Tag: jesus

Posted in theology

How Christ’s Character Reflects in Us

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.” One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the LORD is with him.” (1 Samuel 16:17-18).

harp
EPrata photo

King Saul is distressed. He gets these spells of despondency and near madness due to an evil spirit plaguing him. Music quells these incidences, and in v. 16, Saul is calling for help. Saul’s servant replies that ‘he has seen’ a young man of good character. We’ll come back to ‘he has seen.’

You notice that the servant didn’t just leave it at ‘plays well’. Anyone can hire a good musician. But when you’re feeling down, who do you want nearby to comfort you, even if it is through music with not much personal interaction? You want a good man. So the servant also included David’s character qualities in this verbal resume. He said that it is seen that David is known to be valorous, strong (man of war), and discerning. That’s the Hebrew word for ‘prudent in speech’. What is meant here is “intelligent, discreet, discerning, have understanding”. When you’re King and enter into a spell of weakness, you don’t want a blabbermouth running your private business all over town. You want someone compassionate.

Finally, the servant ends with a kicker: the Lord is with David.

In the New Testament times one would likely say “He is in the Lord”, or “The Spirit is in him.”

The saints of God are recognized by their fruit. One example is Samuel, “Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and also with man.” (1 Sam 2:26; cf Luke 2:40).

Luke 6:44 reminds us that a good tree will bear good fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us that the fruit is:

“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Matthew 5:14 says we are to be light in the world. Light is not hidden but bright and high so all can see. We believers are to have evidence in our lives that we are one of the Lord’s. That evidence needs to be seen in our words and deeds. (James 2:14). We need to have observable evidence because sanctification means we are daily being conformed to the image of Christ. We must reflect His character in more observable ways as we grow though our life.

I am not talking about personal reputation. I am not speaking of a motivation where we cultivate the approval of man. I am not speaking of that at all.

As James M. Hamilton explained in his book Work and Our Labor for the Lord,

We live obediently and humbly “as a good testimony for unbelievers (1 Corinthians 9:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:12; 1 Timothy 5:14; 6:1; Titus 2:5,9). At many points in his letters Paul instructs Christians to live in a way that reflects concern for how non-Christians perceive Christianity and its adherents. That is to say, Christians are to work in ways that commend the faith to outsiders. Believers are to be winsome and attractive, not repulsive and obnoxious. This concern for how unbelievers perceive the faith is inextricably connected to a desire for others to know, enjoy, and glorify God in Christ. This aspect of doing good work links up with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Christians contribute to the task of making disciples of all nations by doing good work that gives the faith a good reputation.”

It’s the reputation of Christ that is at play here, not ours. If we are observably joyful, kind, faithful, self-controlled, good, patient, peaceful, loving, full of light, it will be obvious that it is Christ’s character in us, by the Spirit.

David’s character was observable and noted. Remember, whether you realize it or not, even if you work from home or work in a cubicle, people are watching you (us). They note your (our) character. The more we walk with Christ, the more our character will be His character.

What are people observing about you? Is Christ in you and evident? When someone wants to choose a person for a project or a team or a club, would they say you (me) are brave, prudent, skillful, with good presence, and the Lord with us? Like David? I hope and pray that people see the Lord in me, and not me in me, or at least less and less of me. Christ’s character is beautiful.

Posted in theology

The Divine Gift of Sleep

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I watch Nathan Fillion in his TV show “The Rookie”. It’s about LA’s oldest police rookie on the force, loosely based on a true story of an older man who really had switched careers mid-life and decided to become a beat cop.

In a recent episode, Fillion, playing police officer John Nolan, woke up, stretched, grimaced, and said, “Getting older means waking up every morning wondering, “Why does that hurt?”

He nailed it.

As I age, sleep becomes important proportionately to the amount it becomes elusive. I’ve always been a good sleeper, no issues with insomnia. Even now as I’m older I still sleep well, but now only for 5 1/2 to 6 hours straight. Then I wake up. It’s usually around 3am, and it takes me a while to return to slumberland. Which is irritating because on weekdays I get up at 4:30am.

Everything in our lives, saved or unsaved, is from the Lord. He either allows it or causes it. As a Christian, sleep is a graceful gift from the Lord. He gives us sleep, peace, and rest.

Now, being the Bible, those three words have various meanings. Sleep in the Bible is used sometimes as a euphemism for death, because death for us is not final, our ‘death’ is only sleep until we are resurrected. Sleep can also mean a spiritual torpor. (Romans 11:8). Sleep also means actual 40 winks sleep.

Peace can mean a restful interlude that includes sleep or not, but it also means peace as in cessation from war and enmity against God due to our sin. Rest can mean actual rest as in the 7th day God rested and we do too, or it can also mean a rest from the struggle against sin.

But for now, let’s look at actual 40 winks sleep and rest. There is natural sleep, bad sleep, and good sleep.

