Faithful on Fridays Blog

Psalm 20:3-5

The people of Israel loved their leader knowing he made mistakes, fell into sin, but also that he was repentant and forgiven. For that reason they continued their prayer for him in vs. 3 asking God to remember all his sacrifices and offerings, meaning David not only gave to the Lord, but also gave to his people. Our pastors and church leaders also voluntarily give to their people: time and energy to plan, counsel, console or confront, and develop more leaders. Those night meetings, times of humble prayer, hospital or home visits, sermon research, leadership development, etc. are all offerings and sacrifices by our leaders and the prayer is for God to accept them with His favor.

As we join in this prayer we’re asking God (verse 4) to grant the desires of our leaders’ hearts in their plans for our churches by giving them wisdom, understanding, a pure heart, and strong inner man with good intentions and character. In verse 5 it’s repeated, ‘fulfill all his petitions’; David has plans and strategies as king and yet wants them to be in alignment with God. When those plans are implemented the people recognize answered prayer and shout for joy over God’s salvation plan that’s being implemented.

Calling on the name of Jacob’s God was wonderful (vs. 1), but now the people call on the name of God, our Banner or rallying point (vs. 5). We fly our flag that identifies us as believers, like an army going to battle for our leaders, and we gather together to receive important information, encourage each other,  and focus our attention on prayer. God is our Banner and we lift Him high. 

Interestingly, this word for banner is also used  in Num. 21 where it’s pictured as a bronze pole with a serpent attached for the people to gaze on bringing their healing from the snake bites. It’s a picture of Jesus hanging on a pole or cross, dying in our place, and bringing healing for those who look to Him for salvation. Why a snake on that pole? It was a foreshadow of the Messiah who would crush his head as the prophecy of Gen. 3:15 promised us. Jesus is our Banner.

David’s people had learned to love and trust their leader, giving him grace when he needed it. How quick are we to do the same? 1 Chron. 12:22 tells us mighty men of valor came to help him, like an army of God; can we be that army of intercessors for our pastors and leaders? They get tired, frustrated, angry, and disappointed too, needing a ‘friend at midnight’ (Luke 11:5-13) to stand in the middle with persistent, relentless, prayer on their behalf. 

These prayers of the people were for David’s future as king showing he’s loved and honored until his death (1 Chron. 29:20, 28). May our pastors and leaders feel strengthened as they lead knowing we’re praying for them and God is filling them up with Himself.

Book of Job

Scene Seven

As we come to the close of this drama it’s evidently not as much about suffering, but about righteousness. Now at the end God takes His turn to interrogate Job with over fifty questions. Job isn’t given a chance to answer since God raised the bar higher than anyone’s efforts to be self-righteous. No one compares to Him and His creation; He makes that crystal clear.

The last four chapters (38-41) are focused on God’s self-disclosure of His greatness. Interestingly, God instructed Job to prepare for His questions like a warrior getting ready for battle:

Dress for action like a man … 38:2

He needed the equipping of courage and strength to stand up under the intense questioning of the Almighty. God recounted creation and used it as His measure of power and authority expecting an explanation from Job.

“Tell me, if you have understanding. Declare, if you know all this.” 38:4, 18

Of course, Job has no answer, therefore, in chapter forty God continued His indictment:

“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.” 40:2 

The Hebrew word for ‘faultfinder’ can also be translated critic or instructor and ‘contend’ means to strive in opposition; will Job continue to criticize and oppose God? 

The breaking process had begun by the comparison of God’s greatness to his smallness and Job decided to be quiet. However, God’s not finished with him yet; He continued to pummel Job with questions.

“Will you even put Me in the wrong? Will you condemn Me that you may be in the right?” 40:8

Let’s remember this drama began with a conversation between Satan and God, now ending with a demonic sea creature, Leviathan. Leviathan is like a dragon; God dedicated an entire chapter to describing him: why? Undoubtedly because we can never forget our enemy that draws us away from our Maker. The temptation to become self-righteous and self-justified is magnetic, therefore, we must stand firmly in the righteousness of Christ opposed to Satan. 

Jesus is returning for us in force:

In that day the Lord with His hard, great, and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and He will slay the dragon that is in the sea. Isaiah 27:1 

Until that final day of Christ (Rev. 20:2) we stand positioned in His righteousness as we find Job; he finally arrived at repentance (42:6) and received forgiveness. God instructed Job, now called My Servant, to pray for mercy for his friends since forgiveness could also be granted to them. He restored a family to Job and doubled his wealth: That’s grace.

