The Nation who Fears the Lord is a Wise and Understanding People
November 3, 2014
Deuteronomy 4:5-8
See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” 7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? 8 And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?
The Nation who Fears the Lord is a Wise and Understanding People
God took this nation, the United States, and birthed it out of a persecuted people that sought to love and worship Him in spirit and in truth. He took this infant nation and protected and preserved it from the enemy that sought to destroy it. From its conception and foundation it was built upon the principles of faith in Him and His Law fashioned our laws. When we look back at the fathers of our constitution who framed and structured our government, we see in them such a spirit of wisdom. It wasn’t natural wisdom, but it was wisdom from above, because they came together and asked God to help them in this great endeavor that would impact the generations to follow. Everything in that document was formed, not to force religion upon anyone, but to preserve everyone’s right to pursue his faith and hold it in freedom of worship and expression. The other nations of the world surely couldn’t help but see the wisdom and understanding that formed this nation. Many others since have followed this model of democracy. As a result, this nation has become the most powerful and prosperous of nations in the earth. That didn’t happen because of us as a people. We are like any other people, but it happened because we made our motto, “In God We Trust.” If we depart from the secular history books and really follow the history and the documents that substantiate it we will find a rich history of God fearing men, who put their trust and reliance upon God as they lead this nation. It was because of God’s law that was set before this nation, that we have had God’s favor and blessing.
Deuteronomy 4:9-10 goes on to say, “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. 10 Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”” Unfortunately, we, like the nation of Israel, have forgotten to a great extent where we came from and what is the source of our wealth, blessing and prosperity. We have grown wise in our own eyes, full of ourselves and our vain philosophies so that many think that God no longer has a place in our government, our schools or even our nation. Each generation seems to stray further from the truth. The advocates of darkness have perpetuated the lie through every medium that touches our lives and many of us have failed in taking our stand for righteousness and speaking out against this lie.
We, as a nation, now sit upon the precipice of ruin. First it will happen within and then it will happen without. We see the decay of moral values all around us. We watch them daily on the TV and read about it in the newspaper. Many of us are even the victims of it as we try to walk in the truth. These are perilous times and a time when all of us need to be fervent in prayer and in action. Soon the governments of men will end the governments will become spiritual strongholds. The battle that we fight is not one of the flesh and blood, but of the Spirit. The people of God are all that stands between this nation and its judgement. We must lift up a standard of righteousness again and no longer be a silent majority. We are soon becoming a silent minority. The greater the cloud of darkness and deception that covers our nation the brighter we must shine forth as the people of God. We must not lose our conscience, but be the conscience of our nation. Instead of our children being taught the precepts and principles of God’s Word they are now indoctrinated with humanism and every false thing. If we, the people who bear the name of the Lord, don’t make a difference, then who will?
Blessings,
#kent
A Word from the Heart of Father
August 1, 2012
Isaiah 58:6-14
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. 13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Listen. Hear what the Spirit of the Lord would say. You, who are greedy, share all that you have.
You, who are obedient, teach obedience.
You who are angry, be angry and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath, but give place to mercy and forgiveness, lest you cut yourself off from the mercy and forgiveness of God.
You who are wealthy, forsake the riches of this world which are soon to pass with the using and become rich in Kingdom wealth, the wealth in which there is no corruption, reserved for you in heaven.
You who lie and deceive, you dishonor Him who is Truth. You have no part with Him in this state. Repent and turn from your wickedness.
Fornicators and adulterers, the times do not justify the means. Your judgement remains unless you repent your evil and turn from it.
You who say that you are spiritual and yet rob the poor, that is an abomination unto Me. Show your spirituality in your good works and obedience, not in the pretense of righteousness.
You, who say you love your wife or your husband and yet turn your eyes upon another, let your eyes and heart be one and truly honor the one you love.
You, who cry out in your poverty, you do so because you don’t have a true revelation of your riches and that, which is the reward of them that persevere.
You, who are afflicted, my heart feels your pain. I suffer with you. Suffering tenderizes the heart for mercy and makes a gracious minister.
You who are weary take courage in Him who did not grow weary in well doing, but endured the cross, despising the shame. Your works are written in the books and they shall stand to testify for you in that day.
You, who have suffered loss, I know your loss and I feel your pain. No greater loss could a Father have than to have His only Son be unjustly accused and judged. No greater pain than to have Your Son bear the sin of all humanity upon His righteous soul and become the sacrifice for all.
You who feel alone, know that I am ever near to the broken hearted, the outcast and to the friendless I stand as a friend who is closer than a brother.
My Spirit is the water that refreshes the dry and thirsty soul. I am the bread that feeds the lean in spirit. In Me you may be nourished and refreshed.
My people, you are the arms of My love that I wrap around the homeless, the outcast, the widows and the orphans. You are the instruments of My mercy and kindness. Remember humanity in all of its pain for you are called for their deliverance. My expression through you comes at the cost of laying down your life for others as the Son laid down His life for you. As He is, so are you in this world. Be the expression of all that I am. My Spirit is the power and the life that flows through you. The world is without hope, but let Him who trusts put His hope in God.
God never fails; neither will He ever leave those who put their full trust and confidence in Him.
Blessings,
kent
Why does God not answer when we call?
June 20, 2012
Isaiah 58:3-14
3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. 4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD ? 6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-
when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.12Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. 13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find your joy in the LORD , and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
When we pray and seek the Lord do we wonder why He doesn’t respond to us and answer us in our prayers, fasting and seeking Him? God really brings it home to Israel and to us as spiritual Israel why He may not be answering us. It is easy for all of us to want to deal with life and religion on a surface level, but God is always dealing with the issues of the heart. For us to understand how God sees us and responds to us we must be able to honestly evaluate our own hearts. We think it is our words, or even our actions that God responds too. The real issue and what every motive, desire and deed stems from are the condition of our heart. If our hearts aren’t right before the Lord then nothing else in our life will be either. It doesn’t matter how much we go to church, sing and talk about God if our heart isn’t right before Him.
This passage brings out a number of issues where our hearts need to be in alignment with God’s heart if we are to see Him respond to us and hear our cry? Are there any areas of unfogiveness, injustice or oppression in our hearts and relationships with others? Are their areas where we are controlling, overbearing, manipulating? Are there areas where we lack integrity, honesty and putting our own good before another’s, if so, we need to deal with it?
Where is our heart concerning the homeless, the hungry, the lonely, the imprisoned or the naked? Do they have any type of priority in our lives? Are we personally involved in their lives?
What about our own family, do we neglect them, ignore them, turn them away, continually strive with them and fail to meet even their needs?
Do we talk maliciously about others? Are we critical, backbiting, gossips, or storytellers? Do our tongues bring life or death in what we speak?
Do we truly fear and reverence Lord and His day? Do we treat the Holy Day of the Lord as common? We go to church, if we go to church, pay our respects and our dues and then we are off to do our own pleasures and delights.
Perhaps these are very good reasons that God has given us why we don’t hear from Him and why He doesn’t respond to our prayers and seeking Him. It starts with the condition of our hearts.
A righteous heart that fears the Lord and honors Him in all its ways will gain the respect of God. We have to truly be willing to examine our heart in the light of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word if we want true relationship with Him. Our faithfulness and heartfelt obedience must be the order of each day. Today is perhaps the day we need to take a true inventory of our hearts.
Blessings,
kent