The United States is Ripe for Judgment

 Daniel 5:28-31

" 'Peres : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.' Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two."

According to ancient historians, the way Darius(Cyrus) was able to get into Babylon was by digging trenches to lower the Euphrates River so the soldiers could march under the city wall and enter the city. What is astounding about this story is that nobody seemed to be aware of what was happening. Diverting a river is no easy task. It would take time and the water level would have been getting noticably lower.

Either nobody noticed, OR...

The Persian army had help from the inside. 

The interesting thing too is that had the Babylonian military been paying attention, they could have easily stopped the invasion. Here's a portion of an article from The Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archeology by Brad MacDonald:

"Although the soldiers had infiltrated the outer gates, there were still brass and iron internal gates controlling access out of the riverbed and into the city. If they couldn’t get through the gates, the soggy riverbed would turn the Persians’ tactical advantage into a massive kill box. All the Babylonian soldiers had to do was rain spears and arrows down on them. In fact, if they could block the Persians’ retreat, the Babylonians could conceivably kill every last Persian soldier, to a man—like shooting fish in a barrel.

But strangely, on the night of the invasion, there were no soldiers, and the internal gates were wide open. King Nabonidus, his son Belshazzar, the imperial guard, the soldiers, and many of the people of Babylon were partying. Consumed with drinking and games, they had failed to close the gates and to station guards. Having quenched the Euphrates and penetrated the outer gates, the Persian soldiers were able to stroll through the internal gates, taking the city—including the shocked king—by surprise!"

Can you say, 'Open border?'

It is very similar to the policy our current administration has adopted with our southern border. Our own leaders are setting us up. 

And we deserve it.

Is God about to Judge the U.S?

In our passivity as the church, we have somehow gotten the idea that God doesn't and isn't really going to judge the sins of the nations, but the Bible is full of examples of him judging them. From the Flood, Egypt, The Land of Canaan, Israel and Judah, Babylon, Persia, etc. Also, in the New Testament there are numerous examples of God judging individuals and church congregations; Ananias and Saphirra, Herod, and God's warnings in Romans and Revelation, to name a few.

It is astounding how morally corrupt the United States has become. As our nation has rejected God it has become the picture of what the apostle Paul wrote in Romans;

Romans 1:28-32

"Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."

          * Abortion on demand.

          * Sexual perversions of every type.

          * Trangenderism, drag shows, and the list goes on.

Our current government has gone out of its way to find the most depraved and corrupt individuals to serve as the president's cabinet, and other bureaucracies. The Assistant Secretary For Health is a man who thinks he's a woman. In my early years we still had the discerment to realize that these people were mentally ill. Today they are celebrated.

The church of Jesus Christ has been virtually silent.

Cyrus is diverting the Rio Grande River,...

and he has plenty of inside help.

We have forgotten that God is a God who will and does judge the sins of the church and of the nations, but make no mistake:

JUDGMENT IS COMING!!!!

So what are we to do?

2 Chronicles 7:14

"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."

We often read the first part about humbling ourselves and praying, but stop before the next part; 'Turn from their wicked ways.'

The answer is the church needs to REPENT!

Repent of our silence. 

Repent of our tolerance of sin. 

Repent of our ignorance of the gospel. 

Repent of our passivity. To not speak out against the evil is to participate in it.

TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS!

Maybe God will spare us.

Indwelling of The Holy Spirit is Necessary For The Rebirth, Always Has Been.

 WERE OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS INDWELT WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?

It is commonly believed that the old testament believers were not filled with the Holy Spirit in the same way as New Testament believers are. But the basis for that assumption is on very shaky ground.

In John 3;3 Jesus told Nicodemus:

“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

And in verses 5-8:

‭‭Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. [6] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. [7] You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ [8] The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

In order to be saved then requires the rebirth that comes from being indwelt by the Holy Spirit. If Old Testament saints did not have the indwelling of the Spirit then we would have to conclude that none of them will be in the Kingdom of Heaven. But that flies in the face of what Job said in chapter 19 verse 25-27:

"I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"

Job knew that he had a redeemer and he looked forward to that day when he would be with him.

SO WHY DO WE BELIEVE THEY WEREN'T FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

Some of that 'doctrine' that comes from reading Psalm 51:11:

"Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me."

If the Holy Spirit could be taken away then there was no assurance of salvation.

We have to be careful about extrapolating a doctrine from a single passage of scripture, especially a song or a line of poetry. Just because the line asked God not to take his Spirit away doesn't mean that the Spirit would have ever left David.

