Faithfulness

Praise for the Virtuous Woman

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Wisdom’s Praise for the Virtuous, Wise Woman

Book of Proverbs Chapter 31 verses 10-31

Many things have been said throughout the Book of Proverbs about women of folly, foolish women, and wrong women, but the Holy Spirit would not finish this great book without telling us about the virtuous woman.

No matter who we are, as men, we all have a desire for a virtuous woman.

Virtuous means morally good, acting in conformity to moral law, practicing moral duties, and abstaining from vice.

Conforming to Divine Law.

How did a woman come about? Gen 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Only one man can join with one woman and be One Flesh, and this by marriage.

The Lord Jesus said: Mat 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Mat 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

This is the definition of marriage, as defined by Almighty God.

These are the only two humans that God has created!

What does the Holy Spirit say about this virtuous woman?

*Pro 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

The most important decision we will ever make is what we will do with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Are we going to believe Him and the Gospel, or are we going to ignore Him?

The Bible says we are to submit to Him in complete obedience.

We already know that submitting is far greater than just complying.

Once we have accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the truth of God, then the Holy Spirit will come to live in our hearts, and we can know what it is to “Fear the Lord”.

For most of us, the next great decision we will make is the choice of our spouse.

Pro 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

We can understand from this question in verse ten that it may not be easy to find a virtuous woman.

What we see in this passage is the qualifications of an excellent wife.

What we see in this passage is the embodiment of all the wisdom instructions contained in the previous thirty chapters.

We have a portrait in words of an exceptionally wise woman who has the “Fear of the Lord”.

If we are a Christian male and fear the Lord, then if we are seeking a wife, we should seek a Christian female who also has the fear of the Lord.

We must understand that because family relationships are the most important relationships in life, the character of the wife and mother is of great importance.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

We may read these words as describing a perfect wife and a perfect marriage, and we know that none of us is perfect, so for the husband to find such a godly wife, then that husband must be a God-fearing man living as close as he can to the Word of God.

A virtuous woman is a woman who is noticed by many of God’s people because she has an excellent character, no matter where she is or what she is doing.

Rth 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

A virtuous woman is a rare and precious treasure!

We may think that such a woman does not exist, but she does.

It is a fact that there may not be many of them.

Women would say the same thing about us men.

One thing is true to that man who has found a virtuous woman is richer than any king.

This woman of wisdom is certainly a gift from the Lord.

Pro 19:14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

*Pro 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Pro 31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

One of the greatest qualities of this godly wife is the fact that her husband can trust her.

He knows that this woman is devoted first to the Lord, next to him, and then to the family.

He will not question her motives, and he will not question her words.

He understands that such a woman will draw the attention of other men, but he knows she will never betray him.

His heart is secure in her faithfulness!

She has enriched his life and meets his needs, and he has hers.

The one thing the Old Testament is good at is showing us examples.

It spends a lot of time on godly men and things that God will punish us for.

This passage is an example for godly women.

Here we see faithfulness and purity, and these are things God expects from all His children.

A good wife will commit that she will never act in a way that could cause her to lose the trust of her husband, and the husband must make this same commitment to the Lord.

The world we live in today is so full of immorality that any signal from a woman or a man can be seen as saying they are available.

The commandments of God do not even exist in modern society.

Wedding vows are not sacred.

Adultery is glorified and seen as normal behavior.

God’s Word is still the truth: 1Jn_2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Our commitments to our spouses must be important, and they must be real!

In marriage, both spouses must be attentive to each other’s needs.

The primary need of women is still love and affection!

The primary need of the husband is reverence and respect.

We are to put the needs of our spouses before our own needs.

The husband-and-wife relationship must be a picture of our relationship with Jesus Christ!

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

To gain His bride, the Lord Jesus gave up everything to become a man, so that he could give His life to purchase His bride.

We have no greater example of this for our own marriages!

He gave Himself for us!

Friendship with the world is committing Spiritual adultery.

We are completely secure in the love of our Savior!

Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

*Pro 31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Pro 31:14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Pro 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Pro 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

This is a woman of good works: 1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

This home is founded on the commitment of a husband and wife and the love they share with their children.

Her first concern is for her family to be well-clothed.

She does not buy the clothes, nor does she buy the fabrics to make those clothes.

She gets the raw materials, wool and flax to make the fabrics herself, and takes the time to get the best materials she can find.

She works with her own hands.

Wool comes from sheep and keeps the body warm when it’s cold.

Flax comes from the land and is used to make linen, which is for warmer days.

In typology, the wool would indicate that the Church is to be a place of warm, loving interest in each member.

Linen would represent righteous deeds of the members: Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

She also provides food for her family, and she seeks out the best foods for them; she even brings it from afar.

She is compared to ships and not a single ship.

She eats the same food she prepares for all who live in her house.

In typology, this is Spiritual food, and it comes from afar because it comes from Heaven, where our Lord Jesus Christ is today.

It is the Lord Jesus who provides for the Church: Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

This is the food she prepares and puts upon the table.

For breakfast, she gets up before all others so the food will be ready when they awaken.

She does not call upon her maidens; she does these things herself.

