I thought it was interesting (not in a good way) as this week in the state of Louisiana, “the legislation that Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed into law on Wednesday that requires a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in “large, easily readable font” in all public classrooms, from kindergarten to state-funded universities.” Last week we talked about the veil that not only Jews have but also those who call themselves Christians have. I said “Not only is there a lack of hearing and seeing, but minds have also been made dull and delusion has come upon the church. Normally we think of the Jews when we read what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:14 “their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.” This legislation is not something to rejoice over, as this is not Christianity but Christian Nationalism at work. What I find interesting is not even Jesus posted the Ten Commandments. Jesus was asked, Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” It was telling when the governor said, “if you want to respect the rule of law, you got to start from the original law giver, which was Moses.” After a few amens, the lady beside him corrected the governor and said, “God gave - Moses received.” The governor then said, “that’s right, he got his commandments from God and wrote them out for us.” They actually thought that hanging the ten commandments on the wall would actually make a difference when God is not loved nor is His word obeyed wholeheartedly. Also, neighbors are not loved but just to note, loving neighbors doesn’t mean changing what scripture states. Jude 1:22 “Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” Loving God and obeying Him means there is power to change not only ourselves but our neighbors and this power that does not come from a poster. That change does not come through legislation but from power on High. 1 Corinthians 6:9 “Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
The God that gave those ten commandments has not changed but those who call themselves Christians have. Just as Israel and Judah refused to obey, the church also refuses to obey. Posting the ten commandments on the wall is meaningless, just as having a bible that is not read or obeyed, especially when most who call themselves Christians refuse to turn from their own wicked ways. No, there is nothing wrong with having verses posted on the wall but there is a greater issue here because the church has not returned to God plus there is a huge amount of hypocrisy happening here. Jesus said, Mark 7:6 “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” Here is the hypocrisy. One writer said, “Former President Donald Trump on Friday expressed support for displaying the Ten Commandments in schools after Louisiana’s Republican governor signed new legislation requiring the state’s public schools to display them in all classrooms. “I LOVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND MANY OTHER PLACES, FOR THAT MATTER. READ IT — HOW CAN WE, AS A NATION, GO WRONG???” Trump posted on his social media website Truth Social. Trump continued, “THIS MAY BE, IN FACT, THE FIRST MAJOR STEP IN THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION, WHICH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED, IN OUR COUNTRY. BRING BACK TTC!!! MAGA2024.” Again Christianity is not a religion. Donald Trump endorsed Republican Gov. Jeff Landry and the governor endorsed Trump. He said, "The great people of Louisiana overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump twice, and I stand with them. "That is why I am honored to endorse one of the greatest Presidents in our country’s history, Donald J. Trump.” I am sure I don’t need to expound on that hypocrisy. As one writer said about their leader, “Trump is not a poster boy.” Another example of the hypocrisy is Lauren Boebert who has made the news for her own morals said, "This is something we need all throughout our nation ... because we need morals back in our nation, back in our schools. If there's anything we are going to present in front of our children, it should be the word of God.” Marjorie Taylor Greene compared Trump to Jesus when she said, “The Democrats and the fake news media want to constantly talk about, ‘Oh, President Trump is a convicted felon,’” Greene told Trump supporters. “Well, you want to know something? The man that I worship is also a convicted felon, and he was murdered on a Roman cross.” Jesus was innocent but Trump is not. The amazing part in all this is that even someone like Trump could be saved and would be really amazing if Trump actually repented.
If God’s people would return and love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, this world would be changed. This means the church would return to His word, which then means every church there is would repent and turn from their wicked ways. It is only when we truly love God that we can love our neighbor as ourselves. It is only when we follow God’s word wholeheartedly that we can be His disciples, then people would be truly saved, healed and demons would be cast out just as when Jesus walked the earth. As it stands presently, that is not happening and the church remains in captivity. John 8:31 “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Luke 14:33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” When we follow God wholeheartedly, the church would look the same as it did at the beginning because Jesus is not dead. Luke 24:5 “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” 8 Then they remembered his words.” 16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” That was just the beginning, as the church was empowered to go and do the same.
