Too Good, But Still True: God has Visited and Redeemed His People!

Trevor S Ferguson

December 29, 2014

Luke 1:68-75 (KJV)
⁶⁸  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, ⁶⁹And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; ⁷⁰As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: ⁷¹That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; ⁷²To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; ⁷³The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, ⁷⁴ That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, ⁷⁵In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

INTRODUCTION

Life on earth seems to be dominated by bad news!

Shortly after creation, Adam and Eve sinned and ended up being cast out of the Garden of Eden. Their sin resulted in the curse of sin being passed on to all humanity. By the time we get to Genesis chapter 4, we find the Cain has killed his brother Abel, and with that act, bringing murder and shame into the first family. The generations after Adam fell deeper and deeper into sin, until God had to bring judgment in the form of the great flood. The flood wiped out all humanity, except for Noah and his household, who were saved in the ark.

After this God called Abraham and established the nation of Israel. Israel was to be a nation of priest and a holy nation, which would represent God here on earth, but Israel failed miserably and ended up in captivity – first, the Northern kingdom under the Assyrians and then the Southern Kingdom under the Babylonians. By the time of the New Testament the kingdom of Israel was under Roman rule, with a king (Herod) imposed upon them by the Roman authorities. Israel was badly in need of spiritual and political deliverance!

In today’s society, news media are again dominated by bad news – lead stories on radio, television and news papers are often tales or murder, motor vehicle accidents, plane crashes, financial crises and political scandals.  Rarely do we find good news in the headlines. As a result of this pervasive negativity, good news is often hard to believe!

From the spiritual perspective, man has become so used to sin and its repercussions that it is hard for many to believe that God will actually save from sin and bring about redemption for their souls. Even among the religious, we sometimes find that good news is thought to be too good to be true.

The story of Zacharias and the birth of John the Baptist, gives us an example of how one priest was transformed from a doubter to a prophet and proclaimer of the good news. Today, I believe that God wants to transform persons here who find it difficult to accept the good news of salvation. I declare to you that while this salvation may sound too good to be true, it is indeed true. God has visited and redeemed his people and the door of salvation is open to you today.  

EXPOSITION

Let us look at the story in bit more detail.

Luke begins the account of the gospel with the appearance of the angel Gabriel to Zacharias. Zacharias was one of the priests in Israel and along with his wife Elizabeth was described as being righteous and blameless before God, but they had no children and were now quite old. It was Zacharias’ turn to offer incense before God and therefore he went in to the Holy place of the temple, while the others waited outside. While in the Holy Place the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias. When Zacharias saw him he was he was troubled and fearful. The angel however told him that he had no need to be fearful because his prayers were answered and his wife Elizabeth would bear him a son. The angel went on to tell him that the child should be named John.

This first revelation must have been surprising for Zacharias, but what comes next was even more shocking! Not only was he to have a son, but this son would be great in the sight of the Lord and he was to receive the Holy Ghost even while he was in the womb. Add to that, this son would walk in the spirit and power of Elijah, turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and to prepare the way for the coming Messiah!

All this probably sounded too good to be true, so Zacharias became suspicious. He began to habour doubts and therefore rather than responding in faith he demanded that the angel provide proof that he was indeed an angel and that what he had said was indeed true. Zacharias was afflicted with the plague of doubt that is afflicting so many people in the world today. People find it difficult to take God at his word, but seek to ask God to back up His word signs. People with true faith will however take God at His word and act upon it!

Let me point out that God is not well pleased with doubters. Jesus chided the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 16: 4 – “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.”  Similarly, in speaking to Thomas after the resurrection Jesus said to him that because he had seen he now believed, but blessed are those who have not seen but still believed.   

Let’s get back to the story. The angel did give Zacharias a sign, but not the type of sign he was looking for; he was struck dumb and would not be able to speak until the words of the prophesy had been fulfilled. After being struck dumb Zacharias now believed but was unable to express his new faith; nevertheless his life was changed forever. When he exited the temple he made signs to the people to indicate what had happened – presumably he could still write, so he may have written out what had happened to him in the temple. When the days of his assignment were accomplished he went home and soon thereafter his wife Elizabeth conceived. Nothing else is said of Zacharias until the birth of his son.

