Joseph: The Person God Uses

 Have you ever wondered what type of person God would use for the most important job on earth? I believe that the job under this description would have to be the job of raising Jesus, the Son of God. Much has been said about Mary and, rightly so, Jesus. But, not much has been said about Joseph. Maybe that is because there is not much said about him in the Gospels. But if we read with our spiritual eyes with an open heart, we will see the kind of person God uses.

In Matthew 13:55, Joseph was called a carpenter and he passed it down to Jesus, in His youth. (Mark 6:3). According to, “Harper’s Bible Dictionary”, a carpenter in those days was more than a furniture maker. He worked on buildings, farm implements, and other construction jobs.  It was hard work from failing trees for lumber to mason work on buildings. They had to be rugged people. Joseph was rugged but not vulgar. According to Matthew 1:19, Joseph was a “just” and upright man.

Joseph had a reputation in life and business. People knew they got their money’s worth when they hired him. But more importantly, with this justness he had compassion. When he learned of Mary’s pregnancy, he forgave her and sought to conceal her shame and return her to her parents without making a big scene. He had every right to accuse her and have her stoned. But, he chooses forgiveness. Doesn’t this remind you of someone else? In John 8:3, we read about Jesus forgiving the woman caught in the act of adultery. Compassion is a trait of the person God uses.

When Joseph was told by an angel that Mary was pregnant by the Holy Spirit, he took Mary as his wife and obeyed the instructions delivered to him from God. (Matthew 19:20-25) He stayed in Nazareth until ordered by the government to leave and go to Bethlehem for the census. He obeyed the law as long as it did not contradict God’s Word. As it turned out it was God at work through a pagan government. Joseph left his home with faith in God to take care of them. I do not believe Joseph packed up all his tools and took them on the long trip to Judah. (Luke 2:1-5) Obedience to the governing authorities is also a trait of the person God chooses. Faith in God when we obey and don’t know the future is a trait of the usable person. If we can’t obey the authorities we see, how can we obey the Lord we don’t?

After Jesus was born Joseph kept the little family in Bethlehem for up to two years. He supplied them with a house to live in. He had to buy more tools and go to work to take care of the family. In doing his job I am sure he had to follow the instructions from his employers or clients. Maybe he was out working when the wise men came knocking. Matthew 2:11, states that only Mary and the baby were home when they came. But, when this little visit put them in danger and it was time to move, Joseph stayed until he got more instructions from God. (Matthew 2:13-15) They moved to Egypt as instructed until he received another word to return to Israel. And again was warned about danger and was instructed to go back to Nazareth, not Jerusalem where a king should be raised. Here we see that a person must be able to hear God’s voice. God may not speak to them through an angel or with an audible voice, but they must be able to obey the guiding of God in their spirit and from the Word of God.

In conclusion, a person God will use in his work here on earth must be:

·          Compassionate

·         Obedient to earthly government

·         Faith in God when in obedience to people

·         Be responsible for what God has given you

·         Able to hear from God through His Word and in your spirit

·         Able to follow instructions from God and it is important to follow instructions from those over you.

Why You Can't Understand the Bible

 

Have you ever heard someone say, "I've tried to read the Bible, but I just can't understand it"? There are multiple factors in why people believe this about themselves. First, they don't understand how the Bible is structured. When I was very young I decided to read the Bible. I started from the beginning and was going to read it like any other book. I did not get past the first part about a man named King James. I was not told you could start anywhere. That the Bible was many books, letters, and writings. The Bible has sub-themes leading to one big one. Start where you desire and read for pleasure.

Second, the Bible is written using odd grammar and middle-eastern metaphors. You can get hung up on the way it is written. For some, it is just hard to read. I find some British writers like C.S. Lewis' non-fiction this way. Try using a modern translation or paraphrase alongside a trusted version to read closer to your style. There are some bad translations out there, but ask someone you trust and dig in. I have always been of the opinion that no matter which translation you use, you're do fine if you just do what it says. Also, I once read where a Muslim teacher stated that the Koran must be read in the original Arabic to be understood and the Catholic Church once taught that the Bible could only be read in Latin and taught by educated priests. If any leader, group, or organization tells you that they are the only ones who can translate the Bible, run from them as fast as you can.

Finally, the third and most important thing is the Bible is a spiritual book and must be read in the Spirit. 

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural (fleshly) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned," Paul, 1 Cor. 2:12-14

Remember in the third chapter of John, where Jesus told the learned Pharisee named Nicodemus, "That he must be Born Again", and Nick could not understand Him. Also, remember how people could not understand Jesus when He used parables. This was because they were using their own minds to understand. Only when the Spirit opens the mind can a person do they fully understand. A couple of times Jesus spoke parables against the Pharisees and they understood. This is only because to Spirit opened their eyes a little. He does this when He opens the eyes of a worldly person (worldling) to show the truth. Without the Holy Spirit revealing the truth to a person, they cannot receive Christ and be saved. It is not possible with worldly wisdom. 

