Saturday, January 31, 2015

Isaac and Ishmael: The Origin of Middle East Conflict and the Foundation



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Isaac and Ishmael - The Origin of the MidEast Conflict

*You may have heard me teach on this in the past, but today I ran across a great article that does a great job laying out the conflict between Israel and the Muslim countries that surround her. If you've ever wondered why the arabs and Muslims have such a pronounced hatred for Israel, this helps explain it.  The author is anonymous, but the site it originated from is
 

(posting this article does not indicate that I agree with everything on this site.)
 

The Middle East is swelling with violence and turmoil. Christian persecution is on the rise and all the while the enemies of Israel are closing ranks around her borders. Our current Western leadership views religion as an archaic coping mechanism unfit for the modern-day world and so denies that any kind of religious theology could possibly be the reason for these things. Western thinking is that the peoples of the Middle East only need a little freedom from oppressive regimes and then they'll voluntarily want to shed their religious dogma and join the rest of the enlightened global community. Of course, as a show of good faith it's necessary for the West to be somewhat disassembled and reorganized to create a sort of equilibrium while we welcome our brothers and sisters into the 21st century. Does it seem to you this approach is working? Why is our Western leadership under a sort of delusion concerning Islam? How are we to make sense of these things from our biblical worldview? There are answers in God's Word.

(click below to read entire article)

Friday, January 30, 2015

Today's Devotional from Pastor Clay: Isaiah Chapter 5 - The Heart of God

Friday January 30, 2015
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Isaiah Chapter 5 - The Heart of God

Now let me sing to my Well-beloved a song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. He dug it up and cleared out its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, and also made a winepress in it; So He expected it to bring forth good grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes. (vs 1-2)

Isaiah chapter 5 is commonly called "The Song of the Vineyard of the Lord," or "The Parable of the Vineyard of the Lord." Regardless of whether it was originally a song, a parable, or a poem, it is considered a literary masterpiece by bible scholars. The imagery is masterful, and the story it communicates is powerful.

It's the story of a loving Father who plants a vineyard in good soil that was carefully prepared, planted with the best stock of grapes, a strong fence and a tower to protect it, and a winepress to extract the precious juice from the grape. This vineyard had it all! Can you guess who the vineyard is that God is describing? Of course, its the nation of Israel.

What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?
(vs 4)


This passage is an indictment against Israel, with God declaring that He had given them everything they needed to bear good fruit, but instead they squandered it. And there is always a price to pay for squandering our opportunities. 

Guys, I see a great parallel between Israel and our own country. We live in a country that has been blessed beyond measure: We have abundant natural resources, we have smart and talented population. We're protected by two oceans and a strong military. We have a system of government that provides freedom to choose our own leaders, freely pursue our dreams, and freely practice our faith. The problem is that in large part we've forgotten where those blessings came from. Instead of giving glory to God, we pat ourselves on the back for being so awesome!

God declared six woes to the population of Israel, and I think we would do well to hear them and apply them to our own lives:


1. Greedy Capitalism
Woe to those who join house to house; They add field to field, Till there is no place.  Where they may dwell alone in the midst of the land! (vs 8)

God isn't against capitalism, matter of fact, He instituted it, along with guidelines so that it would be done fairly (Lev 19:35-36). What God is condemning is the greedy capitalism, crony capitalism… capitalism that creates great gain at the expense of others. In effect, people whose god is money.  God promises that the profits will not last, the time of reckoning will come. 

2. Hedonism
Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they may follow intoxicating drink; Who continue until night, till wine inflames them!  The harp and the strings, The tambourine and flute, And wine are in their feasts; But they do not regard the work of the Lord, Nor consider the operation of His hands. (vs 11)

This woe is against those who pursue pleasure above all else. "I work hard, I play hard!" is the motto of this person. Great gain to the person without God is usually followed by great consumption, and the seeking of great pleasure. Some of the biggest industries in our country are alcohol, gambling, illicit drugs, pornography… 

3. Arrogance

Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as if with a cart rope; That say, "Let Him make speed and hasten His work, that we may see it; And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it." (vs 18-20)

This is describing the person that says "God can't tell me how to live; I live how I want! God Him bring judgment, I'm ready!"

4. Relativism

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; (vs 20)

This is the person that says "what's wrong for you might might not be wrong for me, it's all in your perspective." Even worse are those who attempt to draw God into their approval rationalism - "God is fine with my lifestyle." It won't work, because God is not mocked.

5. Intellectualism

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight! (vs 21)

There's nothing wrong with being smart. I'm amazed at the advances that mankind has made, and I'm happy to take advantage of them to make my life better… but when we become so smart we disregard the wisdom of the Lord, we're in trouble. Psalm 14:1 teaches us that its the fool who says "There is no God."

