The world has been in chaos ever since Adam and Eve rebelled against God’s word, even though Genesis 1:3 “And God said… 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” They refused to listen to God’s word and chose to listen to satan’s word instead and death came to the world. Genesis 3:19 “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” Revelation 12:9 “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 13 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.” Daniel 7:21 “As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.”
satan has been at war with God’s people since the beginning of time and the world was evil. Genesis 6:3 “Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.” 5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 18:20 “Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” There wasn’t even ten who were righteous. 24 “Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. 29 So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.” Even with all the evil there was still hope.
The evil would continue because God’s people continued to rebel against His word and Israel and Judah would fall to their enemies because of their rebellion. 2 Chronicles 36:15 “The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. 17 He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men or young women, the elderly or the infirm. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. The church did not learn from Israel and even though Jesus came to save His people, His people rejected Him and the evil would continue in the church and to this day the church rebels against the word of God, just as those who went before them and is powerless to defeat our enemies and remains desolate and in captivity.
By all appearances you would think the church is powerful, as there are churches everywhere you look, but it is not the church you are seeing, but buildings with people in them who have rebelled against the word of God. Buildings can look impressive, but they do not hold any power no matter how successful they are, because the word of God has been rejected for the words of man. As Daniel and Isaiah said truth has been thrown down and is nowhere to be seen. Because truth is missing, there is no power to defeat our enemies. It is not because power is not available, it is because the church has rebelled, and because of rebellion, God has turned His face. Jesus told us how it was supposed to be. 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.” Because the church rebelled against God’s word, the way the truth and the life, evil is rampant not only in the church but in this world. Millions of people are dying without ever hearing the truth and millions of people are dying who think they have heard the truth but have died deceived and deluded.
The world we live in is a mess and getting worse and I don’t need to describe how bad it is. Unless you are completely cut off, you can see that the world we live in is not getting better. The wars and the weather are extreme but the war that has really affected the world is the war the church is losing. That is not how it was supposed to be. The church was supposed to continue the work Jesus started but the church has rejected His word therefore cannot carry on the work Jesus started. Instead of victory and changing the world, the church has been defeated. Because the church is losing, the world suffers greatly just as the church is suffering loss but thankfully there will always be a remnant. The downside of that is a remnant means only a few are being saved. The abomination that causes desolation has decimated the church and the church is completely powerless against our enemies. Probably for the first time in a long time Covid exposed just how powerless the church really was. From the Baptist to the Pentecostal, the church sat powerless. But then covid faded and everything went back to normal, that is a contentedness with a powerless normality. The church is not the church Jesus gave authority and power to, yet most think they are actually the church, saved and awaiting eternal life, but this is the deception and delusion that is upon the church. In a time where the church should be crying out to God, the church continues down a dangerous path that does not lead to eternal life. Read Psalm 107. Psalm 107:13 “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” But the church does not cry out and truth is still missing. Jeremiah 5:1 “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city. 2 Although they say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ still they are swearing falsely.” 3 Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent. 4 I thought, “These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God. 5 So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God.” But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds. 23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. 24 They do not say to themselves, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God. 30 “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” Sounds like what happened with Sodom and Gomorrah and is still happening. When Jesus sent out His disciples, Jesus said Matthew 10:14 “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” Jude 1:5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.”
Today the Jews still refuse to listen. The church also refuses to listen, even though most in the church claim that Jesus is their Messiah and King, yet both the Jew and the church are in captivity and desolation because of their rebellion. Neither learned from the failures of their ancestors and both believe wholeheartedly that they are on the right path. Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 9:13 “Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, 15 calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, 16 “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, 17 “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” 18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.” Daniel said Daniel 9:27 “And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”
In deception and delusion both the Jew and the church are waiting for Jesus to reign on David’s throne. The Jews are waiting for their Messiah who will reign on David’s physical throne. Many in the church are also waiting for Jesus to return and reign on this earth, (Millennial kingdom) yet that poses a problem because Jesus already did that. You really have to ask yourself why many in the church are following the Jews who rejected Jesus and then murdered Him and they still do not believe Jesus was the Messiah, even though Luke makes it pretty clear Jesus is the Messiah and reigns on David’s throne. Luke 1:11 “Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 11:20 “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
The good news is scriptural history shows us it is not too late to turn to the Lord and away from our wicked ways. God made a way even though Adam and Eve rebelled. God brought the people back from captivity and then sent His son Jesus to save the world. God has been making a way since he saved Noah and made a covenant with Abraham and a promise to David. Jesus came to save us and set us free. John 12:30 “Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 14:28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” John 16:7 “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” Revelation 11:15 “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
We must turn back to God’s word so that His face will once again shine upon us and His Spirit will dwell among us. Ephesians 2:19 “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” The temple is the not a building but the body of Christ. There is still hope in the midst of chaos. Isaiah 59:1 “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.” The sad part about the previous verse is that Isaiah goes to say “2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. 12 For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: 13 rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, inciting revolt and oppression, uttering lies our hearts have conceived. 14 So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. 15 Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.” Isaiah also said Isaiah 1:3 “Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. 14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!” God wants to save His people, but His people are stubborn and obstinate but those who will repent, God will hear and act. Daniel confessed and said Daniel 9:17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” Zechariah 1:3 “Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Like Daniel the church must confess and repent. 2 Chronicles 7:13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.”
