Frank's Bible Blog

James 2-- Even the demons believe

This is the third and final guest blogger post from my wife Beth. I know it will be a blessing to you! Beth writes regularly and I would encourage you to sign up for her blog by visiting www.GodandMe2TheMax.com. --Frank Banfill

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"You believe that there is one God?  Good!  Even the demons believe that, and they are afraid!"
James 2:19  

"Not by might.  Not by power.  But by my Spirit, says the Lord."
Zechariah 4:6

"At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tounge will confess He is Lord."
Philippians 2:10

It was late in the morning, Monday June 11th.  We were high up in the mountains of the village of Bukabwa, a twenty minute drive by Land Rover over a bumpy, dusty, rocky, hole-filled road.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, Bukabwa had long been forgotten by the government, much because of the villager's widespread involvement in witchcraft.  Yet, even with this knowledge, I remember making the comment to someone on the team how there has been literally no resistence to the Gospel message by the people we've shared with.  Funny how things work out, because on Monday, Katelyn, Gladys, and I would have a whole new experience.

We were already late for lunch, and we had at least a few miles to walk on a thin dirt path about eight inches wide, briers on each side, with corn stalks surrounding us, just to get back to where we would meet for our Bible study/discipleship group time.  Moses, one of the teenagers from the church was from this area, and he wanted to take us everywhere he knew of.  Although he lived so far from where the church is in Bukabwa, his parents are leaders in the church, committed to walk the long road for several hours, just to go to church.  It was past time for lunch, but Moses said we needed to go to this last hut before heading back, so of course we did.  He was our guide, after all.

As we began to share with Niamtodo Enock, a woman whose age was likely disguised by her tanned and leathered skin.  My best guess was that Niamtodo was maybe fifty, but she easily looked as if she was easily in her upper sixties.  As Katelyn began to share, Niamtodo's daughter Mariam walked over with a hesitant look and began to interrupt.  I remember her eyes, and they were disturbing.

I'm not sure of her exact words, but they went something like this, "I don't want you to use that word here in my presence.  I don't want you talk to me.  I don't want to hear this.  I'm afraid if you say that name, then the demon will hurt me."  She went on to tell us how she had given herself over to witchcraft a number of years ago, and she had a demon inside her.  She didn't want us to speak the name of Jesus in her presence, and that was that.  She then walked away and continued to make lunch for the family.

Jesus.  Such a powerful and strong name.  So strong that the demons are afraid to hear it.

Katelyn and I looked at each other, I'm sure with our eyes beginning to bulge out of their sockets, as Mariam walked away, out of earshot of our conversation with her mom.  She had heard enough of what we were saying to understand the power of the Gospel, and she was scared to death.  You could see it in her eyes.

We then continued to talk to Niamtodo.  She understood the power of the Gospel as well, and she wanted nothing more than to turn from her sin, invite Jesus into her life, and ask Him to take control.  I think Katelyn did most of the talking with Niamtodo, because I can only remember keeping my eyes on Mariam over by the fire.  After we visited with Niamtodo some more and invited her to the Bible study less than an hour later, our translator told us that we were really late now, and we had to get back.

My eyes glanced over at Mariam again, and I felt time stand still.  Perhaps you've never encoutered spiritual warfare like this, and you are leary of what I am writing, but let me tell you it's real.  It's very real.  My mind raced.  Was I prayed up enough to go address Mariam?  What would I say?  I asked God to give me strength, and before I knew it, I was walking toward her, and I remember thinking Hebrews 4:12 "the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword."  I don't know if I actually spoke that verse out loud or thought it.  I honestly can't remember everything I said, because it wasn't me talking.  I know the Holy Spirit was giving me the words to say and bringing back every Bible verse that could be used against the enemy at that moment.  I'm sure Gladys thought I was a nut, but she must have been just as crazy, because she followed me over to Mariam and translated for me.

I told Mariam that I was about to leave, but I could not leave without trying to talk to her one last time.  I told her about Jesus and how he shed His blood on the cross for her sin and my sin.  I told her how the only way to have freedom is by turning from sin and giving Christ control.  I remember quoting Bible verse after Bible verse, including I John 4:4 "Greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world."  I told her when we accept this free gift of salvation, Christ comes to live within us, and when that happens, a demon control you any longer.  I remember telling her that she knows it's truth that I was telling her, and the truth will set her free.  I said that knowing about it isn't good enough, that the Bible says that the demons believe in God, and the are afraid, but she had to make a decision to ask God to take control.

