TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 16:19-40
Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household. - Acts 16:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
A person’s last words are often worth remembering. So are some of the things people say in the moment of extreme testing and hardships. One example from American history is a seven-word sentence that is written in gold in the chapel of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. This statement marks the grave of the War of 1812 naval hero John Paul Jones, who said “I have not yet begun to fight” as his ship was burning beneath him.

The apostle Paul made many memorable statements, preserved for us in the Word of God. Take today’s verse, for example. It was uttered during a trial of persecution as Paul encountered a suicidal, trembling man in the middle of the night. Maybe that’s why the apostle’s words to Philippian jailer reveal the gospel’s simplicity.

We read yesterday that Paul healed a demon-possessed slave girl in the Roman colony of Philippi. Today let’s look at the rest of the story. The girl’s owners were incensed at Paul and Silas because their “profit center” was now gone. So they gathered a mob and dragged the missionaries before the city magistrates on trumped-up charges.

Since Philippi was governed by the Romans, Paul as a Roman citizen was entitled to a fair trial according to Roman law. But apparently the officials gave in to the crowd’s frenzy. Paul and Silas were subjected to a severe flogging without any legal grounds. But even that wasn’t enough, because afterwards the two were imprisoned. They were kept in prison with their feet in wooden stocks.

We don’t know why God ordained this set of painful circumstances that brought Paul in contact with the jailer. It’s obvious Paul was thankful for the opportunity, and he didn’t question God’s wisdom. He and Silas were singing God’s praises in a difficult situation and afterwards they saw the conversion of the jailer and his family. An entire household was saved because Paul and Silas were faithful and obedient in the heat of battle.

Let’s pray that likewise, we would be faithful and obedient under any circumstances.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Most of us would agree the suffering Paul and Silas endured in Philippi was a big obstacle. But in the power of God, they cleared it and hit the ground running on the other side.

What’s the biggest obstacle you face in being faithful to God this week? You could pull up short and turn back. Instead, why not ask God for the strength to overcome your obstacle, for His glory?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 17:1-15
The Bereans...received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day. - Acts 17:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
Cristian Barbosu was a member of the Communist youth movement in Romania in the years before Communist rule ended in that country in 1989. Someone gave Cristian a Bible, and as he read Romans 1:19-20 he realized the God he had never known was revealed all around him in creation. Cristian trusted Christ for salvation and was eventually sent to a labor camp for his faith. He was inexplicably released after several months and made his way to America to prepare for God’s service. Cristian completed his studies at Moody Bible Institute and Dallas Theological Seminary. He is now back in Romania helping to pastor one of the country’s largest churches.

We thank God for Cristian’s powerful testimony, a reminder of the way God can break through to an unbelieving heart by the power of His Word. Paul and his missionary partners witnessed this power of God again and again during their travels--and the result was the greatest new beginning in history, the church.

The events in the Macedonian port city of Thessalonica are an example of God’s Word in action. Paul went there after being led out of Philippi by the city’s nervous leaders (Acts 16:35-40). When the missionaries arrived in Thessalonica, they headed to the Jewish synagogue where they knew they would find an audience well-versed in the Old Testament, the only Scriptures in existence at this time. Paul’s custom in a new city was to seek out the Jews at first, to bring them the gospel (Rom. 1:16).

Paul’s intention to go to the Gentiles afterwards did not mean he would never share the gospel with Jews again. He loved his people and longed to see them saved (Rom. 10:1).

The tenderness Paul felt toward the Thessalonian church (1 Thess. 2:7-12) probably reflects the welcome he received. Many people believed in Christ and joined Paul and Silas (Acts 17:4). But jealous unbelievers stirred up a riot. This time the charge was that Paul and Silas were defying Caesar’s decrees and his authority (v. 7).

From there Paul went to Berea whose inhabitants were careful and eager students of the Scriptures. But trouble followed Paul from Thessalonica, and he had to leave town for his safety. He then went to Athens where he preached a masterful sermon on the “unknown God” (vv. 16-34).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We sometimes think a testimony of God’s role in a person’s life has to be dramatic, or it’s not really worth sharing.