She makes sure all those in her home start the day with a good breakfast.

She then plans the day’s work for her maidens.

In typology, the Church is to be full of believers who serve each other the food of the Word of God.

Each member has a purpose, and they are to do that task as well as they are able, but they need the nourishment of God’s Word, that Heavenly Manna from on high.

Each member receives their portion that is needed to perform the service God has given him or her.

After taking care of the needs of her family, she is free to do things that will increase the family budget.

She is also a good businesswoman who invests wisely.

She buys the things she needs without going into debt.

After she buys this field, she immediately plants a vineyard.

In typology, that field is an area outside the Church where we can do the work of God.

A vineyard speaks of joy in that work.

That field can represent the family of God because the Church is to be made up of families.

Every family in the Church that lives for God is a great joy to our Heavenly Father.

A strong Church is a blessing in the place where it is located.

*Pro 31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Pro 31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
Pro 31:19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

Laziness is one of those things that God hates, but the virtuous woman is never lazy.

We see her work begins before daylight and continues after all others are in bed.

She is a symbol of strength, and in typology, she represents the Church, which is also to be a symbol of strength.

Most of the churches in America are failing in this issue today, and attacks against the Church have increased because the Church appears to be so weak, and it is a shame.

The Word of God is being twisted and turned till the truth has been removed, and this is another reason God will first judge the Church, and He will accept no excuses!

The strength of the Church is in the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is no longer relevant in much of the Church of today.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

The Lord Jesus says: Rev_3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

We see this wise woman is always evaluating the work she has done, and it must be the same for the Church.

There is only one way that will work for the Church!

Jer_6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Much of the Church will no longer walk in the ways that work and have teamed up with the world in ways that are destroying much of the Church.

We see the candle of this wise woman does not go out at night, and her house is spared from the disasters of the wicked.

The Church must always be alert to the wickedness of the world and the wiles of the Devil.

This wise woman sees that her clothes are in demand from others, and she sells some of them along with her produce that she grows.

It is the same for the Church; the Gospel message is still in high demand from those who have never heard it, and the same Gospel that worked in the days of the Apostles will still work today.

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Just as this wise woman will be blessed the Bride of Christ will be blessed if it remains diligent in the work the Lord has given us to do.

The Lord Jesus promises a reward for our labors!

We will all stand before the Lord and give an account for what we have done, good or bad.

1Co 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

*Pro 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

We have seen that this wise woman cares much for her family, but she does not forget those who are poor and needy.

She is compassionate and caring.

We must understand that the Church must never be seen as standoffish and must share with the less fortunate.

There are far too many people in our area who are spiritually poor and needy.

The Church should extend its hand and help with spiritual blessings.

There all always people who are in need, and there may be some inside the Church that we just have not noticed, but we should.

It is not just the poor but also those members who have become too old to get out and those who, through sickness, can no longer get out.

If we truly love the Lord, we will be compassionate and help others when we are able, and this includes the Church.

In fact, this should be a ministry of the Church.

Rom 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

*Pro 31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She does not just think of today, but she prepares for the future.

This cold, dead world does not bother her because she shows the warmth of love in her home.

No matter what is going on outside, she has prepared her family for it.

That word scarlet describes the quality of the things this wise woman has prepared for those times of uncertainty.

The Church, full of love and warmth, will attract those who are seeking a place of rest.

The Church must be prepared to face this cold and worsening world.

The Bible tells us that this world will never improve, but there will always be souls that need saving.

Life is far shorter than we realize, and we cannot predict the future except for those who love the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Psalms 22, which refers to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, He says: Psa 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

That worm refers to a crimson worm that had to die to produce a dye used for the color scarlet.

*Pro 31:22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

This noble wife takes great pride in her appearance and in being attractive and appealing to her husband.

She could buy anything she needed, but she prefers to make them herself.

She uses the skills God has given to her, and she lives according to the Word of God.

The Lord Jesus clothes His bride in the very best: Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

The Bride of Christ is clothed in fine linen: Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

As husbands, we should provide nice things for our wives if we are to be like Jesus Christ.

*Pro 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

This husband was known in the community, and part of the reason was that his wife was so diligent and supportive of Him.

A noble wife will help her husband, and many wives contribute to their husbands’ success.

It is the same for the Bride of Christ.

A diligent, hardworking Church will brag on the Lord Jesus.

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The Church has a high calling: Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

He sits among the elders: Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

*Pro 31:24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

This wise woman provides for her family.
She cares for the poor.
She encourages her husband and his position as head of the family.

Now we see she wants to serve her family with her abilities but charges a price for her services.

What she delivers is quality!

We see there is nothing in Scripture that says a woman cannot work to help provide for her family.

We know that her priority is for her family, and everything else is secondary to this first thing.

1Ti 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

We know that there is a price to be paid to be a Christian.

We are to be Born Again into a godly life as much like Jesus Christ as we are able.

The truth must be bought: Pro 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Truth is not some doctrine, but it consists of wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

These things are more valuable in life than any material riches and are necessary to make life on earth have any value.

This value is eternal and is connected to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The purchase price is the time we invest in the Word of God.

