Discerning God’s Plan for Your Life

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit….

— 1 Corinthians 2:9,10

From time to time, we all struggle to discern the best course of action for our lives. Which decision is right? Which is wrong? What job should we take? What university should we attend? Whom should we marry? Should we pursue a secular career or go into full-time ministry? These questions are common to us all and they go on and on and on.

In the Old Testament, knowing the will of God was truly difficult because the Holy Spirit didn’t reside in people’s hearts; therefore, they struggled tremendously to discover God’s plan for their lives. In their efforts to uncover His will, people would seek special signs and divine signals. They’d even go visit prophets who lived in their region in an attempt to find answers and gain knowledge. God had prepared so many benefits for His people! But because the Holy Spirit didn’t live in their hearts at that time, they struggled with knowing what He wanted them to do and were unable to see much of what He had provided for them or what His plan was for their lives.

The Holy Spirit has come to dwell within us, and He wants to tell you and me everything we need to know!

However, the situation couldn’t be more different today. As believers, we now have the Holy Spirit living inside our hearts — and He has come to reveal to us all the answers we need! Yet all too often, many Christians still live like people under the Old Covenant, depending on special signs, divine signals, or advice from others. Perhaps it is because they never developed their spiritual sensitivity or learned to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit. Regardless, this should not be the case!

In First Corinthians 2:9 and 10, the apostle Paul wrote to us about the Holy Spirit’s ministry to reveal God’s plan to us. He said, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit….” Notice he declared that God has “revealed” His plan to us by His Spirit. The word “revealed” is a translation of the Greek word apokalupsis, which is a compound of the words apo and kalupsis. The word apo means away, and the word kalupsis is the Greek word for a veil, a curtain, or some type of covering. When compounded, they form the word apokalupsis, which is normally translated in Scripture as the word revelation. This new word literally means to remove the veil or to remove the curtain so you can see what is on the other side.

This word apokalupsis plainly refers to something that has been veiled or hidden for a long time and has suddenly become clear and visible to the mind or eye. It is the image of pulling the curtains out of the way so you can see what has always been just outside your window. The scene was always there for you to enjoy, but the curtains have blocked your ability to see the real picture. As soon as the curtains are drawn apart, you can suddenly see what has been hidden from your view. In that moment when you see beyond the curtain for the first time and observe what has been there all along but not evident to you — that is the picture of what the Bible calls a “revelation.”

So Paul was proclaiming in this verse that when the Spirit of God came to dwell within us, one of His major missions was to remove the veil that once obstructed our view. The Holy Spirit is continually at work in us to help our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to fully comprehend the specific, special plans that God has meticulously prepared for each one of us!

Keep this thought uppermost in your mind and heart in the days to come: The Holy Spirit — the Great Revealer — lives inside you, and He wants to reveal to you God’s blessings, promises, provisions, and plans for your life! Thank God, you’re not living like people did under the Old Testament. You don’t have to look for special signs, divine signals, or a prophet to discern God’s plan for your life.

Right inside your heart is the greatest Source of revelation on planet earth — the Holy Spirit! If you will develop a spiritual sensitivity and learn to listen to His voice, He will reveal everything God has prepared for you so you can get on with your life and do exactly what He intricately planned for you to do!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I thank You that the Holy Spirit is a Revealer of truth. He will lead and guide me into all truth and show me things to come. I thank You that I never need to worry or even wonder about what You want me to do in any area of my life. If I ask You for wisdom and open my heart to hear, the Holy Spirit will make Your will clear to me. I praise You for Your wonderful plan and for helping me fulfill my part in it for Your glory!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that the Lord guides me continually by His Spirit within me. I trust in the Lord with all my heart and don’t lean to my own understanding. In all my ways I acknowledge His wisdom and His presence, and He meticulously directs my steps to follow the good path He has prepared for me!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Can you think of a specific moment when the Holy Spirit “revealed” an answer that you desperately needed to know? How did He reveal that answer to you?
2. Have you ever had a “revelation” — a moment when the Spirit of God super- naturally removed an invisible veil that obstructed your view of things — and when that view was removed, you could see everything you needed to see and know exactly what you needed to know?
3. What are you doing in your life right now that is a direct result of a special revelation from the Holy Spirit? Maybe it’s more than one thing, so why not write down your thoughts and demonstrate to yourself just how much the Holy Spirit has revealed the will of God to you?

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
— Philippians 4:19

Over the course of the last few decades, it has become very apparent just how temporary and shaky the world economic system actually is. We have witnessed the stock market plummet multiple times in the United States and in many other major markets around the world as well. Global markets reeled in the wake of these dramatic events as established financial accounts were reduced or even obliterated in just a matter of hours.

These troubling economic events reveal the great importance of investing financially into the Kingdom of God. The truth is that investments made into God’s Kingdom are the only ones that have an absolute guaranteed return. This truth is clearly outlined in Philippians 4:19, which contains one of the most important financial promises the Bible gives us as believers. It says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Christians constantly claim this verse over their lives. But many do not understand the context in which Paul wrote this verse and exactly what it meant for both his Philippian audience and what it means for themselves. As you’ll see in today’s Sparkling Gem, this verse applies to givers. In fact, the historical context reveals that the promise contained in Philippians 4:19 can only be claimed by people who are givers. But for those who are givers, this is God’s absolute guarantee of abundant financial blessing!

When Paul wrote his epistle to the Philippians, he was incarcerated in one of the worst prisons in the entire Roman Empire. However, because he was a Roman citizen, Paul had the right to receive and send mail. One day as he sat alone in that dark, dank prison, Paul received a letter from the church of Philippi. It had been hand-delivered by a Christian brother named Epaphroditus, and as Paul read the letter, he quickly read that Epaphroditus had also brought a special offering that the church of Philippi had sent to him.

In the Roman penal system, an imprisoned Roman citizen had the legal right for his friends or family to put money into a special “account” held in his name. He couldn’t access the money while he remained in prison, but if he was finally released, those funds were given to him so he could have money to start his life over again. Therefore, it was common for family and friends to bring money to the prison and deposit it into the account of their loved one in case he was fortunate enough to be released at a later time.

When Epaphroditus came from the church of Philippi, he brought Paul a letter that let the elderly apostle know the saints were praying for him. In fact, Paul specifically mentioned their prayers of agreement in Philippians 1:19. And accompanying this letter was a special offering, which was placed into Paul’s account at the prison so he would have money to start life over again when he was released back into society.

That financial gift meant a lot more than money to Paul. First, it meant his friends were so full of faith that he would be released that they were putting money into his account and preparing for his release. This was faith in action that brought encouragement to Paul. He called it “an odor of a sweet smell” (see Philippians 4:18), which simply meant their actions were like a breath of fresh air!

It was in response to the Philippian believers’ offering and generosity that Paul wrote: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

You have to remember that the Philippians had just given a sacrificial gift to Paul. In response to that gift, Paul said, in effect, “Because of what you have done, now look what God is going to do for you. He is going to supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!”

Paul wrote that God would “supply” all the Philippian believers’ needs in light of their giving, just as He will do for us in light of our heartfelt giving. The word “supply” is the Greek word pleroo, which means to fulfill or to make full. In other words, if we have any kind of want or need in our lives, God will take that want and fill it. God doesn’t have any kind of shortage in Heaven. According to Philippians 4:19, He fulfills our needs according to His “riches” in glory by Christ Jesus. The word “riches” is the Greek word ploutos, which describes immense wealth or riches beyond imagination. It is where we get the word for a plutocrat, which describes a person who possesses riches so immense that they are seemingly immeasurable. God is the original Plutocrat; He knows no lack and has no insufficiencies!

When you go out of your way to meet the needs of the Gospel, God will go out of His way to make sure your needs are met. It is the law of sowing and reaping restated in another way. In other words, when you meet the needs of God’s Kingdom, He will see to it that your needs are met — but when God meets your needs, He will do it lavishly, abundantly, excessively, and richly!