But that’s not true. If you know Christ as your Savior, you have a testimony somebody needs to hear. Have you ever sat down and organized your testimony so a listener could understand what God did for you, grasp the message of salvation, and know how to receive Christ? Try developing your testimony, and ask God to give you an opportunity to tell someone what He has done for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 18:1-17
Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. - Acts 18:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Among the many painful events in last year’s brutal ethnic warfare in Kosovo was the damage inflicted by land mines. Even after the fighting was over, in some areas a number of people were killed or wounded by mines buried in places such as gardens and underneath the steps of homes. People were warned to be very careful where they walked, because some families’ property had become a minefield.

Paul must have felt like he was walking through a minefield each time he entered a new Gentile city to preach the gospel. He never knew exactly what was going to happen, whether his next step would set off a blast of fierce opposition.

Paul did have one great advantage, however. The Holy Spirit was his divine “mine sweeper,” guiding the apostle safely through such spiritual minefields as Corinth. This was a pagan city legendary for its immorality. It also had a large population of Jews, so Paul appealed to them to believe in Jesus as Messiah.

But the Jews became hostile and dragged Paul before Gallio, the ruler of Achaia, the district in which Corinth was located. This move could have triggered another explosion like the one in Philippi. But Gallio viewed the charges as a squabble over Jewish law, and he wasn’t interested. He apparently considered Christianity as a sect of Judaism, as did other pagans in the Roman world during the church’s early days.

Despite the opposition, Paul found such a response to the gospel that he stayed at least eighteen months in Corinth, which was at the time a major center of first-century commerce and culture.

It was there that Paul met his fellow tent-makers Aquila and Priscilla. They were so valuable to the work of the church that Paul took them with him on his way back to Antioch and left them in Ephesus (v. 19). It’s remarkable that this couple pulled up their tent pegs for the sake of the gospel and moved to Ephesus, another city loaded with spiritual land mines.

You may have noticed that both Crispus and Sosthenes are called “synagogue ruler” (vv. 8, 17). The latter could have replaced the former, one indication of how long Paul stayed in Corinth.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Moving to a city where you know you’ll encounter fierce opposition is not the kind of new beginning most people would choose.

But Aquila and Priscilla were willing to lay down their lives for Christ. If God called you to do something hard for Him, would you respond by running in the other direction like the prophet Jonah? Or would you pull up your tent pegs, so to speak, and move out? This would be a good discussion topic for your next time together with family or friends.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 18:18-28
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season. - 2 Timothy 4:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Our knowledge of history is generally filled with holes and highlights. The highlights consist of the summary information of events, but many times the holes represent very interesting and important information that we never learned. Radio personality Paul Harvey likes to fill in the holes. In his program, The Rest of the Story, Harvey recounts the intriguing stories that occurred before famous people entered the spotlight, and he often reflects on the rarely discussed aftermath of the most well-known events in history. The Rest of the Story forces us to look again at history and reform our perspective of the people we know.

In today’s reading, the Jewish orator Apollos, from Alexandria in North Africa, gained an entirely new perspective on baptism, as Priscilla and Aquila gave him “the rest of the story.” This new information perfectly illustrates the transitional nature of the events in the books of Acts.

Apollos came along at the start of Paul’s third missionary journey. Today’s reading straddles the second and third trips, both of which were crucial to the church’s new beginning in Gentile territory.

After a long stay in Corinth, Paul left for Ephesus, where he found a good response to the gospel among the Jews. Paul cut his hair at the conclusion of a Nazirite vow he had taken (see Num. 6:18), although we’re not told what his purpose was in taking the vow.

Paul left the husband-and-wife team of Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus and went back to Palestine, where he “went up” to the church at Jerusalem and greeted the believers there. Paul probably reported the good things God had done on the trip and also demonstrated his unity with the rest of the body. His arrival in Antioch completed his second trip.