The daunting length of this book is an analogy of the hard-heartedness of mankind and our need for mercy. May we come to repentance and humility, recognizing God’s greatness and the forces of Satan opposing us, much sooner than Job. If it was the first Bible book ever written, then it’s a foundation of faith.

Psalm 20

I encourage you to open your Bible and follow along as we walk through this prayer declared by God’s people for their king. David was many things, good and bad, with strengths and weaknesses, but God’s people believed in prayer and didn’t hesitate to come alongside him when needed. You’ll notice in verse 1 they used the phrase ‘may He’ indicating they knew God was the answer to each and every petition and they’re focused on the future. 

We don’t know what particular trouble David was experiencing, but he was undoubtedly praying about it himself. The people were crying out for God to respond to his prayers because he’s in trouble. There’s no better way to show love and support to your pastor or church leader than to pray. What kind of trouble was he experiencing? The Hebrew word indicates physical or emotional affliction, distress or pressure, or being in a ‘tight spot’ and anguishing over it. 

Why call it a ‘warfare Psalm’? Simply because our only weapon against any enemy is the Word of God (Eph. 6), and, as intercessors, we go to war on behalf of someone else. We’re the middleman between the devil, his opposing forces, and our leader in their time of intense pressures. David must’ve felt such relief knowing people were praying for him. May your leaders experience that same relief.

Using the name God of Jacob when they cried out for protection for their leader has great meaning. This patriarch began life (Gen. 27) as a selfish, impatient, scheming brother who was sovereignly chosen by God to continue His covenant promises (Rom. 9:6-14), but he had troubles of his own. Jacob became a Nike man when God allowed him to prevail in their wrestling match (Gen. 32:22-31), he was transformed into an overcomer, a victorious man of God, and if God will do that for Jacob, then He’ll do it for David! I contend if He’ll give victory to Jacob, David, and Jesus Himself, then He’ll do it for our leaders. They were asking Yahweh to set David in an invisible, high place of protection where he’s inaccessible to the enemy. Does your pastor or ministry leader need that kind of safe place right now?

Finally, we read the intercessors asking for help and support from God’s throne room for David. What could that look like? Well, God sent Adam a helper to stand beside him (Eve), help comes in the form of angels, armies, and individuals, however, the best help anyone can receive is the Holy Spirit: our Helper (John 14:16-17). These prayer warriors are requesting support or strength for David to maintain his authoritative position, additionally the word includes refreshment and comfort during his time of trouble.

Let’s make our own requests to God on behalf of our church leaders by acting like these people of God who cared enough to answer the call of warfare prayer and giving us insight into how we can pray as well.  

Book of Job: Scene Six

Everybody’s mad; that’s how we begin the monologue of Elihu in Job 32-37. Job’s mad at his friends and God, the friends are mad at Job, and Elihu is mad at all four of them! Why?

Self-justification.

We all do it, we all act badly, and then justify our behavior defending ourselves with rational reasons why we acted that way. We have a burning necessity to convince ourselves, and then others, that we’re right. We use excessive reasons, explanations, and excuses to justify ourselves. Sound familiar?

The Book of Job isn’t about a man who suffered unjustly, but about mankind who lives in self-righteousness and pride. That’s the root; it always has been.

Reading Elihu’s words are thought-provoking. He doesn’t mention Job’s suffering, but discusses the heart and soul of mankind. I think he was a prophet of God using the lower story of Job’s reactions to suffering to display the heart of humanity: the upper story.

In Job’s final appeal he blamed God (33:9-11) for all of his circumstances and Elihu called him out on it with one phrase: God is greater than man (33:12). However, Elihu doesn’t leave it there, he qualifies his reasoning with a message of hope.

If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him, and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom; let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’; then man prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness. Job 33:23-26 

Hmmmm, sure sounds like Jesus, doesn’t it? The Hebrew word for angel is also ‘messenger’ so let’s compare the promised Messiah to this description.

• Mal. 3:1 calls Messiah the Messenger of the Covenant (same word as angel).
• Heb. 8:6, 9:15, and 12:24 describe Jesus as the Mediator between God and man.
• Song of Songs 5:10 calls Him the Chief among ten thousand.
• Believers are declared righteous by faith (Rom. 5:1).
• In Luke 4:18 Jesus proclaimed Himself as Deliverer.
• Lastly, in Mark 10:25 Jesus heralded His mission: to give His life as a ransom for many.

Elihu had nailed it:

… then man prays to God, and He accepts him; He sees his face with a shout of joy, and He restores to man his righteousness. Job 33:26 

The remaining words of Elihu declare God’s majesty and His miraculous works which Job had lost sight of and closed his message with this statement of truth:

Therefore men fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit. Job 37:24 

This is a great time to consider your own views of yourself. Are they self-justification or repentance? Your choice; I’m sure Jesus is waiting to hear from you.