Sleep is a natural human function and a good gift from God. He knows our body is temporary, gets tired, and needs sleep to continue to function. So sleep itself is a gift and is neutral. The human side of Jesus got tired, and He slept.

Psalm 4:8, In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, LORD, have me dwell in safety.

Psalm 127:2, In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat—for He gives sleep to His beloved.

Bad sleep:

Then there is a sleep our mind uses to indulge the body or escape the conscience. Jonah the runaway prophet disobeyed God and ran in the other direction he was told to go. He scurried to Joppa and boarded a boat. He went “down below into the stern of the ship, had lain down, and fallen sound asleep.” (Jonah 1:5b).

Now this is funny to me because I am a small craft mariner. I’d lived on a 37′ sailboat for two years. In Jonah’s storm, the sailors were hurling cargo overboard – so picture the bumps and scrapes of amphorae and trunks being dragged across the deck- the waves were crashing against the boat, the wind was screaming, the sailors were yelling, the sails noisily hoisted and reefed…a lot of noisy activity all around Jonah. Yet he not only slept, but the Bible said he slept soundly. The Hebrews word lists synonyms for soundly as a heavy sleep or a dead sleep.

As a mariner, I wonder HOW he could sleep deeply when all this activity and noise was going on?! We do know his journey to Joppa was full of emotion and stress. Stress and exhaustion can make one tired. Barnes’ Notes mentions this true fact, “Perhaps he had given himself up to sleep, to dull his conscience.” Sleep IS an escape.

In Jonah’s case, the LORD had not given Jonah the sweetness of refreshing sleep, instead He had given the ship a great wind and storm. (Jonah 1:4).

Also, as Ellicott’s Commentary says, “when a resolution is once irrevocably (as we think) taken, conscience ceases to disturb with its wakeful warning, and the restlessness of remorse has not yet arrived.“

So while a deep sleep is a gift from the LORD, our flesh can also give us a deep sleep, but the two are not the same. One is a heavenly gift and the other is a fleshly indulgence. Deep sleep can arise from sloth, avoidance, laziness (Proverbs 19:15), or just lain weakness of the flesh, as we see in this next example.

The Disciples slept in Gethsemane the night of our Lord’s arrest. The Lord Jesus asked Peter, John, and James to stay awake with Him. He said he was greatly distressed, grieved to the point of death and to stay and keep watch with Him. Yet their eyes were heavy and they fell asleep. Jesus returned from his little distance away three times and each time found them slumbering.

And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and He *said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? 41 Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”. (Matthew 26:40-41).

The disciples’ flesh won in this battle.

And then Jesus was arrested and there were no more chances to be with Him! How guilty would you feel if a dear loved one asked you to stay awake and pray with him or her but you fell asleep and then they were taken away, or died?

Jesus told them that they were willing but their flesh was weak. And so it is. We forget just how child-like we are. We forget just how weak we are. We forget just how bound by our flesh we are.

Weird sleep

Several times in the Bible we see that God gave a deep sleep to someone for spiritual purposes. In Genesis 2:21 God gave Adam a deep sleep while he took a rib from the man. In Genesis 15:12 God again caused a deep sleep to come on Abram, when God was making the covenant with him. In 1 Samuel 26:12 the Lord caused a deep sleep to come over King Saul and his men while David crept in and took his water jug and spear.

He often came to the Prophets when they slept to deliver a vision.

Jeremiah 31:25-26, for I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.” / At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been most pleasant to me.

I am glad for Jeremiah for his good sleep. For once the Lord had not given him dire visions or terror warnings in his dreams, but instead Jeremiah had received a vision that was actually pleasant. Phew.

Good Sleep

Psalm 3:5
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.

Proverbs 3:24
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.

Jesus slept on the boat in the storm. The disciples were heaving water overboard as fast as it came in. The wind screamed. The sails flapped wildly. The men were yelling. So finally they woke Jesus up. What a similar but different scene with Jonah on his boat. This was an example of both Jesus’ humanity- the man Jesus was exhausted. And it is also a spiritual picture of his deep, unwavering trust in His Father. This is a sleep of trust in the good gifts of the Father.

When you lay your head down tonight, thank the Lord for making us weak and needing sleep to keep going. Thank Him for the sweetness of an unencumbered sleep. Ask Him, if you are troubled, to give you the gift of an uninterrupted night of rest.

Posted in theology

Understanding Ruth’s Character through Her Choices

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Ruth And Naomi by Pieter Pieterszoon Lastman, 1624

We’ve all had to deal with bitter and negative people. Even when the nicest thing happens, these people turn it into a gloomy object of sadness, or exhibit a woe is me attitude. Such a woman was Naomi in the book of Ruth. Naomi was Ruth’s mother-in-law, which sometimes complicates matters, as every daughter-in-law knows, lol.

