The Heaton File

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the citadel, that Hanani, one of my brethren, came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:1-4)

Caring For The Work Of The Lord

Nehemiah had never seen Jerusalem. He was born in captivity and served in the court of the king as a cupbearer. Jerusalem had fallen to the Babylonians approximately 140 years earlier, resulting in the seventy-year captivity of God’s people. Ninety years had passed since the decree of Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to their homeland. The second temple had been built, but the city itself remained in ruins. Nehemiah inquired of Hanani, who had come from Judah, concerning the condition of the Jews and the state of Jerusalem. To his dismay, Nehemiah learned that the people were in great distress and that the city remained in ruins, with its walls broken down and its gates burned with fire.

The news of Jerusalem devastated Nehemiah. He wept, mourned for many days, fasted, and prayed. His heart turned to God as he sought His mercy and help for the beloved city. What is striking about Nehemiah is how deeply he cared for Jerusalem, the city of David, where the temple of Solomon had once stood as the center of Israel’s worship. His grief came from the history he had learned about Jerusalem, its grandeur, majesty, and beauty. Everything Nehemiah knew about the city had come through the teachings of God’s Law and the traditions passed down from one generation to another. Yet, although he had never walked its streets or seen its former glory, he was deeply affected because he cared about the work of the Lord.

Nehemiah would eventually receive permission from the king to travel to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls. His leadership provides a remarkable example of planning, prayer, and dependence upon God’s providence. Under his direction, the walls were rebuilt in just fifty-two days. Despite considerable opposition, Nehemiah pressed forward. He united the people in the work, organizing them to build while remaining prepared to defend themselves. Everyone took a part in repairing the gates, rebuilding the walls, and protecting the work. Some attacked Nehemiah’s character. Others attempted to stop the construction, while some refused to participate. Yet nothing could turn Nehemiah away from the work God had placed before him.

The energy that fueled Nehemiah’s spirit was his love for God. He loved everything associated with the work of the Lord and felt compelled to do his part in restoring Jerusalem. What stands out in his life is how deeply he cared about God’s work. Great men and women of Scripture share a common characteristic: they cared about the purposes of God. Abraham left his homeland because he trusted the promises of God. Moses led the people of Israel because he was committed to the deliverance of God’s people. The early saints carried the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world, preaching repentance and remission of sins because they cared about the work of the kingdom.

Jesus left His place with the Father and took upon Himself human flesh because of His love for the world. His sacrifice made redemption possible through the grace of God and the shedding of His blood. The early church grew through the devoted hearts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, and countless brethren who cared about the salvation of souls. Many gave their lives in service to Christ. Paul endured suffering and ultimately faced death because he remained devoted to the work of the Lord. One characteristic of the early saints was their love for Christ. Their hearts were united in the purpose for which Jesus came into the world.

The church has continued for more than two thousand years through the dedication of precious saints who have devoted their lives to preaching, teaching, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Congregations have been established across the globe through the efforts of those who cared enough to teach the lost. Millions of souls have been brought to Christ because someone cared about the spiritual condition of a neighbor, friend, or family member. The church will continue to exist, but individual congregations need souls who, like Nehemiah, genuinely care about the work of the Lord.

Many congregations struggle because members have lost their first love. What is needed is a revival of the spirit demonstrated by Nehemiah—a renewed concern for the work of God. Prayer, commitment, planning, and faithful execution must follow that concern. Before the walls could be rebuilt, Nehemiah had to care enough to weep over their destruction. Before the church can grow, God’s people must care enough about its mission to become involved in the work.

The question is simple but searching: How much do you care about the work of the Lord?

“Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)

Where Is Your Name Written?

Names identify who a person is, their character, their story, and their historical significance. Jezebel immediately brings to mind images of immorality. Adolf Hitler is a name infamous for one of the worst atrocities in human history. George Washington is a name associated with nobility as the leader of the Continental Army and the first President of the United States. Abraham Lincoln is a name synonymous with noble character. The greatest name of all is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. No other name under heaven can bring salvation except the name of Jesus.

