WHAT CAUSED THIS MESS?
OR
WHY ARE THE WICKED
RULING OVER THE RIGHTEOUS?
The Jews were God’s people. They were blessed when they loved Him with all their heart and obeyed His voice. Curses came when they loved other things more than Him and disobeyed Him. God allowed the wicked to rule over them so they would see the error of their ways. When they kept disobeying His voice He scattered them to the ends of the earth just as He told them He would do.1
The Church today is the people of God.2 Jesus left some very specific things for His Church to do. First they are to make God’s Kingdom and their relationship with Him their number one priority.3 To bring God’s Kingdom on earth their time with Him in prayer must be the most important part of their day.4 Because they are God’s people The Church is to show Jesus to the world by the way they love and treat each other.5 If followers of Jesus spend time with Him and learn to obey His voice, they will grow to know God and fulfill His purpose for them.6 They will have the power and authority to overcome evil and establish His Kingdom in the earth. Jesus has all authority. When Christ’s Church is in proper relationship to Him and each other they too have all authority.7
Christ’s strategy for establishing His Kingdom on earth is for His followers to go into the entire world, preach The Gospel of The Kingdom, and make disciples who follow Jesus. The strategy is not to build buildings and set up a weekly schedule of meetings in a specific place. It is to simply do what Jesus did. The Church is to build The Kingdom as they go about their daily activities. They are to share The Gospel of The Kingdom as they have opportunity each day. When people respond to The Gospel by making a commitment to follow Jesus with all their heart, Christ followers are to disciple them. They are to teach them how to grow to know God and fulfill His purpose for their lives. 8 As Christ followers do this He will build His Kingdom, evil will be destroyed, and righteousness will reign. It has happened throughout history, and it will happen today.9
Paul referred to what happened to the Jews when he spoke to The Church. “ These are all warning markers—DANGER!—in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel—they at the beginning, we at the end—and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence. No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it. So, my very dear friends, when you see people reducing God to something they can use or control, get out of their company as fast as you can.”10
Why is the world in a mess? God’s Word indicates that it is because God’s people, The Church, have abandoned His plan. They have tried to build God’s Kingdom through strategies birthed from the fleshly heart of man rather than The Spirit of God. As a result they are not in agreement with God and have no authority to overcome evil. Many people who call themselves Christians do not live their lives to fulfill God’s purpose, but pursue their own desires. God is allowing the mess to get our attention, and draw us back to Him and His plan.
There is hope. God said, “ If the world around you is in a mess you can change everything by humbling yourselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning your backs on the things you know displease me. I’ll listen from heaven, forgive your sins, and restore your land to health.” 11 The solution to the problems we see begins with us. We must bring our lives into agreement with God’s plan for us. To do this we must grow to know God each day. Time with Him in The Bible and prayer must be our number one priority. We must seek to obey and please Jesus in all we do. If we do this we will live in the power of The Kingdom, walk in the authority of Jesus, overcome the wickedness around us and bring righteousness to our land.12
Jesus said He would judge the world beginning with His people, The Church. He will allow the wicked to succeed until His Church becomes The Bride without spot or blemish.13 This bride will overcome evil and establish God’s righteous Kingdom on earth. Some of those who grow to know God, and live to fulfill His purpose for them will be part of the unblemished bride that prepares the way for Jesus return. They will be used by God to remove the evil mess in the world and restore God’s righteous rule to the land.14
What caused the mess around us? Why are the wicked ruling over the righteous? Because The Church has failed to be what Jesus called it to be. What is the solution? The answer is the people of God repenting of their failure and fulfilling His purpose in the earth. This is going to happen. Will you be part of the answer by repenting of your failures, growing to know God, and seeking to fulfill His purpose for your life?
Question: Who are you living to please Jesus or yourself?
Scriptures: 1 The Old Testament Especially Leviticus chapter 26;
2 Romans 2:28-29 & 11:16-18; 3 Matthew 6:33; 4 1Timothy 2:1-4; 5 John 13:35; 6 Jeremiah 29:13 & 2Peter 1:5-11; 7 Matthew 28:18 & 18:18-20; 8 Matthew 28:18-20;
9 Revelation 12:10-11; 10 1Corinthians 10:11-14 The Message;
11 2Chronicles 7:13-14 paraphrased; 12 John 14:12; 13 1Peter 4:17 & Ephesians 5:27;
14 Revelation 19:1-8;
Henry & Rita
Please share this important message
with as many people as you can. If you would like to know more
about growing to know God, please contact us.
Phone: (228) 255-9251
POSTAL ADDRESS: P.O. Box 633, Grapevine, TX 76099 USA
Copyright 2014 Brothers & Sisters in Christ
No comments:
Post a Comment