And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment? 2 Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; 3 Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron. 4 Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.
5 Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. 6 Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. 7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God. (Micah 3:1-7)
Verses 2 and 3 of this passage were the last cross reference for Isaiah 58:6. A bit of a graphic picture really. God's leaders taking advantage of his people in a way that God compares to cannibalism. God declaring that the prophets that mislead God's people will lose their ability to see visions. It seems that real prophets can receive real visions but they can still use their gift to mislead people. Interestingly the main message of these prophets seems to be "peace and safety". Interesting because we normally associate false prophets with doomsaying. There are two men I have heard of called Hazen Foss and William Foy who received visions with a message that would not have been popular among their friends. They refused to speak God's messages and God's people suffered for it, and still do to this day. They lost the prophetic gift, just like the Bible says in Micah 3:6.
That reminds me that we have a message for the people of the world. It is not a popular message. "Peace and safety" is the popular message today as always. We are to warn people of judgment and God's solution, which involves personal sacrifice. We must tell them or we will lose the truth ourselves and be forever lost.
Thursday 28 November 2013
Wednesday 27 November 2013
Not a Fair Weather Martyr
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? (Isaiah 58:6)
10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. 11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. 12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. (Nehemiah 5:10-12)
8 This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them; 9 That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother. 10 Now when all the princes, and all the people, which had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more, then they obeyed, and let them go. 11 But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids. (Jeremiah 34:8-11)
When the people went back on their promise and enslaved each other again, God declared that they would be killed and exiled far and wide. They did the right thing and released their slaves, but when they did not end up following through it was as if the revival had never happened.
What is verse 6 of Isaiah 58 telling us about the proper way to fast and live in the time of judgment? We should be freeing our slaves. Who are our slaves? Those of us who live in supposedly "developed" countries have the benefit of slave labour in many of our cheap commodities. We can use the only means I know of to prevent this: namely boycotting brands that are associated with slave labour. I think this is the modern application of this injunction, I don't think it needs to be spiritualised; correct me if I'm wrong.
There is a more personal application though. In our business dealings, we should not try to squeeze others or be obsessed by bargains. When a product is reduced for quick sale, that is different. But if I go to a supermarket because I can get milk 20c cheaper there I am actually destroying the livelihood of dairy farmers. Massive corporations are reducing the price of milk by forcing farmers to sell it for less, and eventually the farmer sells the farm to the corporation to pay his debts and the farm becomes just another cog in the corporate machine. I'm not being political, the government cannot solve the problem. Jesus will solve the problem in the future, but you don't want to be on the wrong side of it when he does. Pay more to shop ethically and go without the excesses of what the media has taught us is essential. To do otherwise is to enrich yourself at the expense of the poor as surely as if you confiscated the bread from their very pantry.
Real love takes real sacrifice. If you think you can change the world by whinging (protesting) or throwing a tantrum (civil disobedience e.g. the piratical Sea Shepherd) you have no idea what you are doing. You are doing no good and probably doing actual harm. To really save the world you are going to need to really suffer in ways you don't want to.
There are some ways I don't mind suffering. I don't mind being hated or physically threatened, I have had such suffering, it wasn't so bad and it happens rarely now. But it hurts me deeply to be misunderstood, and this now happens frequently, it is a great part of the cross I must bear. We must all bear a cross we don't want to have. Jesus did not want his cross, neither will his servants. Will you join me in taking up the cross you have been given today?
10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. 11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. 12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. (Nehemiah 5:10-12)
8 This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them; 9 That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother. 10 Now when all the princes, and all the people, which had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more, then they obeyed, and let them go. 11 But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids. (Jeremiah 34:8-11)
When the people went back on their promise and enslaved each other again, God declared that they would be killed and exiled far and wide. They did the right thing and released their slaves, but when they did not end up following through it was as if the revival had never happened.
What is verse 6 of Isaiah 58 telling us about the proper way to fast and live in the time of judgment? We should be freeing our slaves. Who are our slaves? Those of us who live in supposedly "developed" countries have the benefit of slave labour in many of our cheap commodities. We can use the only means I know of to prevent this: namely boycotting brands that are associated with slave labour. I think this is the modern application of this injunction, I don't think it needs to be spiritualised; correct me if I'm wrong.
