Tag: woe

10.t. “And you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be a time of disaster.”

Micah 2:1  Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance. Therefore thus says the Lord: behold, against this family I am devising disaster, from which you cannot remove your necks, and you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be a time of disaster.

Psalms 7:14-16    Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.  He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.  His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.

Proverbs 6:12-19    A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech,  winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger,  with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord;  therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.  There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him:  haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Isaiah 59:3   For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness.

We don’t have to look very hard to hear lies, discord, lying tongues, wicked plans, and the haughty.  Haughty is not a word we use but a quick search in a thesaurus gives us a much clearer picture of this word; (proud, vain, arrogant, conceited, snobbish, stuck-up, pompous, self-important, superior, egotistical, supercilious, condescending, lofty, patronizing, smug, scornful, contemptuous, disdainful, overweening, overbearing, imperious, lordly, cavalier, high-handed, full of oneself)  We see it in sports, entertainment, news, business leaders, doctors, professors, teachers, and local, state and national politicians.  It doesn’t matter if you look at it is locally, regionally, or nationally.  It is there and it seems to be the norm rather than the exception.  If this is the norm what keeps us grounded and humble before God?  Many of us can thank God for giving us parents who instilled this in us throughout our informative years.  We can see what is in their heart by their words and actions.  We compare what they do and say to what we were grounded in.  Hopefully, that was godly parents and the word of God.  Without this foundation, we may think this haughtiness is normal, though it should not be.  God’s Word is very clear on this and He will bring low those who are.  Keep these haughty adjectives handy when you read articles or listen to podcasts, or watch reports on TV.  They will help you take a proper perspective on what they are saying and how they say it.  None of us are above being like this and if we stay in God’s Word, it will be light until our soul and will guard our heart and mind against being drawn into these very unholy thoughts and actions.

9.x. “For we have made lies our refuge”

Amos 5:18   Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! Why would you have the day of the Lord? It is darkness, and not light, as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him. Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?

Isaiah 28:15-22     Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement, when the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;

Malachi 4:1     “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.

There is a time for all men to be aware of the Day of the Lord.  A dark time will come and expose all the lies we have made into a false sense of refuge.  Prosperity and ease of life seem to draw us away into these lies and further away from God.  What will it take for us to recognize the absolute need to honor and glorify God in all that we think, say and do?  How many days go by where our desire to satisfy self is put in higher regard than honoring and glorifying God?  Far too many, I think.  We get sucked into the vortex of the busyness of life and before we know it God is but a distant thought.  We do have time now.  Time to set aside self and to start learning what it means to humbly serve and honor and glorify God.  We have time right now to intentionally choose to set aside time for growing and seeking God in new and mature ways.  We have time to reflect on both sin and forgiveness, weakness and power, fear and courage, and eternity.  We have time to spend in His Word.  Turn back to Him and determine to stay close.  Determine to listen for His Spirit to guide you.  And above all give honor and glory to Him.  He is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.

7.e. You will not know what hour I will come upon you.

Revelation 9:12   The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come. Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound. The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Make no mistake about the timing of God.  He has set a time for His wrath, anger, and judgment on those who do not and did not repent (But of this be assured, that if the master of the house had known the hour at which the robber was coming, he would have kept awake) and (Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.).  It is not as though He has not given promises of blessings and warnings of judgments.  Yet the heart of stone and unrepentant heart of many will experience the wrath of God in ways that unleash a flood of torment on their soul and physical bodies. We have already read of 1/4th of the earth’s population dying previously and now we read of another 1/3 dying.  This equals a total of 1/2 of the world’s population (3 to 4 billion) people dead.  No one with half a brain would want to experience the wrath and anger of God and yet they still reject His witnesses He sealed to proclaim salvation, redemption, and eternal life.  Can you imagine seeing an army of 200 million coming at you with intent to kill and torment you?  What chance would you have to withstand this force?  Remember this, an army of 200 million is nothing but an ant compared to the power, might, and strength of Almighty God.  If you understand and realize that you could not withstand an army of 200 million then how much more so standing up against God and rejecting Him.  Luke 17:28 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. 

Repent, believe, and cling too, rely on, and trust in Jesus Christ.  Live to humbly serve, honor, glorify, worship, follow, and obey Him.  The only thing that is keeping you from this right now is your heart choice to live for self rather than living for Him, thinking you do not need His redemption, thinking you are good enough, thinking you are not good enough, and thinking there will be time to do this later.  “For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

7.c. “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth”

Revelation 8:8   The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter. The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!”