Jesus sent out seventy men to preach the kingdom of God. They went out two by two as lambs among wolves to proclaim the kingdom, heal the sick, and prepare the way for the gospel of Jesus Christ. When the seventy returned, they rejoiced with great joy, declaring that even the demons were subject to them in the name of Christ. What a great victory over Satan’s forces! They had been given authority to overcome the devil’s minions. This was certainly cause for great celebration, but the seventy had missed the greatest message of their mission.

Jesus commended them for their work and acknowledged that Satan had been defeated through their efforts. The thirty-five groups had taken the power of God’s message into a world darkened by sin and returned victorious. But Jesus tempered their joy with the eternal knowledge of what mattered most. Their work was glorious. Their victory over Satan was cause for great rejoicing. Yet the one thing that mattered most was that these seventy men could know their names were written in heaven.

There are many victories over Satan that cause the heart to rejoice and shout praises to God. Sharing the gospel with the world is a monumental task of global proportions, and there is much work to be done. What Jesus reminds His devoted servants is that nothing is more important than knowing where salvation is found. Paul rejoiced with the saints in Philippi because their names were written in the Book of Life. Jesus promised the faithful Christians in Sardis that their names would remain in the Book of Life and that He would confess their names before the Father and His angels.

John closes the book of Revelation with the imagery of the dead, both small and great, standing before God as the books are opened and they are judged according to their works. Among those books is the Book of Life. Anyone whose name is not found written in the Book of Life is cast into the lake of fire. Only those whose names are written in the Book of Life will receive eternal life. Revelation also warns against adding to or taking away from God’s word and declares the consequences of such actions. The difference between eternal life and everlasting destruction is where a person’s name is found.

Jesus rejoiced with the seventy because their names were written in heaven. Having a name inscribed in marble for man’s glory is fleeting. Men seek the glory of this world and desire to be remembered throughout history, not realizing that within a few generations their names will be forgotten. Exalting a name in this life brings no lasting glory. If a person’s name is not written in heaven, everything else is lost. The Book of Life contains the names of the saved. Life is not measured by how men remember a name but by whether God has written that name in the Book of Life. The eternal question will always be: Is your name written in heaven?

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16)

Preparing the Mind for Action

A slogan from many years ago suggested that a mind is a terrible thing to waste. A man’s character is rooted in the character of his mind. The wise man said that a man is what he thinks he is. Allowing the devil to destroy the mind is a terrible thing. Satan knows that the mind is the battlefield upon which he wages war against the soul of man. Peter admonishes the saints, who were facing persecution, not to allow the devil to sway their minds into giving up or turning away from the faith. It would take great courage to face the temptations of the spirit, the persecution of the world, and the desire to give up. Christians must wage war against the devil with faith, courage, hope, and a clear mind.

Peter gives clear instructions for preparing the mind. First, the mind must be gathered together and firmly established in truth. Albert Barnes writes, “The allusion here is to the manner in which the Orientals were accustomed to dress. They wear loose, flowing robes, so that, when they wish to run, or to fight, or to apply themselves to any business, they are obliged to bind their garments close around them.” In a spiritual sense, fighting against the devil requires concentrated attention to his evil schemes so that they can be refuted, refused, and rejected. An unsettled mind will not prevail against such a powerful foe. The mind must be continually prepared to stand for the truth. This preparation comes from spending time in the Word of God so that faith can be firmly planted in the heart.

It takes a sober mind to battle Satan. The devil should never be underestimated. He is a roaring lion with great influence and power, and the only way to defeat him is through the power of God. Without a mind that remains clear about the dangers of sin, the devil’s influence can overcome and destroy the soul. Using the metaphor of drunkenness, a mind intoxicated by the wiles of the devil will produce nothing good. Being sober means keeping the mind clear and alert. The Christian should never allow the influences of the evil one to invade the mind and corrupt the holiness that should dwell there. Sobriety comes from placing the hope of eternal life firmly in the heart and mind and never losing sight of that hope.

Hope comes through obedience to the gospel. There was a time when the Christian stood outside the blessings of God and was lost in sin. Through obedient faith, the mind of God’s children becomes firmly established in His truths. The hope of eternal life is grounded in the understanding that, just as God is holy, His children must live holy lives. Living a holy life requires removing evil influences from the heart. The Christian must not conform his life to the temptations and desires of the world. Every Christian is called to holiness, and God expects His children to live holy lives. The Christian should desire holiness because he wants to be like his Father. Every characteristic of the Father should be reflected in the lives of those who have been born again into the family of God.

