October 22, 2017
Call to Worship: Psalm 146:10 “The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.”
Songs: Sing Travis Cottrell
Let the Praises Ring Travis Cottrell
How Great Is Our God / How Great Thou Art CeCe Winans
Scripture: 1 Kings 8:22-53
Song: Hear Us from Heaven Ross Parsley
Sermon: “Great is the Lord’s Anger”
Closing Song: Come Alive (Dry Bones) Lauren Daigle
Benediction: Ezekiel 37:11 “Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”
Sermon: “Great is the Lord’s Anger”
During these last weeks we have covered many topics, but for the most part we have focused on end-times related subjects. As I have said we could talk about many other topics that deceive the church and say the same. For example there is much about the church growth movement we could talk about such as building the church based on what the business world is doing, becoming like the world to save the world, watering down the gospel as not to offend etc. The bottom line is that the church lies in desolation. Last week we saw how satan deceives the nations and the nations have definitely been deceived. I was talking with someone the other day and he asked what I thought about the end. I said there is no rapture and tribulation was upon us already. His understanding was that tribulation was going to be hell on earth. Yes in many cases it has been but I loved his very profound answer to my saying the tribulation was already here. He said well that was easy. I said that is exactly it. The church has been deceived without atrocity and without even being aware of the desolation upon them. satan has turned the church away from God simply by getting them to listen to man and setting the word of the Lord aside for other gospels.
Because of this the church has lost the power available to all who believe. Now remember believing is about belief in God’s word not man’s. When someone says I am a born again believer, what exactly have they been born into and what exactly do they believe? Most do not know they are not a born again believer because they are following a false gospel. We must believe what scripture teaches us. We saw how easy it has been for satan to deceive us. Sadly most are deceived because they actually don’t know their bibles. Matthew 22:29 “Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” This answer Jesus gave to the Pharisees could be said to most who do not know they do not believe. As Jesus said “You are badly mistaken.” Most stand on what they have been taught, that is the distinctives of their particular belief system. The problem is they do not know the scriptures and have accepted that there is no power available to us any more and therefore do not repent and seek God to hear us from heaven. Yes some teach ceastionism while others don’t teach we should be seeking. They have settled with 2 Timothy 3:5 “having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” This is how serious this is. Nowhere does the bible say the power is no longer available to us. What the bible clearly states is; if you obey I will bless you and if you do not you will be cursed. You saw that this week when you read Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26. Jesus said Matthew 28:16 “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” John 14:23 “Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” Notice that some doubted and ever since many continue to doubt His words. Obedience to God’s word is the key to having the presence of God among us. Matthew 16:13 “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” This promise is based on the true admission of who Jesus is and what is available to us because of Jesus. This promise does not apply to false gospels. This is why they have to cover the lack of power by saying God does not do that anymore. John 14:9 clearly states “Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
So obviously the church has doubted, stopped believing and therefore the power available is no longer accessible. But does the church repent? No they just explain it away. Jesus said he would send the Spirit of truth but we have rejected truth and therefore have rejected His Spirit. John 16:13 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” This rejection of the Holy Spirit has lead the church into what is false and other gospels. Isaiah 63:10 “Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.” Deuteronomy 32:5 “They are corrupt and not his children; to their shame they are a warped and crooked generation. 6 Is this the way you repay the Lord, you foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator who made you and formed you? They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior. 16 They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols. 17 They sacrificed to false gods, which are not God— gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your ancestors did not fear. 18 You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth. 19 The Lord saw this and rejected them because he was angered by his sons and daughters. 20 “I will hide my face from them,” he said, and see what their end will be; for they are a perverse generation, children who are unfaithful. 21 They made me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their worthless idols. 28 They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them. 29 If only they were wise and would understand this and discern what their end will be!” Pretty sure this also applies to the church.
