Hosea doesn't pull any punches! The Israelites had abandoned their faith and were mixing with those around them and worshiping the gods of their neighbors. They had become a wicked and sinful people and no longer acknowledged God as the LORD.
Sometimes I need preaching like Hosea's. Sometimes it takes frank talk to wake me up and confront me with my sinfulness. Most people don't like it. Most people won't hang around to hear that kind of preaching. Most people want to hear that they are saved and that they are going to live eternally in a beautiful home in Heaven. They want to hear how much God loves them and how they are blessed and will be blessed if they show up on Sunday morning. That's what most people want to hear.
I know, because that is what I like to hear... but this is what Hosea had to say to the LORD's people...
Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away. Yet let no one contend, and let none accuse, for with you is my contention, O priest. You shall stumble by day;
the prophet also shall stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. (Hosea 4:6-9)
The scary part of that section of scripture is how much it sounds like us. Us, Americans, we are very quickly loosing our knowledge of God and our sinfulness is on full display. We celebrate our sins. We make movies about our sins. Television shows glorify our sins. We have become just like them! If Hosea were alive today, I think he would write the same words to us as he did to them. His words are a sober warning about the consequences of such conduct. If we as a nation or if I as an individual depart from my faith and begin living like those outside of Christ, we should expect to loose His blessings. (go back and reread the section of scripture above, see his warnings)
So what is the solution to our problem, what is the cure for our disease? Hosea points us to God's word. What is right or wrong is eternal. If God's word recorded that something is wrong a thousand years ago, it is wrong today. There is no evolution of the standard. The same standard is in place today as was in place when Jesus walked this earth. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) Nothing has changed with God. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17) No variation or shadow due to change. We can count on God to be God!
He has always been and will always be.... the same, yesterday and today and forever! The world changes it's view on things regularly. What was wrong ten years ago is right today. What is wrong today, will be right in a few years. Thankfully, God is not like that. When we submit to His authority, His rule in our lives, we get to live by the same standard that Peter did, that Paul did. What was wrong then, is wrong now. What was pleasing to God then, is pleasing to God now. Learn what pleases Him! Live out your lives in submission to His will! May we never reject knowledge of God and begin to accept the world's view on things. We are called to be strangers on this earth and citizens of the household of God.
May we live in such a way that Hosea would say.... "good job, you have sought and obtained knowledge and because of that I accept you as being a priest to me". Hold on to your faith and when your day are finished, you will hear the words of the Father, "Well done, good servant". Hosea is sounding the warning, may we determine to hear and change our conduct to comply with His desires. May God richly bless you as you become more and more like His Son.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
I Will Pour Out My Spirit
Today's Reading - Joel 1-3
Our reading today takes us to a time when Judah experienced an infestation of locusts. The swarm destroyed the crops and left the nation without food. Particularly in that time and that economy, this was a major event that impacted everyone's lives. The prophet Joel seizes this opportunity to use these events as a time to teach the nation about repentance and the coming judgement. He emphasizes that God is faithful and that He will honor His promises and will bring blessing to the people if they will turn to Him.
When I got to Joel 2:28ff, I was immediately transported to the second chapter of the book of Acts. When Peter and the other apostles began to speak in tongues (other languages), the people gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost thought they were drunk. But Peter tells the crowd that what was occurring was in fact the fulfillment of the words of the prophet Joel.
For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: "‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ (Acts 2:15-21)
Peter tells the crowd, "what you are seeing now is what Joel was talking about in his prophecy. Today is the day that the Lord has poured out His Spirit and what you are hearing is the result of that." He then uses the event to tell people about Jesus. In what is called the first Christian sermon, Peter lays out the message that Jesus is the Son of God and that they (we) are responsible for His crucifixion. Take a moment to read the entire second chapter. The message that Peter preached is the same message that we need today. We need to confront our sins and turn to Him with broken hearts and ask the same question that the people asked on that day...Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (v 37)
When our hearts are cut, when pride is removed and we stand face to face with our unrighteousness, there is nowhere to go except to ask the question... "what do I need to do?". These people knew that just a few weeks earlier, they had demanded the death of the Son of God. They knew that their sin had caused His crucifixion and that they were in need of redemption. What shall we do? The same question is asked today when a person is confronted with their sins and understand that they need help. Unfortunately, it depends on who you ask as to what answer you will receive. So, rather than ask someone, let's let Peter give the very specific and direct answer to your question.
