"IS IT FUTILE TO SERVE GOD?"

Zephaniah described God’s people in his day and time as follows: “…men who are stagnant is spirit, who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad’.” (Zephaniah 1:12). Because of this attitude, God was bringing punishment upon His people Israel (Jerusalem and Judah). It begs several questions: ‘How could God’s people become stagnant? WHY would God’s people become stagnant? What factors contributed to this? More importantly, ‘Is this mindset prevalent among God’s people today?’ Let us consider these matters in this article.

Stagnation is a failure to develop, progress, or advance. When water becomes stagnant, a foulness or staleness, emanates results. When people become stagnant, this concept of foulness or staleness is seen in their dullness of hearing and their senses unable to discern right from wrong.

From Zephaniah 1:5-6 we see the characteristics of stagnant behavior in God’s people. They “…bow down and swear to the LORD and yet swear by Milcom.” They had “…turned back from following the LORD, and...not sought the LORD or inquired of Him.”

How had this happened? We find the answer in the record of their own lives. God’s people had persisted in disobedience to the Law of Moses. They were strictly warned not to imitate the idolatrous practices of the Canaanites (Deuteronomy 6:14), yet they did this very thing! They had become “settled" in this way of living. Zephaniah said, “And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil…” (1:12). This describes their complacency. Other prophets gave us similar explanations.

~ Ezekiel wrote, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land” (8:12).

~ Malachi revealed even more insight. He described their complaining and murmuring as follows: “You have wearied the LORD with your words. ‘How have we wearied him?’ you ask. By saying, ‘All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them’ or ‘Where is the God of justice’?” (2:17)

~ “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty’?” (3:14)

Stagnation is no respecter of persons. Complacency can ‘set in’ today when a person persists in disobedience. A stagnant life only changes by repentance. The gospel message declares this necessity. When a child is raised in an environment of complacency, it presents the most difficult obstacle to overcome in giving one’s life to Christ. Herein we see the need for the training up of a child in righteousness by both word and example of the parents.

Complacency can return in the life of Christians. When Christians suffer from complacency, they become weary of standing for the truth! Read again what Malachi said: ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty’?” (Malachi 3:14). Weariness in well-doing is an ever-present threat. It wears on us. We see the parade-like atmosphere in the religious world about us on the TV and on social media as they praise the Lord for their blessings and prosperity, while we go about “carrying out his requirements, like mourners…” Enticed by the glitter many have sought to incorporate their practices into the worship of the Lord to “liven up” things. They see the proverbial “greener grass” among the denominational ways and desire to be fed with their ‘social’ food! They see the prosperity…the large numbers among them and conclude that there is not ‘justice’ with God. As the Psalmist stated of the wicked in Psalm 94:7 – “…they say ‘The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive’.” God answered with a reply that is still applicable today in Psalm 94:8-15.

12/24/2020

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“THREE NEEDS OF DISCIPLESHIP”

What words are missing from the text of Mark 10:29-30?

“…there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands; and in the world to come eternal life.”

The missing words reflect what comes TO a disciple for judging with righteous judgment.

It comes FROM those who desire to live by doing what is right “IN THEIR OWN EYES” rather than what God commands. (Proverbs 14:12; Jeremiah 10:23; John 7:24).

The missing words are “WITH PERSECUTIONS”.

We need to understand the significance of these two words because they are necessary to discipleship.

Many other passages speak of the relationship of discipleship to persecutions: (John 15:20; Acts 14:22; 2 Corinthians 12:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Timothy 3:11-12).

The persecution that Jesus underwent was not only purposed from eternity, but purposed to occur through a specific thing—teaching God’s word. God’s word is truth (John 17:17). He claimed His authority from God to teach the things He taught (John 10:18; 12:49-50; 14:24). He taught that freedom from sin was only in obedience to truth (John 8:32; Hebrews 5:9). Only He could provide this freedom (John 14:6).

Persecution exists today over the same two issues – authority and truth. Those who preach a message claiming it to be truth and proclaim it as the only way to heaven will suffer persecution from those who do not want to acknowledge an absolute standard, but rather want to do what is right in their own eyes (Judges 17:6; 21:25; Deuteronomy 12:8).

Persecution is necessary to discipleship; so likewise are God’s authority and truth.

12/24/2020

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The Difference Between 'Asking'​ and 'Questioning'​ God.

Isaiah asked in chapter 10:15:

"Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood..."

These words were spoken to the arrogant King of Assyria, who had boasted of his rise in power, attributing it to "his own hand"; he was the "axe"; the "saw"; the "rod" and the "staff". His attitude of himself as a rod/staff was as if he were "no wood".

How futile man is when he reasons that he exists and prospers by his own doing.

Later, in chapter 45:9, Isaiah again writes:

"...does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no hands'?"

"Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker..."

God raised up the king of Assyria for His own purpose...to punish His own people, Israel for their disobedience. Once that was accomplished, God would punish (destroy) the king and the Assyrians, because they too were wicked. In Isaiah 10:6, God said, "I send it (Assyrians) against a godless nation" (Israel).

The king of Assyria had different plans: "Yet it does not so intend, nor does it plan so in its heart, but rather it is its purpose to destroy and to cut off many nations." - v. 7

God would allow the King to remain in power just long enough to punish Israel, and then he would be destroyed. In v. 12 Isaiah said, "So it will be that when the Lord has completed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness.”

God deals with us in like manner; let us remember Isaiah's words: "Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker".

