This message is for fathers on this Father's Day, but also to all professing believers. All must prayerfully consider today's message. There is a song by Jeoff Benward, "A Man of God", that expresses the hope that when others, his children included, remember his life, they will remember him as a man of God. This should be the desire of us all, and to achieve that goal, we each need to know and be obedient, to what God is calling us to do. This is especially crucial in these last days before the return of Christ. To learn more about this, please read or listen to the message from last week, "Are You Preparing?".
The LORD warned through His prophet Hosea, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, and thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame...." Hos. 4:6-7
With these verses, God was rejecting the priesthood who was appointed to serve Him, because they rejected His Word, which is the knowledge of Him. We also have been called to be a kingdom of priests to God, reconciling man and God with His truth. Are we also rejecting the knowledge of Him, and despising our priesthood, as we turn away more and more from His truth?
Today in our nation, we are re-writing history, and using the Word of God inaccurately and out of context, in order to justify ourselves, and our sins. This has been done throughout our history as a nation, whether we were trying to justify our policy of the destruction of the Native Americans in the land, or trying to find the justification of slavery using the scriptures, and many more issues shameful to this country. All of these attempts at twisting away from the truth comes from the same root: a heart of sin.
This is certainly not isolated to the history of America, but exists throughout the scriptures. Jesus made it clear that He would never compromise on bringing the truth, and taught candidly about the consequences of walking in that calling:
"I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am straightened till it be accomplished! Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two and two against three..."
Lk. 12:49-52
The words and works that Jesus would bring would cause divisions, even dividing households, between those who received the truth, and those who did not. He called the religious groups of the time "hypocrites" and "vipers" as they taught error, while holding on to their sins. Although they could understand the implications of natural signs, they purposefully refused to discern "this time", the time when their Savior from sin was in their midst. They could not even judge of themselves what was right. (v. 54-57). These also are the conditions of our generation.
Even now our nation is divided, both believers and non-believers, over issues and personalities, with both sides of the aisles of government missing the whole point: It's about the signs of the times! Jesus is coming back! Yet we refuse to discern "this time".
Teaching in a synagogue, Jesus was challenged by the religious leaders about whether it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath. Jesus was about to heal a man with a withered hand. Jesus told them that they would rescue one of their animals on the Sabbath. Isn't a man even more valuable? Wherefore, it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days." After Jesus healed the man's hand, the religious plotted how they might destroy Him (Mt. 12:9-14). Jesus consequently warned that a kingdom, city or house divided against itself shall not stand (v. 25). And we are indeed a nation divided by the Word of truth: for and against. Where is the Church? There are souls to be rescued.
We rely instead on political leaders to reflect ourselves, and our opinions, as we claim to stand on truth, but in reality we are turning away from truth. In scripture, the people of God also preferred a man to govern them as a king, as the nations of the world had, rejecting the governance of God's chosen judge and prophet, Samuel. They justified this rejection of God with reasonings and excuses, but God knew what was in their hearts: "...they have rejected me (God), that I should not reign over them." 1 Sam. 8:1-8
The sinful hearts of men made the same choice again when Pilate offered Jesus' release. They chose Barabbas instead, even insisting that they had no king but Caesar (Jn. 19:15). We in America have also rejected God's reign, upon which we were founded, and we have chosen Caesar over Christ.
Jesus taught that to stand for the truth of God's Word, to stand for Jesus, would bring persecution and hatred from the world:
"If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you...But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me...If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin...but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause."
Jn. 15:18-25 (Psalm 35:19)
We have seen how individuals, businesses, and organizations have been socially, legally and economically persecuted because they stood for what they knew to be righteousness. America worships many false gods and idols, as evidenced by what we now espouse and practice. While America demands tolerance of these idols, no tolerance is shown towards those who offend these false gods by speaking the truth of God's Word. The Church does not want to be persecuted, so they have compromised the truth of the Word of God in order to be loved and accepted. However, by so doing, they sever their identity with Christ, the uncompromising truth bringer, and additionally, the Church then conceals the remedy for sin from those who are perishing in it. Scripture says that those who deny their sin walk in darkness, and "do not the truth". The truth is not in them. If, on the other hand, we walk in the light of truth, if we walk with Christ as He is in the light, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 Jn. 1). "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
2 Chron. 7:14
2 Chron. 7:14
The Church does no one a favor by hiding the truth about sin, and consequently denying the opportunity for any who desire to be cleansed and delivered from its deathly power.
During the Feast of Atonement, the Book of Jonah is read in the synagogues. Jonah, the prophet who ran from his calling to deliver God's prophetic word to Nineveh, died in the belly of a great fish, descended into Hell for three days and nights, and cried out to God for his rescue. God delivered him from Hell, and resurrected him from the dead - made death spit him out!. This is the same sign, the sign of Jonah, that Jesus promised to fulfill to a wicked and adulterous generation (Mt. 12:38-40), which describes our generation also. Jesus is the one who was dead, and is alive for ever more.
The physical evidence of Christ's great victory over sin and death, which supports every word of the scriptural account, is found on the fibers of the linen cloth used to enfold His body as He was entombed. We have the Word of God for the truth and solid foundation of our faith, and the image of the risen Christ on the Shroud of Turin for a gracious confirming sign.
Fathers and all believers, it is time to return to the truth. It is time to walk in the truth. It is time to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).
The physical evidence of Christ's great victory over sin and death, which supports every word of the scriptural account, is found on the fibers of the linen cloth used to enfold His body as He was entombed. We have the Word of God for the truth and solid foundation of our faith, and the image of the risen Christ on the Shroud of Turin for a gracious confirming sign.
Fathers and all believers, it is time to return to the truth. It is time to walk in the truth. It is time to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).
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(Audio) http://everlastingcovenant.sermon.net/main/main/21189361
(Audio) http://everlastingcovenant.sermon.net/main/main/21189361
Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:
Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart. I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, forgive me, and fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.
Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart. I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, forgive me, and fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.
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