Posts filed under ‘israel’
Predators in Pulpits?
Throughout the book of Romans, Paul traces humanity’s problem and outlines God’s solution in no uncertain terms. The entire book of Romans is truly a masterpiece of doctrine and authority and Paul painstakingly draws conclusions that are inescapable. Yet today, we have pastors/leaders who draw other conclusions. They don’t wish to offend. They refuse to talk about sin the way Paul talks about sin. They won’t lower themselves because it will make people in the congregation feel bad about themselves. What good is that? Certainly, if left there, no good at all. Why is there such disdain today for the way Paul has explained things? Because people don’t want to hear it.
Zechariah’s Message and Warning Also Applies to Christians
Zechariah insisted that the Israelites follow God with a pure heart, an undivided heart. This would require quickly admitting when they failed. We need to do the same thing. We need to acknowledge our failures before God, not to dwell on them. Not to beat ourselves over the head with them. We must admit and confess them so that we can regain fellowship with God once again. Christians who do not do this may think they are in fellowship with God, but they are not. They are in fellowship with themselves only. This can happen to any Christian! It’s happened to me and it’s likely happened to you.
God in My Everything?
The more we begin to rely on our emotions and how we feel about something, the less likely we are going to look to God’s Word as the final and absolute authority for life and practice as Christians. This appears to be what Ken Shigematsu (and too many others to count), is doing. His books attempt to draw people away from the truth of the cross and Scripture into the arena of “feelz” using monastic rituals to get us there. He wants us to embrace the type of rituals that many ancient orders used for the express purpose of getting closer to God. Yet, these things are not in Scripture so we should be very concerned.
It’s Not Just Judah that Needs to Repent
Just because we are saved, this does not guarantee that we are committed to God’s will and ways, which is a daily decision we need to choose. Like the Israel of Isaiah’s day, we can be caught up in the idolatry of this world. Are we focused on the wrong thing – job opportunities, buying a larger home, getting a better car – or are we content to live within the means that God has provided for us and simply look and wait for Him to direct us into service opportunities for Him?
Job’s Enlightenment
When we suffer because of our relationship with Christ, we are to consider ourselves blessed. This is extremely difficult for most of us because we continue to harbor the erroneous idea that if God is for us, then He will bless us and that is often seen in material blessings. The upshot of Job is that our blessings that count the most are the ones procured in the spiritual realm. These are the ones that moth, rust, or thief cannot take away. Satan is often allowed by God to “sift” us but only for God’s purposes.
Job’s Problems
Once again, God gives Satan permission to actually harm Job in his person. This points one more time to God’s absolute sovereignty over all Creation. Satan can do nothing to you or me unless God allows it. This is such an important point that we actually need to spend time contemplating its ramifications. There is another point that you are possibly thinking about as well and we will do our best to answer it. The question, “Why does God allow this type of evil to come to a person in the first place, especially when that person is apparently completely dedicated to God?” That question has an answer and it is brought out in the book of Job. It does not come right to the point though, but stretches out over the course of the 42 chapters contained within it.
It’s Really About Obedience, Pt 2
King Asa took what the prophet told him and became even more encouraged to do the right thing as far as God was concerned! He went even further and gained strength from Azariah’s words so that he had the courage to rid the land of idols. Then the next few verses tell us that Asa offered many offerings to the Lord. Because of this, all of Judah rejoiced and gained new strength to renew their covenant with the Lord.
It’s Really About Obedience, Pt 1
I’m inclined to think that this happened to Rehoboam during his third year of ruling. He began possibly to pat himself on the back. Things were going very well. He was using wisdom to make good decisions. His sons were helping him rule throughout Judah. Look at all the blessings coming into Judah as well! So maybe Rehoboam began to relax his standards where God was concerned. All of a sudden, he’s simply doing his own thing and ignoring God’s rule. The people of Judah saw that it was no longer important to their king, so they adopted the same attitude. This is a lesson for us Christians as well. People “read” our lives and they wind up making judgments about God based on what they see in us.
Should Christians Fear God?
Christians who do not have a very healthy, reverential fear of God do not understand who God is and the power that He wields. He brought this world into Creation out of nothing (ex nihilo). Everything that we see, we enjoy, we benefit from, God made. He did so for His own glory, not ours.
We must put ourselves in our proper place and understand things from God’s perspective. He made us for Himself. God has every right to expect people – especially Christians – to live for Him, to bring glory to Him. Think of how many people go through this life never recognizing God and their actual purpose for being here? It’s scary to consider. How often are we Christians guilty of adopting a laissez-faire attitude where God is concerned? Paul would warn us that this ought not to be.
Nathan Was Wrong, Then He Was Right
Nathan did not deliberately lie to David about building God’s house. He honestly thought that it was a great idea and said so. It was along the lines of someone encouraging someone else to do something that sounded like a great idea at the time. Should Nathan have known better? Yes, but if we read the text carefully, he was simply telling David that God would bless him (David) if that was God’s will. After God actually spoke to Nathan, revealing His will, Nathan went back to David and clarified things perfectly.
