THE INTERTESTAMENTAL PERIOD (400 silent years)

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

THE INTERTESTAMENTAL PERIOD (400 silent years)

(1 Sam 3:1)…And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.

In between the Old Testament and the New Testaments (the Intertestamental Period) there is a period of time called the 400 silent years.  That is, no Bible books were written and no true prophets existed that spoke for God.  But as we shall see this time period was anything but quiet.  So what was going on during this pocket of time? 

Alexander the Great conquered the world and brought the Greek culture and language (Hellenization) to the empire.  

The Ptolemies and Seleucids battle it out with Israel sandwiched in between (predicted in detail by Daniel the prophet four centuries before these kings existed (Dan 11:5-20).

Antiochus IV Epiphanes erected an altar to Zeus on the altar of burnt offering outside the temple, and had a pig offered on the altar.  A family of Jews (the Maccabees) fought back and eventually won independence and restored the temple worship.  (Hanukkah holiday born)    

The Jewish people produced a sizable body of literature including the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament), the Apocrypha, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The Jewish parties of the Sadducees and Pharisees came into existence.  Other groups include the Herodians, the Essene community out by the Dead Sea, and the Jewish zealots (sicarii). 

The synagogue form of worship was developed and established amongst the diaspora (Jews living outside of Israel).   

In 63 B.C., Pompey of Rome conquered Palestine, putting all of Judea under control of the Caesars. 

In short, Roman civilization had brought peace (Pax Romana) and a road system which aided travel; the Grecian civilization provided a language which was accepted as the lingua franca of the empire; the Jews had endorsed monotheism and held out the messianic hope in the synagogues of the Mediterranean world.  God was working behind the scenes so that one day the silence would be broken and John the Baptist would look at Jesus and say …Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)

Take courage, when God is silent He’s getting ready to do something special!  (Hab 1:5)

Louie

WHEN YOU’RE NOT HAPPILY MARRIED

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WHEN YOU’RE NOT HAPPILY MARRIED

God wants us to stick together no matter what.  (Mat 19:6)…Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”  But what do you do when you’re not happy anymore in your marriage?  Is staying together a ticket to misery the rest of your days?  Let’s talk about it because there are many people who are not happy in their marriage.

HONOR YOUR VOWS:  Okay, so you know divorce is not an option.  You took your vows and you know what it says: For better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health.  Be faithful to your spouse like Jesus is to you, His bride.  (Heb 13:5)

DON’T SEPARATE:  Those who separate enter the high-risk area of never coming back together.  You’ve already made a step in that direction and it’s just easy to go the next step of divorce.  Separation is allowable because of abuse but don’t fool yourself for other reasons. (Mat 19:6)

KEEP MAKING LOVE:  Don’t use sex as a tool to get back at your spouse.  Sex is sacred and can bond you together.  There are a lot of things we do in life that we don’t feel like doing.  (1 Cor 7:2-5)

DON’T SHOP AROUND:  It’s easy to fall out of love with your spouse and fall in love with someone else.  You might be feeling lonely and desire to be loved and understood.  But adultery is forbidden by God and you want to avoid the steps that lead up to it.  Fall in love with Jesus and get yourself some godly friends who will support you until your marriage gets stronger.  (Eph 3:17-20; Gal 6:2)

HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS:  One person can’t fulfill all your needs in life.  That is reserved for Jesus alone.  Give your spouse some slack to be who they are.  As you do then watch how that grace comes right back to you.  Remember, marriage is two sinners under one roof!  (Rom 3:23; Col 2:10)

DIE TO YOUR SELF: In marriage there are many invitations to die to your own desires and prefer your spouse.  Be mature.  As you give in and serve your spouse God will bless you and grant you your longings because you were unselfish.  (Mat 16:24; Phil 2:1-5)

HAVE FAITH:  Every marriage has its ups and downs.  Nothing’s too hard for God.  Be optimistic and trust Him to work things out! (Heb 11:6)

AGAPE:  When your love quotient is running low read the love chapter (1 Cor 13).  Then ask the Lord to fill you anew with His enduring love (Rom 5:5).  And memorize these words or Jesus:  (John 13:34-35)…love one another; as I have loved you…

Louie    

GOOD PEOPLE GO TO HELL (BAD PEOPLE GO TO HEAVEN)

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GOOD PEOPLE GO TO HELL (BAD PEOPLE GO TO HEAVEN)

(Titus 3:5) not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.