Another passage that is used to support the idea that the Holy Spirit wasn't permanently in believers is 1 Samuel 16:14;

"Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul  and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him."

The problem here is that it doesn't say anywhere else that Saul had been filled with the Holy Spirit. In chapter 10:10 it says that the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him. That is different than being filled. It came upon him and enabled him to prophecy. The same as when Samson would have the spirit come upon him and he would perform his deeds of strength. Or even in the New Testament when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in the upper room.

Having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and having the Holy Spirit come upon you seem to be 2 different things. 

    * The indwelling is the rebirth. 

    * The Spirit coming upon someone is for a specific purpose.

And it it is possible for the Holy Spirit to come upon an individual to enable them to perform a specific task but not necessarily dwell in them to bring about the rebirth. That is the case with those Jesus refered to in Matthew 7:

Matthew‬ ‭7:22‭-‬23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

These individuals were operating in the power of the Holy Spirit but were not indwelt by the Holy Spirit. It is through the indwelling that we are known.

Notice Jesus's reference to Isaiah's prophecy in Luke 4:18;

‭‭“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free."

Of course Jesus Christ is the embodiment of the Holy Spirit and yet it refers to the spirit of the Lord being upon him -- so that he might proclaim the gospel. In other words, to empower him to perform a task.

OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS WERE LIVING AS NEW COVENANT BELIEVERS

One of the major differences between the Old Covenant and the New is that the Old Covenant promises were for material blessings. The majority of the Israelites were not living by faith. They were living by law. While the prophets and other heroes of faith were also under the law they were also living by faith. They were looking forward to when the fullness of the New Covenant would become reality;

1 Peter 1:10-11

"Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow."

Peter clearly says that the Spirit of Christ was IN THEM.

‭‭‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:13‭-‬16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."

It is true that under the Old Covenant there was no general outpouring of the Holy Spirit. But there were certain individuals even in the Old Testament who were born again and therefore had the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And these individuals were living as New Covenant believers, by faith, just like we are except we live on the other side of history.

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is necessary for ALL believers and always has been. So the Old Testament believers would have to have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit or they weren't saved.

The Sin of Passivity

 1 Kings 18:21

"Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing."

Revelation 3:15-16

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

The story of Elijah is one of the most familiar narratives in the Bible. Ahab was king of the northern kingdom and he was the most wicked king the northern kingdom ever had. His wickedness was driven by his wife Jezebel, a foreign woman who made Baal worship prominent in the land.

In the previous chapter this mysterious charactor named Elijah stepped into the pages of history and made this proclamation:

1 Kings 17:1b

 ... "As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."

And then he disappears.

For three years there was no rain and the famine was severe. The interesting thing is that Baal, as the supreme god, was responsible for the harvest. He clearly failed the people. Things had become desperate.

When Elijah returns he sets up a contest between Baal and the one true God and that's where 1 Kings 18:21 comes in. In spite of the desperate situation in Israel the people were waffling. When Elijah challenged them, THEY SAID NOTHING.

It doesn't seem that the nation as a whole was fully engaged in Baal worship. Elijah said they were 'wavering between two opinions.' 

Why weren't the people speaking out? If even a simple majority had stood up  against Ahab and the foreign woman he had married, they could have ended the apostacy right then. But they didn't.

In spite of the desperate situation in the land they were passive. Passive people don't do anything and, eventually don't know what to believe.

It is the same today with the church in America. The moral decay is happening at an incredible rate and we are hearing crickets from the church. We don't even know what we believe anymore. 

Some years ago I remember hearing a well known TV preacher saying that if everyone who claims to be a follower of Christ would vote according to biblical principles, it would only take a few election cycles and abortion would be completely outlawed. And if these same people would refuse to watch TV shows and movies that were dishonoring to God, Hollywood would go out of business. 

The reason that abortion is still legal and Hollywood is rich is because those who call themselves followers of Christ are consuming the moral garbage like starving junkyard dogs. 

Jesus had very harsh words to say to the church in Laodocia about their lukewarmness. He was ready to spit them out. The modern church is a picture of Laodocia; lacking conviction, combining Christian principles and worldy philosophies, and general passivity. We just don't want to get involved and speak up.

By the time the last disciple had died, Christianity had spread to the entire civilized world. They had 'turned the world upside down.' (Act 17:6) Today it appears that the world has turned the church upside down. 

That's what happens when we are passive. Passivity leads to compromise. Compromise leads to compliance. Compliance leads to conformity. Conformity leads to irrelevance.