I encourage you to quit thinking that God wants to give you just enough to help you scrape by. According to Paul’s words in Philippians 4:19, God wants to bless givers beyond anything they could ask, dream, or imagine! He wants to completely fulfill all their needs! So if you’re a giver, you truly have something to shout about, because Philippians 4:19 was written specifically for you. It is yours to claim!

In this time of uncertainty and instability in world financial markets, it’s time for you to lay hold of this promise and believe God to release a divine supply of provision that is reserved especially for givers. This heavenly reserve has been set aside and kept for you. God is ready to open His heavenly account and lavishly demonstrate that He will be faithful to you, regardless of what is happening in the world markets. His goodness and His faithfulness are not affected by world economies — and if you are a giver, you qualify for God to meet your needs right now!

If you’re not a giver, it’s never too late to get started. Start today by sowing into the work of God at your church, in your neighborhood, or to a ministry like ours that is touching a part of the world with the Gospel. The moment you start sacrificially sowing is the moment you qualify for Heaven’s resources! God is just waiting to see what you will do. And when He sees you move to action — that is the trigger that causes Him to swing into action and begin to pour out Heaven’s resources to meet your own needs!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I believe it is Your will for my needs to be met, and, as a giver, I lay hold of Your promise to supply ALL my needs according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus. I admit that I have been anxious at times because I paid attention to financial markets as well as to my personal financial situation. But You, Lord, are my source. You are ready to demonstrate that Your goodness and Your faithfulness to me are not affected by world economies. I will continue to give sacrificially to the Kingdom of God, knowing that as I give, I activate the law of seedtime and harvest, and You will pour out Heaven’s resources to meet my needs. I receive Your provision today because You are faithful.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am a sacrificial giver and I have something to shout about because Philippians 4:19 is mine to claim! I qualify for God’s promise to supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. I lay hold to God’s promise, and He faithfully meets my needs lavishly, abundantly, excessively, and richly!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Did you know that Philippians 4:19 was written only for givers and that it is their special promise from God?
2. In what ways have you seen God fulfill the needs in your life? Why not take a few minutes to reflect and remember all the various ways God has supernaturally fulfilled your needs? Then you might make a list and put it in the back pages of your Bible as a permanent record of God’s faithfulness to you as a giver!
3. What needs do you have right now? What would God have you do to trigger a release of divine answers into your life?

Scorned!

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
— Matthew 27:27-29

After Jesus was scourged, Pilate delivered Him to the Roman soldiers so they could initiate the crucifixion process. However, first these soldiers dragged Jesus through the worst mockery and humiliation of all. Matthew 27:27-29 describes what Jesus went through at this stage of His ordeal: “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!”

Verse 27 says the soldiers “…took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.” The “common hall” was the open courtyard in Pilate’s palace. Since Pilate rotated between several official royal residences in Jerusalem, this could have been his palace at the Tower of Antonia (see April 4). It also could have been his residence at the magnificent palace of Herod, located on the highest part of Mount Zion. All we know for sure is that the courtyard was so large, it was able to hold “the whole band of soldiers.” This phrase comes from the Greek word spira, referring to a cohort or a group of 300 to 600 Roman soldiers.

Hundreds of soldiers filled the courtyard of Pilate’s residence to participate in the events that followed. Matthew 27:28 says, “And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.” First, the soldiers “stripped him.” The word “stripped” is the Greek word ekduo, which means to totally unclothe or to fully undress. Nakedness was viewed as a disgrace, a shame, and an embarrassment in the Jewish world. Public nakedness was associated with pagans — with their worship, their idols, and their statues.

As children of God, the Israelites honored the human body, made in the image of God; thus, to publicly parade someone’s naked body was a great offense. We can know, then, that when Jesus was stripped naked in front of 300 to 600 soldiers, it went against the grain of His entire moral view of what was right and wrong.

Once Jesus stood naked before them, the soldiers then “…put on him a scarlet robe.” The Greek phrase is chlamuda kokkinen, from the word chlamus and kokkinos. The word chlamus is the Greek word for a robe or a cloak. It could refer to a soldier’s cloak, but the next word makes it more probable that this was an old cloak of Pilate. You see, the word “scarlet” is the Greek word kokkinos, a word that describes a robe that has been dyed a deep crimson or scarlet color, which is suggestive of the deeply colored crimson and scarlet robes worn by royalty or nobility. Did this cohort of Roman soldiers who worked at Pilate’s residence pull an old royal robe from Pilate’s closet and bring it to the courtyard for the party? It seems that this is the case.

As Matthew continues the account, we find out what happened next: After the soldiers “…had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head.…” The word “platted” is the Greek word empleko (see January 25). Thorns grew everywhere, including in the imperial grounds of Pilate. These thorns were long and sharp like nails. The soldiers took vines that were loaded with sharp and dangerous thorns; then they carefully wove together those razor-sharp, prickly, jagged vines until they formed a tightly woven, dangerous circle that resembled the shape of a crown.

Afterward, the soldiers “…put it upon his head.…” It was this kind of crown that the soldiers violently pushed down upon Jesus’ head. Matthew uses the Greek word epitithimi, a word that implies they forcefully shoved this crown of thorns onto Jesus’ head. These thorns would have been extremely painful and caused blood to flow profusely from His brow. Because the thorns were so jagged, they would have created terrible wounds as they scraped across Jesus’ skull bone and literally tore the flesh from His skull.

Matthew called it a “crown” of thorns. The word “crown” is from the Greek word stephanos, the word that described a coveted victor’s crown. These soldiers intended to use this mock crown to make fun of Jesus. Little did they know that Jesus was preparing to win the greatest victory in history!

After forcing the crown of thorns down onto Jesus’ brow, the soldiers put “…a reed in his right hand.…” There were many beautiful ponds and fountains in Pilate’s inner courtyard where long, tall, hard “reeds” grew. While Jesus sat there before them clothed in a royal robe and crown of thorns, one of the soldiers must have realized that the picture was not quite complete and pulled a “reed” from one of the ponds or fountains to put in Jesus’ hand. This reed represented the ruler’s staff, as seen in the famous statue called “Ave Caesar,” which depicted Caesar holding a staff or scepter in his hand. The same image, also showing a scepter in the right hand of the emperor, appeared on coins that were minted in the emperor’s honor and in wide circulation.

With a discarded royal robe about Jesus’ shoulders, a crown of thorns set so deeply into His head that blood drenched His face, and a reed from Pilate’s ponds or fountains stuck in His right hand, “…they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!” The word “bowed” is the Greek word gonupeteo, meaning to fall down upon one’s knees. One by one, the cohort of soldiers passed before Jesus, dramatically and comically dropping to their knees in front of Him as they laughed at and mocked Him.

The word “mocked” is the Greek word empaidzo, the same word used to describe the mocking of Herod and his bodyguards (see April 19). As Pilate’s soldiers mocked Jesus, they said to Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” The word “hail” was an acknowledgment of honor used when saluting Caesar. Thus, the soldiers shouted out this mock salute to Jesus as they would to a king to whom honor was due.

Matthew 27:30 goes on to tell us, “And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.” The word “they” refers to the entire cohort of soldiers who were present in Pilate’s courtyard that night. So as each soldier passed by Jesus, he would first mockingly bow before Him; then he’d lean forward to spit right in Jesus’ blood-drenched face. Next the soldier would grab the reed from Jesus’ hand and strike Him hard on His already wounded head. Finally, he would stick the reed back in Jesus’ hand to make Him ready for the next soldier to repeat the whole process.

The Greek clearly means that the soldiers repeatedly struck Jesus again and again on the head. Here was another beating that Jesus endured, but this time it was with the slapping action of a hard reed. This must have been excruciatingly painful for Jesus, since His body was already lacerated from the scourging and His head was deeply gashed by the cruel crown of thorns.

