Tag Archives: Bible

Out of the Shadows a Leader Emerges

26 Sunday Apr 2026

Posted by in Books by David Kitz

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———— Part Two ————
James the Leader
James through the Lens of the Book of Acts

James: the Lynchpin of Our Faith — Chapter 10

The most reliable account that we have of the early days of the church is Luke’s New Testament book known as The Acts of the Apostles (commonly abbreviated to Acts). It is the primary source through which we discover James’ spectacular rise to prominence in the church at Jerusalem.

Acts gives us a well-researched depiction of the explosive growth of the infant church. In his last meeting with the apostles just before his bodily ascension into heaven, Jesus predicts how the gospel message will ripple out from Jerusalem in concentric circles like waves in a pond after a rock has dropped into it.

Then they [the apostles] gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

He [Jesus] said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:6–8)

Essentially, the above statement is a quick outline of the Book of Acts. Through the chronological progression of twenty-eight chapters, Luke describes the advance of the gospel message from Jerusalem, through Judea, to Samaria, and finally, through the ministry of the apostle Paul, to the ends of the earth. The book ends with Paul the apostle boldly preaching the message of Christ—his life, death, burial, and resurrection—while awaiting his own trial before Caesar in Rome.

For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! (Acts 28:30–31)

In one sense, the Book of Acts has no end because the proclamation of the gospel continues to this day. The concentric ripples continue to expand out into the world.

It is not clear from the description found in Luke’s text in Acts 1 if James was present at the ascension. There are contextual grounds to believe that he was. But it is well worth noting that James certainly was present with the apostles as they awaited the coming of the promised Holy Spirit.

Photo by 4FLY RJ on Pexels.com

Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:12–14)

Essentially, the above statement is a quick outline of the Book of Acts. Through the chronological progression of twenty-eight chapters, Luke describes the advance of the gospel message from Jerusalem, through Judea, to Samaria, and finally, through the ministry of the apostle Paul, to the ends of the earth. The book ends with Paul the apostle boldly preaching the message of Christ—his life, death, burial, and resurrection—while awaiting his own trial before Caesar in Rome.

For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! (Acts 28:30–31)

In one sense, the storyline of the Book of Acts has no end because the proclamation of the gospel continues to this day. The concentric ripples continue to expand out into the world.

It is not clear from the description found in Luke’s text in Acts 1 if James was present at the ascension. There are contextual grounds to believe that he was. But it is well worth noting that James certainly was present with the apostles as they awaited the coming of the promised Holy Spirit.

Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:12–14)

The phrase, “Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers” must refer to the same brothers that are listed in the gospels, namely, James, Joseph, Judas (Jude), and Simon. See Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3. Regent University Professor Jon Mark Ruthven in his introduction to the Epistle of James fully supports this view:

James apparently was an unbeliever during the ministry of Jesus (John 7:3–5). A post-resurrection appearance of Christ to him (1 Corinthians 15:7) probably led to his conversion, for he is numbered with the believers in Acts 1:14. (1)

The family reconciliation that Jesus undertook following his resurrection must have borne fruit. The unbelieving brothers are now numbered among the believers, and the divided family is now reunited. At last, the house of Joseph has rallied round Mary’s firstborn son. The occurrence of such a profound reversal lends credibility to the resurrection. It would take a miracle to change the hard-headed James—and a miracle of the highest order is precisely what occurred. The resurrection changed everything.

In the wake of the resurrection, there are two pivotal events in the Book of Acts. The first is the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The second is the breakthrough of the gospel messages into the Gentile world. Both events are totally transformational and continue to have a momentous impact right up to the present day.

The first event prefigures and is predictive of the second event. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon 120 believers gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem. The primary evidence of the Spirit’s arrival was a phenomenon commonly called speaking in tongues.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a Resound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” (Acts 2:1–13)

Though not all utterances in tongues are understood by those of foreign tongue, in this instance they were. To their astonishment, the pilgrims who arrived in Jerusalem for this Jewish festival heard these Galilean followers of Christ speaking in their native language. The significance of this linguistic breakthrough had them all perplexed, hence the question, “What does this mean?”

The apostle Peter stepped forward to address this question. What followed was a succinct explanation of this spiritual phenomenon, which links the Holy Spirit’s coming with the ancient prophecy of Joel. According to Peter, in these last days, God’s Spirit was being poured out on all people, “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21).

Peter goes on to explain that this salvation was available through faith in Jesus, who had been crucified, but had risen from the dead. Peter and those assembled with him were witnesses of these things. Furthermore, God signaled his approval of Christ’s bodily sacrifice by raising him from the dead and then pouring out the Holy Spirit on his followers.

