How do You Treat the Word of God?

Whose opinion do you value the most, God’s and man’s? Stop, and think about it before answering the question. It would be easy to say, “I value God’s opinion above man’s,” especially when you’re amongst other believers. However, it might be worth getting alone with your thoughts, and muse on it for a while. Think about who has the most influence in your life. How much does peer pressure affect you?
   For example, do you seek to conform to the Word of God in the way God intended, or do you seek to conform the Word of God to the opinion of man in order to fit the culture? How many try to twist Scripture in order to make it agree with their lifestyle. How many mishandle it, so can they compromise without feeling guilty. “It’s okay, we’re under grace,” for instance. It is important to stay open to the Holy Spirit’s conviction and correction. It’s better than having a guilty conscience, or worse, a seared one.
   1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.

Accountability

Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
   While it is true we are under grace, and have been saved from the wrath to come, we all will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ (see Romans 14:10). The type of works each of us did will be revealed in that day. They will be tested, or proven by fire. If our work stands, we have a reward. If it burns, we suffer loss; though we ourselves will be saved (see 1 Corinthians 3:9-14).
   It may prove beneficial to remind ourselves periodically how God views our preferences and our handling of His Word, even if it’s obvious. What doe Jesus have to say about esteeming man’s opinion over God’s?
   John 5:43-45 I am come in My Father’s name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
   Placing man’s opinion about God’s may affect one’s belief level. The more you heed the opinion of others, the less apt you may believe His Word. For instance, have you ever found yourself questioning the validity of the Bible during conversations with those who seek refute it? Our flesh, tends to gravitate toward receiving the honor of man. We all want to be accepted. Being rejected by others can sting; however, it pales compared to being rejected by God.
   Matthew 10:32-33 Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, Him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
   Trying to fit Scripture into the culture of the day bumps up against God’s unchanging nature. God does not change, which means His Word doesn’t either. It will never conform to culture that is contrary to His nature. Even though He is one, God is the Majority. The number of those who disagree with His Word has no relevance, whatsoever! He is not going to change for us, He said so!
    Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
   Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
Ultimately, His Word prevails, therefore, it is far better to conform culture to it. People will actually be judged by the very Word they try to twist. What does God say about adding or taking away from it?
   Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

The Word can be Uncomfortable

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
   Perhaps, one reason people seek to either change or avoid the Word is it can make them feel uncomfortable. No one loves feeling exposed; although, exposure provides opportunity for repentance. Therefore, it is better to be exposed now, because on the day of Judgment it will be too late for repentance. It is better to live in the Light than in darkness.
   John 2:19-21 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God (NASB).

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The Victory

While on the Cross, Jesus died for the sins of the world (see John:1:29; 1 John 2:2), tasted death for every person (see Hebrews 2:9) and saved us from the wrath to come (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10). His resurrection declared His victory over sin and death. He is risen! And so, we say, Happy Resurrection Day!

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (NASB).

The Weight of Sin

Unfortunately, there are far too many people who have yet to repent of their sins, call on the name of Jesus and receive forgiveness of sin. While some have not heard the Good News; others have, and having been rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ. Some want to stay in control of their lives; hence, they fail to surrender. Others feel the need to pay for their own sins, because they do have a sense of justice. Unless they repent, the price they pay will be spending eternity in the lake of fire (see Revelation 20:11-15). In the meantime, they will carry the weight of sin squarely on their own shoulders.

There are Christians who feel the weight of sin; even though, they should be free of it. Why? Because they are holding others in unforgiveness. What did Jesus say about forgiving others?

Matthew 6:14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

As long as they refuse to forgive, the weight will remain. They may use mental gymnastics to counter the effect; but that’s self-deception. Some believe the lie that says, “Some sins are just too terrible to forgive.” In some cases, the emotions are so strong, they find it extremely difficult to forgive. In their view, it’s impossible. Some have allowed anger and bitterness to decide for them.

If forgiveness is impossible for us to apply in certain situations, God would have never commanded us to forgive without conditions attached. He did not stipulate the severity of the offence. While some trespasses are beyond the pale, they are still forgivable. The only one that is unforgiveable is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 12:31).

