Holiness, Humility, and Hunger

The call of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel can be summarised by three words: Holiness, Humility, and Hunger. Let me explain.

            Isaiah received his call in the year King Uzziah died.  However, he had to sort out something first, holiness. Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up. He saw the glory of God’s holiness coupled with the abject humility of the attending angels. Its clear Isaiah was under no illusions of any righteousness of his own when he said, “Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). Personal holiness would be critical to Isaiah as he was dealing with wicked King Ahaz and a wicked nation Judah.  Isaiah was purified before he was sent. God had done all he could in his vineyard and yet it brought forth wild grapes. Judah would be called on to make a judgment between a Holy God and an unholy Israel.

            Jeremiah was called of God in the days of Josiah and Jehoiakim. Like Isaiah Jeremiah experienced visions during his call. But they were not on the scale of Isaiah’s vision by a long chalk. Jeremiah would have to depend completely on the Lord for his protection, as he would suffer for the Lord. Complete dependence requires complete humility. Although a young man, God reassures Jeremiah that he was God’s man before he was even born. This must have helped Jeremiah in the dark days. God’s people were still in a rebellious state when Jeremiah was called. Under King Josiah revival broke out, but only temporarily.

            Ezekiel’s call is the most fantastic in my opinion. He saw things right out of the Book of Revelation. “Four living creatures…. they had the likeness of man” with four faces, four wings, and their feet were like that of a calf’s foot. (Ezekiel 1:5-6) It gets stranger indeed. Like Isaiah, Ezekiel also saw the glory of the Lord. In Chapter 2 a roll of a book is laid before Ezekiel and he is instructed to eat it. He is then instructed to speak to the house of Israel in chapter 3. Hunger for God’s Word was a part of His call, in a manner of speaking.

            All three prophets saw visions of various types. All three were living in dark spiritual days. Holiness is heard loudest in Isaiah’s call, Humility in Jeremiah’s, and Hunger in Ezekiel’s.

The Purpose of the Prophets

            “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15) And thus it began.

            Sin entered into the world at the very beginning of creation. Salvation, however, was God’s plan before the world began. Paul states it better, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began”. Prophecy has always been an integral part of how God communicates with His creation. If we’re not careful we tend to focus on the prophets of Isaiah’s day and forget about Moses and Samuel altogether.

            Prophets like Isaiah and Micah spoke of the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Who can forget Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all.” Micah said, "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2) When one compares these verses with what actually happened in the New Testament in the life of Jesus Christ one quickly realises what’s happening. Jesus Christ is spoken of in both Old and New Testaments.

            However, these prophets did not just speak of the coming Messiah. They also warned the nation of Israel and Judah of coming judgement for their continued sinful disobedience. "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) The Book of Isaiah is replete with warnings to the rebels coupled with promises to the repentant. We also see a kind and loving God who is patiently working His plan to redeem His chosen people along with the rest of His creation.

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Mankind has been rebellious sinners from the beginning. God knew this and planned for it before creation. He then began working His plan to restore His relationship with His creation. The prophets were a part of the implementation of God’s plan. Mankind is the recipient of God’s amazing grace and wonderful love. We owe a debt of gratitude to the men of God chosen by our heavenly Father to boldly proclaim His coming judgement and the means with which to escape that judgement, Jesus Christ.