Learning the truth of God takes time and effort, and the Holy Spirit.

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

We know that a sinner cannot pay anything to be saved.

We can be saved only by grace: Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

*Pro 31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Pro 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Pro 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Pro 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Pro 31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

We have already seen where this wise woman is adorned in elegance and modesty, but her true beauty is inside her.

1Ti 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

She possesses strength, honor, and dignity.

She is esteemed and honored by others as a woman with a strong character.

This is a product of the wisdom of God, our Heavenly Father.

She is ready for her future and does not fear the unexpected.

She stands upon a firm foundation.

She has sown righteousness in her life and in her family, and God promises she will reap the same.

Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Living in the fear of the Lord brings great benefits.

Psa_103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

The Church owes all strength and dignity to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Strength and dignity are the attributes of our Heavenly Father, and the Church should exhibit them.

The Church must always be the Lamb’s wife who has made herself ready, dressed in fine linen for the Bridegroom.

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

She offers helpful and reliable counsel.

When she opens her mouth, only wisdom comes from it.

Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

She is always watchful for anything or anyone who would harm her family and never passive in this area.

Nothing escapes her attention!

Her children want the world to know how precious their mother is to them.

Today, not many children honor their parents, but they should know that there is nothing more precious than loving parents.

Her husband praises her and expresses great appreciation for the support she has always given him.

Her husband knows he could not have chosen a better spouse for himself and his family.

Her driving force has always been the “fear of the Lord”.

Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

It is no different for the Church!

Only through the reverence of our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ is it able to express itself in a way that will reap the praise of God.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

*Pro 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Pro 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

This last passage should strike a note with us because the Lord Jesus said deceit is the main ingredient in these last days.

Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

This wise woman does not focus on deception.

She knows that personality and popularity do not always reveal a person’s true character.

People are not always genuine.

Many people today are masters at deceit, trying to get what they want from others, and the world is full of them at this time.

She can stand her ground because of her relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is our fear of the Lord who will lead us in the right direction.

She has given her life to raising her family and being a good wife to her husband.

No reward in this world can be given for the work she has done, for there is no work more important than the work she has done every day.

It is the same for the Church that remains the Bride of Christ.

There is no more important work than that of the Church that remains with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

It is the “fear of the Lord” that is the secret to a successful, satisfying, and blessed life here and then the great rewards of our Heavenly Home.

The Church has one job, and it is to remain close to Jesus Christ and do the work He has given us to do.

There is no greater work than this!

Amen

Church Missions

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Missionaries Sent To Start New Churches

Book of Acts Chapter 13

The persecution of Christians had finally led the Church to obeying the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus had said:

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

The Christian Church at Antioch had launched forth a deliberate effort to carry the Gospel to the entire world.

This Church commissioned its first two missionaries to tell the world of the desperate need for the Lord Jesus Christ.

This world does have a desperate need for the Lord Jesus Christ!

His message has not changed, and His message is the same today as it was when He first walked upon this earth!

There is no salvation without the Lord Jesus Christ, the Anointed One of God!

Not the Church at Jerusalem but the Church at Antioch had accepted the challenge of the Lord Jesus Christ and were determined to spread the “Gospel”.

As Christians this is our main job given to us by the Lord.

We all have a part to play in spreading the “Gospel of Jesus Christ”.

Of the many who had escaped the persecution in Jerusalem some had stopped in Antioch of Syria and formed a new church.

It appears that instead of having one man designated as the Pastor this church had five prophets and teachers.

*****Act 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

This church at Antioch was determined to do the commandments of Jesus Christ.

This church reached out to the world of the lost to teach them about the truth of the “Gospel”, the “Good News” to all the world and for all mankind.

In reality, there are thousands of Christians doing the work of Christ and the Bible cannot mention them all, but here in this passage the Bible mentions several men who were working hard in this church in Antioch Syria.

**Barnabas:

Barnabas was also called Joses.

Act 4:36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus

We see he was also a Levite and Luke described him as a good man.

He was born of Jewish parents but he was a native of Cyprus where he owned some land which he had sold to help with the Church at Jerusalem.

It is possible that Barnabas attended the same school of Gamaliel at the time of Paul.

It was Barnabas who was selected to lead the missions at this church in Antioch.

By following the lead of the Holy Spirit, Barnabas sought out Saul (Paul) to assist him.

We also first see John Mark who was still a young man, not yet thirty years old.

**Simeon:

Simeon was no doubt a black man. Some say this was Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross for Jesus Christ.

**Lucius:

Lucius was from Cyrene.

Cyrene which is located in Northern Africa and maybe the same location as modern-day Tripoli. He was probably a poor man but very rich in Jesus Christ as are all true Christians.

There were many Jews located at this place and many who had escaped the persecution going on in Jerusalem against the Church.

**Manaen

It is said that this man who was a teacher or prophet at Antioch was brought up with Herod Antipas and was possibly his “foster-brother”.

This type thing happened often in the Roman society where another child was selected to grow up a lone child of a high-ranking politician.

He was possibly educated in Rome.

**Then there was Saul.

Saul may have been mentioned last but only God knew what He was calling on Paul to do.

