Hear and Obey!

 

 

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD God, that I will send a famine in the land not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it."       Amos 8:11-12

 

The Hebrew word used above as "hearing" is the word shamah. It means not only to hear, or listen, but also to obey. The meaning also includes to understand, to discern. The Hebrew for "word(s)" above is dabar, which also includes "command, decree, counsel".

Today, the world neither seeks the commands and counsel of the LORD, nor do they hear it with understanding and obedience. Even the Church fails to teach the understanding of the word, nor does it encourage obedience to it. The prophet warned that there will come a time when, though we desperately seek the word of the LORD, we will no longer be able to find it.

Not only does the LORD counsel us to both hear and obey His word, but He encourages us to find the understanding:

"Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting, get understanding...How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!"    Prov. 4:5-7, Prov. 16:16

Seeking this wisdom and understanding that is more precious than gold and silver leads us right back to His word:

"Through thy precepts (commandments, statutes) I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  

                                                                                                Ps. 119:104-105

The purpose of hearing and obeying God's word does not involve religion nor legalism. It is for the purpose of obtaining the wisdom and understanding that leads to having a clear and secure path through life. We look everywhere in the world to try to achieve the knowledge of this security, but we should seek the word of the LORD and His counsel first, because this is where it is to be found without fail.

This type of wisdom and understanding cannot be found in man. Men's hearts do not create it. Scripture tells us that men's hearts are deceitful above all things, and desperately (incurably, woefully) wicked (Rom. 1, Jer. 17:9-10). It is so deceitful, that we can't even know the true nature of our hearts. Only God can see it. On its own, the heart cannot come to life saving, and life prospering wisdom and understanding.

As David desperately sought the LORD's deliverance from his blood guilt (Ps. 51), he threw himself upon the promises of God's word, the promise of new mercy. He asked God to create in him a new heart, because he had seen for himself the results of the incurable wickedness of his own heart. He knew that his only hope was to come to God with a broken and contrite heart, because God desires truth in the most inward parts of us. David, king of Israel, whose line would bring forth the Messiah, a man after God's own heart, and the apple of God's eye, knew that wisdom, understanding, deliverance and renewal of life, could not be found in his own deceitful heart.

Psalm 119 is the declaration of one who understood the importance of hearing and obeying the word of the LORD:

"I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach my thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word."  Ps. 119:8-16

We have been called to take the gospel to a lost and dying world. It is a saving gospel that preserves life. It is the Living Word of God, Jesus, who is the promised mercy of God, and who cleanses us and creates a new heart in us by His word, His blood, and the Spirit of God. Though the gospel seems foolishness to man, it is the very wisdom, and understanding of God, whose thoughts are not our thoughts, and whose ways are not our ways. However, He calls us to understanding through the hearing and obeying of His words.

 

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.



Get Understanding!

 

We have already entered into the season of the Fall Feasts of the LORD. These feasts not only incorporate important spiritual principles, but also prophetic promises that will ultimately shake the heavens and the earth in their fulfillment by Jesus, the Messiah.

It is essential that all of God's people, including the Church, walk in understanding concerning the feasts, to which the LORD attaches so much significance. This is what the LORD has proclaimed regarding the next fall feast, the Day of Atonement:

"Also, on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it shall be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month, at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath."   Lev. 23:27-32

This day of atonement, according to the LORD's description above, was to have no distractions from the purpose of the day-fasting and repentance. He makes it very clear that souls hang in the balance. It is not to be taken lightly. The day of atonement was, and is, a prophetic type and shadow of the atonement for all men that was made through the blood of His own Son, Jesus. Even when the LORD saw the animal blood, which was just a faint shadow and type of the Eternal Atonement, He answered from heaven. How much more He answers the blood of His only begotten Son.
These feasts also continue to speak and promise prophetically to us of coming events, and we should understand those events, and how they are to unfold. The LORD wants His people to understand His feasts and His principles. His Word exhorts His people to get this understanding:

"Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth...Wisdom is the principal thing (beginning, first (fruits)); therefore get wisdom: and with all thine getting, get understanding...How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!"   Prov. 4:5, 7,  and Prov. 16:16

God warns through His prophets that failure to get knowledge and understanding could be fatal:

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that 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, I will change their glory into shame."   Hos. 4:6-7

The prophet, Hosea, quoted above, had been instructed by God to marry a prostitute, as a picture of what God's marriage to Israel had become. His own people, even His own priests, had allowed sin to multiply among them. We, the Church, have been called to be priests and kings to our God. We also have been overset by sin.