Bill Nye and Radical Religion

In a debate with Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis fame Mr. Nye demonstrated the difficulties we face when dealing with a Radical belief system. In an on-line forum individuals were ask to define a religious radical. The most liked definition came from a man named Joe. He said "Intolerance of religious beliefs other than your own. The more radical you are the more likely you are to reject the rest of society - up to the point where you only exchange ideas with people who share your beliefs. From there, it's just a small step to starting a "holy war" against something you don't agree with, like abortion clinics." A Wikipedia article entitled "Radicalization-Group Isolation" mentioned "Isolation reinforces the influence of radical thinking by allowing serious and or persuasive members of the group to disproportionately define the body's agenda. When an individual only has access to one in-group social environment, that group gains a totalizing influence over the individual. Disapproval would be tantamount to social death, personal isolation, and often a lack of access to the basic services that mutual aid communities fulfill." In 1961, the Supreme Court handed down the Torcaso vs Watkins decision regarding a Maryland notary public who was initially disqualified from office because he would not declare a belief in God. But the Court ruled in his favor. It argued that theistic religions [ religions that believe in one God] could not be favored by the Court over non-theistic religions. In a footnote they revealed "Among religions in this country which do not teach what would generally be considered a belief in the existence of God are: Buddhism, Taoism, Ethical Culture, secular Humanism, and others". The Radical Religion of secular Humanism is exactly what Bill Nye demonstrated so clearly. As Joe said "Intolerance of religious beliefs other than their own." Bill Nye and the majority of the scientific community only want their belief system to be taught. In fact many of Bill Nye's colleagues urged him not to even participate in the debate. They do not even want others to hear another belief than their own. Many Arab nations make sure that no other religion is ever even discussed except for Islam, and the majority of the people believe in the false teachings of the Muslim faith. Secular Humanist are just as determined to make sure their faith is the only one taught to the point that they have developed organizations that are well funded to argue, fight, and even sue to keep their religious belief front and center in the minds of the most vulnerable among us "LITTLE CHILDREN." Could you imagine the great number of converts any other religious group would gain if they had the opportunity that the secular Humanist has had over the last 50 some odd years? No wonder Atheism is on the rise in America and other "progressive" places in the world. When it comes to Historical science, Bill Nye,along with every other scientist, is just guessing. They may have beliefs and theories about what they think could have happened but that is all that it is, beliefs. When it comes to the real questions about where did matter come from that caused the big bang, or where did conscience come from, or where did information in DNA come from, they all have the same answer "I don't know". If you look at the universe and everything else that we can observe with "God rejecting" glasses on, you certainly will not be able to see the Creator in creation. There is no doubt that the majority of scientist are looking through those glasses. The more persuasive members of the group are disproportionately defining the body's agenda. Ben Stein, in his film "Expelled - No Intelligence Allowed" revealed the ruthless tactics of the secular Humanist to maintain their control of what is being called science. Genesis 1:1 says "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Ps 14:1 says "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." You have to make a choice as to who you are going to believe --God or man. Choose wisely because your eternal destiny hangs in the balance. PS To harm anyone at an abortion clinic would be sinful, especially the unborn children in their mother's womb!

Musings On Biblical Wisdom

The goal of Old Testament “skill in living” and New Testament “sanctification” is the same. To be remade in the image of our Creator.

            Job is about faith; faith in a God like no other god. Our God is the God that laid the foundations of the earth and causes it to rain. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the Father of our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ. John said that this same Jesus was with God and was (is) God. Paul said in Romans 1:17 that the just shall live by faith. Sanctification, like salvation, is a matter of faith, faith in a glorious God who gives and takes away.

            Psalm 1:1 sets the tone for the whole of the Psalter. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Jesus said, “enter ye in at the strait gate…. because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leaded unto life”, as recorded by Matthew 7:13-14. Old or New we are to shun evil and cleave to that which is good and holy. The essence of sanctification is a skilful life in Christ.

            In Proverbs we have not just wisdom, but wisdom’s results. “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding”…. ‘Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:1-2 & 5). This lines up perfectly with the noble Bereans, in Acts 17:11, that searched the scriptures daily to determine if what they were being taught was so. Sanctification is more than learning, it is applying and experiencing the result. Paul said in Romans 5:1-5 that our experience begets hope or a confident expectation in Jesus, therefore we are not ashamed.

            “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity”. Thus begins Ecclesiastes, which is an indictment on our preoccupation on the pleasures and prosperity of the world. Jesus had a lot to say about this preoccupation in the Gospels. Sanctification is the process whereby Jesus turns us into a new creature. Old things are passed away. Our love for the world and the things of the world set us at enmity with God. Yet these things fall away as we become more like Jesus. We are warned by James that our life is a vapour and that we would be better served by knowing God’s will than pursing worldly pleasure and prosperity.

            The Song of Songs describes the physical intimacy of married life. This is an area of Christian life that is often overlooked to our children’s detriment. Ephesians 5:22-25 speaks of the spiritual intimacy of married life. When a man and a wife experience both physical and spiritual intimacy they truly become one flesh and fulfil God’s plan. If we are not sanctified our marriages will not be sanctified and thus the church will not be cleansed as God intended it to be.