Holiness comes from a sound mind, a mind that is girded and firmly planted in the grace of God. Paul reminds the Romans that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Holiness comes from living a faithful life dedicated and devoted to knowing and following the Word of God. The more time spent in the message of hope, the more firmly the mind is girded with the strength needed to withstand the attacks of Satan. Knowing that Jesus shed His own precious blood to redeem the soul from Hell should direct the heart toward a greater desire to live a holy life. To be holy is to prepare the mind for action. The battle is real, but the victory is assured through Christ. Girding the mind prepares the Christian to stand against Satan and secures the hope of eternal life with God. Let’s gird our minds.

When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. (Luke 22:49-51)

The Miracle No One Saw

It was a night of betrayal when Judas agreed with the Jewish leaders to deliver Jesus to them. Judas knew where to find the Lord and brought a detachment of troops, including Roman legionaries and Levitical guards from the temple. Officers from the chief priests, along with the chief priests and Pharisees, came to arrest Jesus with lanterns, torches, and weapons. A great multitude was armed with swords and clubs. Twelve men stood in the Garden of Gethsemane awaiting the surge of people pouring out of Jerusalem. Only one man knew why they were coming.

Judas first approached Jesus to identify Him with a kiss. The soldiers laid hands on Jesus and took him. Seeing what the multitude was doing, the eleven asked Jesus if He wanted them to attack the multitude and rescue Him. At the same time, Peter drew a sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. Peter was going to make good his boast to die with the Lord. The servant he struck was named Malchus. John knew the high priest’s household and knew Malchus by name. In response to Peter’s rash act, Jesus touched Malchus’s ear and healed him.

All the disciples left Jesus and fled. The detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. They led Him away to the house of Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Lost in the hurriedness of arresting Jesus and dragging Him before the Jewish courts was the miracle of healing the ear of Malchus. The gospel writers do not attempt to count the number of miracles Jesus performed during His short ministry, but they would be innumerable. Thousands of people received Jesus’ healing power. Many miracles were done in quiet places, without fanfare. Often, Jesus performed a miracle in the presence of His harshest critics and devoted enemies. In the final hours of His life, Jesus healed a man in the presence of a great crowd of Gentiles and Jews, and no one seemed to care.

Malchus, for one, should have cried out to the mob to see what Jesus did when Jesus healed him. He remained silent. What became of Malchus is unknown, but he lived the rest of his life knowing that, in an instant, Jesus healed him. The pain of having an ear cut by a sword was intense, and there would have been a lot of blood. Without hesitating, Jesus healed his ear. Those standing by would have seen the ear restored and the blood dried up. There were many torches to light up the night for everyone to see. But no one saw a great miracle. No one saw the miracle maker show His power in His final hours. They could only see a man they hated and wanted to kill. And their wish came true the next day.

Many stories describe Jesus healing in the presence of the Jewish leaders, His disciples, and the multitudes. Every miracle Jesus performed testified that He was the Son of God, but many could not see His divinity because of His humanity. A great miracle is done (what miracle isn’t great?), and some deny God’s power and walk away. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after four days, people plotted to kill Him. Why would anyone want to kill a man who raised another from the dead? Like in the Garden of Gethsemane, in the final hours of Jesus’ life, He once again performed a miracle, and they killed Him because they could not see who He was.

The world can see God’s power in the story of Jesus Christ. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the miracle of the Seed promise made in the Garden of Eden is clearly seen generations later in the miracle in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is the Son of God. He can restore the soul of man to God through His blood. Jesus came to give His life through death so that mankind can find life in their death in the waters of baptism. What is heartbreaking is what the world refuses to see. A great miracle is given for the world to see a risen Christ, and they turn to reject Him. Salvation can only come when the eyes see Jesus for who He truly came to be – Savior. Open the eyes. See Jesus and His power.

