“IGNITE: THE NEED AND PURPOSE”

“IGNITE” has been selected as the theme for this year. The term ignite means to arouse to action. A spark causes a fire to burn. Human emotions can be aroused (ignited) to action in a good way as well as a bad way. Debates and arguments can result from aroused emotions. We find these two reactions in scripture. In Acts 13:50 we read, “the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas.” Then in Exodus 35:21 we read, “And they came, every one WHOSE HEART STIRRED HIM UP, and every one WHOM HIS SPIRIT MADE WILLING…brought the LORD'S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.”

God often stirred up men in these two ways (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; 1 Kings 11:14). When we study the contexts of these incidents, we find that God was the spark to cause men to act out what was within their hearts, good or evil. With Solomon, we find that he had committed sin in going after other gods. As a result, God stirred up an adversary (Hadad), against him as punishment for his sins. With Cyrus, God stirred his heart up and Cyrus granted all God’s people in captivity to return to Jerusalem, which resulted in the temple being rebuilt, fulfilling His promise to save an elect or remnant through which Jesus would come, establishing His church.

This is the purpose for the word of God. It brings out the good or evil in our hearts. It is the needed spark that will arouse our spirit within us to act on our desires. In so doing, we will reveal what is needed to be known about ourselves. We find this from the teaching of Jesus in Mark 4:21-22: “And he said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light’.”

We need to know the truth about ourselves NOW, while we have the time and opportunity to serve God. Are we truly serving God, or just giving lip-service? What is the truth about our attitude toward serving God? How will we ever know? It will only be known through our response to things God commands of us. If we REALLY have a desire to serve, we will do as the Israelites did in Exodus 35:21. If not, we will do as a later generation did in Malachi 1:13. While we may assemble and go through the acts of worship, but doing so without a willing heart will only incur the wrath of God upon us.

We find from Deuteronomy 6 the attitude we are to have toward God’s word that will, in turn ensure a blessing from God as He blessed Israel with Cyrus. In verse 5 Moses said to them, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” The context in which these words are found clearly prove that loving God is done through obedience to God’s words. Notice Deuteronomy 6:1-7: “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey…and these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

As we consider the matter of ‘igniting’ one another, remember that our stirring up of each other is to be on-going and that our efforts must be directed toward the conversion of the heart. The Hebrew writer put it this way:  “…let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25). Let us not be as Israel in Malachi’s day and view our serving God as ‘wearisome’. Rather let us have the attitude of David, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’.” (Psalm 122:1).

1/17/22

“IS IT FUTILE TO SERVE GOD?”

A new year has begun. Many resolutions have been made. One resolution that would benefit every person is that of serving God. As we take inventory of our lives, we may find that our lives have become stagnant. The people of Zephaniah’s day had become stagnant. Zephaniah said they were,“…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, God was bringing punishment upon His people. It begs several questions: How could God’s people become stagnant? WHY would God’s people become stagnant? What factors contributed to this? Perhaps a more important question: 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 anyone persists in disobedience. A stagnant life only changes in 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 Malachi’s record of the words of Israel: ‘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 94:9-13:“He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? The Lord, who teaches man knowledge, knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.”

1-14-22