As a child, I was asked if I believed John 3:16 and was led in prayer. For many years I believed I was "saved", but did not have any spiritual understanding. I lived my teenage years just like anyone else. Until the Lord opened my eyes and I saw I was lost, and I received Him, then I could understand the Bible and spiritual things.

Have you ever watched TV shows where a "smart" person denies that God exists and Christianity is illogical? 

"However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery and hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.
Which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory?
'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit teaches all things, yes, the deep things of God." Paul, 1 Cor. 2:4-10

The person that believes Christianity is not logical just does not understand that it is logical, but just higher logic than man can come to on their own.

'Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." Paul, 1 Cor. 1:25

In conclusion, if you seem to be stuck on something in the Bible, Pray for the Spirit's leading,  use a clear translation, use commentaries, word studies, and individual notes, but read with a spirit of obedience. Also, seek help from a trusted person. If you still can't get it, try repentance and ask the Lord to save you.

Praying for Your Co-Workers, Family, and Friends

Praying for Your Co-Workers, Family, and Friends 

In the work of praying for those in our circle of influence, much has been said about praying from scripture. This being the truth, we must pray in God’s will (1 John 5:14) and in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18). The best way to do this is by praying from scripture as led by the Holy Spirit. Here are some helps I have found from Paul and John on what to pray for.

First, off we must discern if our CFF (Co-worker, family, or friend) is saved. I changed from saying “judged” to “discern”. You can only judge from the outward evidence of fruit, discernment is the use of spiritual gifts to know the truth of something or someone. When discerning your CFF is indeed unsaved and lost, we may use Ephesians 1:15-18

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers
and asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, “(Ephesians 1:15-18 [BSBdraft]) Hear Episode 73

We must pray that they will have a supernatural “spirit of wisdom” and a “revelation” of knowledge of Christ. Their current state is that of being blinded by the god of this world. Pray that the bondage that is hindering them from seeing Christ, as He is, to be broken and that they would be free to decide for themselves to follow He.

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. “ (II Corinthians 4:3-4 [BSBdraft]) Hear Episode 71

Next, pray that they would cease from doing wrong and walk as Christ walked.

“Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong” (II Corinthians 13:7-9 [BSBdraft]) Hear Episode 75

The next good thing to pray is that they would have a knowledge of God’s will for their lives and have supernatural wisdom (not worldly wisdom) and understanding of it. Which will lead to them walking worthy of Christ and being fruitful in everything they do, spiritually and secular.

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:9-14 [BSBdraft] Hear Episode 76

Praying that the Lord would be glorified in their lives is very important to the life of a believer. This should be the chief aim of believers and would bring great fulfillment to them.

“To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. “(II Thessalonians 1:11-12 [BSBdraft] Hear Episode 77

And finally, pray that they would be successful in their lives. Not necessarily wealth of fruitfulness and success in Kingdom work. The following verse is used a lot in prosperity preaching, but I see that the work is properly interpreted as “success”. Although secular success is good, not over success in the work of the Kingdom of God. Just as we cause our soul, the intellect, emotions, and the eternal part of the whole person, is successful through the renewing of the mind, so we should be successful in our work for the Kingdom. Which includes our jobs, school, and family life.

“Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.” (III John 1:2 [BSBdraft]) Hear Episode 78

In conclusion, this is by no way the final word on this subject. The Word of God is full of instructions and wisdom for praying for our co-workers, family and friends. Dig deep to find out how the Spirit wishes for you to pray for those He loves and gave His life for.

Posted on the Marketplace Christian Resource Blog by Wayne Brooks June 27, 2021. The audio version coming soon on Podcast.

Bible quotations and versions come from the Xiphos Bible Software (Linux Mint)

Dealing With Systemic Racism In The Workplace

 Among all of the new catchphrases we have to try to understand and deal with, systemic racism is at the top of the list. What I have been able to understand is that it is the underlying racism that is in all American systems that favor whites above all other races. They are quick to say that whites may truly believe they are not racist, but they are part of the system that is racist. The word in the media, liberal and conservative, is that if you are white you are racist.

This atmosphere makes whites and blacks uneasy with each other. I, being white, have no argument, according to this philosophy, that says, “I am not racist”. So how do we react towards someone in our workplace that believes you are racist because you are white? Or how should the black person react to the white person who feels that they are under attack and they can’t change their skin so they are condemned as racist?

What is a racist? I believe it is someone who looks at a group of people of one skin color and judges them all in general. Condoning their prejudice.