James 4:14-17 - "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

12/9/2020

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“Faith" and "Works”

Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

James 2:17 – “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Much confusion and disagreement abounds over the role of works as it relates to salvation. The verse Ephesians 2:8, if quoted without regard to its context, or the nature of “works”, would be understood as a declaration of faith alone as man's response to God's grace. Yet, when reading James 2:17, again, without regard to context, or the nature of “works”, there appears to be a contradiction. So, a close study of the contexts and of “WORKS” is helpful in clearing up the confusion.

SOME HISTORY OF THE DEBATE OVER “FAITH” & “WORKS”

Some of the confusion arises from the “after-effects” of the teaching of Martin Luther in his denunciation of the WORKS OF CATHOLICISM. Luther opposed justification by “works” but the works he opposed were works of penance that the Roman Catholic church IN HIS DAY endorsed. At the time, a Dominican priest named Johann Tetzel, commissioned by the Archbishop of Mainz and Pope Leo X, was in the midst of a major fundraising campaign in Germany to finance the renovation of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The main funding for the early stages of building New St. Peter’s came from the sale of indulgences. Indulgences were a means whereby remission of sins was granted, or rather obtained by payments of money; even after one’s death. This means of receiving (really obtaining) forgiveness of sins, was what Luther condemned.

In ‘A Treatise on Good Works’, Luther spoke of ‘works done outside of faith’. Yet, in the same writing, he mentioned ‘works of faith’, which he advocated. Luther (and his followers) viewed good works as ‘evidence’ of faith, but did not believe that good works were necessary for salvation. Thus Luther advocated that one is saved “sola fide” (faith alone).  It is obvious from Ephesians 2:8-9 and James 2:17 that there are different works under consideration for in Ephesians, salvation is NOT a result of those works. In James, faith is said to be dead, if apart from those works. Thus, if salvation is by faith, and faith must be accompanied with works, then salvation must also be dependent upon works. So, some works are condemned in scripture while other works are necessary. There are different types of works and not all works are of the same nature! Here are a few of the distinctive ‘works’ mentioned in the scriptures:

Works of the Law of Moses - “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16).

The verse on three occasions speaks of “the works of the law”. It is equally clear that by these works, there is no justification. Paul is contrasting these works with the works of faith in Jesus Christ. Remember that on one occasion came to Jesus and asked him, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:28-29). Paul goes on to write in Romans 3:28 that “…a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” The works that do not justify are clearly specified. These works are the same as those mentioned in Galatians 2:16. The simple truth is, there are different types of works revealed in the New Testament!

Works of Man’s Righteousness - “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).

Notice how this verse clearly identifies the works! It is works “which we have done”. By such works, man cannot be saved. He needs the mercy of God in the gospel of Christ. The passage condemns the moral man thinking he can be saved in his own goodness or works of righteousness which he is doing. So many believe that by being morally clean and reasonably honest that salvation is assured them. This can never be “for all have sinned ...” (Romans 3:23). We need God’s mercy in the gospel. Man can never originate a plan to remove one single sin. These works are condemned in the verse, but works of all nature are not condemned. The verse is not to be understood as condemning what God has for one to do in obeying the gospel of His Son.

Works of God’s Righteousness - In Acts 10:34-45, we read: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”

What works are involved in one being accepted with God? God has authorized faith (John 6:29) (James 2:24); repentance (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9); confession (Romans 10:10); baptism (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21) for one to obey in working God’s righteousness to be saved. When one obeys such, he is not working man’s righteousness, but the righteousness of God. As Paul wrote in Romans 10:2-3, “I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.”

12/6/2020
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TRUST AND OBEY; FOR THERE’S NO OTHER WAY

Jeremiah told God's people Israel WHY they were hypocrites in chapter 7:8 - - He said, "Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit."

HOW did they "TRUST" in lying words........by faith alone, or by praying a 'sinner's prayer'?

No, for in verses 9-10, God gave specifics of their hypocrisy. He said:

"Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known, then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—that you may do all these abominations?"

Then in verse 13, God stated, "And now, because ye have done all these 'WORKS'."

There is a most relevant lesson for us today as it relates to worship and daily life:

You are not condemned by 'faith only' any more than you are justified by 'faith only'. Sin is a transgressing of a command by either adding to, or taking away from that command. (cf. Romans 14:23; James 4:17; 1 John 3:4; & 5:17)

For those who have been preached that "trusting" is done thru a prayer, notice what Jeremiah was told NOT to do by God in verse 16:

"Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me; for I will not hear thee."

False teaching is characterized by ONE DOMINANT ASPECT! IT DOWNPLAYS COMMANDS and OBEDIENCE! Jesus died for "the world" (John 3:16), yet is the author of salvation TO THOSE THAT OBEY!!! (Hebrew 5:9).

You obey Jesus by obeying His commands (2 John 1:9-11).

Likewise, truth, or true teaching will stress commands; and obedience; this is what separates it from false teaching.

Trust and obey, are the principles upon which salvation has ALWAYS been purposed. We see this from another prophet, Isaiah:

THE CONDITIONS:

wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds; cease to do evil...

THEN:

learn to do good; seek justice; correct oppression...

IF YOU ARE WILLING AND OBEDIENT...though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow - - - Isaiah 1:16-19

Read the entire chapter of Jeremiah 7 to see the similarities of Jeremiah's day and our day.

Truly, there is nothing new under sun...

12/5/2020

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