The teaching within the church that we have been talking about has caused God to be angered with us. God has hidden his face from us and we have no power to defeat our enemies. Deuteronomy 32:20 “I will hide my face from them,” he said, “and see what their end will be; for they are a perverse generation, children who are unfaithful.” We saw this with Samson. Judges 16:20 “Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.” We saw this with Joshua. God even told them no man would stand against them yet they disobey and were defeated. In the cursed side of Leviticus 26:36 “‘As for those of you who are left, I will make their hearts so fearful in the lands of their enemies that the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. They will run as though fleeing from the sword, and they will fall, even though no one is pursuing them. 37 They will stumble over one another as though fleeing from the sword, even though no one is pursuing them. So you will not be able to stand before your enemies. 38 You will perish among the nations; the land of your enemies will devour you. 39 Those of you who are left will waste away in the lands of their enemies because of their sins; also because of their ancestors’ sins they will waste away.” They were told Leviticus 26:14 “But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, 15 and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, 16 then I will do this to you:” After being routed by Ai. God said to Joshua. Joshua 7:10 “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. 13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.” So now we have no power and we cannot stand against our enemies yet my people love it this way!
All of this is made clear in the Old Testament. This is why it was not abolished. Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Many teach that the Old Testament does not apply and is irrelevant and many don’t even read it. This is why so many are so easily deceived by satan concerning the teachings of the New Testament. Many today have accepted the heretical dispensational teaching that God acts in different ways or dispensations throughout history. For example, one of the dispensations they think is the millennium. The Jews looked for a king to reign on David’s throne and missed Jesus and those who have fallen for the millennium are looking for Jesus to reign on David’s throne in the millennium and therefore have missed him just like the Jews. Scripture states Malachi 3:6 “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.” If people would stop quoting man and start reading the bible the devastation would not be upon us. Israel sinned and they were defeated. The church has turned away and is defeated and stands desolate. The promises God gave them had to be set aside because there were stipulations on them. Obey and you will be victorious and live long in the land. Deuteronomy 4:40 “Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.” Deuteronomy 4:25 After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God and arousing his anger, 26 I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. 27 The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. 28 There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.” Deuteronomy 5:16 “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
The Lord God does not change as you can see in these next verses. Ephesians 6:1 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Luke 11:28 “He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” John 8:51 “Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” John 14:23 “Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” The problem is most are not asking and teaching what happens if you don’t even though scripture is clear. John 3:18 “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 14:24 “Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” Acts 5:32 “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” Galatians 5:7 “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.” 2 Thessalonians 1:5 “All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.” 1 John 2:3 “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” 1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
The Old Testament gives us a very clear picture of what happens when we disobey and many are living in ignorance while going to church. God has not changed nor has his requirements for obedience. The church has been deceived into thinking that because Jesus came, we do not have to adhere to his word because he is filled with grace and is faithful to us. But just like in the Old Testament states very clearly, when we grieve his Spirit we will be punished. Many misunderstand what God never taking away his love from us means. They think that no matter how far we drift and disobey God is a God of grace so it really doesn’t matter if you follow wholeheartedly. God said to David.“ 2 Samuel 7:11 “The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” You see many forget to read verse 16. God promised a remnant always. He did not say everyone would make it no matter what. All you have to do is see what happened to Solomon when he did not obey or all the kings who followed who did evil in the eyes of the Lord. 1 Kings 11:9 “The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
The king he gave it to was Jeroboam. God said to him. 1 Kings 11:38 “If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you.” So Jeroboam had the opportunity to be a great King but he disobeyed. The kings of Israel who followed did not obey either. Later it was said about kings who disobeyed. 1 Kings 16:25 “But Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord and sinned more than all those before him. 26 He followed completely the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, by their worthless idols.” That is not the legacy you want to leave but this is the legacy false teachers and prophets are leaving behind.
Lets go back to Acts. Here we hear from “a man named Stephen, full of God’s grace and power, who had performed great wonders and signs among the people.” In his message he said, Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” Nothing has changed by the way. Romans 2:13 “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” So here we see Stephen make the connection to the Old Testament and how those of today are doing the same thing he was talking about. Mark 15:13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.” Hebrews 6:4 “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.” Hebrews 10:29 “How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?”
