Day: September 18, 2007

Don’t Be Found Out

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Has anyone ever stopped to think about the foolishness of idolatry. That is the desire for things, the greed for wealth, the lust for power, and/or the opposite sex. That is, afterall, what idolatry is all about.

We live in an era not dissimilar from Jeremiah’s. The people were living in basic comfort, secure in their wealth, and easy lives. Though, ours is plagued somewhat with fear of terrorism we still go about doing whatever we please; paying the exhorbitant prices for gasoline, and everything going up due to that; yet we purchase, or at least those who can do. Power for more of the things desired.

Hear the word of the LORD through the prophet Jeremiah:

“As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Israel ashamed; They and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets, Saying to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ And to a stone, ‘You have birth to me.’ For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble They will say, ‘Arise and save us.’ But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, If they can save you in the time of your trouble; For according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.” Jeremiah 2:26-28 (NKJV).

It seems quite clear that the people of Judah have been caught in the practice of idolatry, worshipping other gods, which are not gods at all, but more burdens for the people to carry. Have you ever notice the junk that we in our society build up and keep in closets, garages, security vaults, magazine racks, and how valuless they really are?

In the prophet Jeremiah’s day they were here being accused of having wood idols, and giving it praise for being their father. Also of telling one made of stone that was their mother. In the worship of other gods, they turned their back on God, denying Him as their birthparent as a nation. By turning their back and not their faces we find a great hypocrisy.

The hypocrisy is that while everything is going good, life is easy and comfortable, they really have no care to remember God, His holy days, nor His Law or His Word. However, when they start hearing about an enemy, or having some other troubles they begin to cry out to the true God for help. God, the LORD, says to that, “Let them arise, If they can save you in the time of your trouble;” It is like He is saying to them you have plenty of gods you love and adore more than Me, “Let them help you”. The prophet continues by saying, “For according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.” You would think that the more gods the better. Right? Wrong.

The one true God is sufficient to meet our every need. In fact there is no other god but the LORD God. The one who loves us enough to send His Son to die in our place.

We continue now to the next two verses:

“Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me,’ says the LORD. ‘In vain I have chastened your children; They received no correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.'” Jeremiah 2:29-30 (NKJV).

At times when people face catastrophe they tend to recognize that God does exist. When things ease off, and start getting back to normal it is back to the worship of things,getting those desires met, achieving those personal goals at the cost of life, limb, or friendships, or spouses and family. When this happens, some of it is genuine, and some is not. The one’s who are genuine will continue being faithful when the things start being good again. They will hear the voice of the LORD and will obey Him. They do not turn away.

These are the ones whom the LORD will bless. These are the ones whom the LORD has genuinely saved.

These “two faced” people are about as dependable as a flat tire, and no rim with it. The correction of the LORD does no good, accomplishes nothing, and they hate the prophets who tell them the truth for the saving of their souls.

Don’t turn your back on God. Don’t be a two faced individual who worships God on Sunday, then, through the rest of the week no one will ever no any difference from watching your life, hearing your dirty words, and dirty jokes. When you have given your life to the LORD your life changes, for His glory and your good. You will love the Law, the History of His people, the Wisdom of the sages, and the prophets; both the Major and Minor prophets. You will love God’s Word.

Male and Female

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

For some reason the idea for this category of messages came to my heart and mind the other day, and I could not shake it.  It is not that I really wanted to, but if something does not leave my thoughts, I am one to believe that the good Lord placed it there.  As long as that thought is a good, and holy thought, that is.

This is going to be the beginning of a weekly article dealing with Marriage, and I have had several ideas come to mind.  One is to use Scripture to show God’s plan for marriage, which is of the utmost importance.  Another is to share stories of people who have been married for 25 years or more and how they have seen the Lord bless their marriages, and strengthen them through the years. 

We do not often like to talk about the struggles of marriage or marriages that have failed or are in the process of failing.  It is sad  to me to hear of those couples who profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and have marriages that have failed, and that those numbers are in the same level as those who are not Christians. 

I may be putting myself in a spot, but I will take that spot.  Here is the deal.  If you have a good story of a couple who has been married 25 years or more, and they are a thriving couple in their marriage, happy, sound in doctrine,  very much  in love with one another, and they would not mind their story appearing here at Fire and Hammer email me at isaiah4031@mo-net.com with the story, your name, and I will give you the credit for it if it is posted.  If it is not posted I will simply delete it from my emails.

In Genesis we read:

“So God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”  Genesis 1:27 (NKJV).

Sometimes we men are the ones who have problems with our wives.  For some reason it has come into the minds of some males that women are inferior to us and we are superior.  That is a grave error and the cause of many a marital problem. 

We do see from the beginning of marriage that we are both created in the image of God.  We both stand on equal ground before Him.  We both are responsible for the fall.  We both are sinners, and because of sin the original image of God which we were created in has become marred and inferior.

That image is renewed in Jesus Christ, and any marriage that does not have Jesus Christ as the center of that marriage and home is in danger of failure.

Let me be blunt here.  You may be male in gender, but that does not make you a man.  A man, especially the man of God will see his wife as equal to himself and will treat her with great respect and care.  He will strive to meet her every need to the best of his ability, and will trust the Lord to meet those which he cannot.

One man, one woman for a lifetime together is God’s plan.  What therefore God has joined together, let no man or woman put asunder.