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

They all ministered for the Lord.

Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

We, as a part of the Church need to clearly understand this truth!

We can see that the Church at Antioch thrived because the Church leadership was diverse and from all social classes, but they all loved the Lord Jesus Christ.

Teaching is a high calling and is one of the great callings of the Holy Spirit.

Teaching is ranked second only to the Spiritual gift of prophet or pastor.

In the New Testament most preachers were also called prophets.

A prophet is a man who has the message given to them by God the Holy Spirit.

Every prophet or pastor should also be a teacher, but not every teacher will become a pastor or prophet.

There is no doubt every teacher will give a strict account to God for his faithfulness to the Word of God.

The sole goal of the teacher is to share the glorious truths of God with God’s people!

*****Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Ministering to the Lord means they spent much time in prayer and fasting to give themselves more undistracted time to spiritual things such as teaching the truth of God.

They often gathered together seeking the commands of the Lord.

When we do this we will find that the Holy Spirit will find us something to do in the power of the Church and the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit had a specific work for Saul and Barnabas.

We should be able to see that if we are not faithful to the ministry we are already in, then the Holy Spirit will not give us some other work of God to do.

Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Col 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

It is faithfulness that gains the trust of the Lord to do greater things for Him!

God will only call those who are already faithful to minister the Word of God.

Those who are not faithful to the Word of God but still say they are called are not God called, but they have called themselves and are the children of the Devil.

God will only use those who sense the desperate need of the world to find the Lord Jesus Christ when He is not hard to find because He is the One who is doing the seeking!

As I write all these things down, I can see clearly how I fail the Lord!

We should understand that Paul and Barnabas were not only called to a life of witnessing for the Lord. We are all called to do this!

The Holy Spirit was calling them to a lifetime in ministry of the Lord, the special calling of the Missionary.

God does not have a retirement plan other than our home in Heaven when our time is complete upon this earth.

The Holy Spirit will only speak to us when our heart and mind are clear in the work of the Lord!

To belong to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, is to belong to the Holy Spirit and surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s use and His will.

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Prayer and fasting truly become even more important to the ministry and the call of Christ.

*****Act 13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

It is of an immense importance to bathe “all” the missions of the Church with prayer and fasting.

It is foolish to launch a new mission without prayer and fasting!

We must always seek the face of God before we ever seek the arm of God!

Every mission must be commissioned by the Church body!

We must understand, it was the Holy Spirit who called Barnabas and Paul and set them apart for the mission field.

They did not call themselves!

The Body of Christ must acknowledge the call of the Holy Spirit.

The Body of Christ must commit its support and prayers to those called of God to do such things.

The Body of Christ must be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leadership by allowing these men to be separated from the church at Antioch.

This laying on of the hands was not like an ordination, but was an act showing the Church was in fellowship in the ministry of spreading the Gospel.

Any so-called church that does not support missions are not in obedience to the will of God for the Church!

These two men would be an arm of the church at Antioch reaching out into the world. This is what all missionaries are.

They must go out into the world with the Blessing of God, and with the blessing of this Church, but there must always be some means of accountability.

It is God the Holy Spirit who will decide where a mission is to begin!

*****Act 13:4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

Act 13:5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

We will notice that the Holy Spirit paints a graphic picture of the problems that arise in missions and evangelism.

Seleucia was the closest port to Antioch and from this port they would sail to Cyprus.

The Bible teaches us that this was Paul’s first missionary journey not Barnabas.

It is extremely important for us to know that the call to foreign missions is a work of the Holy Spirit!

The Church is to manage the local missions and also assist the foreign missions and evangelism!

Those missions that strike out without the Holy Spirit will fail!

We should not just strike out on our own in mission work. Not even local visitation should be taken on without prayer and the blessings of the Church!

This does not mean we are not to be witnesses for Jesus Christ at every opportunity as we should.

This work is already sanction by Jesus Christ Himself but all the work of the Church must be centered upon prayer and the Holy Spirit!

Paul and Barnabas were sent by the Holy Spirit and the Church was to assist in the many ways that a Church can.

We must clearly understand the leadership of the Holy Spirit is critical to every servant of God!

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit we will never succeed in any work for the Lord!

Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The Holy Spirit will even be giving us the words to say.

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Cyprus lay in the northeast corner of the Mediterranean Sea. It was a place that commercial ships would stop on their journeys to other places.

Cyprus was famous for their copper mines and shipbuilding industries, but it was as a resort area that brought the most revenue to this place.

The population was of Greeks and Phoenician, but there were also many Jews.

The false goddess Venus was worshipped as the goddess of love and lusts, and immorality.

Wickedness had taken over the island and they were in dire need of the Gospel.

The Romans had now ruled this island for about one hundred years and immorality followed the Romans everywhere they went and the Greeks were not much better in this day.

Keep in mind this was the home of Barnabas.

Salamis was the largest city on the island but was not the capitol city.

*****Act 13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

Paphos was the capitol city of Cypress.

We should understand that from the day these missionaries landed on the Island of Cypress until they had come to Paphos, they had preached in every city and town along that route.

Paphos was a thriving city and a seat of the Roman government on this island.

