Recently President Trump referenced Churchill in WW2 during the air raids on England. These air raids took place “On September 7, 1940, 300 German bombers raid London, in the first of 57 consecutive nights of bombing. This bombing “blitzkrieg” (lightning war) would continue until May 1941.” Life changed as they knew it. As I looked into this, the amount of destruction to the churches during this bombing is really astounding. While these buildings do not describe the church, they were places where people met to worship. Now lets move to the present. In essence we have World War 3 taking place and the world is loosing this war. This war is like no other and completely different than WW1 and WW2. One writer said, “The world is now engaged in what legitimately can be labeled the Third World War — dramatically different from any war imagined decades ago, but massively lethal and destructive, nonetheless. This is not a confrontation of countries with nuclear and other advanced weapons, but it does involve massive numbers of countries throughout the world in a very different way. They are not fighting one another but, instead, this Third World War is against a small, unseen virus that threatens all nations — regardless of the nature of their governments or their political philosophies — and millions of their people. This is not how military planners had envisaged World War III, but that is how it is working out.” The numbers are astounding but the unknowns are even more stunning. While many focus on the number of deaths worldwide, which John Hopkins tells is at 1,069,194, the numbers that could be particularly devastating are the number of cases 36,951,286. This can be described as “The list of lingering maladies from COVID-19 is longer and more varied than most doctors could have imagined. Ongoing problems include fatigue, a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, achy joints, foggy thinking, a persistent loss of sense of smell, and damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain.” The world desperately seeks an answer but still refuses to seek the truth.
When this virus hit the world, most followed the orders to shut down. Not only did the world shut down, the gathering of religions around the world also ceased to meet in their buildings. Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Mormons and Christians etc. all shut down. You would be foolish to say during the blitzkrieg, we are the church and we will meet in our building no matter what. Having said that please remind yourself that bombs cannot destroy the true church! But lets continue with this image. Can you image if the United States was being bombed daily and the leaders of churches said we are meeting in our building anyways because it is our constitutional (in the US) right to meet. So thousands of us are going to gather. I am sure you can see the foolishness of this. But in the case of this virus, you cannot see the enemy. The bomb can go off without anyone knowing. (This is also how satan works) Sometimes this virus shows its presence with mild to devastating results and other times it doesn’t reveal itself but it is still there all the while infecting those it comes in contact with. When the orders came to shut down most obeyed. John MacArthur said “When we heard models coming out of the Imperial College in the UK that millions were going to die, millions were going to die, we said ‘well we don’t want to kill people.” What I would like to have seen were these ministers hanging on to their beloved constitution right from the beginning. Then they started to write their own narrative because they did not agree with the experts around the world. This is a form of narcissism when they say I don’t have the virus so it’s not real. I looked on this list of countries that have had the virus and the bottom one was Anguilla, in the Caribbean. When I last looked they had 3 cases with three recovered and no deaths so therefore you could say this is not a pandemic but to say this is not a pandemic as John MacArthur stated is to completely stick your head in the sand and reject the danger because you do not have it. He wanted others to follow. I came across an article written from the perspectives of Christian leaders from Peru, Argentina, Spain. MacArthur sent out a document called Christ, not Caesar, Is Head of the Church - A Biblical Case for the Church’s Duty to Remain Open (not biblical by the way) They responded “However, this document of such high biblical and theological flight, crashes to the ground and loses its relevance and practical meaning when it projects its application to the context and reality that we live today.” One of the writers said, ““These pastors are unable to measure the serious consequences of their attitudes, both for public health and for the witness of the church”, He regrets that there are pastors who can only live their faith as a kind of show that cannot stop and must go on. In no way do we glorify God risking people's health or giving a lousy example of superheroes of the faith, he says. This eagerness arises from putting our activities on a pedestal, celebrating them in the midst of a context of death, and despite the shameful image the church will have in the eyes of society. This fever to open worship places, has to do with the personality and the inflamed character of some leaders and pastors.”