Obey the governing authorities.

Romans 13:1-2

"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.Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."

Some have used this passage to claim that as Christians, it is our duty to simply submit to the governing authorities. I heard that over and over again in regards to the recent saga of Covid-19. There were very few in churches who understood that this was an act of tyranny to shut down churches and businesses. In response, let's go back to the story of Elijah. After the one true God showed unequivically that he alone was God, and Baal was a false God, Elijah did something that many who call themselves Christians would assert was a violation of Romans 13:

1 Kings 18:40

"Then Elijah commanded them, 'Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!' They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there."

This was an open act of rebellion against the king. By the standard many who call themselves Christians use to justify following the tyrannical mandates, Elijah would have been in violation of Romans 13. What gave Elijah the right to execute the prophets of Baal? Now some would say, "Well he was a prophet." This is true and his prophetic authority was firmly established by the fact that his predictions of drought came true and his God answered by fire. 

But there is something else.

There was a law higher than the king -- the Covenant given at Mount Horeb. Ahab was in violation of that covenant. Therefore Elijah and the Israelite citizens had the right, and a duty, to rebel against Ahab and Jezebel.

In the United States of America we have a law that is higher than our elected officials. It's called the Constitution. And there is still a higher law than the Constitution -- the same higher law as the Covenant God gave at Mount Horeb. The Founders gave instructions in the Declaration of Independence for what the people must do if they find themselves under unjust and unlawful government. If our elected leaders act in ways that violate the Constitution or don't govern in accordance with authority specifically given in our Constitution, then we don't have an obligation to comply. 

If the Israelite citizens had rebelled against Ahab they could have stopped Baal worship and there would have been no need for a drought. But in spite of the 3 year drought and the famine that went along with it, they were silent.

Fifty-one years ago the Supreme Court passed Roe v. Wade. Had the church risen up against abortion at that time we could have stopped it fairly quickly. But except for a few lone voices, the church was silent. And those that did speak up were encouraged to keep quiet and were often ridiculed by those that claimed to be Christ followers. 

Our moral decay is exponentially worse.

And the salt has lost it's savor and is pretty much useless.

So what is it going to take to get the church to rise up and be the salt and light that we are called to be? In Elijah's day, 3 years of drought and God miraculously setting fire to the offering didn't result in one recorded repentance. Oh, the people fell on their faces and declared that the Lord was God, but very quickly things went back to normal. There was no revival. It reminds me of the Sunday morning after 9-11. The churches were packed -- that Sunday. But in the weeks that followed things went back to normal. There was no revival.

What is it going to take?

It is time for the church to repent of its passivity and lukewarmness. Stop trying to conform to the world. Being separate does not mean cloistering ourselves from the world around us. It means being in the world but DIFFERENT from the world. 

Speak out against the evil! 

Engage as stewards who will have to account on the final day for how we took care of the country that God gave us!

VOTE! BUT BE AN INFORMED VOTER AND VOTE ACCORDING TO GUIDELINES IN SCRIPTURE AND NOT BY YOUR FEELINGS! Remember that we will have to give an account to God for how we voted.

And for those who claim to be Christians, but who are really just foolish virgins who walk around with lamps having no oil in them;

 IT IS TIME TO CHOOSE A SIDE!!

The Gift of Tongues, Why The Controversy?

 ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit."

I remember years ago participating in a Bible study and someone asked the question, "Why is the gift of tongues controversial?" There was quite a bit of discussion that followed until one gentleman simply made this statement:

"The reason the gift of tongues is controversial is because we don't really know what it is."

Now some will assert that the gift of tongues is a prayer language. The evidence for that is the above mentioned verse. However, while it can certainly be inferred from that verse, it doesn't actually say that it is a prayer language. Others assert from chapter 13:1 that it is an angelic language. The problem there is that every single time we see an angel speaking in scripture the angel is speaking in a language that the hearer understands. Either way we really don't know. Also when we hear someone speaking in an unknown tongue we don't know whether it is a genuine manifestation of the spirit or if they are simply babbling unintelligibly.

It isn't hard to fake tongues and we also have to remember that Satan has his counterfeits. One of the most foolish things I ever heard from a pulpit was a preacher saying that nothing makes the devil shake in his boots more than when a church is praying in tongues. That doesn't scare the devil at all. An entire church praying in a language even they don't understand isn't a threat. It's probably to his benefit because he can insert his counterfeits.

So what do we know?

Tongues are NOT for every believer!