Paphos was also a pagan stronghold for the worship of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. A false deity.

Cypress was great tourist attraction because of its beaches and warm climate and its cities were usually very busy with people from all walks of life.

These are places that Satan loves to get involved in.

There was a false prophet by the name of Barjesus in this city.

We should understand that if there were no false prophets, then there would be no false teaching!

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

We can also be sure that when our missionaries preach the truth, Satan’s false prophets will go against them.

It can be much easier to preach against some idea than to preach against a false prophet, especially one who is deep seated in the government.

We have this in our own government today!

Most all false prophets will reach out to the governments long before they ever reach out to the people!

Christianity reaches out to people as instructed by the Lord Jesus.

It is those Christians that should seek to be a part of the government.

Our world is full of false prophets and false ideas about God!

The is the reason a Bible translated from the original text are so important!

Notice this false prophet was also a sorcerer.

We should not doubt the Satan will be behind any power that these children of the Devil may have, and they may be able to show certain powers.

*****Act 13:7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

That term “deputy” has the meaning of Roman proconsul who the Bible says he was a prudent man.

A prudent man can be a “man of understanding” who is cautious before he acts upon things.

He possessed some knowledge of many things but at this time did not possess the knowledge of the One True God.

He was controlled more by his mind than by his feelings and emotions.

As Christians this is a good trait for us all to have.

We cannot allow our feelings and emotions to be our guide, we need the truth of God!

The Word of God is about the truth, and not about feelings and emotions.

Up until this time of Barnabas and Paul, he had been seeking the truth in philosophy, science, and religion.

None of these things will lead you to salvation!

Most all those in government will have someone like this sorcerer around them and they will trust them for answers when they are confused and this is where Satan will dominate them.

This man had a desire to hear the Word of God.

No doubt this proconsul had heard of what was going on his island and he wanted to hear it for himself.

One other important thing to mention is the fact that without believers witnessing for the Lord, no one will hear the Word of God.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

This man “Barjesus” had a truthful name.

*****Act 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

The name Elymas has the meaning of magician and corrupter. The term Elymas was the official title of this sorcerer.

We can be sure he was more a corrupter than a magician!

Elymas was doing his absolute best to keep this proconsul from hearing the Word of God.

The name Barjesus means the son of Jesus or sone of Joshua.

The name Jesus was a name that was popular in this age.

When this man stood toe to toe against God’s missionaries, then God brought judgment against him.

It is dangerous to go against the One True God.

Mar 9:40 For he that is not against us is on our part.

Mar 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Mar 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

It is not Paul who put a stop to this corrupter, it was the Holy Spirit!

*****Act 13:9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

Act 13:10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

Act 13:11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

I am sure there are things like this that go on today but the difference here is, the Church was just getting started and God was not going to allow the Devil to stop it.

Mat_16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

God will only tolerate so much sin from any individual!

When the Holy Spirit is working on an individual, He will not allow Satan to interfere with His work and Satan certainly does not have the power to stand up to God and he will always have to flee the power of the Holy Spirit.

Those under Holy Ghost conviction will get their opportunity to decide for themselves if they accept the Word of God or not!

God will not do His work of salvation any other way!

It was Sergius Paulus that had decided to hear the Word of God and God was certainly going to allow this to happen, even if He already knew the results.

The Apostle Paul knew this man Barjesus was a fraud!

This child of the Devil was an enemy of all righteousness!

1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

What do false prophets do? They pervert the right ways of the Lord Jesus Christ!

We should also note that this is the first place that Saul is called Paul.

There are many things we can determine about this “judgment” of Elymas.

1) The blindness will only be for a season, so he is given room to repent.

God is also God of the second chance and most of us know that we did not come to Christ the first time that the Holy Spirit called.

2) This was a just judgment.

This was blindness for blindness and darkness for darkness.

When we blind ourselves to the truth of God, then God may pass judgement in that act of blindness.

3) This judgment was immediate.

By rejecting the truth of God we have given ourselves over to sin!

We cannot take the right ways of God and make them crooked; God will not allow this to happen for very long.

We see much of this going on today.

Isa_5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

There are a certain group of politicians who claim to be Christian, but they still approve of the sins of our world today.

This is taking the right ways of God and making them crooked.

Their salvation is a false salvation and they need to repent.

Just as this false prophet was perverting the cause of Christ these politicians are doing the same thing.

This man Barjesus was an agent for Hell and so are all those who pervert the Word of God!

Notice false prophets are full of craftiness and malice.

One man became a believer once he knew the truth.

*****Act 13:12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

This deputy had spent a lot of time with this Elymas and thought him to have certain powers which he probably did have of Satan’s power.

When he saw the power that the Holy Spirit had shared with Paul, he was amazed and astonished.

We do not know of this man’s salvation other than what the Bible says, “he believed”.

Tradition says this man not only helped with the spreading of the “Gospel” on the island of Cyprus but that he became bishop of Narbonne in France and was left there by the Apostle Paul as he traveled to Spain.

Mission work is doing the work that God has given us to do.

Mission work is being obedient to the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Not everyone can be a missionary, but we all can share in the responsibility of mission work in our church.