When famine came to the Bethlehemite family of Elimelech and Naomi and sons Mahlon and Chilion, they decided to sojourn to Moab, where conditions were better. Sadly the verses in Deuteronomy 7:3; 23:3 forbid the Israelites from associating with the idolatrous Moabites, but the family went anyway. Settling down, the sons intermarried. In due time, the sons died, as well as Naomi’s husband. Three widows fending for themselves…the outlook didn’t seem good.

So Naomi decided to return to her former hometown, now that the famine had passed. She urged the daughters-in-law to remain in Moab with their own people. Orpah did, but Ruth’s devotion to her dead husband’s mother was solid. In good conscience, could a family member let an aged woman travel alone, facing uncertainty upon her arrival, even if it was her hometown? Decades had passed. Who knew what awaited Naomi.

No, Ruth made her famous statement, ‘where you go, I will go, your people will be my people, your God will be my God’. Such loyalty and devotion Ruth had! Ruth could have cut ties at that point, rationalizing that bitter and negative Naomi should be left to her own devices. But Ruth’s character overlooked it.

While in Bethlehem, Ruth was gleaning in Boaz’s field. When the two met, Ruth-

fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. (Ruth 2:10-11).

Ruth was humble upon meeting Boaz. She flung herself to the ground, in deference to him as landowner of the field from which she was gleaning, and in acknowledgement of her alien status.

Throughout her life, Ruth demonstrated loyalty and humility. She displayed diligence (“She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.” Ruth 2:6b).

When speaking to Boaz, Ruth was gracious – “May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord,” she said. “You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.” (Ruth 2:13).

Let’s go back to Boaz’s statement, “Fully reported to me.” Ladies, what we do and who we are can’t be hidden. We saw major glimpses of Ruth’s character before she arrived in Bethlehem, and since arriving, her character shone all the more. Ruth was known as a good woman. People knew this because they were watching. Our character is noted and reported, pro or con, whether we like it or not. Nothing is ever really hidden.

The deeds of Ruth were an extension of what was already inside of her. It was the bundle of different positive qualities in her that made the reports and observations of her deeds so Godly.

When my deeds have been fully reported to friends, church members, my family, or my employers, will that report be good, or bad? Will the characteristics the Spirit desires to grow in me be evident? Is the fruit evident? I hope so. I pray so.

How about you? As your deeds are fully reported to others, what would the report say?

In the end, there is one full report that none of us will escape. On the Day of the Lord, the books will be opened, and we will account for what we said and did post-salvation. (Romans 14:10–12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Though it is not a judgment for us believers, it’s a reward ceremony, still, we will be called to account. The full report will be there, laying before the King and before His subject, each one of us in turn. Are we mindful each day that what we do on earth reflects on His Great Name? We will discover to what extent, when we get there.

ruth

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Further Information-

Trivia: Did you know that Oprah Winfrey’s name on her birth certificate is Orpah? However when people pronounced it, it was constantly spoken as Oprah, so that is the name that stuck.

Commentaries: Challies’ recommendations on Ruth

Best Book Series: Nate Pickowitz on why Ruth is the Best Book in the Bible (one in a series of 66, also, this link is to the cached version, the live version has gone dead).

Overview of the Book of Ruth: John MacArthur’s overview and introduction

Posted in theology

The Mystery of the Trinity: Embracing God’s Fellowship

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I think most Christians probably have heard the hymn Holy, Holy, holy. The refrain is

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Your mind is humming it right now, isn’t it? 🙂

Our finite minds can’t grasp the notion of one person in three persons. So we don’t usually delve into the mystery of the Trinity. We don’t ponder it so much. It is a doctrine that just is.

“Theologian J.I. Packer noted that the Trinity is usually considered a little-thought-about piece of “theological lumber” that no one pays much attention to. But whatever your level of understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity, one thing you can know for sure: The Triune God is unchangeably committed to including you in the wonderful fellowship of the life of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.” (Source).

The concept of the Trinity is mentioned a lot in the New Testament. I was surprised when I started thinking about this and studied it, there are more verses that mention it than I thought.

Jesus is teaching. “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” (John 14:7).

Philip asks, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus replied, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own, but the Father, as He remains in Me, does His works.” (John 14:10).

As our pastor taught, this is a concept called mutual indwelling. He explained in his sermon,

“He said something similar in chapter 10, verse 38; know and understand that the father is in me and I am in the father. That’s the language of mutual indwelling. What Jesus had been teaching them all along was his unity with the father. He is so united with the father, the best way to express it is mutual indwelling. The father dwells in him and he is in the father. Now that doesn’t mean that Jesus and the Father are identical in personhood. After all, according to verse 12 here, He was going to the Father, which indicates a distinction between them. And so their oneness doesn’t mean they’re identical in all respects, but to see Jesus is to see the Father in essence.

