The Heaton File

And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them. “And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” (Ezekiel 2:3-8)

They Will Know A Prophet Has Been Among Them

The nation of Israel was in the early days of their captivity when the Lord appeared to one of His priest, the son of Buzi named Ezekiel. Babylon had destroyed the final remnants of a once proud nation and now only a handful remained to tearfully tell the story of Israel’s downfall after the glorious period of Solomon, son of David. It took less than four hundred years for the nation to crumble and the Assyrians and Babylonians to exact divine punishment against the people of God. The northern ten tribes were obliterated and now only a small group remained of the faithful among Judah and Benjamin. It was to these faithful few the Lord sends Ezekiel to preach repentance, hope and the judgment of the Lord. The task would not be easy for the priest. As the Lord raised Ezekiel up and declared to him to work before him, it became abundantly clear the challenge of exhorting the people of God would be daunting at best. The Lord does not tell the priest his job would be easy and tells him in no uncertain terms it will be the most difficult thing he will ever do. Regardless of the hardship, Ezekiel is tasked to carry out the work of the Lord.

Ezekiel is being sent to a rebellious and stubborn nation who has yet to learn the captivity is their punishment. As a preacher of truth, the priest will speak before an impudent crowd who do not respect the word of God. For generations the children of Israel chose their own path refusing to heed the will of the Father. The history of Israel is filled with rebellion, murmuring, wickedness and injustice to their fellow man and the Lord had had enough. First the Assyrians came and then the nation of Babylon to exact vengeance on an ungodly nation of believer’s intent on serving the gods of the world. The reception Ezekiel would receive was anything but cordial. God warned the priest the people will not be receptive and refuse to listen but he must preach the word regardless of how the people respond. Whether they heard the word of God or whether they refused to hear the task of the priest was the same – preach the word. He should not be afraid of them or be afraid of their words and even when they looked at Ezekiel with eyes of contempt – preach the word. The response of the people did not change the message of the preacher. He would tell them things they did not want or like to hear but he would tell them anyway. His task was to let the word of God have the impact of God’s grace on the people and allow the power of the message to move the hearts of men to obey the Lord. Ezekiel did what the Lord said and left a legacy of courage in the face of disappointment and hardship. His book is preserved in holy writ as a testimony of faith standing in the midst of rebellion that should resonate in the hearts of all those who share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

God sent His only begotten Son into the world to save men and they killed Him. Jesus knew they were going to crucify Him and He still preached the word of the Father. He never backed away from preaching truth whether it softened the heart of the common man or angered the belligerent spirit of Jewish hierarchy. Jesus preached the word. The early disciples did not hide in fear when Saul persecuted the church. They went everywhere preaching the word. Many would lose their lives for standing for truth. Living in a godless world of rebellion the saints of God courageously spoke the word of truth to souls that would listen. The day of reckoning is upon all the people of God to refuse to bow down to the social, political and religious pressure to compromise truth. Ezekiel was called during a time of national calamity to preach the word to a rebellious people. Every generation must have men and women who are willing to take their place of courage to stand in the gap defending the truth of God’s word. Men and women like Ezekiel who are called upon to preach the gospel of a risen Christ in a world that is rebellious and stubborn. Whether they hear or whether they refuse – for the world is a rebellious house – they need to know there are prophets of God among them that will tell the old, old story and not change the message of salvation. Faith comes from hearing the word of God and sharing that message of faith with others untainted by the afflictions of man’s compromise is the task of the loyal servants of God. Let the world know there a righteous people of God among them. Shout the message loudly so that all can hear. Preach the word.

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6:35-36)

Getting Along With Others

Human relationships are important and one of the key characteristics of how God’s children interact with others. The world does not view dealing with people as a priority. It is easier to look out for self and promoting the needs of the individual rather than the community. In a hard world of reality many look at protecting their rights not allowing others to abuse them or take advantage of them. A Christian is very different. He or she has an attitude of kindness, goodness and charity to all men – including those who revile or abuse the people of God. Jesus explained that love could not be measured by loving only those who loved in return. That is easy. The real challenge comes when those who do not deserve love or that make it difficult to be kind towards are the ones to whom the Christian shows mercy and goodness. Loving enemies is a hard pill to swallow and often some of God’s people refuse. When someone takes advantage of another the heart can harden against being kind. If harm is done then vengeance is returned. This is a sinful attitude. The point is simple: Jesus said to love the one who is an enemy. It was not a suggestion or an exception that is allowed in the law of God but a command to learn how to do good to those who stand against the character of the Christian. Enemies are people who are not looking out for the betterment of others. What they find in dealing with Christians is not what they find in the world. The carnal nature of man is bent on revenge. Children of God who possess a spirit of gentleness will not revile in return. When people do bad things the Christian will do good things. This is the character of those born again in the Spirit of God.

