Repay – Page 2 – Praying Pint

21.d. “And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

Romans 13:11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

Matthew 16:3   And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

Matthew 24:42-44    Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3    Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.  For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Revelation 22:12   “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

Revelation 22:20   He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Matthew 25:5-7   As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

Mark 13:35-37   Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—  lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.  And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

1 Corinthians 15:34  Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31   This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short.

2 Peter 3:13-15   But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.  Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

Because we know the danger of the times and we anticipate the soon return of Jesus, we should be all the more energetic and committed to a right walk with God instead of a sleep-walk with God. People talk in their sleep, walk in their sleep, hear things in their sleep, and even think in their sleep (dreaming). We can do many religious or things that seem right in our own eyes and still be asleep toward God, it is important for every Christian to make sure they are truly awake and active in their life before God. (Guzik)

It is a very dangerous state of mind to be in, seemingly being awake. People who see you might even think you are awake. You do things that would give the appearance that you are awake. You say things that sound like you are awake. But in all truth and reality, you are asleep in and to things of God. When we sleep we are resting our bodies and mind. While we sleep we are not aware of things that happen or that have happened. We can wake to find a severe storm has come and gone in the night. How many times have you heard, “I slept right through it”? “Didn’t hear a thing.” We may even say that it was a good night’s sleep. We may say that we slept like a baby. Though our mortal minds and bodies need sleep and rest, our spiritual should never be in that state. From the morning to evening our spiritual awareness should never be found asleep. “Study God’s Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night…”, “but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law, he meditates day and night.” “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.”

What are the signs of being asleep? Neglect, complacency, paying little to no attention, disregard, ignore, set aside, lazy, self-worth, self-reliance, pride, contentment, carelessness, self-contentment. When we are asleep to things of God and the Word of God we become more and more spiritually unaware. What we do, what we say, and what we think looks like those who, for all practical application, are in a comma concerning things of God and His Word. Though our fleshly bodies and minds need sleep our spiritual lives do not and should not ever be in the state of sleep. Jesus gave warnings about being found asleep when He returns. Paul gave warnings about being found asleep and gave encouraging words to stand fast, remain true, every grown in our knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ, keeping our eyes focused on Jesus, continually be looking and anticipating Christ’s return. The day is coming. Jesus is returning. Will He find you asleep?

21.a. “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

We are not to have a hateful attitude towards anyone, not even towards those who persecute us. Jesus spoke of this same heart in Matthew 5:46: For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? The surpassing greatness of the love of Jesus in us is shown in that it can be extended to our enemies. This is how we can fulfill the command to be of the same mind toward one another. It is a simple command to be considerate of the feelings of others instead of waiting for them to be considerate of your feelings. Paul cautions us to have a humble mind-set. In refusing to set our mind on high things and in associating with the humble. We are to love our enemies and treat well those who treat us badly. Living at peace or peaceably with all means that we don’t allow contention to be our first set position or our place of refuge. As far as it is possible within us, we are to have a mindset that chooses peace over hate, anger, retaliation, and separation. Having peace is not always easy. We can be wronged so bad and the hurt so deep that peace seems to be not even an option. And yet, Scripture tells us to be at peace. This peace may be one sided. You may be the only one in peace and the other may still remain in hatred and anger. A holy example of this is when Jesus was hanging on the cross He said, “Father forgive them for they no not what they do” They had just beat, flogged, spit upon, nailed to the cross, and hurled insults at Him, and He says, “Forgive them”. I imagine the love He displayed. Let me finish My work on the cross and offer redemption and salvation to them.

How many families, friendships, and churches, split or dissolve because we choose to not live in peace. Living in harmony requires a mind set on things above and not things below. It requires us not to give anything up but rather to take on (peace) that which honors and glorifies Jesus Christ. Living in peace requires us to humble ourselves and allow whatever wrong has been directed at us to be in the all powerful and mighty hands of God. In this we honor and glorify Jesus Christ. In this we do not seek division or separation or retaliation but rather we have humbly placed it into the hands of God. We never know what the impact of “living in peace” will have on those who do harm or wish to harm us, but we do know God will work all things for the good of those who are called by His name. The next time you find yourself wronged, acknowledge it, acknowledge that you have a human nature response to want to retaliate or get even, and lay those thoughts into the hands of Jesus Christ and choose to allow peace to grow and transform into that which honors and glorifies Him alone. Take no credit for choosing peace but rather give credit to Jesus for pointing you onto the path of peace.