When this pandemic started, the world responded and those model numbers came down. Obviously the early models and present models stated if you do nothing this is what can happen. The world responded. It is not just the large gatherings of churches shut down it is most sports. The government surely is not persecuting the religion of football that also takes place on Sundays. As you can see today Covid-19 is still wreaking havoc on the world with still so many unknowns. After a period of time went by, churches especially MacArthur’s and others like him opened up to full capacity ignoring any mandate to wear mask or social distance and even bragging about it. It is interesting how they say people just came back as if they had no control over it. They did not obey the orders because they didn’t believe the “narrative” and so they rewrote their own story with their own statistics. They fell prey as many have following the conspiracy theories that are also raging. Conspiracy theories draw attention when something is unexplainable. MacArthur is constantly saying in California people who have Covid are 1/100th of 1 % = 00.001 He then says it is just not what they are saying it is. Oddly while the virus numbers continue to climb around the world, MacArthur’s statistics don’t seem to change yet California is one of the worst hit. John MacArthur recently said, “The whole state of California is deceived about reality.” They are counting on a bomb not hitting their church. As we have seen this virus doesn’t care if you go to church. They say they know no one who has it even though one person died near the beginning at their conference this year and a couple also was in the hospital from Covid-19. One writer found this information and said, MacArthur said recently August 30th 2020, “We don’t know anyone who is ill. Nobody from our congregation has ever been to the hospital with this.” He had said April 24, 2020 “The other thing that we talked about with the elders was if we defy this and if we say we’re going to meet anyway, we run the risk of exposing people to this illness needlessly. And why would we want to do that? Because this is a health issue, this is a health crisis. And since like any church, many of the people in our church are older. We wouldn’t want to expose them to that. We’ve only had, as far as I know, and this was up to yesterday, we’ve only had one couple in our church in the Spanish ministry who actually got the coronavirus. But that couple, and not an older couple either, wound up in the hospital because it was such a virulent experience for them.”
This enemy has even attacked the highest powers of government. The Whitehouse with no amount of normal military security (they should have taken this seriously), that is heavily armed guards could stop the attack. Something as simple as following basic instructions would have helped. The Whitehouse and President Trump have led and continue to lead many in the nation to believe this virus is nothing to fear just as church leaders do the same and do not warn of its dangers. Sadly many of these churches take their cues from President Trump. Trump even praised MacArthur for violating the orders of the governor. Many churches have staked their lives and reputations on the constitution while rejecting the word of God. MacArthur recently made a video telling all churches to follow his lead and open. They say they are obeying Gods word but denying it at the same time. In this video MacArthur distorts scripture by saying the church must open and to disobey the democrats as if they were satan himself. God said Romans 13:1 “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.”
Yes the church is essential by all means but the bible does not say thousands must gather together in order to be the church. In fact there were times when the church was scattered and could not meet as they normally did. The North American church has no idea what persecution is. Acts 8:1 “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” The church is not about gathering to praise a person at the front, it is about being the church wherever you are in the power of the Holy Spirit. Most churches especially MacArthur’s church who vehemently denies the available power to those who believe, do not have the power that Phillip went out preaching the word with. 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.” These churches that have opened are betting that they will not be affected but the virus doesn’t care who you are. For example John Hagee recently tested positive as announced to their packed congregation with no social distancing or masks to be seen. Another pastor Greg Laurie who said he was trying to follow the orders with their church also tested positive. He had shut down a crusade making it look like he understood the severity of this pandemic but obviously didn’t. Now just because you can protest doesn’t mean you should. He participated in a Prayer March in Washington with over 50000 people, which was something that was done in complete ignorance by the organizer Franklin Graham. While disguised as a prayer march, it really was a pro Trump rally and to make matters worse, most ignored the masks and social distancing as did Greg Laurie. This event should never have happened, as the beauty of prayer is that it doesn't have to be a public spectacle in the midst of a pandemic. The bigger problem here is God is not listening. Even in Greg Laurie’s prayer he talked about turning from wicked ways but the church refuses to do that. By the way Isaiah makes it clear to the disobedient church that Isaiah 1:15 “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!” Greg Laurie prayed at this event and then went to the Rose Garden Event. One writer said, “Laurie attended the September 26, 2020 Prayer March on the National Mall with Vice President Mike Pence and later that day was at a Rose Garden ceremony where Trump formally announced the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. That event is now regarded as a potential infection nexus because there was little social distancing and many attendees - including Laurie - didn't wear masks. A COVID-19 outbreak has sickened over a dozen close contacts of the president over the last week.” Greg Laurie recently said, “I just wish at a time like this we could not politicize something like this, and show compassion to people and are struggling with this. It’s real, it really is a pandemic that has swept our nation and even the world.” He already did politicize this nor did he take it as seriously as he should by participating in these events as if there was no pandemic. One video shows him walking at the march unmasked and standing near Chris Christie at the Rose Garden event who also tested positive and is in hospital. This virus doesn’t care if you go to church or not or whether you are the pastor of a mega church or the President of the United States.