When all 300 to 600 soldiers were finished spitting and striking Jesus with the reed, Matthew 27:31 tells us that “…they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.” The robe wrapped around Jesus had no doubt had time to mesh into His wounds, for it took a great amount of time for so many soldiers to parade before Him. Therefore, it must have been terrifically painful for Jesus when they jerked this robe off His back and the material ripped free from the dried blood that had coagulated on His open wounds.

But this would be the last act of torture Jesus would endure in this stage of His ordeal. After putting His own clothes back on Him, the soldiers led Him from the palace to the place of execution.

As the soldiers mocked Jesus that day, hailing Him as king in derision and ridicule, they were unaware that they were actually bowing their knees to the One before whom they would one day stand and give an account for their actions. When that day comes, bowing before Jesus will be no laughing matter, for everyone — including those very soldiers who mocked Jesus — will confess that Jesus is Lord!

Yes, a day is soon coming when the human race will bow their knees to acknowledge and declare that Jesus is the King of kings. Philippians 2:10,11 talks about that day: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

If you have a friend who doesn’t know Jesus yet, don’t you think it’s time for you to introduce that friend to Jesus Christ? Your friend will one day bow before Him anyway; the question is, from which place will he bow before Jesus — from Heaven, from earth, or from hell?

Everyone in Heaven will bow low before Jesus on that day, as will everyone who is alive on earth at His coming and everyone who has gone to hell because they didn’t bow before Him while they lived on this earth. So the big question is not if a person will bow before Him, but from which place will he choose to bow before Him?

Isn’t it your responsibility to help lead your friends and acquaintances to Jesus? God’s Spirit will empower you to speak the Gospel to them. If you pray before you speak to them, the Holy Spirit will prepare their hearts to hear the message. Why not stop today and ask the Lord to help you speak the truth to those friends, acquaintances, and fellow workers whom you interact with every day?

My Prayer for Today

Lord, open my eyes to those around me who are unsaved and in need of salvation. You died for them because You want them to be saved. I know that You are trusting me to tell them the Good News that they can be saved. Please empower me strongly with Your Spirit, giving me the boldness I need, to step out from behind intimidation and to tell them the truth that will save them from an eternity in hell. Help me to start telling them the Good News immediately, before it is too late.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I declare by faith that I am a strong witness for Jesus Christ. My eyes are opened and my spirit is attentive to recognize opportunities to speak the Gospel to people who are unsaved. When I speak to them, they listen with an open heart and want to hear what I have to say. Because of my bold witness, my family, friends, acquaintances, and fellow workers are getting saved!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. How long has it been since you shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with your family, friends, acquaintances, or fellow workers?

2. Since the people in your life will bow their knees before Jesus at some point in the future anyway, don’t you agree that you should help them do it now so they won’t have to bow their knees to Him one day from hell?

3. How long has it been since you’ve bowed your own knees to pray or to worship Jesus? Don’t you think it would be a good idea for you to make this a part of your daily spiritual routine?

Scourged!

…And when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
— Matthew 27:26

What was it like for a prisoner to be scourged in New Testament times? From what materials was a scourge made? How did it feel when the straps of a scourge whipped across a person’s back and body? What effects did a scourging have on the human body?

Matthew 27:26 tells us that Pilate “had scourged Jesus” before he delivered Him to be crucified, so we need to understand what it meant to be “scourged.” The word “scourged” is the Greek word phragello, and it was one of the most horrific words used in the ancient world because of the terrible images that immediately came to mind when a person heard this word. Let me tell you a little about the process of scourging and what it did to the human body. I believe this explanation is important so you can understand more completely what Jesus endured before He was taken to be crucified.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

When a decision was made to scourge an individual, the victim was first stripped completely naked so his entire flesh would be open and uncovered to the beating action of the torturer’s whip. Then the victim was bound to a two-foot-high scourging post. His hands were tied over his head to a metal ring, and his wrists were securely shackled to the metal ring to restrain his body from movement. When in this locked position, the victim couldn’t wiggle or move, trying to avoid or dodge the lashes that were being laid across his back.

Romans were professionals at scourging; they took special delight in the fact that they were the “best” at punishing a victim with this brutal act. Once the victim was harnessed to the post and stretched over it, the Roman soldier began to put him through unimaginable torture. One writer notes that the mere anticipation of the first blow caused the victim’s body to grow rigid, the muscles to knot in his stomach, the color to drain from his cheeks, and his lips to draw tight against his teeth as he waited for the first sadistic blow that would begin the tearing open of his body.

The scourge itself consisted of a short, wooden handle with several 18- to 24-inch-long straps of leather protruding from it. The ends of these pieces of leather were equipped with sharp, rugged pieces of metal, wire, glass, and jagged fragments of bone. This was considered to be one of the most feared and deadly weapons of the Roman world. It was so ghastly that the mere threat of scourging could calm a crowd or bend the will of the strongest rebel. Not even the most hardened criminal wanted to be submitted to the vicious beating of a Roman scourge.

Most often, two torturers were utilized to carry out this punishment, simultaneously lashing the victim from both sides. As these dual whips struck the victim, the leather straps with their jagged, sharp, cutting objects descended and extended over his entire back. Each piece of metal, wire, bone, or glass cut deeply through the victim’s skin and into his flesh, shredding his muscles and sinews.

Every time the whip pounded across the victim, those straps of leather curled tortuously around his torso, biting painfully and deeply into the skin of his abdomen and upper chest. As each stroke lacerated the sufferer, he tried to thrash about but was unable to move because his wrists were held so firmly to the metal ring above his head. Helpless to escape the whip, he would scream for mercy that this anguish might come to an end.

Every time the torturers struck a victim, the straps of leather attached to the wooden handle would cause multiple lashes as the pieces of metal, glass, wire, and bone sank into the flesh and then raked across the victim’s body. Then the torturer would jerk back, pulling hard in order to tear whole pieces of human flesh from the body. The victim’s back, buttocks, back of the legs, stomach, upper chest, and face would soon be disfigured by the slashing blows of the whip.

Historical records describe a victim’s back as being so mutilated after a Roman scourging that his spine would actually be exposed. Others recorded how the bowels of a victim would actually spill out through the open wounds created by the whip. The Early Church historian Eusebius wrote: “The veins were laid bare, and the very muscles, sinews, and bowels of the victim were open to exposure.”

The Roman torturer would so aggressively strike his victim that he wouldn’t even take the time to untangle the bloody, flesh-filled straps as he lashed the whip across the victim’s mangled body over and over again. If the scourging wasn’t stopped, the slicing of the whip would eventually flay the victim’s flesh off his body.

With so many blood vessels sliced open by the whip, the victim would begin to experience a profuse loss of blood and bodily fluids. The heart would pump harder and harder, struggling to get blood to the parts of the body that were profusely bleeding. But it was like pumping water through an open water hydrant; there was nothing left to stop the blood from pouring through the victim’s open wounds.

This loss of blood caused the victim’s blood pressure to drop drastically. Because of the massive loss of bodily fluids, he would experience excruciating thirst, often fainting from the pain and eventually going into shock. Frequently the victim’s heartbeat would become so irregular that he would go into cardiac arrest.

This was a Roman scourging.

According to Jewish law in Deuteronomy 25:3, the Jews were permitted to give forty lashes to a victim, but because the fortieth lash usually proved fatal, the number of lashes given was reduced to thirty-nine, as Paul noted in Second Corinthians 11:24. But the Romans had no limit to the number of lashes they could give a victim, and the scourging Jesus experienced was at the hands of Romans, not Jews. Therefore, it is entirely possible that when the torturer pulled out his scourge to beat Jesus, he may have laid more than forty lashes across His body. In fact, this is even probable in light of the explosive outrage the Jews felt for Jesus and the terrible mocking He had already suffered at the hands of Roman soldiers.