Scene Fourteen

As promised last week, let’s discuss the ending of Luke’s unique gospel. On His physical walk to Emmaus, Jesus spiritually walked these two chosen men through the Old Testament showing them where they pointed to Himself. Only God can multitask like that; in a 2 hour journey explain how He fulfilled the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms? Did time stand still? What Old Testament passages did He point to? As a Bible teacher, I have so many questions. Then at lunch their eyes were supernaturally opened, Holy Spirit illumination burned in their hearts, and they finally recognized Him. He wasn’t simply a prophet or teacher anymore: He was the long-awaited, promised Messiah.

I can only imagine the thoughts circling in Luke’s mind as he recorded these events, and yet they weren’t finished yet. The resurrected Christ, in physical form, appeared to the Eleven disciples and at dinner He encouraged them to believe. Their strong faith would be needed to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom around the world, but also be martyred for that faith. They had to positively ‘get it’, understand it in their hearts, and the veils over their minds removed as the Spirit ignited that kind of faith. Many around the world today are suffering martyrdom for their faith in Christ; faith that burns in their hearts and is empowered by the Spirit to stand strong. It’s available to us as well; faith in what Jesus accomplished on the cross in our place: death, resurrection, forgiveness, and the power of the Holy Spirit for our ministries. Your ministry may be your family right now, maybe witnessing at work, in your neighborhood, or to your friends. It may be a specific ministry within your church, wherever it is, you still need ‘spiritual empowerment from on high’ (Luke 24:49).

After blessing them, He ascended back into the heavens to remain there until the Day of His Return: His mission was finally, 100% completed, and the church was born. Although it seems like this is the end of Luke’s gospel, it’s actually only the first part of the sequel. He also wrote the Book of Acts giving more detail into His Ascension, the mission of the church, and the Kingdom of God. Luke documents the early church’s birth, growth (after Pentecost, ch. 2), and progression. Acts is like Luke: Part Two where he records more apostles, more followers, more teachers, more prophets, and more Spirit-empowered ministry. They all learned through experience how to do ministry, to be Spirit-filled, prayer-led, and open to the supernatural. True for us, as well.

Walking along with Peter, John, and Paul Luke had first hand knowledge of what the Church, this new movement of Christ, would look like and affect people. He accompanied the Apostle Paul toward the end of his life and was mentioned among Paul’s closest friends. Well done, Luke. This Gentile/doctor was used mightily by God as he gave a unique perspective for us to ponder.

Book of Job

Scene Five

Last week I wrote about the true meaning of righteousness and how we easily slip into Job’s friend’s perspectives: it’s all about what you do or don’t do that makes you right with God. However, Job didn’t have it right either. Read some of his comments:

Though I am in the right, I cannot answer Him; I must appeal for mercy to my Accuser. Job 9:15 

Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, He would prove me perverse. I am blameless; Job 9:20-21a 

… that You seek out my iniquity and search for my sin, although you know that I am not guilty, and there is none to deliver out of Your hand? Job 10:6-7 

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. Job 29:14 

Job, being his own attorney in this drama, brought his legal case before the Judge and expected a verdict of not guilty. He had a good defense prepared and, therefore, the indictment could not stand; he thought.

Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right. Job 13:18

I would lay my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. There an upright man could argue with Him, and I would be acquitted forever by my Judge. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold. Job 23:4, 7, 10

He’s pretty confident.

I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

Job 27:6 

Job’s closing arguments before the Judge and his friends were conditional. Ok everybody, “if I’ve done this and if I’ve done that, then I’d deserve what I’m experiencing” … but I haven’t. What have I done wrong to deserve this treatment?

Oh, that I had One to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my Adversary! Job 31:35 

How often do we sound just like Job? We defend ourselves to friends and, therefore, to God by offering our solid case of innocence. “I didn’t do anything wrong to deserve this!” We find ourselves in circumstances that may or may not be consequences of sin, but the truth is that we DO deserve punishment. We have sinned, we ARE sinners. Job needed to state his case, his final appeal before God would speak, and all those many words of defense needed to be destroyed. Job had to be humbled.

In Chapter 32 the words of Job had ended, the words of the three friends were finished, and one last man entered into this story: Elihu. A prophet? Maybe, he certainly spoke the words of God to Job, but he’s fiery mad at all four men and will set the record straight. Next week.