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:36–41)

What we have described here is the birth of the church. On her birthday she grew from one hundred twenty souls to three thousand souls. God was at work among his people.

It should be noted that these new believers were Jewish converts to what is now called Christianity. The term ‘Christianity’ had not yet been invented. But, already, there was a distinct foreshadowing about what was about to come. The assembled believers spoke in tongues—tongues that were understood by foreigners. Surely this was a portent—a sign that the gospel message was poised to break through into the Gentile world.

In the spirit realm a door had opened to the Gentile world—and it just so happened that James, the brother of Jesus, was the hinge on which this door would swing wide. He would play the pivotal role in the opening of the church to the world.

However, at this early juncture in the Book of Acts and the birth of the church, there is no indication that James would play a leadership role. Why would he? He had not been a follower of the Lord during his earthly ministry. The leadership within Christ’s apostolic band had been forged during three and a half years of miracle-filled itinerant ministry. Jesus’ inner circle consisted of three men: Peter and the brothers James and John, the sons of Zebedee, whom Jesus nicknamed “the sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). Peter was clearly preeminent among the Twelve and acted as the spokesman for the group, even as he did on the day of Pentecost. James the son of Joseph was a complete outsider to this apostolic group.

But Acts gives us some strong indications that James soon rose to prominence in the church. The narrative structure of Acts records the gospel message spiraling out from Jerusalem to the world. The two central players in the drama that unfolds are first Peter and later Paul, but throughout the book James plays an important background role. He is the éminence grise in the story—a respected authority figure to whom others are accountable.

The first indication of this prominent role can be found in the account of Peter’s imprisonment in Acts chapter twelve. At this juncture, the persecution of the fledgling church by the Jewish authorities has been sharply intensified. After the martyrdom of Stephen in chapter seven, Saul (Paul) unleashes a round of murderous persecution that sends most of the believers fleeing from the city. (See Acts 8:1.) A second round of persecution is described in Acts chapter twelve.

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecutethem. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. (Acts 12:1–5)

Peter is miraculously freed by an angel who wakes him in the middle of the night and escorts him past the sleeping guards and out through the prison gate, which opens of its own accord. He disrupts the prayer meeting that has been summoned to pray for his release.

But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Petermotioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place. (Acts12:16–17)

Without doubt, the James that Peter speaks of here is James, the half-brother of Jesus. Bible commentators agree on the identity of the James referred to here. But why would James be accorded this level of respect by Peter? Peter’s request implies a degree of accountability to James, as though James held a leadership role. At the very least, Peter sees James as a respected friend and brother in the faith.

I. Howard Marshall in his commentary on this passage states the following:

The James mentioned here is the brother of Jesus (Mk. 6:3) who later figured as the leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13, 21:18); Paul regarded him, along with Peter and John, as one of the three ‘pillars of the church’ (Gal. 2:9). He had been a witness of a resurrection appearance of Jesus (1Cor. 15:7), and hence Paul recognized him as an apostle (Gal. 1:19). It seems probable that from an early stage he was one of the leaders in the church, and at some point he took Peter’s place as the recognized leader. The present passage [Acts 12:16–17] need not express more than that he was Peter’s deputy at this stage. (2)

Other commentators see James in a leadership role over Peter. George E. Ladd is among the theologians who hold this view. In his comments on Acts 12:16–17, he states the following:

James, the brother of Jesus, had become the acting head of the Jerusalem church, but he was not with the assembled church at this time. The brethren [other brothers and sisters] may be the elders of [Acts] 11:30 who shared the rule of the church with James. (3)

At this point in the Acts narrative, it may be unclear whether James was Peter’s deputy, a coequal or Peter’s superior; however, three chapters later it becomes obvious who has the greater authority. In Acts chapter fifteen it becomes apparent that James, the brother of Jesus, is the chief executive officer of the first century church. He makes what is arguably one of the most pivotal decisions in human history—a decision that has profound ramifications even today. He decides that his brother’s gospel message will not be confined to Jewry but will spread to the entire world.

(1) John Mark Ruthven, “Introduction: The Epistle of James,” Spirit Filled Life Bible, New King James Version, General Editor Jack W. Hayford, (Thomas Nelson, 1991), p. 1893.

(2) I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles—Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Eerdmans, 1980), pp. 210–211.

(3) George E. Ladd, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Editors Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison (Moody, 1972), p. 1146.

 

New from David Kitz

James—the brother of Jesus—who was this man? What evidence do we have that this “brother of our Lord” even existed?

David Kitz digs deep into archeology, family dynamics, church history, and the biblical texts. What emerges from his research is a portrait of a decisive, pivotal leader who embodied the will and character of Jesus Christ.