There is a more personal application though. In our business dealings, we should not try to squeeze others or be obsessed by bargains. When a product is reduced for quick sale, that is different. But if I go to a supermarket because I can get milk 20c cheaper there I am actually destroying the livelihood of dairy farmers. Massive corporations are reducing the price of milk by forcing farmers to sell it for less, and eventually the farmer sells the farm to the corporation to pay his debts and the farm becomes just another cog in the corporate machine. I'm not being political, the government cannot solve the problem. Jesus will solve the problem in the future, but you don't want to be on the wrong side of it when he does. Pay more to shop ethically and go without the excesses of what the media has taught us is essential. To do otherwise is to enrich yourself at the expense of the poor as surely as if you confiscated the bread from their very pantry.
Real love takes real sacrifice. If you think you can change the world by whinging (protesting) or throwing a tantrum (civil disobedience e.g. the piratical Sea Shepherd) you have no idea what you are doing. You are doing no good and probably doing actual harm. To really save the world you are going to need to really suffer in ways you don't want to.
There are some ways I don't mind suffering. I don't mind being hated or physically threatened, I have had such suffering, it wasn't so bad and it happens rarely now. But it hurts me deeply to be misunderstood, and this now happens frequently, it is a great part of the cross I must bear. We must all bear a cross we don't want to have. Jesus did not want his cross, neither will his servants. Will you join me in taking up the cross you have been given today?
Tuesday 26 November 2013
Keeping the Day of Atonement
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? (Isaiah 58:5)
Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? (Zechariah 7:5)
And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: (Leviticus 16:5)
A day for a man to afflict his soul. That is the Day of Atonement. And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls… (Leviticus 16:29) Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls… (Leviticus 23:27) The reference in Zechariah to fasting and mourning in the seventh month must be to the fasting of the Day of Atonement, since that was the only fast in that month, which was otherwise full of festivals. The typology of the feast days point to Jesus return and eternity in paradise. Before this time comes a time of afflicting the soul: soul searching and repentance. The way we do that soul searching cannot be limited to outward displays: this is a critical principle. In the past people showed repentance by wearing itchy clothes and making their hair itchy. What about today? What do we do to show the world we are repentant today? Good things usually I would say, but we will go on next to look at what we should be doing. I know I am skipping a lot of cross references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge for this verse, but the other ones are all for the words "to spread" and "an acceptable". I might go back to them later, but please, look them up yourself. I think I have gone over this verse (Isaiah 58:5) often enough, it seems to climax the preceding verses without adding many new ideas. If you want to add something you can comment. If you want biblical evidence that we are living in the anti-typical Day of Atonement please feel free to contact me. Tomorrow we proceed to how to keep the Day of Atonement in our age.
Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? (Zechariah 7:5)
And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: (Leviticus 16:5)
A day for a man to afflict his soul. That is the Day of Atonement. And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls… (Leviticus 16:29) Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls… (Leviticus 23:27) The reference in Zechariah to fasting and mourning in the seventh month must be to the fasting of the Day of Atonement, since that was the only fast in that month, which was otherwise full of festivals. The typology of the feast days point to Jesus return and eternity in paradise. Before this time comes a time of afflicting the soul: soul searching and repentance. The way we do that soul searching cannot be limited to outward displays: this is a critical principle. In the past people showed repentance by wearing itchy clothes and making their hair itchy. What about today? What do we do to show the world we are repentant today? Good things usually I would say, but we will go on next to look at what we should be doing. I know I am skipping a lot of cross references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge for this verse, but the other ones are all for the words "to spread" and "an acceptable". I might go back to them later, but please, look them up yourself. I think I have gone over this verse (Isaiah 58:5) often enough, it seems to climax the preceding verses without adding many new ideas. If you want to add something you can comment. If you want biblical evidence that we are living in the anti-typical Day of Atonement please feel free to contact me. Tomorrow we proceed to how to keep the Day of Atonement in our age.