How do we deal with this issue where we work? First off we must only speak in love. If you can not speak in love, keep your mouth shut! Of course, I am speaking to the Christian employee. If you are a Christian, you should be able to do this with the help of the Holy Spirit in you. If your goal is to prove you are not a racist or that your co-worker is, you will be arguing until the end of time.

The only answer I can give when accused of being a racist is a question. What have I done or said that has led you to believe that I, as an individual, am a racist? If they can not answer, then move on. If they have an answer, repent.

Either way, the only way to beat racism is “forgiveness”. Jesus taught, “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew 6:14-15, NASB) If we don’t forgive each other’s ancestors for what they did to the other’s ancestors, we will not be forgiven. We must forgive those who have discriminated against us. You may be thinking that I am white so therefore what do I know about being the victim of racism?

During the early 80s, I took my mother to the food stamp office to try and get help. She was in a wheelchair from being hit by a drunk driver and had both knees crushed. When her time came up she was told that she had to be permanently disabled to receive help. Meanwhile, black ladies with many children walked out with multiple books of stamps. “Walked out”. It did not look good since most of the caseworkers were black females. What did we do, forgive them?

In school, I was harassed by black students quite a few times. I do not know what I did to deserve such attention but what did I do, I forgave them.

In many jobs that I have had where the supervisors were black, I was discriminated against in many ways. More work assigned, little training on the job caused me to look bad and sometimes let go. What did I do, I forgave them and went on with life.

My wife worked with an all-black labor force on a job. They treated her badly, punched two tires on her car, and ran her off. We forgave them.

I may understand a little about being judged by my color and treated accordingly.

So the answer to the problem, until we learn to forgive:

Blacks forgive the nation for slavery.

Southerners forgive Northerners.
Native Americans forgive the nation for its sin toward them.

Japanese forgive the government for putting their families in internment camps during WW2.

The Irish forgive the Italians and versa-versa. You get the picture.

Managers, if you have this problem in your workplace, pray, seek God on how to relate this to your underlings. Employees, you can set the stage of reconciliation for generations to come.

Judging of God

I saw this video the other day and it reminded me of an article I have wished to write for a long time but my preposition to procrastination and maybe laziness has kept me from it. We are commanded not to judge others by Jesus which is recorded in Matthew 7:1 states, “Do not judge, or you will be judged. For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” We may judge Don that he has never read the Word of God or he has read it and rejected it. Or should I say that we have not judged him but the Word of God has? My main point to all this is that people, Christian or non, love to use the “Do not judge” quote but feel free to judge God. Skeptics, atheists, and progressives say that because of all the suffering in the world, God must not exist or if He exists, He is not a loving God. According to the Words of Jesus, by the judgment they judge God, God will judge them. Jesus was addressing this to us, but does it not apply to the judgment of God? 

Should not these people and even us be cautious in thinking we know the attributes of God outside of scripture? If not a righteous fear! Where then should we go from here? Because of Don Lemon's public pronouncement that he believes he knows the attributes of God we must proclaim most loudly in public the true attributes according to the Bible, God’s Holy Word. I have not seen the whole newscast but I assume he was speaking about the Pope’s denouncement of same-sex marriages. Is Don coming to his conclusion about God’s love because of his sincerity towards gays or he just siding with the current world view? Again judgment must come from God and His word. In these, all of us will be judged. In this age of compromising views, we would probably be better off reading God’s Word and trusting in it as the basis for all our moral judgments. May Don come to the truth before he stands before the Judge of all. May we humble ourselves before the God of love and justice who sent us a redeemer and advocate.

copyright 2021 Wayne Brooks

Prayer For Your Co-Worker: Part One

Have you ever just had a small inkling to say a prayer for a co-worker. Maybe they were going through a bad time or you saw their life headed in the wrong direction. You had the desire but did not know how to start. In this series, I hope to share a little on how you can pray effectively for your co-workers and maybe family, friends, and others.

First off, you're going to have to play the judge. I know we are told “not to judge” and when you quote, “You will know them by their fruits”, you are told that God did not call you to be a fruit inspector. Although this is witty, it is not scriptural. Matthew 7:1 and Luke 6:37 tell us not to judge others but Jesus says in Matthew 7:16 and 20 that, “You will know them by their fruits” and “therefore by their fruits you will know them.” So which is it? I submit that Jesus is talking about people as trees. You will know a tree by the fruit it bears. He did not say you will know if the fruit is good or bad. We are to see the fruit and discern whether the people are saved or unsaved. Or for a better metaphor, are they partaking of the Tree of Life or the forbidden Tree of Knowledge? We are not to judge the fruit of service to God. That is His doing.

So why am I talking about judging? Our first action in praying for our co-worker is to discern spiritually if the co-worker is a Christ-follower (Saved, Born again, Christian or however you wish to say it). To know this gives you promises from God’s Word to use, and through the Word, know God’s will for the co-worker.