When the baby was eight days old he was circumcised and relatives gathered for the naming of the baby. Elizabeth’s relatives wanted to name the baby Zacharias, after his father, but Elizabeth wanted him to be named John – presumably Zacharias had told her the name that the angel had given him. Amidst the protest of the relatives they eventually made signs to his father to enquire what he should be called. Zacharias asked for a writing tablet and wrote – His name is John! With this act Zacharias confirmed his faith in what the angel had declared. He had moved from being a doubter to a man of faith! His mouth was loosed, he began praising God and being filled with the Holy Ghost he began to prophesy concerning the redemption of God’s people!     

APPLICATION

This prophesy of Zacharias encapsulates the essence of the Christmas message – Listen again to the prophesy as given in the New Living Translation

“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant— the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.

God has visited and redeemed his people! God has visited and redeemed his people! He has sent us a mighty Saviour. We now have the opportunity to be saved from sin and from our enemies. God will show us mercy and has given us the opportunity to serve him without fear all the days of our lives! 

This prophesy echoes some of the message spoken by Isaiah several centuries before:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

This promise of salvation is available to all today. This is the essence of the message of Christmas. The great God of heaven came to earth in the form of a baby; lived on earth like a regular human being; embarked on an earthly ministry at about thirty years old. Preached the gospel for a period of three years. Performed miracles, healed the sick, raised the dead, opened the eyes of the blind, and delivered men and women from oppression.

But his ministry was not limited to that brief period round about AD 30/33. He was lead to the cross, crucified, died, but rose again on the third day! After his resurrection he met with his disciples, commissioned them to preach the gospel to the world and then ascended up into heaven.

But that was still not the end of the story – Approximately 10 days after his ascension, while the disciples prayed in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, He came back to us I the form of the Holy Spirit. Luke puts it this way:  

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

This was God coming to dwell with us. This was our Emmanuel! This was God with us and God in us!!

Peter further declared that this promise is extended to all who will believe  in all generations - For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Acts 2:39)

The message of Salvation and the power of the Holy Ghost spread like wild fire! The apostles faithfully carried out the great commission and in their generation the gospel spread throughout Judea, into Samaria and throughout Europe, Asia Minor and possibly parts of Africa. Where ever the apostles went they carried the message of salvation and the power of the Holy Ghost.

After the death of the Apostles there was great opposition to the faith and erroneous doctrines were introduced in the church, to the extent that the original apostolic message of repentance, water baptism in Jesus name and the infilling of the Holy Ghost was swept underground. Nevertheless God raised up reformers who challenged the status quo and eventually leading to the full reemergence of the Apostolic doctrine. Notable occurrences included the outpouring of the Holy Ghost under the ministry of Charles Perham in 1901 and the great Holy Ghost revival at Asuza Street from 1906-1909 under William J. Seymour. Since then God has continued to pour out his Spirit publicly to all who will ask him. He continues to visit and redeem his people. He has left the door of salvation wide open so that whosoever will may come right in.

CONCLUSION

Today we have shared with you the basic gospel message. This is good news and it is true! Regardless of how deep you might have gone in sin, the door of salvation remains open to you. It may sound too good to be true, I can guarantee you today. This is true. This is real!

Today you can receive forgiveness of all your sins and receive the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ. You can receive water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Ghost.  

The same child who was born in a manger has now become your Saviour. Put your trust in him today. The story may seem too fanciful, too wonderful, or simply unbelievable but we stand as witnesses today. It is true.

  

Lay aside your doubts; lay aside your fears; break free from skepticism. Just believe! I challenge you today – Put your trust in this great saviour. He will never let you down. Come taste and see that the Lord is good. God bless you today!

Positioned for Purpose

 

Trevor S Ferguson

December 26, 2014

Esther 4:13-14 (KJV)
13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

 

INTRODUCTION

The road we travel in life is sometimes complex and convoluted. Many times we find ourselves in places that we would rather not be, as we experience various misfortunes and setbacks. Many people today find themselves displaced from their usual circumstances, e.g. home, work place, school, church, country or residence. In these situations people often wonder how they ended up in these various positions and often end up depressed and distressed.

