Hell hath enlarged herself and opened her mouth to accommodate the people going therein.
Isaiah 5:14, "Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure; and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth shall descend into it."
July, 2013
It was reported last week that the Syrian civil war had reached another milestone, in its two year warfare. The number of deaths is estimated to have gone over 100,000 deaths in the last two years. And there are over 2 million displaced and in refuge camps, struggling for life. When such devastation occurs it is the responsiblity of the church to respond. When so many deaths occur in such a short time, eternity must be set before us. WE must contemplate and consider the truth of this matter. And simply because it is not our nation, or our family or our people does not remove the cry from our heart for God to intervene and help.
So often prayer meetings and our own personal prayer needs are expressed from those things which are simply in our own backyard. Very few would venture in their prayers beyond their own remote life. Their family, their work, their friends, their city, their church is the predominate prayer requests. How isolated, remote and selfish is this type of praying. It is not that these things do not hold a legitimate need of prayer concern. They are important, and it is relevant and needy. And it is good to bring such things before the Lord for Him to work wondrously. But there is so much more!
I was asked most recently about the 'third heaven' that Paul talks of in Corinthians. Paul declares that he knew a man that went up to the third heaven and saw things to wonderful to describe and speak of. Oh, does not such a statement wet the appetite of every Christian for our heavenly home and such moments. But do we have to wait until we die? There is opportunity to experience deeper and greater things right now that are 'right in front of us'. And we don't have to wait 'until then'. And just as there are higher planes describing the 3 levels of heaven, so there are higher planes in prayer to reach.
The 3 levels of heaven:
1. Level of the heavens above us, the place where birds fly and we see with our eyes. It is above us that we call 'looking up to the sky'. WE see it with our physical eye and it contains the sun, moon and stars. Yet these powers of creation from God are in the second level of the universe.
2. Level of the heavens beyond us, the place where God's universe is. It is vast, and through man's inventions and God's help in revealing the stars, planets, moons, galaxies are extended beyond our comprehension. We know it to be a reality, it has been and is being. It is still considered the physical realm. For it is has been proven by study and sight.
3. Level of the heavens - God's realm. The third heaven where the Lord of heaven and earth is. God's throne in the heavens, 'where He that is holy sits on His throne'. The revelation revealed in Scripture that tells us of heaven, where God abides. It has not been seen by most and without sight remains by faith. Yet, Paul describes and tells that he saw it, therefore it is no longer faith. 'Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.'
The 3 levels of prayeris much the same definition:
1. Level of prayer around us. That which we see and is a majority of our senses and daily lives. It is our family, our work, our social interactions of people and needs. WE are constant to have our minds and hearts for that which we can literally reach and touch.
2. Level of prayer beyond us. It is that the needs are still the same, but on such a much larger scale. It is beyond our comprehension of 7 billion souls on the earth and the nations which are in need, yet we are not able to simply engage them by our personal lives. But we can engage them by our prayer lives. We pray in our secret closet, yet we impact those half way around the world.
3. Level of prayer - spiritual realm. Jesus prayed, "nevertheless, not My will be done, but Thy will be done.' And it is the same need today for God is eternal; being past, present and future. He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. And because God is overall, He directs, leads and guides the ways of men for His Divine will. He moves men to pray in agreement with these things for the advancement of His kingdom here on earth. It takes us beyond the 'here and now' and moves us to eternal purposes and moments.
Let us look at the 3 levels of prayer needed for this situation in Syria; and other chaotic places of the world. Let us remind ourselves that the Lord's purpose and ways are much higher than ours. 'As high as the clouds in the sky so are Thy ways higher than our ways; and Thy thoughts higher than ours.' God desires that none should perish, none should go away from Him. He has made the way and given everything needful for lost men to be saved. He has established the church, implemented opportunities and birthed a desire to pray within us for the furtherance and completion of His Divine will for the souls of men.
And not just for this age, but for all ages, God has set it into motion. The truth of Scripture is our prayer, 'that Your Name be glorified in all the earth.'
What is this life? It is only a staging ground for the next life in eternity. This life impacts and determines our next life. With Christ we abide with Him in heaven; without Christ we abide without Him in hell. This is the reality of our Christian message. We are made in God's image, created male and female, given life. IN this shell of human physique is a soul, a eternal embodiment that shall never die. The flesh may return to the dust as it was, but the soul goes to its determined place of heaven or hell, depending on what the man/woman did about the issue of salvation in Christ. None of us knows how long we shall be here on this earth. So while we have time (today) the choice must be made 'to receive' Christ as Lord and Savior. And if the life of a person refuses to do this, then they have made their choice to reject God's great gift of love and redemption. This act of choice for Christ or against Christ determines their eternity.
Throughout the world their are 7 billion souls living. Here, in the United States we have so many opportunities to hear, know and receive Christ. There are countless venues of invitation and acknowledgment of Christ as Lord and Savior. But in other parts of the world such invitations are limited and few. Within a mission field of nations and people called the 10/40 window it contains over 3 billion souls. Most of these souls are found in darkness and have heard lies about the truth all their life. Rare and few are the ones that have received the truth of the Gospel and the Light of Christ into their hearts and souls for salvation. It is predominate with the lies of religion by Satan. Religion holds men in darkness and rejects the Light of Christ. The religions of Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism holds billions of souls captive and headed toward hell.
