Are You An Answer Waiting for a Question!

Today in service I heard the Lord say, “You are an answer in search of a question.”  I was reading Ezekiel 37 where God was talking about the dry bones.  One verse answered a question I had asked recently and I considered that I had read this passage several times and it never stood out as much as it did when I needed it to.  God said, “This passage is an answer to your question just as YOU are an answer to many questions that have come and will continue to come. 

In John chapter 1 we see priests and Levites travel from Jerusalem to meet John the Baptist in the wilderness.  They asked if he was Elijah or some prophet and he said no.  Their next question jumped out at me.  “Who are you so we might GIVE AN ANSWER to those who sent us.  John’s presence had created a question.  They were sent by the priests and Levites to find the answer.  The answer was a quote from Isaiah, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord.”  This quote was confirmed in Malachi 3:1 as well, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.”

In spite of this they still missed the coming Messiah.

Later we see in 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” 

2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  Have you ever failed to answer a question about your faith because you were embarrassed by your lack of knowledge?  Occasionally you might not have an answer because you have not studied, but you might not have an answer because you have never considered the question before.  We know the Holy Spirit brings all things to our remembrance (John 14:26), but you must study and read your Bible and you must study your Bible prayerfully.  God knows which answers you have need of for a day’s questions.  He is always leading and directing you into all knowledge.  As we spend time in prayer before studying His Word, He is better able to direct our educational efforts.

This is an important point.  No matter how many times you have studied a particular passage, the Holy Spirit may not reveal knowledge you have no need of.  Occasionally He will direct you to study certain things and they will answer all the next day or week’s questions.  In other cases, you will be forced to tell the person who asks, “I will look into this and get back to you.”  Nevertheless, as long as you walk this Christian walk and stand before the Lord of the universe you will be an answer looking for questions.

As it says in the Boy Scouts, “Be Prepared.” 

Sometimes, You Just Can’t Lose

Romans 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Why is it we lose our minds so much over thoughts, actions and the world around us. Don’t get me wrong, I am as guilty of occasional mind losing as the next guy. There was a movie called Dick and Jane where Dick ran out of their bedroom screaming, “I’m going to jail!!!!?” His wife cocked her head listening as he bounced from room to room screaming, until she heard the front door slam and he was gone. That’s how we seem to act when life’s little problems (or big ones) hit us.

I used to feel like my chest was being squeezed by King Kong during those times. Once, it got so bad I had my wife drive me to the clinic because I thought I was having a heart attack. After being plastered with electrodes and using up several feet of EKG paper, the doctor came in and asked, “Sir, are you worried about something?” That’s right, I was having a panic attack. I’d managed to lose a lot of money and was having a mental hissy fit.

The thing is, I read the news where someone has lost their job and committed suicide, or worse, took their entire family with them. The Bible talks about this in Luke 21:26 where people’s hearts fail them for fear.

In my case, I lost money and had no job. Okay, it was a lot of money, did I say that? Still, it wasn’t the end of the world and I know that because bill collectors kept calling. I began to worry about money, house payments, bills, food and five mouths to feed. Yes, all these things will wear on you if you don’t keep your mind stayed on the word of God; but if you do, He will show you the way out and up.

All crime, fear, sin, suicide and panic stem from one source. We don’t trust God. I’m talking about a God who has placed so many layers of proof to His existence and His willingness to keep His Word, that once you begin to research and understand just how forceful His promises are, you can’t help but raise your hands and say, “My Lord and my God!” It isn’t that God doesn’t exist or can’t even be proven, but that He has hidden many of these proofs from those who do not want to believe. You might think, “God wouldn’t do that!” Yes He would. He expects us to obey and when we take a step in faith, he reveals a little bit more to us. When He sees we are backsliding, he covers things back up until we begin to exercise our faith again. Some have taken the challenge and run after the promises time and time again, against all odds. They are the ones who ultimately do great things.

Some just take a 9-5 job so the bills get paid and never step fully into the promises God has made them. If God has called you to a secular job, that’s fine; but even secular employees are the hand of God in their office. Be what God has called you to be at all times. I promise it will be uncomfortable from time to time.

Many years ago, our pastor used to say, “Build up your faith now in the easy times so it can sustain you in the difficult.” Jeremiah 12:5 says, “If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” We tend to wait until our world is falling around us to come to God. We need to STIR up our faith and our gifts NOW when things are merely normal, leaning toward difficult, not wait until they appear hopeless (Jude 1:20, 1 Timothy 1:6, 1 Peter 1:13; 3:1-4).

After 9/11, churches were filled. After the first bombing of the World Trade Center, churches were filled. A year after these events, attendance was back to normal. Lately, there has been a trend toward running to Islam to stay safe. It is exactly this move that got Israel into trouble. They accepted the gods of the heathen nations around them to prevent war and stimulate commerce. All they succeeded in doing, was to anger God and speed their own downfall.