The way we grew up and the way the world is today is that if you do something right you will be rewarded and if you do something wrong you will be punished.  Well, that works for parenting and in the schoolroom and in society in general but when it comes to God’s economy it’s just not true.  When Jesus came into the world to die on the cross for our sins He turned everything around.  He satisfied God’s wrath against sin and now man can be fully justified in God’s holy sight by personally accepting God’s free gift of grace.  The determination of the afterlife is not based on good works anymore but on the merits of Jesus from the cross.  This way good people go the hell and bad people go to heaven.   I guess I better explain!

GOOD PEOPLE GO TO HELL:  (Pro 14:12) There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.  There is something deep inside of us that thinks if we do good in life then God will accept us in the end.  It is always right to do the right thing but when you do the right thing for the wrong reason than that right becomes a wrong.  It then becomes pride and hypocrisy.  Pride because you think you can enter heaven on your own virtues and hypocrisy because you know in your heart you are a sinner but you come off like you are a saint.  Take the words of Jesus way down deep in your soul and wipe that self-righteousness right out of your life:  (Mat 7:21-23) “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’  

BAD PEOPLE GO TO HEAVEN: (1 Cor 6:11) And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.  The bad you have done in life doesn’t have to keep you from God’s presence in heaven.  If you are forgiven by Jesus then His blood has washed you clean and you are fit for His presence.  You don’t have to go around wondering if you are going to be accepted by the Lord on that final day.  You can know for certain.  Why?  Because heaven is not based on your performance.  It is based by God’s mercy through Christ.  There is no need to live in dreaded fear any longer.  And if you blow it then just ask for forgiveness and know that He will forgive you.  You don’t fall out of salvation when you sin, you just fall out of that sweet fellowship with Christ that you can regain through confession and repentance.  He loves you and He can never unlove you!

Let’s get the word out there that good people go the hell and bad people go to heaven!

Louie

THE BEATITUDES

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

THE BEATITUDES 

The first section of the Sermon of the Mount is the Beatitudes.  There are eight beatitudes and they describe the attitudes that ought to be in our lives if we are true Christians. (Mat 5:1-10)

“BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN:  Those who depend on God and not on their own abilities.  (John 15:5)…without Me you can do nothing.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN, FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED. Describes those who grieve over their sins.  (James 4:9-10) Lament and mourn and weep...{10} Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH.  Not self-willed but living humbly before others (me-ek!) and letting God prosper in His time.  (Psa 37:11) But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED.  Those who possess a spiritual appetite and a keen desire to be pleasing to God.  (Psa 42:1-2)  As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God…

BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY.  Those who are moved by the sufferings of others and seek to alleviate their distresses.  (Psa 18:25)  With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful…  

BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD.  Those whose minds and motives are wholesome and unpolluted.  (Psa 24:3-4) Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart…

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF GOD.  Those who are instruments of peace in the world and overcome evil with good.  (James 3:18) Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.  People possessing these beatitudes would naturally stand out in a crowd and would take flak for being different. (2 Tim 3:12) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

THE BE-ATTITUDES.  Are these the values that you want to be in your life?  If that’s the case then look out because your life is going to be BLESSED!

Louie 

TO PARENTS OF MISSIONARIES

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

TO PARENTS OF MISSIONARIES 

(1 Sam 1:27-28) For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.  28 Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there. 

So your child comes to you and says he feels called to the mission field.  You stare for a while and then you ask the question where he feels called to go.  He tells you some far off place that maybe you haven’t even heard of before.  Then he goes into detail about how he was spoken to by the Spirit and about the need for Christ in this place and on and on and on.  When he finishes you hear crickets in the room.  You say that’s wonderful while you feel the swallow in your throat.  My son or daughter off to the mission field.   Wow, that’s great.  Or is it? 

As parents we love our kids to death.  We have sacrificed for them since they were born.  We raised them to be responsible and gave them all the tools they needed for successful living.  We spent good money and a lot time securing their future.  We counseled them wisely.  We hope they will make good decisions and achieve well in their chosen field.  Then they come and say they want to serve the Lord as a missionary.  Not only do we become concerned about their safety we also begin thinking about family ramifications.  You won’t see your child for a long time.  You will miss them.  You will miss the grandkids if they are a family.  What about holidays and birthdays and special events?  It starts to hit you like a ton of bricks emotionally. 