And Peter said to them, “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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:38-41)
What shall we do? Peter (the apostle, the man who walked with Jesus and was told that he had been given the keys to the kingdom) tells them the very simple and straight forward solution to their problem. They were sinners and they needed forgiveness. He tells them that forgiveness was found by repenting and being baptized. He didn't tell them to say a prayer. If that is what they needed to do, he could have told them that. (actually, there is no example in the Bible of someone being told to say a prayer to be saved, there is no example of praying Jesus into your heart) Peter tells them to turn their lives around, change their hearts and to be immersed in water. That is it. Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. Simple, yet so many will debate the issue.
He tells them that when they do that, God's Spirit will come live within them. He tells them that this a promise and that this promise is for everyone. Everyone... that includes you and me. How do I get my sin problem taken care of.... believe that Jesus is God's Son, repent of my sins and be immersed in water. The promise is for everyone. That day, three thousand souls were immersed into Christ and were added to the saved. (vs 41, 47) The rest of the book of Acts includes the stories of others who believed and were baptized... even the apostle Paul... Acts 22:16.
Joel's prophecy is for us. He was pointing to the time when the Savior would die and He would send His Spirit to live within us. He was pointing to a time when salvation would be available to every nation. But he was also pointing to a day of judgement. A day when those that have not believed in the Son, those that have not obeyed the gospel call will stand before God and answer for their rejection of His Son.
If you have not responded to Peter's sermon, if you have not repented of your sins, turned your life over to God and been immersed for the remission of your sins.... your day of judgement will be one of condemnation. Joel points to the day that Peter announced the beginning of the Christian age and the day that forgiveness was offered to all nations. My prayer is that you will accept His offer, that you will respond to the call and turn your life over to Him. Repent and be baptized... that was Peter's response to the question.... "what shall we do?" In the words of Nike... "Just Do It!"
Our reading today takes us to a time when Judah experienced an infestation of locusts. The swarm destroyed the crops and left the nation without food. Particularly in that time and that economy, this was a major event that impacted everyone's lives. The prophet Joel seizes this opportunity to use these events as a time to teach the nation about repentance and the coming judgement. He emphasizes that God is faithful and that He will honor His promises and will bring blessing to the people if they will turn to Him.
When I got to Joel 2:28ff, I was immediately transported to the second chapter of the book of Acts. When Peter and the other apostles began to speak in tongues (other languages), the people gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost thought they were drunk. But Peter tells the crowd that what was occurring was in fact the fulfillment of the words of the prophet Joel.
For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: "‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ (Acts 2:15-21)
Peter tells the crowd, "what you are seeing now is what Joel was talking about in his prophecy. Today is the day that the Lord has poured out His Spirit and what you are hearing is the result of that." He then uses the event to tell people about Jesus. In what is called the first Christian sermon, Peter lays out the message that Jesus is the Son of God and that they (we) are responsible for His crucifixion. Take a moment to read the entire second chapter. The message that Peter preached is the same message that we need today. We need to confront our sins and turn to Him with broken hearts and ask the same question that the people asked on that day...Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (v 37)
When our hearts are cut, when pride is removed and we stand face to face with our unrighteousness, there is nowhere to go except to ask the question... "what do I need to do?". These people knew that just a few weeks earlier, they had demanded the death of the Son of God. They knew that their sin had caused His crucifixion and that they were in need of redemption. What shall we do? The same question is asked today when a person is confronted with their sins and understand that they need help. Unfortunately, it depends on who you ask as to what answer you will receive. So, rather than ask someone, let's let Peter give the very specific and direct answer to your question.
And Peter said to them, “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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:38-41)
What shall we do? Peter (the apostle, the man who walked with Jesus and was told that he had been given the keys to the kingdom) tells them the very simple and straight forward solution to their problem. They were sinners and they needed forgiveness. He tells them that forgiveness was found by repenting and being baptized. He didn't tell them to say a prayer. If that is what they needed to do, he could have told them that. (actually, there is no example in the Bible of someone being told to say a prayer to be saved, there is no example of praying Jesus into your heart) Peter tells them to turn their lives around, change their hearts and to be immersed in water. That is it. Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. Simple, yet so many will debate the issue.