13.s. “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Zechariah 11:4 Thus said the Lord my God: “Become shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter. Those who buy them slaughter them and go unpunished, and those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the Lord, I have become rich,’ and their own shepherds have no pity on them. For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of this land, declares the Lord. Behold, I will cause each of them to fall into the hand of his neighbor, and each into the hand of his king, and they shall crush the land, and I will deliver none from their hand.” So I became the shepherd of the flock doomed to be slaughtered by the sheep traders. And I took two staffs, one I named Favor, the other I named Union. And I tended the sheep. In one month I destroyed the three shepherds. But I became impatient with them, and they also detested me. So I said, “I will not be your shepherd. What is to die, let it die. What is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed. And let those who are left devour the flesh of one another.” And I took my staff Favor, and I broke it, annulling the covenant that I had made with all the peoples. So it was annulled on that day, and the sheep traders, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the Lord. Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. Then the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord, to the potter. Then I broke my second staff Union, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

Ezekiel 22:26    Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.

Ezekiel 8:18     Therefore I will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.”

Hebrews 10:26-31   For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,  but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.  Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.  How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?  For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

From Matthew Henry’s Bible commentary; Christ came into this world for judgment to the Jewish church and nation, which were wretchedly corrupt and degenerate. Those have their minds woefully blinded, who do ill, and justify themselves in it; but God will not hold those guiltless who hold themselves so. How can we go to God to beg a blessing on unlawful methods of getting wealth, or to return thanks for success in them? There was a general decay of religion among them, and they regarded it not. The Good Shepherd would feed his flock, but his attention would chiefly be directed to the poor. As an emblem, the prophet seems to have taken two staves; Beauty, denoted the privileges of the Jewish nation, in their national covenant; the other he called Bands, denoting the harmony which hitherto united them as the flock of God. But they chose to cleave to false teachers. The carnal mind and the friendship of the world are enmities to God; and God hates all the workers of iniquity: it is easy to foresee what this will end in. The prophet demanded wages, or a reward, and received thirty pieces of silver. By Divine direction, he cast it to the potter, as in disdain for the smallness of the sum. This shadowed forth the bargain of Judas to betray Christ and the final method of applying it. Nothing ruins a people so certainly, as weakening the brotherhood among them. This follows the dissolving of the covenant between God and them: when sin abounds, love waxes cold, and civil contests follow. No wonder if those fall out among themselves, who have provoked God to fall out with them. Wilful contempt of Christ is the great cause of men’s ruin. And if professors rightly valued Christ, they would not contend about little matters.

12.m. “For behold, the LORD is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity”

Habakkuk 3:16 I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Daniel 10:8    So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength.

Isaiah 26:20-21    Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by.  For behold, the LORD is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain.

2 Thessalonians 1:6-9    since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,  and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels  in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

A time is coming when God will carry out His wrath and anger upon all who defy Him. Prophets saw what was to happen in the future to all of those who, in their defiance, hatred, pride, self-power, self-assurance, and wickedness, reject God and His Holiness. The scriptures reveal God’s use of defiant men and nations to carry out judgment on His children for neglecting His way. It reveals time and time again how He uses wayward men and nations to carry out judgment and draw His people back. Do you ever wonder how far a person or nation needs to wander away from God before He will unleash His anger and wrath? It is not good to play games with our Christian walk. It appears many Christians want to see how close they can get to the world and its lures of fleshly temptations. It appears as though they want a taste of it and thinks this one taste will not contaminate or affect them. God wants all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. He will not share the hearts, minds, and souls with those who choose worldly and fleshly living. How many times in scripture do we hear of how the people of God day after day would dilute their walk with Him to a point where they no longer honored, served, followed, obeyed, or saw any need to trust and rely on Him. They did this without giving a single thought of God’s Holy judgment, anger, or wrath. In these times, God would warn and call out to His people through prophets. He would warn them of His pending judgment and what was going to happen to them. Time and time again they neglected these prophetic warnings. We do well to desire that God will show us what is in our hearts and minds. We do well to want to hear the Holy Spirit speak into our lives. We do well to humbly seek these so that we live in humble surrender to His will, living in such a way that He is honored, glorified, praised, and worshiped. Oh that God would show us how far we have wandered away from what it means to live for Him.

8.x. I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

We should never be so easily fooled by our culture and the lukewarm, complacent, and self-approving approach it seduces people to believe toward what it means to be a Christian and follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came from heaven to redeem those He called and those who responded to this call with belief, repentance, faith, and trust He. This call for repentance and turning away from sin also calls us into action, putting our faith into action, living for and to honor Jesus Christ in all that we do, think, and say. Yet many stop at the call and accept deliverance but over time are seduced by the ways of this world and completely lose sight of Jesus Christ. Their lives mimic what is approved by the culture they live in rather than by and through the Word of God. If we are not in His word, then His word is not in us. If His word is not in us how are we to know and do what is pleasing, honoring, and glorifying to Him. We so easily accept what the world says it is rather than spend time in His word and let it speak into our life. We do well to be in His word and seek to be led by Him, to be used by Him, and to do that which honors Him.