So when the Bible tells us that Jesus was scourged, we now know exactly what type of beating that Jesus received that night. What toll did the cruel Roman whip exact on Jesus’ body? The New Testament doesn’t tell us exactly what Jesus looked like after He was scourged, but Isaiah 52:14 says, “As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men.”

If we take this scripture literally for what it says, we can conclude that Jesus’ physical body was marred nearly beyond recognition. As appalling as this sounds, it was only the overture to what was to follow. Matthew 27:26 continues to tell us, “…and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” This scourging was only the preparation for Jesus’ crucifixion!

Every time I think about the scourging Jesus received that day, I think of the promise God makes to us in Isaiah 53:5. This verse says, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” In this verse, God declares that the price for our healing would be paid by those stripes that were laid across Jesus’ back.

In First Peter 2:24, the apostle Peter quoted Isaiah 53:5. He told his readers, “…By whose stripes ye were healed.” The word “stripes” used in this verse is molopsi, which describes a full-body bruise. It refers to a terrible lashing that draws blood and that produces discoloration and swelling of the entire body. When Peter wrote this verse, he wasn’t speaking by revelation but by memory, for he vividly remembered what happened to Jesus that night and what His physical appearance looked like after His scourging.

After graphically reminding us of the beating, bleeding, and bruising that Jesus endured, Peter jubilantly declared that it was by these same stripes that we are “healed.” The word “healed” is the Greek word iaomai — a word that clearly refers to physical healing, as it is a word borrowed from the medical term to describe the physical healing or curing of the human body.

For those who think this promise refers to spiritual healing only, the Greek word emphatically speaks of the healing of a physical condition. This is a real promise of bodily healing that belongs to all who have been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ!

Jesus’ broken body was the payment God demanded to guarantee our physical healing! Just as Jesus willfully took our sins and died on the Cross in our place, He also willfully took our sicknesses and pains on Himself when they tied Him to the scourging post and laid those lashes across His body. That horrific scourging paid for our healing!

If you need healing in your body, you have every right to go to God and ask for healing to come flooding into your system. It’s time for you to dig in your heels and hold fast to the promise of God’s Word, releasing your faith for the healing that belongs to you. (I encourage you to read the Sparkling Gem for March 23, for it discusses your legal right to ask God to give you what He has promised).

Jesus went through this agony for you, so don’t let the devil tell you that it’s God’s will for you to be sick or weakly. Considering the pain Jesus endured to bear your sicknesses that day, isn’t that enough evidence to convince you how much He wants you to be physically well?

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I am moved by what I’ve learned today. I had no idea how much pain You endured to pay the price for my physical healing. Forgive me for the times I’ve tolerated sickness and didn’t even pray to be healed. Now I understand that Your desire to see me healed is so great that You paid a price far beyond anything I will ever be able to comprehend. Since my physical well-being is that important to You, starting today I determine to walk in divine health and healing. I am taking a stand of faith to walk in healing and to fully possess the health You bought for me that day when You were so severely beaten!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I boldly confess that I am healed by the stripes of Jesus Christ. The agony He endured was for me and my health. I don’t have to be sick; I don’t have to be weak; and I don’t have to live at the mercy of affliction anymore. The stripes on Jesus’ body were for me, so today I release my faith and commit that I will not be satisfied with anything less than God’s best — divine healing and health every day of my life!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. What did you learn new today about the scourging Jesus endured for you?

2. In light of the fact that Jesus suffered all that He did to purchase your physical healing, are you now ready to dig in your heels and hold fast to God’s promise of healing until divine health has become a part of your life?

3. What other scriptures can you claim for your healing? Why don’t you write those scriptures on a piece of paper and put them in a visible place where you can read them every day? Even better, why not memorize them so you can quote them to yourself?

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
— Colossians 3:13

Every day we encounter opportunities to get upset with people about something they did or said. If we let down our guard and indulge in these urges, we will live in a continual state of frustration and strife, and our spiritual lives will suffer dramatically. Sometimes it can be very difficult to convince our minds to overlook a perceived slight, forgive the offender, and move on with our lives. However, the Bible offers us a powerful strategy that can be used to cultivate peace in our relationships: We must learn to extend grace to others and to realize that humans act human.

In Colossians 3:13, the apostle Paul wrote, “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” This verse specifically outlines how we are to respond to people in our lives who disappoint or upset us. And since life is filled with disappointments, it’s important for us to understand exactly what Paul meant when he wrote these words.

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Paul began with the phrase, “Forbearing one another….” This word “forbearing” is from the Greek word anechomai, which means to endure one another, to put up with one another, or to have tolerance of one another. It is the opposite of acting intolerant or being short-tempered with other people. At some point along the way, we all become frustrated with our friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances. In those moments, the most Christ-like attitude to demonstrate may be to simply show forbearance and let it go. That doesn’t mean we have to compromise or ignore an obvious problem; however, it does mean that sometimes taking the higher road means shutting our mouths and letting go of the offense or disappointment.

That’s why Paul said in this verse that sometimes forbearing or putting up with the people you interact with in life is the highest road you can take. So when your flesh gets offended or you find yourself wanting to nitpick someone about what you perceive to be his or her failures, take some time to get quiet before God and ask Him what to do. It may be that His highest will in that situation is for you to simply show forbearance and let go of the matter. Although loving confrontation is needed at times, it is not always the right course to take.

Paul went on to say, “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another….” The word “forgiving” comes from the word charis, the Greek word for grace. It carries the idea of wholeheartedly forgiving, freely forgiving, or readily forgiving. This is a step beyond simply being forbearing; it requires our response to go to the next level as we choose to freely and wholeheartedly forgive with no restraints and no strings attached. Just as God has extended His grace to us so many times by freely forgiving us of our sins against Him, now the Holy Spirit instructs you and me to extend forgiveness to those who have wronged us or offended us.

In the latter part of this verse, Paul relayed the core of his message, saying, “…If any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” The word “quarrel” is a Greek word mamphe, which means a complaint or grievance against someone and usually depicts a complaint that is backed with solid evidence.

Perhaps someone failed to do what you expected him to do or acted in a manner that was below your expectations of him. Regardless of what you perceive that this person did wrong or what “quarrel” you have with him, the Bible commands you to forgive “even as Christ forgave you.” Isn’t that what Christ did for you?

It’s difficult for me to imagine why any of us would refuse to forgive someone else for a perceived offense in light of how graciously God has forgiven us. Certainly we are all guilty or worthy of blame! How could we ever forget that it was for our dreadful sin that Jesus died on the Cross? Jesus bore unspeakable suffering by taking on punishment He didn’t deserve — and He did it freely for us.

Now Paul urged us, “…As Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” You and I didn’t deserve the forgiveness we received, but God forgave us anyway. He forgave us for all we have done in the past, and His mercy is so boundless that He continues to forgive us in the present when we ask for forgiveness. Now we who are forgiven have a responsibility to forgive.

So if you’re having a day filled with opportunities to get upset with people and you feel yourself sliding into a state of frustration and strife, take a moment to pause and meditate on the truths of Colossians 3:13. When you remember how much you’ve been forgiven by Christ — and by others whom you’ve deliberately or accidently wronged in the past — you’ll realize you don’t have a right to stay upset with anyone!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I thank You that the Holy Spirit is a Revealer of truth. He will lead and guide me into all truth and show me things to come. I thank You that I never need to worry or even wonder about what You want me to do in any area of my life. If I ask You for wisdom and open my heart to hear, the Holy Spirit will make Your will clear to me. I praise You for Your wonderful plan and for helping me fulfill my part in it for Your glory!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

 

I confess that the Lord guides me continually by His Spirit within me. I trust in the Lord with all my heart and don’t lean to my own understanding. In all my ways I acknowledge His wisdom and His presence, and He meticulously directs my steps to follow the good path He has prepared for me!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Can you think of a specific moment when the Holy Spirit “revealed” an answer that you desperately needed to know? How did He reveal that answer to you?
2. Have you ever had a “revelation” — a moment when the Spirit of God supernaturally removed an invisible veil that obstructed your view of things — and when that view was removed, you could see everything you needed to see and know exactly what you needed to know?
3. What are you doing in your life right now that is a direct result of a special revelation from the Holy Spirit? Maybe it’s more than one thing, so why not write down your thoughts and demonstrate to yourself just how much the Holy Spirit has revealed the will of God to you?