I have no idea what else I said, I remember being aware of only three things.  First, I knew Katelyn was standing behind me, fervently praying.  I didn't see her, but I knew she was there; I could feel it.  Secondly, I kept looking at that open fire she was cooking over, thinking, "Lord, I know you can cast that demon right into that open flame.  Lord, please cast that demon into the open flame!"  And finally, I knew what was coming out of my mouth was from God and God alone.  There is no way this scaredy-cat girl who is afraid of even the smallest bug would have done what I did in my own strength, that's for sure!

Then I asked her, "Mariam, are you ready?  Are you ready to give God control?  Are you ready?  Are you ready?"

Mariam looked at me for what seemed like an eternity, and with her face beginning to distort, she broke down in tears sobbing.  "I'm ready.  I'm ready right now.  I'm ready."

I believe in my heart it was at that moment, when she made a decision to turn from her sin and give God control, that the demon left her.  I often tell people that praying the "sinner's prayer" isn't magic words.  It's the change that takes place in your heart that God looks at.  And I think that's what happened with Mariam, because as I said, Mariam was making ugali by the fire.  She was responsible to feed not only her mother, but her husband and children, and let me tell you by golly, she was not going to stop making that lunch for them!  After she broke down in tears saying she was ready to give her life to Christ, she gathered her composure and for the next few minutes finished making the meal, served it up for her family, and then came to us to pray and solidify the decision.

Praise God we had Barnabus, one of the staff membrers from the AIC (African Inland Church) with us on that visit.  He had not been with us on any previous visits nor any future ones, but God had him there for that one.  He led Mariam in the sinners prayer, and he prayed over her.  Then he looked her in the eyes, and said "Yesu.  Yesu.  Yesu."  Then he asked her to say it over and over, "Jesus.  Jesus.  Jesus."  There was no more fear in her eyes.  There was no hesitation, as she said the name of Jesus over and over.

Immediately, she started asking tough questions about how to turn from some of the strongholds in her life.  Immediately, she wanted to know the right thing to do in certain situations.  Her understanding of spiritual things had been so clouded by her background, but she wanted to know the truth.  We finally had to say goodbye and leave Mariam.  We were nearly ninety minutes late for lunch and already late for the afternoon discipleship groups.  We prayed.  We hugged.  And we left.  But this time, we left Mariam and Niamtodo Enock with Jesus.

 

 
Front Row, Left to Right: Niamtodo and Mariam Enock.  Gladys.
Second Row, Left to Right: Beth Banfill, Moses, a sliver of Sanjura Juma Magige (who accepted Christ just two days earlier), Katelyn Nichols, and Christopher, one of the church workers.

 

--- Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

Zechariah 14--The End of the United Nations

Each September the world's leaders gather at the United Nations in New York as the UN begins its general session. You never know exactly what to expect when some of these people arrive--like the leader who wanted to set up an elaborate tent for his stay. Usually you can count on a lot of rhetoric--some comical, some critical, and some that is actually scary--as each of these leaders vie for attention on the world stage. Although no one knows the future for the UN as an organization, Zechariah 14 does describe a time when nations will unite for the purpose of attacking Israel. We are told that the Lord will intervene strike those fighting Jerusalem in such a way that "Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet. Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets" (v12). Some see this as the effects of a nuclear war. Regardless of how it happens, the Lord will conquer and "Everyone who is left of all the nations...shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts" (v16). Today's leaders may view themselves as great and mighty. They may gather to exalt themselves and praise their allies. They may increase in wealth and power. They may think they are invincible, but the day is coming when the King of kings and Lord of lords will take His rightful place and every knee will bow and proclaim Him Lord. In that day righteousness and justice will reign. In that day "Holiness to the Lord shall be engraved on the bells of the horses...Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts"(v21). What a day that will be!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential.Please share this blog with your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 13--How Clear are You?