When the church once again submits to God and obeys His word instead of their own, Jesus will then build His church and the church will once again be an immovable rock. Matthew 16:18 “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.” The Rock was Peter’s confession, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” When Israel came out of Egypt and found themselves trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, whose intent was to annihilate them, Moses said, Exodus 14:13 “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” When Moses was recapping the rebellion, he had said Deuteronomy 1:29 “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. 30 The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, 31 and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” When they were getting ready to enter the Promised Land a second time, Deuteronomy 31:7 “Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” God told Joshua, Joshua 1:2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” That is the same power the church was supposed to have.
As we know the people did not listen the first time that they were to take the land and died in the desert. When they had taken the land, the people still did not listen and were removed just as they had been told would happen over and over again. When God’s people listen and obey, they become invincible because God is with them. As we just read, when God goes before His people, no enemy will be able to stand against us. There will also be no fear of death. Paul said 1 Corinthians 15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” While in captivity Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah knew this because they obeyed God. Sometimes we can miss the part where they were prepared to die. When Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah refused to bow to the idol, they did not fear death. The king was furious when they refused to bow and worship and said Daniel 3:15 “Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Yes, there will be people who will die who are wholeheartedly committed to God. Romans 14:8 “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Hebrews 10:32 “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” 38 And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.”
Wholehearted commitment means we are totally submitted to God’s plan and not our own. Too many people in the church have bowed to the idols that have been set up and feared the lions as they do not trust God. Thus, there is no power as we see here. Daniel 3:26 “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” Daniel 6:23 “Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” Shortly after the start of the early church, the church turned away from God’s word to follow their own words. This rebellion allowed satan to decimate the church and leave the church powerless against its enemies. Man’s plans cannot defeat satan and the only way satan can be defeated is for God to turn His face back to us once again just as He has done in the past. Ezekiel 39:27 “When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of many nations. 28 Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. 29 I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Isaiah 54:7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. 8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.”
When the power of Pentecost that was given to the church returns, then the church will once again go out with power from on High and with authority just as Jesus and the disciples did. Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.” Mark 6:6 “Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” When the church returns, the kingdom of God will come near once again and the good news of the gospel will be heard and seen. Jesus said Mark 16:16 “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” When this happens, the church will become an immoveable rock. Zechariah 12:3 “On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. 8 On that day the Lord will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord going before them. 9 On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem.” 1 Chronicles 12:22 “Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.” When Sennacherib king of Assyria came against King Hezekiah and Jerusalem, after they called out to God, Isaiah spoke the word of the Lord and said, Isaiah 37:22 “Virgin Daughter Zion despises and mocks you. Daughter Jerusalem tosses her head as you flee. 23 Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! 24 By your messengers you have ridiculed the Lord.” 35 “I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!” 36 Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp.” Today the battle is not against flesh and blood but that same power is available to defeat Ephesians 6:12 “the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,” that we battle.
When you compare this power to hanging up a poster, it really is quite pathetic how many in the church think their ways are better than God’s. Think about the church as we know it today and then compare to what we read in scripture. Sadly, all we can compare to the church is the rebellion of Israel and Judah. What we have today is man’s best efforts which have failed to defeat our enemies. Don’t be deceived by the so-called success of the mega churches and their gurus who have the masses attention. Pay more attention to the lack of power, the distortion of scripture, the lack of healing and the lack of demons being cast out. Since God has turned His face from the church, that means people are not being saved as they think they are and most will not find out they had been deceived and deluded until it is too late. Luke 13:23 “Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!” Their eternal destination will not be where they think it will be.” Matthew 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Jesus said to His disciples Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” They waited and that power came at Pentecost and was to continue until the end of time. Isaiah 64:4 “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. 5 You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways.” When we submit everything to God, He will be our immovable rock. Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Jeremiah was told by God to prophecy to the people, Jeremiah 1:17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.” Psalm 62:1 “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. 2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. 3 How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down— this leaning wall, this tottering fence? 4 Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse. 5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. 6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”