Another situation I recently became aware of was at Bethel in Redding, California. They are ultra charismatic and their school of supernatural ministry is now a Covid hotspot. I trust you can see how ironic this is that the supernatural ministry isn’t supernatural. The press release from Bethel Redding states “Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM) currently has 68 active positive cases of COVID-19 among BSSM students who have been instructed to isolate in their homes. All students and staff who have been in close contact with these individuals have been instructed to quarantine in their homes as well. As of October 6, 2020, the total number of positive cases among BSSM students and staff is 137 since school started in early September 2020, which are included in Shasta County’s confirmed case total.” The site I saw this on also pointed out that Sean Feucht, a Bethel worship volunteer is travelling around the country with his Let Us Worship protest and who was at the prayer march, could be spreading this virus everywhere they go. No one in those circles seems to be taking it serious and this pandemic rages on.
A pandemic has been going on long before Covid-19 spread across the world. Like covid, our enemy is unseen. The work of the devil is everywhere. Franklin Graham calls on the church to pray yet teaches a false gospel, John MacArthur tells you to open your church yet does not believe in the gifts of the Spirit and also teaches a false gospel. Many of these leaders teach a false end times doctrines and gospels such as Hagee, Laurie, Hibbs and McCoy and Feucht who make the news. False teachers and their gospels are everywhere in the church. The very ones calling for repentance need to repent. We were warned about these end times in Daniel and in the gospels. Jesus said Matthew 24:3 “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? 4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.” Luke 21:20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” The church is in desolation. Daniel told us in Daniel 7:19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 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. 23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.” Daniel 9:11 “It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the Lord; it took away the daily sacrifice from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down. 12 Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the Lord’s people? 14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.” Daniel 8:23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power. 26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.” 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.” Paul said 2 Thessalonians 2:9 “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 the church, truth has already been thrown down. The Lord’s people have been trampled. There is war against the holy people and they have been defeated. Yet we have this hope. Isaiah 10:12 “When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes.” The church has fallen due to our disobedience to God’s word. While many in the pulpits and on the Internet sound as if they are teaching truth, they are not and the axe is at the root. Daniel said “Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.” Our only hope to defeat our enemies is God. But instead, many have gone down to Egypt when they were told not to. Pastors are suing the government and have lawyers doing their bidding. They decided to take on the government but the government is not the problem the church is! They say the government’s morals and values are different and yes that is true as they are not the church. Yes the government in most countries does not consider the bible to be their manual but the church should. Canada and United States are not Christian countries. Just read the tweets of so called Christians who quote scripture and then rip their political opponents in the same breath. In many cases these opponents are also those who call themselves Christians but for those who don’t, these Christians don’t portray the scripture they are quoting. Take vice-president Pence who spoke at a prayer march but sounds totally different at a debate. This is not Christianity.
Some of these ministers are so caught up on making themselves look good; they forget they are not in charge. For example last week I heard a minister who also mocks the virus and orders of the governor pray. During his prayer to God Almighty, he used this time to promote his propaganda. While praying to God he downplayed the virus and said other countries were being healed as if the numbers were suddenly going the other way. I guess he was referring to Anguilla. You can deny this pandemic exists and not follow orders or you can follow orders but most importantly we must bow before our king and turn from our wickedness. As we talked about last week, the axe is already at the root so we had better make sure who it is we are following. We saw what happened to Israel and Judah, We saw what then happened to Assyria and Babylon and we have seen what has happened to the church due to our arrogance of thinking we can come before God in pride. Jeremiah 7:2 “Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. 3 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. 4 Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord! 8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. 9 “‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, 10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? 11 Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.” Isaiah 56:7 “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
It’s interesting how there is so much denial happening in some circles about this pandemic. While President Trump seems to flout the pandemic as some sort of mild flu, he is accountable to the people. The more dangerous people are the leaders of the church who not only ignore the orders of their government (by the way the ones who were voted in are in charge whether they like it or not) but do not teach truth. These as Malachi states are supposed to be bearers of the truth. Malachi 2:5 “My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. 7 “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth. 8 But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the Lord Almighty. 9 “So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.” Romans 13:2 “Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” 2 Peter 2:1 “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”
Since these men and woman are teaching other gospels and disobeying the word of the Lord, they will not get away with it. James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” Isaiah 44:4 “This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself, 25 who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense, 26 who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengers.” I cringe when they say President Trump said they should be open and then base everything on their constitution while the bombs burst around them. One minister compared and bragged while in his air-conditioned church that he would stand in Iran preaching the gospel at the risk of death. What he did there was to compare the comforts of California to Iran or North Korea. That is an insult to Christians in those countries who are barely surviving.