We began our tour of the Israeli "diamond factory"--a place where raw diamonds are cleaned, cut and mounted for sale there and all over the world. It didn't take long for us to learn that clarity is one of the primary factors that determine diamond value. When you look at a diamond through a jeweler's magnifying glass, how many dark specks do you see? The fewer the specks, the clearer the diamond is and the more it is worth. The less impurities the gem has, the higher its value. Impurities, whether in gold, silver, diamonds, or even people's lives, cheapen the "value" of the item or life. Zechariah 13 describes a time when God will remove the deception of false prophets and prophecies from the land (vv. 2-6). It describes a time when "a fountain will be opened...for sin and for uncleanness" (v1). It also describes a time when God's "sheep" will be brought through the fire to be refined, tested, and ultimately call on God (vv7-9). While scholars may have different opinions on exactly what this chapter is describing, one thing is clear--we do not have to wait to the future to be cleansed and made pure. Through what Christ did on the cross we have access to the "fountain" that cleanses us from all sin. The question for us, once we have experienced that cleansing, is "Are we staying in the fountain?"Or are we allowing impurities into our lives that degrade our value to the Kingdom? God often allows us to go through refining processes now so that those impurities can be stripped away and we can become a brighter reflection of God's glory in this world. God wants to bring out His best in us. Let's cooperate with Him as He seeks to refine us, and let's remain "in the fountain" so that the impurities of this life will not be found in us. Let's improve our clarity.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential.Please share this blog with your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 12--Time Travel

Have you ever wished that you could time travel into the future? There have been many movies, TV shows, books, etc. with this as their theme, and many people have fascinated about it. If you could discover the future, would it have an effect on how you actually live today? I suspect that it would. I suspect that we would see things that would cause us to want to live differently so as to change the outcome. In Zechariah 12, God gives us a glimpse into the future. He shows us a time when the nations will gather against Israel (vv 2-3) but they will be destroyed (vv4-9). He also describes a time when "The inhabitants of Jerusalem...will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son..." (v10). There is great mourning when these who have been filled with the "Spirit of grace" (v10) see the Lord Jesus Christ and realize that they were responsible for Him being pierced. They were responsible for His death. Who are the "they?" Certainly those alive with Christ who shouted "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" But in reality, it is all of us because it was your sin and my sin as well as the shouting crowd's sin that pierced Christ. When one day we see Christ's hands, feet, and side and we realize how much He really did suffer for us, we too will grieve over our sin. But now that we have time traveled and gotten a glimpse into the future, thanks to this chapter, should this change how we live now? Should we be more aware of our sin and how it hurts Christ? Should we grieve and mourn over our sin now? If we did, would it then cause us to live more holy, more pleasing lives now that would bring greater honor to the One who was pierced for us?
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential.Please share this blog with your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 11-- When Having It All Costs You Everything

"When I arrest wealthy people, it is always because they feel there is no mystery to life. They have everything and can control everything, so they do illegal things to make life interesting." Those were the words of a veteran Dallas, TX police officer. What really struck me when he said that was the phrase, "no mystery in life." These people had the ability to plan out what would happen to them, and if things didn't go their way, they had the money to make it the way they wanted it. They turned to crime basically because they got bored. I don't know if boredom was the case here, but in Zechariah 11 we see a description of people who felt like they had everything, that they were in control. At the time it was given, Zechariah's words from the Lord were prophetic. There would be those in Israel's leadership who would have all they need and would show no pity to others, nor would they seek God (vv4-5). God told them that they would see their country come to ruin (vv 6,15-17). This is exactly what happened when the Romans later took over. Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to enter Heaven--not because the rich are worse sinners than the poor, but because it is difficult for them to trust in anything other than themselves. When we are all sufficient, we actually miss out on the fullness of this life, and we certainly miss out on the fullness of eternal life. Even for those of us who have trusted Christ as our Savior, we have to be careful that we don't slip into a state of daily self-reliance. A truly abundant and full life comes by allowing Christ to be in control. The "mystery" of the future becomes a wonderful adventure as we follow the Lord.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential.Please share this blog with your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 10-- Who are You Following?