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,"

This is the proof text that is used to assert that the gift of a prayer language is intended for all believers. The problem is that those who assert that this verse proves that all believers should speak in tongues stop reading right here. However, if you continue reading it is very clear that this isn't what Paul is saying in this passage. Here is verse 5 in it's entirety:

"I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified."

Anytime you see the word 'but' or 'however' in a sentence or paragraph it is what comes after that word that is important. In this case Paul is expressing making a choice between the gift of tongues and the gift of prophesy. Notice he didn't say, "I would like you all to speak in tongues AND I would like you to prophesy." It is an either/or statement. Given the choice, Paul would prefer you NOT have the gift of tongues if it meant having the gift of prophecy. Tongues can only benefit the person speaking unless there is interpretation. Prophesy can build up the entire church. This is further demonstrated in verses 18 and 19 of the same chapter:

"I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue."

There's that word 'BUT' again. It is more important to have gifts that edify the entire church than a gift that only edifies the individual. As one pastor said;  "Many of you want to babble nonsense in front of everyone but won't say 'Jesus is Lord' in English."

Here's the bottom line:

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:7‭-‬11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines."

God distributes the gifts the way he sees fit. Not everyone gets the same gifts.

Not everyone gets the gift of tongues...and that's OK.

Tongues are never to be used publicly unless there is an interpreter.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14:28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God."

This really needs no additional commentary. Paul's words are not ambiguous. If there is no interpretation then remain silent. 

This is a command that is often violated in many of the more charismatic churches today. And because of that, often these churches look just like what Paul described in verse 23 of the same chapter:

"So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?"

I would probably agree with them. I firmly believe that a major reason there is such opposition to tongues and gifts in general, is because people violate this very command. Years ago Dr. John MacArthur wrote a book called Charismatic Chaos. If the church had obeyed Paul's command to abstain from tongues in public if there was no interpreter, Dr. MacArthur might have written a book entitled Charismatic Order.

If a person speaks in tongues publicly without an interpreter they are violating the command in scripture. Violating the scriptural command is SIN. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Why are tongues so common but the other gifts so rare?

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:8‭-‬11‬, 28 ‭NIV‬‬

[8] "To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, [10] to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. [11] All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

[28] And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues." 

When you look at all of the gifts listed here it is obvious that most of the other gifts are extremely rare. There are very few who have the gift of healing or working miracles. The gift of prophecy seems to be more common but in reality, most of what is being portrayed as prophetic is not prophetic at all. The same is true of messages of knowledge and discernment. It is very odd that there is an apparent abundance of tongues but the gift of interpretation is almost non-existant.

Verse 28 lists the giftings in order either of importance, prominence, or both. Tongues is at the very bottom of the list. Chapter 14 makes it clear that other gifts are more important than tongues.

In ‭‭verse 12‬;

"So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

In the modern church it seems it is exactly the opposite. It should cause us to question the legitimacy of the gift especially because the most common gift is the one gift we cannot be certain what it is.

What we know about tongues.

1. We DON'T know for certain what the gift of tongues actually is.

2. Not every believer will have this gift

3. It is to be kept private unless there is clear interpretation

4. It is not as desirable as other gifts. 

The most important thing is not to be manifesting the gifts of the spirit but to be growing in the fruits of the spirit. Jesus said in John‬ ‭15:8‬:

"This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

In the sermon on the mount Jesus showed that it is possible for people to be operating in the giftings of the Holy Spirit but not actually be reborn of the Holy Spirit. 

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:21‭-‬23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

[21]  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ [23] Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ "

Jesus didn't say a few. He said many.

What a tragedy that many who have excelled in the gifts will actually be sent to face judgment at the end of the age because they never were reborn. 

Gifts are important but they are given by God as he determines and they pretty much take care of themselves. We need to be about growing into Christlikeness and not be focused on the lesser things.

 ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭13:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?"

Examining ourselves is something we should be doing on a daily basis. I firmly believe that a person cannot lose their salvation. But it is very possible that people might believe they are saved when they really aren't. Having spiritual gifts is not an indication that we are saved. Growing in Christlikeness is.

So whatever gift you have, use it according to directions given in scripture. But let's keep the main thing, the main thing.

Stop wasting Time With People

 Matthew‬ ‭7:6‬ NIV

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet."

I need to clarify at the onset that I am not saying, 'don't spend time with people.'  I am specifically saying not to WASTE time with people. 

I begin with a story.

There was a youth pastor at a church I attended many years ago who was very popular with the kids. He was very high energy, enthusiastic about his passion for the Lord, and the kids really related to him very well. Some time down the road he was replaced by another pastor and there wasn't much expalnation as to where he had gone.

