Last week we talked about being led by the Holy Spirit. Because this leading is missing in the church because God has turned his face from shining on us because we have failed to live according to his word and his word alone; we continue to call out for revival. Nehemiah 9:17 “They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them.” We should be calling out Psalm 80:19 “Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved,” but we became content living on the cursed side of the page in Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 and not on the blessing side. The church continues to be made up of people doing their own thing and going their own way, all the while following people who teach their own truth, promote their own way and then get you to pay for their own lifestyle, meanwhile calling it a life in Christ. We know from scripture that this is not what we are to be part of. 2 Chronicles 7:14 told us to turn from our wicked ways and God would be with us. If we would do that God, would turn his face back to shining on us. We were also told in 1 Kings 8:47 “if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly’; 48 and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; 49 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 50 And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy; 51 for they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace.”
So we continue to cry out for God to save us. In so doing must understand the substantial mess we are in as a church and grasp how long this mess has been going on. 2 Chronicles 29:6 “Our parents were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the Lord our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the Lord’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him.” We can say this because those who have gone before have not adhered to the whole counsel of the God’s word and many do not even realize it. Isaiah 1:4 “Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.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.” And we wonder why God does not hear our cries. Isaiah 59:2 “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.” Jeremiah 32:33 “They turned their backs to me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline.” Zechariah 7:11 “But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears. 12 They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry. 13 “‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the Lord Almighty.” The same applies to us today. We could say this for generations. Much about the God we serve has come from intellectual ignorance, man’s visions he thinks are from God, false teachings that are distortions of scripture and doctrines of demons. We live with a form of godliness and have no power and the church does not turn from it; and my people love it this way but what will we do in the end. We do not live lives led by the Spirit. We have grown accustomed to this lack of power and have accepted the dimness. Sadly this continues and the church doesn’t even realize the desolation we find ourselves in.
To help us understand this I want to take a moment to use another live example that points out the deception in the church and this is a big one. That example concerns a movie coming out this week called “The Shack” obviously from the book entitled “The Shack”. This is a perfect example of the desolate state the church is in. I didn’t realize this was being made into a movie until Laurie mentioned it to me the other day. Yes how this works is subtle and very deceptive. Someone probably gave you a book or told you to buy it and said this is amazing and life changing and you read it. We were given this book the same way (by Christians) and I read it to see what the fuss was. It was bad then but this could even be worse on the big screen. But today as was the first time I looked into this, I want you know that this movie / book is deadly. The weird part of this is it doesn’t even resemble scripture and Christians love it. This wolf entered not even dressed as a sheep. The wolf just walked in amongst the sheep and the sheep said isn’t that a wolf and they welcomed it with open arms and went back to their comfortable pew without sounding the alarm. The ones that did sound the alarm were ignored. (whoever shuns evil becomes a prey) The reason I say this is weird is because those in the church then began to dress the wolf in sheep’s clothing and then introduced their friends and family to the wolf saying, hear the word of the Lord by the box full. The publishers turned it down for a reason but there will always be someone who will participate. Oddly God’s love did not include suing each other over money after money started rolling in.
As we just talked about this last bible study, the enemy is so arrogant it will always tell you what the problem is. Following the Shack a book was written called The Shack Revisited to explain the theology further; Paul Young the author of the shack said in the foreword, “To all those who took the time to read and study The Shack, to those who bought several copies or a case or more and gave them away and emailed me your wonderful stories, I want to say, "Thank you, and please read The Shack Revisited." If you want to understand better the perspectives and theology that frame The Shack, this book is for you. Baxter has taken on the incredible task of exploring the nature and character of the God who met me in my own shack. This shows that this wasn’t just a book of fiction. On the front cover it states this and this is the warning. “There Is More Going on Here than You Ever Dared to Dream.” This book is deadly and there is more going on here than meets the eye and it is full of deception and lies. I am not going to go into a critique of this book, as there are many already. I simply want to say if you have this book, get rid of it and don’t see the movie. Don’t allow this wolf into any one else’s life.
One sunrise service we had a fire to burn things in the form of a letter that we were giving to God. I think getting rid of this book is equivalent to burning the scrolls of sorcery in Acts. That is how dangerous this book is. Acts 19:19 “A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly.” Since this book is coming out in movie form this week, I genuinely admonish you not to see it. Here is why. It is a big bad wolf and it will tear your house down. This book / movie illustrates the desolation the church finds itself in and the lack of discernment therein. William Paul Young said in an interview with Publishers Weekly “I believe I can speak for the intentions of the entire cast and crew. Their heart is that the movie will have the same profound impact on the hearts and minds of moviegoers as the book did for readers, and will impact the world for good.” Then one person responds to this and says “Thank you William Paul Young - a prophet speaking truth in a fallen world - heeding a call despite the risk involved.” Already the likes of Tim Tebow tweeting how much he liked the movie. He has 3.66 million followers.