I am not tempted to run to Allah because I know Yahweh is the one and only true God and Jesus is not some made up sacrifice that does a work and gets discarded. Jesus is God. He is the Word of God, covered in flesh. He is eternal in the heavenlies and has no less authority than the Father or the Holy Spirit. They are one. Remember the born again Rabbi saying that it wasn’t 1+1+1=3 but 1x1x1=1 when he described the trinity of God. I rather think of God as one who has many attributes, but remains unified. He said in Genesis, “Let US make man in OUR image (Genesis 1:26).” He has it together.

I tend to think of the old man who was talking to his friend, “You know, if my knees would stop hurting and my shoulder would quit acting up, and my feet would quit tripping over things, I’d be just great.” We know his knees, shoulder and feet are all part of his one single body, yet we often speak of them as if they are separate. We are one. God is one. His Word is one, and because of our sin, was made flesh, died and rose again so we might be saved. We are the righteousness of God because that is what Christ’s sacrifice did for us. There is no other way, to stand in peace, before the eternal being who created this universe by speaking a word, than to accept Jesus, the Christ, as your sacrifice (John 3:17). None.

Okay, back on track. If you have Jesus, you have life (1 John 5:12). If you have life in Christ, you have more abundant life (John 10:10). Without Jesus, there is no life or hope (Ephesians 2:12). God has promised to take care of us. He said that hope maketh not ashamed (Romans 5:5).

What does that mean to us? It means this:  No matter how dark it seems, God will make a way. No matter who comes to call you a fool or comes against you for Christ’s sake, you will overcome in EVERYTHING. If you lose everything but your life, God has merely cleared out the dross so He might rebuild your life stronger and purer. If you lose your life, you have only lost some animated dirt. Christ is the resurrection and the life. You, the only part of you to matter, cannot die.

Earlier I wrote about falling on the rock, or the rock falling on you (Matthew 21:44). When you are willing to be broken for God, he truly will make your enemies your friends. When you choose to struggle against His word because it doesn’t fit your lifestyle or opinion of how He ought to do things, He will fall on you, grind you to powder, and start over. Personally, I would rather he build me up, line upon line, precept upon precept until He decides I am fit for His use. Much less painful in the long run.

Don’t be wise in your own eyes. It’s enough that we win when we do it His way. We are MORE THAN CONQUERORS!!! Glory to God!! Galatians 3 tells us that God’s promises are sure.

In other words, we just can’t lose!

Father, forgive me for doubting you. Help me to overcome and destroy fear in my life. You said in Your Word, “Perfect love casteth out fear.” Perfect me in love Father. I want to do your will just the way you said to do it, without adding to or subtracting from it. You are my king of kings and Lord of Lords. Nothing can prevent me from being a great success. I will obey Lord, because you are my ever present help in time of trouble.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Abominations

These are abominations of God.

Leviticus 7:21 – Touching any abominable thing and then eat the peace offering.  That person shall be cut off from his people.

Leviticus 18:6-30 – Look upon your family member’s nakedness (It is improper).  Looking upon a naked woman not your wife.  This covers verse 6 – 20.  Sacrifice your children to other gods.  I would venture to say this also applies to the god of convenience as well as Molech.  Verse 21.  Homosexuality, verse 22.  Bestiality, verse 23.  God allowed you to drive these people out of their land because they practiced these sins.  If you stoop to their level God will allow the land to vomit YOU out, verse 24-30. 

The land will vomit such people out.  If you are a partaker of their wickedness, the land will vomit YOU out.

2 Chronicles 15:8 – Worshipping idols of any sort is an abomination to God.

Psalm 14:1 – Fools commit abominable works.  They say in their heart there is no God.  They are corrupt; they have no righteous works.  Not one of them do good no matter what they think of themselves.

Psalm 53:1 – “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none that doeth good. 2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, That did seek after God. 3 Every one of them is gone back; They are together become filthy; There is none that doeth good, no, not one.”  Almost identical to Psalm 14:1.

I don’t have time right now to continue this but here are many more references for you to look up.  God calls all these things abominations.

  Cheating (Mic. 6:10)

  Lost souls (Rev. 21:8)

  A froward man (perverse; one who turns aside (Pro. 3:32; 11:20)

  A proud look (Pro. 6:16-17)

  A lying tongue (Pro. 6:17; 12:22)

  Hands that shed innocent blood ((Pro. 6:17)

  A wicked scheming heart (Pro. 6:18)

  Feet that are quick to sin (Pro. 6:18)

  A false witness that speaks lies (Pro. 6:19)

  A sower of discord (Pro. 6:19)

  Wickedness (Pro. 8:7)

  A false balance or scale (Pro. 11:1)

  Sacrifices of the wicked (Pro. 15:8; 21:27)

  The way of the wicked (Pro. 15:9)

  The thoughts of the wicked (Pro. 15:26)