It was at the beginning of Paul’s third and final missionary trip that Apollos came to Ephesus. When Aquila and Priscilla heard this powerful preacher, they realized he did not know about the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the new work God was doing. So they invited Apollos home for dinner and completed his theological training. Far from being resentful, Apollos used this newly learned truth to increase his ministry.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It’s not always easy to be gracious when you’re being corrected. It requires a teachable spirit to accept instruction.

Are you teachable? Or do you feel you’ve got your Christian life pretty well under control and you don’t need any help? You can find out how open you are if you consider the way you react when people tell you things you don’t want to hear. Do you brush the comment off or look for something of value in it? We can learn a lot from other people if we’re willing to listen.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 19:1-20
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. - 2 Corinthians 3:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Author Ken Hutcherson says, “When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, it wasn’t dynamite, it was a dynamo! Dynamite makes a loud noise, kicks up a lot of dust, and it’s over. A dynamo is a continual source of power. It builds and builds and builds, and the power never stops flowing.”

We can see the truth of Hutcherson’s statement in the events of Acts 19 which happened many months after Pentecost. The power unleashed when the Holy Spirit came to indwell the church still flowed when Paul arrived in the great Gentile city of Ephesus on his third and final missionary trip.

Paul found a group of twelve men in Ephesus who were disciples of John the Baptist, but it’s hard to say for sure whether they were already believers in Jesus Christ. They were definitely limited in their knowledge of the truth, so Paul explained to them that John’s ministry prepared for the coming of Jesus, the One in whom they needed to believe.

When they heard this, the men were baptized in Jesus’ name, and they began speaking in tongues when Paul laid his hands on them. This was another case of the Holy Spirit validating the message about Christ through the gift of tongues, although the text does not indicate that every believer would have this experience after church was established.

Ephesus became Paul’s headquarters during this trip as he spent time in the city making disciples. His pattern of ministry was to go first to the Jewish synagogue. Usually being rejected by at least some Jews, he would then turn to the Gentiles.

God gave Paul the confirming sign of miracles, so much so that even pieces of cloth he had touched caused “long-distance” healing. The frightening experience of the Jewish exorcists also served to glorify the name of Jesus Christ in a city where demonic activity and other forms of evil held tremendous power over the people. The voluntary confession and book burning that followed were serious setbacks to Satan’s work in Ephesus.

Verse 20 is another example of Luke’s summary statements to finish a section of the story and prepare the reader for the next chapter. In this case, things were about to explode.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Isn’t it interesting that no one had to tell those new Ephesian believers they should get rid of their sorcery scrolls?

These people knew right away they needed to get rid of things that turned them away from Christ. We need to remember that too. It’s a good idea to check your home and your own life to make sure you aren’t being exposed to things that draw you away from Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 19:21-41
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. - Matthew 5:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his Men of Integrity, Earl Palmer describes a lesson he learned in a defensive driving course. The instructor asked the class whether they should put their foot on or off the brake if they saw another car coming in their rearview mirror and knew they were going to be hit. Most students said it was better not to apply the brake. But the instructor explained that by braking hard and bracing for the impact, the car would be better able to sustain the impact and the driver would sustain less injury. Otherwise, the crash would create a whiplash effect.

Palmer says his driving lesson has a parallel in the Christian life. When we are firmly planted on solid ground, anchored in Christ Jesus, we can sustain the crashes that life throws against us.

The apostle Paul’s life is Exhibit A of this principle. Had he not been firmly anchored in Christ, the enemy’s heavy blows would have decimated Paul many times during his pioneer missionary ministry. One of these blows came after Paul had sent Timothy and Erastus ahead to Macedonia to check on the churches there and collect the offering for the famine-plagued believers in Jerusalem.

The anger that Demetrius stirred up among his fellow silversmiths led to a riot that lasted several hours. These men professed to be guarding the worship and “divine majesty” (v. 27) of the goddess Artemis, whose temple in Ephesus was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. But the key to this story is the brisk business in silver statues that Demetrius and his friends enjoyed.