6. Substance Abuse

Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, Who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man! (vs 22-23)

The numbers are staggering; Nearly 10% of the population abuses illegal drugs, and 10% consider themselves "heavy drinkers." That's close to 30 million people with a substance abuse problem. And guess where most of the money comes from that purchases those illegal drugs? It's stolen or conned from people who are trying to live right. The cost to our nation is estimated at $524 BILLION (yes, billion) per year. 

The Result? Judgment...
Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff, So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore the anger of the Lord is aroused against His people; He has stretched out His hand against them And stricken them, And the hills trembled. Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away...(vs 24-25a)

Ancient Judah was experiencing these social woes because of one reason: They had turned away from God, and they were following their human nature. They enjoyed the blessings, but they forgot who provided the blessings. God had warned them of this:

"Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied…"
"...then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.'" (Deut 6:11-13, 7)


God not only warned them not to forget Him, He warned them of what would happen:

25 "The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them; and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth.
33 A nation whom you have not known shall eat the fruit of your land and the produce of your labor, and you shall be only oppressed and crushed continually.
36 "The Lord will bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods—wood and stone. 37 And you shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations where the Lord will drive you. (Deut 28:25, 33, 36)


Which is exactly what Isaiah warned them was coming:

He will lift up a banner to the nations from afar, And will whistle to them from the end of the earth; Surely they shall come with speed, swiftly. No one will be weary or stumble among them, No one will slumber or sleep; Nor will the belt on their loins be loosed, Nor the strap of their sandals be broken; (vs 26-27)

The nations that God will use to discipline Judah, the Assyrians and the Babylonians, will be all business. Their armies were strong, fast, well armed, and gave no quarter. Sobering.

But after all of this warning and woe, there is one verse I will leave you with:


...But His hand is stretched out still.  (vs 25b)

In other words, even when Judah, or us for that matter, have ran far from God, His hand is STILL stretched out to us, calling us back, offering forgiveness and restoration.

There is still time for our nation, but it won't change because we elect the right party or person to office. It will change when individuals turn to God, acknowledge Him for His many blessings, and submit our hearts to Him.


if my people who are called by my name 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. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

That, my friends, is the heart of our God!

Pastor Clay

 

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Thursday, January 29, 2015

Today's Devotional from Pastor Clay: Isaiah Chapter 4 - The Branch of Lord; Beauty in the Future

Thursday January 29, 2015
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Isaiah Chapter 4 - The Branch of the Lord: Beauty in the Future

As we go through this incredible book of prophecy, we're going to notice a pattern: Intertwined in the predictions of judgment are glimpses of a beautiful future! It's as if God understands that the message He's bringing to Judah is a bitter pill to swallow, and so He occasionally shares the fact that although there will be pain in the present, there will be beauty in the future!

That's what chapter four is: A glimpse into the future millennial kingdom, when Christ is reigning!

In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped. (vs 1-2)

The title "The Branch of the Lord" is found throughout the bible:

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. (Isaiah 11:1)

"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. (Jer 23:5)

'In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
(Jer 33:15)

'Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, you and your companions who sit before you, for they are a wondrous sign;For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH. (Zech 3:8)


…and you'll notice that ALL of these verses are describing the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ  The idea behind this metaphoric description is fruitfulness, and life, as Jesus described himself as the source of spiritual life that will come through Him:

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

In the Millennial Kingdom, the Branch of the Lord will be the source of life. Ezekiel chapter 47 paints a beautiful picture of a river that originates at the threshold of the new temple in Jerusalem, flows to the sea, and brings healing and life wherever it goes:

"This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. (Ezekiel 47:8-9)

Guys, we don't need to get to caught up in global warming... the bible is clear that the earth will get hotter:

Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. (Rev 16:8-9)

But when God makes a mess, He cleans it up! The earth will be healed; not by man, but by God Himself!

And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, (vs 3-4)

This is a description of the Millennial Kingdom where those who are present after the Great tribulation will be called holy, and all sin will be purged.

Years ago I was in a motorcycle accident, and I had some serious "road rash" on my shoulder. When I arrived at the ER, the staff had to clean out all of the dirt and grit from my wounds using iodine and what looked like a kitchen scrubber! It was so painful I nearly passed out, but it was necessary to remove the dirt. And it was worth the pain; my shoulder healed without infection. 

When the Lord Jesus Christ returns at the end of the Great Tribulation, He will cleanse the world, and it will not be pretty, but it will be worth it!  The earth will be cleansed, and all of those in the Millennial Kingdom will serve the Lord God!


then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain. (vs 5-6)

The Millennial Kingdom will be a place of protection, healing, shade, and life.

I don't know about you, but sometimes the evil and chaos of this world can bear down on my heart, and I wonder "will things ever get better? Will there ever be peace? Will there ever be security?" When those thoughts come, I can look to the word of God, and promises that He gives to us, His children, of the future that He has for us! 

Pastor Clay

 

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Wilmington, NC 28412

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