Israel reached a precarious point that she almost succumbed such a cycle of bondage that she almost never came back. Would it not be for the mercy of God today on this tiny nation we love with all of our heart and yearn to see her salvation, Israel would not be a nation today friend.   The Holy Spirit warned through Paul that men would depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. The Holy Spirit says that in the last days men would turn aside the truth and not endure sound doctrine that will save their souls. Men want fables and an ear-tickling gospel instead of the truth.

 

By Chris McDonald

 

TEXT: Judges 10:16 - And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

 

We continue this week’s journal from the same text last week in the 10th chapter of the book of Judges. Because of sin, rebellion and apostasy, Israel found herself in such a state in our text today as God’s anger waxed hot against His chosen. We looked last week at the reasons why God’s anger waxed hot at Israel. This week we want to look at what Israel did in response to this and how her response MUST be America’s response - both individually and corporately - unless America wants to face the same fate of Israel of old.

The news of yet another tragic college campus shooting last week has left our nation in mourning again as yet another college campus shooting at Northern Illinois University has claimed 8 lives as well as injuring 20 others; this event once again left the so called experts wandering how and why these type shootings are taking place on a seriously consistent basis in our nation. The current misery in our nation is because of sin. I want to state that again and in no uncertain terms. The misery of this nation, as it is for ANY nation and ANY individual is SIN.

Our text speaks of a similar time in Israel’s history when she found herself in a similar state of misery we find ourselves in today. Paul speaks to us in 1 Corinthians that ALL things that happened to Israel under the Old Covenant are examples and warnings for us in the New Covenant not to follow after lest we be consumed with the same lust and apostasy and suffer a similar fate.

1 Cor. 10:10-13
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. [11] Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. [12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. [13] There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

I had planned to write this journal several weeks ago and did not plan witnessing such a horrific act that would graphically illustrate to us all of the similar situation that Israel faced during the time of her judges as compared to the situation America faces today. Israel was in probably one of her worse times spiritually she had ever been in at the writing of the text in Judges 10. The Lord’s disposition is always one of Love, grace and mercy FIRST; it is always His second nature to wax hot in His anger toward any individual and especially nations.

If one will remember the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, one will see the Lord did not destroy these two wicked cities without first expending every single effort to get the inhabitants to repent. Lot was Sodom’s only light, yet despite this God showed great restraint before He finally did what was best of all civilization at the time. Had God not dealt with the sin that infested these two cities, the entire world of that day would have been destroyed. As we stated last week, Israel had apostatized to the point that the Lord’s anger literally was “hot” against her. The term “and the anger of the Lord was hot,” is actually mentioned four other times in Judges; in the book of Exodus, it’s stated that Moses anger “waxed” hot against the nation in the case of the golden calf; in reality, it was not just Moses who was angry, but God as well.

Israel Was Sore Distressed

Judges 10:9 - Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.

This oppression of Israel continued for eighteen years some of which took place under the leadership of the judges Tola and Jair. The interesting note about these two judges is that neither was able to bring Israel back from her apostasy nor deliver her fully from the nations who oppressed her. In times past when God raised up judges, they would do just that – deliver Israel from her oppressors, but her sin had gotten so bad, even a new leader could not change her course of bondage. Let that sink in friend as we face elections here in America in November 2008.

Just because we “change” direction or parties, doesn’t mean America will change. Just because the empty political rhetoric of a “new” face on the political scene with his promises of change and platitudes that make women swoon and faint, that does not mean America is headed for revival nor does it mean America will cease to see the events we have witnessed over the past three weeks. The shooting in Illinois has not been the only “show” in town. Some 131 deadly tornadoes ravaged our nation on Super Tuesday; another lone gunman walked into a Chicago shopping mall and systematically executed six women for no apparent reason; a New York man is under arrest for hacking and chopping up into pieces a N.Y. psychiatrist and again no one seems to know why this individual just snapped and committed such a grisly crime.

Within the past 24 hours, we’ve seen earthquakes, floods, meteorites hitting the Earth, political upheaval in Eastern Europe with the formation of Kosovo; riveting elections in Pakistan removing the ruling party from power and Israel being threatened with destruction once again from Iran and Hezbollah in the Middle East. Neighbor, there is MISERY upon this Earth at the present time and this misery is because of SIN!