Samuel had a special calling on his life.  His mother Hannah prayed for a son after being barren for so long.  She said if God gave her her request she would dedicate her son for life to God’s work.  Finally God answered her prayer and she was good to her promise.  When it was time she presented Samuel to the Lord at the Temple.  She then went home without her son but she visited him yearly with the new cloths she made for him.   

You know, as parents we are so proud when our children achieve greatness on any level.  Parents can be so gratified to say their child is a doctor, a lawyer, or a soldier serving in the armed forces.  But what about the highest calling a child can receive…that of serving the Lord in the ministry?  To give spiritual life to others (doctor).  To be an advocate for the poor and needy and the marginalized (lawyer).  To be a soldier in the Lord’s army.  And with modern technology you can keep in communication on a daily basis.  And between traveling to see you child on the mission field and them coming home for a visit it’s just not as hard as it used to be.   

We can be a help or a hindrance to the call of God on our child’s life.  Let’s line up with God’s purposes and be a support to our children when they involve themselves in the greatest business of all…God’s business!  (Luke 2:49)…Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”  

Louie

WHEN GOD DOESN’T HEAL

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WHEN GOD DOESN’T HEAL

Does God heal today?  Oh yes!  Here are some scriptures that declare it to be so:

- (Exo 15:26)... I am the LORD who heals you."

- (Psa 103:3) Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.

- (3 John 1:2) Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

If God’s Word gives us these promises we should diligently seek the Lord for His healing touch when we have need of it.  

But here’s the next question:  Does God heal everybody and at all times?  Some teach in the affirmative but the weight of Scripture says there are times when God would choose not to heal for a purpose He would have in mind.  Take Paul for instance.  He had an apparent physical malady that He asked God to heal and God didn’t.  Read this clip from Corinthians:  

(2 Cor 12:7-10) And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. {8} Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. {9} And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. {10} Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Sometimes there’s a lesson for us to learn before God heals us.  Until then, we can rely on His grace and claim His promise that He is our strength in weakness.  And if He still doesn’t heal us we are to remain true to Him and trust that it’s all part of His plan that will someday be revealed. (1 Cor. 13:12)

So bottom line:

- The ultimate healing is spiritual, the forgiveness of sins (Isaiah 53:5).

- We are to claim His promises of physical healing.

- We are to trust His purposes when our healing is delayed or denied. (Rom 8:28)

- And we are to remember the ultimate of healing and health is when we are in His presence forever as His redeemed saints, praising Him in our glorified bodies that will never know sickness, pain, disease, or death again.  Hallelujah!

Louie

FAMILY DEVOTIONS

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

FAMILY DEVOTIONS 

(Deu 6:7)  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.   

It’s the Mormons that have a saying, “The family that prays together, stays together.”  And that is so true.  But why should families of a cult be a better example of godliness and togetherness than those from the true Christian faith?   

The goal is to get the family together on a daily basis to read the Bible together and pray.  When this happens you grow spiritually together and will also experience unity and harmony that brings peace and joy to your household.  This is because as you get closer to Jesus you get closer to each other.  Your family exists to serve God and be a witness to the world. No wonder the enemy seeks to keep Christian families from this spiritual discipline!   So what are some reasons Christian families are so negligent or inconsistent in having family devotions?

LAZINESS.  We just get lazy as families.  We are so hang loose that we fail to set goals as families.  We so often lack discipline when it comes to schedules and objectives and no wonder not much gets done in a real sense of accomplishment that your family can be proud of.  It’s time to put God back in first in our families!  (Mat 6:33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  

BUSYNESS.  The typical family in our society operates non-stop throughout the day.  Our culture thrives on going, going, going.  So no wonder we are “gone” when it comes to getting home at the end of a busy work/school day.  Families hurriedly eat dinner and then basically watch TV or view their personal devices for hours on end.  Then people start passing out one by one and off to bed they go.  Families get wired and then they get tired.  (Mat 13:22)… the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.  

So how do you do family devotions?  Suggestion:  When your kids are young read and pray with them as you tuck them into bed at night.  Kids love those Bible story books with the great pictures.  Then they drift off to sleep in the arms of Jesus.  As your children get older then after dinner is a great time around the table or out in the living room.  Maybe go through a gospel like Matthew and take one parable or story at a time to read, discuss, and then pray. (There might even be an app for that!) The family is integrated and the rest of the evening has that spiritual focus and charm like you get when you leave church.  There will be times when you miss but make sure you have family devotions the next evening.   

When you have a family altar, watch your family get altered in the right way that glorifies God and brings family unity! 

Louie