Jesus exhorts His disciples to have a spirit of serving the Father with a spirit of serving others. He says to lend with no desire for anything in return. This is not compatible with the thinking of the world. Often the attitude is that if something is done for someone there is an expectation that something must be returned in kind. A need may arise and monies are exchanged. Coupled with this exchange is the anticipation of a returned investment. Remarkably Jesus suggests the Christ not to hope for anything in return. The attitude is that what is given to the individual is a blessing from God and sharing it with others is a kind way to reciprocate what is received from the Lord. Everything Jesus says in this sermon is based upon what God has done for man. Giving His Son as a sacrifice was not based on the worth of man but his worthlessness. Man was not good enough to accept the blood sacrifice of God’s Son. Jesus died without sin. All men die because of sin. The sacrifice made by the Son of God was not given with the expectation that man could do anything to be worthy of God’s grace. Yet the love of God was shed abroad in the hearts of man to say that God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son to die for undeserving people who killed Jesus Christ on a cross. If God has done that for men He requires for man to do the same for others. Showing mercy to others is because eternal mercy was granted to those saved by His blood.

Getting along with others is how man shows the Lord how much he understands what God has done for him. Loving enemies comes from the knowledge that God loved me. Doing good to all men – those who are loved and those who are enemies – expresses the character of mercy God has given to me. Lending without hope of return puts everything in the hands of a bountiful Creator who has blessed His people with untold blessings. Being kind to the unthankful is a mirror of what He did in sending His Son to die for my unkindness. Showing grace to those who are evil is the full expression of God’s grace for Christ to die for my evil heart. Letting a merciful heart fill my life is declaring the mercy the heavenly Father has given me. How can I not get along with others when God has done so much for me? If I cannot learn to love my enemy I cannot learn to love my God. As His child I must be like Him. Learning to get along with others is the stamp of God’s image on my heart to be like the one who was merciful and full of grace that saved me from sin. Thank you God for your love. May my life reflect that love to others.

Princes persecute me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your word. I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure. I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your law. Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments. Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble. Lord, I hope for Your salvation, and I do Your commandments. My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly. I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You. (Psalm 119:161-168)

Standing In Awe Of God’s Word

When was the last time something truly amazed you? The psalmist is being persecuted by others and the word of God is the place he goes for comfort, peace and security. When he secures himself within the words of divine wisdom he stands in awe of its power, majesty and might. There is wonderment at the message of holy writ that strikes a responsive chord in the heart of the man who facing great trial finds solace in the mind of God. His heart rejoices as if finding a great treasure in reading the words of his heavenly Father. The love of God is poured out in his heart as he mediates on the eternal truths revealed by the law. What separates the spirit of the psalmist is his deep desire to know and understand the righteous judgments of the Lord as he frequently during the day contemplates the depths of divine justice. His knowledge of the word is not a casual or infrequent inquiry but seven times a day he praises the Lord of scripture because of the wonderful stories of old resonating within his heart of God’s mercy and truth. Life is filled with peace when the word of God is the foundation of truth. Loving the law of God is accepting what is written as a guide for life without the mixing of human wisdom. The judgments of the Lord are righteous because they are the only pattern of truth man can follow and find happiness. Men stumble when they try to walk by their own righteousness. Peace is given to those who love the law of God as light to a darkened pathway to keep the feet from stumbling.

The psalmist is being persecuted by nobles but he trusts in the power of the Lord to deliver him. This spirit of courage comes from spending time in the word of God impressed with the power of the Lord ruling over the affairs of men. Throughout the message of God’s word the Lord reminds man there is nothing to fear from men as He rules in all things and cares for His children. Facing persecution and trial can be overwhelming but through the message of God’s word fear is cast out. The psalmist stands in awe of the word of God because of its transcending glory to elevate the fainting heart of man to the mountains of faith blessed by the hand of the Creator. Reading the word brings admiration for the principles of truth revealed by God to care for man instructing him in the paths of holiness. Loving the law is spending time in the law. Hoping in the word brings salvation. Keeping the commandments of the Lord is not drudgery but a revealing of the trust man finds when he believes that everything in the law of God is perfect, complete and lacking nothing. How can a man not be in awe of the words of the divine given to mortal man to see God?