Adolph Hitler. Jim Jones. Charles Manson. David Koresh. Today, we know these as men who's leadership led to the death of others. A few deaths--in the case of Manson, to millions of deaths, in the case of Hitler. But what about these men before they became infamous for the deaths of others? These men were all leaders--they had people who passionately followed them. They were accepted by people in main-stream society. Jim Jones, whose actions in the 70s led to the suicide deaths of more than 900 people, was well connected to top political leaders. Reportedly, this included the U.S. Vice-President at the time, as well as officials in Guyana, the country where the suicides took place. Manson had been accepted by well-known music and movie industry people. Koresh's followers included lawyers, accountants, and other well educated people. Hitler, of course, gained the following of an entire nation. The point is that a lot of seemingly smart people made a bad decision to follow the wrong person. In some cases, that decision resulted in their own death. Zechariah 10 is a contrast in leadership. God describes those who led Israel astray by pursuing idols, divination, and giving false visions (vv2-3). God's people got sucked into the leadership of "shepherds" who really weren't shepherds. They weren't really caring for the best interests of their flocks. God, on the other hand, "will visit His flock" (v3) and lead them to "be like mighty men" (v5) as He strengthens them (vv6, 12) and brings rejoicing once again to their hearts (v7). This chapter is an important reminder that we need to be careful who we follow. Just because someone articulates a vision and sounds good doing it doesn't mean they should have our allegiance. We must ask ourselves if we see godliness in their life. Does what they say match the truth of what God says? Is there genuine sincerity and care for those they are leading or is the focus all on themselves? While those you follow may never turn out to be a Jim Jones or David Koresh, they may subtly cause you to stray from truth and God's purpose for your life if you are not careful. Let's examine our leaders in light of the Ultimate Leader, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential.Please share this blog with your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 9-- The Only Thing Constant is Change

I enjoy learning about history and the epic stories of generations gone bye. Whether or not you are a history buff, one thing is clear from even a cursory look at the past--things change. One day there is a global power and the next day that nation or empire's power is gone. We often think things are static and will always be as we know them now. The Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman and other world empires all thought their power and influence would continue forever. It didn't. God reminds us in Zechariah 9 of how quickly He can change the global scene, especially when an entity is known for being evil. We are told in verses 3-4 about great cities which had amassed enormous wealth but God promised to destroy them. We are promised in verses 9-10 that there is a coming King, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change the global power structure once and for all. We also see in verses 11-17 the promise of the ultimate deliverance of God's people. These are all reminders that what we see now is temporary and that no nation is rich enough or powerful enough to sustain itself when God rejects it. This is also a reminder to each of us that we cannot expect the future to be the same as the present if we get too proud. Whatever wealth, prestige, power, or accomplishments we have amassed could be gone in a moment. 

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 8--Rising from the Ashes

We remember the piles of twisted steel and other debris that sat smoking in New York City as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Massive 100+ story buildings reduced to rubble. We remember scenes in 2005 of flood waters engulfing the City of New Orleans and surrounding environs as the costliest hurricane in U.S. history devastated the Gulf Coast. Looking at those scenes of devastation, the question on many minds was, "Could these ever be rebuilt? Can something new rise from the ashes?" The answer, as we see even today, is "Yes!" But the rebuilding started with a vision--and a belief. A vision of people once again walking the streets of a city and the vision of workers once again filling office buildings. A belief that enormous obstacles could be conquered. In Zechariah 8, God inspires the Jewish people with a vision and a call to believe in order to overcome the destruction of their city, Jerusalem. Some of the elderly Jews who had returned to Israel from Babylonian captivity remember seeing their beloved city utterly destroyed. Even though they now had been back in the land for several years, the city was still in bad shape. The rebuilding of the temple was not yet complete. The city walls were non-existent. Few people actually lived in Jerusalem itself. In the midst of this despair, God gives them a vision of children once again playing in the streets (v5) and people growing old there (v4). But they would have to believe. They would have to believe enough to be strong in their current situation (v9). They would have to believe that God would be faithful to once again prosper them (v12). They would have to believe enough to change their actions by speaking truth and living justly with each other (vv16-17). Vision and belief are what enable the Jews to rebuild. You might be in a situation where you feel like your life is in ruins. "How could something good ever rise out of the ashes of my devastation," you ask. It can if you have two things--vision and belief.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 7--Results Not Just Rituals

On the surface it seemed like a legitimate question. A delegation of Jews went to the prophet Zechariah and the priests to ask if they needed to continue fasting in the fifth month like they did during their captivity years. Now that they were back in their homeland and nearing completion of the temple, was this necessary? God had a word for them in Zechariah 7, but it wasn't a direct answer to their question. Instead, God questioned their motives for doing the fasts in the first place. "When you fasted and mourned...did you really fast for Me--for Me?" (v5). God then shifted the focus away from the few days a year that they fasted to how they lived the other days of the year (vv6-10). God has never--and will never--be impressed by rituals alone. It has and always will be the motivation behind the rituals and how those rituals change one's life that concerns Him. The problem in this chapter wasn't the ritual of fasting, it was the people doing it. We go through the rituals today of praying, attending church, tithing, and even fasting. Those are good things to do but in God's eyes they are meaningless unless the motivation behind them is proper and the outcome of them is a godly life. Okay, you go to church on Sunday but how do you live the other six days? What difference does Sunday make in the rest of your week? When was the last time you took something specific from Sunday and incorporated it into your Monday? Are you going through the motions of a ritual or are you allowing the ritual to change you for the better?

