Service to Jesus

Sometimes we are not satisfied with the responsibilities God has given us, thinking we are fitted for a larger ministry. Looking enviously at the size or scope of another believer's calling, we think less of our own work and begin to neglect it.

In his book Be Faithful, Warren W. Wiersbe told how C. H. Spurgeon, the famous Baptist preacher, handled that problem. "A young preacher once complained to Spurgeon that he did not have as big a church as he deserved. `How many do you preach to?' Spurgeon asked. 'Oh, about a hundred,' the man replied. Solemnly, Spurgeon said, `That will be enough to give account for on the day of judgment.

The truth of Spurgeon's statement is borne out in Paul's reminder to "fulfill your ministry." The apostle was telling his young friend in the faith to do all that God had called him to do. But this did not mean that Timothy was to do the same things as Paul. Nor did it mean that he would accomplish as much as the apostle would. Rather, it meant that whether Timothy's task was large or small, in the limelight or behind the scenes, he was to fulfill his ministry in a diligent and commendable manner. —D. C. Egner (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. All rights reserved)

Brad Zockoll wishes you to pray for our family as we take steps to dedicate our home - every square foot of it - to the whole and active service of the Lord. It's not the Zockoll house - it's God's home.

"Poor in spirit" - what does it mean?

Matthew 5:3 - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Read this passage in the different translations to get a better meaning of the deep truth that Jesus was relaying:

God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. (New Living Translation)

Spiritually prosperous are the destitute and helpless in the realm of the spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Wuest)

How happy are the humble-minded, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs! (New Testament in Modern English)

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! (Amplified Bible - Lockman)

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The Zockoll family asks for your prayer for our very dear friend Oscar Hyde as he continues his studies at Princeton and continues his growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Love is patient

E agape makrothumei - 1 Cor. 13:4

Love is patient. The word makrothumei, according to dictionary sources, means to be patient and not lose heart. One translation puts it like this: "Love is never tired of waiting." This form of the word is passive - it means that love doesn't want to strike out, retaliate. Jesus had every right to retaliate as He went through the trial. He was blindsided, spit upon and constantly mocked. These things strike home with me, coming from a Zockoll ancestry that carries with it a fearful streak of anger. I've heard stories and even seen first-hand my relatives' tempers flare, with regrettable results. There are times when it is hardest to keep my anger, and that's when I feel it is justified. Yes, there are times to be angry, but not in the sense of losing control or lashing out, and that's the challenge I've faced for numerous years. I see that Jesus was justified to respond in anger and even violence - but He didn't.

You face a dorm roommate who just wears your patience, and tries you just about every day of the school year. You work under a boss who seems either unduly vicious or amazingly incompetent. You find out that you were the target of gossip. All of these things ought to be responded to with a quick stroke of anger, but there is a higher response, such as found in this passage... you respond in love.

I write this because I'm encountering some situations this week where I must use this very verse as I step into meetings and encounters where I will need to rely upon the words of the Lord in order to guard my steps and my mouth.

Brad Zockoll and his family want you to pray for son Peter Zockoll who is winding down his senior year at high school and is making some serious plans for college and his career. Please pray for God's guidance in Peter's life.

Mark 15:34

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”–which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Jesus was on the cross, suffering not only physically but spiritually as well. He cries out a sorrowful wail: "Why do you forsake me, Father?"

I am familiar with the feelings of being forsaken, having endured a painful childhood after my parents' divorce. Truly, only child of divorce can understand the utter loneliness of the ending of parent/child bond. The one you loved and held in esteem has said "No, my interests are more important than you." Parents who read this can use any excuse they wish, but they'll never be able to explain away the devastation of a child realizing the close-knit love relationship will never return. It's a loneliness that will never leave. The child has been forsaken.

Jesus was forsaken. It was necessary for the ultimate sacrifice to be paid. If there is one part of the crucifixion to which I can say I identify, it is this forsaking. I have never been tortured nor forced to face a hostile, violent mob ... but I have been forsaken. And in that little way I can begin to see the gnawing emptiness Jesus felt. It makes His love for me all the more real, because He chose to face this for my sake.