Secondly, this oppression Israel suffered was deeply grim. Israel’s enemies, who themselves were wretched and grossly violent, vexed them and oppressed them in such severe manner that at no other time than this era as recorded in Judges 10 did Israel suffer in any previous cycle of apostasy and bondage. As Matthew Henry put it, “The children of Ammon began with those tribes that lay next them on the other side Jordan, here called the land of the Amorites (v. 8) because the Israelites had so wretchedly degenerated and made themselves so like the heathen, they had become, in a manner, perfect Amorites.” Friend, hear this writer. We become our sin and ultimately we become like those who oppress us. This nation’s conscience has become so seared we don’t even blush any more at the killing of innocent babies.

We don’t even blush anymore at the parading of homosexuality, bestiality, perversion; lust and debauchery in all its forms played out in a godless media and entertainment industry that cares little of the effects violence and lust take on our society. This is an aside but friend when a liberal governor from Illinois is saying that what took place at Northern Illinois last week should make us look at the culture of violence we are embracing through our entertainment and video games then we have a problem!

This invasion and oppression of Israel came in degrees as they pushed forward, came over Jordan, and invaded Judah, and Benjamin, and Ephraim (v. 9), three of the most famous tribes of Israel. The Holy Spirit with deep remorse declares “Israel was SORE distressed.”

Judges 10:9 - Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.

Israel’s condition grew so bad in the sight of God He literally became “grieved” for the misery of Israel. As I write these words today my heart pauses and wanders if the same cannot be said about this once proud nation of America. It seems we are mourning almost on a weekly basis with news of killings, murder, rape, kidnappings, death, stories of child abuse, scandal, corruption and a general sense of hurt among millions. We have lost faith in America in foundations that have shaped this nation from its inception yet no matter how much we spin things the misery of our nation grows and grows.

We as a nation, and especially the American church, need to open our eyes to these things that are taking place openly and before our eyes. Very precious few want to believe what is happening is a result of SIN! It’s hard to say these things to people because everyone gets angry and accuses those calling the nation to look within as not being compassionate or not showing love. I listened to some moron on a local radio station where we live state just yesterday that NONE of the events of these past weeks have anything to do with God being angry at our nation or even remotely raising the question of maybe God is truly trying to get our nation’s attention by allowing these events to occur.

His response was typical of MILLIONS who don’t understand the nature and character of God when he said “well, God is love and I just don’t see a God of love passing any type of judgment; these things ‘just happen.’” Oh really? Well then what are we going to with the events in Sodom and Gomorrah; the gainsaying of Korah; the deaths of 85,000 men because of the plague in 2 Samuel? These were not events that “just happened,” but times when GOD instituted the judgments Himself!

Listen to this writer. God is not some tyrant in heaven zapping nations over the head or rejoicing when we reap the terrible consequences of sin; His heart is GRIEVED for the misery of our nation just as He was grieved for MISERY of Israel! It is actually BECAUSE of love and compassion we speak these very things! This misery will continue unless we, as Israel of old did, repent!

This text and narrative should scream to us of the Lord’s heartfelt love for this nation in spite of America’s continued rebellion and hatred of God on a daily, almost hourly basis through our media outlets, our courts, our governmental institutions and the voice of godless politicians pushing for a society void of any recognizance of God and His principles. Yet we stand shocked when we see college kids gunned down on the same day another deranged killer hacked up a New York psychiatrist without any real known motive. This shooting was but one of many terrible tragedies to have hit our nation over the past several months.

Just a year ago this April we witnessed the slaughter of 33 individuals at Virginia Tech by a lone gunman possessed by the devil; in January, six ladies went shopping on a Saturday morning at a Lane Bryant store in Chicago where another lone gunman killed each one execution style without motive or reason; authorities yesterday found the body of a 19-year old college coed in Reno, Nevada who was kidnapped from her house, raped and murdered in what is a string of such crimes out west. In New York, a psychiatrist was hacked into 15 pieces by a middle-aged killer whose motive for such barbarism is still not clear.

I can assure you the answer and remedy to these killings is NOT the Purpose Driven Life; I can assure you the answer and remedy to these killings is NOT humanistic psychology. I listened to a psychologist on a well-respected TV network Friday afternoon try and offer up a reason why this young man did what he did on Thursday and even he admitted that these shootings have left the medical and mental health communities shaking their heads because they have no answer to why it took place or what can to done to prevent these type crimes in the future. I mean no disrespect by this but I can further assure you the answer to these killings is NOT in electing a new President in 2008 or embracing the rhetoric of godless politicians.

