the power of Jesus’ name!

 2 Corinthians 2:11  in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Ephesians 6:10-12  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

How aware are YOU of the enemies schemes against you, your family and your ministry?

If Satan were to oppose you or your ministry, what kinds of things might he use to discourage and defeat you?

What can you do to have victory over this?

For more information on the subject of spiritual warfare contact me at jerry@schmoyer.net and I’ll send you a free copy of my Spiritual Warfare Handbook.

(Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010)  As I come near the close this series of blogs on what I’ve learned in life I must mention money.  It’s a great servant but a terrible master.  I learned good financial principles from my parent’s example and that has helped me avoid a lot of financial problems.  Money is great when it serves me, but if I start to serve it then it becomes a terrible master. 

God has provided well for me financially.  We don’t have an extravagant lifestyle and many would say we don’t earn a lot of money, but we’ve kept down our expenses and are quite content to live within our means.  I thank God that misuse of money has not been one of my weaknesses.  My wife and I both are frugal but still enjoy sharing generously.  We find a balance that works for us between spending and saving.  We have found some ways of using money that bring enjoyment to us and we thank God for this.

The danger with money is when it becomes a substitute for trust in God.  Too many people evaluate themselves and their ‘success’ in life in terms of dollars and possessions.  Money does not bring security.  In fact the more money God entrusts a person with the more they are accountable for their stewardship of this important resource. 

We’ve established some principles concerning money which we have tried to pass on to our children.  One is to not spend what you don’t have.  God gives us 24 hours of time in a day and that’s all we have.  It’s a limited resource and we must learn to live within it, although we often try to stretch it to its limit.  Unfortunately today we can spend money we don’t have, and the temptation to do so can be great. But that will catch up with you and can cause many problems.   Make sure you don’t spend money you don’t have.

A second principle we teach is that you can only spend your money once.  While this might seem obvious, the truth behind it is that if you use it for the wrong thing then it won’t be there for what God intended it to be used for.  In this country, with very few exceptions, God gives us the amount of money He knows we will need to live on plus extra to use for His Kingdom.  He knows what He wants us to use it for.  That’s why a budget can be a good way of discovering God’s will for the use of your money and make sure you stay within your limits.  I can spend money I have (principle 1) but I must also spend it for what God intended it to be spend for (principle 2).  If not I won’t have it for what I really need, nor will I properly use some of it for His Kingdom.  That’s why we always remember that we can only spend our money once so we need to make sure we use it wisely.

Philippians 4:11-13   I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

1 Timothy 6:10   For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.

Hebrews 13:5  Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Are you spending money you don’t have?  Why is that unwise to do?

Do you have a workable budget you stick to?  If not, how can you be sure you are making the best use of the money God gives you?

If Jesus would sit down with you tonight and all your financial expenditures would be laid out before Him, what would He say?  Would He make any suggestions?  If so, what?

Pray and commit your finances to God.  Ask Him to direct you in their correct use.  Write down any changes you need to make and apply them immediately.

(Monday, Aug 23, 2010)   Paul has been serving God faithfully for over 30 years.   It’s been 20 years since his first missionary journey.  He has suffered much, sacrificed much, and been near death often.  His brilliant, gifted mind and strong personality has led the early church through its tough growing years when false teachers and jealous political leaders tired all they could to destroy it.  Now he is in prison again.  In the 5 years since his first imprisonment Paul has been able to travel to see churches he has started as well as go start new ones in places he had never been.  Now the end is near and Paul knows it.  God has raised up a new generation of local leaders to take over the guidance of the church.  Paul is worn out physically.  He writes one final letter, to the one person (other than faithful Luke who was with him to the end) he loves more than anyone, his son in the faith Timothy.  II Timothy contains Paul’s dying words, his final communication as he faces death.  If a news reporter had interviewed Paul at this time they would have asked him if he had any doubts about how he spent his life.  “Paul, was it worth it?”  “Yes!” Paul would affirm, “and much more.”  “What final parting words do you have for your followers out there?” the reporter would ask.  Paul answered “Be faithful.”  That, in effect, is the message of II Timothy.  “Be faithful!”

 BACKGROUND   Persecution is getting worse for believers.  Thousands are being martyred.  They are considered enemies of Rome with no rights to a fair trial.  Then when Nero burned Rome and blamed it on the Christians things got worse.  Everyone started blaming them for everything.  Peter is also in prison, soon to be crucified upside down.  Paul is public enemy number one.  He was betrayed and deceived while in Ephesus, and thus he now finds himself in prison in Rome.  He is not under house arrest but in a dungeon awaiting execution.  This strips away all pretense and gets right to the heart and core of what is in a person.  When one faces death all façade is stripped away.  That’s what makes II Timothy such a revealing letter.

 I. FAITHFUL TO GOD  (1:3-18)  Paul begins by encouraging Timothy to stay faithful to God and use his spiritual gift of teaching for God’s glory.  With all the oppression going on, it seems Timothy was fighting depression and Paul does his best to encourage and motivate him to stay faithful to God and not be ashamed of the gospel.  Paul doesn’t want Timothy to feel badly because of his own sufferings.  He says that it’s a real privilege to suffer for the gospel.  Many are defecting under pressure, but Paul tells Timothy to make sure he remains faithful to Jesus.

 II. FAITHFUL TO SELF (2:1-26)  Paul then uses seven illustrations of faithfulness as examples to Timothy: a teacher, soldier, athlete, farmer, workman, vessel and slave.  Knowing that things will actually get much worse for Timothy, Paul wants to make sure he stays true.

 III. FAITHFUL TO OTHERS (3:1 – 4:15)  Despite how bad the circumstances are, Paul tells Timothy to stay faithful to God and his ministry.  He assures him that he is in God’s will and tells him to live no so he will be glad of it when he dies.  Keep things in eternal perspective is Paul’s message. Paul concludes with complements for those who have been faithful to him.  He wants to see Timothy one more time before he dies if possible.  We don’t know if he got there in time or not.  Some say he was arrested himself when he tried to see Paul.  If so he was released and ministered in Ephesus for some time with John until being martyred for his faithfulness. 

             Paul would tell us the same thing today – be faithful.  That was Jesus’ request of His followers as well.  What about you.  Are you faithful?  Are you passing the test?  Make sure!

TITLE: Named for recipient

AUTHOR:  Paul

DATE of WRITING:  64 AD

PLACE of  WRITING:  Rome (prison #2)

RECIPIENT: Timothy, a young pastor

KEY VERSE:   In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.   4:1-5

KEY WORD:   “Good” (5 times)

PURPOSE: Paul is providing more guidance for the young man he is training in the pastorate. 

He tells him how to live as a true servant in a time of apostasy.  He also asks timothy to come to him quickly, as he was about to be executed.

THEME:  Paul’s final words are to faithfully serve God.

Spend some time reading this book this week.