There is a great need for revival in the word of God to bring hearts back to be amazed at the word of God. Through His grace the Lord has given man a book containing all the wisdom needed to find truth, holiness, righteousness and peace. Losing a sense of awe in the Bible is losing the soul of man to a darkened world of ignorance. The people of God have always been destroyed for lack of knowledge. Losing a love for the law of God is the beginning of the end for man. We must stand in awe of His word, rejoice at His word, find treasure in the depths of its pages and love the law of God more than anything in life. It takes time to implant the majesty of God’s word in the heart but a man who loves the word of God will spend seven times a day praising the righteous judgments of the Lord, finding peace in loving the law of God and securing hope in the salvation sprinkled throughout the pages of divine truth. It is imperative to keep the commandments of the Lord and to keep the testimonies of God. This can only be done by loving exceedingly the precepts of the words found on the pages of the Bible. Stand in awe of the word of God. Be amazed. Let the word of God will be an awesome message of hope and faith to your soul.

Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance. (Luke 8:1-3)

Taking Care Of Jesus

The gospel writer Luke is the only writer that tells the age of Jesus when He began His ministry. At about thirty years of age Jesus Himself began His work which would last about three years before dying on the cross. His work was exhausting as He kept an incredible pace of teaching, healing, traveling, exhorting, rebuking and finding time to spend alone with His Father in prayer. Jesus had lived at home for three decades with His brothers and sisters and Mary His mother. Sometime in the life of Jesus Joseph had died but no record is given. When Jesus began His ministry it was a walk towards Golgotha that He knew full well would end with crucifixion as He spoke often of what men would do to Him in Jerusalem. During the three years of His ministry Jesus was surrounded by many disciples who followed Him on a daily basis. One important group of followers was the women who took care of the daily necessities of the man from Nazareth. In his descriptive gospel about the humanity of Jesus, Luke affirms the Son of God had daily needs that had to be met. The scriptures talk about Jesus being thirsty, eating, needing sleep and growing tired. All of these lend themselves to declare the Son of God was in flesh and needed like all men the sustenance of life. Food had to be provided even if Jesus could feed more than 5,000 people with two fish and five loaves of bread. The nature of divinity did not require sleep but the man Jesus had to rest his body. At the well of Jacob Jesus was tired and thirsty. When Lazarus died Jesus felt the sorrow of death and wept as all men. Luke affirms the humanity of God’s Son is found in the need of others caring for Him. Life requires logistics and Jesus needed someone to care for His daily needs. Certain women who were with Him carried out this role with humble and pious hearts.

Mary called Magdalene is mentioned by Luke as one of the women who cared for Jesus. The only thing known of Mary is she had been possessed of seven demons and was healed at some point. History has painted a picture of Mary as being a prostitute which is a gross negligence of scripture. Nothing is mentioned in the four gospels of Magdalene being anything but a woman of noble character who ministered to Jesus on a daily basis. Mary is mentioned in scripture as a disciple of Jesus present at His crucifixion and burial. She was one of the women who had prepared the spices to anoint the body of Jesus on the first day of the week but found the tomb empty. Biblical history will forever have Mary as the first to whom Jesus appears after His resurrection. Joanna the wife of Chuza is also listed in Luke’s account. Chuza was a steward of Herod Antipas who reigned in Galilee. As a steward, Chuza was in charge of the domestic needs of the Herodian family and in contrast his wife was carrying for the Man from Nazareth that Herod was most interested to meet. Herod would finally meet Jesus after Pilate gives Jesus an audience before the King. Joanna was a caretaker of the Son of God and could see the power of grace in the man she served. Her husband served a man who was destitute of character. A greater contrast could not be found among two men. Susanna is also named by Luke as caring for Jesus. This is the only mention of a woman who cared for the Lord.

Many others provided for Jesus from their substance to help the Son of God in His ministry and there is little doubt He appreciated and honored those who so lovingly gave of their time to help Him. Jesus was in the flesh and as a man needed the daily requirements of the frail form of humanity. He had no money to call His own and no place to rest His head. His life was given to others and others gave of their lives to help Him fulfill His ministry. It should never be missed of the daily needs of a thirty-year-old man who had the power to create food and find money in the mouths of fish; but lived as a man of mortality dependent upon the grace, love and mercy of others. These women were servants of Jesus in a literal manner serving from their hearts to His needs. As Jesus was dying on the cross He spoke to His mother and bid John to care for her. There were women standing at the cross that had cared for Jesus, cooked His favorite meals, sewed his clothes and tended His scraped knees and covered Him with blankets on cold nights. The Son of God came to seek and to save the lost but He needed these beautiful women to help Him through the day. What a blessing the story of these women that took care of Jesus.

