God's Sovereignty

And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
(Deuteronomy 31:16)

The vain men who think that he should have anything to do against God should be discomforted when they read verses such as these. They desire to be a god unto themselves and to worship as they please and follow as they “decide.” I suppose these people would attempt to wrest this verse out of its context and try without fruit to make the creator of the universe seem hopeless. They may say, “Although he saw that his nation would turn from and dislike him he could do nothing to stop it. He saw that Moses was near death and knew that they would disband without a leader of God, yet he could do nothing.” It is in the verses that follow where we see God’s true power and his ultimate and unchallenged sovereignty!

Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us? And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods. Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
(Deuteronomy 31:17-19)

God without doubt could have altered these events so that Israel would not play the whore. He did, however, prefer to show forth his magnificence in turning his anger in force against them after they had inhabited the promised land. God was not slack in his covenant with the children of Israel and as such secured for them their inheritance. But afterwards, it was Israel that broke the covenant and, as promised, they had the mighty wrath of God falling upon them. This was no happenstance or ill fortune for when all these ills had befallen the Israelites they knew with certainty that it was because they turned from God. He had chosen to hide his face from them because they had transgressed.

For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant. And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.
(Deuteronomy 31:20-21)

God without need, due to the covenant, further proved himself blameless against these sinners by giving them a song as a testament that would glorify him. The children of Israel did sing this song and it testified against them when they broke God’s covenant. God had even provided them a reminder in Joshua who succeeded Moses and led Israel to their inheritance. Consider Joshua’s words…

Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you. When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.
(Joshua 23:15-16)

This has no trait of a warning, nor of a plea. God told Moses and Joshua that Israel would transgress and Joshua so trusted God that he told them again before his death. Israel had no cause against God, yet she whored with the false gods forsake the living Creator who fought for them so many years. The skeptic would be inclined to say this never happened; that either God wasn’t powerful enough to perform this, or that Israel had straightened herself up.

And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
(Judges 2:8-11)

And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
(Judges 2:14-15)

The Lord is not slack concerning his promises even today. He is with the true church, the actual bride of Christ even this day. Beware that you are in his congregation. Make your calling and election sure that you are of the bride. Death and destruction befall those that do evil against the Lord, and especially to those who put their hands to the plow and turn away. Who shall be responsible when a generation does evil in God’s sight and whores after other gods? According to these passages, the leaders, and specifically parents, are guilty if they do not raise men of the faith…

The Preaching of John Baptist

“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 3:1-2

One must wonder why so many wish to change the gospel in this day and age. Of course, we know these people are men pleasers and the matter of their doctrine, if not salvation, is to be questioned. So many proclaimed preachers want more and more people to sit under their deceptive voices on Sunday rather than more and more righteous converts edifying the church. It seems that while these earthy men desire the numbers in their own manner, by diluting and changing the gospel so that it “appeals” to those “seeking” for religion, they have in fact over looked the truth that “none seeketh after God,” and that much more came to preaching of John than any modernist could imagine at his own assembly.

Some proclaiming Christians today may ask, “What kind of programs did he use?” None. “What kind of children’s church did he have?” None. “What kind of music did he use to get people to show up?” None that is recorded, however if anything were sung it would have without a doubt been a Psalm from scripture that would not have been to lure anyone. “Was there any kind of performance or play of any kind?” Supposing you are removed from the scene, a grown, weathered man dunking people under murky water might seem quite the show, yet I assure you that none were amused. This was a solemn event. The Jews had been oppressed by the Romans and their own Priests. Religion abounded but righteousness was naught to be found, and yet comes a preacher, as prophesied, convicting of sin, urging repentance, and proclaiming the Saviour. These three things did John the Baptist and the world ceased to move. At the cry of, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” all of Judea halted to hear the Word of God from a preacher.

“Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.”
Matthew 3:5-6

A modernist may find it astounding that the world would be turned upside down at the call to repentance. ”Surely,” he thinks, “they will turn away when he acknowledges their sins,” forgetting that it is the light of God revealing wickedness. So phenomenal was this that the Pharisees and Sadducees stopped praying aloud in the street corners. They removed from the upper rooms and silenced the trumpets announcing their parade to the altar. Of course, they had no reason to continue for no one remained to hear them and the Pharisee and Sadducee were dumbfounded without an audience. Thence they approached as well to hear the message of the preacher who stole away the people. Not sparing their hypocrisy, the gospel condemns all who teach falsely.