Such displacement may be unfavourable or favourable, being in a lesser or better position than we had been in previously. However whether one finds himself/herself in a favourable or unfavourable position the displacement often leaves us lonely and uncomfortable in the strange environment. Let me add that it is not only displacement that leads to such discomfort. Sometimes we are very much in our usual position and may be wondering why we have not had an opportunity to move on. Why do we have to stay in lowly places when everybody else seems to be moving on to higher places or greener pastures?

Today I want to share a word of encouragement from the word of God. I believe that for each of us God has placed us in our particular positions in order to accomplish His Divine purpose. You have been positioned for purpose! Don’t rush to move on your own accord. An inappropriate move may thwart God’s purpose for your life.

The text comes from the story of Esther and how God used her position as a Jewish queen in the kingdom of Persia to bring about deliverance for all Jews in the Persian Empire. I declare to you today that your current position, indeed, your current displacement, has been divinely orchestrated by God to bring about his purpose. Allow him to open your eyes that you may see what He has assigned for you to do, because you have been positioned for His purpose.  

EXPOSITION

Let’s look at the text and its context. The story of Esther is set in the Persian Empire among the Jews that had chosen to remain in Persia after the initial decree of Cyrus which allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem. Among the Jews in Persia was an orphan – Hadassah. We do not know the circumstances of the death of her parents, but she had a cousin Mordecai, who took her as his own daughter and cared for her. The scripture describes her as being fair and beautiful. This Hadassah is known to us as Esther.

Here was Esther, displaced and orphaned; but in even in her unfortunate circumstances, God was working out a plan. He was getting her in the right place to accomplish His purpose. Mordecai, Esther’s adopted father worked at the king’s palace in Shusan. As such he became aware of a ‘beauty’ contest to find a queen to replace Vashti who had been deposed because she failed to comply with King Ahasuerus’ request to parade her beauty before his friends. We are not sure what motivated Mordecai to enter Esther into the contest to find a new queen, but somehow God allowed it because He had a greater purpose. The scripture tells us that Esther found favour with Hegai who was the person in charge of preparing the young women to meet with the king and that also Esther found favour with the king and was made queen instead of Vashti.

Now nested in the midst of this story of selecting the queen is a little side story that could easily have been overlooked. While sitting in the king’s gate, Mordecai overheard of a plot to kill the king, and told Esther about it. Esther submitted a formal report to the king and included in the report that Mordecai was the person that had uncovered the plot. The king investigated the report, verified the plot and had the conspirators hanged. Nothing was done for Mordecai at the time, but again, this was not by accident, because this little encounter was to turn up again at a critical time.

A word to all of us – Do the right thing all the time and don’t worry if you are not appropriately recognized or rewarded. God will work it out in due time. It’s in the records!

Now after this the king promoted a certain Haman as prime minister in Persia. Haman however was an evil man. He was thought to be a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites who were ancient enemies of Israel. This was the same Agag, whom Saul had spared, despite being told to completely destroy the Amalekites! Let us be careful because when we disobey God it can have longstanding consequences across several generations.

Haman had all the people bow down to him as he passed by but Mordecai refused to do so, as to him this was a form of idolatry. Haman was very angry with Mordecai’s stance and plotted to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire.  He obtained a decree from the king to enact the annihilation of the Jews on the 13^th day of the month of Adar and sent notices throughout all the kingdom of Persia to this inform them of this plan. When Mordecai heard of the plan he was in great distress, tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, then went into the city with a loud and bitter cry. There was great mourning and weeping among the Jews, but this was accompanied by fasting as they called upon and anticipated deliverance by the power of God.

When Esther heard of Mordecai’s actions she sent messengers to him to enquire as to the reasons for his grief. He sent her a copy of the decree and charged her to go in unto the king and make supplication to him on behalf of the Jews. Note that all this time Esther’s identity as a Jew was unknown to the king.  Esther’s initial response was one of fear. She reminded Mordecai that the law in Persia required that anyone man or woman, who went into the kings inner court without being invited by the king would be put to death, save and except if the king held out his golden sceptre to grant the person entry. Mordecai’s response is the subject of today’s discourse: “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Let’s look at this verse in some more detail. What can we gather from Mordecai’s words?