 

God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble.
— James 4:6

We live in a day and age when the discipline of the Lord is rarely addressed from the pulpit.

However, His discipline is a clearly taught biblical principle, and if we don’t respect it and willingly submit to it, we will assuredly discover its truth in a less pleasant manner. Pay careful attention to what you read today, because it can make a giant difference in what you experience in this life!

In James 4:6, James addressed believers who were not living according to God’s plan. In some way, they were violating God’s principles, and they were doing it blatantly. So James wrote to them and reminded them of the serious consequences of their behavior, saying, “God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble.”

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

In this verse, we find that the word “resist” is the Greek word antitasso, a military term that depicts the orderly arrangement of troops to successively wage combat against the non-compliant. It is a deliberate, premeditated arrangement of military might to crush an enemy. The whole notion of the word antitasso in the context of James’s message is that if the arrogant will not willfully bow, God will arrange events so that they will bow regardless of whether it is willful or forced. One way or another, the proud will bow. God, however, invites them to humble themselves willingly rather than be humiliated forcibly.

The word “humble” is tapeinos — a word, which in this case, describes a person who was formerly arrogant but has become humble. In other words, this individual previously succumbed to pride, but he came down from that haughty position to become obedient and conform his behavior to fulfill God’s commands. Hence, tapeinos can accurately be translated to make small, to reduce one’s self-importance, or to humble oneself from previous arrogance. According to James, those who do this on purpose — that is, believers who willfully submit to God’s commandments and turn from their arrogant ways — will become recipients of “grace.” In the context of James 4:6, it means that even though they had run afoul in their attitude toward His commandments in the past, they will receive “grace” to avoid the otherwise unavoidable discipline of the Lord if they willingly submit to God, come back under His authority, repent, and adopt an attitude of humility. That is why James exclaimed, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.…”

The word “submit” is hupotasso — a compound of hupo, which means to place one’s self under another, and tasso, which is the same word used above to describe a deliberate arrangement of military forces. Used together in one word, it becomes hupotasso, and it portrays an individual who willfully places himself under (hupo) authority. Rather than go his own way, he places himself back under command (tasso). There is nothing accidental or haphazard about it. He has chosen to come under authority and has willfully arranged himself under his commanding officer.

In these verses, James appeals to those who arrogantly disregard God’s commands and urges them to realign themselves back under God’s authority. James calls on them to fall in line, submit themselves again in obedience to God, and thus escape divine discipline. If erring individuals retain their current course of action, they will be met with divine discipline. But if they respond to Christ’s plea and reposition themselves back under His authority and thus change their behavior, it is possible for them to avoid the divine discipline that Christ is preparing to lovingly carry out in their lives.

The discipline of the Lord is just as real today as ever before. If a child of God deliberately ignores God’s Word and knowingly goes astray, God will graciously give him an opportunity (perhaps many opportunities) to come back home of his own free accord. But if that person is really a child of God and refuses to come into compliance with what He has set forth in His Word, then God — out of great love for that person — will take other measures to bring him or her back home. It may not feel like it at the time, but this spiritual discipline is divine love in action!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I thank You for Your divine discipline. It is a safeguard to me and also proof of your great love. I ask You to help me see where my attitudes or actions are not in alignment with Your Word and Your ways. Father, I know that You resist the proud and I don’t want to be resisted by You! I willingly choose to humble myself beneath Your mighty hand so that I won’t be humiliated as a consequence of needing to change my ways.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am quick to hear and quick to obey. I walk humbly before God and His grace abounds in my life. I am not rebellious or stiff-necked, but I yield to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and I remain pliable in the Lord’s hand, as I deliberately, day-by-day, keep His words before my eyes and I continually ponder them in my heart. I choose to cultivate a sensitive and obedient heart, and the Holy Spirit helps me to judge myself so I won’t need to be judged.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Have you ever experienced the discipline of the Lord? I’m talking about a moment when you refused to listen to what God was telling you, so God found another way to get your attention.
2. What is the primary way that God speaks to get your attention if you are willfully not listening? It’s different for every person, so in what ways does God act that get your attention?
3. God’s intention is love when He disciplines you or me. After you’ve received the discipline of the Lord, did you become aware of what the Lord’s discipline had spared you from experiencing? How did it make you better understand that you are truly and deeply loved by God?

Not Guilty

[Pilate] said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
— Luke 23:14-16

When Jesus was returned to Pilate’s court, Pilate assembled the chief priests and rulers; then he told them, “…Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him.”

Notice Pilate said he had “examined” Jesus. This Greek word, anakrinas, means to examine closely, to scrutinize, or to judge judicially. You must recall that Pilate was the chief legal authority of the land. He knew Roman law and was invested with power to see that Roman law was kept. From a judicial standpoint, he couldn’t find a single crime Jesus had committed. Perhaps Jesus had broken some Jewish religious law, but Pilate wasn’t a Jew and couldn’t care less about Jewish law. From a purely legal standpoint, Jesus wasn’t guilty. To add weight to his action, Pilate backed his view by saying, “Herod has arrived at the same conclusion as I have: This Man has committed no unlawful offense.”

Knowing that the religious leaders were bent on seeing the shedding of Jesus’ blood, Pilate offered to chastise Jesus, hoping this would appease the bloody appetite of the mob. Had this offer been accepted, the beating would have been minor; however, it would have been viewed as a warning that Jesus needed to limit His activities.

Then Pilate announced that after Jesus was chastised, he would “release” Him. When the mob heard the word “release,” they jumped on the chance to reverse Pilate’s decision. You see, it was a custom at this particular time of the year for one prisoner to be “released” from prison as a favor to the people. Because Israel hated being occupied by Rome, many Jewish sons fought like “freedom fighters” to overthrow Roman rule. Therefore, each year when it came time for this big event, all of Jerusalem waited with anticipation to see which prisoner would be released.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

By choosing to “release” Jesus at this moment, it was as if Pilate was making the choice himself which prisoner would be released — and his choice was Jesus. When the people heard of Pilate’s decision, they cried out, “…Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison)” (Luke 23:18,19).

Who was Barabbas? He was a notorious rabble-rouser who had been proven guilty of “sedition” in the city of Jerusalem. What is “sedition”? It comes from stasis, the old Greek word for treason, which refers to the deliberate attempt to overthrow the government or to kill a head of state.

It is interesting that treason was the very charge the Jewish leaders brought against Jesus when they accused Him of claiming to be king! However, in the case of Barabbas, the charge was real, for he had led a volatile insurrection against the government that resulted in a massacre. Nevertheless, Barabbas’ act of bravery, although illegal and murderous, made him a hero in the minds of the local population.

Luke informs us that this Barabbas was so dangerous that they “cast” him into prison. The word “cast” is the Greek word ballo, meaning to throw, which suggests the Roman authorities wasted no time in hurling this low-level bandit into jail for the role he played in this bloody uprising. The Roman authorities wanted him off the streets and locked up forever!

Luke 23:20,21 says, “Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.” The word “willing” is the Greek word thelo. It would be better translated, “Pilate therefore, wishing, longing, or desiring to release Jesus….” Pilate searched for a way to set Jesus free, but the multitude screamed for crucifixion.