If we can do nothing else, we can pray!

It is the Holy Spirit who calls missionaries, some to foreign lands, some to our homeland, and even some to be locals but we of the church are still to do our own mission work bathed in prayer and fasting.

Today our church reaches around the world with our broadcast, our supported missions, and our church people.

This is what the Lord expects us all to do and we must continue until the Lord returns.

Amen

Counting the Years Until the Messiah

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Number of the Years

Book of Daniel Chapter 9

Focus Daniel 9:1-3, 19-27

Most people avoid the Book of Daniel but if you base your beliefs on facts, most of what God’s Prophet Daniel has written down for us has already become the truth and those things written in our future will also come to be true.

The Book of Daniel deals with facts!

Daniel was in constant contact with our Heavenly Father all the days of his life!

We already know that Daniel always prayed 3 times each day but the truth is every time Daniel had a thought or if he learned something he did not quite understand, Daniel always went to the Lord in prayer. A great example for us all.

Paul said we are to pray without ceasing and the Prophet Daniel was one of God’s children who did so.

Another thing we should remember is, that no matter that Daniel was taken away from his homeland and knew of the destruction of Jerusalem, Daniel remained faithful to Jehovah all his days.

When have studied the Word of God enough to know the Lord always does everything the right way because His Heavenly Father insisted on it, then we will know that our Heavenly Father will never do things that are wrong for His children!

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Even when threatened with death, Daniel remained faithful to Jehovah, the One True God!

What did we learn from the Book of Ezekiel? God rewards faithfulness!

Daniel was always one who would give us a timeframe, so we do not have to guess.

*Dan 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;

It is this Darius who conceived a plan to secretly enter into Babylon, while the Babylon army was unprepared, killed King Belshazzar and took over the rule of the Chaldean nations.

Some say he was a viceroy of Cyrus and this may be true, but he ruled Babylon for short period of time.

We should understand that this was prophesy being fulfilled.

Daniel had interpreted the dream of Nebuchadnezzar and this was the beginning of the fulfillment of that dream and that prophesy.

Prophesy is such a fascinating subject that most of us love to hear about our future.

I have to admit that I am not studied enough to give good lessons on this subject, there is only just so much material that can included in 30 minute lessons.

For those who do not know these are the same lessons I teach in Sunday School.

The greatest future is available to only those who have their name written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life!

We should not miss the fact that Daniel was studying the Scriptures and came across the written Book of Jeremiah and the prophesy that the Jews would return to their homeland at the end of 70 years and Daniel was trying to see in his mind how these things would take place.

Daniel himself, with Jehovah’s help, had interpreted the dream of Nebuchadnezzar and right before his own eyes he was seeing this thing take place.

*Dan 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

What did Daniel see in the Book of Jeremiah?

Jer 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
Jer 25:12 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.
Jer 25:13 And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.

Daniel realized that part of these words of Jeremiah had become the truth. We should understand that the Word of God contains only the truth!

The King of Babylon had been punished. The nation of the Chaldees were being punished by the foreign power, that that was the silver of the statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

Some say the two arms of that statue represent one Darius and two Cyrus.

We can be sure that Daniel was also familiar with the Scriptures of Isaiah.

Isa 44:21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.

We can say that this is still true today.

And another great prophesy would be soon in the making, which again left Daniel in amazement. The omnipotence of God. The All-Knowing Jehovah God!

Isa 44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
Isa 44:23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
Isa 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Isa 44:25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
Isa 44:26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:
Isa 44:27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
Isa 44:28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

We can just imagine the thrill of Daniel as he heard that Cyrus had united the Medo-Persian Empire and was the supreme rule of a big part of the world. Even larger than that of Nebuchadnezzar.

There was really only one thing to do and that was to pray.

*Dan 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Dan 9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
Dan 9:5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
Dan 9:6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

You if we would just look at what is going on in the world today as we live, we would see the Word of God being fulfilled right before our eyes, but we will never know unless we study the Scriptures and the Prophets, as did the Prophet Daniel.

How can we ever know the truth of our world if we refuse to read and study the Word of God?

There is so much in our future to look forward to when your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life!

We could leave the doom and gloom of our world behind in our thoughts of the delightful things of living with our Savior.

Rememeber Jesus said, I go to prepare “you” a mansion, in my Father’s House.

When we know the truth of God, why in the world do we not claim that truth and quit worrying over the lies of this world!

Our world is not coming to an end, it is the Lord who is in control, not the so-called powerful men in our world.

We do abuse our world, but we are not the cause of climate change, it is the Lord who is in control.

We just need to make daily contact with our Heavenly Father!

Daniel saw the fulfillment of promises made to his people.

We are blind if we do not see those same promises then and now.

The world is moving along according to the plan of God! Nothing can change this!

The Church needs to quit belly aching and get busy about the work the Lord has given to us to do. This is what our world lacks the most!

We have always seen where that the Lord’s rewards come according to our faithfulness! He is always faithful to fulfill His own Words!

Our faithfulness begins with our prayers!

We show our faithfulness by accepting the Word of God just as it is written!