But how did James—James the unbeliever—transform to become a leader who changed the course of world history? In these pages you will uncover the answer and rediscover for yourself the life-changing power of the gospel.

To view further details or purchase directly from the author click here.

 

Molly Jaber’s Review

18 Saturday Apr 2026

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When it comes to fiction books that are centered around Biblical times, it takes a really good author to hook me into the story line. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading my Bible, however, not every author can create a story that brings the Biblical portion off the book pages and to the reader like a movie screen. David Kitz, however, truly hooked me with this book, and took me on a first-class whirlwind ride through history.

Holy Week as seen from a soldier’s perspective

I absolutely felt every emotion of this book, watching, most often on the edge of my seat, as Christ was cruxified. This book really brings to life the Biblical and the historical detail. As I watched the Roman Centurion who was tasked with the awful task, I found myself with tears in my eyes, both for him, and for Christ. It was a heartwrenching, gut twisting, thought provoking story of sacrifice and pain. 

This book……anything less than a 5 star review would be a disgrace. The style of which David Kitz wrote this novel is stunning and captivating. This book is definitely not for everyone though. If you are a reader of Biblical fiction, if you want to see what happened during that eventful week in time, then this book is for you. You will not be disappointed and you will want more! I know I am already ready for another beautifully written novel of Biblical times by this superbly talented author! Grab this book and be prepared for a jaw dropping experience of watching the cruxifixion come to play. This review was originally posted on Cafinated Reads

To view further details about The Soldier Who Killed a King or to purchase click here.

The Dilemma of Remaining Silent

02 Monday Mar 2026

Posted by in Psalm 39, Psalms

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Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 39:1-5

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

I said, “I will watch my ways
    and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
    while in the presence of the wicked.”
So I remained utterly silent,
    not even saying anything good.
But my anguish increased;
my heart grew hot within me.
While I meditated, the fire burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:
“Show me, LORD, my life’s end
    and the number of my days;
    let me know how fleeting my life is.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
    the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
    even those who seem secure.
(NIV)*

Continue reading →

The Mystery in a Box

08 Sunday Feb 2026

Posted by in Psalms

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James: the Lynchpin of Our Faith — Introduction

Dear friends,
now we are children of God,
and what we will be has not yet been made known.
But we know that when Christ appears,
we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
(1 John 3:2, NIV

Who knew that a medium-size box could create such a stir? Archaeologists, academics, journalists, and theologians were intrigued. A debate raged for weeks about the authenticity of this ancient stone box. A sceptical public grew curious and hungered for more information. What did all this mean? What were the implications?

In the fall of 2002, the typical news cycle of war, politics, celebrity missteps, and market fluctuations was briefly interrupted by word that an ancient ossuary had been discovered. The inscription on this stone box read, “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.”

Photo Credit Time Magazine, November 4, 2002

Did Jesus have a brother? Were his brother’s bones once stored in this ancient ossuary? Who precisely was this James? Experts in ancient burial customs claimed that it was common practice to have the name of the father of the deceased inscribed on the burial box, but why include the brother’s name? Jesus—Jesus? Was this the Jesus of the New Testament, the one revered by millions as the Son of God?

The list of questions grew. Scholars speculated, while public curiosity reached a peak. Israeli authorities questioned how this 25 × 50 × 30cm stone box came into the hands of Oded Golan, a private collector of antiquities. Roman Catholic theologians chafed at the very notion that Jesus had a brother. Religious skeptics dredged up a variety of imaginative apocryphal scenarios.

Time magazine, in its November 4, 2002, edition reported that “Andre Lemaire, one of the world’s foremost scholars of ancient scripts, announced that ‘it seems very probable that this [box] is the ossuary of the James in the New Testament.’”

Time Magazine Headline, Nov. 4, 2002

Arrangements were made to have the James Ossuary examined by experts and placed on display at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto. But alas, when the shipping container arrived by air from Jerusalem, it was discovered that the ancient stone box had fractured in transit. News outlets excitedly reported on this new ill-fated development.

Undeterred by these setbacks, repairs were hastily made to the ossuary, and the highly publicized exhibit went ahead as planned. Thousands flocked to the display at the ROM. In fact, the display curator at the time confessed to this author that no other ROM exhibit generated sucha widespread frenzy of interest in all his years of service.

This stone box—this ancient artifact—may well be the closest physical contact we have to Jesus, the subject of the gospels.

But storm clouds were brewing. Roman Catholic scholars dismissed the discovery on doctrinal grounds. According to long established Vatican teaching, Mary was a perpetual virgin. How could Jesus then have a brother? This teaching has persisted despite several passages in the New Testament which unequivocally refer to James as the brother of Jesus.