  The proud of heart (Pro. 16:5)

  Justifying the wicked (Pro. 17:15)

  Condemning the just (Pro. 17:15)

  Divers, dishonest weights (Pro. 20:10, 23)

  Divers, dishonest measures (Pro. 20:10)

  Refusing to hear the law (Pro. 28:9)

  Prayers of the rebel (Pro. 28:9)

  Eating flesh of peace offerings on the 3rd day (Lev. 7:18)

  Some same sex acts (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Dt. 23:18)

  Taking ornaments from idols when being destroyed (Dt. 7:25-26)

  Any Idolatrous practices (Dt. 12:31; 13:14; 17:4; 18:9; 20:18; 29:17)

  Offering an imperfect animal to God as a sacrifice (Dt. 17:1)

  Any traffic with demons (Dt. 18:7-12)

  Wearing clothes of the opposite sex (Dt. 22:5)

  Bringing the hire of a harlot or sodomite into God's house (Dt. 23:18)

  Re-marriage of former companions (Dt. 24:1-4)

  Cheating others (Dt. 25:13-16)

  Making images/idols (Dt. 27:15)

  Idols of Ammon (1 Ki. 11:5)

  Idols of Moab (1 Ki. 11:7; 2 Ki. 11:13)

  Idols of Zidon (2 Ki. 23:13)

  Incense offered by hypocrites (Isa. 1:13)

  Eating unclean things (Isa. 66:17)

  Offering human sacrifices (Jer. 32:35)

  Robbery (Ezek. 18: 6-13)

  Murder (Ezek. 18: 6-13)

  Adultery (Ezek. 18: 6-13)

  Oppression of others, particularly the poor or vulnerable (Ezek. 18: 6-13)

  Violence (Ezek. 18: 6-13)

  Breaking vows (Ezek. 18: 6-13)

  Lending with interest to a brother (Ezek. 18: 6-13)

  Lying with a menstruous woman (Ezek. 18: 6-13)

  Hardness of heart (Ezek. 18: 6-13)

  Injustice (Ezek. 18: 6-13)

  Worship of anti-Christ (Dan. 11:31; 12:11; Mt. 24:15; 2 Th. 2:4; Rev. 13)

  Incest (Lev. 19: 6-30)

  Things highly esteemed by man (Lk. 16:15)

  Many other sins of the nations (Lev. 18: 26-29; Dt. 18: 9-12; 20:18; 29:17; 1 Ki. 14:24; 21:2, 11; 23:24; 2 Chr. 28:3; 33:2; 34:33; 36:14; Ezek. 7: 3-20; 8: 6-17; 16: 2-58; 20: 4-30; Rev. 17: 4-5).

Why am I showing all these things?  Because the Lord asked me tonight which ABOMINATIONS do I think He will wink at and ignore.  He wished to know which of these sins must HE allow in His body?  He caused me to understand that only through the blood of Christ Jesus could any of us make it and that if we stand in agreement with the world that there are acceptable sins that He states there are none.  Grace and His Mercy will not cover the willful and froward sins of man.  Our sins must be repented of and turned from.  Every sin above will keep you from heaven if you do not repent and turn from them.  EVERY LAST ONE.  This goes for homosexuality as well as lying, proud hearts, cross dressing, cheating on or against one another, hypocritical acts, adultery and many others; many which are found in the church but not in His body.  Remember that…not in HIS body. 

Take care beloved and stand fast.  I suggest you read these and fix them in your heart and no matter how palatable and positive sinners try to make them seem, understand that God is not moved by anything but His Word.

Will a Man Rob God Part 5 - Final

Malachi 3:13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

Even after all God’s instructions to pay tithes and His promises to bless them exceedingly abundantly Israel still doesn’t get it.  Lest we look down our noses at Israel’s troubles, I see this attitude right here in America and I’m sure around the world.  Many Christian countries have stumbled in this way.  It’s not a complement when God says, “Your words have been stout against me.”  It shows a level of arrogance and pride to say that God does not exist and that there is no benefit to serving the creator of the universe.  It is even more arrogant to say that God exists but we don’t really have to deal with Him as a person (which He prefers) but as a power we can allude to or appreciate.

God says in His scripture that He prefers that we be HOT or COLD but not lukewarm.  A sinner who says that all religion is a joke and needs to be eradicated is cold toward God.  A saint who believes we must live every aspect of our lives toward God is hot toward Him.  A religious person who says, “It doesn’t take all that.  I’m going to church several times a year.  I believe in God but I don’t get fanatic about it,” is lukewarm toward God.  What does God say about these three types?  Revelation 3:15-16 says:

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I prefer thou wert cold or hot.  God can work on those two.  They have passion!  So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.”  I suggest you read from verse 14-18 for an even clearer view of God’s opinion of his lukewarm church.

Malachi 3:14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?