This was one of the few instances in the New Testament that Gentiles actively opposed the gospel message, the other being the beating Paul and Silas received in Philippi. Interestingly, that opposition also had to do with the fact that the gospel was destroying people’s religious profiteering.

Paul’s friends in Ephesus went to great effort to keep him out of the arena, maybe saving his life. Paul listened to them, but it’s obvious he wasn’t afraid of colliding with his opponents. After all, he was well anchored.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In the sea of hostility and opposition rising up against Christians, our anchor is Christ Himself; our stability is only in God. To withstand danger and face opposition we must, like Paul, be well anchored in Jesus. Sin, however, separates us from God. That’s why it is so important for all Christians to open our hearts to God, be sensitive to His correction, and, if there is sin in our lives, confess it immediately.

Today, search your life and make sure you aren’t harboring any unconfessed sin (1 Jn. 1:9).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 20:1-16
Since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. - 2 Corinthians 4:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
A few years ago a new trend started in professional sports. A well-known athlete would announce his intention to retire at the end of an upcoming season, making his last year in uniform something of a “farewell tour.” Some of these athletes, on their final visit to a particular city, would be showered with applause and gifts by fans and officials of the opposing team and asked to say a few words.

We could call Acts 20 Paul’s “farewell tour” of the cities in the Gentile world where he had established churches. Tomorrow’s story, his visit with the elders of Ephesus, certainly qualifies as a farewell speech.

At the beginning of the chapter, Luke mentions numerous places Paul traveled. Paul had to keep moving because of a plot against him by Jewish opponents, about which we have no other details. Luke includes himself in the narrative in verses 5-6. Apparently he had stayed behind in Philippi after the missionaries’ visit in Acts 16, and rejoined Paul and his party when they came back through Philippi.

Acts 20 also gives us several glimpses of the early church in action. First, we see the church meeting physical needs. The seven men accompanying Paul (v. 4) were carrying the offering for the relief of poor saints in Jerusalem (2 Cor. 8:1-6).

Second, Acts 20:7 shows us the church at worship, having established Sunday as its regular day of worship in celebration of Christ’s resurrection. The incident involving Eutychus has been the target of many church jokes. Luke the doctor said Eutychus died from his fall. Paul’s miraculous act in restoring this young man to his family and friends was a great comfort to the believers at Troas.

Third, Acts 20 gives us some information about the church’s organization and leadership. Paul wanted to avoid another stop in Ephesus because he knew if he arrived in town, he would never get away in time to make it to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. So he arranged to meet the Ephesian elders at Miletus, about thirty miles to the south. Paul’s farewell tour was quickly drawing to a close.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
By comparing Acts 20 with Paul’s later explanation in 2 Corinthians 8, we conclude that the men in Paul’s party were carrying a financial gift with them.

The generosity of the Macedonian believers is striking. Even though they were poor, they were ready to give to help others. Do you know of anyone--perhaps an elderly person or someone in your church--who is in real need this month? Your pastor or church staff would probably know. Why not share some of your blessings with someone in need?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 20:17-37
I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me. - Acts 20:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
For years, English pastor Henry Lyte battled tuberculosis, a dreaded disease in the nineteenth century. Finally, he was advised to leave his homeland for a warmer climate in Italy. By the time of his final sermon in September 1847, Lyte was so weak he almost had to crawl to the pulpit. He delivered his sermon, encouraging his people to keep their trust in Christ, and then left, never to return. He did not live to see a new year. But he left his people with a comforting poem that was set to music. We know it as the hymn, “Abide with Me.”

When Paul met with the Ephesian elders at Miletus, he knew his life would be on the line when he arrived in Jerusalem. Even though he would not be executed for several more years, his statement to these elders that they would never see him again was prophetic.

During the time he had with them, Paul gave these men the best he had: a powerful message of exhortation and warning concerning the ministry he had established among them at such a great price. First, Paul looked at the beginning of his work in Ephesus, reminding them of the character of his ministry.