And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. (1 Samuel 15:7-9)

Doing What They Thought Best

The commandments of the Lord are never cumbersome, difficult or complicated to where man is unsure what he must do. There has never been a time in the existence of man that he could complain to God of how confusing His laws were and use this as an excuse for disobedience. In the earliest days of the kingdom of Israel, Saul made a very serious mistake in assuming that he knew more about the will of God than the One who gave the law. As the leader of God’s nation, Saul was entrusted with guiding the people in accordance with the instructions of the Lord and to carry out whatever was demanded from the Lord. On one such occasion God had told Saul to execute judgment upon the people of Amalek because of what the Amalek nation had done to Israel when they were making their way to the promised land. Amalek had ambushed the people of God at Rephidim but were defeated as Moses held up hands until the going down of the sun. The Lord had promised that day he would have war with Amalek from generation to generation. It was placed upon Saul, King of Israel, to fulfill the word of the Lord by attacking Amalek and utterly destroying all that they had and not to spare one soul. The word of God demanded the Israelite’s kill man, woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey. There was to be a scorched earth policy concerning the Amalekites and King Saul would be the instrument of God’s wrath upon this wicked nation.

Samuel the prophet told King Saul everything he needed to do. The instructions were plain and direct. Everyone that had breath of life in Amalek was to be destroyed. Saul gathered 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah and came to a city of Amalek and lay wait in the valley. The king attacked the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur which is east of Egypt. It was a complete victory over Amalek and they utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But there was a problem with how Saul carried out the will of the Lord. When the king captured Agag, king of the Amalekites, he decided to spare his life. Also, when he came upon the thousands of sheep, oxen, fatlings and lambs it seemed to Saul a waste to destroy such good animals and again decided not to destroy them. There were a lot of good things the Amalekites possessed and Saul could see no reason to destroy them so he kept them. Confident he had done the will of the Lord, the king returned in triumph pleased he had carried out the word of the Lord. Anything that was despised and worthless the people had destroyed but of the good things they were preserved. As the Lord looked down upon what Saul had done He regretted He had set up Saul as king. He told Samuel that Saul had not obeyed His commandments. From Saul’s viewpoint, as he would later tell the prophet, he had done all God commanded of him. However what the king did not appreciate about the law of God is that obedience requires keeping the whole law. He decided – not God – to spare Agag. The Lord had required all the animals to be slaughtered but Saul decided to keep the animals. To complicate matters Saul tried to blame the people and suggest there was some noble cause to keep all the animals so they could be used in sacrifice for the Lord. It did not matter. God told Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites and Saul chose not to obey the word of the Lord. The king tried to convince Samuel he had done all God commanded him but rebellion was not to be tolerated. Because Saul rejected the word of the Lord he was rejected by God as being king.

The story of Saul and the Amalekites resonates through the word of God as men struggle to find what it means to obey the Lord. In a religiously varied world of many different faiths, religions, beliefs and doctrines it would seem impossible to know what the will of the Lord is for man. Like Saul, many try to take the word of God and adapt it to their wills and their ideas and fashion a totem of faith that allows them the freedom to choose what they feel comfortable with. The reason the countryside is dotted with many different churches is because the spirit of Saul fuels the hearts of men to worship God as they seem fit trying to please the crowds and draw men to themselves. There is only one faith and the doctrine of God is plain and easy to understand. What is revealed by God in the Bible is clear, demonstrative and defined by the need to do what the Lord said and nothing else. Religion is muddled by the doctrines of men who try to espouse a system of salvation based on their wisdom and what they believe is good. Like Saul they think they know better than the Lord. How sad and tragic when religious people stand before God and the Lord hears the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen from hearts that did not obey the voice of the Lord. Eternal life is given to those who obey the will of the Lord – all of His will. It matters eternally whether the heart keeps the word of God or chooses to follow the fickle desires of men. To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed the fat of rams. Because they have rejected the word of the Lord, they will be rejected from being saved.

Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours? (1 Kings 3:9)

The Greatest Gift

Solomon was a man gifted with one of the most incredible opportunities a man would be given in his lifetime. The Lord appears to the young king at Gibeon and tells Solomon to ask for anything and it would be granted. He could have asked for long life and God would have answered his prayer. Solomon could have requested the Lord bless him with great riches and wealth and these things would have been granted. There were many enemies surrounding the young nation and the king would have been granted peace from all his foes through the power of the Almighty. What Solomon asked for pleased the Lord because he had discerned the most important thing a man could possess was not long life, riches or power over his enemies but  an understanding heart to discern what is right and wrong. Many men desire to live long lives. Riches appeal to the hearts of most because they believe their happiness will come from wealth. Having power over their enemies would satisfy the wills of powerful men. All of these things men of a carnal nature seek but the one thing that is more lasting and profitable is the knowledge of right and wrong. Long life can be granted but it will end one day as Methuselah found out at the age of 969 years. Riches and wealth are fleeting because they never last and death separates the fool from his money. Peace from enemies will be short lived when there is no peace from God. Knowing the difference between right and wrong is the greatest nugget of truth man can ever possess. Having an understanding heart to discern what is just and right will give man a greater blessing in life than anything he could imagine. Solomon asked for the greatest gift and God granted him what he asked and all he did not ask for.

There are many things men seek for today that is not uncommon to the plight of carnal man. He seeks long life, riches and power and finds all fleeting. Spending a lifetime trying to stay young and extend life as long as possible ends in death. Wasting every day seeking one more dollar and more possessions with greater riches and wealth deprive men the joy of a sunset, a baby’s cry and the companionship of friends. Trying to exercise power over others as men of prominence and importance is short lived at best. Popularity wanes and the ones who were famous are forgotten. In the heart of the common man who loves the Lord and spends time in the word of God an understanding heart develops that helps him see clearly the joys, pleasures and answers of life. Solomon’s prayer is not a miraculous manifestation for man today. The Bible is the mind of God revealed to man and all a person must do is to spend time in the incredible story of holy writ and his wisdom and understanding will far outlast the intellectuals of the day and the failed attempts of those who look for happiness apart from God. Only from the mind of God can man find peace, richness of spirit and long life in the knowledge of his Creator. Solomon prayed for a heart to judge his people to discern between good and evil. All of these answers are found in the Bible waiting for the inquisitive mind to open its pages and walk the long hallways of wisdom drinking in the knowledge of God. This kind of heart will please the Lord.

Solomon shows the power of prayer. He asks for so little and received so much. His prayer pleased the Lord because his prayer came from a humble heart. There is nothing more precious for the child of God than to know what is right and what is wrong and live according to that truth. Solomon called himself a little child and he knew how much he needed the favor of the Lord. He did not know how to go out or come in and he prayed for God to lead him. Discern between good and evil will bring more happiness and joy to life than anything. Reading the word of God and abiding in His truth and resting upon His promises will grant man a joyful life here and an eternal life in the world to come. Happiness comes from the Lord. Seek His truth and the heart will fill with joy. Walk in the commandments of the Lord and life will be a blessing. Ask for an understanding heart. It will be the greatest gift you will seek.

But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness. (Isaiah 5:16)

He Shall Be Exalted And He Shall Be Hallowed

The character of God is clearly defined in scripture. One of the reasons man has been given the Bible is to know the nature, personality and divine nature of the Almighty God who formed the world and created man from dust. Evidence for God is clearly seen by the invisible attributes of nature. All men can come to know there is a higher being that rules over the affairs of the universe by looking at the world about him. Coming to know the personality of God can only come from the revealed word as He has revealed Himself through the ages. The Bible is the final testimony of God’s nature that when men read they can understand who God is and what He demands. From the beginning of time the judgment of the Lord is shown against all those who disobey Him. Adam and Eve were not exempt from the judgment of righteousness or the world of Noah’s time that was completely destroyed save eight souls. Reading the history of Israel is a declaration of the longsuffering of God against a people who repeatedly rebelled against the commandments of the Lord. Stories abound where God destroyed hundreds and sometimes thousands of His own people because of their disobedience. When Israel was taken away by the Assyrians and the final two tribes of Judah were held captive for seventy years, the judgment of God was declared for all nations to see and understand. The punishment of Israel was by the hand of the Lord who brought them out of Egypt by His mighty hand. Delivering the Hebrews was not a matter of saving a lineage of people from slavery but to show the personality of the Lord against the paganism of the Egyptian culture and to establish in His people His love, grace, mercy and truth. Israel was destroyed because they failed to honor the judgment of God and refused to hallow His righteousness. Everything the Lord did was righteous and holy and just. Whether the story come from the Garden of Eden, the plains of Jordan or the temple mount of Jerusalem, the will of God has been accomplished for the glory of His will and His purpose. His word continues today in the Bible proclaiming the judgment of God as true and the righteousness of the Lord as pure.