This was the first time crucifixion had been specially demanded by the crowd. Luke says the angry mob “cried” for Jesus to be crucified. The word “cried” is the word epiphoneo, and it means to shout, to scream, to yell, to shriek, or to screech. The Greek tense means they were hysterically screaming and shrieking at the top of their voices — totally out of control and without pause.

Pilate appealed to them again, “…Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go” (Luke 23:22). Again the Roman governor hoped that a beating might satisfy the people’s bloody hunger, but “…they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed”(v. 23).

The words “they were instant” is the Greek word epikeima, a compound of the words epi and keimai. The word epi means upon, and the word keimai means to lay something down. When compounded together, this word meant that the people began to pile evidence on top of Pilate, nearly burying him in reasons why Jesus had to be crucified. To finish this quarrel, they threatened him, saying, “…If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar” (John 19:12).

Pilate was taken aback by the threat of treason these Jewish leaders were bringing against him. Once he heard these words, he knew they had him in a trap — and there was only one way legally for him to get out of the mess he was in. He had to make a choice: He could either set Jesus free and sacrifice his own political career, or he could deliver Jesus to be crucified and thus save himself.

When confronted with these two stark choices, Pilate decided to sacrifice Jesus and save himself. But as he turned Jesus over to the masses, Pilate first wanted to make it clear to everyone who was listening that he didn’t agree with what they were doing. This is why Matthew 27:24 tells us, “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.”

Pay careful attention to the fact that Pilate “…took water, and washed his hands….” Water, of course, is symbolic of a cleansing agent, and hands are symbolic of our lives. For instance, with our hands we touch people, we work, we make money — in fact, nearly everything we do in life, we do with our hands. This is why Paul told us to “lift up holy hands” when we pray and worship (1 Timothy 2:8). When we lift our hands to God, it is the same as lifting our entire lives before Him, because our hands represent our lives.

In Bible times, the washing of hands was a ritual often used symbolically for the removal of one’s guilt. So when Pilate washed his hands in that basin of water and publicly declared, “I am clear of all guilt regarding the blood of this just person!” he was demonstrating what he believed to be his total innocence in this matter.

As long as Pontius Pilate thought he could stand with Jesus and keep his own position as well, he protected Jesus. But the moment Pilate realized that saving Jesus would mean he would have to sacrifice his own position in life, he quickly changed his tune and gave in to the demands of the unsaved mob who were screaming all around him.

Can you think of times in your own life when your walk with Jesus put you in an unpopular position with your peers? What did you do when you realized your commitment to the Lord was going to jeopardize your job or your status with your friends? Did you sacrifice your friendship and your status, or did you sacrifice your commitment to the Lord?

Let’s make a decision today to never make the mistake of sacrificing our relationship with Jesus for other people or other things. Instead, let’s resolve to stand by Jesus regardless of the situation or the personal cost we may have to pay for staying faithful to Him.

Remember what Jesus said: “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39 NIV). When we hang on to the wrong things, our wrong choices always costs us the most. On the other hand, when we let go of things we count dear and choose to give everything we have to Jesus, we always end up with more! So let’s be sure to stand by Jesus regardless of what we may have to temporarily lose or lay down!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve denied You and the principles of Your Word because I was afraid I’d jeopardize my popularity if I remained faithful to You. I am truly sorry for this, and I repent for my wrong behavior today. The next time I’m put on the spot and required to make this kind of choice, please help me put aside any worry about saving my own popularity or reputation and make the decision that honors You.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that living for Jesus Christ is the most important thing in my life. I will stand for Him, live for Him, speak up for Him, and never back down. Regardless of the pressure that comes to push me away from this rock-solid position, I will not move from my wholehearted commitment to Jesus. His power strengthens me and helps me remain strong even in the face of opposition and conflict!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Can you think of a time when you sacrificed your relationship with Jesus in order to save yourself a little pain from ridicule or rejection?

2. How did you feel after you did this? Were you regretful that you didn’t stand tall in your commitment to the Lord?

3. What are you going to do the next time you find yourself in such a situation? What do you need to start doing now to make sure you will be strong enough to resist that temptation the next time you face it?

Herod Antipas Mocks the King of Glory!

For I My that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
— Luke 23:11

In that day when Jesus refused to meet Herod’s expectations, Luke 23:10 tells us the chief priests and scribes were so infuriated that they stood up and “…vehemently accused him.” That word “vehemently” means at full pitch, at full volume, strenuously, or vigorously. That means those men must have been screaming like crazy maniacs who were totally out of control! They were most likely saying something like, “Some miracle worker! You have no power! You’re a fraud! If You can work miracles, why don’t You work one right now? You’re nothing but a charlatan!”

Once the screaming match stopped and the volume of their voices was turned down enough for Herod’s voice to be heard, Herod gave the official order for himself and his men of war to deliberately humiliate, mock, make fun of, and heckle Jesus. Suddenly the people in that room in Herod’s residence turned into a booing, hissing, mocking, laughing mob, with all their venom directed toward Jesus. Luke 23:11 tells us about this event, saying, “And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.”

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

Notice that Herod was gathered there that day with “his men of war.” Who were these men of war, and why were they at Herod’s side when Jesus stood before him? The word for “men of war” in Greek is strateuma. This Greek word could signify a small detachment of Roman soldiers, but most likely it suggests that these men were Herod’s personal bodyguards, selected from a larger group of soldiers because they were exceptionally trained and prepared to fight and defend if called upon — thus, the reason the King James Version refers to them as “men of war.”

The Bible informs us that Herod, with the assistance of his bodyguards, took Jesus and “set him at nought.” This phrase is developed from the Greek word exoutheneo, a compound of the words ek and outhen. The word ek means out, and the word outhen is a later form of the word ouden, which means nothing. Taken together, it means to make one out to be nothing. It can be translated to make light of, to belittle, to disdain, to disregard, to despise, or to treat with maliciousness and contempt.

Jesus had already endured the insane yelling and screaming that the chief priests and elders unleashed on Him. But now Herod and his bodyguards entered center stage to start their own brand of humiliating Jesus. Luke uses the word exoutheneo to let us know that they were malicious and vindictive and that their behavior was nasty and ugly. Then Luke tells us that Herod and his men “mocked him.” This gives us an idea of how low they sank in their ridiculing of Jesus.

The word “mocked” is the Greek word empaidzo, the same word used to portray the mocking behavior of the soldiers who guarded Jesus before He was taken into Caiaphas’ high court (see April 15). The word empaidzo meant to play a game. It was often used for playing a game with children or to amuse a crowd by impersonating someone in a silly and exaggerated way. It might be used in a game of charades when someone intends to comically portray or even make fun of someone.

Herod Antipas was a Roman governor — supposedly an educated, cultured, and refined man. He was surrounded by finely trained Roman soldiers who were supposed to be professional in their conduct and appearance. But these men of war, along with their king, descended deep into depravity as they began to put on quite a show impersonating Jesus and the people He ministered to. They probably hammed it up, acting as if they were healing the sick; lying on the floor and quivering as if they were being liberated from devils; groping around as if they were blind and then pretending to suddenly be able to see. It was all a game of charades intended to mimic and make fun of Jesus.

Then Luke tells us, “…they arrayed him in a gorgeous robe….” The word “arrayed” is the Greek word periballo, which means to throw about or to drape about, as to drape around one’s shoulders. The words “gorgeous robe” are the words esthes and lampros. The word esthes describes a robe or garment, while the word lampros depicts something that is resplendent, glistening, or magnificent. It was frequently used to depict a garment made of sumptuous, brightly colored materials.

It is doubtful that this was the garment of a soldier, for even a bodyguard of Herod would not be arrayed in such resplendent garments. In all likelihood, this was a garment worn by a politician, for when candidates were running for public office, they wore beautiful and brightly colored clothes. More specifically, however, this was almost certainly one of Herod’s own sumptuous garments that he permitted to be draped around Jesus’ shoulders so they could pretend to adore Him as king as part of their mockery of Him.

