Prophets of Horror and Hope
God communicates with people. He makes Himself known by what He has
made. Everyone can see it in the skies
day and night. Everyone can see it in
the Creation around them. He makes
Himself known in the inner person as well.
A sense of right and wrong, of just and unjust and of the sense that
there is more…better…eternal. God has
placed eternity in their hearts the book of Ecclesiastes tells us.
There are times when the communication is of judgment. Judgment from God and the horrors to
come. God often speaks through prophets
to make known judgment is coming. And
also with the judgment there is hope.
Hope of repentance which brings people around to God and His ways. Hope of better life ahead by going God’s
way.
At church we are in a series of messages from the book of
the Prophet Jeremiah. He was given the
responsibility of warning God’s people in Judah of God’s judgment. Horrible things were spoken of and were
approaching. The leaders of the land
both political and religious were offended by Jeremiah’s words. They and many of the people had rejected God
and His ways. They had turned to evil
and called it good. Tough times were
coming. Babylon’s terribly powerful army
was on its way. And it is in the pages
of Jeremiah that we find 29:11:
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They
are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Horror and hope were part of the story when Abraham was met
by the Lord. The Lord was on His way to
deal with Sodom and Gomorrah. Having had
a conversation with Abraham in Genesis 18 about things concerning Abraham and
Sarah He began to leave and said: “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” Abraham
is told by the Lord that judgment was coming.
Abraham intervened (prayed) for the people and negotiated down to 10
righteous being enough to keep the Lord from destroying the cities. There weren’t enough righteous. The cities were destroyed. But the family of righteous Lot was delivered
out of the city.
God communicates in various ways and often through signs and
messengers. Scripture says: Indeed, the Sovereign LORD never does
anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7
(NLT) The plans may be of horror or hope.
The purpose of God is to point people to Himself so that they may
glorify Him and enjoy the abundant life He desires for them. But as you know not everyone wants to have
anything to do with Him. So what is
coming for those in our day?
Signs of God’s Judgment and Grace
The year 2015.
Seismic in terms of significance.
September and October are historically significant and may be
prophetically as well. Why?
The Jewish system plays a part here. In the time arrangement there were Sabbaths
each week. So every seventh day was
important for God’s people. Every
seventh year was a sabbatical year. The
land is to be left without planting and the people are to rest (trust) in the
Lord. Even the finances are
effected. People who have loaned money
are to forgive the debts. And then the
seven years seven times becomes another kind of Sabbath and is called the year
of Jubilee. This is what it says in
Leviticus 25:8-13 on the year of Jubilee:
“In addition, you must count off seven Sabbath years, seven
sets of seven years, adding up to forty-nine years in all. Then on the Day of
Atonement in the fiftieth year, blow the ram’s horn loud and long throughout
the land. Set this year apart as holy, a time to proclaim freedom throughout
the land for all who live there. It will be a jubilee year for you, when each
of you may return to the land that belonged to your ancestors and return to
your own clan. This fiftieth year will be a jubilee for you. During that year
you must not plant your fields or store away any of the crops that grow on
their own, and don’t gather the grapes from your unpruned vines. It will be a
jubilee year for you, and you must keep it holy. But you may eat whatever the
land produces on its own. In the Year of Jubilee each of you may return to the
land that belonged to your ancestors.”
A lot to take in, right?
And you may ask, “What has that got to do with me?” Hmmm… Let’s see.
Back in the day. Jeremiah pointed
out that the people of Judah would go into exile for 70 years. During those years they would not be on the
land doing as they had in the past. We
understand why from this passage:
So the message of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah was
fulfilled. The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the
seventy years were fulfilled, just as the prophet had said. 2 Chronicles 36:21
(NLT)
God’s people didn’t think all these rules God gave them made
sense so they didn’t keep them. God
collected. Have you noticed God’s
instructions being unreasonable and tough to keep up with? Is there something God has said to you that
you have decided isn’t all that important?
It makes me think. It makes me
ask God to search me and know me and show me anything that is amiss.
Remember this isn’t God being harsh this is God trying to
take people to an abundant life and they don’t want His way of getting
there.
The reason for telling you all this is on the Jewish
calendar significant dates are coming.