There is no fear of God in the church. These men and woman who teach other gospels are deadly. They are causing many to fall and sadly those who have fallen do not know they have fallen due to the deception and delusion in the church. I see people praising the likes of MacArthur for his stand but if you will listen carefully he distorts scripture all the time. We are warned. Acts 20:29 “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” 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.” Lamentations 2:14 “The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The prophecies they gave you were false and misleading.”
The pandemic we face from satan is far worse than any virus can throw at you. God allowed the enemy Babylon and Assyria to destroy Israel and even Judah. Like Israel and Judah, our enemies have also decimated the church. We were warned 1 John 2:18 “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.” They are standing in the pulpits of the church. People are being led astray by the millions. Take a look at this map of the virus spreading and picture satan at work in this world. https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/health/coronavirus-maps-and-cases/ (Scroll down to the interactive map) This map will also make you aware of the destructive power of this virus. The problem is that because we have turned away from God He has turned from us. He calls us to return to Him but the church refuses. Yes they want the world to turn but the church itself refuses to turn from their wicked ways. Ezekiel 33:11 “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?” The Covid-19 pandemic is not what we should fear. No I am not saying this pandemic isn’t dangerous but the one we should fear is God. 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.” Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” Jesus said in Matthew 25:46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
This pandemic should be showing the church its lack of power yet the church tries to continue in its own ways. The example of the highly charismatic church and their school of supernatural should show you they do not have the supernatural but satan’s power. 2 Corinthians 11:13 “For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9 “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.” Without a true understanding of who God is, the church will continue to have no idea He has turned His face from shining on us. Unfortunately the church has adapted to its powerless ways. These wicked ways have become the norm and God’s word is set aside. Yes the word of God is supposedly proclaimed but it has been altered to suit the particular doctrine being preached. The church is not what it is supposed to be. When you read the gospels you see what the kingdom was to look like. The only way for that kingdom to happen is to have the glory of God dwelling among us.
Ezekiel had this message for the exiles. Ezekiel 39:21 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. 27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.’” Just as Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord depart from the temple, he saw the glory return. Ezekiel 42:1 “The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown. 4 The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. 5 Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” The church has lost the power from on high as the glory of God has departed just as the glory departed from Israel. The only way we can survive is to have the Glory of God return. This is the only way our enemy satan will be defeated. This happened when Jesus came. 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.” 1 John 3:8 “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” When God dwelt among the church, we also would have had the same power we saw in the early church. Isaiah 42:6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. 8 “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.”
Then we lost the presence of God among us. The reason we lost God’s glory, His presence among us, His dwelling place, is because we refused to obey His words. His words have been negated for man’s own words. They have been added to and subtracted from resulting in curses from God. 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.” Yet no one is afraid of doing this. The church has been doing this for so long, the fear of God has been long removed. Truth has been thrown down and the church doesn’t seem to care as they have made their own truth and stamped it with God’s approval or so they think.
If the church would repent and turn back to God, God has promised to return to us. This means His glory will return to us just as Ezekiel saw. What we saw at Pentecost will once again be the norm. The church doesn’t seem to understand what is missing. Job 42:5 “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Daniel had a vision that left him overwhelmed with terror. Daniel 10:5 “I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. 7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. 9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.” John had a vision in Revelation 1:17 “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Isaiah 6:3 “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” When Moses saw the burning bush Exodus 3:4 “When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.” Acts 9:3 “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.” Psalm 2:11 “Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. 12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” Ezra 9:4 “Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice.”