The Day of Atonement, meant to prophecy the atoning blood of His Son poured out for all time, requires our self-examination and repentance in the face of it. The nine days between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement are called "The Days of Awe", dedicated to prayer and repentance. The whole month of Elul before the beginning of the fall feasts is a month of repentance and return, teshuvah, to God. According to the Jewish tradition, not only was the individual to examine himself, but also to gather friends to examine him for sins, that he may acknowledge them, and repent of them. The purpose of this repentance is reconciliation with our God, who desires it earnestly, and who is continually reaching out:

"Go and proclaim these words to the north, and say, "Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you: For I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God,  and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed My voice, saith the LORD. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you, one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion."   Jer. 3:12-14

The LORD describes His relationship to Israel, including the backslider, as a marriage. He is ever committed and always watching for our return. His goal is to bring us to His city, the spiritual place called Zion. He provides pastors to give us this knowledge and understanding, so we will know His heart towards us (v. 15). He sent His Son, the greatest Shepherd of all, our atonement, to teach us, and to provide this place for us eternally.
As the LORD describes His marriage relationship to Israel, it can't help but remind us of the Church as the betrothed in our relationship with Christ, becoming the Bride who has made herself ready in righteousness for the coming marriage supper of the Lamb. Yet many Christians do not understand the importance of self-examination and repentance from sin. In lack of understanding, they think that the covering of the grace of God, which Jesus' sacrifice made available for us, requires nothing more from them. This is not true according to scripture:
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?.....Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." 
                                                                                        Rom. 6:1-2, 12-14
During these precious feast days, the LORD is calling to us: "Get wisdom, get understanding." The feasts have nothing to do with setting dates, or predicting the end of the world, but, rather, for examining ourselves, and returning back to God. They are about the understanding of the price of the atonement for our sins, and thereby preparing for the coming prophetic events.
For our serious consideration of our relationship with Him, and for our sincere desire to be servants of righteousness rather than servants of sin (Rom. 6:16), the LORD makes this promise:
"Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not."   Mal. 3:16-18

May you be inscribed forever in the Book of Life.

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Putting the Pieces Together

 

It was never the LORD's intention that the people called by His name, the people called to be light and salt in the earth, the people purposed to do exploits (Dan. 11:32) and greater works in His name (Jn. 14:12), should be confused, ignorant, fearful or without hope (1 Pet. 3:13-15, 1 Thess. 4:13-14) regarding end time events, and His will in those events.

Jesus taught of these events in the synagogues and temple, gave revelation of them to prophets and apostles, all so that we would be informed when the time came. All of these teachings did not make Jesus popular with those who had their own agendas, but these teachings have left us with a rich legacy of foreknowledge. If we will study the Word of God, we will attain wisdom, knowledge and understanding of these events, and our role in them.

Jesus described in great detail and accuracy the events that would lead to His return. All creation will be in turmoil and distress (Lk. 21:22-25). Men will be terrified by what they will see happening:

"Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken...For as a snare it shall come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth."   Lk. 21:26, 35

However, because we have already been told what to expect, and what these events mean, our reactions should be different from the world's:

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh...So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, "This generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled...Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."   Lk. 21:28, 31-32, 36

Jesus' expectation was that His disciples would be a people of knowledge, but at the same time, warned that we were not to be involved with worldly behavior and cares, because this would have a destructive effect upon our hearts and minds:

"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged (weighed down, burdened, grieved) with surfeiting (seized, or carried away with the effects of drunkenness and debauchery), and drunkenness, and cares (anxiety, distraction, drawn in different directions, divided) of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares (unexpectedly, suddenly)."  (v. 34).

Even Jesus removed Himself from distraction. He would teach in Jerusalem at the temple during the day, but then He would leave the activities of the city behind, and spend the night on the Mt. of Olives. In Greek, the place where He staid is described as an outdoor area of shepherds and their flocks (v. 37).

Our hearts and minds are very vulnerable to, and can be easily overtaken by, the attitudes and priorities of the world. Immediately after Jesus taught about the catastrophic events of the end times, and what our attitude through it should be, His own disciple, Judas, made an agreement to betray Jesus for money (Lk. 22:1-4). Judas had formed an attitude of offense and disrespect towards Jesus (Mt. 26, Lk. 7, Mk. 14), and had allowed these things to divert, divide, and rule his heart. Although Judas had access to all of the revelations of Jesus, instead of becoming a son of salvation, he became a son of perdition (damnation, destruction, perishing, eternal misery in hell) (Jn. 17:12).

Paul makes clear that the ways and thoughts of the world have nothing to do with us:

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned...For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."   1 Cor. 2:12-14, 16

We do not seek the understanding found in the world, but we search the scriptures, comparing spiritual things with spiritual, putting together the pieces of Godly wisdom and knowledge. Rather than the information highway of the world, we receive our instruction from the Holy Spirit through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers until we grow into the stature of the fullness of Christ, a bride who has made herself ready, a light set on a lampstand, a city on a hill.

 

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