It is a mystery how all three Persons of the Trinity are one but separately they are three individual people, with their own wills, purposes, tasks. But God is one. I am glad He is a mystery. I would not respect a God I could understand. He has deigned to stoop to our level of understanding in magnificent ways. He gave us His word. He gave us His Son. He gave us the Holy Spirit to indwell us. He raised up the prophets. He have us this world in order to see his wonderful works. He gave us providence, where we can see in hindsight how He takes care of us.

Mutual indwelling as a term describing the relationship among the persons of the Trinity is an easy to understand term. Theologians also use a more technical term, perichoresis or circumincession.

Perichoresis is “the mutual intersecting or “interpenetration” of the three Persons of the Godhead and may help clarify the concept of the Trinity. It is a term that expresses intimacy and reciprocity among the Persons of the Godhead. Perichoresis is the fellowship of three co-equal Persons perfectly embraced in love and harmony and expressing an intimacy that no one can humanly comprehend. The Father sends the Son (John 3:16), and the Spirit proceeds from the Father and was sent by the Son (John 15:26)—another example of perichoresis, with the result that God’s people are blessed,” says GotQuestions.

“Though one Person or another may be emphasized in a particular work, no one person does any work exclusive of the other two persons, for as the classic dictum states, “the external works of the Trinity are undivided.” ~John MacArthur, Biblical Doctrine.

Our comprehension of this doctrine will always be beyond our mind’s finite grasp. But by faith we know the unity of the Godhead is perfect, the works of the Trinity are ongoing, the Trinity’s essence is shared perfectly yet without blurring each person’s distinctions.

Hebrews 1:3 says- And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.

The God-head’s fellowship has opened up to include humans. Our fellowship with God becomes possible after we repent and by faith we are saved through grace. Then, as JI Packer says:

fellowship becomes a possibility; and it is only as the Holy Spirit enables us to speak to others, and others to us, in such a way that Christ and the Father are made known through what is said, that fellowship is made a reality. When we seek to enjoy fellowship together, we should do so in prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, whose office it is to reveal Christ to us. ~Source, God’s words : studies of key Bible themes, JI Packer

Posted in good friday, theology

The World’s Most 3 Important Days: Good Friday to Resurrection Sunday

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Can you imagine the pit of despair the Disciples felt on Good Friday? To them it was a hellish and confusing Friday. They were confused, they scattered, Peter even denied Jesus.

Jesus’ separation from the Father while on the cross (Matthew 27:46) is the loneliest and most poignant moment any person ever felt in the history of the universe, bar none.

But the disciples’ sudden and unexpected separation on Friday from their spiritual Father they’d been following so hopefully for three years came upon them cruelly and brutally, throwing them all into states of panic, despair, and spiritual depression. Even though Jesus had told them ahead of time, and even though they had studied the scriptures, they didn’t understand. To them, it wasn’t Good Friday. It was just bad Friday and the seeming end of the long trail of hopes and highs they’d been experiencing for three years with Jesus in discipleship to Him. They did not know as we do, Friday’s here, but Sunday’s coming!

We worship Jesus every day. We worship and praise Jesus collectively in services on Sunday. We exalt Him each year on Resurrection Sunday. We know Him as Resurrected King triumphant over sin and death!

His ultimate moment will be His return, when every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess (Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10, Isaiah 45:23).

“The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.” (Zechariah 14:9)

Everyone will know that Jesus is MESSIAH! They will finally know the Resurrected Jesus is the only name. He is all names. He is the beginning and the end!

And it started with the cross on Friday, when it was finished.

Posted in cross, theology

Exploring the Cross: A Symbol of Christ’s Glory

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I designed this picture to stare at and better ponder its truths. The mental picture of it as I was reading was so vivid before my eyes I had to draw it out.

Initially I drew just the wavy line and the cross. The cross is lifted up, the sole item on the bloody landscape. To view it, all eyes must look UP. The cross of Christ is the only thing has any meaning in the world. When I was an unsaved person I rejected this notion immediately. As a saved person, by the grace of God, I am humbled to kneel and stare at this wonderful, terrible cross.

The line represents not only the hill, for the Son of Man must be lifted up, and it was a hill He died on and a hill he will return to. (Zechariah 14:4).

The line is also the dividing line of all human history. The above and below, the hell and the heaven, the line that divides before Christ’s birth and after Christ’s incarnation and is both the starting point and the ending point of all that is and all that will be.

On the day of His death the sun was darkened. This is only right, for Jesus is the Light of the world.

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the entire land until [u]the ninth hour, 45because the sun stopped shining; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. (Luke 23:44-45).

“Christ’s victory is the spectacle that holds the attention of the universe.” ~Tony Reinke, Competing Spectacles

Christ’s glory is the spectacle of all spectacles, and its power is most clearly seen in how it equips and motivates and animates our faithful obedience in all other areas of life.