Then he looked at the present situation in the church, urging these elders to be faithful in carrying out their teaching and shepherding responsibilities. Paul’s charge gives a clear indication of the spiritual oversight the elders were to exercise (v. 28).

Finally, the apostle looked ahead and warned these leaders of the inevitable coming of “savage wolves” (v. 29) who would try to destroy the church by teaching lies and leading the people away from Christ.

Paul’s message is definitely relevant for the church today. We are in the same need of godly leadership to teach the truth and protect the body of Christ from the enemy’s lies. We also need leaders with the kind of integrity the apostle described (vv. 33-35).

After a prayer and tearful good-byes, Paul left these leaders he had won to Christ and appointed.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To have a conscience that was clear before God and other people was an absolute priority for Paul.

It should be a priority for us too (1 Tim. 1:5, 19), so we don’t wound the conscience of a more sensitive fellow Christian (Rom. 14:15) or give the world a reason to slander the gospel (1 Pet. 3:16). If your conscience is not clear before the Lord today, make a new beginning by taking whatever steps are necessary to set things right.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 21:1-14
On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them. - Matthew 10:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
Hsi was a proud Chinese intellectual who hated foreigners. But in 1875 a severe famine brought missionaries with relief supplies to Hsi’s province. Hsi was hungry, so when a British missionary named David Hill asked Hsi to teach him Chinese, Hsi accepted. One day Hsi picked up a Chinese New Testament, read about the Jesus of the missionaries--and was captivated. He read the story of the Savior over and over until he no longer saw Jesus as a foreign god, but as Lord. Hsi was saved and became a powerful witness in his province.

Hsi’s openness to the truth, and willingness to receive Jesus as his Savior, remind us of what happened to countless numbers of people who heard the gospel for the first time from Paul and his ministry companions. Two thousand years later, the apostle’s three missionary journeys are still impacting the world for Christ.

Our study of new beginnings in the book of Acts concludes today as we follow Paul back to Jerusalem at the end of his third and final missionary trip. He seemed to know that returning to the center of Judaism, and the center of Jewish opposition to the gospel, would result in his “be[ing] brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them,” just as Jesus had said.

At each stop along the way back to Jerusalem, Luke records that there were believers to be found. The gospel had reached to the corners of the Gentile world.

Some have questioned Paul’s actions in Acts 21. Should he have been so determined to go back to Jerusalem in the face of obvious danger? Agabus the prophet in Caesarea only confirmed what many people already suspected concerning the trouble that awaited Paul.

But Paul insisted, and we have no reason to believe he was simply being stubborn about the issue. And his friends eventually gave in to “the Lord’s will” (v. 14). Plus, the Lord appeared to Paul and verified His will that Paul should preach the gospel in Rome (Acts 23:11).

For Paul, the new beginning God was bringing about was far more important than any other plans he or anyone else might have. Let’s imitate his example in the new millennium.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Proverbs 16:9 says, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” Paul’s goal was that his plans would accomplish God’s will.

If that is your goal too, why not try jotting down your plans for February? Rank them in order of importance and pray about them, asking God to reveal His will. You may find yourself removing some items and adding others. Whatever the case, if you want to please the Lord, He will honor that desire.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 49:8-12
The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. - Revelation 5:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Our reading and verse for today span the entire text of Scripture. Our theme this month is the central message of God’s Word: the coming of Jesus Christ as Messiah and Savior to redeem the human race, and His glorious return to reign forever as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Ever since Jesus ascended to heaven after His resurrection, each generation of God’s people has longed for His return. The anticipation of the new millennium only fueled end-times expectations for our generation of believers.

The Bible urges us to watch for the Lord’s return, always emphasizing spiritual readiness without trying to guess the day of Christ’s return (Mk. 13:32-33). The important truth for us today is the certain hope of our Lord’s coming.