Scene Thirteen 

Let’s talk about what Luke included in his gospel as the Lord hung on that cross with criminals placed strategically on either side of Him (Ch. 23:32-34). Only Luke recorded Jesus’ prayer of forgiveness for His own people who insisted on His death. Was Luke pondering that prayer and wondering how Jesus could possibly forgive them for such brutality? Did he remember back to the time Jesus taught His followers to love their enemies, do good to haters, bless those who curse you, pray for your abusers, and don’t retaliate against people (6:27-31)? Jesus literally lived out those words in the worst possible circumstances. 

The two men beside Him heard His prayer and Jesus entered into a succinct conversation with them in the midst of His agony. The contrast of the two attitudes is revealing: one is accusative and the other humble. The first convict challenged Jesus, conversely, the other admitted their guilt. Luke focused on the one who recognized his need for a Savior knowing Jesus was the answer. Calling Him by name he asked Jesus to remember him in His Kingdom, to which Jesus replied with assurance, they’d be together in Paradise today. Luke must’ve been captivated by this interaction; what kind of love, grace, and mercy Jesus showed one humble sinner. He was learning the character of Christ as he wrote that Jew and Gentile would be together in heaven! 

Chapter 23 contains Jesus’ last words:

“Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit!”

Death was a subject Luke was familiar with due to his medical training and he alone included these last words of Christ, addressed to His Father, from the cross. He undoubtedly assumed that when one died, that was it: game over. However, he was about to hear the inside information about the resurrection. That word commit means to prove with evidence that the mission was accomplished: The Messiah died in our place. Even though His body was dead, His Spirit remained alive and so will ours. 

Moving into Luke’s final chapter we find a unique story: the Road to Emmaus. I’m guessing his interview included at least one of the two men who were walking that 7-mile trek from Jerusalem to Emmaus experiencing a divine encounter with the risen Christ. Discussing the events of that weekend, the betrayal, arrest, denial, trial, conviction, and subsequent execution of the ‘prophet’ were astounded when they unknowingly met Jesus in His resurrected body. He hadn’t heard the news? They’d hoped for political rescue from Roman rule, but it didn’t happen. They were stuck in the lower story and Jesus was about to reveal the upper story. I’m sure Jesus was shaking His head in disbelief that all the evidence didn’t convince them: the tomb was empty. They seemed to know the prophetic promises, but couldn’t ‘see’ they were pointing to Him. Next week we’ll get into Jesus’ strategy of revelation. It’s a wonderful story that’s unique to Luke so don’t miss it!

Book of Job

Scene Four

You may remember the TV series Friends where BFF’s, male and female, traveled the rocky road of relationships; that’s where we find ourselves in the Book of Job when two more friends counsel him. It’s still true today; we walk through frustrations, disappointments, successes, and failures with our friends even adding our own opinions to the mix … so the story continues with Bildad and Zophar. 

When you consider the words of Job’s three friends as a whole you’ll find a common perspective: Job is guilty. They come to this conclusion from different angles but they all agree on that aspect; Job deserved what he got.

This fascinating book asks numerous times and in various ways the age-old question:

How can a man be right before God?

What’s your answer? Are you like these friends who believe in the conditional approach? If you do things right then you’ll be blessed, consequently, when you do things wrong God punishes you. Job’s friends believed he was getting what he deserved because he was a dirty, rotten sinner. Is that true?

Well, let’s first consider Abraham’s righteousness from God’s perspective. 

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:3 

It seems that Abraham’s righteousness wasn’t based on what he did right but on his faith; would that hold true for Job? I think it does. Job had good character and strong values, God declared that twice, however, did that make him righteous?

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 

Every person is born into sin and needs forgiveness, but the requirement is humility and recognition that you need God, apparently Job wasn’t there yet. We’ll soon see that he and his friends didn’t understand righteousness based on faith. 

God graciously gave us this Book of Job to show that He sovereignly searches our hearts and tests our minds to see if our ways and deeds spring out of our faith. 

… (we) are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:24 ESV

It seems like a logical conclusion, you live with integrity, good works, and strong morals, therefore, God is happy with you. True? No, the Bible proclaims that we are justified or declared righteous before God because of our faith in Jesus. 

… and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— Philippians 3:9 

Job’s friends were most certainly wrong, but many Christians today view their righteousness in the same way. Can you, dear believer, agree that you are righteous before God because of your faith alone? That’s the truth.

Scene Twelve

This divine drama takes a turn in Chapter 21 as Jesus prepared His followers for two important future events: the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple and His Second Coming. The first one was near-future and the second, far-future; both are impending. Other gospels cover these events, however, from Luke’s Gentile perspective he alone includes Jesus’ prediction that “Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until their times are fulfilled.” After all these interviews Luke must’ve begun to understand the hatred felt for Jesus by the religious leaders, but the Romans? Why do they care?