  Briefly, this involves attributing His works as evil, or speaking evil of Him.  This includes the outright rejection of God and the New Covenant after receiving His grace. Those who have blasphemed the Holy Spirit are in a state where it is impossible for them to repent, because they are completely reprobate.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the Blood of the Covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite (has insulted) unto the Spirit of grace?

To be clear, if a person blasphemed the Holy Spirit, he would not care about it. Which means if you are worried about whether you did blaspheme Him, you did not do it. You can breathe now. A person in that state will not be convicted by Holy Spirit, and thus, they will not repent. It’s not that God isn’t willing for them to repent; they just won’t, because their conscience is completely seared. They have given themselves over to evil.

  We are not the Judge! Those who play God by judging others, place themselves in danger of judgment.

John 7:1-2 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

How to Cast off the Weight

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

God desires relationship with each of us, and that relationship is not based on heavy burdens. Moreover, He never intended for us to carry the burden of sin. Today is the day of salvation. If you desire to dump the burden of sin, and come into a relationship with Him, then repent of your sins. Call on the name of Jesus, and receive His forgiveness.

Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 2:37-39 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

If you are struggling to forgive others, talk to God about it. Admit to Him what’s going on in your heart. He already knows. Ask Him for help, and He will you give you the ability to forgive by His grace (see Hebrews 4:16). What did Jesus say to the Father about our sin while being crucified?

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

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Dictionary Definitions

Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
Because of grace being part of the New Testament, some overlook the fact the fear of the Lord is actually part of it. Our opening passage states the churches walked in the fear of the Lord. Moreover, Isaiah prophesied Jesus would walk in the Spirit of fear of the Lord.
Isaiah 11:2-3 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD.
   “Does that mean we are supposed to be afraid of God?” Good question. We’ll get to that in a moment. First, lets examine the textbook definition of the word, fear, then see how Scripture brings clarity in the way it is applied.
   The Hebrew word is YIR’ÂH (Strong’s Concordance number 3374), which means to fear, or to reverence. Reverence is a holy fear toward God. It can also mean fear, as in terror. For example, “Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he (Jonah) fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them” (Jonah 1:10).
   It can refer to the fear of God, man, things, and situations. It also takes the meaning of reverence toward God. Its usage depends on the biblical context in which it is found.
The Greek word for fear is PHOBOS (Strong’s Concordance number 5401), which comes from a primary verb that means to put in fear, or flee from. Meaning alarm, or fright. It is rendered as, “be afraid” (as well as be exceedingly afraid), “fear”, and “terror.”
   It can mean fear, terror, reverence, respect, or honor. Likewise, it may indicate astonishment, or amazement. In a moral sense, it refers to reverence, respect and honor. “The fear of God,” or “The fear of the Lord” is a deep and reverential sense of accountability to God, or the Lord Jesus Christ. Moreover, there is the wholesome dread of displeasing Him, or perhaps, missing Him. Intensively, it does mean fear, and trembling. Again, it’s all about context.

Should We Be Afraid of God?

How one fears God depends on his or her relationship. Let’s begin with this: if you walk in the fear of the Lord, you will not be afraid of Him. The fear of the Lord is predicated on a healthy relationship with Him, and deep reverence for Him.
   1 John 4:17-19 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love Him, because He first loved us.
   For those who were terrorized by parents, especially fathers, this concept might seem foreign. God is The Loving Father Who loved us first, which means our relationship with Him is based on love. If He wanted us to be afraid of Him, and live in terror, we would never know, nor experience love. He is Love! Your ability to love Him is proof He loves you.
   We obey Him because we love Him. We are not trying to earn His love. He made us His children: not slaves to fear.
   Romans 8:14-16 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
   Remember, ABBA, means Daddy. We reverence ABBA, Father! Those who don’t know God would definitely be afraid of Him. But then, they don’t have a relationship with Him -yet. The Good News is they don’t have to live in bondage to fear. That’s where we come in. We can share our reason for our hope and peace.
   1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

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Righteousness Exalts a Nation

Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Pure and simple, righteousness exalts a nation. That means if a nation is to be great, its people must walk righteously, which means walking in the righteousness of Jesus. This includes allowing our hearts to be convicted when Holy Spirit is convicting us. We can grieve Him, and our hearts can become cold and indifferent. It’s the path to a seared conscience. This also involves repentance, in which we change our heart, thought process, and direction.
 No political system will elevate a nation in itself. Of course, it may reflect the heart of its citizens, especially when they have a say in who governs them. Naturally, it does not necessarily represent the entirety of its population. That will vary in percentage. That being said, it might be a good idea to ask the Lord for His wisdom when it comes to voting, if you have that right. Is it a good idea to vote for those whose policies are not in alignment with God? When reading the Bible, what do you find about just and unjust leaders? They definitely had profound effects on their nations.
Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.

Sin is a Reproach to Any People

Juxtaposed to the results of righteousness is the consequences of sin. A sinful nation suffers greatly. When Israel continued to sin against God, He eventually brought judgment to the nation. He was very patient and longsuffering in calling them to repentance. Finally, He dispersed the people amongst the nations of the world as a consequence of their idolatry, and the nation no longer existed. The physical land that once flourished, became desolate. However, true to His promise and nature, the Lord gathered His people back into the land. Once again it became the nation of Israel. This truth points out the reliability of the Bible. Very few people thought this would ever happen, especially since Israel did not exist for centuries.   
The conditions of a nation are very much linked to the spiritual realm. It’s not so much the result of physical activities. For example, some try to implement policies to curb “global warming,” to include what kind of vehicles people drive. First, mankind will not destroy the earth. It would be arrogant to think it’s in our power. To be sure, we should be good stewards of what God has given us; however, the Bible reveals how the earth comes to an end. In fact, it gives the true definition of global warming.
2 Peter 3:13 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
By the way, God made provision for the CO2 as the result of fossil fuel usage. How so? CO2 is plant food. Plants convert CO2 to oxygen. Not to get lost in those weeds, but it is good to underscore God is greater than anything man can do.
All rebellion will be put to an end forever! God is shaking the earth, and calling people to repentance. People mock the disciples of Jesus Christ, and the Word of God (see 2 Peter 3:3-9). Ultimately, they are mocking God, Himself. This too, will end. In the meantime, He is patient.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:14-18 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (NASB).

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Why Worry About Man’s Judgment?

Why do people fear being judged by others? So many are paralyzed by this phobia. It hinders them from conforming to the image of Jesus, fulfilling their calling, speaking truth, and the list goes on. The are various levels of this fear, which range from the anxiety of performing in front of others, to fear of their condemnation should one color outside of the lines. It’s as if they believe humanity is on the same level as God, and another person’s thoughts carry the same weight as His.
 Perhaps, they feel the condemnation of others overrides the grace and mercy of God. They seem to fear man’s condemnation more than God’s. Jesus pointed out that giving more honor to others affects our ability to believe.
John 5:43-44 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

What Do People Really Know?

Do we truly know the thoughts and intents of others? For instance, someone may condemn another for a mistake he made, even though the person’s intent was pure. Things simply went awry; yet, someone needles the person’s character without knowing the heart of the individual.
Unless God reveals the ending from the beginning, none of us truly know the end result of another’s life. Sure, there may be indicators such as one’s life-history; however, history does not necessarily dictate one’s future. For example, “He’s evil, and he will never change.” Have you ever been surprised by someone’s repentance and conversion? You know, the one you wrote off as lost forever? People do repent. Are we willing to see them change for the better, or do we desire them to remain the same? If yes, why?

It Truly is a Small Thing to be Judged by Others

1 Corinthians 4:3-5 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but He that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Paul reveals an attitude we might want to carry: “it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment.” In the end, all of us will be facing the Lord, Himself. No one else will have any input, so what does it matter if others judge us? In fact, we can ill afford to judge ourselves. When we boil things down, it doesn’t matter what any of us think; it matters what He thinks. His Word and judgment are final; ours, not so much.