Some scholars questioned the authenticity of this discovery. Was the “brother of Jesus” portion of the inscription a forgery—a present day addition to boost the value of this artifact? Then there was the question of provenance. Where exactly was this ossuary discovered? Since the exact original location of this find was unknown, the context that archeologists rely on to ascertain authenticity was sadly missing. How did the ossuary come into the hands of Oded Golan? Was he simply an unscrupulous shyster out to make a fast buck by peddling fake or altered artifacts?

Golan’s activities and his artifacts raised the suspicion of the Israeli Antiquities Authority. For years the Antiquities Authority had been attempting to put a halt to the illegal trade in artifacts discovered in the Holy Land. Here was a high-profile case that could send a clear message to all who sought to profit from this trade. On July 22, 2003, Oded Golan was arrested in Jerusalem for allegedly forging and illegally trading in antiquities. But is the James ossuary a forgery? In a press release following Golan’s arrest, the ROM stood by its initial assessment:

Until the ROM receives convincing evidence to the contrary, we stand by our opinion that the James Ossuary is not a forgery. We had a limited amount of time to study it because of the amount of conservation work that was required after the Ossuary arrived at the Museum after being damaged in transit. The studies that were carried out on the inscription and broken fragments of the Ossuary, however, satisfied the ROM’s investigative team that it was an authentic artifact with an authentic inscription that might make it the Ossuary of James, the brother of Jesus. There is always a question of authenticity when objects do not come from a controlled archaeological excavation, as is the case with the James Ossuary.

While the authenticity of the James Ossuary remains in question, it is the life of James, the brother of Jesus, which is truly intriguing. (1 see footnote) The James of the Bible is far more than bones in a box. He was after all a living, breathing, flesh-and-blood man.

Time photo of the James Ossuary

Present-day believers and church goers view James as an obscure figure, if they know anything about him at all. If Catholics are asked who the most important figure in the early church was, most would answer Peter. If Protestants are asked the same question, they would answer Paul. Yet if we could step in a time machine and ask Peter and Paul the same question, they would both answer James.

Over the centuries the historic importance of James has been overlooked. In the great gallery of early church fathers, typically Peter, Paul, and John draw the most attention. But James’ contribution was truly foundational—even crucial.

Many may be surprised to know that the New Testament has a good deal to say about James, the man known to early Christians as the brother of the Lord. The time has come to put some flesh on those bones missing from the ossuary—to create a portrait of the biblical James—a man who had a monumental influence on the direction of the early church and by extension an impact that echoes down through world history to the present day.

It can be argued that James, known to some as James the Just, is in fact the lynchpin of the Christian faith. Without him the early church would have remained an obscure Jewish sect—an offbeat curiosity in the grand march of civilization. But due to James, the gospel message burst out of the narrow confines of the Jewish faith. It exploded across the Roman Empire and came to dominate the life and thought of the Western world for the next two millennia. Now with the rapid rise of Christianity in the nations of Africa, South America, and Asia, the time has come to take a closer look at the man who set this whole process—this train of events into motion: the man the Bible writers call James, the brother of our Lord.

1 For a thorough exploration of the James Ossuary and its implications for present-day Christianity, see Hershel Shanks and Ben Witherington III’s book The Brother of Jesus: The Dramatic Story & Meaning of the First Archaeological Link to Jesus & His Family (Harper Collins, 2003).

New from David Kitz

James—the brother of Jesus—who was this man? What evidence do we have that this “brother of our Lord” even existed?

David Kitz digs deep into archeology, family dynamics, church history, and the biblical texts. What emerges from his research is a portrait of a decisive, pivotal leader who embodied the will and character of Jesus Christ.

But how did James—James the unbeliever—transform to become a leader who changed the course of world history? In these pages you will uncover the answer and rediscover for yourself the life-changing power of the gospel.

To view further details or purchase directly from the author click here.

My Interview about James the Brother of Jesus

07 Saturday Feb 2026

Posted by in Psalms

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What would it be like to have Jesus as your older brother? Yes, I’m referring to Jesus, the Son of God.

Well, there was someone who had that experience and his name is James. He is the man who also wrote the epistle in the Bible that bears his name. I wrote a 225-page book about this James.

I recently had a radio and YouTube interviewed about this book. Here’s that interview:

New from David Kitz

James—the brother of Jesus—who was this man? What evidence do we have that this “brother of our Lord” even existed?

David Kitz digs deep into archeology, family dynamics, church history, and the biblical texts. What emerges from his research is a portrait of a decisive, pivotal leader who embodied the will and character of Jesus Christ.

But how did James—James the unbeliever—transform to become a leader who changed the course of world history? In these pages you will uncover the answer and rediscover for yourself the life-changing power of the gospel.

To view further details or purchase directly from the author click here.