He tells them that when they do that, God's Spirit will come live within them. He tells them that this a promise and that this promise is for everyone. Everyone... that includes you and me. How do I get my sin problem taken care of.... believe that Jesus is God's Son, repent of my sins and be immersed in water. The promise is for everyone. That day, three thousand souls were immersed into Christ and were added to the saved. (vs 41, 47) The rest of the book of Acts includes the stories of others who believed and were baptized... even the apostle Paul... Acts 22:16.
Joel's prophecy is for us. He was pointing to the time when the Savior would die and He would send His Spirit to live within us. He was pointing to a time when salvation would be available to every nation. But he was also pointing to a day of judgement. A day when those that have not believed in the Son, those that have not obeyed the gospel call will stand before God and answer for their rejection of His Son.
If you have not responded to Peter's sermon, if you have not repented of your sins, turned your life over to God and been immersed for the remission of your sins.... your day of judgement will be one of condemnation. Joel points to the day that Peter announced the beginning of the Christian age and the day that forgiveness was offered to all nations. My prayer is that you will accept His offer, that you will respond to the call and turn your life over to Him. Repent and be baptized... that was Peter's response to the question.... "what shall we do?" In the words of Nike... "Just Do It!"
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
God's Provision, Power and Protection
Today we read the story of Elijah the prophet. (1 Kings 17-19) It is the story of God raising up a man to speak for Him at a time when Israel was in crisis, both of character and direction. Ahab and Jezebel are ruling over the nation and they had turned the people's hearts to the false god, Baal.
Elijah meets with king Ahab and tells him the God of Israel had determined that the nation would face a drought, with "neither dew nor rain" for several years. Elijah was told to leave the area and go to the Kerith Ravine and that the ravens would feed him. He did and they did. He was later told to go live with a widow and her son and that they would provide for him. He did and they did. We all know the story of the never ending flour jar. The point is this... Elijah was obedient to God and God took care of him. God provided for his needs! He used ravens and a bottomless flour jar to take care of His servant. God's provision is always adequate. His provision is sure.
We might want more, we might think that His provision leaves something to be desired. Paul put it this way in Philippians 4:11-13... Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Whatever our situation, our circumstance God will surely provide for His servant. The unsure part of the equation is our attitude about the provision.
During this time away, Ahab and Jezebel had "abandoned the Lord's commands and followed the Baals". So, God sent Elijah to Ahab to confront him about his worship of other gods and his leading His people away from Him. Elijah calls for all the prophets of Baal and all the people from Israel to meet him on Mount Carmel. He proposes a contest between his God and their gods. Each would place a sacrifice on the alter and then pray for god/God to consume the sacrifice by fire. The outcome of the test would determine whose god was the true God.
The prophets of Baal accepted the test and placed their sacrifice on the alter and began to call on their god to send fire. They called on Baal from morning until noon and shouted "O, Baal, answer us!". But there was no response. Elijah encouraged them to shout louder. Perhaps Baal was busy or traveling and needed to hear a louder call. They shouted all the louder until evening, still no fire. Then Elijah prepared his sacrifice and had water dumped on the alter, twelve large jars until the water filled the trench around the sacrifice. Then Elijah prayed. He called on God to demonstrate to all the children of Israel that He was the one true God. "The fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench". God's power was clearly seen by all. The punishment for the priests of Baal? They were slaughtered and their teaching was ended. His power is sure.
The drought was ended and the rains came. You would think all would be well in Israel, but you would be wrong. Jezebel is unhappy with the outcome of the "test" and so she sent word to Elijah that she would have him killed by the next day. I find it interesting that the prophet who had just witnessed the awesome power of God would run for his life in fear of Jezebel. I would never do anything like that, would I? I would never gather with the saints on Sunday and hear of God's goodness and power and forget what I learned on Monday, would I?