Isaiah the prophet is writing to a rebellious and wicked nation. They have changed everything to suit their carnal needs calling good things evil, changing matters of light to darkness and accepting the bitterness of immorality as sweet. What the people failed to do was honor the judgment of God and they did not render the righteousness of the Lord as holy. They defiled the Temple in their worship. Their hearts were far from serving the one true God. Everything they wanted to do was measured by their own selfish desires and passions. Ignoring the judgment of the Lord did not dismiss it. The Lord of Hosts will be exalted in judgment when He brings that judgment upon the people. Reading the stories of the nation of Israel and how many times the Lord warned, exhorted and admonished the people to repent and punishing them because they refused is setting forth the nature of God as He deals with all men. The Lord is the same in His nature when it comes to judgment against sinful man today. He will be exalted in judgment because all of His judgments are true. The world can ignore the Bible as a book of myths but it does not change the nature of God. His judgment upon all men will come from the words of the Bible. Jesus taught judgment is according to the word of God.

God is holy in His righteousness and shall be hallowed or sanctified in everything He does. The reality of the Lord God is the goodness and severity of His word is always according to what is right because God is truth. There is no changing or variation in the judgment of the Lord. In courts of men there can be influences that will sway the decision of guilt or innocence. Standing in the judgment hall of the Lord God there is only truth and righteousness. God is holy and all His words are holy and every act He brings upon man good or bad is holy. Reading the Bible man recognizes the need to hallow the name of God in righteousness. Jesus taught His disciples to pray the name of the Father first be hallowed in honor and truth. Prayer is the emptying of man’s will to the commandments of the Lord so that God may be holy and righteous. He will be hallowed whether man accepts Him or not. Isaiah is very clear to say that regardless of how man views God there is only one truth. The Lord of hosts will be exalted in judgment and God who is holy will be hallowed in righteousness.

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds. (Colossians 3:8-9)

Learning A New Language

When God came down to man at the tower of Babel and confused his language, the world became a place of many nations and cultures. Language is the tool of communication that is spoken by a country, region or group of people that make them distinct by their vocabulary, syntax and grammar. Speech comes from the culture a child is born into and they adopt the language of their parents in a natural manner because of familiarity, teaching and acceptance of the home language. Many people in the world learn other languages sometimes mastering multiple languages with great success. Learning a language different from the cultural language of birth is difficult but not impossible. This can be done by taking specific courses in the language and sometimes delving deep into a culture the language is learned by association. One of the great challenges for the people of God is the need to learn a different language than the parental language of the world that all cultures struggle with. Regardless of the national dialect of birth, there is a common language that all men speak. This is not a national tongue of distinction but an eternal language of sinful man. The world of carnal man speaks a language that glorifies the desires of man and fills his needs. Examining the speech of the worldly man it is clear to see there is a need for man to exalt himself as superior by his language that sets him apart from others. English teachers strive to teach their students the correct manner of speech to accomplish the means of communication with as much clarity as possible. Yet man finds the need to sprinkle his conversation with words of anger, blasphemy and filthy language. There never seems to be any rhyme or reason for the use of cussing. It does not fit the language but it fits the personality. This is an age old problem the apostle Paul warns against and through the Holy Spirit declares damning to the soul.

Children of God speak a different language because they have learned to speak the words of the Father’s grace. As people risen through Christ, their minds are set on the eternal language of God and they mold their lives to form the language of a holy character. Paul admonishes every Christian to change his language and learn the language of grace. There are some things no Christian should be known by: anger, evil speaking, blasphemy, filthy language and lying. These are dirty rags from a filthy world. Anger does not speak the character of a humble servant of Christ. A man can convince himself that he is justified in being angry but in Christ he must change his heart. Anger comes from an angry heart. How can a child of God have an angry heart when they are filling their hearts with the love of God? The two are not compatible. It may be difficult to learn the language of grace and taking away the language of anger but in Christ it can be done. Malice is speaking with the intent to bring harm, pain and injury. The insidious language of a heart filled with malice is the hatred that comes from the lips. Verbal abuse is the spirit of an ungodly heart that speaks ill-tempered words against a spouse, a child or anyone who offends the person. Blasphemy is using God’s name in vain or the name of Jesus Christ as slang. It is a common use in the language of the world to profane the name of God. Under the Law of Moses such language was punishable by death. Children of God who use His name in vain profane the name of their Father and He will not allow them to go unpunished. Filthy language out of the mouth is the foul stench of the devil’s whisper passing the lips of a corrupt heart filled with sin. Lewd, indecent, and immodest speech should never come from the lips of a Christian – period. It may be funny to the world but to the ears of the Lord God Almighty it is an abomination and will not go unpunished. Children of God do not lie. For any reason. For any cause. No person who names Jesus Christ as their Savior should allow the language of lying to be their tongue. The old man of sin should have been put away and that includes getting rid of a lying spirit.