In these studies, we focus on Jesus’ identity as the Christ, the Messiah or Anointed One, the Redeemer promised to Israel hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. We share in Israel’s blessing because the chosen nation’s Messiah is also the Savior of the world and the head of the church.

The Old Testament prophesied both Jesus’ coming to earth as God’s righteous servant and His return in triumph. Sometimes, both advents of Christ appear in the same passage, a fact the prophets themselves didn’t always understand.

One of the earliest prophecies of Messiah’s coming came from the patriarch Jacob. After his son Joseph was elevated to leadership in Egypt, Jacob and the rest of his family came to Egypt to live under Joseph’s care during a severe famine.

As the time drew near for Jacob’s death, he blessed his sons. These blessings were also prophecies, as in the case of Judah, Jacob’s fourth-born son (Gen. 29:35). Jacob described Judah and his future tribe as a lion, and prophesied that the scepter of kingship would remain in Judah’s line until its rightful owner received it.

In light of later revelation, we can see that Jacob was prophesying the coming Messiah, who would be a descendant of King David. Verses 11-12 symbolize the incredible abundance of this King’s reign, which some interpret as an early prophecy of Messiah’s millennial kingdom.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The theme of this year’s Founder’s Week Conference is “...This Hope,” the sure hope we have for the return of Jesus Christ. This week we will celebrate the hope we have in Jesus, “the author and perfecter of our faith.”

Please pray with us today that this issue of Today in the Word will help prepare God’s people to serve Him as we wait for His return.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 24:15-19
A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. - Numbers 24:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Archaeologists working in the Euphrates Valley made a remarkable discovery in 1933. They unearthed a large ancient city called Mari. Over the next few decades thousands of newly discovered clay tablets helped shed light on cultures as far back as the times of the biblical patriarchs. Mari was home to a large cult of pagan prophets and seers who sold their services. These prophets allegedly had the power to pronounce curses on their victims.

This fact from the ancient world helps to explain the actions of the pagan prophet Balaam, and why God used this evil prophet to utter one of the Old Testament’s great Messianic prophecies. It’s a fascinating story of God’s power to overcome any opposition to the fulfillment of His Word.

Balaam, the prophet “for hire,” was from Pethor (Num. 22:5), which was probably near Mari. He was hired by Balak, the fearful king of Moab, to curse Israel after Moab watched Israel defeat enemy after enemy (Num. 22:1-6). Balaam took Balak’s money and ran to a nearby hill to curse Israel, despite God’s warning.

The prophecy in today’s reading was the fourth in a series of oracles Balaam spoke, each prophesying blessing instead of cursing for Israel. Balaam began by confessing that knowledge comes only from the true God, a confession that ultimately did Balaam little good. He later fell under God’s judgment (Num. 31:.

But here Balaam spoke what God wanted him to say, and prophesied the coming of someone in Israel who would hold the scepter of kingship.

This “ruler” would also execute God’s judgment on Moab and Edom. These nations were the descendants of Esau and thus related to Israel, but they had made themselves the enemies of God’s people.

We believe Jesus the Messiah is the only figure who can fulfill the prophecy of Balaam. The Messiah is clearly seen in the Old Testament as a ruler who wields His scepter with total authority. Prophets also revealed that He came to suffer as well as to reign.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Balaam is another reminder of the fact that God can use any person, or any circumstance, to accomplish His purposes.

It’s usually easy for us to believe this truth when we read about it in Scripture. But accepting it is usually much harder when we confront a difficult person or an especially frustrating situation. Who or what would be at the top of your “trial list” today? Turn your concerns or fears about it into a prayer, asking God for the patience to be faithful while He works out His purpose through your trial.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 2:1-12
I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill. - Psalm 2:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
Last November, a prairie fire driven by 76-mile-an-hour winds swept through the tiny town of Overlook, Montana. One man said the fire, which consumed everything in its path, went through the town in a matter of minutes. Another man witnessed a wall of flame that traveled a quarter-mile in seconds.