This book is living proof of the incredible lack of discernment in the Christian community. Michael W Smith who is supposed to be a leader in worship wrote, “The Shack is the most absorbing work of fiction I’ve read in many years. My wife and I laughed, cried and repented of our own lack of faith along the way. The Shack will leave you craving for the presence of God.” Well duh, that's because the presence of God is not in it. Eugene Peterson (author of The Message) says: “This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!” Wouldn’t it be nice to see what the bible could do for this generation instead of books?
The list of endorsements is substantial but does that make it right. 1 Kings 22:13 ““Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably.” 1 Kings 22:17 “Then Micaiah answered, “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the Lord said, ‘These people have no master.21 Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him. 22 “‘By what means?’ the Lord asked. “‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said. “‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’” Here is what one who objected said. “Many people are being moved by emotional stories and seduced into accepting another Jesus rather than the Jesus of the Bible. Sadly, even Christians are being deceived into this false message about God and embracing an all-inclusive counterfeit Christianity that draws in fans but distorts the Bible.” Another said, “But in spite of the heart-warming emotion that The Shack stirs within people, we believe this is a theologically off-base novel that has an underlying sensual New Age message, appealing to the “carnal” flesh rather than “the things of the Spirit.” They then quote (we read last week) Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. We read earlier in Nehemiah 9:34 “Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them.” This is how we have ended up where we are.
William Young is a man with a completely messed up background, born into legalism and an angry father who then modifies the God the father he was raised with and makes one he likes God the mother. He also sadly suffered abuse as a child but instead of turning back to the true God, he has made God more palatable to himself and also appealing to the millions who endorse this book. This is not a changed life in the Spirit of God but a life that has been deceived who now deceives others. Finally they now have a God that makes me feel better about myself but while doing so they desecrate the word of God. He now has another book coming out in March called Lies We believe about God. Here he encourages readers to think anew about important issues including sin, religion, hell, politics, identity, creation, human rights, and helping us discover God’s deep and abiding love.” I have heard some of his thoughts on these topics and this is just more of the same. You see this is how the enemy works. Yes in the Shack the family suffered an unimaginable atrocity but don’t let that draw you into the lies that follow concerning the word of God. The movie will do the same. We don't change Gods word to appease ourselves.
We have been talking about these dangers for a long time. 2 Peter 2:17 “These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.” This book shows us how much the church has turned its back on God’s word. Yes many have turned their backs on faulty teaching that is present in the church but that does not give us an excuse to participate in a false gospel because it feels better than the faulty teaching we were raised with. There is little to no repentance. 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.” Titus 1:9(ESV) “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” Most do not want to hear it. Titus 2:1 “You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.” If the church would have been holding on to sound doctrine then we would not even being having this conversation. The battle cry would have gone up and the wolf would not have entered. Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Now I join with Paul in saying 1 Corinthians 4:14 “I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.”
You see we live in an age that is not grounded on the word of God. We have stopped testing the Spirits. Remember we must worship in Spirit and in truth. Not only is it that we are not grounded, most have turned their backs to God’s word and do not even know when they have been presented with something other than the gospel of Jesus Christ. One person said, “A lot of people who consider themselves to be active Christians may not strictly even believe in God or Jesus or the acts described in the Bible.” They go on to say, ““Millennials prefer this generalized picture of God rather than an interventionist God, and they prefer God to Jesus, because he’s non-specific. He stands behind them and allows them to get on with their own lives rather than Jesus, who comes in and interferes with everything.” We just talk about God, we don’t follow His word. At least that is what they think. Since the bible as a whole has been rejected we then see the likes of Young and every other false teacher enter and deceive millions in the church and outside. #1 on the New York Times best seller list. 2 Peter 2:2 “Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” The deception is so great the gatekeepers of the church are letting them in thinking all is well. Hey nice horse, thanks for the gift. We need to go back to fixing the walls and the gates. Nehemiah was told Nehemiah 1:3 “The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” This is where we are at today and the gates of hell are prevailing against us. We need to change this. Nehemiah 4:6 “From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.” We are not just talking about a few being deceived; we are talking about millions upon millions. This deception is as easy as reading a book, participating in a downward dog or looking to awaken oneself through enlightenment. The seduction of the church is just that. Seduction means “enticing someone astray from right behavior.” This is satan’s job and he is the master seducer. Revelation 12:9 “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” This seduction happens because they have not accepted nor do they understand God and his word. They do not live by the Spirit of God and are not his children. Since they have rejected His truth they are then under a delusion as we see in 2 Thessalonians 2.
God is a God of love but not the way the world wants it. They want to live however they want and still expect God to say I love you even though you have rejected my word and refuse to repent. Sure, what a great way to live. Live for yourself not God but you will not see eternity. God has made it clear who he is all through scripture. We read earlier Nehemiah 9:16 “But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. 17 They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.” It doesn’t say he will not get angry. Yes he will keep his promise to David but us 2 Kings 22:13 states. “Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”
This notion that we can turn our backs on God and get away with it is deception from satan. We must turn back even if the masses continue to go their own way. Reach out for the truth. Grab hold of Jesus and don’t let go. We must live by the word of God.
1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