Learning a new language can be difficult. Trying to rid the heart of the language of sin can be difficult but through the grace of God it can be done and it must be done. God will not accept us because we believe that we cannot do any better. Our speech will betray us before the throne of God if we do not change it. Measuring sin as something greater than another and accepting the idea that as long as I do not murder, commit adultery or steal I am safe; while speaking words of anger, filthy and lying; is nothing more than deluding myself into a false sense of security that does not exist. Jesus told His disciples that all men will be judged by their words. God said to PUT OFF anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language and lying. Either change your language or change your name.

Consider my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law. Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word.

Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes. Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord; revive me according to Your judgments.

Many are my persecutors and my enemies, yet I do not turn from Your testimonies. I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, because they do not keep Your word. Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.

The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

 (Psalm 119:153-160)

Revival In The Word

The word of God is a powerful tool received from the Father to help his children renew attention and interest in spiritual things. It is not in man to know how to walk and the Bible is the means that man can read and understand the way God desires for him to think, to act and to grow in his knowledge. There are many things that come upon the heart of man that can discourage, afflict and bring sorrow but the word of God can bring hope, joy and renewed confidence in the promises of the Lord. The psalmist is confronted with affliction from the wicked and persecution from his enemies. His only hope is in the law of God being redeemed by the knowledge of what the Lord has told him through the statutes and judgments of righteousness. He seeks redemption through the knowledge of the word of God. The knowledge of spiritual matters is the only way to understand the nature of man. When life presents its hard side and times are tough the psalmist found the word of God to be nurturing to the soul and full of great comfort. There is no other book that is able to give solace to the heart burdened with the trials of life. As Author and Creator the Lord knows all the needs of man. He has put His wisdom in the Bible so that man can seek Him through the reading and meditation of divine truth. Revival in the word of God will bring hope.

Salvation is far from the wicked because they have no desire to follow the statutes of the Lord. Much of the misery of man is brought upon himself by refusing to live his life according to the word of God. Man was created in the image of God and designed by God for a purpose. When man turns away from the Lord and the word of the Lord he leaves the only hope he has in knowing truth. Seeking their own righteousness, the wicked falter between despair and misery without the word of salvation. Those who are righteous know the power of the word of God. The psalmist knows the message of the Lord is filled with divine tender mercies, kindness, love and grace. Reading the word of God a man finds how much he is loved by the Father and how gracious the many acts of love God have shown man through the centuries. The Bible is written to bring comfort to the heart of discomforted man. The mercy of God fills the pages of the Bible. Reading the word of God a man learns how merciful the Father is forgiving but demanding that men obey Him. The judgments of the Lord are divine rules. Revival comes from the judgments of God because they are eternal truth.

It is hard to maintain faith in the face of those who oppose righteousness but spending time in the word of God gives courage to the heart and faith to the spirit. The psalmist is surrounded by enemies and those who would persecute him for his faith but he will not turn away from the Lord because the precepts of God teach him to have a resilient heart. There are many faithless souls who do not know the word of God but this will not discourage the heart of the righteous that trust in the promises given through the reading of divine precepts. The testimonies of the Lord are in the heart of the faithful. Reading the word of God is not a fad or a goal to mark on a calendar. The psalmist proclaims he loves the precepts and teachings of God’s word. When men develop a love for the Bible as divine truth there can be little that will keep them from spending many hours mining the incredible depths of His word. The lovingkindness of God bursts upon every page. Revival comes when a man spends time in the word of God.