I learned later the account of what happened to that young pastor after he shared his story with a friend. He said he knew full well that many of the teenagers who showed up on Wednesday night were just there because their friends were there, not because they had any real interest in the things of the Lord. While he was glad they were there he didn't waste his time with them. He devoted his time to the young people who needed to talk to him and receive counsel.

The leadership didn't like his approach and told him he needed to reach those kids sitting in the back playing on their cellphones because they were the ones that really neede to be saved. He explained his position and even went as far as saying that it wasn't his job to get them saved, but to disciple those who were actually being saved. 

They ended up firing him.

The Great Commission

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:19‭-‬20‬;

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus commanded us to preach the gospel, baptize and disciple people. But often in our zeal we think it is our job to do something he did not tell us to do.

It is NOT our job to get people saved!

That is the job that can only be accomplished by God alone through the rebirth.

Often we make the mistake of thinking it is our job to get people saved and if we are unsuccessful that it is somehow our fault. The fact is that unless God is saving someone they are going to reject the gospel. Romans 8:7 explains:

The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 

That is the state of every single man, woman , and child until God regenerates them by his Holy Spirit and changes their nature. It doesn't matter how well you present the gospel or how often you present it; If God isn't saving that person you are speaking to a dead person. And that is exactly how Paul explains it in Ephesians 2:1 and 5.

[1] As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 

[5] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

The word for dead is the Greek word necros and it means 'dead.' Before we were saved we were literally spiritually dead. Dead people cannot hear. Spiritually dead people cannot respond to the gospel call. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:18:

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 

Conversion is a miracle as great as physically raising a dead person to life. It can only be accomplished by God himself.

So Why do we preach and disciple?

Simply because God chose to do it that way. But we must remember 2 things:

1. We cannot get people saved

2. You cannot disciple a goat into a sheep.

So don't waste time with people.

The Young Man

The young man looks beyond the field

For a world unknown to be revealed

Full of hope, fortune and richest dreams

Of a bright full future the dawn’s light brings.

But he died many years ago.

The world, a page upon which to write

His life before before him, a future bright

Ambition unbridled as a beast set free

With a youthful heart, the world to see. 

But he died many years ago

And lo, there came a maiden fair

When Springtime blooms were in the air

Through summer’s heat and stormy rains

‘Fore Autumn’s first breath the beast was tamed.

But he died many years ago

Tales begin with a newborn’s cry

The youth grows tall as the years roll by

The seasons come and go again

Now heed the words that Wallace said,

“All men die but few men live.”

Not what we gain but in what we give

Truest treasure in this world we find

Not in what's acquired, but's left behind

For in the book we are but one line

A fleeting moment in the space of time

We’ll pass the torch before too long

Then will it matter once we're gone?

But in a flash, the young man’s old

Forgotten now, with much untold

Years have passed since he was born

His life and times, now go unmourned.

Why, his life and times unmourned?

Because he died many years ago.

Does God Really Hate Divorce?

Does God Hate Divorce?

Yes, he does. But many misunderstand the verse in Malachi 2:16, which in some cases is translated, “God hates divorce,” or “God hates putting away.” Often the verse is taken out of context so it is important to look at the entire section to see what is really meant.

‭‭Malachi‬ ‭2:14‭-‬16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.

It is not the actual filing for divorce that God hates. It is what led up to the filing – breaking faith with your spouse. 

Many have the idea that being unfaithful simply means adultery. But the above verse demonstrates that it goes beyond that. Hating the one you should love is being unfaithful. The man or woman who abuses the other is being unfaithful and doing violence to the one he should protect. Simply put, marriage vows go beyond simply abstaining from sexual immorality. To violate those vows is to be unfaithful.

Seven years ago, I went through my divorce. It was the most excruciating time for me, as well as the time of my life when I felt the most ashamed. I was not innocent by any means but the situation had become completely unlivable. 

At some point in the proceedings my attorney said, “Men don’t leave their wives and children unless they have fallen in love with someone else.” I was taken aback because I had not fallen in love with anyone and wanted nothing to do with a relationship at that point. The last few years of my marriage were hell on earth and I was not interested in repeating the experience. I told the attorney that being with someone else was the last thing on my mind. 