We need to live as though the Lord could return at any time because He could.

There are no more prophecies that need be fulfilled in the Church Age except the Lord’s return!

All other prophecies concern Israel and the promises made to Israel.

1) We must clearly understand that disaster comes to those who refuse to repent and turn away from their sin, and to all those who reject the Word of God!

2) Disaster comes to those because the Lord is a righteous God and to be true to those who love Him, He must execute justice upon all those who are disobedient!

The Lord knows those who Love Him!

Those who love the Lord pray!
Those who love the Lord call upon His Holy Name!
Those who love the Lord will confess that they are sinners!

How does the Lord know we love Him?

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

If we truly believe these things, what is wrong with us?
Why do we not claim the truth of God?
Why do we not own our faith and our faithfulness?

If, we pray with the truth in our heart, God will answer our prayers!

Now we may not get a visit from the angel Gabriel, but even this is not impossible!

When we pray, we must know what we are asking God to do, and we must know He will only do according to the Word He has given to us!

*Dan 9:19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

When Daniel prayed this prayer, Jerusalem was a city of ruins and the Temple of Solomon was completely destroyed and the Jews were scattered all over the empire of Babylon, which had just been taken over by the Medes.

Daniel was not praying because these Jews had become righteous because they had not, and we will never be righteous in these bodies of flesh.

No matter, our righteousness the Lord is always righteous.

Daniel was praying for God’s mercy!

We know God is love and His mercy is based upon His love. If we show mercy, then we can receive the mercy of God!

Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Mercy is compassion shown to those who are miserable!

Most all these Jews were miserable in captivity. Misery is great unhappiness.

Without the Lord we will never know true happiness!

Our happiness is based upon our faithfulness to the Lord!

Mat_25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

The truth is the Lord has sworn an oath that He would never forsake Israel.

The truth is the Lord will always be merciful to those who repent from the heart!

Today we live in a world where most people and a lot of the Church, have forgotten that there is a penalty for violating God’s commandments and that penalty is death!

Without repentance that penalty of death will hold true!

Should we plead with God in our prayers? In some cases we may need to be almost like a pest.

The Lord wants to know if we are serious!

We see that Daniel did and Daniel pleaded that God would do exactly like He said He would.

Luk 11:8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
Luk 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Luk 11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

After 70 years these Jews had learned a valuable lesson, which was, you do not go against the Word of God and win!

Our world has not learned this lesson as of yet!

God did not have to look at Jerusalem to see the devastation left by Nebuchadnezzar.

God makes things out of nothing, so things that are destroyed in the world, including terrible damage, are nothing compared to His awesome power of life.

If God can make the Sun and the stars then a city or a Temple is nothing to Him!

But the Lord God will not do things we can build ourselves but He will help us even in these things.

After those 70 years the Lord did allow many of these Jews to return to Jerusalem and Jehovah even caused the enemy to pay for the reconstruction of the City of Jerusalem and the Temple and then the City Walls.

When the time is right, the Lord will even cause the enemies of the Jews to pay for the building of the third temple and even endorse it.

*Dan 9:20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;
Dan 9:21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

We might ask, why was Daniel so much more important than we to get his prayer so quickly.

1) The Lord loved Daniel.
2) Daniel had been faithful all his days.
3) Daniel did not ask anything for himself. After the Jews returned home, Daniel stayed where he was all his remaining days.
4) Daniel prayed according to the revealed will of God.
5) God had more work for Daniel to do while he remained in Babylon.

We can see the phrase “being cause to fly swift” to mean that God answered this prayer of Daniel even while he was still praying.

God did not want Daniel to be too concerned about the war that was happening around him, and he only needed to concern himself with the answer to his prayer.

God had already given Daniel the prophecies concerning the rule of all nations. This was not going to change and there was no need of asking for these things to change.

The Babylon Empire had ended, and the Mede-Persian Empire was in place.

Soon the armies of Alexander would come and after this the Roman Empire would begin. Even this empire is gone as it was and we are now left with the resuts. The ten toes of iron mixed with miry clay.

Even though Daniel could not live long enough to see all these things come to be, he did know what the Lord said is always true.

In the end that “Rock” that “Stone” cut out by the hands of God would rule this world!

Now Jehovah would give Daniel the approximate times this would take place.

Daniel had seen that a “prayer of faith” is the most powerful tool we have as those who love God.
Daniel had seen that, he had sin in his life, and he confessed his sin.
Daniel was also asking the Lord to forgive the sin of his nation. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Daniel was praying for the Lord to come as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Daniel did not realize that the Lord would certainly come twice and most all the Jews had missed that the Lord would first come to establish His Church and then return to rule this world.

We know that Gabriel did not just drop in to check on Daniel. Gabriel was sent by Jehovah. The angels are first and foremost God’s messengers!

By the way, in this Scripture is written, Gabriel could have come in the glory of an angel when in most cases angels come as humans.

Remember Daniel is having another vision, this vision more like a dream or being in a trance, rather than a Supernatural vision.

Daniel had seen Gabriel before:

Dan 8:15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
Dan 8:16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

This time Gabriel had a more specific mission!