The remedy to the divorce rate in America where one out of every two marriages end before the fifth year; six out of ten second marriages end before the second year and seven out of ten third marriages end before the first year is NOT the babblings of some mumbo jumbo psychiatrist. The answer is found at the foot of the World’s Redeemer, the blood-stained hands of Jesus Christ, who hung between heaven and earth 2,000 years ago and declared IT IS FINISHED. At the Cross, SIN was dealt a death blow. At the Cross, drug addiction was dealt a death blow; at the Cross lust and pornography were dealt a death blow; at the Cross, dishonesty and cheating were dealt a death blow. My Lord, I feel the anointing of the Holy Ghost.

It was at the Cross where Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone broke the powers of darkness over fallen humanity and released sin-bound humanity from the terrible penalty of sin which is death! We saw the results of sin in graphic detail last week. Yet America seeks for answers and no answers are coming outside Biblical repentance.

As God told Israel of old, “go seek out your false gods to help you in this tribulation.”

Judges 10:14 - Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.

Feel what you will at this writer but I can assure you the false gods the American church and American nation has chosen will NOT deliver us in the time of our coming tribulation! Neighbor these events we are witnessing by the hour it seems at times are just precursors of things to come greater in scope and intensity.

Despite all the obvious signs we either just don’t get it or we DO get it and don’t want to admit both the source of the problem and what we have to do as a nation to remedy it. There are not two, three, five or seven remedies – there is ONLY one remedy – and that is TRUE BIBLICAL REPENTANCE and a humbling of ourselves before the Lord Jesus Christ and recognizing His Lordship over our nation once again. The Lord Jesus Christ is the ONLY ONE who can deliver this nation from its sin and bondage! It’s Jesus Christ and Him Crucified that STILL sets men free!

True Repentance Is Always Birthed by the Acknowledgement of Sin- “We Have Sinned”

Judges 10:15 - And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.

The way Israel began her healing from this oppression is the way America will begin her healing - confession of sin and repentance! Israel cried to God and said “WE HAVE SINNED!” Friend, hear this writer. AMERICA HAS SINNED. AMERICA HAS SINNED. AMERICA HAS SINNED.

This declaration is actually similar to God’s own view of the nation in Joshua 7 when the Babylonian garment was discovered in the camp of Achan and what should be an easy victory turned into a humiliating defeat at Ai. When Joshua inquired of the Lord as to why this happened, the Lord said, “ISRAEL HAS SINNED and transgressed my covenant!”

Joshua 7:11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.

We can keep denying this is the problem and continue this terrible cycle of suffering or we can come to our senses and declare to the Lord and throw ourselves on His mercy and say “WE HAVE SINNED!” WE HAVE SINNED. Neighbor, when a nation slaughters 48 million babies in the name of choice, we have SINNED! When we call homosexuality an alternative lifestyle and attempt to teach our children at age 5 that is a normal way of sexuality we have SINNED! When we ordain open homosexuals and lesbians, put them behind the sacred pulpits, WE HAVE SINNED! When we spend nearly $3 billion a year on illegal drugs, pornography and alcohol as a nation, we have SINNED!

We seek to remove God from any expression of our society by seeking to promote humanistic psychology and humanism in our churches and throughout government. Neighbor when we do such, we sin grievously in the sight of God. The Bible is not some pop psychology handbook. It’s the WORDS of ALMIGHTY God and it declares that the soul that sinneth DIES. It declares that the nations who reject God will be turned into hell. It declares that TODAY is the day of salvation. It declares to us that God is angry with the wicked every day yet through His love to the sinner reaches out DAILY with hope of eternal life and forgiveness if the sinner will but believe and REPENT; the wicked are those who refuse to acknowledge their sin and repent, yet continue thinking what they are doing is justified and not under God’s microscope of anger and justice.

WE HAVE SINNED! I’m going to make you mad now if I haven’t already. When preachers of the gospel can quote more of the Purpose Driven Life garbage instead of the Word of God, then we have SINNED! When we continue to divorce in the church at a rate higher than that in the world then we have SINNED. Those comments are not directed at those hurt by this terrible sin in the church and who are being restored, but to the current crop of couples who get married with no intention of honoring the covenant and feel if things don’t work out, then we just walk away. No big deal. It IS a big deal. It’s why this nation’s foundations are crumbling before us and we are seeing the misery we see around us.