If God’s people had obeyed, the church would have continued to do as Jesus did and the world would be a different place and eternity would have already started by now. The power of Pentecost was short lived because the church rebelled and God turned His face. Instead of doing as Jesus 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,” and as the early disciples did, Acts 8:6 “When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city,” the church built buildings and people followed man’s word instead. We were told 2 Peter 3:11 “You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” Obedience speeds its coming; disobedience brings on the wrath of God, but since there is no fear of God in the church, most are not too worried about where they will spend eternity, as the deception and delusion has given most a false sense of security. Take a survey and most who go to church or call themselves Christians will say they are going to heaven. Many do not take the end of time seriously. Peter also said 2 Peter 3:3 “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
I don’t think most, myself included, really get what it means to bow before Jesus our King. On the church calendar, this Sunday is called Christ the King Sunday, the first Sunday before Advent. Not every church has this day on its calendar but if you call yourself the church, Jesus is the King of kings and reigns on David’s throne, just as scripture tells us. Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” In the world we live in, most kings don’t carry the weight they used to as it is more of a symbolic role, though many leaders would like to be kings in the sense that they want absolute power. “An absolute monarchy means the king has complete authority over the state and rules by their own right, such as through divine right. The king has the power to make laws, judge, and execute. The doctrine of divine right of kings asserts that a monarch's right to rule comes from divine authority, and that they are not subject to earthly authorities.” “A king is the owner of everything and everyone in his kingdom.” Scripture also gives us a description of a king. God’s people rejected God and wanted a king like the rest of the world, 1 Samuel 8:6 “But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights. 10 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles. 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.” Sadly, most of the kings did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
When you think of king Charles and even queen Elizabeth, you don’t get that picture of what a true king really is. A king as described above means his word is absolute and he owns you and rebellion would mean certain death. Even not rebelling could mean death. The king might just be angry with you for whatever reason as he does not need to give a reason. Genesis 40:1 “Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them.” The cupbearer was restored, and the baker was put to death. The power the king had meant that you feared them while you served them. We are told in Ecclesiastes 8:2 “Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. 3 Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. 4 Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?” One of the most powerful kings there was, was the king of Babylon, king Nebuchadnezzar. After God had humbled him and shown that he was powerless before God, king Nebuchadnezzar said Daniel 4:2 “It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation. 34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” 36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” He came to understand what this meant. Matthew 10:28 “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Ecclesiastes 5:1 “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 3 A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. 6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?”
Too many in the church make meaningless vows to God, and even treat God as if He is Satan Claus, but when life doesn’t go as they want it to go or get what they want, they stop believing and turn away and blame God without fear of His wrath. Every Sunday people go to a building to worship their Savior and King. People worship, listen to a sermon and then go home unchanged and continue to live for themselves and continue to reject His word. The very act of going to a particular church is a rejection of God’s word as most have given their lives, not to Jesus, but to a distinct set of beliefs depending on what church they attend. It could be Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Pentecostal, Reformed and on and on the list could go and most will die falsely believing that they have found the way, truth and life, but when it is too late, they will hear, Matthew 7:23 “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Most have believed the words of their leaders, many who act as if they are kings, who tell them their way is the truth, even though their words contradict scripture and there is no power. The most successful gurus in the church are powerless and do not carry on the work of Jesus, even though people follow them as if they were Jesus Himself. The leader is not the king but should humbly point you to the King. Many say they have submitted to the king but reject His words for the words of men. Jeremiah 23:36 “But you must not mention ‘a message from the Lord’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort the words of the living God, the Lord Almighty, our God.” Some have the audacity to make their words equivalent to the word of God or even more important even though we are warned many times that, Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” Revelation 22:18 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” People keep doing this because they do not fear God. If you really have submitted to King Jesus, you would not alter His words but follow them wholeheartedly.