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 6-- Translating the Vision into Action

Vision is one of the greatest attributes that any leader can posses. If you study great leaders, you will see that they were all people of vision. Leaders need both a long-term vision and also a more immediate vision. But what really makes a great leader great is that they are able to translate that vision into action. In Zechariah 6 we find both a short-term and a long-term vision. They are reminders to us that we need to have both of these kinds of visions in our lives. The immediate need before the Jews who had returned to Israel from captivity was the rebuilding of the temple. In this chapter, God shows them that He is well aware of their situation. He also gives them a picture to symbolize that His glory will once again fill the temple. He tells them to construct an elaborate crown and put it on the head of the high priest whose name was Joshua. The crown was an encouragement to Joshua that he would be successful in his efforts. It also was a vision to the future of the Ultimate One, the Highest of high priests, the King of all kings, the Lord Jesus Christ whose glory will fill the whole earth. The chapter closes with a short but critical statement from God: "This shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God" (v15). While the long-term vision had nothing to do with Joshua's and the Jews obedience, the short-term vision had everything to do with it. If they wanted to be the ones to see God move to restore the temple and bring His glory to Israel once again, then they would have to do what God told them to do. They would have to translate that vision into action. Has God given you a vision for what He wants to accomplish in your life? Then translate that vision into action by diligently obeying the Lord one step at a time.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 5-- The Elephant in the Room

You have probably heard or used the term "the elephant in the room." It refers to the one big thing on everyone's mind in a particular group that no one is brave enough to bring up and discuss. This often happens in meetings where everyone knows there is a problem--usually caused by a particular person who happens to be sitting in the group. They talk about everything else but the "elephant." They deal with all the small issues but are afraid to tackle to big one, the one that ultimately is causing the other issues. This also happens with marriages that are having difficulties. Couples tend to focus on all the small issues rather than dealing with the big things or real root problems. In Zechariah 5 we are reminded that the real elephant in many of our rooms is sin. We dress it up and call it by different names, but it is still sin, and it is something that should not be ignored. In this chapter Zechariah tells of two visions that he had. The first was of a scroll that when unrolled measured 30 feet by 15 feet. "This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth" (v3) because sin was found throughout the earth. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God," we are told in the New Testament. Man is without excuse, and if he remains in that sinful state, he will experience God's judgment (v4). The second vision is of a woman representing wickedness who is stuffed into a basket which then has a heavy lid placed on it. The basket is transported to Babylon where it awaits a house to be built for its placement. Scholars offer various opinions on what this vision represents, but one thing is clear. God deals with wickedness. This brings us back to the elephant in the room. We can either ignore the elephant and wait for God to bring judgment, or we can deal with it and move on with a life that pursues the holiness of God. The choice is up to each of us.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 4-- No Mountain High Enough

We stood along the bank of Alaska's Copper River and listened to our guide tell us the stories of how early settlers had reached that spot. Inspired by the prospects of gold, these adventurers traversed steep mountains, trekked across dangerous glaciers, and stared down the wildest of creatures. Most, however, never struck it rich. In fact, few found gold at all. The real "gold" was in selling supplies to these fortune seekers! I am inspired, however, by the determination of these people who were willing to risk it all in an attempt to better their lives. It also makes me wonder why we so many people give up when they are faced with even the smallest of obstacles. Zechariah 4 records God's challenge to Zerubbabel to not give up. Zerubbabel was called by God to lead the temple rebuilding effort following the Jews' return to Israel from captivity. Zerubbabel had faced various "mountains" of opposition but God said to him, "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain" (v7). It didn't matter the size of the mountain or the depth of the challenge because God was bigger than it all. There is, however, a critical fact that Zerubbabel, or for that matter anyone who seeks to overcome mountains in their quest to fulfill God's purpose, had to keep in mind. It is "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts" (v6). We fail at "mountain" climbing because we try to do it in our our strength and power. Some fail because the don't even try to venture out with God. They feel so insignificant and they can't see how God could ever use them. "For who has despised the day of small things?" asks God (v10). He has an unending supply (vv2-4, 11-12) of whatever is needed to enable you to fulfill the calling He has placed on your life. Let's venture out with God, knowing that there isn't a mountain too tall to climb when we are relying on His power and Spirit.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 3-- Behind the Scenes

