Amos 5:12-15 “For
I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: afflicting the just and taking bribes; diverting the poor from
justice at the gate. Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time,
for it is an evil time. Seek good and not evil, that you may live;
so the Lord God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken. Hate
evil, love good; establish justice in the gate. It may be that
the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
The third lesson is that God’s
Word and His church take on supernatural power when we stop being superficial
about our problems. The family of God is held to a higher standard. The Lord
God wants better for us and better from us. The saints (those who have been
sanctified) are special because they have been supernaturally redeemed by
salvation in Christ, forgiven by Jesus’ atoning blood. They are given the gift
of the indwelling Holy Spirit and Christ in them as they receive eternal life
in the kingdom of heaven. Heed the Word of God and avoid false worship. Seek the
Lord and live. Encounter and experience God’s power, not counterfeit religion
with their “going thought the motion” traditions and “check off the list” rituals
that do not affect us on a personal godly level. There is a difference between
authenticity and transparency; between the genuine and the “putting it all out
there”. Relational depth for Christians comes at the “right” setting, so get
plugged in.
Romans 8:35-39 “Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As
it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as
sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors
through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor
things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall
be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The fourth lesson is that
opposition should be expected when a person is doing God’s will. Satan, the
enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy who make the decision and walk with
Jesus; he doesn’t need to attack those who reject the Savior of the world, he
already owns them. Likewise, when you knock on a hornets nest, expect to get
stung by this God-rejecting world system which is living in darkness. So,
first expect opposition coming from the outside. But secondly, due to our sin
nature of the flesh desires, expect opposition from the inside. Beware of
dangerous lies that say: “I don’t feel like giving up drugs and addictions, our
sinful pleasures, egotistic power and pride or sexual immorality.” Maybe saying,
“I don’t feel like doing what the Bible says, going to church, witnessing for
Jesus, loving my neighbor, putting others before me.” Do not be surprised. This
is all opposite from inside our fallen nature. Take a good hard look and press
on towards God’s goals. Do not stop at the first sign of trouble. Stay
faithful, listening to the voice of God, but expect opposition in this life.
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If My
people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and
seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
The fifth lesson is that we
need to always remember that prayer is most powerful when it is directed at
changing me, not just my circumstances. Prayer warriors are needed in this day
and age. In our sin nature, none of us measure up to God’s plumb line standards
of living as the Lord desires us to live, but Christ in us does, and the Holy
Spirit will show us what to work on when we soften our hearts. Don’t feel sad;
change. Jesus, our intercessor, is here to illuminate and activate Christian
walk this side of eternity. Rejoice in this truth: Seek the Lord and live.
In Christ, Brian
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