Tag Archives: Jonah

The Grand Reception

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There is a love that is readily perceived as hatred and selfish ambition.  And there is a hatred that is readily perceived as love, but is full of hatred and selfish ambition.

There was a time when one man turned an entire city to God.  For in that day people cared about what is true.  The love of God for the people was sent in the body of a reluctant man, and the fruit of that love was blatantly obvious.

Today no such thing can be done.  Jonah caused Nineveh such great anguish that they fell to their knees in repentance and prayer.  Such words today are ignored as if they are full of hatred and selfish ambition.

But preach to the people what they want to hear, and you will amass to yourself millions.  Your words will be full of hatred for the Living God and full of selfish ambition, but the people will perceive that you love them.

Do not be surprised in this day if the preaching of the true Gospel receives such a tiny welcome.  This is not the day of Nineveh.  This is not the day of Babel.  It is not the day of the great Egyptian empire.  Nor even that of Rome.

This generation is special unto itself.  For these are the last days.  This is the day which gives birth to the generation who celebrates at the death of the prophets; sending gifts to one another, for they despise the Word so greatly.

Take heart if you are cast aside and vastly unpopular.  So mankind has treated God’s prophets from the beginning.  And from here on, it becomes even more so.

And if you are a teacher who receives great welcome in this world for the words you speak, it would do well for you to consider the truth.  For if the world loves your words. . .

By His Grace

I wonder

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I wonder how it would be in America, if Elijah walked through all its cities; speaking vehemently against the sins he witnessed.

I wonder how many followers Jesus would actually see everyday if he walked through the cities of America; bringing the Holy and Living Word of God to the ears of those who will not hear.

I wonder how long any city town or village would put up with the Apostle Paul; at least in his day men believed in a god or two.

I wonder if Jeremiah would continue to cry; seeing and hearing clearly the judgment of God against our stiff necked people.

I wonder if Jonah would have chosen America as the country to which he would flee; later being vomited up on some distant shore, because the people of the distant shore would repent and believe.

I wonder how many preachers would lose their position if they taught the full nature of the gospel;  “Unless you repent and believe to holiness You Too Shall Perish!”

I wonder how many Christians would be banished from their church if they let their love for God be fully known; as it was in the days of Jesus when they kicked the believers out of the congregation.

I wonder what will become of America.

Employing Faith

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unemployment

unemployment (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee)

We tend to think that unless we ask the Lord for help He does nothing.  How can that be true?  He spins the world; did it ask to be spun?  He feeds the birds, did they ask for a worm to be created that day?  He sets your lungs billowing.  Did you ask to breathe last night?  He causes sleep and wake to come upon all.  Do they need to ask for either?

The problem with our understanding of God is that we tend to think of Him as a remote individual who is not immediately in charge of all things.  He saw what you needed before you were born.  He knew what was going to form your mind as you grew.  And, rest assured, He understands the dynamics of sin among men.

We cannot perceive where a certain set of sins will lead.  Sin is chaos.  Yet God knows.  Why else does He proclaim that all sin leads to death?  Jesus holds the keys to life and death.  He knows how to open one and shut the other.  He knows how to bring a man from death to life.  And He knows how to bring a man from life to death also!

So let us be wise and remember that God is not some kind of idle power house.  He is vividly active among men and angels.  Nothing escapes His attention.  And He sees farther down the road than we often give Him credit for.  Trust, do, and trust again.  If you have been blessed to know that Jesus is the Son of God, you are also blessed to be guided in all you do.   Employ your faith (that faith which God gave you to accept His Son as your Lord and Savior).

God does as He pleases.  Just sit and wait.  Do what is right.  Give Him all Glory for everything you encounter.  He will move for such people.  He will protect your faith.  He will move around you and in you to create a kind of person He can be pleased with.

Did Jonah ask for the shade God provided?  Did Nineveh ask for the message of salvation that was brought to them?  Did the Israelites love Jesus when He appeared to bring them the message of repentance and hope?  Yet God moved without having been asked.  Did any of His followers ask God the Father to have His Son crucified?  Yet God’s wisdom was moving among them to accomplish just that.

Did the Israelites ask for slavery?  Yet God brought it upon them so that they could be witnesses to His Majestic power to save.  What has come upon you?  Why do you balk as if you don’t deserve it?  Aren’t you surprised at the things God does for you all day long?  Endure!  Remain a person with a clean heart, mind, soul, and hands.  Just wait.

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I re-read this message and ponder what “is” in my life.  I am struck by how we expect something from the Lord when we are but His servants.  What an amazing sort of place God has set us to abide in.  Cast about with every form of evil, we are expected to understand and obey.

It is not hard to obey.  It is hard to strain at the restraints He has placed on us all.  It is so very easy to let Him be King.  So why do I constantly look to be useful?  He alone is useful.  And as we serve Him by remaining at the ready we become useful.  It’s as simple as that, isn’t it?

National Day of Prayer

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National Day of Prayer

National Day of Prayer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I marvel at Jonah, a very curious prophet of The Living God.  What was his complaint as God sent him to Nineveh?  He knew that God would relent on His proclamation to destroy the city in forty days.  Jonah knew that God would warn them.  He also knew that God would provide them with the insight to repent and turn from the evil they held so dearly.

I recently wrote a short article about the National Day of Prayer.  God had me take it down.  I heard from Him that I did not understand Him in His ways, as I wrote about what destruction is about to fall on this nation.  And I confess that I still don’t completely understand the reason for taking that article down.  Regardless, it is taken down at His command.

In a fashion, I went to Nineveh with that article.  In a fashion, I preached the truth of the coming destruction for all the world’s wicked ways.  But the word of warning will not be heard as it was written.  Does this remove the prospect of destruction?  No.  It removes the urgency of sureness that the article pronounced.

At this point I understand the reason for taking the post down.  The message of destruction is true.  Do not mistake God’s patience and mercy for a licence to continue in wickedness.  But He will wait to see how His people pray.  He will wait to see how the world responds around them.  And He will make a decision regarding America based on what comes to be from His people.

We have tasted the bitterness of a lawless ruler.  We now see clearly what the promise of “hope and change” can bring from a man who does not love the Lord Jesus, thus God the Father.  America is awaking from a deep sleep.  And God will wait to hear what they have to say for themselves and those who surround them with wickedness.

May Your Holy Will be done forever, O’ Father of Jesus.  Your mercy and compassion extend to the ends of the earth, as you look upon a people who do not know their left hand from the right.  As it was for Nineveh, so shall it be for America.  If they listen to You words and repent of their evil ways, You will relent, for a time, the destruction You had set in motion.  We beg Your mercy for the sake of Your Name.  That many wicked will have their eyes open and perceive the end of their wickedness.  By Your Grace.  Amen.