We raise our kids in the nurture and admonition of the Lord but perhaps we have left out the joy or the peace of the Lord.  Whatever we did wrong, all too many of our children have left the Lord or decided it is too hard a life to live.  They say, “I enjoy my friends and the excitement and fire to be found out there in the world.”  The beautiful child who sang in children’s church and danced before the Lord when young now frequents bars and nightclubs and sings songs about his or her body and how to make the least important part of what we are happy.

Malachi 3:15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

Pretty soon there is no right or wrong.  We begin to be proud of the work God has equipped us for, proud of our singing voice, proud of our acting skills, proud of our ability to make money.  Pride is a sin before God.  It denies God’s equipping our lives for His purpose.  It denies seeking His direction in all things.  It denies being thankful for His gifts.  According to scripture, gay pride is an abominable sin.  Paul wrote that it comes from removing God from our remembrance (Romans 1:27-28).  Military pride is a foolish sin.  Soldiers used to go to war and pray before every battle.  They prayed for their families back at home, their comrades in the battle and last of all for their own lives. 

Today we rarely seek God and if a soldier struggles with mortality the psychiatrists tell us to stop talking about religion.  I have had a military psychiatrist tell me that I could not visit a man who came to a crisis of fear over his military responsibility because religion was his problem.  He believed in Hell so the psychiatrists had to get him to believe there was no Hell.  I suppose that would work until he awoke in Hell.  A man whose faith in God is secure and strong has no such fears.  Faith makes us strong, not weak.

Notice it says that they that work wickedness are set up and they that tempt God are even delivered.  In America we have raised the level of homosexuality to the point politically where they can almost ask for sainthood and receive it.  You can be cast out of society or arrested for saying it is a sin.  They can curse Christians and arrest church members for feeding the poor (as happened last week in Florida), but the gay and lesbian and even more confused community of trans “I don’t know what I am” people are untouchable.  Can you say this isn’t an accurate depiction of this scripture?

Now let’s not leave ourselves out of this examination.  How many ministers have fleeced the flock, molested the members and scarred the saints.  We have a higher standard as church leaders.  As a test, consider other areas where someone has raised the importance of pride to ridiculous levels.  Let me know if you find others that seem to fit this scripture.

Malachi 3:16 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.

For you who still love God and put Him first in your lives, He knows.  There is a verse that says, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst (Matthew 18:20).”  The next verse shows Peter asking God how often must we forgive our brothers who sin and God says, “490 times.”  There is hope for us who sin if we repent.  There is blessing for us if we continue to seek God.  In this case God heard that His name was lifted up among certain groups of men and women.  He wished to honor those brave and faithful souls and had the angels in heaven write a brand new book.  In that book he wrote the names of all those who continued to fear and reverence God and those who thought upon His name. 

Beloved, God sees your trials and knows your fears.  He grieves with you over your pain and sorrow and walks with you during these dark times.  It is both His honor and His self proclaimed responsibility to do so.  He will NEVER leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5-6).  God abides forever faithful in your life.  His greatest joy is for His children to live before Him in love while adding daily to their eternal account.

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.

I don’t know about you, but I want to be written in that book.  This is not the Lambs Book of Life that all who come to accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ must be written in.  This is a book of the Father who looks with love and pride (which only He may walk in) at His respectful and honorable children and He is overcome by His love.  He showers them with riches and honors them with great wealth as a father honors a son who has served him faithfully.

These are the ones who have been proved in the fires of adversity.  These are they who stand, and having done all to stand…stand therefore (Ephesians 6:13).  They have continued to meet and gather in His Name through all tribulation, through all trials and continue to call Him Blessed.  Some are mentioned in Hebrews 11:4-13.  Such are the ones God chooses to honor and bedeck in jewels greater than silver and greater than gold.  Such are the ones who on that day will return with their Savior and their Lord to judge the world.

18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

How can we discern between the righteous and wicked unless we have already learned the difference.  If we call evil good and good evil in this life, can we really expect God to use us in the life to come?  …to judge ALL mankind?  I think not. 

Do you notice that there are no gray areas in verse 18?  There is only the wicked and the righteous, those who serve God and those who do not.  There is none of this touchy feely mess or those who say, “God is a God of love.  He wouldn’t send anyone to Hell.”  Wrong!  God is a God of love and righteousness and holiness.  He will make a way to redeem you from the curse of sin -Jesus- or YOU will have chosen to burn in Hell.  He created us with freedom of choice because He wanted loving children and not robots.  We who choose to serve God in this life with you cursing us might be somewhat offended if He decided to send everyone to heaven just because they were too full of sin to repent. 

When God spoke of the man who hired workers throughout the day and paid everyone a days wages no matter how long they worked that day, He was referring to those who accepted Christ early in life and those who accepted Christ at the last moment (Matthew 20:6-16).  He was not referring to those who spit on His Son and refused His sacrifice.  He is not human.  Do not ascribe human sentimentality to God.  He will send those who spurn Him and His grace to Hell while at the same time blessing the faithful.  In the words of one of our members at Faith Temple in California, “Don’t get it twisted.”