3.g. But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud.

2 Chronicles 32:24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions. This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

Deuteronomy 32:6    Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?

Luke 17:17-18    Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

1 Peter 5:5-6     Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

Daniel 5:20    But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.

Ezekiel 28:5    by your great wisdom in your trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth

Psalms 116:12-13   What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?  I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,

Sections from Compelling Truth on pride; In 1 John it says; “For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–comes not from the Father but from the world.” Pride is a sinful, arrogant, haughty, insolent, self-reliant attitude or spirit that causes a person to have an inflated or puffed up view of themselves. In this pride, the proud do not have a correct or sober estimation of themselves, their abilities or their positions. Proverbs says; “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Conversion (born again) and baptism are not a guarantee against the temptation to pride. Even the apostle Paul was given a mysterious thorn in his side to keep him from becoming proud. We must be reliant and dependent on God for our strength if we are to keep from falling into this ever enticing trap. As we grow in knowledge, understanding, and yielding to God’s leading resulting in good deeds, we can be tempted to glory in ourselves. Likewise, when God blesses us with health, prosperity, and wisdom there is tempting to claim this as if our own working and effort accomplished it. In times of blessings, we need awareness that only the Holy Spirit can give to keep us from yielding to the temptation of pride. We must be constantly alert and on guard against the temptation to pride, self-reliance, and self-righteousness. It is not by our own strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us that we are able to imitate Christ’s humility and thereby love and serve God, our neighbors, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and even our enemies. Pride is focused inward on loving and serving oneself, Spirit-filled love is directed outward toward loving and serving God and others.

After that comes judgment

“ because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world”

Genesis 50:19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?

Deuteronomy 32:35     Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’

Romans 12:19    Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Job 34:19-29     who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?  In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.  “For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.  There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.  For God has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.  He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place.  Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.  He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see,  because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways,  so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted—  When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?—

Hebrews 10:30     For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

Hebrews 9:27  And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Ecclesiastes 11:9     Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Acts 17:31    because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

2 Corinthians 5:10    For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Matthew 25:31-41    “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

The easiest way to get through life without out worry of judgement from God is to deny God exists. To do this one must look at all of creation and believe it happened by chance. They must deny the complexity of the vast galaxies down to a single atom. They must deny Jesus Christ existed and that His purpose on earth was to redeem mankind. They must deny the love of God. They must deny existence of angels and demons. They must deny the written word of God and that it was given to mankind through men inspired and led by God. The denial of God has eternal consequences.

Denial of God can take on many subtle forms. Neglecting His word. Not being intentional in living for Him. Not seeking to be led by Him. Not desiring Him. Not listening to Him. Not placing Him first in all your thoughts, words, and actions. Not allowing or acting on the conviction of the Holy Spirit to walk blameless before Him.

How can we humbly serve, honor, glorify, follow and obey God if our walk with Him is shallow, self centered, and with our eyes focused on what this world has to offer? How can we grow in our walk with Him when we think we are good enough as we are and in need of no change or understanding of what it means to walk with and humbly serve God?

Judgement is coming, but it is not for the judgement of God we seek to do right and good, but rather because of who God is and His love for us. Some children grow up with the fear of punishment from their parents and this keeps them from doing wrong. Others fear getting caught and that keeps them from doing wrong. Others do not do wrong so as not to disappoint their parents. Yet these are all self serving reasons. Oh how great the child who not only seeks not to do wrong but chooses to do good to bring honor their parents.

Commit to living intentionally to bring honor and glory to God rather than advert judgement.

And they did not believe them.

Genesis 19:12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

Numbers 16:26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins.”

Revelation 18:4-8 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’ For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”

2 Chronicles 36:16 But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy.

Proverbs 29:1 He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.

Isaiah 28:22 Now therefore do not scoff, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord GOD

Jeremiah 5:12-14 They have spoken falsely of the LORD and have said, ‘He will do nothing; no disaster will come upon us, nor shall we see sword or famine. The prophets will become wind; the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them!’” Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts: “Because you have spoken this word, behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall consume them.