Monday 25 November 2013
Prayer of Intercession
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? (Isaiah 58:5)
3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 4 And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. 8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; 10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. 12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. 14 Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. (Daniel 9:3-19)
Daniel humbled himself outwardly using sackcloth and ashes, but the difference between him and the Jews Isaiah was writing to was that he did not stop there. He personalised the sin of his nation, no doubt he felt guilty with them in some way, though we have no record of Daniel sinning. This is a private prayer of confession and intercession for God's people. The Day of Atonement was also a time for personal confession by the people and intercession for the people by the high priest. Today Jesus is interceding for us in the Holy of Holies. We must confess our sin and intercede like Jesus and Daniel for God's people, our brothers and sisters. We must ask for mercy on their behalf because many of them are not asking for mercy on their own behalf. In our lives we must influence others to prepare themselves for judgment. We will find out how later in Isaiah 58. If you want revival, don't just do a few things outwardly and then walk away as if nothing happened. Spend time alone with God and plead for revival and repent of your sins so that revival can begin with you.
3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 4 And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. 8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; 10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. 12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. 14 Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. (Daniel 9:3-19)
Daniel humbled himself outwardly using sackcloth and ashes, but the difference between him and the Jews Isaiah was writing to was that he did not stop there. He personalised the sin of his nation, no doubt he felt guilty with them in some way, though we have no record of Daniel sinning. This is a private prayer of confession and intercession for God's people. The Day of Atonement was also a time for personal confession by the people and intercession for the people by the high priest. Today Jesus is interceding for us in the Holy of Holies. We must confess our sin and intercede like Jesus and Daniel for God's people, our brothers and sisters. We must ask for mercy on their behalf because many of them are not asking for mercy on their own behalf. In our lives we must influence others to prepare themselves for judgment. We will find out how later in Isaiah 58. If you want revival, don't just do a few things outwardly and then walk away as if nothing happened. Spend time alone with God and plead for revival and repent of your sins so that revival can begin with you.
Saturday 23 November 2013
Model Bride
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? (Isaiah 58:5)
Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. (Nehemiah 9:1)
3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. (Esther 4:3, 16)
The Nehemiah reference is to do with taking infidel wives as already discussed. Infidels are not model brides for believers, enough said on that.
The references to Esther are interesting. Esther was placed in a privileged position with the potential for influence. Like Daniel, she did not attain this potential by ambition, it just happened. However she maximised her opportunity through a humble willingness to be taught by those in authority over her. As a mere concubine she would have had little real influence; but by making the best of her opportunities in a God honouring fashion she became the queen. Daniel's case was similar: he maximised his influence by obeying God's commandments to the full at any hazard and by a willingness to be different.
Esther may be in many ways a model woman for God's last time remnant. With God's people under persecution there will be a universal death decree against them. God's people will fast and mourn and afflict their souls like they should be doing now. There will be influential young women who have a choice. To stand with God through his people or to hide from confrontation. The danger will be real. Though it is worth nothing I would like to speculate that most who stand for truth will indeed be killed and thus spared the time of trouble. But a small remnant will survive, and blameless in character be translated alive at the glorious coming of Jesus. The bride of Christ, remodelled and flawless will include all of us who have been faithful to him, even to death.
We must not withhold our lives from Jesus; what are you withholding?
Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. (Nehemiah 9:1)
3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. (Esther 4:3, 16)
The Nehemiah reference is to do with taking infidel wives as already discussed. Infidels are not model brides for believers, enough said on that.
The references to Esther are interesting. Esther was placed in a privileged position with the potential for influence. Like Daniel, she did not attain this potential by ambition, it just happened. However she maximised her opportunity through a humble willingness to be taught by those in authority over her. As a mere concubine she would have had little real influence; but by making the best of her opportunities in a God honouring fashion she became the queen. Daniel's case was similar: he maximised his influence by obeying God's commandments to the full at any hazard and by a willingness to be different.
Esther may be in many ways a model woman for God's last time remnant. With God's people under persecution there will be a universal death decree against them. God's people will fast and mourn and afflict their souls like they should be doing now. There will be influential young women who have a choice. To stand with God through his people or to hide from confrontation. The danger will be real. Though it is worth nothing I would like to speculate that most who stand for truth will indeed be killed and thus spared the time of trouble. But a small remnant will survive, and blameless in character be translated alive at the glorious coming of Jesus. The bride of Christ, remodelled and flawless will include all of us who have been faithful to him, even to death.