David Guzik brings some amazing truths to this lesson:

There was a significant sense in which Jesus rightly felt forsaken by God the Father at this moment.

i. How? Because God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

ii. Jesus not only endured the withdrawal of the Father’s fellowship, but also the actual outpouring of the Father’swrath upon Him as a substitute for sinful humanity.

iii. Horrible as this was, it fulfilled God’s good and loving plan of redemption. Therefore, Isaiah can say Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him (Isaiah 53:10).

iv. At the same time, we cannot say that the separation between the Father and the Son at the cross was complete, because as 2 Corinthians 5:19 says, God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself at the cross.

v. It rarely grieves man to be separated from God, or to consider that he is a worthy object of God’s wrath; yet this was the true agony of Jesus on the cross.

Guzik, David. "Study Guide for Mark 15." Enduring Word. Blue Letter Bible. 7 Jul 2006.2009. 21 Oct 2009.
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Brad Zockoll and his family welcome your responses and insight on the entries of this blog. Please understand, though, this blog is not about debate or argument. We're looking for spiritual truths and insight, so your additions and reflections are most welcome. Thank you to the many people who contact me and let me know that they read this blog - it's an encouragement to me.

John 16:12-15

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you."

We're all interested in the future; in fact, the upcoming movie about the Mayan prophecies of 2012 are taking advantage of the fact that people like to hear and read about things to come. The Holy Spirit, as explained by Jesus, will make known the things of the future to us, but not in a fortune-telling, crystal ball way. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to guide us to the truth in Christ Jesus. It's not the ministry of us. I don't work in the ministry of me. God help us if we ever fall into the selfish pursuit of ego-building. Things to come include the revelation of Jesus Christ as Judge and Sovereign. Future revealings tell of the Kingdom of God and the glory that outshines anything here on earth. That is what the Holy Spirit aims to do. We are to tell of the glory of eternity, not the quick-rich-schemes of the present day.

I recall the loving service of one of the men of the church I now attend. He has been instrumental in helping us purchase houses as he would walk through places we sought to buy, using his years of experience as a realtor to help me avoid pitfalls - and he never would take a penny from me. He was, and is, my financial mentor as well as a guide to help me grow in Christ. This man is very wealthy, but he lives in modest means, preferring to use his wealth to further the Kingdom. He has the Holy Spirit leading his eyes to look to the future.

Tuesday note: The blessings of the Zockoll household include the friendship of the John and Lori Huffman family. Lori has suffered a continuing fight with cancer but has shown an incredible Godly strength through all of the trials. They'll be with us during the Halloween festivities for an evening of fellowship.

Last night's five-and-a-half-hour Bible study

Our Bible study is growing in more ways than one. More young people are showing up on Sunday and the hours of the "open house" study have become longer. We started yesterday at 4 p.m. and continued until 9:30 p.m.with continuous Scripture study.

Well, okay, we did take a break for some more nachos and roasting marshmallows over our fireplace, but overall the group of college students were pretty intense. Our studies ranged from Greek words storge, agape and phileo; Revelation 20 and the futuristic teaching in the chapter; Zechariah prophecies; verses concerning abortion; Davidic prophecies; and a debate.

The Sunday afternoon Bible studies are meant to be an open forum on anything the students want to discuss concerning the Bible and Christian issues. I have a regular Bible study we walk through, but at any time we break off and answer questions. We don't have any music or games; this is straight-on Bible learning. Please understand that students do not need to stay for the whole study; some come in at 6 p.m., others must leave early, so the students do not need to stay all five and a half hours ... though some do.

Wow, it is an uplifting time for me. The group - Jared, Jonathan, Daniel, Heather, Aaron and the others - are all intense and yet relaxed. The Lord takes over as we study, and the fellowship is based upon our growth in Christ.

Here is part of the learning we had last night (there has been a strong interest in prophecy):

ZECHARIAH'S PROPHECIES.

Many people aren't aware that Zechariah the prophet had some amazing prophecies that he proclaimed on the authority of the Lord. He made his proclamations of the future over 2500 years ago while walking the streets of Jerusalem. Zechariah's prophecies were aimed at the Diaspora of the time - the Jews returning from the Babylonian Captivity His prophecies warned that it was not over - the Jews face more persecution and far-flung dispersion. In the midst of all of this shocking news is an interweaving of hope: the Messiah would come. Zechariah gave the signs of the requirements of the Savior...

