Jordan River Baptisms

River that John Baptized Jesus

Caesarea

Home of Cornelius built by Herod the Great (Acts 10:11)

Moneychangers #4 (3)

(3) Keeping in mind the moneychangers in Jesus day affected the house of God a derogatory way, please look with me at another possible present day moneychanger.

One of the most potent and poisonous religious moneychangers is the one who places himself in the judgement seat and judges other mens' lives. Jesus called him "...the unjust judge..." (Luke 18:6) but Jesus revealed that eventually the efforts of the unjust judge would be in vain and that God will "...avenge His own elect..." "...which cry day and night unto Him..." (Luke 18:7).

This matter of judging others is so distasteful to God that He in inspiration tells us over and over of the wrongness of it.

"Let us not judge one another anymore..." (Romans 14:13)

"...why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ." (Romans 14:10)

"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven".(Luke 6:37)

Now hear this Mr. Moneychanger. Words from the Just Judge "For with what judgement you judge you will be judged. (Matt. 7:2)

Moneychangers #3

(2) The Pharisees of Jesus' day give us another depiction of possible present day moneychangers. Jesus said of them "...all their works they do to be seen of men."(Matt 23:5) He described them in rather graphic terms because He knew them as they truly were. He could look beyond the facade of all their outward show. So he termed them "...hypocrites..." "...false..." "...blind guides..." "...serpents..." "...brood vipers..." (Matt. 23) WOW! The outside of the cup looked great to men but Oh! the inside as Jesus saw it.

Jesus was completely honest about them and revealed their hypocrisy and suffered retaliation for that. Are we willing to challenge such moneychangers and be in danger of such reprisal. Much of the time we are not so the powerful and the influential have their way and the brood of vipers of old still have their brothers in our lives.

Jesus describes the devious controlling results of their efforts. He said to them that they were willing to go to any limit to control their hearers and to "...make one proselyte ..." to their cause. And He told them in doing so "...ye make twofold more the child of hell than yourselves". (Matt. 23:15) Jesus said it. I did not. And probably would not and perhaps will not. I just duck my head, stick my head in the sand and let them work their evil ways. Chicken me. Do I not see the importance of saving people from such controllers. Often times even our families suffer at the hands of these selfish manipulators and we just let them have their way. Jesus tells us that their ultimate work in the lives of men is that they "... shut off the kingdom of heaven from people ..." (Matt. 23:13)

Isn't it something that those that look so good, dress just right in their expensive suits, have just the right composure, even appear spiritually beautiful and righteous, pray just the right prayers, can work such evil in men's lives. How could that be, ME THINKS ME KNOWS.

Jesus tells us about these Pharisees in Luke 18. It all amounts to the fact that in all their dealings with men their god is themselves.

This Pharisee of Luke 18 had a very high opinion of himself. A big-headed individual indeed. We all have known watermelon headed people like that have we not? And it is so easy for them to judge others because of their own goodness!

This Pharisee determined that he was so good that he was not like other men. So he concluded that because of this he was not "... an extortioner..." "...unjust..." "...an adulterer...". And he looked over at his neighbor and concluded "...or even as this tax collector..." (Luke 18:11). So he bragged about his religious perfection. Quite a person! One of the good ones!

But who was Jesus' man? Not this deluded moneychanger! For Jesus said "And the tax collector, standing far off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:13-14)

There may come into our lives those that deem themselves perfect. They are moneychangers who would exploit the people of God. We must reject the idea that perfection is in any person and look to the source of our salvation and justification, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Count Your Blessings

The older I get the more I appreciate ALL the blessings God has given to me. I have been so abundantly blessed in my life time but never more than this last year. God is such a loving God but also a very just God. I know that He will allow us to run full force arranging, organizing, planning, preaching and staying so busy with everyday life. He also is aware of how much we call upon Him seeking His advice and guidance, even in the very small things of life. Many times we call upon Him only when we are in trouble or when we cannot under any circumstances remedy life's problems so then we give it to Him, only to take it back a day later. I can assure all of you, God is in control. He does not need us to accomplish any of His plans for us or the world. He is big enough to handle any problem or situation, He just wants us to trust Him and believe in Him and to love Him. I know that many of you are going through some hard times and you cannot see your way through some things. Let me assure you God knows exactly where you are, He knows every hurt you are experiencing, He knows your heart. God is a heart doctor. He can give you a transfusion every day to build you up with a dose of faith. Most of the time we are not required to do anything except trust in Him. We cannot work our way into God's blessings, we cannot earn His Grace and mercies. God is a giving God and He loves you so much. If you will release Him and give Him permission to work in you life I promise He will show you great and mighty things that you have never seen before. Won't you trust Him?