Syria is mentioned long ago in the Old Testament. It holds a specific place of fighting with King David. The Assyrians were the ones that God used to carry away captive the children of Israel when they sinned against Him. They have always been at conflict with Israel. They are predominately Muslim in their religious faith today and follow the forces of darkness into hell. Most recently their has been a revolution against their president and the country has spiralled into civil war.
When war happens in such nations and among such people, death is at hand. This nation reports to have around 22 million people in their population. Death is raging in that land since the conflict broke out over two years ago. The death count has topped 100,000 people. These are children whose parents have been killed; theses are parents who have lost their children; these are spouses who are now widows; death has come in a great volume. What a mass exdous of people who have died in such a short time frame.
Now with what we have just said about darkness going out into eternity, can you see the vast majority of these 100,000 dying and going out into hell forever? There has been Christians killed in this conflict as Muslim vigilante groups have seized the unrest as an opportunity to attack and kill Christans. It is unclear how many Christians have been martyred for their faith at this time. But the vast majority, the higher percentage of this 100,000 have been lost, sinful men who died without Christ. and the truth of Christ's words comes clear to us, 'many there be on the broad and wide path; few there be on the straight and narrow.'
Such an eternal picture is set before us. Does it compel you to respond? Do you see the great atrocity to these people who have had so little opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel? How great the need for these now living who fight for water, food and life itself. Over 2 million people are in these refugee camps who have lost their homes, possessions, family members, jobs and way of life. They struggle day to day. The need is constant.
And as Christ wept and prayed over Jerusalem for rejecting and missing their day of invitation. How much more when so many die and go to hell, that it would not compel us to tremble and fear and weep to see that hell had to enlarge itself to accomadate so many going therein? Never was it Hsi desire that this should be, and nor should we be content with it. Arise and fight this battle! Let us prevail for nations, for souls; let us push back the forces of hell for all of its influence and power over this dark region.
Drafted:
July 31, 2013
Updated:
August 1, 2013
August 5, 2013
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
BEHOLD AND SEE IF THERE BE ANY SORROW LIKE UNTO MY SORROW, WHICH IS DONE UNTO ME, WHEREWITH THE LORD HATH AFFLICTED ME IN THE DAY OF HIS FIERCE ANGER
"Is it nothing to you all ye that pass by? Behold, and see, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of His fierce anger." Lamentations 1:12
I am truly able to say that none of my sorrow compares to Jeremiah's sorrow. He not only stood alone and proclaimed the word of the Lord to numerous kings, warning them of judgment to come; but he also saw it all happen. Now, I don't know that there is anything worse than telling people what is going to happen unless they repent, confess and turn to the Lord, and then to have that plea rejected and dismissed. The Bible tells us in Titus 2, that the 'Gospel hath appeared to all men'. Those in hell today had someone tell them the Gospel truth of Christ great love and redemption, and they rejected it. Is there any sorrow like their's?
And what shall we shall of how great was Christ's sorrow here on earth. 'He behold the city and wept over it', for they did not receive Him and they did not know the day of their visitation. The city was destroyed because the rulers rejected the compassion and healing (physical and spiritual) of Christ for all men. And then on the cross, how great was His sorrow. 'My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me' was His horrible cry. None of us can ever say that prayer, for He hath said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." And to say that in times of difficulties, troubles and trials is to call God a liar, which surely none of us would be so foolish to do. But there was no sorrow like that of bearing the sins of the world, that Christ endured and died for.
In comparison to these two great examples of bearing sorrow, my sorrow is weak, little and frail compared to the depths of what they faced, experienced and saw. And surely I know that there are others who have hazarded their lives for Christ, endured great afflictions and assualts, known evil abounding all around them throughout many places and times of history.
And yet, I come at this time seeing the 'cloud the size of man's hand' coming in the horizon for that which is ready to unfold and happen in our lifetime. An event, yea, a series of events that leave us to mirror what happened to Jeruslaem during the days of Jeremiah and during the prophecy of Christ of 70 AD for Jerusalem. And it is all due to the same 'cause and effect': Cause - they which rejcted God, His atonement, His redemption, His grace and mercy; Effect - you reap what you sow and we must now reap the whirlwind for our folly. 'He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall reap life everlasting'.
In studying this and the impact it will hold on us let us simply answer the questions in relationship to this verse in Lamentations: the questions of who; what; where; when and why
Who
Who is to be affected by this? Who is responsbile for this? Who will reap the whirlwind of this?
These are very personal and direct references for each that would give thought and place to it.
First, it is a very personal sorrow. "My sorrow. . .which is done to me . . .the Lord hath afflicted me. . ." Three references of personal relationship in dealing with this tragedy and sorrow.