Choose well beloved.

Will a Man Rob God Part 4

God likes to brag on us kids.  He is like any proud poppa who points to a picture of our righteousness and obedience and says, “Have you considered Job.”  It grieves the Holy Spirit to see His children involved in scandal after scandal or to hear them approving of sins that He Himself has called abominable.  In our current touchy feely climate we offend Him daily by forgiving others in His name without the evidence of repentance or even so much as a vain word of guilt being uttered.  When God said that whatsoever you forgive on Earth will be forgiven in heaven it is presupposed that you have forgiven them because they are forgiven by the Holy Spirit who indwells you. 

John 20:22 AMP And having said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit! 23 [Now having received the Holy Spirit, and being led and directed by Him] if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained. 

Notice the order of things.  Jesus breathed on His disciples after His resurrection and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit!”  Does anyone think that God the Father did not keep God the Son’s word here?  Of course not.  They received the Holy Spirit.  Understand also that there is no break between verse 22 and verse 23.  The word ‘now’ in verse 23 makes it a continuation of verse 22.  Lets look at the same two verses in the King James version.

John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

In the KJV it leaves off the word ‘now’ but adds a colon at the end of verse 22 to continue the thought into 23.  Remember, chapters and verses do not exist in the Hebrew or Greek.  They are added by editors to make our Bible study more easily followed but they do not exist in the original.  You must read it in the original to get the flavor of the original.  The original here says, “lambano hagios pneuma tis an hamartia aphiemi aphiemi autos tis an kratao kratao.” 

It’s perfectly clear now right?  What He said is, “Now that you have taken hold (lambano) of the Holy Spirit (hagios pneuma) and He in turn has taken hold of YOU, if you forgive it is forgiven (aphiemi) and if you keep hold they are held (kratao).”  We are talking about forgiveness so if you forgive something it has to be a sin and if you keep hold you are not forgiving that sin.  We know we’re talking about sins and forgiveness because hamartia means to miss the mark.  In either case, it MUST be led by the UNCTION of the Holy Spirit which you have received.  I keep hammering this because it can’t be due to your tender heart or family loyalty or for financial gain.  It must be because the Holy Spirit is leading you to do so and it must be SCRIPTURAL.

The reason I spent so much time on this is because too many ‘saints’ of God allow themselves to be led by feelings and not scripture or spiritual unctions.  This leads to error which means that God is not with you no matter how much you might say He is.  Thousands of people commit terrible acts in the name of God and what frustrates me is that most unchurched people will NEVER EVEN ASK what our holy scripture has to say about it.  We are not free to do whatever we want and have God back us up.  He only backs up those who walk by scripture and not by feelings, opinions or man’s wisdom.

Now that we have established that God is not about to bless your mess, what happens if we do obey His Word? 

11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

When you are paying your tithes and living God’s Word everything changes.  First and foremost Satan attacks you and tries to get you to quit.  If you realize this up front you won’t be wondering why people out of nowhere begin to attack you for no apparent reason when you serve God.  The reason is not apparent because it’s spiritual.  Your money will get flaky and your closest friends may turn on you.  You have entered the battle and while you can step on Satan’s head, he will be bruising your heel (Genesis 3:15) and everyone knows it is painful to walk with a bruised heel. 

Because God knows you occasionally stumble and falter during these attacks, He gets involved personally and rebukes the devourer and destroyer of your labors for your sake.  I really want you to get this.  Have you ever had one of those days or weeks (or months or years) where it seems like every time you try to do something in business or even church you get clobbered?  Yes?  Are you paying your tithes?  Do you know how to pay your tithes?  The word tithe in Hebrew is maaser and it means tenth. 

If you earn one thousand dollars a month and the government takes two hundred dollars of your money in taxes, how much are your tithes?  I have had many tell me that their tithes in this case would be one tenth of the remaining eight hundred dollars.  They would pay eighty dollars…and cheat God out of twenty dollars.  God did not tell the government to take more of your money than He requires.  That is something you might want to take up with your government.  God requires a tenth of your income.  If you get paid ten cabbages for a salary or ten chickens then you give one to God even if your government comes and takes two of your chickens or cabbages. 

In my case I can’t stop the government from taking theirs first off the top.  They will have to answer to God for that themselves.  I calculate how much I have earned.  If I have worked for one hundred hours at ten dollars an hour then I have earned one thousand dollars.  I owe God one hundred dollars.  When the government and my insurance get done my check may be seven hundred and eighty dollars.  I still owe God one hundred dollars. 

Some people have problems with managing money.  They get into a spending binge right after payday and the next thing you know they forgot tithes.  I might not get in a spending binge but I am forgetful and so I came up with a way to make sure God gets His.  I have opened an account at my bank and named it Tithes.  On payday the check is automatically transferred into my household account.  I use my computer to go online and transfer that one hundred dollars from my Household account to my Tithe account. 