Christ was not merely made a spectacle on the cross, the cross became a shorthand reference for everything glorious about Christ- His work as creator and sustainer of all things, his incarnation, his life, his words, his obedience, his miracles, his shunning, his beatings, his crucifixion, his wrath bearing, his resurrection from the grave, his heavenly ascension, his kingly coronation, and his eternal priesthood- all of his glory subsumed into his heavenly spectacle. ~Tony Reinke, Competing Spectacles

To be able to love Jesus and not hate Him any longer is the joy of my life.

We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

Posted in theology

Understanding Demonic Influence in the Gospel of Mark

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

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We are going through the book of Mark in our church. Our teaching pastor recently preached on Mark 5:1-20. It’s the incident of the Gadarene Demoniac. The man in the Bible had a Legion of demons in him. A Roman legion had up to 6000 soldiers. The man didn’t necessarily have 6000 demons in him, in fact it’s more likely he had around 2000, but still.

Demons are fallen angels. These are the angels who rebelled against God and followed satan. They are totally depraved, sinful, and out to do as much damage as they can on the earth to all people, but especially to God’s people.

The demons are present on earth always, but seem to have been more highly active in three great waves. They were particularly active around the time of Moses, during the Elijah-Elisha period, and when Jesus walked the earth. In the future, they will be highly active during the prophesied Tribulation period. Demons are also called ‘unclean spirits’.

In the New Testament, we read of the demons and their activity more times than one may remember. It is a big topic, especially in the Gospel of Mark. A demon became agitated when Jesus taught in the synagogue, and the man the demon was inhabiting shouted, “saying, “What business do you have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are: the Holy One of God!“( Mark 1:24).

The Gadarene legion of demons in the man called out “Jesus, Son of the Most High God.” (Mark 5:7). This title was used by both Jews and Gentiles to distinguish the one true God from the false gods. The titles the demons used to speak to Jesus, Most High God and Holy One of God are acknowledgements from the fallen, unholy angels that they know exactly who Jesus is. Even if the crowds didn’t or even the disciples.

The demons used the highest name for Jesus, they know who He is and how holy He is.

After that incident, Now when evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. 33And the whole city had gathered at the door. 34And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. (Mark 1:32-34).

‘all those who were demon-possessed’… ‘cast out many demons’. Hmm, sounds like a plague of demons were abounding. In Mark 3:14-15 there is an important verse, don’t gloss over it when you’re reading:

And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, 15and to have authority to cast out the demons.

EPrata collage

Jesus appointed them to preach AND to show they had authority over the demons.

That is a key thought. They had authority. So did Paul. (Acts 16:16-18, Acts 19:11-12). This was to authenticate their message. Remember the demon-possessed slave girl? She had a spirit of divination, and she annoyed Paul for many days. He busted that spirit out of her. He “said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.” (Acts 16:16-18).

Do you remember that Jesus appointed 72 to go forth and preach and heal etc? They came back jubilant. Now the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!” (Luke 10:17).

The apostles, including Paul, and the 72, had been given authority by Jesus – “The Holy One of God” – to exorcise demons. And they did. Demons were busting out all over the place by those who were given that authority.

Charlatans abound in every era and in every religion. There were false prophets, false healers, and false exorcists. These exorcists roved from town to town, plying their trade. Casting out demons is mentioned in Matthew 12:27; and Mark 9:38.

Copycat exorcists, hoping to profit from the excitement created by Paul’s ministry, sprung up around Ephesus. The book of Acts records that some groups successfully invoked the names of Jesus and Paul in their exorcisms, possibly receiving financial rewards (though this is not mentioned in Acts). Source Lexham Bible Dictionary.

But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had the evil spirits, saying, “I order you in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches!” Acts 19:13).

Demon deliverance was a thing. Even some who were not believers seem to have been successful at times in getting a demon out. Luke 7:21-23 shows some people pleading with Jesus to allow them into heaven, because they did miracles and works and cast out demons.

Pharaoh’s magicians were able to counterfeit some miracles- up to a point. And in Matthew 24:24 we are warned- For false christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Satan and his fallen demons are active and powerful.

EPrata collage

Then the scene narrows in to one particular instance- Now we come to a funny scene.

It seems that there was a Chief Priest named Sceva who had 7 sons. Acutely aware that Paul was earning much notice with the people, these 7 brothers tried to copycat, at least where demons were concerned. These Jewish demon busters tried to get a demon out of a man. The demon inside didn’t budge but then asked the Jewish itinerant exorcists,

But the evil spirit responded and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know of Paul, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15).

Then the demon possessed man leaped on the 7 brothers and beat them up until they left the house howling, bloody, and naked.

The Sons of Sceva tried to cast the demon out but instead the demon cast the Sons of Sceva out!

You might be thinking, ‘one against seven? The odds are in favor of the brothers, aren’t they?’ No. Demons are mighty. They are angels after all, fallen and unholy, but still powerful. An angel is going to stand on the sun (Revelation 19:17). Four angels are going to stand on the 4 corners of the earth and hold back the 4 winds. (Revelation 7:1). The Gadarene demoniac was so strong he broke chains and no one could contain him.