We must not withhold our lives from Jesus; what are you withholding?
Thursday 21 November 2013
Conclusion of Malachi
16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another:
and the Lord hearkened, and heard it,
and a book of remembrance was written before him
for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts,
in that day when I make up my jewels;
and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked,
between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
Chapter 4
1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven;
and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble:
and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts,
that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings;
and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
3 And ye shall tread down the wicked;
for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet
in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.
4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant,
which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel,
with the statutes and judgments.
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children,
and the heart of the children to their fathers,
lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Malachi 3:16-4:6)
Most times preachers turn to the book of Malachi it is for a sermon on tithing. I believe in tithing and I am not opposed to using Malachi to support it. But there are other lessons in Malachi that are precious and often ignored. This is especially sad since it is the last prophetic book before the coming of Christ, and it has so much relevance to Jesus.
They that feared the Lord spoke often to one another… And they shall be mine… What a wonderful principle! We who humbly serve God should ensure we give time to his other servants just to speak with them. Share experiences, encourage each other, often.
Then ye shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked… We know that we should not "judge" people; but the Bible also teaches that the righteous differentiate between the righteous and the wicked. Parents have a responsibility to keep the influence of the wicked from their children and help them learn from the righteous but they can only do this if they know who is who.
For behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven… Jesus is coming and all the wicked will be burned up in a final execution of justice where every injustice will be righted and the problem of evil will be ended.
…with healing in his wings… grow up as calves... Jesus will restore every faithful person to full physical and mental health to enjoy an eternal growing process in paradise on earth.
…they shall be ashes under your feet… Jesus will reduce the wicked to ashes. Do ashes have conscious awareness of anything? We will walk on these ashes as we explore the new earth Jesus will create.
Remember ye the law of Moses… without the law we cannot know what is loving and right. As you read the law and think about it plead with God to teach you and he will. In this way God will transform your life to become more like Jesus who is the one pictured in the law.
…I will send you… the dreadful day is still coming and is it possible that there will be a kind of Elijah for the last time? Let the families be healed or we will suffer. This is the final message of the Old Testament.
and the Lord hearkened, and heard it,
and a book of remembrance was written before him
for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts,
in that day when I make up my jewels;
and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked,
between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
Chapter 4
1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven;
and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble:
and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts,
that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings;
and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
3 And ye shall tread down the wicked;
for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet
in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.
4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant,
which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel,
with the statutes and judgments.
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children,
and the heart of the children to their fathers,
lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Malachi 3:16-4:6)
Most times preachers turn to the book of Malachi it is for a sermon on tithing. I believe in tithing and I am not opposed to using Malachi to support it. But there are other lessons in Malachi that are precious and often ignored. This is especially sad since it is the last prophetic book before the coming of Christ, and it has so much relevance to Jesus.
They that feared the Lord spoke often to one another… And they shall be mine… What a wonderful principle! We who humbly serve God should ensure we give time to his other servants just to speak with them. Share experiences, encourage each other, often.
Then ye shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked… We know that we should not "judge" people; but the Bible also teaches that the righteous differentiate between the righteous and the wicked. Parents have a responsibility to keep the influence of the wicked from their children and help them learn from the righteous but they can only do this if they know who is who.
For behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven… Jesus is coming and all the wicked will be burned up in a final execution of justice where every injustice will be righted and the problem of evil will be ended.
…with healing in his wings… grow up as calves... Jesus will restore every faithful person to full physical and mental health to enjoy an eternal growing process in paradise on earth.
…they shall be ashes under your feet… Jesus will reduce the wicked to ashes. Do ashes have conscious awareness of anything? We will walk on these ashes as we explore the new earth Jesus will create.
Remember ye the law of Moses… without the law we cannot know what is loving and right. As you read the law and think about it plead with God to teach you and he will. In this way God will transform your life to become more like Jesus who is the one pictured in the law.
…I will send you… the dreadful day is still coming and is it possible that there will be a kind of Elijah for the last time? Let the families be healed or we will suffer. This is the final message of the Old Testament.