Mister, the reason your home is going to hell in a hand basket is SIN; it’s not because your wife doesn’t cook or fold your shirts the right way; Lady, the reason your home is in a mess and you feel the need to cheat on your husband is SIN; it’s not because he don’t cut the grass to your liking or is not paying you enough attention; it’s SIN! And the Lord was GRIEVED for the misery of Israel.

The One Seeking Evil And Refusing To Repent Will Find More Evil Willed Upon Him By God; The Repentant Seeker However Will Have The Tide of Evil Stopped And Mercy Granted Upon Request

Israel continued to sin and more evil followed her. And the more America sins the greater the scope and intensity of evil will tear at the heart and soul of our nation! Let me put it another way. When one looks at the extensive list of the sins and marks of evil committed by the Israelites, one sees the depth of corruption within the hearts of the people, a depth of evil that is seen in the sevenfold listing of the false gods worshipped by the Israelites:

• The false gods of the Baals and the Ashtoreths: they were worshipped by most if not all of the nations listed here.
• The false god of Aram or Syria: this was probably Thammuz, although some worshipped the star deity, Athtar.
• The false gods of Sidon: these were primarily Baal and Astarte, the queen of heaven.
• The main false god of Moab was Chemosh, to whom children were sacrificed by burning them alive (Numbers 21:29; 1 Kings 11:23).
• The false god of the Ammonites was Milcom (1 Kings 11:5).
• The false god of the Philistines was Dagon; but they also worshipped Baal-Zebub, the lord of the flies, a metaphor for demons (2 Kings 1:2).

Israel worshipped the false gods of nations that would ultimately subdue, oppress and destroy her. To the degree we fall into idolatry and refuse to repent, that same depth and degree of evil will thus fall on a nation. The very gods we worship will be the source of the coming oppression upon any nation. What we reap, we will sow; what light we reject will come back to us in a greater measure of darkness; what goodness we spurn will be spun in EVIL in a greater fashion upon the nation. America has slaughtered 48 million innocent lives since 1973 at an annual rate of 1.5 million per year in the name of choice. Well, our “choice,” to kill the innocent is being reaped on our school campuses where our children are studying and in our malls and stores - two symbols of American pride - education and money - where innocent life is being snuffed out.

The Repentant Seeker Will Find Mercy Even At The 11th Hour

Israel cried out to God and through her constant intercession and His grace found a place in His heart that caused Him to move on her behalf. The Lord’s disposition went from one of anger to that of a Father being grieved for His children. Friend, the Lord grieves over this nation! Yes, I do believe His anger at times waxes hot against a nation as blessed as we but ultimately His heart breaks over the sin He sees. He loves Israel as a nation even how despite the fact Israel as a nation is backslidden and away from Him.

As long as you have a breath, you can say “yes” to Jesus and repent of your sins! As long as there is a breath, then there is hope! However, the sad state is that most never take that opportunity this side of the grave, which is not the end of the road. There is a life after this one for ALL! Eternity is forever; hell is not some temporary holding tank where people are tormented for a season then let out as some total baboon for brain preachers are claiming today.

Backslider, you have felt the tug of the Holy Spirit late at night and He beckons to you again through the words of this journal. Spurn him at your own eternal peril! Child molester, the Lord loves you today and wants to deliver you from that perversion; drug addict, homosexual, alcoholic, the one addicted to porn, the one who cheats in his business dealings, the one who commits adultery on his wife, or the lady who does the same on her husband, His CALL to you today is for MERCY, not judgment - IF YOU WILL REPENT.

True Repentance Does Not Seek To Place Blame on Anyone Else but Takes Responsibility for the Sin and the Consequences of Such Folly

Judges 10:15 - And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.

Israel in throwing herself on the mercy of God shows America today the path to revival and our ultimate survival! We have become conditioned by modern psychology, which has found its demonic path into the church, to blame everyone else for the spiritual problems we face instead of addressing those problems as we ought to and that is declaring them as sin!

Neighbor, Adam and Eve were NOT the world’s first dysfunctional family; they were the world’s first SINNERS. We don’t go out and kill 33 students because when we young our mom beat our family dog in front of us. Sounds absurd don’t it? Well that’s is the stupidity of humanistic and even so-called Christian psychology today that removes the real issue of sin and replaces it with false blame and false hopes that if we remove the “reasons” why we are so wicked, then we will stop being wicked. NO WE WILL NOT! We kill 33 students in cold blood because we are demon possessed and ARE SINNERS by nature!