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)

Not Everyone Is A True Preacher

Truth is older than error. Satan continually infiltrates the people of God with those who pretend to preach the word of God but are, in fact, false prophets and teachers. The error they teach is the great lie of the adversary of all men. While the world is held under the sway of his lies, the devil is crafty to embed those within the family of God who do not teach truth and present damnable heresies that are accepted as truth. And, like sheep led to the slaughter, many follow the teachings of men who are false to their eternal destruction.

Jesus taught that false teachers would arise in the kingdom of God. The apostles fought against the doctrines of men interposed upon the word of truth. The Holy Spirit warned of apostasy where the people of God would have itching ears to hear some new doctrine or follow some appealing gospel. False prophets have always been around. The nation of Israel was doomed through the teachings of false prophets. If Satan would attack the nation of God with false prophets, there is no doubt the devil will plant false prophets within the borders of God’s kingdom.

Paul warned the Ephesian elders of men who would rise from among themselves that were like savage wolves, speaking perverse things to draw away the people of God. In the church of Ephesus, false teachers would seize control and lead the church of Christ into falsehood, lies, deception, and error. Peter warned the church of false teachers among the faithful. Satan will present himself as a minister of light through the lives of these false teachers to destroy the church. Through the destructive heresies, the church will be led away from the truth found in Jesus Christ. The end will be the destruction of many souls.

False teachers are dangerous because they destroy souls. Their teachings are not from the word of God. They create doctrines foreign to scripture. Churches are created that cannot be found in Scripture. There are many preachers or so-called ‘pastors’ who are leading people astray through their own doctrines. They deny the teaching of salvation as given by Jesus and the Holy Spirit (sinners’ prayer, denying sins washed away). Worship is nothing like the early church. The church hierarchy is polluted in churches such as one man over a worldwide church (the Pope), preachers controlling churches, and women taking leadership roles. All of this comes from the false teachings and pernicious doctrines of corrupt men.

False preachers are real. And false preachers make false followers. Peter warned of false prophets to encourage the saints to examine the word of God and to test all the spirits. Every hearer of the gospel must be a diligent student to carefully examine what is taught and what is written (such as this brief). No one is exempt. Every word and thought must be challenged against what the Bible says. The Bible is the only revealed word of God, excluding the manuals, dogmas, and teachings of men (Book of Mormon, Koran). Truth is found in the Bible and the Bible alone, but that requires every soul to seek, examine, question, and challenge all teaching. If false doctrines are not challenged, false hope is established. And when false hope is established, souls are lost.

The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Psalm 90:10)

The Days Of Our Lives

Moses lived an incredible 120 years, but his life was short. The years of a man’s life in the early days of the earth filled hundreds of years, and then they died. It matters not how long a man lives but how he lives the length of his life. Age is a number to mark the march of time. It has nothing to do with length of age, serving only as a reminder of life’s brevity. The old must die, and the young can die. Whatever the days of life will be is undetermined, but the reality of its end must be remembered as certain. No man lives forever in this life. Eternal life is what comes after death.

Adolescence is a time of great energy and innocence. The youthfulness of the teen years leads to young adulthood, where marriage is found, and families are begun. Through the growing years of family life comes the exhausting activity of caring for a family and preparing them for a life of their own. Soon, children leave home and begin families of their own. Life settles into looking forward to retirement. The birthdays multiply. Time creates the burdens of older age. Moses suggested the days of life to be about seventy years, if not eighty by reason of strength.

Young children live in an innocent world of fantasy that belies life’s seriousness. God made them to have pure hearts. As we grow older, the focus shifts to the brevity of life and the reality of its end. The spectrum from innocent children to fully aware older adults reflects the days of life that all share. Death can come for anyone at any age, but growing older guarantees the reality. Moses said the days of life are seventy years with the possibility of eighty. Modern science and medicine have stretched life expectancy into the late 70s and 80s, but that’s still a small dash of life between two dates.

Reaching the seventh decade of life reminds the heart how close one comes to death. Some live in their hundreds but not far beyond. If a man lives to be 110 years, the age of seventy is less than half a life; far less. Most do not reach the age of 100, which means a person has lived 70% of their life at best. Life becomes a matter of focus. What is discovered is that the reality of life and death is no more different at 70 than it was at 35. Life is short. Eternity is dependent upon this brief, short, and fleeting life.