Wednesday 20 November 2013
Depressing Decisions
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? (Isaiah 58:5)
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. (2 Chronicles 20:3)
Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away. (Ezra 10:6)
Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast to plead with God for salvation from an enemy army that he could not overcome himself. Ezra fasted to ask God's forgiveness for his people in the midst of a national revival. The people had intermarried with unbelievers and Ezra convinced them to divorce them.
Today God's people might be on the verge of a general revival. It is common for believers to marry unbelievers and be led into worldly thinking. Often the unbeliever in the marriage is a nominal believer. It is common for believers to follow their unrestrained passions into a marriage that is calculated by the Devil to destroy their effectiveness in reaching the world with the gospel. If Ezra used the doleful evil of divorce as a remedy for them, then how sinful must such marriages be? Do not even think about going there.
Jehoshaphat was victorious over his enemy because he humbled himself under God. When we allow God to be the hero in our lives he will show us what a hero he can be. In these last days we are called to fast. Not necessarily a literal fast; we will discover the kind of fast in later verses. But fasting means hating sin and wanting change, it means acting to bring about change in the way God has commanded.
If we humble ourselves under God he will give us victory over sin in our lives and victory in spreading the gospel. If we humble ourselves under God he will forgive us for the sins we have been involved in even though we may not have done the things ourselves. Ask the Father to forgive his people their sins and bring a revival of basic right living (primitive godliness) and be prepared to be part of that revival. Jesus deserves the power of God, and he has put it at your disposal. You need it. Use it.
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. (2 Chronicles 20:3)
Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away. (Ezra 10:6)
Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast to plead with God for salvation from an enemy army that he could not overcome himself. Ezra fasted to ask God's forgiveness for his people in the midst of a national revival. The people had intermarried with unbelievers and Ezra convinced them to divorce them.
Today God's people might be on the verge of a general revival. It is common for believers to marry unbelievers and be led into worldly thinking. Often the unbeliever in the marriage is a nominal believer. It is common for believers to follow their unrestrained passions into a marriage that is calculated by the Devil to destroy their effectiveness in reaching the world with the gospel. If Ezra used the doleful evil of divorce as a remedy for them, then how sinful must such marriages be? Do not even think about going there.
Jehoshaphat was victorious over his enemy because he humbled himself under God. When we allow God to be the hero in our lives he will show us what a hero he can be. In these last days we are called to fast. Not necessarily a literal fast; we will discover the kind of fast in later verses. But fasting means hating sin and wanting change, it means acting to bring about change in the way God has commanded.
If we humble ourselves under God he will give us victory over sin in our lives and victory in spreading the gospel. If we humble ourselves under God he will forgive us for the sins we have been involved in even though we may not have done the things ourselves. Ask the Father to forgive his people their sins and bring a revival of basic right living (primitive godliness) and be prepared to be part of that revival. Jesus deserves the power of God, and he has put it at your disposal. You need it. Use it.
Sunday 17 November 2013
Shine of Oil
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. (Isaiah 58:4)
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:16-18)
Jesus does not value piety which is calculated to impress other people. Anointing your head and washing your face are normal parts of grooming, Jesus is not commanding that we deliberately conceal our piety. When I fast, or give beyond my means I have found that concealing my piety is too easy, and people are not blessed by my example as they could have been. But there is a fine line here between that and doing good in a way that will maximise the value others put on me. I know very well the burning desire that others might know what a good thing I have just done. I know the fanciful longing that at least one person that I would want to impress would have been watching. I know the way I have found an excuse to tell people about it. It should be enough for me that God knew. It should be enough that God was watching. It should be enough that Jesus will tell everybody about it some day.
Sometimes relating a good deed you have done is useful and acceptable, and sometimes concealing it is unhelpful. We are going to need to ask the Father to transform us in the name of Jesus so that we might desire above all to please him and not humans. When we seek to please God we will not conceal the goodness that he has commanded to be a light on a hill.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
But we will be deliberate in maximising the pleasure of God not the praise of men.