James the Lynchpin of Our Faith

01 Sunday Feb 2026

Posted by in Psalms

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Foreword

My acquaintance with David Kitz began back in the 1990s.
During those years I was serving with the Canadian Bible Society.
When arranging an evening program, it was one of my goals to
demonstrate the relevance of the Bible to practical living. Is there
any part of God’s Word that better accomplishes this than the writings
of James?

David Kitz

David responded to my needs. He had memorized the entire Epistle of James and honed it into a powerful drama. The audience was always thrilled and challenged by his presentation. The book you hold is the result of years of study, memorization, and reflection by the author. You will learn and be challenged in your faith as you read.

If you were to ask your friends, I dare say most would admit a dislike for history. To extend that survey to a little-known historical character would have comparable results. And yet the book you are about to read will dispel that prejudicial attitude. The author has skillfully woven together relevant facts of history, archeology, and psychology into the context of biblical exposition. This breadth of thinking is typical of the author.

Though I am a lifelong Bible student, I confess to a meager knowledge of the character of James. His name appears frequently in the New Testament—but strangely, we rarely give him the significance he deserves. As the author develops the theme of James’ character, we discover the reasons.

The reader will trace James’ journey from unbeliever and critic to
faithful follower of the Lord Jesus and finally preeminent leader in the
early church. Beyond the Jewish population, he was instrumental in
opening the door of the entire world to the message of the gospel. He
left us a short but challenging epistle, reminding us that the gospel is not
only to be believed but also to be lived.

This book will expose you to the seasoned reflections of a competent
author and biblical scholar. You will be led along paths you had never
considered. You will wonder why you had not previously considered
James and his rightful prominence in the early Christian church. If you
are a serious Bible reader, you will want to have your Bible handy—and a
pencil—as you read and grow!

— Wilf Wight, Pastor, Église de la Nouvelle Jérusalem, Vanier, ON, Canada

Available now…

James—the brother of Jesus—who was this man? What evidence do we have that this “brother of our Lord” even existed?

David Kitz digs deep into archeology, family dynamics, church history, and the biblical texts. What emerges from his research is a portrait of a decisive, pivotal leader who embodied the will and character of Jesus Christ.

But how did James—James the unbeliever—transform to become a leader who changed the course of world history? In these pages you will uncover the answer and rediscover for yourself the life-changing power of the gospel.

To view further details or purchase directly from the author click here.

The God of the Broken

14 Sunday Dec 2025

Posted by in The Elisha Code

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 And He said,
“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel;
for you have struggled with God and with men,
and have prevailed.”
(Genesis 32:28, NKJV)

The people whom God uses to change the world have first been radically changed by the Spirit of God. Often, these world changers have experienced major setbacks. We might even say they have been broken by God, but they have come through those experiences transformed and empowered by the Spirit.

There is a pattern that emerges as we look back at the lives of the three revival leaders we have examined thus far. Each of them reached a breaking point.

A. B. Simpson was a successful minister, who through much hard work, built a large church but he experienced burnout and a physical breakdown. From this low point, God healed him and raised him up to bring healing and salvation to thousands.

Similarly, Aimee Semple McPherson experienced a complete physical breakdown that left her hospitalized and at the point of death. She had returned from the mission field as a widow and a broken woman. She transitioned to a new life but steadfastly resisted God’s call. But God broke her resistance, miraculously restored her health, and catapulted her into a healing ministry that changed the trajectory of the church in America and the world.

Andrew Murray had what many would consider a successful ministry. But he too reached a breaking point. He lost his voice for two years. From this low point, God healed, transformed, and restored Murray to a far more effective and far-reaching ministry.

The common thread running through these life stories is that all three leaders encountered a breaking point. God broke them. Why would God do such a thing? Do we need to be broken to become effective ministers of the gospel of Christ?

There are several stories in the Bible that illustrate this need for God to break us.

The life story of the patriarch Jacob serves as the primary example of God taking a man to a breaking point. Jacob was a grasper. He grabbed for power. This is graphically illustrated by the way he came into this world. He arrived grasping his twin brother’s heel.[i] From the moment of birth, we see Jacob attempting to supplant Esau, his older brother, through cunning and deception.

Jacob succeeds first by trading a pot of lentil stew for Esau’s birthright (Genesis 25:29-35), and later by conspiring with his mother to rob Esau of his father’s blessing (Genesis 27:1-41). When Esau threatens to kill him, Jacob flees to the distant home of his uncle Laban.

Repeatedly, Jacob bargains with God, and God answers his prayers. Perhaps this is the most remarkable feature of Jacob’s life story. The LORD sticks with this deceiver and blesses him despite his devious ways. His life is a portrait of God’s unmerited favor in the face of constant opposition.