My tithe account is sanctified.  That means it is set apart for God’s use.  If the IRS decided to take that money to pay a debt they believe I owe they will have stolen from God.  I do not use that money for food or anything else.  If there is a hundred dollars in my tithe account and it is a week before payday and I’m broke, I guess I will be going on a fast because I cannot use that money for food.  The majority of that money goes to my local church so there will be meat in God’s house.  Occasionally I might send a portion to someone in need just as Paul spoke to the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 9:1-12). 

I’ve heard the arguments for and against tithing and I am personally against anything that will reduce the amount of income we faithfully give to the church…or the poor…to do God’s work.  I have been privy to enough ‘Christian’ men and women who tithe to God pretty words and little else.  They do not trust God, refuse to walk in faith and have answered ‘yes’ in every way possible to the question, “will a man rob God.”  Let me ask you a question.  If you were in financial straits and struggling for your next meal or a roof over your head, can you look up to heaven in the midst of your suffering and say, “Lord!  I faithfully pay my tithes and I need your help now!”

If you can then you are a rare and precious Christian.  God has great things in store for you and is ready to make all your prayerful financial decisions and actions prosper.  He looks upon you with great affection and is absolutely thrilled to open the windows of heaven.

12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.

God is even more than just excited to bless you.  He wants to brag on you like He bragged on...  “Don’t say it preacher!  Not Job again!  I don’t want to be like Job.”  Why not?  Sure…Job went through a lot and in Christ we will all go through a lot.  It is a difficult walk, full of spiritual warfare and insults by ignorant men and women.  Most of what happens to us falls under the heading of training.  When I joined the Air Force I went through some pretty rough training, but that was mild compared to the Marine Corps.  I suppose the forces closest to our walk in Christ is the Navy SEALS.  It’s more than the pressure, discipline and exhaustion that makes these elite warriors SEALS.  It’s their unity, how they work together toward that common goal, no matter what. 

They are well trained, disciplined and absolutely focused on the task at hand.  If someone stumbles they are right there to lend a hand and lend their strength to the weaker members.  To me that sounds a lot like the church OUGHT TO BE.  God wants to let everyone know that we are the apple of His eye and that we will stand when all those who thought they were bigger, tougher and stronger have been ground into the dust.  Sure we are walking in His strength and reaping His blessings along the way.  That is only right since so many hate and despise Him.  We endure their taunts and threats and God blesses us with Eternal Life and great joy. 

It takes a man of great spirit and faith to understand Hebrews 12:2 which says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Verses 3-7 are pretty eye opening too.  Abraham knew he was not from around here.  He believed he was a sojourner on his way to a better place.  We too must believe we are headed to a better place and know that when our training is complete, God will show His love for us in tangible and very real ways, both now in in the time to come.

This life can be difficult for God’s children, but His promises are sure and His blessings tangible.  I pray that every one of you who reads this will stand in His love and reap His blessings.

Will a Man Rob God Part 3

Malachi 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

What do you feel you owe God? 

Some of you are shouting, “EVERYTHING!!!”  Remember what we learned on the previous lesson?  God does not count your words alone as faith.  Let me read Isaiah 29:13.  I know it is also repeated in both Matthew 15:8 and Mark 7:6 but it misses something in the New Testament version.  Isaiah 29:13 NIV says, “The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.”

Doesn’t that sound like a description of life today?  How many times have I told someone, “I know how you feel, but what does scripture say?”  What does that last part mean – merely human rules?  Aren’t scriptures human rules?  They were written by humans.  How are they different?  What makes the Bible AUTHORITATIVE?  2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”  Scripture which has passed the canonization process is inspired by God and may be used to instruct, correct and reprove (in spite of all those people who believe reproof is judging).  This means that God Himself watches over His Word to perform it and prove it (Jeremiah 1:12). 

I know it’s terribly hard for others to believe someone was that submitted to God that he wrote every word, every letter and every phrase and name exactly as God wanted but it’s true.  God expects that same obedience and submission from us.  We are to submit beyond our feelings, beyond our desires and beyond our hopes.  He really doesn’t mind our scientific endeavors because God is not fearful of what will be proved.  His Word is truth.  Perhaps if scientists didn’t try so hard to prove the Bible a lie they might discover even more truths hidden within it’s text.

This means that man’s wisdom is of no consequence unless it lines up with God’s wisdom; in fact, God said that even His foolishness is greater than the wisdom of man (1 Corinthians 1:25).  We have now established that God will rush to perform His Word and bring it to pass.  We have established that God’s word is authoritative – and this is just one of MANY scriptures that do – so we know that God honors and upholds His words.  If we choose to honor God with words alone, He will not accept those words without corresponding actions.  If you think to yourself, “It doesn’t take all that,” the Word of God wishes to disagree with you.