Moses said there was nothing to brag about reaching the age of 70 or 80. To boast is only labor and sorrow because death comes soon regardless. The view is narrowed, but it remains the same. He lived fifty years beyond the seventy mark in good health; his eye was not dim, nor his strength abated, but he still died. The days of a man’s life are vanity because, while it may seem like many years for a man to live to be nearly 100, the days of life are short. What brings joy to the heart facing the final days of life is knowing that all God has said about eternity is about to burst upon the scene. It is poetic that Moses describes death as flying away. Life is cut off, and then the soul flies away. Being found in Jesus Christ assures the heart that when the shadow of death surrounds the soul, the light of God’s grace will usher the soul, by the hands of angels, to the bosom of Abraham.

And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” (Acts 17:19-20)

The Sermon On The Hill

Athens was one of the most celebrated cities of the ancient world. It was the capital of Attica and the chief seat of Grecian learning and civilization during Greece’s golden age. The Athenians loved spending much of their time outdoors, discussing philosophy, religion, and new ideas. Athens was a city given wholly over to idols, to which a Roman satirist remarked that it was “easier to find a god at Athens than a man.” It is in this city the apostle Paul found himself as he waited for Silas and Timothy to join him.

While roving the marketplaces of Athens and seeing the excess of idol worship, Paul was torn in his spirit to reason in the synagogue with the Jews and devout persons. The marketplace became a pulpit for the apostle to challenge the idolatrous life of the Athenians. Certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers challenged the teachings of Paul. Some called Paul a babbler and proclaimer of foreign gods. The Athenians had not heard of the Christ proclaimed by Paul as one who had been killed and raised from the dead. This was a novel religion to them.

West of the Acropolis in Athens stood a bare, shapeless mass of rock some 380 feet high. It was called the Areopagus or Mars Hill (after the Greek god of war Ares; corresponding to the Latin Mars). Paul took the sixteen steps to the top of Mars Hill and stood in its midst, invited to explain his teachings. As the apostle of Christ stood on Mars Hill, the temple of Mars was near, the Parthenon of Minerva facing him, and the sanctuary of the Eumenides just below him, and the beautiful temple of Theseus in view; what courage it took to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ. Paul did not shy away from declaring the whole counsel of Christ to an assembly filled with idolatry.

Paul’s sermon commends the assembly for their religious zeal. The Athenians were so intense in worshiping gods that they had an altar inscribed “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.” It was common among the Greeks and Romans to build altars to unknown gods in case they had missed worshiping a god they did not know about. Allowing a play on words, the apostle turns the attention to the true and living God they knew nothing about. Paul wants the people to learn about his God and His nature and character. Paul wants the Athenians to recognize the God who made the world and everything in it. Paul’s God was the Creator of the world. He is Lord of heaven and earth.

In a remarkable play on words that would excite the Athenians, who loved their temples and gods, Paul explains that his God does not dwell in temples adorned with gold, silver, and precious jewels. The Jehovah of Paul is not worshiped with the hands of men; He is not dependent upon men, and He needs no help from men. This is in contrast to idols who are created by the hands of men and cannot save themselves. Jehovah God needs nothing because He is the God of life.

Paul declares that only one God has made every nation of men from one blood. The God of Paul is the God of all men. The Greeks had their gods, and the Romans had their gods. The God of Paul was for the world. His God established all men in every place in the limits of the habitation of His will. The God of Paul desires for all men to seek Him and find Him. Even the poets of Greece concluded that all men are the offspring of the one true God. Worship to the one true God does not come from gold or silver or stone, or something shaped by art and man’s devising. God demands worship in spirit and truth. Paul showed the Athenians true worship of the one true God.

To affirm that his God was the true God, Paul told the shocked Athenians that Jesus of Nazareth was killed and raised from the dead by the power of Jehovah God. The resurrection was the key component of Paul’s teaching to the Athenians. Because they did not believe a man could be resurrected from the dead, some mocked Paul. They wanted to hear more. Some believed Paul and became disciples of Jesus. In a city given over to idolatry, the gospel changed the lives of some because Jesus was raised from the dead. Paul’s sermon on the hill remains relevant today. Salvation comes from accepting that Jesus rose from the dead, and salvation comes by the death, burial, and resurrection of the sinner. Preach it.

Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. (Acts 18:24-26)

The Heart Of Apollos

Pride and arrogance are one of the deadlier sins that plague the hearts of men. Wealthy men can exalt themselves above others because of their financial status. Knowledge often makes men think more highly of themselves and look down on those with less learning. Some men are gifted in the art of speech, making them great orators. If a man is filled with great knowledge and the ability to pontificate deep thoughts in the meaning of words, he is regarded as a man of great position unmatched by any. He can also intimidate others who cannot match his superior presentation.

Aquila and Priscilla, fellow workers of the apostle Paul, were working with the church in the city of Ephesus when a man from Alexandria (a seaport in Egypt) came to the synagogue and began to teach. His name was Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man mighty in the Scriptures. Alexandria was the world’s center of knowledge. The city had a large Jewish population, a leading Hebrew college, and the world’s largest and most significant library, the Great Library (it is unknown how many scrolls were housed at any given time, but estimates range from 40,000 to 700,000).

Luke does not explain why Apollos came to Ephesus. The man from Alexandria did what Paul did when he visited a city: he went into the synagogues and discussed Scripture. Apollos was a man eloquent in speech and ideas. He was a formidable presence who was blessed with great talents. People were in awe of his eloquence. Apollos was also mighty in scripture suggesting he had spent much of his life in the study of the word of God. Manuscripts of holy text were not as accessible to most men, yet Apollos had gained knowledge from much study of the manuscripts. It is likely that Apollos knew much of the Scriptures by heart and could recall and proclaim them with ease.

Somewhere in his learning, he had come across disciples of John. These disciples knew only the teachings of John and his baptism. After the death of John, some of his disciples could have found themselves in the Egyptian city teaching what they knew from John. What they did not know was the rest of the story of Jesus, who had been crucified, and the beginning of the church, showing the gospel of Christ. Apollos accepted the teachings of John and boldly shared them with all who would listen.

When Apollos came to Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla heard him speak boldly about John’s baptism. They took Apollos aside and explained the story of Jesus to him more fully. Apollos’s reaction could have gone two ways. After Apollos was finished and Aquila and Priscilla took him aside, he could have shown an arrogant spirit against those who would try to refute his powerful testimony about John. His intellectual prowess was challenged by these husband and wife who were most likely not as skilled as he was in the scriptures. An arrogant, proud heart could easily have led Apollos to reject the admonition. Apollos’s heart was devoted to the word of God, and he readily understood and accepted the teachings of Aquila and Priscilla.

Although Apollos had much to take pride in, he was not bigoted. He was glad to admit his past mistake and change his message. He felt a debt of gratitude to Aquila and Priscilla for their courage in helping him see his error and change his teaching. He received letters from brethren to be used as he went from church to church preaching. Luke says that Apollos vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. Because of the courage of a husband and wife to point out the errors in the teaching of an eloquent man mighty in the Scriptures, the gospel of Christ went throughout the world saving souls. Apollos had a heart for truth. He changed his message because he was wrong. He wanted to teach the truth because he had a humble heart.

But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:8-9)

Joseph Was Trusted

The story of Joseph’s life early in Egypt centers upon the conflict with the wife of his master, Potiphar, who was an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard. Potiphar was a man of distinction. He held a high position in the Egyptian army and answered to Pharaoh as one of his trusted officers. Potiphar was the arm of the king to carry out executions of any who opposed the rule of Pharaoh. As captain of the bodyguard, he exercised close ties with the Egyptian ruler to protect him from assassins. Potiphar was a native Egyptian.

After the brothers of Joseph sold him to the Midian traders, he was taken to Egypt where he was sold to Potiphar as a slave. Joseph was seventeen years of age. Potiphar had no concern for Joseph’s pedigree, who his father was, or who his great-grandfather was. To Potiphar, Joseph was just another young man among the many slaves in his stable. Joseph did not receive special treatment. No one gave him a coat of many colors. The son of Jacob was treated with the contempt of a slave. He performed menial, undesirable, and difficult chores. For Joseph, his life was a hard reality of slavery.