Jacob met his cunning, devious double in the person of Uncle Laban. First, Laban deceived Jacob by swapping Leah for her sister Rachel on his wedding night. There is more than a little divine justice at play in Laban’s clever deception. Jacob who cheated his blind father is cheated blind in his own marriage bed. The irony in this outcome is striking. Jacob is required to work seven years for Leah and then seven more years for Rachel, his true love.[ii]

Then, over the years, Laban changed Jacob’s wages ten times. But despite Laban’s constant readjustments, Jacob’s flocks and herds grew and prospered. God’s blessing bestowed by Isaac remained on Jacob.[iii]

But eventually, God brought Jacob to a breaking point. It happened on Jacob’s return to his homeland.
Jacob gets word that his brother Esau is coming to meet him with 400 men. Why would Esau come with 400 men unless he intended to carry out the threat, he uttered twenty years earlier? Suddenly, Jacob’s life is on the line, and not only his life, but also the lives of his two wives and his twelve sons. His family and all the wealth he accumulated over years of hard labor is about to be wiped out. He finds himself in a truly desperate situation with no way out.

In exchange for his life, he offers to bargain away all his livestock, his wives, and his children. But will this desperate ploy satisfy the angry brother he has cheated? Jacob sends all he has ahead of him. To his servants he says:

“When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘Who do you belong to, and where are you going, and who owns all these animals in front of you?’ then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us’” (Genesis 32:17-18, NIV).

But Jacob stays back on the opposite side of the Jabok River. There alone in the dark for the whole night, Jacob wrestled with a man. But in truth, he wrestled with God.

Jacob’s Ladder — Genesis 28:12

Many Bible scholars view this man as a Christophany—a preincarnate appearance of Christ. Christ came down from heaven to break this obstinate cheater—break him and change him into a vessel he could use for his glory and his eternal purpose.

When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

The man asked him, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered.

Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”

But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.

So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared” (Genesis 32:25-30).

There can be no doubt who the stronger man was at Peniel. With a simple touch Jacob’s

hip was wrenched. With a simple touch Christ healed the sick, raised the crippled, and restored sight to the blind. But here with a simple touch, Christ wrenched Jacob’s hip and left him limping for the rest of his days.

Why this stark contrast? We can easily understand why Christ would heal a crippled beggar, but why would he break a man? Why break Jacob?

The simple answer is because Jacob needed to be broken. The wild horse serves no one. The wild stallion serves only himself. Only the broken horse is fit for the master’s service. All of Jacob’s service was self-serving, and that includes his service to Laban. From Peniel onward Jacob—broken Jacob—was serving the LORD.

Galloping Horses – Image courtesy of Tina Phillips at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

David, the man after God’s own heart, needed to be broken too. David was true to the LORD in the wilderness with jealous King Saul in hot pursuit, but after he assumed the throne of Israel his fleshly desires led him astray. After his sin with Bathsheba, God needed to break him. The events that followed this sordid affair brought the humility so essential to effective service to God. Psalm 51 reflects the heart cry of a broken man.

This need for the servant of God to be broken by God appears in the New Testament as well. Peter needed to be broken by Jesus. Peter was a natural leader—sure of himself in all situations—ready to step out of a boat and even walk on water. That takes more than a little courage. But that confident self-assurance needed to be broken, and Jesus knew how to do it.

It only took the third crowing of a rooster to break Peter and reduce him to a blubbering, sobbing mess. Jesus knows how to break the strongest men. But he also knows how to restore them.

Three times Jesus asked, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”[iv] Three times Peter affirmed his love for the Lord, and three times Jesus affirmed Peter’s calling:

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15).
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep” (John 21:16).
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17).

Photo by kailash kumar on Pexels.com

The broken Peter was now ready for service. He would fulfill the prophetic words Jesus had spoken over him before his fall and now in his restoration.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32, NIV).

The broken Peter had been humbled. Now Jesus ruled Peter. Now the Master was truly the Master and Lord of all.

Have you been broken by Jesus? Most Christians are eager to serve the Lord, but only in an advisory capacity. Peter was quick to give Jesus advice on how he should avoid the cross. See Matthew 16:21-27.

The Lord is not looking for our advice. He is looking for our obedience.

Jesus himself needed to be broken. His Heavenly Father broke him on the cross where he cried out, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (Which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) (Matthew 27:46, NIV).

When Jesus broke, he broke the stranglehold of sin over humanity. His breaking was essential for the salvation of our souls.

As disciples of our Lord Jesus, we can expect to be broken as well. We need to become like our Master in every way.