So Jeroboam becomes king and turns the people away. The kings of Israel that followed also did evil in the eyes of the Lord until God did what he said would do if the people did not obey. Hoshea was the last king of Israel. 2 Kings 17:5 “The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege to it for three years. 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria.” Stephen had said, “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” 2 Kings 17:11 They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. 12 They worshiped idols, though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.” 13 The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.” 14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.” 16 They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. 17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger. 18 So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence.” Today we have followed worthless idols and have also committed adultery and idolatry before God and have turned away from him. God had offered amazing things to Solomon just as Jesus offered us but he turned away as did those who followed. Another great deception of satan is that we can disobey and because God is a God of grace everything will be okay. No, that is not what scripture states. Peter said, Acts 2:38 “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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call. 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Another example from the same text 2 Kings 17:25 occurs when Samaria is resettled. Israel was removed and others from elsewhere replaced them but they had a problem. “When they first lived there, they did not worship the Lord; so he sent lions among them and they killed some of the people. 26 It was reported to the king of Assyria: “The people you deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know what the god of that country requires. He has sent lions among them, which are killing them off, because the people do not know what he requires.” Unfortunately today’s church is like them and do not know what he requires. “27 Then the king of Assyria gave this order: “Have one of the priests you took captive from Samaria go back to live there and teach the people what the god of the land requires.” 28 So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the Lord.” Last week we talked about everyone going their own way and doing their own thing; all the while thinking they are reading the same bible. Look at what happens and the similarities to what we talked about last week. 29 “Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns where they settled, and set them up in the shrines the people of Samaria had made at the high places. 32 They worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed all sorts of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. 33 They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.” Sound familiar. I am a Catholic, I am Baptist, I am a Methodist, I am Brethren, I am Reformed, each going their own way while worshipping the Lord. 34 “To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the Lord nor adhere to the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands that the Lord gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel. 35 When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. 36 But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. 37 You must always be careful to keep the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. 38 Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. 39 Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.” 40 They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. 41 Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.” Well that describes the church today from grandparents to grandchildren who are worshipping in their own way.
So back to Jeroboam. He was told 1 Kings 13:13 “By the word of the Lord a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering. 2 By the word of the Lord he cried out against the altar: “Altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.’” 3 That same day the man of God gave a sign: “This is the sign the Lord has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out.” Later Jeraboam was also told 1 Kings 14:14 “The Lord will raise up for himself a king over Israel who will cut off the family of Jeroboam. Even now this is beginning to happen. 15 And the Lord will strike Israel, so that it will be like a reed swaying in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land that he gave to their ancestors and scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they aroused the Lord’s anger by making Asherah poles. 16 And he will give Israel up because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.”
Do we honestly think we can live however we want and serve God how we please? God does not change. As God promised he would keep a remnant but even in the end they disobeyed and the remnant went into captivity. 2 Kings 21:10 “The Lord said through his servants the prophets: 11 “Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil than the Amorites who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols. 12 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. 13 I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. 14 I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and give them into the hands of enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their enemies; 15 they have done evil in my eyes and have aroused my anger from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day. 16 Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.”
Before we move on. Repentance changes even the worst of the worst. satan knows this and he has done a good job getting the church to stop teaching repent the kingdom is near. Now the kingdom that is near is Assyria / Babylon instead of the kingdom of heaven. 2 Chronicles 33:9 “But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites. 10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. 11 So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. 12 In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.” But His son refused to humble himself before God and Josiah became King.
When Israel was to take they land they were told in Numbers 33:50 “On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the Lord said to Moses, 51 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.” This was the enemy but today Israel had become worse than the enemy. In Manasseh’s case 2 Kings 21:9 “But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.”