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Two Things Impossible for God

There are a couple things that are impossible for God. First, it is impossible for Him to lie (see Hebrews 6:18), and secondly, He cannot deny Himself (see 2 Timothy 2:13). We can and should take comfort that this is part of His nature. We never have to worry about Him going back on His Word, which means we can absolutely trust Him. The fact He cannot deny Himself, underscores His faithfulness. Let’s examine some aspects of this impossible thing for God.

He Reveals His Goodness Everyday

Acts 14:15-17 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
Truth be told, none of us is truly cognizant of just how good God is to us. He serves us every day, but how often do we recognize it, much less acknowledge it? There is so much we take for granted, and perhaps fail to give Him a proper thank You. Are we grateful for waking up, or having breath in our lungs? Think of all the things He provides for us, and the intricacies attached to those provisions.
One example is the warmth of the sun. If the sun moved a minute amount of distance, one way or the other, we would either be burned beyond a crisp, or frozen solid. Day in and day out, it remains just where He placed it. The oceans remain in their place by His command. He provided everything humanity needed for life, before Adam was first formed. Moreover, He makes that provision for those who love Him, and those who don’t. As Jesus said, “He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (see Matthew 5:45).

What Does His Witness Mean for the Christian?

Of course, it should help us get in touch with a deeper sense of gratitude. How many Christians are disappointed with God, because He hasn’t “performed to their expectations?” Perhaps, they forget He is God, and they are not. Would it be a good idea to declare His goodness and kindness towards us? How much does He have to do in order for people to be pleased with Him. This last statement may sound ridiculous, but you might be surprised.
Naturally, when people are experiencing hardship or loss, they might find themselves upset with God on some level. That being said, one way to help endure hardship, is remembering His goodness and faithfulness, along with the fact that all earthly suffering is temporary. The day will come when every tear will be wiped away, while sorrow, and  pain will cease to exist. We can take comfort knowing that He is ever with us, and works all things together for good to those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose (read Romans 8:15-39).
By the way, hardship is not a sign God does not love us, nor does it mean He is angry at us. But He will walk us, as we go through it.
Consider this: We did not form or create ourselves. We did not make provision for the things required for life. We could not save ourselves from the wrath to come; much less, reconcile ourselves onto God. He saved us through Jesus Christ, gave us Holy Spirit Who prays for us. He gave us the grace, or ability to do what we could not do on our own. Which essentially means, He did everything for us; even so, He rewards us for obedience. Who does that?

What Does it Mean for the Atheists?

Romans 1:20-21 For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
 It short, it means they are without excuse. At one point in his or her life, every individual knew God exists. Many rejected Him, and many will continue to do so. Some, because they are angry at Him. Others, because they want to be God, and be held accountable to no one, especially God. Unfortunately for them, without God they have no purpose. Worse of all, without repentance, they face the wrath of God, and eternal separation from Him.
Even though they deny Him, they are still able to sense, and even experience His presence as long as they are alive. Holy Spirit continues to convict those of the world. This in itself reveals God’s kindness and faithfulness.
John 16:8-11 And He, when He (Holy Spirit) comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged (NASB).
No matter how hard a sinner may try to make himself righteous through various means or works; deep down, he will always know he is a sinner, and he faces certain destruction. This in itself reveals God’s kindness, because as long as sinners can be convicted, they can also repent. They can be reconciled to God.
Romans 4:3-4 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— for He says, “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.” Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION” (NASB).