Many people fail in their vows to God, as they make them lightly, plus most are not taught that God will test your commitment, so when life gets hard or even when life is easy, they fail the test. Church has become something you attend that fulfills your needs and if not, you find somewhere else to go. Most people want a carefree Christian life. Go to church, be entertained listen to a sermon that hopefully scratches the ears and then go home and live life and then do it again next week. 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” That time is already here. The church we see today is not the true church. It is as if Pentecost never happened. Think about Peter before Pentecost. He said and did things that were careless and he feared for his life. One time Jesus even said to Peter, Matthew 16:23 “Get behind me, satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Notice that satan was present with Jesus, so he will be present with you, so you have to be very careful and test the spirits. 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” But after Pentecost, as Paul said death had no sting.
When you think of keeping your vow no matter what, Job shows us how that is done. Again, satan is present and God allows satan to destroy him, but he was not allowed to take his life. He loses his family, his possessions, status and dignity. satan then uses his wife, his close friends, acquaintances, town’s folk and strips him of his health. We know what is happening, but Job did not. On top of that, God is nowhere to be seen. As Job said, Job 23:2 “Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. 3 If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! 4 I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say to me.” Later Job would humble himself before God and say Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. 4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ 5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job went on to describe God’s absence in His life. “8 “But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. 9 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.” Job also describes his life before satan had his way with him. Job 29:2 “How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me, 3 when his lamp shone on my head and by his light I walked through darkness! 4 Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house, 5 when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me, 6 when my path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil.”
Everything changed around him and his loss was immense, even his own life was near to death, but what did not change was his devotion to His God. He remained Job 1:1 “blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” Even though all of this happened, he refused to turn against God. His wife said Job 2:9 “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die! 10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” Remember satan’s goal was to get Job to curse God. His friends tried to convince him he had sinned, but Job refused to give up and turn against God. He said, Job 27:2 “As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made my life bitter, 3 as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, 4 my lips will not say anything wicked, and my tongue will not utter lies. 5 I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity. 6 I will maintain my innocence and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.” Job would hold on because he would continue to fear God and keep his vow. Even though all this happened to him, and he did not know why, he remained faithful to His God. Job 19:25 “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes— I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” David said Psalm 27:13 “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.”
In the end God blessed Job and rebuked his friends. Job 42:7 “After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” Notice the young and arrogant Elihu wasn’t present. Job 42:10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” This is so important that Job is talked about in James. James 5:11 “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. It is also important to understand that keeping vows is not done just to get blessed; it is to make the name of the Lord known. Psalm 105:12 “When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, 13 they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. 14 He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings: 15 “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.” As Christians we are prophets of God and our job is to make know the name of Jesus, not ours. We do not give up no for our sake but so that people will fear and praise God. Psalm 67:1 “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us— 2 so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. 3 May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. 4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. 5 May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. 6 The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. 7 May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.”
The amazing part about this is God is not a human king. He wants to bless us and open the floodgates. Psalm 144:12 “Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace. 13 Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields; 14 our oxen will draw heavy loads. There will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets. 15 Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.” Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” Yes, most churches want your money, but this is about giving your life to Jesus and serving him as your king. The more we commit to God and fear Him, the more His name is made known.
God has promised to save the remnant and he will not break that promise to David, so we wait for redemption and continue to cry out to be saved from our enemies. Psalm 119:81 “My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. 82 My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me?” 83 Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees. 84 How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors? 85 The arrogant dig pits to trap me, contrary to your law. 86 All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for I am being persecuted without cause. 87 They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. 88 In your unfailing love preserve my life, that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.” God said He chooses the appointed time. Psalm 75:1 “We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds. 2 You say, “I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge with equity. 3 When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. 4 To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns. 5 Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak so defiantly.’” 6 No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves. 7 It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another. 8 In the hand of the Lord is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs. 9 As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob, 10 who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” As we know God’s timing is perfect.
In the midst of all this evil, there is hope, even though man continues to sin against God. Like Job we do not give up. Last week we read, Isaiah 43:1 “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. 18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. 20 The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, 21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.” Job did not give up and God blessed Him with His presence. 1 Chronicles 16:34 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 35 Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.” 36 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”
Jesus came to defeat satan and the church was to continue in that work. 1 John 3:8 “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” Without power, the church cannot continue that work. It is only when we return to God’s word, that power will return and we will be redeemed from the hold of our enemies. Our enemies are not people, though many are used by satan as we saw with Job. Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” We still have this hope of redemption. Revelation 12:10 “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
