Jonah repented and called on the Lord and was delivered. We'll start to question our decision and wonder if we made a wrong choice. In fact, this demonstrates that all are sinnersJews and Gentiles. To think our temptation is unique is to believe a lie. I have heard someone saying, "I decided to become a Christian because of the lifestyle of my neighbor." A leper approached Jesus and said, If You are willing, You can make me clean. Jesus touched the man, saying, I am willing; be cleansedand he was healed (Mark 1:40-42). Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. Theyre building a palace for me over there. We dont just see this in the world around us, but we see this in ourselves, as believers. In the narrative, Jacobs only daughter Dinah was raped by a prince in the land of Shechem. Human authors would not have added this story. 28And you shall say to them, This is the nation that did not obey the voice of theLordtheir God, and did not accept discipline;truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips. Holy Bible, New International Version , NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. CP VOICES do not necessarily reflect the views of The Christian Post. That is the first step to getting right with God. As a young man, Ezekiel had dedicated himself to be a priest. Many countries coastlines are littered with plastic and debris, and there is an island of plastic more than the twice the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean where currents have accumulated the debris. Instead of justice, they seek vengeanceturning many away from Christ. We know that Abraham wasnt perfect. Therefore, by asking the men to circumcise themselvesthey were asking them to participate in Israels religion. If Moses, the author of Genesis, was simply trying to encourage Israel before they entered the promised land, this story would have been left out, as it displays the Jews in an unflattering light. 2 Guzik, D. (2013). They build the tabernacle and temple and become witnesses to the pagan world. This was to be a perpetual sign of their covenant with God for generations. - Today is the day we stop and remember the greatest gift of all. Many who worked for God but did not walk with Him will be disappointed: Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven. God eventually takes this blasphemous and murderous family and makes them the twelve tribes of Israel. Copyright 2023 Haly Ministries All Rights Reserved. Near the beginning of the 40 year wilderness experience, they were all getting ready to go into the Promised Land to reap their big reward in God. The fire will show if a persons work has any value (1 Corinthians 3:13). He is Christ the Lord!'. Genesis 1:28. James 4:1-3 says. That verse changes our view of idolatry. Luke 6:12. Peter wrote his final letter shortly before his execution. listeners: [], Thats just what we see in this chapterthe consequences of neglecting God, both among pagans and believers. I praise you and pray for all these things in Jesus' name. The people of Israel were no better than the world around them. After all, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, love is known by its actions more than its words. As a believer in Jesus Christ, you can ask that every promise given to you by God in His Word, be fulfilled in your life. Psalm 32:4. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. One was an old copy of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Though mankind was given the mandate to have dominion over (that is, to care for) all of creation, we have not done a good job. Turn off the TV! Many who are genuinely called by God have deviated to pursue fame and wealth. The word heaven itself implies that our eternal destiny is somewhere up there in the heavens. The Bible . Jacob had flaws, and the Israelites had flaws. God commissioned Jonah to go east to Assyria, to the capital of Nineveh and deliver a message of judgment. And that mandate extends to our personal life as well. Congregations will find teachers who make them feel good by preaching myths. All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added. Living in right standing with God? William Gurnall, Now it came to pass in those days that [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. A tent or a cottage, why should I care? Hello Jesus! That means I have to melt away the things that have made my heart hardened by continuous quality time with the Lord. } Though God is never mentioned in this terrible narrativehope in him is implied. They do not have empirical knowledge of Jesus' way of working. While in Shechem and living in prosperity, his family had started worshiping pagan gods. I LOVE thinking about this. Enoch walked with God and entered . When his sons agreed to intermarry with the Hivites on the condition of circumcision, Jacob doesnt say, No. This was a major spiritual failure on Jacobs part. Do Those Who Commit Suicide Go To Hell? When You Stumble, Get Back Up! (3) Religion is also abused when it primarily focuses on people securing their passions, like lust or wealth, instead of holiness. })(); Gods promise You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. If It Is During The Millennium How Will There Not Be Pain And Tears When The Devil Is Released To Deceive The Nations? Verse Concepts. Church of England: Gay couples can't marry but will receive 'God's blessing', Church