(1) IT IS TIME TO SPEAK UP! 

In times of crises we cannot afford to remain silent. Though we may appear protected because of our position, we cannot afford to protect our own interest when the lives of our people are at stake!

(2) IT IS TIME TO DECLARE OUR IDENTITY!

In order for Esther to advocate for the Jews she must declare her identity. Her arguments would be weak and ineffective except that she puts it in the context that she was a Jew, the Jews were her people and the decree would also require her to be put to death. For some people especially when working in high offices, or in the school setting our Christian identity in not known to our peers or co-workers and even more frequently though people may know that we are Christians they may not know that we are Pentecostals. While I do not suggest that we walk around with placards declaring our identity we must be careful to declare who we are and what we believe whenever the occasion is appropriate. Declaring our identity is a testimony of our faith and can be used by God to lead someone to him.

(3) REGARDLESS OF OUR ACTION OR INACTION, GOD WILL STILL BRING DELIVERANCE TO HIS PEOPLE!

Note the word’s of Mordecai here – If you hold your peace, enlargement and deliverance of the Jews will arise from another place! God will work something out. When he could not find anyone inside the city to deliver Israel from the Syrians he used four lepers outside the city gate! God will find some way to deliver his people, by why not let Him use you!

(4) OUR PRESENT POSITION WAS DESIGNED BY GOD TO BRING ABOUT HIS PURPOSE!

While Esther, and even Mordecai, might have been unaware of the plan of God when she was been elevated to the position of queen in Persia it is clear that the hand of God was at work! Mordecai’s statement is written as a question, but as the sequence of events unfolds we see that this was more of a declaration in faith. You are come to the kingdom for this time! Your position was divinely ordained by God, enacted in the heavens, scheduled in time and place. You are in the right place at the right time. Don’t be afraid. Let God use you to accomplish his will!

While the passage today has focused on Esther and her position of prominence, I want to take a little time to broaden the scope so that we may realize that it is not only positions of prominence that are ordained by God! We are very familiar with similar stories about Joseph – how God sent him ahead to preserve a posterity for the Jews in Egypt and of Moses – how God preserved him as a Jew in Pharaoh’s palace, brought up as a prince in Egypt in order to deliver the Jews from Egypt (note also that there came a time when Moses had to declare / who his identity). We also recall Nehemiah whose position again in Persia was used to secure the building of the walls of Jerusalem.

I want us to recall however that it’s not only the people in prominence who are positioned by God. Mordecai as a servant in this story was equally, if not more important than Esther in securing deliverance for the Jews. In fact I believe that Mordecai is one of the unsung heroes of the bible - when we look in the last chapter of Esther, we he that he was promoted to the position of prime minster in Persia and served his people well. The parallel that I want to highlight however is that of the little servant girl in 2^nd Kings 5. This Jewish girl was also positioned for purpose. It was her testimony to the miraculous power on God through his prophet Elisha that led to Naaman being healed of his leprosy. Similar narratives include David who was sent on a simple errand to bring food for his brothers but ending up as the one to slay Goliath; and Gideon, threshing wheat in a winepress, totally out of place but was called of God to deliver Israel from the Midianites.

APPLICATION/CONCLUSION

The word of God to us today is that we have been positioned for Divine purpose. Our present position whether lofty or lowly was designed by God to accomplish his purpose. Some of us have been displaced – moved out of our comfort zone and away from familiar territory. But it is not by accident. God has a plan and a purpose for your current position!

I have always held dear the words of Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way”. I believe that once you are walking in the will of God every step of your way is important and has Divine purpose. I have often said that the route is as important as the destination because the people and issues that we meet along the way are extremely important. Note that Mordecai’s simple act of reporting a conspiracy against the king turned out to be a critical part of the saving of the Jews.  Every step, every action is important. Do the right thing all the time!

So today whatever position you find yourself in, seek to find God’s purpose. If it is not clear to you now, the walk in God’s will, obey his words, do the right thing. You have been positioned for purpose. God will reveal that purpose in good time.