Zechariah 9:9
The expected Messiah would enter Jerusalem while riding on a donkey

Zechariah 11:12-13
Zechariah's play-acting tale of a shepherd foreshadowed the betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver

Zechariah 12:10
Zechariah foretells the crucifixion of the Messiah

You are most welcome to come to the Zockoll household on Sunday evenings if you are in the Knoxville, Tennessee area. Please write me at bradzockoll@gmail.com and let me know when you are coming through the area. We would love to have you join us by the fireplace for an evening of looking at God's Word.

Studio is set up

We've just finished setting up the recording studio so I will be able to undertake the numerous radio broadcasting tasks that have been coming into my office lately. Along with recording public service announcements on behalf of the Premier Basketball League teams, I will be doing some charity work for some organizations. Eiva Media's Steven Johnson and his brother Dave have been a great help in getting this project completed.

The whole Zockoll clan went over to hear Aaron Coffey speak at Oak Ridge Baptist Church last night. What a genuine speaker! You don't hear many like this gentleman anymore - sincerely in love with giving God's Word with no pretense or ego. His message was from Psalm 1 and I couldn't agree more: Christians would find more peace and power by simply enjoying and digging deeper into their Bibles.

Susie Shellenberger, editor of SUSIE Magazine has been a good friend of mine for a number of years. She is the head of a great magazine for Christian teen girls and the website is top of the line as well. www.susiemagazine.com

Julianne turned five on Sunday! We had a big blowout, like the Zockolls usually do, and party hats were the fashion statement of the day. The highlight of the day was the little electric car that Grandma and Grandpa gave her. I'll post a picture tomorrow.

Jesus is the Word John 1:1

LOGOS

"In the beginning was the Word..."

The word "logos" was used in the spiritual sense around 600 BC when a Greek philosopher named Heraclitus used the term to capture the idea of the supernatural reason or divine plan that would oversee and control a moving and growing universe. Aristotle used the word to mean rational discourse that was above pathos or ethos - logos was pure reason. The Stoic philosophers of the day, who judged behavior above speech, used the term "logos" to mean the supernatural principle that runs throughout the universe, guiding the morals of its inhabitants.

Thus, when John used logos in speaking of the guiding principle of the universe and equating it to Christ, he grabbed the attention of those who were familiar with the power of the word. John was telling everyone that Jesus Christ was more than a teacher and a moral character - He was God Himself, the guiding and logical principle of the entire universe.

Good Chambers Quote

If in preaching the gospel you substitute your knowledge of the way of salvation for confidence in the power of the gospel, you hinder people from getting to reality.

- Oswald Chambers

... in other words, let's pull back on the ego and let Christ speak. Too many times I have heard personal illustrations that cloud the clear instruction of salvation through Jesus Christ. Be careful of the need to do a little boasting of yourself and not boast of Christ. It's like scribbling all over a road map; someone may get the proper route, but they've got to get past your personal markings. If your personal stories don't directly line up with Christ's direction, then remain silent.

This is great...really great

At this stage of my life (I'm now 50 years old) I look for ways to do the Lord's work with a mind toward helping the next generation. Call it a heritage or what you will, but my deep desire is to minister to young people and pass on the blessings that the Lord has given me through these years.

That's why it was amazing to see the ministry results over at Concord Christian School on Tuesday night. I will post pictures asap. The four collegiate teams, from Omega Rho to Zeta Chi, had their Rush Night - and the whole gymnasium was a great, loud, exciting event. The teams had booths up and food galore. The students were excited and energetic. Sure, I know that one noisy evening doesn't make a ministry, but it showed the potential for the coming year. The students are ready! 2 Timothy 1:7 was already taking place. The future is promising for this middle school in the area of Christian leadership, teamwork, and spiritual growth.

These are the same kids I was with at the spiritual retreat last month. There were awesome decisions then. Tuesday night showed me that the decisions are still alive. Yes, I do feel like these are my kids... and I get a great joy from seeing their walk with Jesus.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. - 3 John 1:4