Now we have arrived at the second part of this verse where God is saying, “Return to me and I will return to you;” and I might add that He will return with all those miracles and wonders you have been seeking.  Beloved, there must come a time in each of our lives where we decide that serving God is our first, best and only responsibility.  When you come to that point it becomes natural (I hesitate to say natural for something so spiritual) to ask yourself at work, play or rest, “How can I best serve God where I am?”

The best way you can serve God is first ask Him for faith to believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).  The second way is to know that this world was founded upon His Word and that His Word maintains and keeps it moving.  The last part of this verse is somewhat sad.  Even after learning what God requires of us and desires from us we still rationalize our actions and with a straight face say, “Lord, how can you possibly say that we have left you?”

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Do you suppose that God knew money would be a stumbling block for us?  1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

I have been told time and time again that tithing is under the law.  Nonsense.  Tithing came to Adam and Eve.  Cain and Abel both tithed and Cain’s failure in that area led to Abel’s death.  Abraham tithed before Moses came with the law.  There can only be one reason someone does not want to tithe.  They do not trust God and are unwilling to give their tithes to the church.  Men in business used to have honor and respect for one another.  Now the mantra is, “If you don’t like it, sue me.”  When we sue one another rather than trust God it offends Him.  Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 6:7-11.

7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[a] nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

WHAT???  First it says you should allow yourself to be wronged and even cheated by your brother.  Then it goes on to say that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.  The list of unrighteous actions is really offensive to some in today’s moral and political climate.  What fascinates me is that the earlier scripture says the love of money is the root of all evil.  Apparently the love of money also leads to these actions that God hates so much.  The end of this says, “But you are sanctified (set apart), you were justified (made worthy), in the name of Jesus by the Spirit of God.”  You were cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and have repented of your old ways.  So now what do we do?

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Okay, if the root of all evil is money then the first thing we need to do is make sure we give God and the church their due.  This puts responsibility upon the individual saint to pay their tithes and the church for being a storehouse.  Tithes aren’t there so the preacher can drive a Bentley and live in a mansion.  There is no problem with the priest receiving a reasonable salary for a difficult job, but part of his job is to make sure that the church is a storehouse to help meet the needs of the congregants when necessary. 

The priests are first partakers of the tithes.  There have been times when Levites were forced sell their services to the highest bidder in order to have food to eat and a place to sleep.  Had the nation remained faithful to God and the needs of the priesthood this would never have happened.  Because people began to cheat the priesthood and temple of much needed tithes, God stopped providing divine protection as He had been.  The people were complaining of how difficult things had become and God complained that the needs of the priests, the poor, the fatherless and the widows were not being met. 

God’s answer to all the complaints was, “Pay your tithes.  Test my Word.  See if I will not open the windows of Heaven and pour you an unquenchable blessing.  Over the centuries the Jews have learned this lesson.  The biggest complaint levied against them is how sharp they are in their financial wheeling and dealing.  The truth is that all wisdom comes from God and He honors their faithfulness with health and financial wisdom.  Many Jews have been persecuted, not because they have done evil things to those around them but because they trust in God and He honors them with great blessings.  Many Christians have been persecuted as well.  Of all the religions in the world, only Judaism and Christianity serve the true God of the universe.

Will a Man Rob God Part 2

Malachi 3:4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

I saw an article today that said the Jews in Jerusalem prayed for rain and the next day it began to rain and continued for some days.  God is beginning to open His hand and extend His arm to Israel in the midst of her trials.  Scripture says that where sin abounds, grace abounds even more (Romans 5:20).  The world believes that Israel must fall because so many billions speak words of hate and violence toward her.  They feel she must collapse because of a myriad of bombs, missiles and mortars sent against her.  Know this, Israel’s punishments over the years were hers and hers alone but they were not done to destroy her.  If you know God’s word even a little you will know the punishments have come to redeem her; to lead her to repentance.

Never fear the future of Israel; rather fear your own future and your own judgment should you be one of those who move against God’s chosen ones.  We Christians are grafted in, a wild olive branch blended with the tame olives.  Should we forget ourselves and esteem ourselves more highly than we ought (Philippians 2:3), God is well able to trim the wild olives of weeds.  As God opens a door to Israel, the time approaches when He will close the door for the church and receive us into His bosom.  On that day the chosen of God will walk the paths of our Lord Jesus in the land of Judah.

5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.

There are those in Israel AND the Church who have no understanding of the true grace and requirements of God.  When Jesus walked the earth He opened His heart to a publican named Zacchaeus (Luke 19:2-8).  This man who was short of stature had climbed a tree to see the Son of God.  He didn’t even argue whether or not he was a sinner.  When called to receive the Lord for dinner all the hair splitting hypocrites began to murmur and complain.  Nobody was hated as much as a tax collector and Zacchaeus was chief among them.