A Christian cannot be demon-possessed. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit. We are given armor of God to protect us, (Ephesians 6:11–17) and we are supposed to resist the devil and he will flee from us. (James 4:7).

So, how are unbelievers successful in casting out demons if they do not have the authority from Jesus nor even belief in Him? Catholics are famous in secular literature for their supposed expertise in exorcisms.

Demons are real. Satan is real. However, Satan is a master trickster and the father of lies (John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:14). A demon’s ability to lure gullible human beings into its traps often exceeds our ability to detect the traps (2 Corinthians 2:11; 1 Peter 5:8). If it would serve its purpose to hide within a human body, a demon might do that. Or, if it would serve its purpose to pretend to come out on command, it might do that, too. Satan could very well participate with an unsaved exorcist in order to inflate the exorcist’s pride and boost confidence in his power over evil. Source GotQuestions

I find the topic of demons fascinating. I believe there are demons around today and inhabit unsaved people. We are not so scientifically advanced as to disbelieve the reality of satan and his minions operating on the earth, second heaven, and third heaven. But though it is a legitimate topic of study in Systematic Theology, (see links below), I think that focusing too much on demons will take our eyes off Jesus. Keeping our eyes on him through His word and prayer is the best practice. We will meet the holy angels one day, and we will see the judgment of the unholy angels. What a day that will be.

EPrata photo

Further Resources

“Spiritism” sermon by Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Synopsis- ” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks across Scripture to help the listener understand the general activity, as well as the particular operations of evil and malevolent spiritual forces in the world. This sermon on demonology helpfully classifies the outworking of occult activity in its ancient and modern forms.”

The Doctrine of Satan and Demons: Wayne Grudem (outline)
The  following  is an outline from Wayne Grudem for chapter 20 of his book, Systematic Theology, dealing with Satan and Demons. There are three teachings on this chapter located elsewhere on this website.

Angels and Demons– Ligonier Ministry (23 minute video). “If we claim to believe what the Bible teaches, then we must take the existence of angels and demons seriously. In this message, R.C. Sproul turns to the teaching of Scripture on the role of these spirits and the reality of Satan.”

Posted in theology

God’s Voice: Understanding Biblical Revelation Today

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

A man I follow on X asked “Do you think God still uses visions and dreams today? Even if it’s non-normative?“

I answered “No. The scripture as given is sufficient. He speaks through His Gospel, not direct revelation at this time. Heb 1:1-2. Rev 22:18-19, 2 Tim 3:14-17, 2 Pet 1:19. There is nothing that a vision or dream could say to us directly that would be better truth than what is already written.“

Another lady piped in and replied to me that SHE hears His voice. “He reveals things directly to me and to many other Christians. The Bible tells us “my sheep hear my voice.“

This verse is a vastly misunderstood and overused excuse for people who do not think the Bible is enough to cling to as a defense for their voice-hearing activities.

I said, “You’re not an actual sheep, so you’re not actually hearing God’s voice. Interpret both sides of the verse the same. Heb 1:1-2a says, ‘God has spoken to us in His Son’ which means the Bible. More here, please watch 18 minutes of truth why you’re not hearing Him.“

And I linked to Justin Peters’ wonderful video series titled Inigo Montoya Series. The series, Peters wrote, “dives deep into the world of commonly misinterpreted scriptures, carefully unraveling misconceptions and providing clear, biblically grounded explanations.” The pertinent entry I’d linked to was My Sheep Hear My Voice.

She replied, “I’m not going to watch a video. I read the Bible. And I have a relationship with Jesus.“

Maybe it’s just me. But if someone said I’m doing something that is against the Bible, or, if I’m following someone who teaches falsely, I’d investigate. I’d consider the advice. Jesus is too important to reject the possibility out of hand. But in discernment work, too often that is exactly what I’ve found that people do.

Hers was a typical reply. The person defending a false notion or a false teaching never reads the verse or the link and comes back to address it in the conversation. We must reason together over scriptures, it is the only common ground we have for truth (IF the person is saved it would be common ground, if not, then they need scriptural truth anyway.) Always bring the Bible verses into the conversation as quickly as possible.

So I told her that “I’d gently suggest that the Bible warns constantly about the dangers of deception. You may indeed have a relationship with Jesus, OR you may have a relationship with an entity that is pretending to be Jesus, who as you claim “reveals things to you” outside of the Bible. Mat7:21-23“.

Her reply, “You probably shouldn’t assume that about people you don’t know.”

Again, ignoring the verse that has been offered, not using verses in her reply, and making an accusation flung back within seconds is par for the course in discernment conversations. Prayerful conversation seems to be out of fashion. Careful consideration of the scriptures seems out of fashion.