There is one truth that must always be affirmed when reading the word of God. What is contained in the Bible is truth – all of it. The entirety of the word of God is truth and no part can be left out, added to or ignored. Every one of the righteous judgments of God is true and eternal. The sum of the words of God is truth and all of His rules will endure forever. There is no variation in this statement. Men easily pick and choose which parts of the Bible they accept and believe and this brings about religious division, apostasy and the failure of many souls to see eternal life. The psalmist is very clear on this matter. The sum of His word is truth, and every one of His righteous rules endures forever. Revival is in the word of God.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (2 John 9-11)

Abiding In The Doctrine Of Christ

There is a foundational truth that has always been established between God and man. The wisdom of God is far above the wisdom of man. As Creator, the Lord has the right to determine the laws for man inherent in His authority over the universe and everything in it. Man was created to glorify his Creator. The happiness of man has always been determined by his willingness to follow the holiness of the Lord. John declares in his short epistle a clear demonstration of how men should view the teachings of Jesus Christ. If a man is unwilling to continue or abide in the doctrine of Christ he rejects the word of God. There is only one truth and that must be obeyed for man to find eternal life. Truth is not relative to what one generation says over another generation or what is popular at a certain time or what pleases the moral conscience of society. When God put man in the Garden of Eden and gave him law it established the eternal truth that God has the right to determine how man should live. Jesus Christ came to draw all men to Himself and demands that all men abide in His doctrine for salvation. It was not long after the church was established that men began to change the doctrine of Christ to fit their own needs. It seems incredible that many would deny Jesus rose from the dead in the first century because there were so many people that were still living that had seen the Son of God alive following His death. The worship was challenged by men who went beyond the authority of God. Truth was changed to fit the wisdom of man corrupting the churches with carnality, immorality and moved the early church away from the doctrines of Christ. John does not mince words about what men were doing with the gospel. Either one abides in the doctrine of Christ or they do not. If a man refuses to obey the commandments of God he does not serve the Lord. Truth is founded upon the word of God alone. When a man follows the word of God he accepts the rule of God in his life and is willing to do whatever the Lord commands in His word. It is incumbent upon the people of God to make a separation of those who teach truth and those who reject the commandments of the Lord. Either a man obeys God or he does not.

Abiding in the doctrine of Christ can only be done when the word of God is established as the line of authority for all things pertaining to salvation. The first thing Satan did to deceive the woman was to challenge the word of God. Satan asked Eve, “Has God indeed said?” John declares there is only one truth and if a man does not agree to follow that standard of truth he does not love God, he does not serve God and his deeds are evil. Half-truths are nothing more than whole lies. Abiding in the doctrine of Christ requires the whole doctrine. Too often men take a little bit of the truth of God and intermix it with their doctrines and call it truth. Rat poison is 95% cornmeal and 5% poison and effectively kills because it tastes so good the agent of death is never detected until it is too late. False religion looks and sounds so much like the truth but the wisdom of man is the poison that refuses to abide in the doctrine of Christ. Abiding in the doctrine of Christ is remaining, staying, dwelling and settling upon the words of God and the words of God alone – nothing else. How difficult is it to turn in the Bible and find a passage that teaches the truth of God? Yet so many people blindly follow teachings that are not found in the word of God and how sad their end. God is perceived as a loving and compassionate Lord that allows man to believe in Him and live as man desires without penalty from God. There is nothing further from the truth. A single line of truth is determined by the revelation of God’s word clearly stated and forcefully placed upon the pages of holy writ that man must obey. There is no variance or changing the word of God to suit the needs of man’s wisdom without standing condemned before its Author.

The world is filled with numerous churches that bear a sprinkled resemblance of truth teaching doctrines that sound pleasing to the soul as doctrines of God. Religious organizations proclaim the teachings of Jesus Christ as their foundation of truth and righteousness. Religious men and women stand before crowds enthralled by the grandeur of pomp and ceremony framed within a slight representation of truth convincing the masses to blindly follow their doctrines. All the while the evil one smiles as the souls lost to his care are taken further down the dark pathway of error believing they are saved and yet never abiding in the doctrine of Christ. John makes it clear about what a person accepts as truth and what is not truth. If a man does not abide in the doctrine of Christ he does not have God and will be lost. When a man accepts the teachings of God in purity and faith the Father and the Son dwell in him. Accepting those in error creates error and shares in the evil deeds of apostasy. Truth is only established by the word of God. The Bible was written so that all men could read and understand the will of God and without accepting the words of the Bible as absolute truth there can be no hope. Here is the challenge: examine what you believe, what you practice and what your faith holds dear with the word of God alone. If it is found in the Book, it is the word of God. If it is not found in the Book it is false. Do not mince words or ignore teachings. Pattern your life after the word of God and the word of God alone. Make certain what you read in these post is founded upon the word of God and the word of God alone. His doctrine is truth. His truth is doctrine.