Although Herod apparently enjoyed this maltreatment and abuse of Jesus, Luke 23:14,15 says he could find no crime in Jesus worthy of death. Therefore, after the conclusion of these events, Herod “…sent him again to Pilate” (Luke 23:11).

When Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate, he sent Him clothed in this regal robe. One scholar notes that since this garment was one usually worn by a candidate running for office, Herod’s decision to send Jesus to Pilate in this robe was the equivalent of saying, “This is no king! It’s only another candidate, a pretender, who thinks he’s running for some kind of office!”

When I read of what Jesus endured during the time before He was sent to be crucified, it simply overwhelms me. Jesus committed no sin and no crime, nor was any guile ever found in His mouth; yet He was judged more severely than the worst of criminals. Even hardened criminals would not have been put through such grueling treatment. And just think — all this happened before He was nailed to that wooden Cross — the lowest, most painful, debasing manner in which a criminal could be executed in the ancient world!

Before you do anything else today, why don’t you take a few minutes to stop and thank Jesus for everything He went through to purchase your redemption? Salvation may have been a free gift to you, but purchasing salvation was not free for Jesus. It cost Him His life and His blood. This is why Paul wrote, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

And here’s one more suggestion for you: Rather than keep the Good News of Jesus Christ to yourself, why don’t you find an opportunity today to tell someone else all that Jesus did so he or she  can be saved? God’s Spirit might use you to lead someone to a saving knowledge of Jesus this very day!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I want to take this moment to say thank You for everything You went through for me. It is amazing that You loved me so much that You were willing to endure all of this for me. I know that my salvation was purchased with Your blood and that I could never pay for my salvation. But I want to tell You that I will serve You faithfully for the rest of my days as a way to show You my gratitude! Jesus, thank You for loving me so much!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I am redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ! God loved me so much that He sent His only begotten Son to take away my sin, my sickness, my pain, my lack of peace, and my suffering on the Cross. Because of Jesus, today I am forgiven; I am healed; I am free of pain; I am filled with peace; and I am a joint heir with Him!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. What did you learn new from today’s Sparkling Gem?

2. Have you ever felt mocked for your faith? If so, how did you respond to those who mocked you?

3. Can you think of someone you can share the Gospel with today? If your answer is yes, who is that person?

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
— Luke 16:11

One of the biggest issues people face — and one that people pray to get victory over in their lives — is in the financial realm. If getting your finances into shape is one of your desires, I’m certain this Sparkling Gem will be very important for you.

As we first saw in the January 5 Sparkling Gem, how you handle your finances is a very spiritual issue. According to Luke 16:11, your finances — how you manage and respect them — is a test God uses to assess whether you’re ready for higher levels of blessing, prosperity, responsibility, and greater authority. In this verse, Jesus clearly taught that God watches how you manage your money, and that is what helps Him determine if you are ready for promotion. This is precisely what Jesus meant when He said, “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

It is very important for you to understand what Jesus is telling us in this verse. In the Greek, the word “faithful” is the word pistoi, which expresses the picture of a person who is known to be faithful, responsible, conscientious, and trustworthy. This is in comparison to a person who is impetuous, thoughtless, rash, irresponsible, and therefore not trustworthy. Therefore, this verse could be taken to mean: “If you are impetuous, thoughtless, rash, irresponsible, and untrustworthy with unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”

Whatever this “unrighteous mammon” is in this verse, it is so important that managing it unwisely has the power to disqualify us from receiving true riches from God. So it is very important that we understand what the “unrighteous mammon” is that Jesus is speaking about in this verse!

The word “unrighteous” comes from the Greek word adikia, which in this verse is used to convey the idea of something unspiritual, common, worldly, or something that belongs to the realm of human beings. The word “mammon” is the word mamonas, a very old Greek word that denotes money or wealth. When these words “unrighteous mammon” are used together as they are in this verse, it denotes common, worldly money, along with all of its buying power in this earthly sphere.

Furthermore, when Jesus referred to “true riches,” the word “true” is the Greek word alethinos, which means real, bona fide, genuine, indisputable, or authentic. You see, money, which seems so powerful in this earthly realm with all of its buying power, is nothing compared to the power of God. Heavenly power and heavenly riches far surpass the power and authority of money. For those who have proven themselves faithful and reliable, God will upgrade the level of spiritual power and authority that operates through them. But according to Jesus’ words in Luke 16:11, before God upgrades this level of spiritual power and authority in a person’s life, first He watches to see how he or she manages money — that’s the big test!

In other words, if you are not faithful, responsible, conscientious, and trustworthy with money — which is a lower form of power in this earthly realm — why would God promote you to greater levels of spiritual power, responsibility, and authority?

How you manage your money and what you do with it is far more important than you may have ever realized. It’s good that you want to get your finances in shape and get out of debt, but you need to know that how you handle your money is a big test. If God finds you faithful with money, the lowest form of power in the world today, He will know you can be trusted with real spiritual riches that are unequaled in power.

Taken together, a correct interpretative translation of Jesus’ words in Luke 16:11 could be rendered:

“If you are impetuous, thoughtless, rash, irresponsible, and untrustworthy with regular ol’ money and all of its buying power in this earthly realm, who will commit to your trust the indisputable, true, bona fide riches?”

By listening to the Spirit of God, using common sense, exercising self-control, and planning your purchases in advance, you can live a life that is more debt-free than the way you’re living right now. It will take determination to do it, but if you really want to become free of debt — and remain free forever — it is possible to achieve it.

But most importantly, you need to know this: If your spending habits are so out of control that you don’t tithe and cannot give to other works that the Holy Spirit prompts you to support, you’re failing the test God uses to determine whether you’re ready to be promoted into higher realms of spiritual power, responsibility, and authority. Your money is the big test that God uses to determine if you are ready for that next big promotion! Since this is what Jesus meant in Luke 16:11, doesn’t it make sense that you should take a fresh look at how you’re using and managing your money?

So let me ask you this question: Since God is looking at how you manage your money, do you think He finds you faithful and therefore ready for a big promotion — or do you think God finds you lacking and therefore not ready for the next step up in His good plan for you?

Most of the world — including the Christian community — longs for more financial freedom and less debt. Especially at this time when so many people have been hit across the world with financial crisis, God’s people are asking Him for wisdom and resolutions to very pressing financial challenges.

The fact is that most of the world is in some sort of financial debt. This means there are very few people who are financially free. Nations, families, and churches are all in debt. But just because the rest of the world has fallen into this trap, and lives like this doesn’t mean you have to fall into this same pattern and become trapped by debt that dominates your life. You can make the decision once and for all to be financially freer than you’ve ever been before. If you will stick with your decision, God will help you reach your goals and make that freedom a reality in your life.

And by proving yourself faithful with “unrighteous mammon,” God will know that you qualify for higher levels of spiritual power. It may seem to be a very simplistic view about money and divine power, but this is exactly what Jesus taught!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I take a fresh look at how I handle my finances. It is not Your will for me to be in bondage to anything — including and especially to debt. I make the decision once and for all to be financially freer than I’ve ever been. Holy Spirit, I ask You to reveal to me the ways I can exercise more wisdom and restraint in financial matters, so that you can count me trustworthy with the true riches of Your Kingdom.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I declare that from this day forward, I will give more attention to listening to the Spirit of God, using common sense, exercising self-control, and planning my purchases in advance so I can live a life that is more debt-free than the way I’m living right now. I desire to be and to remain completely free from any financial hindrance so I can give and go without hindrance. In all my affairs, especially in the area of my finances, I commit to making choices that prove me to be a faithful steward of the natural power and influence God has entrusted to me so I can be trusted with true spiritual riches for the glory of God and the blessing of others!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. If you were free of debt, what are the ways you would be able to allot more money to the Gospel and to meet the needs of others?
2. Do you struggle in obeying God with your tithe and offerings? Do bills and credit card interest payments affect whether or not you give your tithe and offerings to the Lord? If so, what specific changes do you need to make to assuage any guilt you might be carrying in your soul because you know you’re robbing God (see Malachi 3:8)?
3. If you are handling your money wisely, can you see how it would show Jesus that you had reached a level of maturity that would mean you could be entrusted with true riches?