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Beware of Presumption

When it comes to speaking prophetically, or teaching and preaching for that matter, it is important to not speak presumptuously out of our own heart. This is no light issue. While we are under grace and mercy, we will still give an account for our words. Perhaps not at the Great White Throne Judgment; but we still stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ (see Matthew 12:36-37; Romans 12:10-12, et.al.).
James 3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment (NASB).
 So-called prophets have said things God never said, and Christians have done things in the name of Christ that have caused incalculable damage. Segments of society have been negatively impacted. Because of those words and actions, many have rejected Jesus Christ.
Make no mistake, this is no way is saying prophecy is not for today. The point is to exercise care. Submission to Holy Spirit is vital, and being self-willed should have no place in us. Should one prophesy, what he or she says should align with Scripture. That doesn’t mean you have to be a scholar to speak. Perhaps, one of the most important things is the spirit and attitude. Obviously, be sure it comes from the Spirit of God (see 1John 4:1-3).
An obvious reason to pay attention to one’s attitude is it affects how you approach the Word of God. If you are cavalier with it, you might be more apt to misapply Scripture. Moreover, if you are self-willed, you may tend to bend it to fit your agenda. A sincere heart is more able to learn and receive truth when Holy Spirit reveals it. Be teachable, and yet, take no one’s word for anything. Study for yourself to see if teachings you hear from others are true.
Here is one example. There is a teaching in which people call things that do not exist into being, calling it faith. How does that square with the Bible?
Romans 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before Him Whom he believed, even God, Who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
The first question one might ask, is Who calls those things that be not as though they were? The obvious answer is God, which means we do not have the lawful authority to speak things into existence -at least, not on our own. Only when God speaks first, do we have any freedom to speak in such a manner.

All May Prophesy

1 Corinthians 14:31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
We will not go into a detailed lesson on all the ins and outs of prophesying, but we will hit on one very important aspect, which in essence, will put everything in order. Let’s pick up with our example of calling things into existence.
1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles (utterances) of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
This is very simple, we say what we hear Him say, if He leads us to say anything. Jesus is our Example Who said what He heard the Father Say, and did what He saw Him do (John 14:10).
One last thought: sometimes God will give us revelation, or a prophetic Word. When He does, it might a good idea to ask Him what He would have us do with it. In other words, there may be times when it is only for us. Other times, it could be for an individual or group of people, such a congregation or even a country, and everything in between. In some instances, there may be a specific time in which He would have us release it.
It is critical to be slow to speak, while being quick and diligent to listen, first!

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The Cost of Indecision

Those who find themselves in a place of indecision also find themselves riding an emotional rollercoaster. They feel wishy-washy. Perhaps, you have experienced this for yourself. Part of the experience often include stress, and where there is stress, there is no peace. At least when a decision is made, you have direction and a sense of certainty -even if it’s the wrong one. The fear of making the wrong decision is paralyzing. It’s one big reason people become indecisive. Ironically, there is a big decision every human must make that actually affects the ability to make the right decisions.
That decision is to whether one will go all in with his or her relationship with God. Truth be told, there is no middle ground. Those who straddle the fence, eventually hit a fence post. As long as a person has one foot in the Kingdom and the other in the world, he will never genuinely have the peace that surpasses understanding. There are stark warnings throughout the Bible about trying to have it both ways, so to speak. Let’s be very clear, if one continues to live this way, there will dire eternal consequences. The decision for God gives you access to the wisdom required to make all other decisions.

Lukewarm

Revelation 3:14-16 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.
To be lukewarm is to be unrefreshing. How many like drinking lukewarm water when they are hot? How many people love a lukewarm bath when they’re cold? A hot bath is great, so is a cold plunge. By the way, Jesus is not saying He desires people to be spiritually cold: on the contrary. Remember, the Lord uses things (often physical) of which we are familiar to illustrate spiritual truths. They are known as metaphors, which are frequently found in parables. Why would Jesus say, I wish you were cold or hot?
Knowing a little history of Laodicea will actually bring some clarity to the language He uses in this letter. Here are some cliff notes. It was the capital of Phrygia, about 15 miles from Philadelphia. It was a prosperous commercial city, situated in the fertile Lycus River valley at the crossroads of the trade route from the East to Pergamum and Ephesus (part of modern-day Turkey). Originally, its name was Diospolis, but was renamed by the Syrian King, Seleucus II after his wife, Laodice.
Being lukewarm may refer to its sources of water. One source was a spring four miles to the south, from which they actually piped water to the city for drinking. Unfortunately, by the time the water reached the city, it would no longer be cold; rather, it would be lukewarm. Sometimes it would cause vomiting, because of containments from the material used in the piping.
Another source was the hot springs found in neighboring Hierapolis, which was used for bathing. Again, by the time the water reached Laodicea, it would be lukewarm. Here’s a major takeaway: the farther away from the Source, the less refreshing a person becomes. Another word for lukewarm would be, indifferent.  