The prophets had foretold this destruction in Dan. 9, 11, and 12 and Luke was learning how to connect the Old Testament prophecies to what he was told about the Messiah. He didn’t know, but that destruction would be about ten years later in his time and experience. 

Many Christians don’t understand the value of the Old Testament either, only focusing on the New; that’s a mistake. Similar to Luke, we’ll understand His Second Coming better as we gain insight into His First Coming. Jesus continued teaching about His Return by giving warnings that remain valid today:

• Don’t allow yourselves to be oppressed by emotions or the world’s addictions because they’re spiritual traps. 

• Stay alert by reminding yourselves of ‘That Day’ because it’s coming and you want to be ready.

• Be prayful, that’s where your strength lies. 

• Everyone will stand before the Son of Man.

There’s only a small section of Chapter 22 that’s unique to Luke, yet fascinating, and that’s Jesus’ encounter with Simon Peter (vs. 31-32) when the Lord gives insight into Satan’s role in His future. Jesus told Peter that Satan had demanded authority over him but He prayed for his strength to endure. Would he make wrong choices, of course, but Jesus alerted him that when he turned back, and he would, he’d strengthen his brothers. Did Luke have this conversation directly with Peter? Why didn’t Peter include it when he dictated his gospel to Mark? Shame, sorrow, discouragement, we don’t know, but he undoubtedly told Luke about it.

After Jesus is arrested (Chapter 23) and Pilate happily hands him over to Herod for more questioning, unique to Luke, Jesus continued His silence. His destiny was the cross. As a Gentile Luke must’ve been surprised Jesus wouldn’t defend Himself to these Roman officials and in vs. 27-31 as the grief-stricken women followed, He warned them to not weep for Him, but for themselves and their families because, again, merciless persecution and destruction was coming. 

Luke’s deep understanding of the gospel message was undoubtedly sinking into his soul as he listened and wrote realizing he was a part of this story and needed to be ready as well. 70AD is the year of fulfillment of this prophecy, Jerusalem and the Temple were indeed destroyed and the Jewish people dispersed to the nations until 1948 when God began the restoration of Israel and her people that continues today. 

Book of Job

Scene Three

If you’ve ever witnessed the last stages of a devastating disease then you’ll understand the grief and sorrow Job’s three friends felt when they saw the suffering he was enduring and feeling powerless to help.

Job’s friends gave him the gift of their presence; they showed up. Sometimes that’s the best gift you can give someone who’s in pain: physically or emotionally. Go to them, physically be there, don’t rely on text, email, or a call: be there.

The friends didn’t give their opinions … at first, they were good listeners without giving their perspective or advice. Oh my, what a gift that is! In their silence Job finally opened up with words, not of worship as before, but of deep sorrow. 

The poetry of Job begins in Chapter Three as he digs himself into a pit of depression; he was sorry that Eloah (God) had created him. He was hoping for death to come quickly, but instead had to endure his suffering; some believe it was many months. 

We find the question ‘why’ many times in this chapter and yet Job received no answer; have you ever been there? “Why me? Why my kid or my husband?” and you hear nothing.

After a week of sitting silently and listening to Job, Eliphaz, who seems to be the ringleader, spoke first. In 48 verses or two chapters he told Job, paraphrased, “This is your fault. You’re reaping what you sowed.” Eliphaz also gave his prediction (5:8-27) of what he’d do under the same circumstances, how ridiculous if you’ve never experienced them. Don’t be an Eliphaz, don’t give your opinions if you’re not asked, and practice nonjudgmental listening.

After two more dialogues with Job, Eliphaz’s counsel turns into accusation. He got on a roll and in chapters 15 and 22, 63 verses later, determined that Job is to blame. His character was not enough for God and now he’s being punished.

Is it because you’re so pious that He accuses you and brings judgment against you? No, it’s because of your wickedness! There’s no limit to your sins. Job 22:4-5

The more Eliphaz talked, the deeper he dug his hole. That’s what too many words will do; they’ll get you in trouble. To better understand the book of Job we have to read the end of the book. God spoke to him (42:7) about his counsel and He’s fiery mad. Eliphaz  and the other two friends had misrepresented Him. 

I challenge you to read the first seven chapters of Job, concentrating on the invisible, spiritual realm (ch. 1&2), the result of depression (ch. 3), and wrong judgments (ch. 4-5). Thankfully, Eliphaz closes with words of encouragement, however, Job is unable to receive them. He spends chapters 6 & 7 a hopeless man. Don’t get lost in the poetry, but feel Job’s pain knowing that God had a purpose for us in this story whether you’re enduring the pain or a friend on the sidelines.