When we look at the church we are supposed to see Jesus and then we are supposed do as he did. The disciples were told that if they waited they would see power from on high. Luke 24:30 “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” These two raced back to tell the others then after Jesus rebuked the disciples for not believing, 45 “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 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.” The disciples obeyed and then the power of God’s presence fell on them at Pentecost and the world heard the gospel in their own language. Acts 2:1 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” They then went out and did as Jesus did just as they were told. John 14:12 “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. 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.” Revelation 21:3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. Ezekiel 48:25 “And the name of the city from that time on will be: the Lord is there.”
After Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were taken into exile Daniel 1:7 “to these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.” Suddenly Daniel’s life, as was his friends, was in danger of imminent death. The king had asked the impossible of the wise men. He had asked them to tell the dream first and then interpret it. When they couldn’t, the king had them killed. Daniel 2:12 “This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him. 17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18 He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision.” Daniel understood who God was and gave Him praise. “Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. 21 He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. 23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”
David was hunted everyday as Saul was trying to kill him. 1 Samuel 18:29 “Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.” Everyday God protected him. 1 Samuel 23:14 “Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.” But then Saul’s time came to an end. 1 Samuel 31:6 “So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.” 1 Chronicles 10:13 “Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, 14 and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.” I realize this chapter is long but take the time to read David’s response. 2 Samuel 22:1 “David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me. 4 “I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies. 5 The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 6 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 7 “In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears. 8 The earth trembled and quaked, the foundations of the heavens shook; they trembled because he was angry. 9 Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. 10 He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. 11 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. 12 He made darkness his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky. 13 Out of the brightness of his presence bolts of lightning blazed forth. 14 The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. 15 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them. 16 The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of breath from his nostrils. 17 “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. 19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. 20 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. 21 “The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God. 23 All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. 24 I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. 25 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight. 26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, 27 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. 28 You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. 29 You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light. 30 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. 31 “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. 32 For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? 33 It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. 34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. 35 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 36 You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great. 37 You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way. 38 “I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. 39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. 40 You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me. 41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. 42 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the Lord, but he did not answer. 43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets. 44 “You have delivered me from the attacks of the peoples; you have preserved me as the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me, 45 foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me. 46 They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds. 47 “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior! 48 He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me, 49 who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me. 50 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. 51 “He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”
Today the church does not know this God and instead take it upon themselves to be gods. They think by the works of their own hands they can defeat our enemies. This never works, as there is only one God. The churches enemies will not be defeated by the work of our own hands but only in the power of the Holy Spirit. Our obedience to God’s word leads to the defeat of our enemies and salvation to the ends of the earth. Deuteronomy 28:1 “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:” One of the blessings states that 7 The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. 9 The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you.” Leviticus 26:7 “You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you. 9 “‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.” Still the church today and for generations before, praise the work of their hands. satan continues to deceive and millions have fallen just as Jesus said. Matthew 24:22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.”
Jeremiah was told Jeremiah 9:6 “You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me, declares the Lord.” These are the days we also live in. If we truly understood the Glory of God, His very presence among us, we would turn from our wickedness and bow before Him, expecting His power to flow once again. 1 Chronicles 29:10 “David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.”