“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
Matthew 3:7-9

John makes clear that unrighteousness will not escape the justice of God. A tree chooses not where it shall be planted. It has not the power to find sustenance for life. Its purpose is to bear fruit meet to its name. So it is for everyone, whether condemned or blessed. A tree without sustenance cannot produce good fruit. Jesus is the vine that giveth life. Think not that salvation is through the law and without Christ, for it is by grace, through faith, proven by fruits of repentance.

Working Patience

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
James 1:2-4

Far too often in this life of mine I find myself impatient and fearful, somehow forgetting the mercies and grace of the living God. He has promised me strength for the day, yet I doubt it when a challenge arises. Perhaps this challenge is something requiring that a certain skill be used to complete the task at hand. It may very well be that I am challenged to sin. Either way, it shames me that I allow fear to cloud my judgement, and cause me to stumble.

If Allowed, every temptation may conceive fearfulness, grief, and unmeasurable pain and embarrassment. It is rather interesting, however, that James would instruct that joy come forth in these times. Rather than fearfully considering the occasion, weighing the pleasures at hand and the pain of refusing such pleasure, and therefore allowing our lusts to conceive sin, James says to count it all joy. To be tempted and tried and suddenly be happy for the thing is certainly unnatural, and rightfully so because in being joyful and resisting our lusts we became patient with the matter. Here is the funny thing about patience, that when it increases it works the man unto perfection so that he wants nothing. While the natural man acknowledges lust, he knows only how to please it, bringing forth more lust, never to be satisfied. On the other hand the righteous man, in whom patience has worked, can resist the temptations brought forth by lust, therefore he has want for no thing You see, when patience works her perfect work it brings forth contentment and a resting upon the Lord. Let it be that we may keep our members subject to the unity of Christ for we are indeed bought with a price.

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."
James 1:12

"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."
James 1:21

Genesis 18:14

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?..."
Genesis 18:14a

Many people would rely upon this verse for the point of God's power, and justly so, however many of the same will never fully realize the truth of this verse. You see, some would try to twist this portion of God's Word to suggest that God would venture to fulfill their own lust. "Nothing is too hard for God," is far too often associated with something carnal, specifically desired by the individual who spoke it. This is not always the case,mind you. Many a time the righteous saints will look for the will of God to be done, and while patiently waiting upon the Lord, say,"This thing is not above God." What is the difference? Is it the sinner and the saint? Not hardly, for God may desire that even the most devout theologian not understand this fully. Many who have had the cloak of righteousness no doubt have and will utter this phrase concerning a fleshly matter that God may have decided differently upon. This is because children of God are growing at different paces at different times. God does not blanket his wisdom upon a people at one time, yet he grants it as he wills. The difference on this matter is not soul, no, it is the intent. Consider the context.

"Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."
Genesis 18:11-14

It is unmistakable that nothing whatsoever is out of the hand of God and that nothing is out of his control. However we cannot deny that this verse is speaking directly to the will of God. God told Abram that a son would be born to him. When he and his wife were getting old with age they devised among themselves that they should take the words of God into their own hands. Sarai gave her handmaid, Hagar, to Abram for wife believing that perhaps this was the means of Gods promise. As we see, it was not so for God promised a seed to Abram through Sarai and as a part of this covenant he changed their names.

This was a matter completely of God and in his timing. Unfortunately, we grow impatient and fear that God is incapable of doing that which he promised. The man, whom some believe to be an angel and others the preincarnate Christ, said, "Sarah thy wife shall have a son." We see that Sarah laughed within herself at the very thought of her giving birth in her old age, even while God had promised it to be. We can assume that this doubt of the promise was set in due to the length of time between the promise and the fulfillment. Nevertheless this man reminded them that it was to be as God said and it did.

You see, there is no thing outside of Gods almighty power. However, he will not perform outside of his holy will. How foolish we are to attempt a work of our own inventions and dare to call it a work of God. Sarai believed that the promise was sure to be through her handmaid seeing how she herself was barren. This very work, however, was not the seed by which God established his covenant. That would come through Sarah, and yet she laughed at the very word, fearfully forgetting the covenant.

"Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" I say nay, but let our desires and patience be toward the Lord and his holy will, regardless of our fear and impatience.