What is God’s will for your co-worker you may ask? In 1 Timothy 2:3, Paul says,
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men (and women) to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” No matter what others say about there being a “predestined” people to be saved and others not, it is God’s will that all receive Him. He has no pleasure in the death of the godless. (Ezekiel 18:32)
If you are unable to discern if they are saved or unsaved, pray for their salvation. If you can’t tell if someone is a Christian then odds are they are not.

How do you start, realize you are in a battle for their soul. This sounds wild, but it is the truth. Not many preachers speak of demons and evil spirits but that does not mean they do not exist. The Bible is full of teachings on our enemy and that they will do anything to hinder someone from knowing Christ. Paul tells the Corinthians,
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
So without going into a deep discussion of spiritual warfare, we are to stand against this spirit that blinds the co-worker from seeing the truth and pray against it, and pray not only that they will see the truth, but believe it.

In the conclusion of part one, Discern their needs, their greatest need is to know Christ. Of course pray for any other needs in their life, and pray that they will see God’s hand at work in it.

Words for the Church for the Coming Times

 There has been a lot of talk about people prophesying about the last election. I do not consider myself having the gift of the Prophet. I wish it was because I was afraid of bringing reproach to the Lord by being wrong. But I'm afraid it is because I don't want to be made to look like a fool. In saying this, here are my thoughts

“This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:
‘Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce.
Take wives and have sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease.
Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper.’
For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Do not be deceived by the prophets and diviners among you, and do not listen to the dreams you elicit from them.
For they are falsely prophesying to you in My name; I have not sent them, declares the LORD." Jeremiah 29:4-9

We know that this is written for the Israelites taken captive to Babylon, but it brings with us today a word of encouragement. Although things have not worked out as we had prayed and the way some self-proclaimed prophets declared, The Lord is with us and we are to continue serving Him. In short, “Get about the Kingdom Business”.
Yes, we are concerned about the loss of freedoms. But losing guns, property, and material things may come to pass, One thing we can not lose and that is the Spirit of God.
There is much talk about civil war and fighting back. Nowhere in the New Testament does it speaks of early Christians fighting back against their persecutors. Some say that Jesus told His disciples to buy swords. Here is the references:

"Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered.
“Now, however,” He told them, “the one with a purse should take it, and likewise, a bag; and the one without a sword should sell his cloak and buy one.
 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.”
So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” He answered.
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him."
(Luke 22:35-39)

Jesus said that two swords were enough was not instructions to prepare for war. What would two swords do against a mob? What will my little handgun do against law enforcement with body armor? Not a thing but get me killed.

Our strategy is to bring Glory to the Lord. The fight is spiritual.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Can we bring glory to God by fighting and killing? All through the N.T., we are told to obey the government. Paul said these things under the persecution of Nero. The difference is that we do not give up our right to speech. We must proclaim truth (with facts). Proclaim the Good News at the same time you are uncovering the lies of others.

And dwell in the land with peace to others. 

“In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed to have nothing bad to say about us. “ Titus 2:7-8
There it is, our guide.

People do not realize that everything we do reflects on the Lord Jesus. And that is our calling. That is our Kingdom Business. We are to walk out the coming years with good works, integrity, and dignity. Not as the world does but as Christ commands.
Go do your work and please God. As in the case of the exiles, Babylon was given 70 years to keep the captives. We do not know how long our life here will last but keep it faithfully.

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Heroes and Duty?

Watching TV the other day and one of the commercials was a courteous one. The music spoke of being a hero and the product slogan was, “join us and be a hero”. It was an ad for a gym! My first thought was, “ what has going to a gym have to do with being a hero? Here was another corporation cashing in on the times.

I remember back when the airplane pilot landed the plane in the Hudson River and people called him a hero. I wrote a blog post saying the guy was brave and did a terrific job, but he was trained to act and paid. He did not fit the description of “Hero”.

Maybe in using this title we should use capitalize one and lower case the other? I believe being called a hero when doing our duty or we are getting paid to do the job is like getting a trophy in sports for participating. I was glad that when the pilot and others were called heroes, they denied the title and did not glory in their accomplishment.
This reminded me of what Jesus said about duty: Luke 17:7-10

In these verses, Jesus explains the attitude we should have when doing our job or volunteer work. In using the picture of a servant, which is our spiritual status in Christ. We are bought with a price. (Although at the same time we are friends, co-heirs, and co-workers in Him, but that is a whole other teaching)

To be a “Hero” we must do something brave that we do not have to do that demands self-sacrifice. You-know, that thing Christ did for us. Christ is our prime example of a Hero and much more. I feel like the title Hero would be beneath Him. Let’s keep Him Lord of Lords and King of Kings, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. For when He came to us He humbled Himself and that is our example, wish not to be called a Hero but a good and faithful Servant. Servant with a capital letter!