The picture of an unstoppable fire moving with irresistible power helps us understand the picture of Messiah’s reign drawn by David (Acts 4:25 identifies David as the author of this psalm). Psalm 2 is called a royal psalm that was used at the coronation of the kings who were in David’s line. But this prophecy will find its ultimate fulfillment in the coming reign of God’s “Anointed One” (v. 2)--literally, His “Messiah.”

This psalm leaves no doubt about the absolute nature of Christ’s rule when He returns to take His throne as King and rule in His kingdom. According to Revelation 19:17-21, Jesus Christ will find His enemies assembled against Him when He rides out of heaven as the conquering King. But He will sweep these armies away as quickly and completely as a fire raging across the prairie.

In light of Messiah’s position as God’s Son and chosen Ruler, the psalmist expressed amazement that rebellious nations would even attempt to resist Him. Messiah’s kingdom will not be a democracy. He will rule “with an iron scepter” (v. 9) that smashes His foes like pieces of pottery.

In our climate of political correctness, some people might think that Psalm 2 is too militaristic and aggressive in its portrayal of the Messiah’s kingdom. But David had a revelation from God about things to come. He knew the certainty of God’s judgment, and warned his readers to come to God in humility and repentance, seeking God’s favor while there was still time.

The language of verse 11 is the language of worship, showing that the only wise response to Messiah’s irresistible power and authority is to bow before Him in submission. Failure to do so means being consumed by the fire of His judgment. But those who willingly bow their knees to the King of Kings in submission find Him to be a refuge, a place of blessing and protection.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul says that one day, every person will bow before Jesus Christ and confess that He is Lord (Phil. 2:10-11).

Today we have the opportunity to approach God in repentance and faith. Have you put your faith in Christ for your salvation? If you will admit your sinfulness, realize you cannot save yourself, and trust the work of Christ on the cross as payment for your sin, you will be saved. If you trust in Christ, share your exciting news with someone.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 45:1-7
About the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever.” - Hebrews 1:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China, once described Jesus Christ’s earthly life in these terms: “To save man He became Man--not merely like man, but very man. In language, in costume, in everything unsinful, He made Himself One with those He sought to benefit. Had He been born a noble Roman instead of a Jew, He would perhaps have commanded more of a certain kind of respect; and He would assuredly have been spared much indignity. This, however, was not His aim; He emptied Himself [as] the meek and lowly Jesus.”

Taylor was describing the aspect of the Lord’s ministry we are most familiar with as Christians. Because Jesus took on human flesh, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and arose in victory over death, we have forgiveness of sins and the sure hope of eternal life.

But let’s also remember that, although His royalty was obscured by His lowly surroundings in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ was born a King (Matt. 2:2). The Messiah was God’s ruler who would perfectly fulfill His promises to Israel, including His covenant with David: “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (2 Sam. 7:16). Jesus Christ is the only one qualified to rule forever.

Because David’s royal line held such great importance for Israel, the Old Testament writers often spoke of the current king on David’s throne in very exalted terms. Psalm 45 is a good example--a royal psalm apparently composed to celebrate an unnamed king’s wedding. The king may have been Solomon.

The psalmist composed a message full of energy. Was he aware he was also writing about Messiah coming out of the line of David? We can’t say with certainty, but the language definitely describes the reign of Christ. Far more than any human king, He is clothed with “splendor and majesty” (v. 3), and He will someday ride triumphantly out of heaven. Verses 2-7 are a tremendous description of the kingdom glories Christ will bring.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God is always true to the promises He gives us in His Word.

In fact, Paul said, “No matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes’ in Christ” (2 Cor. 1:20). This word of confidence and hope will brighten your winter weekend. What promise from Scripture has been especially comforting or challenging to you lately? Why not pray God’s Word back to Him? Then close by thanking Him for Christ, who is the guarantee that God always keeps His Word.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 72:1-11
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. - Luke 1:32-33
TODAY IN THE WORD
One historian says that Dwight L. Moody was the first major evangelist in North American history who was a premillennialist in his theology. Moody believed in a future, literal kingdom in which Jesus Christ would reign on earth as a fulfillment of God’s promise that Messiah would sit on David’s throne. Moody also believed that God’s judgment would precede the kingdom, and often said that God had given him a lifeboat to rescue people from the sinking ship of a world heading to judgment.