Self-Sufficiency

Revelation 3:17-18 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Laodicea had great wealth, some of which was derived from gold it contained. In fact, a number of Christians did quite well for themselves. Because of their wealth, they refused Rome’s help to rebuild the city when it was devastated in an earthquake in 60 AD. They were determined to remain self-sufficient. Hence, we read, “You say, I am rich.”
Moreover, the city produced a fine black wool from its local sheep. Additionally, it boasted of a medical school that produced a well-known eye medicine know as Phrygian powder. Thus we read, “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments (righteousness -see Revelation 19:8), so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.”
Jesus told us to store up for ourselves treasures in Heaven. Self-sufficient people are self-righteous, which is very unrefreshing. They are spiritually blind. One might say, their self-righteousness has caused them to become incapable of seeing their condition. Their works are self-centered. Those who are self-sufficient are lukewarm!

The End of Laodicea

Today, Laodicea lies in ruins, as it was hit with another earthquake in 7 A.D., and consequently abandoned. There are some remnants, such as an aqueduct, a gymnasium, and tombs. The church at Laodicea no longer exists. Interestingly, these point to lukewarm water, works of the flesh and ultimately, death.

Call to Repentance

Revelation 3:19-22 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Because of His love for humanity, and especially His Church, the Lord is not satisfied to leave us in a fallen condition. He rebukes and disciplines those He loves. In this case, the word for love is not AGAPE; but PHILEO, which means to have affection for, denoting personal attachment. It’s a matter of sentiment or feeling. This word does not apply to loving one’s enemies, which would be AGAPE (see Matthew 5:44). Moreover, man is never commanded to PHILEO (“love”) God; rather, it is AGAPE. Nevertheless, he is also to PHILEO his fellow man.
This is a call to zeal, as well as repentance. Zeal as opposed to indifference. Interestingly, “I stand at the door, and knock” is not altar call as it often used in church settings. This is a specific call of repentance to those who are distant from Him -the lukewarm; not the sinner in general. Those who are indifferent will decide whether or not they will heed His call and open the door to Him, or simply remain lukewarm. Those who listen, and overcome will find unsearchable rewards.

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You Cannot Force Prophecy

The Bible exhorts us to watch and pray in anticipation of our Lord’s return. Part of watching is discerning the times and the seasons, which includes study of the end times. However, the end times should not become an obsession. It seems every time there’s conflict in the Middle East, new end time teachings immerge, to include a flood of quickly written books. To be clear, many are trying to present the best information possible. Nonetheless, it is easy to get ahead of ourselves, and miss important elements of Scripture.

Often events appear to be prophesy unfolding before our eyes, and on occasion some are actual fulfillments. 1948 is a great example, which is when Israel became a nation again, which was prophesied long ago. For centuries, there was no evidence it would ever happen; but it did! God’s Word is true. There is a lesson to be learned here: sometimes the lack of evidence is the evidence. The reverse is also true. What appears to be evidence is a distraction.

The short of it is we cannot force current events to be the fulfillment of prophecy. They can serve as types and shadows of things to come. That is not to say none are an actual fulfillment, nor will we ever see any come to pass. Not by a long shot. In fact, we could miss them when they do. We don’t want to be oblivious to the times and seasons in which we find ourselves. The so-called spiritual leaders during the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, did not discern the time they were in.

Luke 12:54-56 And He said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time (see also Matthew 16:1-4)?

That being said, there is a danger of bending Scripture in order to fit one’s theory, or leaving passages out that might negate it -even with the best of intentions. Information bias is a thing. It is a type of cognitive bias in which one is so focused on a certain supposition that he overlooks information that might change his viewpoint. One may actually distort evidence he or she is evaluating.

2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  

We need Holy Spirit to lead us in our search of scriptures, which may include whether or not He leads us to study end-time prophecy. He may lead us there, or He may lead us in other directions. His call!

