CONVERSION

“To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified!" (Isa. 61:3 NKJV).

In context, the primary theme of this verse is the restoration of Israel under the reign of Christ. However, it is also a picture of the conversion of a sinner. Thus we want to note four things involved in conversion: the path to conversion, the power of conversion, the position from conversion, and the praise from conversion.

Path to conversion - “Those who mourn in Zion.” The reference here is to those who are upset because of the sin in Zion (Israel). Typically, it is a picture of the sinner who, being convicted of his sin, confesses his sin in repentance to the Lord. There can be no conversion if there is no heart-felt confession of sin.

Power of conversion - “Beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” When Israel is restored, it will cause a tremendous change in the people. So it is with conversion. However, we cannot make the change in our own strength. This change require power, and this power comes from Christ.

Position from conversion - “That they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” When Israel is restored under Christ, the nation will be known as God’s people. In conversion, the believer gain the position of “children of God” (John 1:12).

Praise from conversion - “That He may be glorified.” The restoration of Israel will greatly glorify God. Likewise, the conversion of the sinner bring great honor to God. The chief aim of man is to glorify God, and the chief purpose of the Gospel is to glorify God through the salvation of sinners. We need more emphasis on this truth today.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Calvary knows how far man will go into sin and how far God will go for man’s salvation!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Disputes

In Titus 3:9 we read, “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless” (NKJV).

Disputes is the Greek word machē (μάχη = makh'-ay). The word means battle, conflict, fight and refers to physical combat, especially military. Literally, machē refers to physical combat or a contest fought with weapons. The idea is a serious clash or conflict, and can be either physical or non-physical. It pictures violent personal relationships.

In classical Greek, machē originally meant hand to hand combat, first of all in war, but then also in sport. It also carried the neutral sense of quarrel, wrangle, contend. Machē is only used four times in the New Testament. All the New Testament usages are figurative and in the plural referring to battles fought with words not weapons. The tongue of course can certainly be a vicious weapon of sorts!

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – The Messiah’s people would not believe Him (Isa. 53:1)

New Testament Fulfillment – John 12:37-38

Did You Know…

In the Bible, it states that the Prophets bear witness of Jesus (Acts 10:43).

Bible Quiz

In 1 Chronicles, the Scriptures say: “David was afraid of God that day…” What had made David afraid?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: What was placed at the east of the Garden of Eden, to keep the way of the tree of life? Cherubim, and a flaming sword (Gen. 3:24).

Names of the Lord Jesus Found in the Bible

“Bridegroom”

“He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled!” (John 3:29 NKJV).

1. Meaning – The Lord Jesus is portrayed as being in this loving relationship where He leads and cares for us, His bride.

2. Insights – The Lord Jesus is the bridegroom and the Church is His bride. He is the head of the church and cares for her.

3. Related Titles – Head of the Church (Eph. 5:23); Head of the Body (Eph. 4:15-16).

Did You Know – Christian History

The First Battle of Tannenberg (or Battle of Grunwald) took place on July 15, 1410 with the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania going up against the Knights of the Teutonic Order.

The Teutonic Knights were founded as a hospital order in the Holy Land with the name “Order of the Hospital of St. Mary the Virgin.” Changes in the Mid East led them to become a military religious order based in Germany. Various popes granted them extensive rights and so called “Christian” secular authorities employed the knights’ military muscle against pagans in Eastern Europe. The knights became powerful, cruel and arrogant. Several times a year, they would attack Poland and other surrounding nations.

How long could this go on? King Jagiello of Poland hoped not long. As a condition for accepting the throne of Poland, he himself had converted to Christianity. Now the knights had no religious excuse to attack Poland. However, they had political reasons. They were looking to expand their territory and Jagiello had gone back on his promise to hand over certain lands to them.

In 1409, King Jagiello of Poland met with his brother, the Grand Duke of Lithuania. During the nine days of talks, which took place at a church in the city that is now known as Brest, they planned a master strategy against the dreaded Teutonic Knights. The showdown was about to begin.

On July 15, 1410, Jagiello and his allies amassed 39,000 troops near Tannenberg. The Teutonic Knights appeared with an army of 27,000. Of course, only a few of the 27,000 belonged to the religious order itself. But the odds were not against the Teutonic Knights, for they had a formidable corps of well-trained soldiers and cavalry holding their army together. The number of forces arrayed on either side made this one of the largest battles of the Middle Ages.

The armies smashed against each other. All day long the battle raged. It was not clear who would win. But at the end of the day, the Teutonic Knights were in retreat. They left 8,000 dead on the field (including their grand master) and surrendered as many as 14,000 prisoners. It was the beginning of the collapse of the order. Poland would no more be seriously threatened by these thugs in religious clothes.

Fifty years later, the knights lost Marienburg, their center of operations. The Protestant Reformation further eroded their power. They went back to nursing. In 1929, the pope reorganized them as a purely religious order. Few are left today.

A Little Humor

En route to church to make his first confession, a nervous seven-year-old asked his grandmother what he could expect. She told him that confession is where you tell all the bad things you have done to the priest. He looked relieved. “Good. I haven’t done anything bad to the priest.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Christ believed is salvation received!”