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
— John 9:4

Several years ago when I lived in downtown Moscow, I frequently used to walk to the local coffee shop in the morning to get a cup of coffee to start my day and to read the Russian newspaper. As I sat at a small table on the sidewalk just outside the coffee shop, I always watched the masses of people who walk by on this street. As they passed by, I couldn’t help but ponder the fact that vast numbers of those precious people were going to hell, yet they were completely blind to their dire predicament.

Because of the former Communist government’s long-term and violent suppression of the Christian faith, it’s most likely that the majority of Moscow’s huge population is uninformed about the very real hell that awaits them if they don’t accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. For them, a storm is definitely coming with eternal ramifications, and it absolutely breaks my heart that so many don’t even know it.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

Think of it! Billions of unsaved people from every corner of the world don’t realize that they are sitting directly on the brink of eternal judgment. Clueless to the consequences of sin, they blindly go about their lives as if nothing is amiss — eating, drinking, and taking care of their daily affairs while living a life separated from Jesus Christ. This is a very sad and sobering thought because the Bible plainly states in Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death.” And if nobody warns these people, eternal death assuredly awaits them in their future.

This is the primary reason Denise and I moved to the former Soviet Union with our family so many years ago. We were commissioned by God to proclaim the Gospel to this lost Russian generation — to warn them in advance that, if they receive the Lord, they can escape the judgment that ultimately awaits all unsaved humanity. We constantly proclaim this message on television, in books, in literature, in evangelistic meetings, and in church services. And we are so thankful that we have seen literally millions of people come to Christ through our ministry and thereby seal their eternal destiny with the Lord!

However, there are still millions and millions of lost people to reach who have never heard the good news that Jesus saves, and our job will never be complete until we have reached the largest number of souls possible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This problem is not specific to the former Soviet Union; the same is true in every nation of the world, including the United States. Each and every unbeliever needs the saving message that saved and transformed your life and mine, and it is our job to warn them in advance so they can flee that judgment and find safe harbor in Jesus. It is imperative that we use the time given to us now to reach the lost and to work while there is still time to work!

In John 9:4, Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” This verse is incredibly important because it contains a strong admonition for every serious Christian. The attitude of Jesus expressed in this scripture must be our attitude as well.

Notice first that Jesus said, “I must work….” The word “must” is the Greek word dei, which always carries the idea of an obligation or a necessity. This reveals that Jesus urgently and strongly felt that there was no option in the matter. It was imperative, essential, and compulsory that He properly use His time to reach souls. Thus, the first part of the verse could be translated: “For Me, there is no option; what is before Me is certainly compulsory.…”

Then Jesus went on to say, “I must work the works.…” The word “works” comes from the Greek word ergadzomai, which is a form of the word ergos that by itself simply means works. However, when the word ergos becomes the word ergadzomai, it depicts intensified work or something that is completely energized. This is not a light matter; it is something that completely consumes one’s thoughts, attitude, and actions. Thus, when Jesus said, “I must work the works…,” this phrase really carries this idea: “I must give myself completely to the task before Me and do it enthusiastically and passionately.…”

But there is one more very important point. Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me.…” The word “sent” is from the word pempo, which means to send as a messenger or to send on a specific mission. This means that Jesus was no haphazard messenger. He was purposely sent by the Father for a specific reason, and He was accountable for how He performed His mission. This part of the verse, then, actually carries this idea: “I was sent specifically for this mission, and I will answer to the One who sent Me for how I carry out this assignment.”

Taken together, Jesus’ statement could be paraphrased as follows:

“For Me, there is no option, for what is before Me is certainly compulsory. I was sent specifically for this mission and this moment, and I will answer to the One who sent Me regarding how I carry out this assignment. Therefore, I must give myself completely to the task before me and do it enthusiastically and passionately.”

Jesus was also very conscious of the fact that His time was short and that He had to give Himself wholeheartedly to the task assigned to Him while the opportunity was available. He said, “I must work…while it is day….” The word “day” is the Greek word hemera, and it describes the daylight hours when it is possible to see and to work without hindrance. Jesus went on to explain that “…night cometh when no man can work.” The word “night” is the Greek word nuktos, and it describes the darkness of night when it is impossible to see clearly and therefore impossible to work.

Jesus knew that the opportunity before Him was limited. This is true of most opportunities God places before us. If we delay or hesitate too long, the opportunities God gives us will pass us by. It is urgent that we — like Jesus — make the decision to esteem every God-given opportunity as a special gift that cannot be wastefully squandered. Time is a precious gift, and opportunities for the Kingdom are open doors provided by God Himself. Therefore, if God has given you a space of time when you can freely work without hindrance, you need to embrace it as a God- given gift and fervently seek to fulfill what He has called you to do.

Think of how many people you know who were given a remarkable opportunity to do something tremendous, but failed to take advantage of the moment. Because of laziness, hesitation, fear, or a “take it easy” mentality, the opportunity given to those people slipped away and was lost. Don’t let this describe you! If God has given you a moment when you can work to achieve something tremendous — or if an exceptional prospect stands before you that will enable you to make a difference in someone else’s life — then like Jesus, you must give yourself enthusiastically and passionately to the task that lies before you. These kinds of opportunities are usually short-term, so you must seize the moment now while it is still day!

This is exactly how Denise and I feel about our work in the former Soviet Union. Right now the door is wide open for us to work without hindrance, and we fully comprehend that we must work passionately and enthusiastically during this time we’ve been given. Denise and I are not here on a vacation or a pleasure trip. We were purposely sent by the Father to win souls while it is still day, and we know that we will give account to Him for what we do with this precious opportunity He has given us.

Souls are precious to God — so precious, in fact, that He sent His only Son to the earth to redeem people with His blood. Since people are that precious to God, they must be precious to us as well. Therefore, let’s use the God-given opportunities we have, regardless of where we live, to warn people that a life lived apart from Jesus will result in serious eternal consequences. Let’s do all we can to bring them into the safe harbor we have all found in Jesus Christ!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, wherever I may reside, I am on a mission field. I was sent when Jesus said: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.” You have given me many opportunities to make Christ known through my words, the works of my hands, or the associations You have brought across my path. Each window of opportunity You opened before me was time-sensitive. Some I seized in swift obedience; others I let close through procrastination, laziness, or plain disobedience. Father, I repent for wasting time and opportunities because souls were affected or neglected by my choices. Holy Spirit, I ask You to help me be sensitive to the spiritual needs of others and to obey You quickly when You prompt me to release Your love and truth into people’s lives. I make a fresh commitment to worship You by working to reach, warn, and rescue as many lives as possible so they can have eternal life in Jesus Christ!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I will place first things first. I will reverence God and esteem what He values. People are precious to God; therefore, people are precious to me. Daily I will thank God for the gift of my salvation through Jesus Christ. I will also show Him my appreciation daily by doing all I can do to tell as many people as I can that there is a Heaven to gain and an eternal hell of never-ending torment to shun. I will not hesitate. I will not draw back. I am compelled to work while it is day, before the window of time closes and the hour comes when no man can work.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Do you ever think about the vast number of unsaved people you know? If you were one of them, wouldn’t you want a good friend to tell you the truth about Jesus and thereby help you avoid eternal judgment?
2. Do you have a prayer list for people that are unsaved? Who is on that list? How often do you pray for them? If you were unsaved, wouldn’t you want someone to be praying for you?
3. Are you sensitive to opportunities that the Holy Spirit gives you to share Christ with those who are unsaved? What is a recent opportunity that the Holy Spirit gave you to share Christ with someone?