“Believe me,” He chuckled. “I’ve been in this business a long time. I can tell almost immediately whether a man or woman I am representing is seeing someone. And no, you are not seeing anyone.” I said, “I don’t follow.” He continued, “When a man or woman falls in love with someone else and leaves their partner it’s because the relationship has become boring and they think they have finally found their soulmate. However, when a man or woman leaves their spouse and DON’T run into the arms of another, they aren’t leaving. They are ESCAPING. They know the grass won’t be greener but the present situation has become unlivable and they simply cannot go on like this.”

I heard about one woman saying to her husband as she left, “ I don’t need you in order to have a miserable life. I can do that by myself.” That woman’s words were a wake up call to the man and he truly repented and today they have a beautiful ministry together.

A Word to Pastors and Counselors

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7:10‭-‬11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.”

Often we read just the first part of that passage and stop. Any time you see the word ‘but’ or ‘however’ in a sentence or paragraph, it is what comes after that word that’s important. God does allow for a person to leave as long as they are willing to live single. They have not violated anything at that point.

Pastors need to understand that the only authority they have is what the scripture gives them. If a man or woman leaves their spouse the only condition placed on them is that they remain single. Pastors do NOT have the authority to enforce any conditions beyond that.

If you have someone come into your office and tell you they are leaving their spouse the first thing you need to ask is if they have found someone new. If they have, they are automatically in the wrong. That is adultery.  But if they haven’t, then they are most likely escaping a situation that has become unlivable. Pastors, you need to get out the magnifying glass and carefully scrutinize the person they are leaving and try to determine what made that individual rather be alone than live with that person. Instinctively, we know that divorce is not the easy way out. So, unless they are being carried off by illusions of romance and excitement they are probably in a horrible, abusive situation.

THEY ARE ALLOWED TO LEAVE!

Pastors have no authority to tell anyone that they must remain in a situation they find unlivable.

Emotional Abuse

This is an area that the church needs to educate themselves on. It is more complicated than physical abuse because it’s not as obvious. Mental and emotional abuse is often difficult to identify but the Bible does give us some principles to guide us.

Men are commanded to love their wives as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25) and honor them as the weaker vessel (1 Peter 3:7). And wives are to love and respect their husbands. Now, for a marriage to work will require both a husband and a wife to practice repenting, forgiving and extending a LOT of grace because WE ARE ALL going to fall very short of that standard. But, if a man or woman relates to their spouse in ways that are not characteristic of love and respect then at the very least, it is heading in the direction of emotional abuse.

One thing people, and pastors especially, need to be aware of is that emotional abusers are manipulators. Not only are they manipulating the one they are abusing but they are also trying to manipulate those around them. Pastors, if you are potentially in a position to be counseling this couple be aware that you are the number two target of the abuser. You need to be very wary of their gaslighting tactics. A lot of people, pastors especially, are fooled by these people.

This is especially true if the abuser ever loses control over the one they are abusing. At that point they will do everything they can to control what other people think of that person, especially their children if they have any. 

Concluding remarks

A few points to remember:

• If you haven’t heard both sides you don’t know the story. Don’t let either spouse try to get you to take sides. 

• If a spouse leaves but not for someone new, they are most likely escaping a situation that is unlivable.

• If a person left simply to get away, be aware that the other spouse is going to try to get you to believe the other person is the bad guy.

• Pastors, don’t attempt to go beyond the authority the scripture specifically gives you. You don’t have the authority to tell people what to do if it is not specifically stated in the Bible.

Beyond that, try to be there for the people but don’t become too emotionally involved in the situation. They need us to keep a level head.

We have to understand, at the end of the day, we are all accountable to God and that includes the couple who are separating. It is ultimately God who will judge them. We can try to help in whatever way we can by being supportive and counseling and encouraging them to reconcile but ultimately they will answer to God and God will judge. When it is clear that one or both of the spouses has acted in ways that are contrary to the biblical mandates for conduct in a marriage and refuse to be corrected, then we should stop wasting our time with them. 

Sometimes reconciliation is not possible.

One obvious question is whether the people will ever be allowed to remarry. The answer is that there are situations where people are allowed to remarry but that’s a subject for another blog. Ultimately that is between them and God as well.

When Jesus was asked about divorce he said that it was never intended that men and women would be separated except by death. But it was allowed because of the hardness of the people’s hearts. That is essentially what Paul was saying in 1 Corinthians 7:10; people should not be separating. But because of the hardness of people’s hearts it may be necessary. A Godly husband or wife is not going to be manipulating and abusing their spouse. So if you are being abused and manipulated you are not required to remain in that situation. And if you are the other spouse, you need to do what the man whose wife left saying that she could be miserable by herself did: 

Examine yourself and repent!