When Josiah became King. 2 Kings 22:2 “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.” and in the 18h year he began to repair the temple of the Lord. During this process they “found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” So they took it and read from it in the presence of the King.” I am about to read a verse we have read many times. We have read this verse over and over again. You might be thinking not again really. But after all that we have talked about in the last little while, I would hope you realize we are the same position. The word of God has been lost to most churches and God is angry. The word they read is an amended version, nullified by the traditions of men and doctrines of demons. The church has turned away from God’s word and refuse to repent. I trust today this verse might mean a little more. But look it at what Josiah did. 2 Kings 22:11 “When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 12 He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 13 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. “Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.” This is us. Those who have gone before have not followed God’s word. Hezekiah also open the doors and repaired the temple . He said 2 Chronicles 29:5 “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary. 6 Our parents were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the Lord our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the Lord’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him. 7 They also shut the doors of the portico and put out the lamps. They did not burn incense or present any burnt offerings at the sanctuary to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore, the anger of the Lord has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of dread and horror and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes. 9 This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity.” In Samuel’s day 1 Samuel 3:3 “The lamp of God had not yet gone out.”
The Lord has turned his face from shining us because we have turned from his word and we lie desolate. He is angry. We have fallen because those who gone before us have not followed God’s word but have been seduced into believing other gospels and have sacrificed the next and the next generations because of it, but like Manassah we can repent and turn away from the empty ways of our parents and ancestors. We must follow the word of God and not turn from it no matter what. Have you found the word of God again? Josiah then went through and did what they were told to do in Numbers 33 as I read earlier but sadly this was not the enemy this time but Israel. First 2 Kings 23:3 “the king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.” I will let you read all that he did but here is a summary; He removed, tore down, burned, broke down, ground, pulled down, desecrated, smashed, slaughtered, got rid of, cut down, and fulfilled the earlier prophesy about him. 21 The king gave this order to all the people: “Celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” 22 Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed. 23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem.”
When God revealed to us how far off we were, we too had to follow at any cost. We have to tear down what those who have gone before us have built. We have to make aware of the deception at hand. You need to understand that there can be no peace while Jezebel reigns. Jehu replied 2 Kings 9:22 “How can there be peace, as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?” We are at war with the enemy who has infiltrated the Kingdom of God. Let me say this bluntly. If you want light and fluffy and plastic swords, listen to someone else preach, but if you want to go to war, then put your armour and keep it on and get ready for God to use you in ways you cannot imagine. Will you stand with David and say what he said about Goliath. 1 Samuel 17:26 “David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” This is not a game. The enemy is defying the armies of the living God. This is not about feeling good about ourselves while not following the gospel of Jesus Christ wholeheartedly. This is life or death for eternity. This is not about God making our lives better but making our lives about Him. So Laurie I haven chosen to follow with everything we had. Has it been easy? No! Our ministry is about making people aware of the deception they have been seduced with. Letting people know that they are off track never wins friends and makes people angry because you will offend them. But that's okay Matthew 15:12 “Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” 13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” You have to make a choice not to follow blind guides. Jesus said Matthew 10:22 “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Twice now I have had people say to me about leading a cult. But Jesus said Matthew 10:25 “It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!” Yes these are ignorant people who do not know God’s word nor his power. Luke 6:22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.” Yes people will spread lies about you but in the end God’s name will be made known. Yes this is strong but will you stand firm and be prepared for battle or are you just coming to church expecting to be blessed without standing firm. Are you really willing to train and be trained? If not you will die. Once we get past thinking about ourselves we will understand what it means to wait on God. David said in Psalm 27:7 “Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. 8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. 9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. 10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. 11 Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. 13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
After all that Josiah did, 2 kings 23:24 “furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the temple of the Lord. Yes God is angry but we need to follow Josiah and do the same. Then this will also be said about us. 25 Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.” We want God to say this about us. We have been told Mark 12:29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” We do not want to hear Matthew 25:41 “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
We are told in Hebrews 6:9 “Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Yes we are in captivity but our freedom is coming. God said Deuteronomy 4:29 “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. 31 For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.” The watered down cheap grace that has been pedaled is from satan. The true God of grace will allow devastation to come upon us but he is faithful to his promise to David. The remnant will rise up once again. 2 Kings 13:22 “Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. 23 But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.”
The same power is available to all who believe the truth Ephesians 1:17 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