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:16-18)
Jesus does not value piety which is calculated to impress other people. Anointing your head and washing your face are normal parts of grooming, Jesus is not commanding that we deliberately conceal our piety. When I fast, or give beyond my means I have found that concealing my piety is too easy, and people are not blessed by my example as they could have been. But there is a fine line here between that and doing good in a way that will maximise the value others put on me. I know very well the burning desire that others might know what a good thing I have just done. I know the fanciful longing that at least one person that I would want to impress would have been watching. I know the way I have found an excuse to tell people about it. It should be enough for me that God knew. It should be enough that God was watching. It should be enough that Jesus will tell everybody about it some day.
Sometimes relating a good deed you have done is useful and acceptable, and sometimes concealing it is unhelpful. We are going to need to ask the Father to transform us in the name of Jesus so that we might desire above all to please him and not humans. When we seek to please God we will not conceal the goodness that he has commanded to be a light on a hill.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
But we will be deliberate in maximising the pleasure of God not the praise of men.
Thursday 14 November 2013
Avoid and Overcome
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Romans 13:14)
Are you struggling with temptation? Ask Jesus to be Lord of your life and get the source of temptation out of your reach. Jesus who overcame temptation is able to deliver us from temptation also.
Are you struggling with temptation? Ask Jesus to be Lord of your life and get the source of temptation out of your reach. Jesus who overcame temptation is able to deliver us from temptation also.
Tuesday 12 November 2013
Tips for Taxis
3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
8 The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:3-12)
I'm happily busy again, but I must take some time to learn from God. This chapter of Proverbs is especially good for Taxi Drivers, I'm training to be one at the moment. Hopefully because of the flexibility I will be able to work around my erratic missionary schedule. I'm not a foreign missionary, I'm a part-time missionary in my home country.
Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. (Proverbs 13:18)
I will get taught today, and I ought to listen. If I get reproved I ought to as well. Do you want to be "successful"? The word of God suggests then that you do the same.
4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
8 The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:3-12)
I'm happily busy again, but I must take some time to learn from God. This chapter of Proverbs is especially good for Taxi Drivers, I'm training to be one at the moment. Hopefully because of the flexibility I will be able to work around my erratic missionary schedule. I'm not a foreign missionary, I'm a part-time missionary in my home country.
Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. (Proverbs 13:18)
I will get taught today, and I ought to listen. If I get reproved I ought to as well. Do you want to be "successful"? The word of God suggests then that you do the same.
Saturday 9 November 2013
Prevailing Prayer
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. (Isaiah 58:4)
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God? (Joel 2:13-14)
7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: (Jonah 3:7)
There is a right way to fast. To come to God with a broken heart. Even when your heart does not feel broken, you can come before God and search your heart and confess your sin. Have you been selfish, proud or undisciplined? Confess it to God and ask to be forgiven and changed in Jesus' name. You can go without food in a special time of soul-searching, or go without other things. Perhaps you should continually go without some of the luxuries life offers and give the money to worthy causes instead. These all help you to receive God's instruction and discipline. God will give it because Jesus has made his unlimited credit available to you if you follow him.
The (wicked) king of (wicked) Nineveh knew to proclaim the kind of fast recommended by God in the book of Joel:
8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. (Jonah 3:8-10)
God is not controllable, but he is reliable. If you do what he tells you to, he will not fail to do what he has promised, no matter how bad you have been.
I am starting to include regular soul-searching in my morning prayers, from my study of the sanctuary I think it's something you should consider doing too.
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God? (Joel 2:13-14)
7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: (Jonah 3:7)
There is a right way to fast. To come to God with a broken heart. Even when your heart does not feel broken, you can come before God and search your heart and confess your sin. Have you been selfish, proud or undisciplined? Confess it to God and ask to be forgiven and changed in Jesus' name. You can go without food in a special time of soul-searching, or go without other things. Perhaps you should continually go without some of the luxuries life offers and give the money to worthy causes instead. These all help you to receive God's instruction and discipline. God will give it because Jesus has made his unlimited credit available to you if you follow him.
The (wicked) king of (wicked) Nineveh knew to proclaim the kind of fast recommended by God in the book of Joel:
8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. (Jonah 3:8-10)
God is not controllable, but he is reliable. If you do what he tells you to, he will not fail to do what he has promised, no matter how bad you have been.
I am starting to include regular soul-searching in my morning prayers, from my study of the sanctuary I think it's something you should consider doing too.