We mention Moody’s beliefs not only because they are relevant to our study, but also because today is the 163rd anniversary of his birth in Northfield, Massachusetts.

Moody served as an evangelist during America’s so-called Gilded Age, when confidence in science, industry, and America’s seemingly endless possibilities led some theologians to teach that the church could bring the kingdom to earth by its efforts. The idea was that Christian influence would grow to become so pervasive in society that the world would gradually improve and believers would usher in the kingdom age on earth. Christ would return at the end of this growth. This view was known as postmillennialism, which lost its popularity after World War I shattered the dream of mankind’s steady spiritual, moral, and scientific improvement.

This brief review of late-nineteenth-century theology gives us some historical perspective as we study Psalm 72 today and tomorrow. You cannot read this powerful description of the Messiah’s glorious kingdom reign without realizing that conditions like these have never existed on earth--and never will, as long as sinful human beings hold the seats of power.

In fact, if we look back on the twentieth century, we’ll see that the postmillennialists were hopelessly optimistic. Not even Solomon, to whom this psalm is credited, could claim to “endure as long as the sun” or “rule from sea to sea” (vv. 5, . This earth will have its golden age, but only when Christ returns to judge sin and establish righteousness.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Dwight Moody liked to say the only monuments he wanted to leave behind were the kind on two legs--men and women who were trained and were busy serving the Lord.

Today MBI is still raising up this kind of “monument.” Our students benefit from the Institute’s commitment to tuition-paid education--an innovation of Mr. Moody’s to ensure that no one who wanted to serve the Lord would be turned away by financial obstacles. Please pray with us today that the Institute’s financial needs will continue to be met this month, for God’s glory and the extension of His work.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 72:12-20
Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. - Psalm 72:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1825 a wealthy Scottish industrialist and social reformer named Robert Owen purchased the small town of Harmony, Indiana, which had been home to a religious group from Germany called the Harmonists. Owen renamed the town New Harmony and attracted settlers with the promise of a utopian society. New Harmony became a famous experiment in community living as scientists and scholars came to study the movement. But the people eventually split into several factions, and by 1827 Owen’s dream of an ideal society was gone.

At its demise New Harmony joined a long line of failed dreams and experiments by idealistic people who thought they could create their own small slice of the kingdom on earth. Many of these people looked at the world around them and reasoned that the only way values such as peace, justice, harmony, and shared wealth would ever prevail would be in self-contained communities.

The human race has been dreaming of utopia since the days of Plato and his Republic. But an ideal world requires a ruler who is perfect in wisdom, righteousness, justice, and mercy.

Only one person meets these qualifications--God’s sinless Son, Jesus, who has been made “both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). The second half of Psalm 72 continues the exciting description of the justice, mercy, and prosperity that will prevail on earth when Christ takes His seat on David’s throne. It will be a kingdom of universal righteousness and blessing, and it’s in our future!

You probably have noticed by now that the Old Testament writers often focused on, and celebrated, Messiah’s future reign as universal King.

But the idea of a suffering and crucified Christ, rejected by Israel and hanging in shame on a Roman cross, was a concept many devout followers of Christ simply could not grasp. Even Jesus’ disciples refused to believe His predictions of His impending death in Jerusalem. And after His resurrection, Jesus had to explain to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus that it was “necessary” for the Christ to suffer (Luke 24:26).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Even though we know there are no perfect people or situations in the world, sometimes we can begin to expect perfection from ourselves and others.

Are you holding someone to an impossibly high standard? We often expect the most from the people we love the most. But demanding that other people meet our expectations can create frustration and strained relationships. Make sure the people around you know they are free to meet God’s expectations and be ready to help them or forgive them when they do stumble.