Thanks

I would like to thank all of you that emailed or called to say that you were enjoying my writings. I appreciate your comments and encouragement. I welcome your input and any questions you may have. I pray you will continue to read on as I journey back through our trip to Israel and try to share a small portion of the land where our Saviour was born, lived, died and was resurrected. Thanks again. Wayne

Part II-Modern Day Moneychangers

In a foregoing article I promised to depict some instances where modern day moneychangers may affect the house of God and God's people.

I hope that in my discussion of those who exploit the house of God no one draws the conclusion that I am writing about preachers. I suppose that it is possible for a preacher to be a moneychanger. And on occasion it does happen. But that is definately not the norm among God's servants. Many preachers are underpaid anyway. I would be the last to advocate that preachers and any other of God's servants who have given their lives to His service are in any way comparable to the moneychangers who take advantage of the kingdom and their position in it.

Exploitation of God's house and God's people is not new. It occured in the first century and Jesus knew what to do about it. Today there are money changers and Jesus is not here at this moment to prevent their exploitation. But Peter tells us that He still knows how to take care of this and will. Peter wrote that "...the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgement." (II Peter 2:9)

What then are some possible ways modern day moneychangers abuse the house of God?

(1) Men who are in authority and men of position are vulerable to the temptation of exploitation. Why? Because they simply can due to their statue and eminence. Their station in life can lend itself to that kind of behavior. Some can get so caught up in their on self- importance that God's will is dimished and their will becomes paramount in their dealings with other people. This condition seems to become so severe that some actually begin to think that their will is God's will. Whatever they do and whatever decision they make is God's will.

The Spirit of Christ does not allow high handed tactics in dealing with others, yet these money changers have no qualms about running over others. It is a fact that where the Spirit of Christ is, high handed tactics, egoism, and looking down the sanctimonious nose at others does not exist. Paul tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is "...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..." (Galatians 5:22-23).

Scripture gives us two explicit examples of these high-minded men of high position. The first is a man named Diotrephes. John said in 3 John 9 "I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us." This word "preeminence" literally means "loving to be first." Sounds like Diotrephes had a very high idea of himself. How did he exploit the church? John inferred that basically he ran things and was in the practice of disfellowshipping from the church apparently those he did not like. John doesn't say exactly how he was going to deal with this fellow, but he was going to deal with him, for he told the church that when he went to them "...I will call to mind his deeds which he does...." (3 John 10)

The other example of high handed exploitation of God's people is Herod. If ever there was an egotistical axe wielder he was. The people knew that . So they typically gave in to his coercion as people typically give in to all present day Herods. Sometimes it is a power thing or a money thing, or a position thing that causes people to aquisce, and sometimes it is just the blantant big headedness and bull headedness of these present day moneychangers who exploit the people of God.

Acts 12 records the complete story of Herod and his mean dealings with God's people. Verse one of Acts 12 defines his role as moneychanger. "now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harrass some from the church." The KJV says "...vex certain of the church..." the interlinear reads "...to harm some of the ones from the church...". The lexicons define the word for harm or vex as "ill -treat" "plague" "injure". And it can also mean according to Zodhiatas"to put one into a bad mood against another." The word is used in Acts 14:2 this way "But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethern.

Herod was the supreme example of one who could do all the above against someone because he was simply in a position to do so. How many Herod's do we have today among us?

He was a glory hog to the max. Acts 12:2 says"...he killed James the brother of John with the sword." Verse 3 says "and because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also ...". I must say I have seen men in my life who operated completely on the basis of what advantage they could claim for themselves with no consideration for the feelings of others. They might not go to the extremes Herod went and commit murder because it pleased others who would side with them and applaud them, but they certainly had no uneasiness or remose about character assassination.

Herod's demise is a lesson for all modern day moneychangers. The text says that "on a set day Herod , arrayed in royal apparel, set on his throne and gave an oration to them." "And the people kept shouting, the voice of a god and not of a man!" (Acts 12:21-22)

How he must have gloated. He had had his way with good people. He killed some. He imprisioned some. He worked his evil, he plagued folks with his behavior, he injured them, he ill treated them, he harmed them. And now he is being applauded. How good he must have felt. He might even have felt he was justified hurting others becuase he was being apploauded by some.

But out goes another moneychanger. Acts 12:23 says "then immediately an angel struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. "

Watch out moneychangers!

More to come....