Another consideration is God withheld information concerning the last days.  Daniel and John serve as a couple examples. This alone makes it difficult to be conclusive.

Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Revelation 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not (read verses 1-3 for fuller context).

Of course, God does get very specific about events, which includes many intricate details. When it comes to studying the end-times, or any other subject for that matter, we can cannot be haphazard in our endeavors. A few passages of Scripture, what so and so says, and throwing in some newspaper and magazine articles will not get it. Too many believers are going by hearsay, and not studying for themselves. It requires patience and diligence.

What Did Jesus Say?

To be clear, prophecy is unfolding before our eyes, but the question is on what should we be focusing? Especially, as it relates to the return of our Lord Jesus and end-time events?

Acts 1:6-8 When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His Own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

When the disciples asked Jesus about restoring Israel’s kingdom, essentially, He said that wasn’t their concern; rather, they were to focus on being empowered by the Holy Spirit, and becoming His witnesses. The resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment is part of the Doctrine of Christ (see Hebrews 6:1-3); however, Jesus emphasized making disciples. That’s part of being ready for His return.

Matthew 24:44-46 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

The Lord can come when we least expect it, and it may be that He won’t in our lifetime. Nonetheless, every day is someone’s last day on earth. None of us knows when we will be standing before Him, which is why it’s important to be faithful at all times. Likewise, until the appointed time, it is imperative to reach as many lost people as possible.

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A Very Bad Idea

It is a very bad idea to add to, or take away from the Word of God. Likewise it is a bad idea to filter the Word of God through culture. In the end, we will ultimately answer to God; even though society would have us believe we answer to it. Society forgets, it too will give an account the Lord. No one is exempt. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we should be filtering culture through the Word as God intended.

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (see also Romans 14:10).

It is important we do not succumb to the fear of man. That fear can lead to compromise, which includes trying to bend Scripture to fit the whims of culture. How many of those whims are self-destructive? Would you try to stop a friend from jumping off a cliff, or would you give him or her a push for good measure? Why would anyone seek to embrace, or endorse something that is detrimental to another? Is that love? Love removes the fear of rejection, and speaks the truth for the other’s benefit. Whose acceptance carries the most weight, God’s or society’s?

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Some things culture wants to normalize actually causes them harm, even though it thinks otherwise. For instance, whatever takes a person in the opposite direction of being God’s image, leads to misery. We are the most joyful when we fit our design -and yes, the happiest. Anything else leads to confusion and discontentment, as well as self-destructive behavior in many cases. Truth be told, those who reject God and His ways will never know true joy, peace and love.

What’s New?

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

Culturally speaking, there is nothing new (technology aside). All the so-called new fads and behaviors have been around for centuries. Oh sure, if you stick to recent history, you might make an argument for progressive ideas being new; however, when looking as far back as possible, you’ll discover they are not all that original. It would probably be more accurate to say these ideas are cyclical in nature. Looking at recent history again, we find hairstyles make the rounds. For example, the buzz cuts of the 50s have resurfaced in current times. Don’t be surprised if you see bell-bottoms and elephant pants make their debut again -just kidding.

Think about what things you consider new, then dig into history and see what you find. More than likely, you will see the same cultural patterns appear, disappear and reappear throughout all previous centuries. Comparing the nations of the past to the present makes it even more evident. Humanity is always changing, because it’s unstable in all its ways.

Culture Cannot Change God’s Word

Hebrews 13:8-9 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines (teachings).

Malachi 3:5 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

God’s Word and ways do not change, because He does not change. Fortunately for us, He is faithful and steadfast. Culture does not dictate anything to Him. If He was like us humans, more than likely none of us would be here right now. Could you imagine what life would be like if He was subject to mood swings? What if He constantly changed His mind? How secure would you feel? Also fortunate for us, He cannot lie (see Hebrews 6:18). There is a reason He is also known as our Rock!

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my Strength, in whom I will trust; my Buckler, and the Horn of my salvation, and my High Tower (see also Psalms 18:46; 28:1; 31:2-3; etc.).

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