Thursday 7 November 2013
Understand
O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. (Proverbs 8:3)
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6)
Please excuse a brief digression into Proverbs. We learn things from other people, but often what they teach us is not quite right. God commands us to be men and women of understanding: to know the truth and how it fits together (or something like that).
I just realised that my writing style is like the book of Proverbs: [idea]: [repetitiously enlarge on the same idea]. I have been over-using semicolons though: I just looked them up and normally they are supposed to be for contrasting ideas. I need to use colons more often: particularly when I'm repeating and enlarging. I often repeat and enlarge; but I frequently use semicolons in the proper way too.
This similarity to Proverbs may come from the fact that I read a chapter of Proverbs daily for a few years when I was in my last few years at school and was really developing my writing style.
God commands us to become men and women of understanding.
Do you want to know what's right in a situation and what is best? You need wisdom and understanding.
Wisdom is a gift from God; ask and you will receive (Jas 1:5).
Understanding comes from God's word: found in the Bible.
It's right there and you can receive it; go ahead.
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6)
Please excuse a brief digression into Proverbs. We learn things from other people, but often what they teach us is not quite right. God commands us to be men and women of understanding: to know the truth and how it fits together (or something like that).
I just realised that my writing style is like the book of Proverbs: [idea]: [repetitiously enlarge on the same idea]. I have been over-using semicolons though: I just looked them up and normally they are supposed to be for contrasting ideas. I need to use colons more often: particularly when I'm repeating and enlarging. I often repeat and enlarge; but I frequently use semicolons in the proper way too.
This similarity to Proverbs may come from the fact that I read a chapter of Proverbs daily for a few years when I was in my last few years at school and was really developing my writing style.
God commands us to become men and women of understanding.
Do you want to know what's right in a situation and what is best? You need wisdom and understanding.
Wisdom is a gift from God; ask and you will receive (Jas 1:5).
Understanding comes from God's word: found in the Bible.
It's right there and you can receive it; go ahead.
Wednesday 6 November 2013
Low Blow
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. (Isaiah 58:4)
1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. (Acts 23:1-2)
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: (Philippians 1:14-15)
These passages are connected to the word "smite" in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. In one passage we see a man misusing his power from God to hurt God's servant. In the other we see men using the hurt of God's servant to spread his message. I can imagine Paul today, having his sermons parodied on YouTube, and even this bringing souls into the kingdom. Why isn't that kind of thing happening? I guess it's basically because we are not really doing anything worth mocking or persecuting.
In Isaiah 58:4 we find that God's people are fasting in order to punch someone unjustly. This could be literal, but when I read it I picture a professed believer fasting in order to score points in a debate. It is good to pray and fast together to resolve a debate. But not to use these sacred things as tools to manipulate the outcome of the debate.
There are many ways we can manipulate the church using good words and fair speeches (Rom 16:18). "Don't you want to help the starving children?" is not a good reason to sanction entertainment that is contrary to God's commandments, regardless of what it is raising funds for. "We can be a witness to them." is not a good reason to invite teachers of lies into God's church. These or similar lines of argument are used so often that they are almost a fact of life. But they always hurt, because they force those who will be faithful to God to appear devoid of feeling. If you relate to this then beware the danger that you do may actually become hardened in reality, and that is a perilous thing. You will need to be very generous to compensate for the false giving you need to abstain from.
If I do church God's way and it succeeds; then God gets the credit (glory). If I do church any other way and succeed; I get the credit and I betray God. I want to labour for God's cause in God's way.
Tuesday 5 November 2013
Greater Damnation or Greater Charity
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. (Isaiah 58:4)
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (Matthew 6:16)
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. (Matthew 23:14)
Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation. (Luke 20:47)
Did you know it is possible to be punished more in hell than others? The way some people understand hell, this would be impossible since everyone would be punished infinitely. But Jesus teaches that those who claim to represent God and be very holy but are not the real thing will be punished more (than those who make no such claims I suppose). Even today there are some circles where you can get praise of men for doing some right things such as fasting. Not many today… but some. In the past there were many people who would praise and reverence you for seeming religious.