We have been warned Isaiah 31:1 “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord.” Instead of trusting God men have sought to do things in their own strength. Job said Job 24:22 “But God drags away the mighty by his power; though they become established, they have no assurance of life. 23 He may let them rest in a feeling of security, but his eyes are on their ways. 24 For a little while they are exalted, and then they are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain.” The axe is at the root of the tall trees and the arrogant and proud will fall. Ezekiel 17:24 “All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. “‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’”
There is a harvest just waiting for the church. This harvest is not the ones that fill up churches to listen to men and woman and become like them but ones who have been saved by their enemies who become like Jesus and then do as He did. This is what the true harvest looks like. The Apostle Paul was told Acts 26:17 “I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” This is what we were told in Isaiah. Isaiah 42:6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” So what does this look like? In Acts 19 we see that Acts 19:11 “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” We also saw that “13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. 17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” The church today seems to think these demons no longer exist or like the Pharisees Matthew 9:34 “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”
Where did this power come from? We go back to the very person who called Paul, Jesus. Matthew 8:16 “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.” Matthew 11:4 “Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Matthew 9:32 “While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
This is what the harvest looks like. Don’t be deceived by the church who gathers people in buildings week after week who 2 Timothy 3:5 “having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” The MacArthur’s, Hagee’s, Laurie’s, McCoy’s, Bethel’s supernatural to name a few I have talked about do not have the true power of the Holy Spirit. In fact you will not see this power in churches who follow men and women of distinct doctrines and theology. As this pandemic rages, the world seeks a cure but refuses to believe in the creator of the universe, the one who bore our diseases. The church has been exposed for its lack of power and will continue to be exposed. Since John MacArthur’s seems to be the poster child of rebellion in the church, he too will find that you cannot deny God’s word and preach other gospels all the while leading people astray and get away with it. Jeremiah 23:32 “Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the Lord. 38 Although you claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ this is what the Lord says: You used the words, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ even though I told you that you must not claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord.’ 39 Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors. 40 I will bring on you everlasting disgrace—everlasting shame that will not be forgotten.”
Our only hope is to turn back to God’s word so that the glory of the Lord will fill us His temple once again. Daniel said Daniel 7:13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” But our enemy’s kingdom will be destroyed. Daniel 7:22 “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.” The kingdom came when Jesus came. Luke 11:20 “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” We should be deeply concerned that church no longer sees the healing of the sick and demon-possessed freed. This is not something we are waiting for in the future but something we must return to. Isaiah 14:1 “The Lord will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land. 3 On the day the Lord gives you relief from your suffering and turmoil and from the harsh labor forced on you, 4 you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended! 5 The Lord has broken the rod of the wicked.” The rule of satan in the church is coming to an end. Isaiah 21:9 “Look, here comes a man in a chariot with a team of horses. And he gives back the answer: ‘Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!’” Revelation 18:1 “After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted: “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal. 3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” Revelation 19:1 “After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
As you wait on God to fulfill His promise, trust and obey His word. If you have not been faithful, turn away from the wickedness of the church and return to the word of God. To do this you return to God’s word. Malachi 3:7 “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.” Don’t ask how you are to return or how have we robbed you, just return and turn away from your wickedness. The man-made ways of the church is the wickedness we are to turn from. God’s church looks nothing like the church you see today. The church does not need a new plan it just needs to follow the plan as laid out in the New Testament. God’s plan doesn’t need any help. God said if we would turn from our wickedness, 2 Chronicles 7:14 “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.” Solomon asked 1 Kings 8:27 “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” Paul describes the new temple in Ephesians 4:19 “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 answer to Solomon’s question was yes God will dwell among us just as he said but we must obey His words. We too pray with Solomon who said 1 Kings 8:25 “Now Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.’ 26 And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true.” God has said he will never break his promise to David. Yes as God said 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.” So do not give up, though you see hopelessness all around you and a church that God has turned His face from. Ezra 9:8 “But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage.” Once again God will send out His disciples to the ends of the earth and there will be a great harvest. Luke 10:1 “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. 8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.” Matthew 10:7 “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”
Isaiah saw His King and desired to be sent. Isaiah 6:3 “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” How about you? Are you willing to look for the true God and His church? Will you turn from your wicked ways and return to Him. We do not deserve His grace Isaiah 30:18 “yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”
The glory of the Lord will return just as Ezekiel saw. Ezekiel 43:5 “Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. John 11:38 “Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” I leave you with this warning from Paul. Acts 13:38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: 41 “‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.” This was from Habakkuk. The answer was Habakkuk 1:6 “I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people.” In the end Habakkuk said, “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. 17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
If we want to see God dwell among His temple again we must humble ourselves before God. James 4:6 “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” Isaiah tells us Isaiah 66:2 “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite (repentant) in spirit, and who tremble at my word. 5 Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word: “Your own people who hate you, and exclude you because of my name, have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy!’ Yet they will be put to shame. 6 Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise from the temple! It is the sound of the Lord repaying his enemies all they deserve. 15 See, the Lord is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For with fire and with his sword the Lord will execute judgment on all people, and many will be those slain by the Lord.” Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