           

Homosexualiy Is A Sin

Once again we have a religious leader ( the Pope ) endorsing a sin that the Bible strongly condemns.  Pope Francis said  " Who am I to judge a gay person of goodwill who seeks the Lord?" He went on to say " you can't marginalize these people."  I know the world is pushing for this sin to be accepted as a normal behavior but it never will be in God's eyes. The church  must continue to let the world know that one day they will stand before God and He will judge them. We are not judging them when we tell them murder is sin. In Exodus 20:13 God said "Thou shalt not kill."  Does that mean that the Catholic Church is now going to change it's position on abortion?  Or euthanasia? Certainly the Pope would not judge a person who has had an abortion as doing something wrong?  Or would he marginalize these people?  Sin is sin! In Exodus 20:14 God said " Thou shalt not commit adultery."  If a man is committing adultery against his wife and is seeking the Lord should the church accept that and treat him as a brother in Christ? What about the wife and her heartbreak?  By the way, you cannot seek the Lord and seek after sin. You must Repent of your sin to truly seek the Lord.

The Huffington post reported that a Father James Martin, S.J. said " One of Francis's hallmarks is an emphasis on mercy, which you see in that response, That mercy, of course, comes from Jesus. And we can never have too much of it." Is it mercy to tell a hell bound sinner that he has not sinned? That God is O.K. with his sin. Really? Then why not tell everyone that their sin is O.K. also. Tell the rapist, the child molester, the drug pusher, the prostitute, the fraudulent CEO, the kidnapper, and any other person that Jesus loves them just the way they are so don't change your behavior.  Is that really mercy?

 The Bible makes it abundantly clear that homosexuality is a sin. In the Beginning God did not make Adam and Bob. He made Adam and Eve. In Genesis 2:20 before God created Eve, Adam looked at all the Creation of God and " there was not found a help meet (fit) for him."  So God created especially for man, woman. In Gen 19 God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for the sin of homosexuality. No doubt there were many other sins but God focuses his wrath on the sin of sodomy. Read Gen 19:4-11. In the Old Testament Law God pointedly forbids this behavior. Look at Leviticus 19:22 "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." Right after that God says in Leviticus 19:23, "Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion." Deuteronomy 23:17, "There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel."
 I Kings 14:24, I Kings 15:12, I Kings 22:46, and II Kings23:7 all deal with the decline of a nation when sodomy is allowed to increase and the Old Testament approach to dealing with that sin. But the New Testament is not silent about this sin either. In Romans 1:27 " And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the women, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense or their error which was meet." 1 Corinthians 6:9"... the effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.  Both of these statements refer to homosexual behavior.  God's word makes it clear that they will not " inherit the kingdom of God." Homosexuality is a sin just like drunkenness or fornication or stealing and the soul that sins it shall die Ezekiel 18:20. Romans 3:23" For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 6:23 " For the wages of sin is death ..."  Jesus paid that wage (Hebrews 2:9) and he alone can save you from your sin ( Matthew 1:21).

The Spirit of Fear

2 Timothy 1:1-8

The Spirit of Fear Is a Lack of Faith

• Timothy’s faith appears to be wavering under the pressure of affliction for the Gospel’s sake (2 Timothy 1:5) {Unfeigned – sincere - faith}

• Jesus speaks of the little faith of His disciples (Mark 4:35-40)Jesus equates their fear with a lack of faith 

• This spirit of fear is not of God

The Spirit of Fear Is a Lack of Focus

• Timothy’s focus appears to be faltering under the pressure of affliction for the Gospel’s sake (2 Timothy 1:6){Remembrance}

• Jesus speaks of the lack of focus {faith} of Peter (Matthew 14:24-33). Jesus equates Peter’s fear and lack of focus with a lack of faith

• This spirit of fear is not of God

The Spirit of Fear Is a Lack of Fire

• Timothy’s fire appears to have gone out under the pressure of affliction for the Gospel’s sake (2 Timothy 1:6){Stir up – Enkindle: to set on fire}

• Paul tells Timothy to set himself on fire for God again. Paul may have been thinking about the cloven tongues of fire at Pentecost (Acts 2:3)

• The spirit of fear is not of God

• Do you have fear in you life? Know that this spirit is not of God and it can be over come by

• The Spirit of Power
• The Spirit of Love
• The Spirit of a Sound Mind

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