On September 13th, Elul 29 on the Jewish calendar, the year
ends. In recent times it has been the
date of financial crashes and the beginning of rocky economic times. Occasionally significant shifts have occurred
on the 7th year of which this is one. September 14-15 is Rosh Hashanah the Jewish
New Year followed by the Day of Atonement on the 23rd. The 4th of the Blood Moon Tetrads
takes place on September 28th.
This Jewish New Year is a Year of Jubilee. Whew.
For information on the dates check out Jonathon Cahn’s book
Harbinger or go to YouTube and you will find lots by him. Glenn brought him up so I checked out what
was going on. Interesting discovery of
information on Cahn’s part. He is
raising awareness, but not saying collapse is certain. His interest is people turning to the
Lord. These dates may reveal something
cosmic in the world politically or with Israel or with the economy or it may be
more of a spiritual revelation as the spiritual battle continues. We will see soon.
Seeking the Lord and living His way is the best life anyway,
and by doing that judgment does not fall on us.
Now that doesn’t mean the fallout from the judgment of others doesn’t affect
us. It certainly does. But it could serve as a reminder to keep
seeking the Lord and to point others to Him as well.
Think about those people in the church in Corinth in the
first century. Paul has given them the
Good News. They have life in Jesus. They know the true God. They have the opportunity to live God’s way
with springs of living water bubbling up in them. However some of them are weak, sick and some
have died because they didn’t honor the Lord and did their own thing their own
way. Judgment met them personally, but
it affected their family and friends too.
As modern Christians we often see any ailment as a physical
manifestation of a physical problem. Well, sometimes we allow for emotional
issues like stress to have its part in these things. Doctor Luke who accompanied Paul on these
mission trips would certainly be able to tell Paul whether these people were
ailing or dying because of germs or judgment.
Our local, national and global issues may not always be the result of
physical or political causes either.
There are signs of judgment and signs of grace. God shows up in times of trying
circumstances. We turn to God in a more
feverish way when circumstances are impossibly hard. God is waiting. Like the father in the prodigal son story,
God is waiting and welcoming. There is
grace.
God’s Warnings
God is a communicator.
God is creative. The Book of Job
says it well: For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize
it. Job 33:14 (NLT) God warns His
people. And God is warning all who will
listen. God uses the sun, moon, planets
and stars to let people know things are happening. He will move leaders and nations to
accomplish His purposes. The weather is
His to control. The movement of the
earth and the oceans can be used to send a message. Economies can change as His command.
Through it all He can pour out blessings or judgment. And He gives warnings through His people as
well. Someone God sends may well speak
into your life a message God has laid on their heart and you will know it when
it comes if you are open to Him. God’s
messenger may be one who gives warning for a larger group or a nation. He is still in the business of providing
warnings.
A Response to God
Keep watch. Be aware
of the war. Walk with Him. Pray.
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble
themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will
hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2
Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)
Humility is important.
Really. Recognizing He is
God. He is God. Listen to Him. Draw near to Him. Get into the Scriptures and find out what He
is about, what He is up to, what He has for you.
My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything
in them are mine. I, the LORD, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble
and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word. Isaiah 66:2 (NLT)
How are you doing in trembling at His word? Are you in Bible study where you study the
Bible? Are you faithful to discover what
He has to say and then do it?
The battle in which the enemy wants to destroy you, your
family, the church and the nation is not just on a physical plane.
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use
God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of
human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle
that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and
teach them to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NLT)
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put
on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all
strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood
enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against
mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly
places. Ephesians 6:10-12 (NLT)
If you are equipped then fight on. Be strong!
If you are hesitant, then get equipped.
Be ready. Then fight.
Are tough times coming for you? If you are walking with Jesus, then,
absolutely, yes.
Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ
Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12 (NLT)
Whether the various signs in the heavens and on the earth
below are God’s warnings of a cataclysmic shift in this world I don’t
know. I want to be aware. And I want you to be aware and watch. But however this unfolds God is still in the
heavens and He is still working His plan and for us we have the golden
opportunity each day to walk with Him, to serve Him, to get to know Him
better. Be encouraged by these words by
Paul:
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable.
Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for
the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT)
Randy Huddleston
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