*Dan 9:22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
Dan 9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

Gabriel had left Heaven from the face of God, coming directly to Daniel to cause Daniel to understand a great message.

The message concerned the first and the second coming of the Messiah. (Yeshua Ha Meshia)

What had Daniel seen? The Word of God is intended to encourage our prayers! When we see with our own eyes the fulfillment of a prophesy of God, or we see it approaching, we need to be more earnest in our prayers and the confessing of our sin.

We should concentrate not only on speaking to the Lord but also on listening to what the Lord has to say.

At the very beginning of Daniel’s prayer God already knew what Daniel would pray and the Lord sent Gabriel.

He first told Daniel the he was greatly loved, and this is true of every child of God and certainly true of Daniel who had remained faithful to his God all his days, even if he was a captive in a foreign land.

We must never forget, we are the adopted children of God. He chose us and He loves us!

When we are looking to see what God is telling us, the best place to look is in the message of a true pastor!

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

So what was the message given to Gabriel for Daniel?

*Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

So how do we explain those 70 weeks.

This space of “seventy” weeks is not to be understood of weeks of days; which is too short a time for the fulfilment of so many events as are mentioned; nor were they fulfilled within such a space of time; but of weeks of years, and make up four hundred and ninety years; within which time, beginning from a date after mentioned, all the things prophesied of were accomplished; and this way of reckoning of years by days is not unusual in the sacred writings.

Gen 29:26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
Gen 29:27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
Gen 29:28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

Jacobs week of 7 days was a period of 7 years he served to Rachel his wife he desired so much.

Seventy years according to the Bible is our prime years and any years beyond those 70 requires so much extra strength they are hard to live.

Psa 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Notice the days of our years.

Jeremiah prophesied Judah would serve 70 years in Babylon.

Jer 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

2 Chronicles saw the completion of those 70 years as the coming of Cyrus.

2Ch 36:21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
2Ch 36:22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

Notice the “Sabbath Year”.

In every seventh year it was God’s commandment the land would receive one year of rest.

The prophet Zechariah saw the ending of those 70 years as the rebuilding of the Temple.

Zec 1:12 Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?

For most Bible Scholars these references to sabbath years are to be sabbatical years and to be 490 years according to the Book of Leviticus.

Lev 25:8 And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.

Since Israel had not kept the “sabbatical year” since the time of the Judges, then God would give the Promised Land 70 consecutive sabbatical years during their exile again 490 years.

Back to Daniel 24:

1) The first part of God’s plan is to stop the transgression of the Jews. This will only fully take place at the Second Coming of the Lord. The end of those 490 years.

2) The second part of God’s plan is to put an end to sin in this world. This will take place during the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ.

3) The third part of God’s plan is to atone for all wickedness. This took place on Mount Calvary where the Lord Jesus Christ made atonement for all our sin. ALL the Sin of All the People since Jesus died on the Cross.

4) The fourth part of God’s plan is to establish righteousness upon this earth. Again during the Millennial Reign of Christ.

5) The fifth part of God’s plan is to fulfill all prophesy. Takes place when we have reached the New Earth and the New Jerusalem.

6) The sixth part of God’s plan is to anoint the Most Holy. This is the anointing of the Lord Jesus Christ. King of kings and Lord of lords!

So when would these things begin?

*Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

The starting point of God’s plan would be the decree to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple and that completion, would not happen till the walls of the city were also complete. This would take 49 years.

The first decree was issued buy Cyrus in 538 BC but stressed the rebuilding of the Temple.

Ezr 1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
Ezr 1:2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Ezr 1:3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.

The second decree went out from Artaxerxes I, and given to Ezra in 458 BC and this time it was to rebuild the city of Jerusalem.

Ezr 7:11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
Ezr 7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
Ezr 7:13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

Sometime later a third decree issued in 445 BC finally caused the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.

Neh 2:3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

Neh 2:5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.

This was the 49 years of the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Then began the 62 weeks or the 434 years to the first coming of the Messiah.

Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

What was not revealed to Daniel was the Church Age, which began when the Messiah was cut off.

*Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

What do we know? We know that Jesus Christ did not die for Himself. He died for me and He died for you, and He died for everyone else who have sin to their account!

To the world of that day, it seemed that Jesus died for nothing.

To the world of that day, it seemed that Jesus did not accomplish anything with His life.

What the world rejects is that Jesus, God in the flesh, came to this earth to die. He died so that we may live!

Jesus Christ is everything to all those who trust Him!

Just a few short years after Jesus died and then rose from that death to live 40 more days and had many more witnesses and then went back to Heaven, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple but this did not end the suffering for Israel because they made one more tremendous mistake.

Mat 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
Mat 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

As it stands right now the Jews will continue to be punished until the Lord returns for the second time.

Between then and now, it what is called the Church Age!

This is the gap between the 69nth and the 70th week.

This leaves one 7.

*Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

This new covenant is the covenant of “Grace”.

What did Jesus say of this time period?

Mat 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

We need to pay attention to the teaching of Jesus and the Apostles, including the Apostle Paul, and we will know all these things and miss out on the wrath of god shown to all unbelievers!

Amen

Let’s Pray!