Luke 17:28-30 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

Luke 24:11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them

Disbelief has a way of capturing the hearts and minds of many. What starts out as disbelief soon turns to scoffing and trying to prove all things of God false. No urgent warning will be listened too. No pleas for turning to God will be acted upon. No promise of God believed. It is sad to think of and yet we must be mindful of the lies and deceptions of the father of all lies who whittles away truth one small lie or seed of doubt at a time.

Matthew Henry stated it like this: An unbelieving heart was at the bottom of all this. All disobedience to God’s laws, and distrust of his power and goodness, flow from disbelief of his word, as all true obedience springs from faith. It is profitable for us to divide our past lives into distinct periods; to give thanks to God for the mercies we have received in each, to confess and seek the forgiveness of all the sins we can remember; and thus to renew our acceptance of God’s salvation, and our surrender of ourselves to his service. Our own plans seldom avail to good purpose; while courage in the exercise of faith, and in the path of duty, enables the believer to follow the Lord fully, to disregard all that opposes, to triumph over all opposition, and to take firm hold upon the promised blessings.

A disbelieving heart and mind to God’s judgment, anger and wrath will certainly hardened their heart to God’s grace, mercy and love. Jesus gave the example of a rich man and a poor beggar named Lazarus.

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. ²⁰At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores ²¹and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

²²“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ²⁴So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

²⁵“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. ²⁶And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

²⁷“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, ²⁸for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

²⁹“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

³⁰“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

³¹“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

How are we to see acts of God move mountains, earth shake, healing, blessings, protection, courage, and grace, mercy and love without belief? It is hard to have belief and faith in God unless time is spent with Him and His word feeding our heart, mind, and soul. When the world is on a wide and easy path to judgment and hell it is more important than ever to be diligent in prayer, reading His word, growing in understanding, knowledge and faith, and proclaiming salvation and forgiveness of sin.

I will give you a new heart

Psalms 119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.

Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.

John 6:45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—

Job 28:28 And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Proverbs 2:5-6 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

John 7:17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

God’s word profits the heart, mind, and soul of those who desire and seek to fully and humbly serve, honor, follow and obey God. To others who reject it, it is nothing but a fairytale and those who desire and seek it are weak and powerless.

What is it that we want our children to know about life? Do we want them to see the power of God through our lives? Or, do we want them to see? A watered down version of luke warm service to Him. A life that is neither hot nor cold for God? A life without substance for Him? A life that only comes to God when trouble or untimely circumstances arise?

Note the depth of the heart of this Palmist – “Teach me” It is very hard to learn if you do not want to be taught. It is even harder when you choose to believe the worldly understanding of what it means to follow God.

It seems as though the meaning of what a christian life should be continues to erode away. When is the last time you heard “SIN” being talked about? When is the last time God was proclaimed as the LORD of your life? When was the last time His word was hungered for knowledge and understanding of Him and not just for a quick refresher of His promises? When was the last time He was spoken about freely, unhindered, unashamed? When was the last time He was spoken about outside of the circle of church friends?

I was recently at a field trial and hunting dog training through the weekend with others from across the country. 12 of us and on Sunday morning the trainer calls us altogether out in front of the barn and begins to speak about His faith and what God has been doing in his life that morning. His faith was not something that went back to some point in time and done, but rather was active and very real. He spoke about how is heart and mind were in a very grouchy mood when he got an email from a friend who nearly died at his place a year ago. He told us how God spoke to his heart about keeping things in perspective and to be thankful rather than grumpy or grouchy.

I tell you this because God was real in His life. He wanted to be taught and he was listening for and to God.

Seek to be taught and choose to obey.

What is in your heart

“What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?”

“remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

Psalms 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

Psalms 105:5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,

Psalms 106:7 Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.

Psalms 106:21 They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt,

Deuteronomy 8:2-4 And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years.

Deuteronomy 8:10-14 And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. “Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,

Deuteronomy 32:6 Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?

2 Chronicles 32:25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem.

Isaiah 63:7 I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

Jeremiah 2:31-32 And you, O generation, behold the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say, ‘We are free, we will come no more to you’? Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

Luke 17:15-18 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

David said, “remember” and “forget not, the benefits and mighty works of God” .

Moses said, “take care lest you forget”, and “is this how you repay the Lord for all of His benefits?” ” “Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God,”

Once again it is recorded another way in Jeremiah, “Yet my people have forgotten me days without number”

We all need reminders. Remember to humbly serve, praise, honor, follow, and obey God. Do not forget His grace and mercy in your time of plenty. Do not forget His gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Do not forget to seek and desire His whispers of guidance into your heart and soul. Do not lean on your own understanding. Open the door to your heart and soul wide open to His plans and purpose for your life. Yes we all need reminders of encouragement to the steadfast awesome power, might, and love of God.