I’d replied (and I’m not including the entire conversation here), “I am not assuming anything about your salvation, and in fact I’ve already said you may be saved or you may not be, I said watch out because deception is warned of constantly in the Bible. Matt 7:21-23 is real. God is not speaking to you. 😦 You’re being deceived if you think so…

There were a few more replies, one which misused a verse in Jeremiah and a statement that said she doesn’t want a relationship with a “silent and powerless God”. It is sad to see that she believes if God is not speaking directly to her that God is ‘silent and powerless.’

Posting Justin Peters’ famous quote seen below only elicited a terse reply “That’s a false teaching.”

This lady has a podcast. It’s with her husband. It’s fairly new and thankfully does not have a lot of followers yet. But this is the thing. Discernment is more important than ever as opportunities for us to be deceived abound. Opportunities also abound for us to damage our witness either by promoting false doctrines or false teachers, or by our behavior in our defense of the truth. You have to know when a conversation has run its course and when to bow out, and that moment hopefully occurs before I get angry or sarcastic or fling an ad hominem accusation of my own.

Continuationists are wrong, but as to the person who believes the miracle gifts continue, it isn’t usually a salvation issue. (It can become one later, though). But the unteachable attitude is unbiblical. The accusations also are not warranted. The youngster (and she was young) declaring with full confidence “‘Justin Peters’ quote is false teaching’ or as she stated flatly later “You are absolutely wrong” is sad to see.

We speak the truth, in love. We gently bring people along,

The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, 2 Timothy 2:24.

I do a lot online and I need to remember these admonitions also. Be kind, be firm but loving, don’t take things personally. When the conversation becomes pointless or you’ve shared scripture that has been rejected, move on.

Leave the presence of a fool,
Or you will not discern words of knowledge.
Proverbs 14:7

The successful pursuit of wisdom presupposes at least earnestness and reverence. The scoffer shuts himself out from the capacity of recognizing truth. ~Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Go from the presence of a foolish man—when the time comes that you see you can do him no good; for “evil communications corrupt good manners.” Thus Samuel “came no more to see Saul,” when he saw that remonstrances were unavailing with him, though he continued to “mourn” for him, remembering from what high estate he had fallen. ~Ellicott’s Commentary

Posted in encouragement, rock of ages

Creation Grace: Fragility

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Luke 21:33).

We think of the earth as something solid, firm, lasting forever. Some believe it has been here for billions of years and will remain for billions more. In truth, the earth is passing away as we speak, and it is no more firm than the bubbles children at a festival were trying to burst.

The fragility of life is seen in the gossamer web spoken of in Jonathan Edwards’ Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God sermon:

“Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider’s web would have to stop a falling rock.”

The fragility of our lives, of our deeds, of the very earth is no more solid than the walls of Jericho which fell without warning, (Joshua 6:20)  and the Tower of Siloam, which fell without warning. (Luke 13:4). So it will be for the Great Wall of China, which seems so strong and sturdy,

CC photo, use w/attribution, Fabien Dany – www.fabiendany.com

Even now, it is crumbling-

CC photo, by Bill Price III

The earth is fragile, cracked and quaking even as we speak-

USGS

The earth staggers like a drunken man; it sways like a hut; its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls, and will not rise again. (Isaiah 24:20)

Our lives, our deeds, the very earth is fragile. The breath we draw is fleeting. No more substantial than the silk of a gossamer web, no more sturdy than a butterfly wing, no more lasting than a bubble ascending to some height, only to vanish in its evanescence and be no more.

Jesus lasts forever. He is the eternal, the substantial, the durably secure shelter in which we cling.

The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

Hide thy fragile self in Him, the Rock of Ages!

Posted in theology

An often overlooked command for wives is explained

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

What are many Christian wives failing at?

Susan Heck has been teaching, worshiping, and mentoring for a long time. She travels the country teaching on various theological topics, and one of her topics is on women and the Bible’s standards for wives.

Recently she presented information at Crossway Bible Church in Kansas. The topic was Forming Faithful Friendships in Christ. The 4 sessions plus Q&A are here: Forming Faithful Friendships in Christ.

Mrs. Heck said something in one of the sessions to which my ears perked up. She said she had been married almost 46 years before her husband passed away. Her husband wanted Susan to show respect for him almost more than her submission to him. She further said that she travels all around and sees that as Christian women we may be failing at the respect mandate.

I know my husband wanted my respect almost more than my submission. ~Susan Heck, Forming Faithful Friendships in Christ, session 3

What does ‘respect’ mean?

We focus quite a bit on Titus 2 instructions because there are different demographics in the verses which apply to any number of women who read it. But Ephesians 5:33 also plainly sets out a biblical behavior standard, this time, for wives.

Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:33).

It’s a command. Respect the husband.

5:22 wives While the cultural model for marriage in the Graeco-Roman world emphasized male patriarchal leadership, Paul’s model is based mutual love and respect (Eph 5:28, 33) and grounded in the OT creation story (v. 31 cites Gen 2:24). Faithlife Study Bible (Eph 5:22).