Man don’t need a couch, he needs an ALTAR! Man don’t need some counseling session, man needs a POWER session with an Almighty God through the work of Jesus Christ at the foot of the Cross! The BLOOD of Jesus Christ STILL sets the captive free! True repentance never blames anyone else for the wrong committed; it stands before God as Israel did of old and says “WE HAVE SINNED, DO TO US AS YOU SEE FIT,” thus throwing ourselves on God’s MERCY. That’s what being BORN AGAIN is all about!

People come down to altars without acknowledging they are sinners and leave sinners! They cry, moan, groan and even shake the preacher’s hand but get up from the altar in the same spiritual condition they were in when they knelt in the first place. True repentance blames no ONE, justifies nothing, declares the utter horror of our actions and declares “LORD I AM A SINNER WITHOUT EXCUSE and I, not my brother, sister, father or mother, is the CAUSE of this sin and it is thus ME, not anyone else, who needs forgiveness and deliverance!

Mercy Rejected Will Always Result In Judgement Being Accepted; Apostasy Has No Remedy

2 Tim. 3:1-8 - This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. [6] For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, [7] Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. [8] Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

1 Tim. 4:1 - Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Tim. 4:1-4
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; [2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Hebrews 10:26-27 - For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Hebrews 6:4-6 - For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, [5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, [6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Israel reached a precarious point that she almost succumbed such a cycle of bondage that she almost never came back. Would it not be for the mercy of God today on this tiny nation we love with all of our heart and yearn to see her salvation, Israel would not be a nation today friend.

I’ve said this many times in the pages of this website in the past and I will say it again. I know there are voices predicting revival and there may very well be a move of God that comes to America. It must come quickly or we are going to be faced with the ruin of the land of the free and the home of the brave. The Scriptures warn us that both an outpouring of the Spirit and perilous times will take place almost simultaneously.

The Holy Spirit warned through Paul that men would depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. The Holy Spirit says that in the last days men would turn aside the truth and not endure sound doctrine that will save their souls. Men want fables and an ear-tickling gospel instead of the truth.

As I close this journal, let me take you to the book of Revelation and give you a graphic example of what I speak. It was the last message of Jesus Christ that we have in Scripture that was given to the church at Laodicea, the lukewarm church. The previous six messages He delivered in this same discourse with the Apostle John, He was seen walking AMONG the candlesticks and even though there were words of rebuke, He was least seen being active in the ministry of these churches.

When it came to Laodicea, Jesus was no longer active among these people, but outside the door, knocking, begging to get in. His words to Laodicea give us insight I believe on what is happening right now in this nation and in the American church. With the six other churches, He ended those messages with a corporate call of repentance; to the church at Laodicea, the call no longer was corporate, but the call of repentance was individual. He said “if any MAN hears my voice,” I will come in with Him and sup with He and my Father who is With Me. Neighbor, when Jesus comes in, He brings the Father! Praise God. When we see the Father, we’ve seen Christ Jesus and when we see Christ Jesus we’ve seen the Father.

Rev. 3:19-22 - As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. [21] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. [22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The last message of Jesus Christ was for the church to REPENT! Yet this call that went out did not have the markings of a call to all but to those who would hear His voice.

What does this tell us about where we are at in America today? Quite simply, it tells that the call of repentance may no longer be corporate to this nation nor to the corporate church, but individually. I’m not going to arbitrarily say God has stopped speaking to our nation corporately but to be frank He has been speaking since the day America became a nation and we have refused to listen. He has spoken to a backslidden church to come back to the cross and believe; yet we refuse to listen as well. This should give us pause and concern to fall on my face and cry out for mercy that God speak to our nation and corporate body again in America.

I told a pastor friend not too long ago that it seems the ministry of the True Church in these last days has become a search and rescue mission meaning. We can no longer count on the masses to embrace truth as a whole. What we must do is preach the gospel under the anointing of the Spirit and rejoice for the FEW who will truly accept it and be saved. Millions walk down an aisle or have some emotional experience and think they’re born again and yet if they died this very moment, instead of them going to heaven as they think they would, they would in fact die and go to hell.