You must understand that faith requires action on our part.  It is not enough to feel bad for your sin.  It is not enough to want to hear the truth.  Zacchaeus desired the truth enough to climb a tree…hardly appropriate for a wealthy businessman…right?  Jesus looked up at him and saw his limited faith.  He invited himself to dinner at the man’s house.  Upon hearing the true complaints of his fellow Jews about his tax collecting Zacchaeus chose to take another step of faith. 

Climbing down to open the door of his house was not enough to ensure his salvation.  Christ says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock (Revelation 3:20).”  It is not enough to cry out, “Lord, please come into my heart.”  Zacchaeus did that by simply jumping down out of the tree.  Even Jesus did not say He was saved.  Repentance is not saying you are sorry.  Repentance is not feeling guilty for all your sins.  Repentance means to turn away from what you have been doing and walking a new path altogether. 

Zacchaeus stood before the God of all creation and proclaimed, “Lord, I give half of all I own to the poor and I will restore every penny I have received by improper means or extortion fourfold.  That meant if he received one shekel or dollar or pound or franc or shilling illegally he would repay that person four shekels or dollars or pounds or francs or shillings.  The law said he must restore what he took plus a fifth part.  If he had taken one dollar he had to pay back one dollar and twenty cents.  He went above and beyond in his repentance and promised to pay back four for every one he obtained unlawfully.

Only after hearing his confession and promise did Jesus said, “This day is salvation come to this house.  He declared Zacchaeus to be a son of Abraham and reminded the people that the Son of Man came to save that which is lost.  In Matthew 9:2 Jesus is said to have SEEN someone’s faith.  Faith is an act and action.  You can’t do it by believing alone.  It takes action on your part and that action becomes more specific and more involved the longer you walk with God.  It is because of this requirement that we die to self and live to Christ (Philippians 1:20-21). 

What would have happened if after the crowds left and Jesus went home Zacchaeus had second thoughts?  He might have said, “What was I thinking?  That’s a lot of money!”  This happens every day in the church.  We get excited and promise God everything but then we calm down and begin to say, “What have I done?”  These are the people shown in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:18-23).  Personally I believe that Jesus, who could see the heart, knew that Zacchaeus was sincere and committed.  I have sworn to my own hurt many times over the years.  Have you ever promised to do something for or give something to someone and then something didn’t work out the way you thought and it would have been difficult to do?  Of course you have and so have I.  This is called swearing to your own hurt (Psalm 15) and though it can be painful to keep your word, God will honor you if you do. 

Finally beloved, whatever our sins (and the list in verse 5 above is just a small portion of those that matter), we must repent of them and press toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus our Lord (Philippians 3:13-14).  We should examine the sins listed: sorcerers, adulterers, false swearers, those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that cheat the stranger from his right, and do not fear God.  That last one will cause much sorrow in eternity to come.  You might think, “I never do those evil things.  I’m faithful to my spouse and have never oppressed or cheated anyone.”  What about God?  “Oh, I don’t believe in that religion stuff.  EVERYONE knows that religion has caused more wars than anything else.”  What will you have to say on that day when God requires every word you have ever spoken be played back.  What will you say when none of them are, “Jesus please forgive my sins and come into my heart.”  What will you say when God says, “You murdered my Son and spit on His sacrifice?”

6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

I was going to stop at the verse above but decided to continue.  Every one of us are under a death sentence.  Whether we are mockers and liars, humanists and intellectuals, murderers and thieves, it does not matter to God.  Why?  Because Christ died for everyone.  There is more to it than that of course.  We discussed it in the verse above.  God requires we change our life and make a conscious decision to obey Him.  Toward this end, God has promised to give us grace and mercy.  There is a timer attached to these gifts.  It can run out when you die or when Jesus returns.  It is because of His grace and mercy that He doesn’t burn us all down to bedrock and scorch the planet.  God has promised to give you an opportunity to be saved and He always keeps His Word.  Most of us have already been offered this grace at least once.  Many of us have denied the gift at least once.  We are people who have been given a new lease on life but we have refused to sign the lease.

God is longsuffering.  The verse actually says, “Yahweh sana ben yakob kala.”  I’m sure you know what Yahweh means and that ben means son.  Yakob is Jacob.  Sana means unchangeable, consistent, constant.  Kala means destroyed, consumed, dissolved, removed.  God isn’t restoring Israel because they deserve it.  He is restoring Israel because He promised and covenanted with Abraham.  Part of His covenant with Abraham took place while Abraham was asleep and unconscious.  Abraham couldn’t sin enough to lose it (the covenant, not individual salvation).  We are spiritually the sons of Abraham.  We Christians aren’t consumed right now because of His longsuffering mercy.  Many of us haven’t even begun to obey Him yet.  He is holding his wrath until the very last moment so we can learn to submit to Him and say, “Yes Lord.”

Keep this longsuffering attitude in mind for the next lesson.