So what IS this respect?

v. 33. Reverence [respect] consists of love and esteem, which produce a care to please, and of fear, which awakens a caution lest just offence be given. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible.

What does this word ‘respect’ mean in context? The word is used 95 times in the New Testament. The word in Greek in the Ephesians verse is phobeomai and it means fear, dread, reverence, am afraid, terrified.

You might notice the similarity to the word phobos, from which we get the English word phobia. Phobos in Greek means “fear” or “terror.”

WHAT?! Are we supposed to be afraid of our husbands!? No, see the usage explained from the Lexicon–

Usage: The Greek verb “phobeó” primarily means to fear or be afraid. It can denote a range of emotions from terror and dread to reverence and awe. In the New Testament, “phobeó” is used both in the context of fear of danger or harm and in the sense of reverential awe towards God. The term can imply a healthy respect or acknowledgment of God’s power and authority, as well as a warning against disobedience or sin.

So the word is used in different ways. We are not to fear the husband as we submit to him. We are to reverence him.

WHAT?! Like Sarah did when she called her husband ‘lord’?

Tissot, Abram counsels Sarai, c. 1896-1902. Source

Well…yes. As Peter instructed in 1 Peter 3:5-6, not to adorn themselves with outward treasures such as gold or braided hair, but inwardly with a pure conscience and respect toward the husband-

For in this way the holy women of former times, who hoped in God, also used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; and you have proved to be her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.

Again, the word respect has many nuances and different meanings when studied. In the Ephesians verse it means a proper fear wrapped in reverence. As Christ is the head of the church we fear Him in reverent awe and respect, and since the husband is the stand-in for Christ in the home, leading with a sacrificial love that would lay down his life for his family, wives are to respect that, and fear him in the sense that Matthew Henry explained above and also below- with a reverential fear of offending.

Wives should be subject to their husbands, not from dread and amazement, but from desire to do well, and please God. ~MHenry

Lexicon again-

Paul shifted from submits (vv 22, 24) to respects (phobeomai, which means “reverence,” “fear offending”), implying that submission is the showing of respect. When a husband and wife fulfill their biblical roles, their marriage will function the way God intended. Bond, J. B. (2010). The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians. The Grace New Testament Commentary.

Aren’t respect and submission the same thing?

Now it must be said that submitting to and respecting the husband are two different things. Of submission and respect, a wife can do one without the other. See Wendy Alsup here-

Surprisingly enough, I did not personally have that much of a problem with the concept of submitting to my husband. But respect was much harder. I could submit and still harbor anger and bitterness. I could still put out the vibe that says, “I am disappointed in your decision-making skills.” In fact, submission without respect let me live in a delusion of self-righteousness. “I am submitting, but I do not think you know what you are doing, and I am going to continue to let you know that I do not trust you with my attitude, even though, technically, I am submitting on this issue.” Submission does not equal respect. And submission without respect brings NO honor to God. Why would God command the combination of the two?” Alsup, W. H. (2010). By His wounds you are healed: How the message of Ephesians transforms a woman’s identity (pp. 133–134).

Wives, and I’ve been a wife before salvation, we know how to seemingly acquiesce but passively aggressively disrespect him, don’t we?

So, how do we respect our husbands?

Susan Heck in her lesson on What does a Spirit Filled Marriage look Like? (and there is also a similarly titled booklet at her web store you can buy) lists 6 ways we can respect the husband. In the video she explains them but I won’t steal her thunder here, I’ll just list them.

1.Respect your husband’s work. Show an interest in your husband’s work whatever he does,
2. Respect his speech,
3. Respect his privacy,
4. Respect his eats (don’t nag him about what he eats),
5. Respect his convictions -some of you I know have unbelieving husbands but you still can graciously listen and reason with him,
6. Respect his time.

For practical resources on respecting the husband I turned to the Puritans. This is from Ligonier’s TableTalk Magazine, How did the Puritans understand marriage?

The Puritan view of marital love was overwhelmingly positive because it was informed by the Bible, the written Word of the God who instituted marriage at the time of our creation and regulated it by His commandments. As Packer says, “They went to Genesis for its institution, to Ephesians for its full meaning, to Leviticus for its hygiene, to Proverbs for its management, to several New Testament books for its ethic, and to Esther, Ruth and the Song of Songs for illustrations and exhibitions of the ideal.” They let the practices, duties, and ethics of marriage flow out of Scripture.

Ultimately the love of both husband and wife must be guided and energized by the fear of the Lord, and scripture contains all we need to use as the model and guide for marital life.

Further Resources

Susan Heck: What does a Spirit Filled Marriage look Like? (in this 1-hour teaching, Susan focuses for a bit on respecting the husband)

Puritan Wives: Margaret Tyndal Winthrop and her extraordinary love letters