Hope in a time of Judgment
May 19, 2009
By Rodney Kirkpatrick
Matthew 5:14-16 (NASB) makes plain that the Lord's agency for spreading truth and justice throughout the world is His Bride, the Church:
14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Remember that as new creations in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17) we "cannot be hidden" even if we want to be and therefore the standard of "works" that Christians present is what the world follows and ultimately emulates in its conduct in general. Because of this inescapable position of influence, we must take advantage of every opportunity helps us to exert our authority positively.
1 Corinthians 10:1-11 (NASB) tells us of a golden learning opportunity to this end,
1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea;
2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 and all ate the same spiritual food;
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.
5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.
6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.
7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink , and stood up to play."
8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.
9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.
10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
Looking at Israel's record in scripture is "instruction" for gauging and correcting the condition of the modern day Church. If we will pay attention, the Holy Spirit will make very constructive applications of the situations that Israel faced to those we experience in the Body of Christ today.
Isaiah 9 for 2009
Several current issues in the Body of Christ can be found in Isaiah 9:8-12 (NASB):
8 The Lord sends a message against Jacob, And it falls on Israel.
9 And all the people know it, That is, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, Asserting in pride and in arrogance of heart:
10 "The bricks have fallen down, But we will rebuild with smooth stones; The sycamores have been cut down, But we will replace them with cedars."
11 Therefore the Lord raises against them adversaries from Rezin And spurs their enemies on,
12 The Arameans on the east and the Philistines on the west; And they devour Israel with gaping jaws. In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away And His hand is still stretched out.
These verses describe a time in the history of the nation of Israel where it was split into a Northern Kingdom made up of 10 of the original tribes (referenced here by Jacob), the tribe of Israel and the tribe of Judah. These different divisions were marked by idolatrous worship and a pride that made the various segments resistant to correction even under the circumstances that arose from extreme judgment. While this passage describes a specific time, also consider it is set squarely in the midst of the viscious cycle of idolatry, vulnerability and judgment that marked a large part of the period of the Kings in Israel's history.
The "arrogance of heart" was symptomatic of a deep root of selfishness whose consequence is described well in James 3:14-16 (NASB):
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
The idols of their time actually served as a primary means of feeding the selfishness of Israel's divisions. You couldn't lead in Israel without having a significant spiritual aspect to your regime and the "demonic" presence of idols are a great encourager of selfish desires.
It was not nearly as difficult to identify idolatrous practice in biblical Israel as it is in the Church today. To help us do this consider 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NASB):
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
While it is certainly possible to have a physical idol that is literally worshiped, the type of idols we are over run with in the Church are "speculations" that are "raised up against the knowledge of God." It is important to note that anything that distracts us from knowing the Lord falls in this category. Even scripture and inspiration given by the Holy Spirit can lead us away from the Lord when we the Holy Spirit no longer guides its implementation (see 2 Corinthians 3:6). For this reason, one of the primary sources of idolatry in the Church today is revelation that was originally given by God whose application no longer leads us to a more initimate relationship with either the Lord or His people. When God speaks in scripture it is never with an exclusive or elitist intention. Yet how many churches, movements, and even denominations espouse certain parts of truth at the expense of differing or even weaker portions of the Body of Christ? Doing this casts the imposing in a strong and superior light which often draws the following of many. Even when selfish gain isn't the motive, we must realize that what the Lord is speaking to us or others almost certainly isn't the word for everyone or even most. Look at Revelation 2-3 and consider that Jesus spoke distinctly different messages to all seven Churches at the same time. In either case, the ultimate result is a growing division which causes the Body to look at parts of itself with suspicion and envy removing it further from the strength and blessing that comes from unity in the spirit (see Psalm 133, Ephesians 4:1-3).
Understanding Consequences
1 Peter 4:17 (NASB) says,
17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
The selfish tendency in much of the Church has caused a "judgment" to befall us much like what Israel faced in Isaiah 9. There is a present day reality to the "gaping jaws" of the Philistines and the Arameans that stripped Israel of its intended place of preeminence for a time.
The Philistines are a type of the spiritual influence being stolen at this time by Islam. It is not a fearful statement that Islam is growing in unprecedented numbers and influence, it is a fact. The legalism and control that Islam is predicated upon are actually more effective and appealing to the world than the Church in a fractured, self-centered state. John 13:35 (NASB) tells us plainly,
35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Only when we are preferring one another over ourselves will the world truely "know" the hope and blessing that comes from the Christ that we serve.
The Arameans are a type of the Chinese Nationalism that is fast propelling this country into becoming one of the most influential economic powers in the world. Although there are many Chinese Christians, the forces that control their government are dominated by a combination of paranoia over their national sovereignty and godless relativism that will stop at nothing to undermine and crush any righteous standard that is perceived to threaten their economic prowess. Business is a powerful means of shining the light of Christ to the world, and the Body of Christ is called to set the standard for economic performance and practice. However there must be a clear cut difference in the integrity we practice and it is shocking how often business people, including Christians, would prefer to do business with anyone other than another Christian!
Focusing on Christ
The present condition of the Church obviously requires repentance and it is not a coincidence that we find where we must turn in Isaiah 9:1-7 (NASB):
1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.
2 The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.
3 You shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence As with the gladness of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.
5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
This messianic prophecy still holds relevance for the Church today. While it spoke of the physical appearing of Christ to the nation of Israel originally, it still foretells the spiritual leadership that Christ is yet to assume in much of the heart of the Church. Our repentance must be a turning from the present self centered perspective to one of submission and devotion to Christ and His leadership.
Consider the reference in this passage to "Galilee." This describes the exact location of the Idolatrous Northern Kingdom who represent those in the Church for whom revelation from the Lord is often mis -handled and counter productive to our mandate to teach the world. Soon the "great light" of the revelation of Jesus will trump all and the paradigm will shift from what we know to an uncompromising surrender to the one WHO KNOWS ALL. There is nothing that "His government" will not redeem, restore and make right. He is our hope and who we must return to in this time of judgment.