Elijah hides in a cave and God visits him there. He gives him His protection and stands him up and sends him on a mission. I like that... Elijah trembling in a cave and God calls him out to send him off to work. Are you afraid of someones reaction to the message about Jesus? Are you cowering in a cave, avoiding everyone around you? God says to each of us, "come on out, leave your fears in the cave, I will protect you and I have a mission for you". Elijah is told that even though things look bad, he is not alone. God assures him that there are 7000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Sometimes we feel alone, but God says, "you don't know how many faithful believers I have". He tells us not to worry about those things, He has them under control, just get to work. Fulfill the mission. His protection is sure.
Sometimes we forget who God is. We get concerned with the day to day and God seems distant to us. Elijah's story reminds us that God is the provider of our needs, that His power is unlimited and that in his service we have protection. The faithful follower will not be concerned about lunch tomorrow, they will work and let God bless the effort. The faithful follower will not worry about the outcome of everything, they understand that God is in control and that by His power all things continue. The faithful follower will not live in fear, they understand that God's protection is eternal. The faithful follower will carryout the mission that has been assigned to them, for His glory.
Elijah meets with king Ahab and tells him the God of Israel had determined that the nation would face a drought, with "neither dew nor rain" for several years. Elijah was told to leave the area and go to the Kerith Ravine and that the ravens would feed him. He did and they did. He was later told to go live with a widow and her son and that they would provide for him. He did and they did. We all know the story of the never ending flour jar. The point is this... Elijah was obedient to God and God took care of him. God provided for his needs! He used ravens and a bottomless flour jar to take care of His servant. God's provision is always adequate. His provision is sure.
We might want more, we might think that His provision leaves something to be desired. Paul put it this way in Philippians 4:11-13... Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Whatever our situation, our circumstance God will surely provide for His servant. The unsure part of the equation is our attitude about the provision.
During this time away, Ahab and Jezebel had "abandoned the Lord's commands and followed the Baals". So, God sent Elijah to Ahab to confront him about his worship of other gods and his leading His people away from Him. Elijah calls for all the prophets of Baal and all the people from Israel to meet him on Mount Carmel. He proposes a contest between his God and their gods. Each would place a sacrifice on the alter and then pray for god/God to consume the sacrifice by fire. The outcome of the test would determine whose god was the true God.
The prophets of Baal accepted the test and placed their sacrifice on the alter and began to call on their god to send fire. They called on Baal from morning until noon and shouted "O, Baal, answer us!". But there was no response. Elijah encouraged them to shout louder. Perhaps Baal was busy or traveling and needed to hear a louder call. They shouted all the louder until evening, still no fire. Then Elijah prepared his sacrifice and had water dumped on the alter, twelve large jars until the water filled the trench around the sacrifice. Then Elijah prayed. He called on God to demonstrate to all the children of Israel that He was the one true God. "The fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench". God's power was clearly seen by all. The punishment for the priests of Baal? They were slaughtered and their teaching was ended. His power is sure.
The drought was ended and the rains came. You would think all would be well in Israel, but you would be wrong. Jezebel is unhappy with the outcome of the "test" and so she sent word to Elijah that she would have him killed by the next day. I find it interesting that the prophet who had just witnessed the awesome power of God would run for his life in fear of Jezebel. I would never do anything like that, would I? I would never gather with the saints on Sunday and hear of God's goodness and power and forget what I learned on Monday, would I?
Elijah hides in a cave and God visits him there. He gives him His protection and stands him up and sends him on a mission. I like that... Elijah trembling in a cave and God calls him out to send him off to work. Are you afraid of someones reaction to the message about Jesus? Are you cowering in a cave, avoiding everyone around you? God says to each of us, "come on out, leave your fears in the cave, I will protect you and I have a mission for you". Elijah is told that even though things look bad, he is not alone. God assures him that there are 7000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Sometimes we feel alone, but God says, "you don't know how many faithful believers I have". He tells us not to worry about those things, He has them under control, just get to work. Fulfill the mission. His protection is sure.
Sometimes we forget who God is. We get concerned with the day to day and God seems distant to us. Elijah's story reminds us that God is the provider of our needs, that His power is unlimited and that in his service we have protection. The faithful follower will not be concerned about lunch tomorrow, they will work and let God bless the effort. The faithful follower will not worry about the outcome of everything, they understand that God is in control and that by His power all things continue. The faithful follower will not live in fear, they understand that God's protection is eternal. The faithful follower will carryout the mission that has been assigned to them, for His glory.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)