We finished our waffle cones at the little sea-side village ice cream shop and made our way for the door. "You can't leave," we were told, "they are in the middle of a shoot." The "shoot" the man was referring to was a movie that was filming in the street outside. We were "stuck" in that shop smelling those freshly made cones for another half hour while a major film star filmed a scene.  That scene, which took hours to set up and film, lasted less than a minute in the actual movie. Movie goers didn't see us sitting in the ice cream shop. They also didn't see all of the shops on the street get painted before filming. There were a lot of behind the scenes things that happened which they were unaware. In life, there are a lot of things happening, often in the spiritual realm, of which we are unaware. Zechariah 3 records a vision the prophet saw concerning Joshua who was the Jewish high priest following the Jews return to Israel from exile. Joshua was focused on seeing the temple rebuilt and proper worship restored. He was unaware of what was happening behind the scenes, as well as what was to come. We are told in the first two verses that Joshua was opposed in heaven by Satan, but God rebuked the Devil. As God's leader for the moment, Joshua was in essence standing between heaven and earth enabling the fulfillment of God's plan. With that kind of high spiritual profile position, it was no wonder he would be opposed directly by Satan. We are also told in this passage that
Joshua's iniquity was cleansed (vv3-5) and he was promised eternal prominence if he remained faithful (vv6-7). Even greater than that, we are told that Joshua was a sign of the coming Christ (vv8-10). Joshua was just going about his business trying to faithfully serve the Lord and lead others into His presence. Until Zechariah's vision, he had no idea all of this was taking place behind the scenes. You and I may not know what is taking place in the spiritual realms behind the scenes of our lives, but it is important to remain faithful regardless. One day we will understand it all. Until then, let's stay the course and run with perseverance the race that God has set before us.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 2-- Running on Empty

Have you ever been driving in an unfamiliar area when you suddenly realized your car was getting dangerously low on gas? You hope that around the next bend or over the next hill there will be a gas station. Your thoughts are no longer about what you are going to do when you get to your destination. You are now consumed with trying to find gas before you get stranded on the side of the road. Should you get off at this freeway exit in hopes there will be a station? Or do you keep going? Sometimes in life the urgency of the moment causes us to forget about the future and we begin to panic because we can't see around the bend to know what is up ahead. The Jews who had returned to Israel from captivity found themselves in this situation. The urgency of the moment was rebuilding the temple. They could not see beyond that. Nor could they see their full potential. In Zechariah 2, however, God gives a panoramic glimpse into His long-term plans for them and their offspring. He tells them to have hope because what they are doing is not in vain. When they look to the future they can "sing and rejoice." (v10). The day is coming when God will be "aroused from His holy habitation" (v12) and deal directly with those who had opposed them. There is even a promise in here for those of us who are not Jews. He says, "Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people" (v11). God has something great in store for us one day! Don't lose hope, and don't get so consumed with "finding the next gas station" that you forget about your final destination.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 1-- Learning from History

We probably are all familiar with the quote, "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it." It amazes me how much our society ignores history. I cringe when I watch politicians make the same decisions today that met with disaster 50 years ago, like somehow past mistakes will magically work in this era. I also cringe when I watch individuals and families repeat the past mistakes of their ancestors, or even their own past errors. Like the woman who got cancer after years of smoking. She underwent extensive chemotherapy and saw her cancer go into remission. What did she do next? Went back to smoking--and then couldn't believe it when cancer hit again. Or the family that is in a perpetual financial crisis because any time they do get some money they squander it on unnecessary things. Or the guy who can't hold down a job because he refuses to listen and learn from his bosses. I could go on and on but you get the picture. In Zechariah 1 God challenges the Jews who had returned to Israel from exile, and He exhorts them to remember their history (vv2-6). After 70 years of captivity, brought on by their forsaking God, they returned to their homeland only to repeat the sins of the past. With that exhortation, however, also came a wonderful promise (vv7-17). There was hope if they would learn from their past and return to the Lord. "My cities will again spread out through prosperity; the Lord will again comfort Zion" (v17). Friend, what blessings might you be missing out on today because you have failed to learn from your past? What mistakes do you repeat because you are too stubborn to repent of your sin? Let's learn some lessons from history.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.