Judgement
Therefore the Lord declares,
the Lord of hosts,
the Might One of Israel:
“Ah, I will get relief from my enemies
and avenge myself on my foes.
I will turn my hand against you
and will smelt away your dross was with lye
and remove all your alloy.
- Isaiah 11:24-25 (ESV)
We desire for God to come set things right. We want Him to come heal relationships, bring provision, raise up good leaders, and bring justice. God wants to do these things as well. In fact, He will do these things.
The Lord will wage a war on His enemies, He will bring about righteousness. In this particular instance His enemies were His own people. Have you ever though that the enemy to the church is the church? The church is something that God will protect through any trial and that sometimes that trial comes from inside the church.
This is difficult to consider for two reasons; first, it is tough to identify those in the church who are working against the ways of God. Second, it is always possible we could be those people! The good news anchored in this message is that the Lord will bring judgement. That never seems like good news, but the purpose of the Lord’s judgement with His people is to bring purity. Even in the tough spiritual moments, the Lord is molding His church.
The Lord is on the side of those who do His will, who walk in obedience to Him. The church does not have license to do whatever it wants, rather it operates in the will of the Holy Spirit and for the benefit of the Kingdom of Heaven. The church has not been redeemed for the ways of the Babylon, but for the Kingdom of Heaven.
As a Christian, do you ever feel like you behave in a way that actively subverts the ways of God? If so, why do you this? If you discern that sometimes you hurt someone’s path to holiness, how do you respond? What does real repentance look like in a situation like that?
the Lord of hosts,
the Might One of Israel:
“Ah, I will get relief from my enemies
and avenge myself on my foes.
I will turn my hand against you
and will smelt away your dross was with lye
and remove all your alloy.
- Isaiah 11:24-25 (ESV)
We desire for God to come set things right. We want Him to come heal relationships, bring provision, raise up good leaders, and bring justice. God wants to do these things as well. In fact, He will do these things.
The Lord will wage a war on His enemies, He will bring about righteousness. In this particular instance His enemies were His own people. Have you ever though that the enemy to the church is the church? The church is something that God will protect through any trial and that sometimes that trial comes from inside the church.
This is difficult to consider for two reasons; first, it is tough to identify those in the church who are working against the ways of God. Second, it is always possible we could be those people! The good news anchored in this message is that the Lord will bring judgement. That never seems like good news, but the purpose of the Lord’s judgement with His people is to bring purity. Even in the tough spiritual moments, the Lord is molding His church.
The Lord is on the side of those who do His will, who walk in obedience to Him. The church does not have license to do whatever it wants, rather it operates in the will of the Holy Spirit and for the benefit of the Kingdom of Heaven. The church has not been redeemed for the ways of the Babylon, but for the Kingdom of Heaven.
As a Christian, do you ever feel like you behave in a way that actively subverts the ways of God? If so, why do you this? If you discern that sometimes you hurt someone’s path to holiness, how do you respond? What does real repentance look like in a situation like that?
Grace Discipleship: Prayer of Thanksgiving & Praise
Colossians 3:17
"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him"
What if we woke up tomorrow and all things we forgot to give thanks and praise to God for the day before were taken away and gone? The scripture above tells us to do all things in the name of the Lord, and to give thanks through Him, for Him, and all we are blessed with.
The things we do in this world should not be for the advantage of ourselves, we do not need glory and fame to define the successfulness of who we are. We should and always, only do all things for God and his Son, it can be a simple act. The smallest gesture of praise and thanks in the name of the Lord are not small in His eyes. A small praise, blessing, and thankfulness can make ripples far and wide when you go and let God. - Greg Hogan
Colossians 3:17
"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him"
What if we woke up tomorrow and all things we forgot to give thanks and praise to God for the day before were taken away and gone? The scripture above tells us to do all things in the name of the Lord, and to give thanks through Him, for Him, and all we are blessed with.
The things we do in this world should not be for the advantage of ourselves, we do not need glory and fame to define the successfulness of who we are. We should and always, only do all things for God and his Son, it can be a simple act. The smallest gesture of praise and thanks in the name of the Lord are not small in His eyes. A small praise, blessing, and thankfulness can make ripples far and wide when you go and let God. - Greg Hogan
Photo courtesy of Greg Hogan
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