There are some people today however who are praised for seeming good, and if the goodness of those people is fake then they will receive the greater damnation (condemnation/ punishment). I am thinking of believers and unbelievers alike who advocate fashionable causes that are promoted as highly ethical and derided as highly idealistic. I would like to be careful to promote things that do much good but are not too impractical. Children in Africa don't really need powdered cows milk, many of them are lactose intolerant anyway. What they need is mothers that do not die of AIDs. What African mothers do not so much need is more medicines for AIDs. They need the security and justice that would protect them from contracting the disease in the first place. You can look very good and be very bad, or look very bad and be very good. I would choose the latter over the former.
So what is a simple gospel truth for this topic?
Do good and you will be rewarded for ever in God's paradise.
If you just do things that will make people like you, why should God give you more reward?
Ask Jesus to make you a good person when nobody is watching. May he transform every one of us.
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (Matthew 6:16)
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. (Matthew 23:14)
Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation. (Luke 20:47)
Did you know it is possible to be punished more in hell than others? The way some people understand hell, this would be impossible since everyone would be punished infinitely. But Jesus teaches that those who claim to represent God and be very holy but are not the real thing will be punished more (than those who make no such claims I suppose). Even today there are some circles where you can get praise of men for doing some right things such as fasting. Not many today… but some. In the past there were many people who would praise and reverence you for seeming religious.
There are some people today however who are praised for seeming good, and if the goodness of those people is fake then they will receive the greater damnation (condemnation/ punishment). I am thinking of believers and unbelievers alike who advocate fashionable causes that are promoted as highly ethical and derided as highly idealistic. I would like to be careful to promote things that do much good but are not too impractical. Children in Africa don't really need powdered cows milk, many of them are lactose intolerant anyway. What they need is mothers that do not die of AIDs. What African mothers do not so much need is more medicines for AIDs. They need the security and justice that would protect them from contracting the disease in the first place. You can look very good and be very bad, or look very bad and be very good. I would choose the latter over the former.
So what is a simple gospel truth for this topic?
Do good and you will be rewarded for ever in God's paradise.
If you just do things that will make people like you, why should God give you more reward?
Ask Jesus to make you a good person when nobody is watching. May he transform every one of us.
Saturday 2 November 2013
Get Rich Fast
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. (Isaiah 58:4)
9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: 10 And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. 11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. 12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. (1 Kings 21:9-13)
The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? (Proverbs 21:27)
What a stark example of wrong fasting! This one is a shocker! Queen Jezebel helping Ahab out by using valid religious ceremonies to wickedly murder a man who refused to break God's law. What an abomination to God that whole fast must have been. Don't think it can't happen again; if Isaiah 58 is relevant today then it is probably happening now in God's church. Are leaders calling religious rituals like fasting in order to build themselves up and to bring others down? I'm not sure I've seen that. But I do know that my behaviour is influenced by other people in ways I'm not very comfortable with. I'm inclined to fast when others are doing it because I don't want them to think I'm impious (devoted to God). We need to take other people into account when we make decisions, because we should avoid causing another to stumble (1 Cor 8:13). But if my motivation for any kind of piety (devotion to God) is selfish that piety will not help me to perfect the christian character that I need to be a citizen of heaven.
Only Jesus can change our motivations, we must pray that he transform our motives and thoughts.
9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: 10 And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. 11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. 12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. (1 Kings 21:9-13)
The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? (Proverbs 21:27)
What a stark example of wrong fasting! This one is a shocker! Queen Jezebel helping Ahab out by using valid religious ceremonies to wickedly murder a man who refused to break God's law. What an abomination to God that whole fast must have been. Don't think it can't happen again; if Isaiah 58 is relevant today then it is probably happening now in God's church. Are leaders calling religious rituals like fasting in order to build themselves up and to bring others down? I'm not sure I've seen that. But I do know that my behaviour is influenced by other people in ways I'm not very comfortable with. I'm inclined to fast when others are doing it because I don't want them to think I'm impious (devoted to God). We need to take other people into account when we make decisions, because we should avoid causing another to stumble (1 Cor 8:13). But if my motivation for any kind of piety (devotion to God) is selfish that piety will not help me to perfect the christian character that I need to be a citizen of heaven.
Only Jesus can change our motivations, we must pray that he transform our motives and thoughts.
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