For a young man in his teens who lived a life of privilege with a doting father, being thrown into a world of slavery would be a severe shock. In the early days in the house of Potiphar, Joseph was a common slave of little value, little more than an animal. He was forced to do whatever he was told to do. His days were long and hard. He had no privileges. Joseph had to learn the Egyptian language and customs and live in a land fully given over to idolatry. Joseph’s life did not turn out the way he thought it would.

If there was one thing that lived in the heart of Joseph, it was his love for the one true God. As a slave torn from his family, Joseph could blame God and even hate God for what had happened to him. Instead, Joseph excelled in everything he did so those around him could see God’s glory. Joseph’s incredible story shows how he went from a slave of Potiphar to the chief steward of his household. Joseph tells Potiphar’s wife something she already knew. As a young man, Joseph was put in charge of Potiphar’s house; nothing was lacking but his wife. The Lord was with Joseph because Joseph was with the Lord. He became successful in the house of Potiphar and rose to overseer. The ‘rags to riches’ story is how a lowly slave attains the status of being the second most powerful man in the house of an officer of Pharaoh.

Joseph did not allow his position to ignore the sin of colluding with Potiphar’s wife. He served the Lord God and refused to compromise God’s blessings for wickedness. It was heartbreaking that he would lose his position because of another’s evil heart, but Joseph did not give up his faith to keep his position. The life of Joseph as a young man was to work for the glory of God so that others could see God living in him. Potiphar took notice. Joseph knew God saw his life and lived accordingly. Joseph was trusted because he trusted in God. The Christian must be the most trusted person in the community by their word, work, and will. Let the world see God. Be a Joseph.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11)

Finding Purpose in Jesus – What His Life Means to Me

Jesus came to save the world from the wrath of God, giving His life to save those who killed Him. He knew before time began the cost that would have to be paid to redeem man. The eternal design of the Divine was for the Son of God to empty Himself and make Himself as the creation that He knew would reject Him, curse Him, torture Him, and kill Him. As Jesus’ ministry began, His life turned toward that fateful day outside Jerusalem, at the place of the skull, Golgotha. In the final year of His ministry, Jesus spoke often of what men would do to Him. He was fully aware of the horror that awaited Him.

Jesus told the Pharisees that He was the door of the sheep. Those who enter in by Him would be saved. The abundant life can only be found in Jesus Christ. Jesus said He was the good shepherd willing to give His life for the sheep. The decision to die was wholly that of Jesus. He had the power to lay it down, and He had the power to take it again. Jesus received this command from His Father. The abundant life comes from what Jesus was willing to do. All of His teachings brought a sinful world to the throne of God.

No one can fully know the abundant life until they begin to know who Jesus really is. He is not some mythical figure to be worshiped with a casual heart. The story of Jesus is redemption. His life is forgiveness. Everything Jesus said and did exemplified the glory of the Father. He could have called twelve legions of angels to defend Him, and the Father would have granted His request, but He chose to suffer and die. Finding purpose in Jesus means knowing the depths of His divine love for the world.

Jesus came to bring abundant life. That life can only be found by the few who accept the will of the Father. Having an abundant life cannot be experienced outside of Christ. If a man refuses to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and submit to His kingship in his life, he lives a ruined life. Not a meager life or a limited life, but a ruined life in the darkness of the divine judgment of eternal death. Through His life, Jesus offers an abundant life to those who come to Him. Knowing what Jesus has done will change the heart from rebellion to obedience.

What does the life of Jesus mean to me? How has Jesus changed my life? What can the world see in my life that lets them know I have purpose? When someone comes to the love of God through the life of Jesus, they find the abundant life. Everyone desires purpose in life. That purpose can never be found if a man refuses to make Jesus the center of his life. Sadly, most people will be lost because they think purpose in life is found in the trappings of this world. When death comes, they will realize how empty their lives have been. Jesus offers His life so that everyone can find abundance, joy, hope, and peace. Tell me the story of Jesus. Write on my heart every word. That is where the abundance comes.