Saul of Tarsus was zealous to serve the God of his fathers, so zealous he persecuted the church. Jesus himself intervened in Saul’s life in order to break him. On the road to Damascus, Saul was confronted by Jesus—arrested by Jesus—blinded and broken by him.

Out of his brokenness Paul ministered the gospel to the Gentile world of his day. Through his writing he continues to speak to millions today.

Have we been confronted by Jesus? Has he opposed you at any point in your life? Have you been broken by him? In the power of our own flesh, we can do many good and noble things in the name of our Lord. Many fine churches have been built through clever marketing and ingenuity. Human effort and talent can carry us a long way.

In the eyes of many, A. B. Simpson had a successful ministry before Christ broke him. Andrew Murray was powerfully used by God before God broke him and set him aside for two years. But both these men came out of their time of brokenness refined and empowered by the Spirit of God. In their hearts there had been a regime change. The risen Christ was fully in charge now and the Spirit of God was directing them forward.

Are you and I ready to be broken and poured out at the feet of Jesus?

Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil (John 12:3, NIV).

[i] Genesis 25:21-26

[ii] Genesis 29:14-30

[iii] Genesis 31:38-42

[iv] John 21:15-19

This is the fourteenth weekly excerpt from the award-winning book 
The Elisha Code & the Coming Revival 

A soul-gripping read.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

The Power of the Word Revives the Soul

03 Wednesday Dec 2025

Posted by in Psalm 19, Psalms

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Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 19:7-11

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward (NIV).*

The Word of God — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
The voice of the speaking stars (see yesterday’s reading) is now joined by the voice of the written Holy Word. If nature, specifically the sky, is the first witness to testify to the glory of God, then the Scriptures—the written Word of God—constitute the second great witness to speak of God’s existence. Both these great witnesses have gathered here to testify within the context of Psalm 19.

While nature speaks to us of the existence of God the creator, it is largely silent regarding the nature or character of this all-powerful supernatural being. Is He good? Is He evil? Is He indifferent to us? Is He angry with us? What is this great, overarching, omnipresent God really like? May we approach Him?

God’s word shows us the way. Here David tells us, “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul” (v. 7).

The law is perfect, flawless, inerrant, and infallible. Only a perfect, flawless, inerrant, and infallible God can be the source of such a document. The law of the LORD referred to here is in fact the Bible, the Word of God. Jack Hayford in his commentary on this verse from the Psalms states, “That the ‘law of the LORD is perfect,’ is direct reference to the absolute, complete, and entire trustworthiness of the Holy Scriptures, which constitute the Bible.”

And this perfect, true, and infallible law, or Word of God, has an effect. The Word of God is active. It revives the soul. God’s word literally brings souls back to spiritual life. There is great power in the written word. The Word of God is redemptive, personal, and transformational.

Response: LORD God, help me draw life, wisdom, and joy from your word every day. Help me see your Word lighting my way. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you read God’s word daily? How has it helped you grow in faith?

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Russia and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.


New from David Kitz

James—the brother of Jesus—who was this man? What evidence do we have that this “brother of our Lord” even existed?

David Kitz digs deep into archeology, family dynamics, church history, and the biblical texts. What emerges from his research is a portrait of a decisive, pivotal leader who embodied the will and character of Jesus Christ.

But how did James—James the unbeliever—transform to become a leader who changed the course of world history? In these pages you will uncover the answer and rediscover for yourself the life-changing power of the gospel.

To view further details or purchase directly from the author click here.

Elijah’s Flight from Woman

30 Sunday Nov 2025

Posted by in Psalms, The Elisha Code

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Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God
as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day,
and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
 But the LORD God called to the man,
“Where are you?”
(Genesis 3:8-9, NIV)

Before continuing to examine the typological link between Elisha and Jesus, a closer look at the low point in Elijah’s ministry is warranted. We are all prone to temptation and often we are blind to our own weaknesses. Thousands of reputable ministries have been tarnished or ruined after notable accomplishments.

It is remarkable how Elijah had great success in challenging the 450 prophets of Baal, calling down fire from heaven, and then having these false prophets put to death (1 Kings 18:20-40). Finally, through prayer, he broke the three-year drought that had ravaged the land (Kings 18:41-46).

But after being cursed by Queen Jezebel, he runs away, becoming depressed and suicidal. How could just one woman have such a devastating impact on this hero of Israel? To what degree was she involved in the occult, and the manipulation of others through secret word curses?

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” (1 Kings 19:1-2, NIV)

Jezebel believed she could destroy Elijah just like she destroyed many other men before him. But ultimately, she did not finish well.[i]

In the Alcoholics Anonymous twelve-step program, the acronym HALT is used to identify occasions when we are most vulnerable to temptation and even despair. Elijah suffered from all four temptations after his exhausting victory on Mount Carmel. His stunning success left him 1) Hungry 2) Angry 3) Lonely and 4) Tired.