One-third of the grass and trees, sea creatures, ships, water, sun, and moon are affected in ways that only can point to the God of creation.  All of this follows wars, famine, disease, earthquakes and other life taking actions within God’s purpose and plans.  You would think this is the end of these terrible events, but no.  John heard an eagle crying, woe, woe, woe.  Much worse is to come.  All of this comes upon those who have rejected God, despise God, hate God, and are suffering consequences of their disbelieve and of God’s wrath and anger.  This wrath and anger have been stored up by God.  For sure it will come upon mankind at a time they do not see coming.  Those that are alive will suffer greatly at the hands of God for their rejection.  There is much to be said about living now in the time of grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ, where there is the time right now to repent and turn away from sin and rely on, cling to, and trust in Jesus Christ.

20. Worthless men

Exodus 5:2  But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.

Psalms 10:4    In the pride of his face the wicked

Psalms 14:1   The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.

Proverbs 1:22    “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Romans 1:28    And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

1 Samuel 2:12    Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.

John 16:3     And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Jeremiah 44:16-17    “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you.

Isaiah 3:9    For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.

How we can read these scriptures and not wonder if anything at all has changed in the world we live.  Culturally, socially, and educationally the door opens wider and wider to the gates of hell.  Fear of God has been replaced with man’s own wisdom and denying God exists.  Love for God has been replaced with love of self also in denial of God existing.  Time in God’s word has been replaced with, well everything else that busies our lives and keeps us from thinking about humbly serving, honoring, glorifying, following and obeying God.

It is easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves to those who deny God and think we are better or not as bad.  We think by comparison that we are made right in God’s eyes.  By comparing what we do and say to those who deny God we end up thinking wrongly about a God honoring life. Comparison is easy.  We don’t need to do anything more and can still feel good about ourselves.  Instead of seeking God and desiring to know Him more and grow in understanding of Him, we sit idly by complacently thinking all is good.

How can we be light unto a dark world if the light of Jesus Christ is not humbly and thankful remembered each moment of everyday?

How can we be led by God if we neglect time in His word?

How can we grow in faith, love, patience, mercy, grace, peace, rest, and joy if we don’t know what precious promises are in His word?

How can we warn others of God’s judgement?

How can we tell others of the Good News of Jesus Christ?

The answer to each of these – be intentional in our daily commitment to seek and desire to honor God.

Endured the Cross

“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Romans 5:2-5     Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,  and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Hebrews 12:1  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Isaiah 31:1     Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!

The hymn “Because He lives”

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my savior lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives
Jesus lived, was crucified, raised on the third day, and was seen by many. The Jewish authorities tried to cover it up with money. The Roman government tried to silence it with violence. Modern skeptics try to argue it away. But there is no theory that can explain the eye-witness accounts except that Jesus really was resurrected. Because of that, we can have hope that we, too, will rise one day and meet Him.

5 – The mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around

Psalms 91:11  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

Psalms 34:7     The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Psalms 71:3     Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

2 Kings 6:16-17     So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Hebrews 1:14     Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation

Proverbs 3:6     In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Isaiah 31:1     Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!

It takes time to learn that but when we are our weakest or in our lowest is when God is our all in all.  Likewise when we are our strongest and highest is when God is but a second thought.  What would our lives be like if He was all in all at all times?  What does it take to keep God all in all at all times?  Think about a weak or low time – how much of your day was occupied seeking, relying on, and clinging to God?  Now compare this to a time when you not low or weak – how much of your day was occupied seeking, relying on and clinging to God?  Our heart, mind and soul are in a battle with our sinful nature and humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying God.  Praise God for His steadfast love that does not cast us aside like we do to Him.  Make commitment to desire and seek Him.

The internal fight

“This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.”

John 13:21  After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

Joh 13:27  Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”

John 13:2    During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,

John 13:18     I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me

Luke 22:21    But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.  For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”

Acts 1:16    “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.  For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”

1 John 2:19    They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

James 1:13   Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

 

Note  “the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live” and “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” and “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” and “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” and “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” There is a common thread to this and it is our sinful nature.  It lurks deep within and wanting to manifest itself above God and His plan and purpose for our life.  We need to be mindful of this and the battle that exists between our sinful nature and the leading of the Holy Spirit in our life.  Knowing this ought to make us run to God and seek His word with all of our heart mind and soul.  I think we become confused and falsely cling to the idea that once we have been born again all is good and our sinful nature is gone.  It is not.  Lust, hate, pride, coveting, rumoring, hoarding, keeping, divisiveness, self-seeking…….. all reside within and are threats to our walk with God.  Putting on the full armor of God requires us to stay in His word, pray, and seek to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey.  Only then will we be prepared for this internal fight for our soul.