Oh, you say, the church I go to has thousands coming and we meet in stadiums. Well, if I preached a gospel void of repentance, a gospel void of any mention of hell, a gospel void of any mention of sacrifice, a gospel void of any mention of anything related to the Cross of Christ, a gospel void of any reference to holy living and taking up the Cross and following Jesus, I could fill a stadium or maybe even two myself. God help this modern church growth movement that has is more worried about how many we have sitting in the pew than worried about how many will be eternally saved when they die.

Repentance Is More Than Words, But the Forsaking Of Idols and Strange Gods

Judges 10:16 - And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

Israel had not just worshipped idols but had forsaken the Lord and no longer served Him. Hear this writer. The evil Israel did was not done in secret but in "the sight of the Lord," before His very eyes which witnessed Israel’s false worship and their open face rejection of Him. The Lord sees the open faced rebellion of our nation today as well.

I know some may say “well, America is not the only nation in the world in rebellion.” Certainly that is true, but America is unique in that we were first ordained as a nation to be the carrier of the LIGHT to these other nations who sat in darkness. When we have foreign lands sending missionaries to our shores to get Americans saved then friend then we have totally apostatized as a nation! Despite our blessing and the LIGHT we’ve been given, our sin is more grievous than any nation on the face of the earth.

These were not the heathen worshipping false gods, but it was His own people who were participating in false worship. And this sight cut the heart of God and caused Him to GRIEVE for the misery of the nation.

The church world today worships IDOLS. These are not the images made of some stone, wood, or metal, images created by a person's imagination as in times past but they have becomes idols of false ideologies and false theology. The god of SELF is the largest one we worship today in the church and applaud those who partake in this hellish worship along side us. Pride should be rebuked, but it’s given awards. Pride SHOULD be rebuked but instead it’s placed on Christian television and paraded as it’s the “standard” by which we should measure ourselves. There is NO standard a man should measure himself except that being CHRIST and HIM CRUCIFIED.

These false gods of humanism are just like the idols of Israel’s day, lifeless, unable to hear prayers and unable to come to the aid of any man. THESE WILL NOT SET SINGLE CAPTIVE FREE! And because we worship the false god of self, the door has been swung wide open for the false worship of false messiahs, leaders, religions in the world which is rooted in the unbelief and denial of the Lord Jesus Christ as being God and ALONE the way and path of salvation to the Father!

As we close, let me make one final point about true repentance. True repentance always sees the sin we commit as offending GOD first, THEN our fellow man. Some repent after they get caught; others repent because they find themselves reaping a terrible price for their rebellion and folly; others repent with selfish motives as not to suffer further shame. True repentance comes from a heart that HURTS because it has hurt and spurned a loving God in heaven Who has done all things to redeem us and save us in His love. Sinning and failing the Lord hurts the true child of God who immediately feels Holy Ghost conviction. Neighbor, this conviction may not feel too good but it’s what keeps you and I from eternal hell.

The True child of God mourns over their condition when they become backslidden. The true child of God sees themselves as God sees them - sinful, yet loved and cherished by His grace and His mercy, which is able to set the captive free. God IS love and it’s His love that brings the sinner to the foot of the Cross in repentance. It is the GOODNESS of God that leads man to repentance, but if man rejects and spurns that goodness, then justice and judgment will be according to TRUTH against them “which commit such things.”

Romans 2:2-9 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. [3] And thinkest thou this, O man, that judges them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? [4] Or despises thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? [5] But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; [6] Who will render to every man according to his deeds: [7] To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: [8] But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, [9] Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

The Lord’s soul was GRIEVED for the misery of Israel; is He grieving over the misery we sense and feel here in America today? Israel got herself in the mess she found herself in because of SIN; she got herself OUT of the mess she was in through one simple word - and that word was repentance.

Neighbor, it’s getting late friend. The clock on God’s prophetic clock says “ten to midnight.” The time is short; the hour is at hand; Jesus is coming soon; the next sound we hear prophetically I believe is the trump of God that will sound at the rapture of the Church. We’re that close.

I ask you today, are you saved? If you died this very moment, where would your soul spend eternity? Would your next breath be in the portals of heaven in the presence of God, or in the flaming pits of hell, separated from God forever and forever, in a place made for the devil and his angels? That is the question and there IS an answer for ALL. I pray your answer today is heaven and with Jesus, the SAVIOUR of all mankind, the Rose of Sharon, the First and the Last, and the healer of ALL the misery brought on by sin and darkness. He loves you today and wants to heal the broken hearted and the poor sin sick dispossessed soul. Praise God.

 

 

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