What began as a flight from the woman, Jezebel, became a flight from God.

But God, in his compassion, ministered to Elijah’s four needs, giving him food and drink, counsel, companionship, and sleep (1 Kings 19:3-9). When Elijah said, “take my life”, it is reminiscent of Jonah after his success in Nineveh, where he too did not want to live. In that loss of hope, God spoke to Elijah not in the thunderstorm, earthquake, and pyrotechnics, but in that still small voice—the whisper of the Spirit (1 Kings 19:11-13).

The flight from woman and the LORD ended when Elijah started listening and instead of just ranting at God.

He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too” (1 Kings 19:14, NIV).

Elijah had to give up the lie that he was the only one left. And furthermore, in listening to God, Elijah had to admit that he was not ultimately in control.

E. Stanley Jones

One of Ed’s heroes, E. Stanley Jones, listened to that still, small voice every day for one hour in the morning and one hour at night. He called it his listening post. Facing total burnout, Jones told God that he was done. God offered to take over if he would let go and let God order his life. He experienced Jesus’ healing when he came to a deep self-surrender. Elijah on Mount Horeb similarly had to come to a self-surrender. Surrender is like death for spiritual superheroes like Elijah. It is the breaking point that is often needed so we can be fully yielded to God’s will.

This flight from woman can be seen as representing a crisis in masculinity. CS Lewis scholar Leanne Payne wrote a remarkable book Crisis in Masculinity which she dedicated to Dr Karl Stern.  He was a Montreal Jewish psychiatrist (and believer in Jesus) who wrote the 1965 book Flight from Woman.[ii]

Leanne Payne, mentored by the healing pioneer Agnes Sanford, had a remarkable ministry of bringing wholeness to broken people, particularly those struggling with identity issues. She saw that many men were running from the feminine, because they were in crisis with their own masculine identity. The image of Narcissus to Leanne represented how many men curve in on themselves in self-worship.

Leanne was powerfully used in helping many men become whole through embracing their true identity as sons of the heavenly Father. Through healing prayer, Leanne helped many recover the divine imagination and creativity that had been lost in their self-absorption. All of us need healing in areas where the image of God has been broken inside us. Such powerful encounters with the Holy Spirit enable us to become more fully human. Such healing gives men the courage to responsibly embrace the unique challenges of marriage and family.

This crisis in masculinity has only deepened since the days of Payne and Stern. The identity confusion for young men is often paralyzing. The well-known Canadian psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson often talks about how men are now the minority in university, and how many of them are struggling to find direction and academic accomplishment. These difficulties often begin in the elementary grades, where all too often there are no male teachers, few positive male role models, and academic performance among boys has seen an alarming decline.

We are witnessing a well-documented male aversion to leadership. Both boys and men are refusing to assume the mantel of leadership.

In post-modernism, men are often defined as the problem. Our culture deconstructs people through guilt and shame, and then often leaves them in nihilistic despair. In contrast, the gospel gives hope to people.

While Jordan Peterson is not yet a Christ follower, he has discovered how the Bible can help men be more authentic in living out their life’s calling as responsible contributors. Healthy men fight for their families and marriages. They do not run from them. Healthy men sacrifice for their families. They don’t sacrifice their wives and children on the altar of personal fulfillment and business success.

Elijah has much to teach men in our 21st century context. Even after he ran from woman, he ultimately was found by God, and returned to face the challenges that God had set before him.

Hiding never works. It did not work for Adam and Eve, and it did not work for Elijah. Everyone loses when men hide from the responsibilities of life.

This is the twelfth weekly excerpt from the award-winning book 
The Elisha Code & the Coming Revival 

A soul-gripping read.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

[i] 2 Kings 9:30-37

[ii] “Karl Stern: Freudian to Catholic”, “The Flight From Woman (1965), a philosophical treatise on modern society’s polarization of the sexes and its de-feminization, would make him a common name in women’s magazines”. https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/karl-stern-freudian-catholic

Planted by Streams of Water

16 Sunday Nov 2025

Posted by in Psalm 1, Psalms

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I will praise the LORD!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Psalm 1

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.
Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff
    that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. *


Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Available now…

James—the brother of Jesus—who was this man? What evidence do we have that this “brother of our Lord” even existed?

David Kitz digs deep into archeology, family dynamics, church history, and the biblical texts. What emerges from his research is a portrait of a decisive, pivotal leader who embodied the will and character of Jesus Christ.

But how did James—James the unbeliever—transform to become a leader who changed the course of world history? In these pages you will uncover the answer and rediscover for yourself the life-changing power of the gospel.

To view further details or purchase directly from the author click here.