mourns pastor, wife who died trying to save son from drowning at the beach, Trump condemns 'disloyalty' of Evangelical leaders who haven't endorsed his 2024 run, Is Congress Christian? This would have led to compromise and the Israelites further adopting the sins of that culture. This is exactly how Paul describes the pagan world in Romans 1:21-23: For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened. It is obvious that working for God is not good enough. callback: cb Francis Schaeffer, And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. And he was called the friend of God. They do not entangle themselves in the things of this world, and they mind the things of God. Learn how your comment data is processed. As a result, the one group that was willing to follow God fully got to go into the Promised Land, while the other group did not! . If your beliefs, and therefore your actions, have become divided, gather them back together as you commit to God and His Word. You may realize it or not, but we are all connected with God. ); Isnt it great to know that the Lord is by your side, and if you are on the wrong path, He will redirect you? End the relationship! Whether we realize it or not, it is part of our past, and it will be part of our future. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles. Be careful of those times. A classic Bible verse that reminds us of one of the best benefits of walking with God is John 3:16. He had skeletons in his closet and fell into temptation. Now Dinah, Leahs daughter whom she bore to Jacob, went to meet the young women of the land. Consider these verses: No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13). He fell in love with the young woman and spoke romantically to her. Righteous doesnt mean sinless, of course. When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, who ruled that area, saw her, he grabbed her, forced himself on her, and sexually assaulted her. Joshua had the confidence and courage to lead Gods people into the Promised Land because He believed in Gods promise and presence. Because of our human nature, we can easily be overwhelmed by troubles, especially, when they stay with us for long. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fullgrown, brings forth death (James 1:1315). But what makes this deception even worse is the fact that they used their sign of faith to secure the deal. Verse Concepts. Working for God without walking with Him will not give our works the desired value. Yes, Satan is certainly trying to have his way with you. King Saul was out of the will of God when he offered a sacrifice before going to war. Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik. Before we go deeper into the topic, we will address the surface issues and dig further as we go along. D. L. Moody, In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. We often hear about the benefits of waiting on God, but what about the consequences of NOT waiting on Him? When David committed adultery and murder, Scripture says Gods hand was heavy upon him until he repented (Psalm 32:3-5 ESV). The verse says that when we do this we will fall. 21Thus says theLordof hosts, the God of Israel:Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh. The result is an abundant life that bears fruit for the Kingdom of God. "Woe to the rebellious children," says the Lord, " Who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who walk to go down to Egypt, and have not asked My advice, to . They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed. God gave what He could to His people to keep them from worshipping other idols. Thomas Watson, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. https://s3.amazonaws.com/qbchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/24212608/2016-08-14-Consequences-in-a-Life-Not-Walking-in-the-Fear-of-God-Ecc-810-13-AM.mp3, 6356 Post Road, North Kingstown, Rhode Island 02852. In the middle of lifes battles, were tempted to question Gods ordering of our circumstances, but every follower of Christ can look back and see the conspicuous hand of Gods Providence. Living our lives with God in it, makes things easier and gives us hope. While the Hivites were in pain from their circumcision, two of Jacobs sons, Simeon and Levi, murdered all the men of the village. Husbands beat their wives. Abraham had flaws. They are rife with envy, murder, strife, deceit, hostility. Whatever you love more than God is your idol. Many might question, Why is this story in the Bible? and What can we learn from it? There are many things: For one, stories like this give evidence of the Divine authorship of Scripture. All rights reserved worldwide. G. Campbell Morgan, When Jesus saw [the friends] faith, He said to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven you. Hello golden streets, glorified bodies, endless days, and the fresh air of New Jerusalem! We must look for and take "the way of escape" God provides in every situation where temptation is found (verse 13). The moment you got ahead of God is the moment you stepped out of His will. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Hebrews 12:5-6 and verse 8 says. Look up. He is the author of the book Mystery Of The Cross Revealed. But when he was about twenty-five, Ezekiel was seized and taken to Babylon, and he never saw the temple again. A great misconception carried by many Christians has to do with the location of heaven. This has nothing to do with how much money you do or dont havea poverty-stricken person can covet just as much as a billionaire. He pronounced a severe judgment on them, telling them that all of the men 20 years of age and older would not enter into the Promised Land due to their lack of faith and belief in Him to be able to accomplish this mission for them, and because they had notwholly followed God., However, God then states that He will allow Joshua, Caleb and all the men under 20 years of age to go in there to conquer and possess the land all because they had adifferent spiritin them and because they would be willing tofollow God fully.. This is the world we live in, and sadly, these acts of violence will at times be seen amongst the church. For example, He forgives your sins, heals you, redeems you from the pit of hell, crowns you with love and compassion, and satisfies your desires with good things (Psalm 103:1-5). We are in Him before the foundation of the world. But the Bible says our eternal destiny is earthly, not heavenly. Our relationship with God begins when we become born again and continues to eternity. Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ. However, when people neglect God, abortions become common place because love comes from God. With this abuse of religion, many will fall away from the church in droves. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires. The Bible is clear that God does not show favoritism. Make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau. So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, Get rid of the foreign gods you have among you. With the other prophets, the second time meant additional prophetic utterances they were to deliver. They told the king they would not divide their allegiance, that they would maintain their faith in God and His promises. Take the necessary action steps today to strengthen your relationship with the Lord, and enjoy a sweet fellowship with Him, now and forever. Yes, God can and often does restore, but why would you want to go through an ordeal if you didnt have to? Application Question: How have you seen or experienced the abuse of religion in the church and society in general? It says: Then God said to Jacob, Go up at once to Bethel and live there. King Saul was out of the will of God when he offered a sacrifice before going to war. This leads to children disrespecting teachers, bosses, government leaders, and even Godcreating increased dishonesty, crime, and anarchy in society. But if you do not agree to our terms by being circumcised, then we will take our sister and depart.. As Peter wrote, we look for a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13). Pauls letter to the people at Corinth was an exhortation to remain steadfast. However, God delivered Jacob from that situation as wellbringing reconciliation. It is true for us today also. 1. Maybe, Hamor thought, Oh, boys will be boys! This shows how acceptable the rape of a young lady was. He doesnt charge Shechem with wrong and doesnt even get involved with the negotiation. Paul uses that image to say that Christ leads His followers in a victory procession through every difficulty in life (2 Corinthians 2:14-15). Office 19170, POBox6945 2. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts. But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. Do not settle for ignorance. They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword, took Dinah from Shechems house, and left. So Jacob remained silent until they came in. Fish become entangled in discarded fishing nets and lines, with bellies full of plastic debris they have swallowed. Walking with God means that you are blessed, and you have access to His great promises, which He has given in His Word. But we can learn a thing or two from the verses that mention him. Hearing the voice of God is comforting, and it reminds you that you have a loving Father who cares about you and will always be with you. It is obvious that every man's work will be tested by God, But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The supernatural ability to feel loved by God and to feel love back (for Him and others). God wants His children to live the abundant life that Jesus came to give us (John 10:10). When You Don't Put Christ First in Your Life, You Lack the Full Level of God's Favor. Gods promises are yes and Amen,when you walk with God,He fulfils his promises unto your life, Much blessed by the articles ,its purely the word we need, Am very grateful to God and to the author for it really helped me in my day to day life, I have achieved allot more blessings I pray. Humanity was made to worship God, and if we dont worship him, we will worship something else. 1 Corinthians 15:58. Views of the will of God necessarily reflect the views of the Roman.. Bellies full of plastic debris they have swallowed young man, saying, I! Their faith in God and his son Shechem with the sword, Dinah... And anarchy in society ) ( ) ; Gods promise you will part! My neighbor., and he never saw the temple again our with. Hand was heavy upon him until he repented ( Psalm 32:3-5 ESV.! The one he loves and chastises every son he accepts people into Promised... Young women of the foreign Gods you have among you sign of their covenant with God for generations by Christians! 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