--My sorrow - my pain, my tears, my anguish, my broken heart; What causes such things to me?
1. My own wretchedness. It is foolish for those that view everyone else's faults and sins and do not see who 'the chiefest of sinners is'. It is I, who takes that title away from Paul, who declared that he 'was the chiefest of sinners.' Paul lanquished because of his old self who attacked, killed and warred against the church. But oh, how much more I to be the chiefest for having been raised since a baby in a Christian home, a Christian church, having been taught the 'good and right way' only to cast it aside for self, sin and the world. And how much my sins, my transgressions go in knowing the wrong of my choices at that moment. It is not an avenue of ignorance or not knowing what is right and wrong. I ate of the tree of good and evil a long time ago. 'For he that knoweth to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.' And oh, much time and effort went in me knowing these truths; and yet, still choosing against them. Is it not enough that before I view others sorrows, I view what my sin cost my Lord. I view what the Lord could have and should have done to this wretched sinner; I should have died, I should have drank the cup of wrath and been burned and cast out into outer darkness where there is weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. But oh, brethren, look to the cross - 'at the cross where I first saw the light and the burden of my sin rolled away; it was there I received my sight and now I am happy all the day.' But oh, each day filled with new opportunities to fail my Lord; filled with moments of wrestling this old flesh, the old self, and knowing that at any moment I would think I stand, forgetting the words of solemn protest, 'take heed, lest you fall'.
My sin, my sorrow; my choices, my grief; my wretchedness, me. . . me. . . me
This is the beginning of sorrows!
2. And because I am able to see my own folly and sin, which makes me sorrow over such failure to Him Who loved me and gave Himself for me; I see the folly of other men. For the truth that pierces me, for not keeping it, pierces me also for others who will not keep it. Just as when Stephen preached truth and declared to them their wicked ways of their heart, they closed their ears and ran upon him to silence him. So today, men when they hear these truths of good and evil; practices that ought not to be done; words that ought not to be spoken, deeds done that are evil; and when they are reproved by the truth from which He has decalred to us all through His Word, where it breaks my heart and causes sorrow, they revel in it and refuse to hear and go in the good and right way. Sorrow fills any Christians heart for we know the truth, and that truth has set us free. But to these that we love, and earnestly desire to see them forsake the ways of sin and self, they refuse and add to our sorrow, for they will not enter the striaght and narrow way, but chose and have openly decided to go the broad and wide path. And we know where this path leads, it leads to eternal hell, to destruction of the soul. And once there never more to return or escape.
Did Jeremiah not exhort this same truth when gazing upon the souls of men, women and children in Jerusalem being killed, dying of pestilence and famine all because they would not hear and obey his words from the Lord? They died for their disobedience and choice to sin over giving heed to the words of the Lord. And he warned them, told them, beggged them and still they would not hear.
And how much more Christ revealing Himself to the children of Abraham that He was come. He showed them power, taught them, 'as no other man spake'; healed them, raised them from the dead, fed them and still they would not believe. But they crucified Him and put Him to an open shame, so that the plans of God for redemption might be done. He saw their wicked ways, He knows their hearts and He knows their future state of being in hell and forewarned them. But tears flowed because they would not receive Him. Crying out, 'Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you unto Me, but you would not'. And such is the ways of man today, 'they would not'.
Our way of life does not, nor did it have to be this way. But how hard are the hearts, how hard the minds that are turned against Him. so that it is true of this generation as well, 'having eyes to see, they cannot see; having ears to hear they cannot hear'. They 'profess Him with their mouths, but their hearts are far from Him.' And they openly embrace sin and everything that He has declared evil, and opposite of Him.
Is there any sorrow like unto my sorrow?
WHAT
What shall be for these that refuse and reject the words of the Lord? Oh, what a price is being paid, and shall be paid. Although we have already addressed eternal rewards and punishments, let us look more to the here and now on the earth. As I have already somewhat shared what Jeremiah watched right in front of his eyes. Men dying by the sword, all because Zedekiah wouldn't hear and obey the Word of the Lord. Jeremiah went to King Zedekiah and pleaded with him to go out and surrender to the king of Babylon, and his family, and the city and the temple would be spared and saved. But the hardness of his heart was there and he would not obey. And because of that, they took him and him family. They slew his sons in front of his eyes. They burned and torched the city. They burned and destroyed the temple of God, where the glory of God had descended and abode. The walls were knocked down. And after all this, they put out his eyes and carried him away to captivity.
Jeremiah watched all this unfold and saw the after affects upon the city after the Babylonian army removed itself. Death and destruction was upon the city and the people. He preached and declared for them to repent and turn back to God. They would not, and so it came to pass.
What shall come to pass for us?
It is happening even now. Lift up your eyes and see across the land what is happening.
--Do you know of a family that is intact? that has not had the horrors of divorce and division. How rare is it to find what is termed a traditional family. Do you see whole families in church and serving the Lord? How hard is it to see whole families in the house of the Lord. Family is being destroyed. The recent Supreme Court rulings only continues to fraction it. It is crumbling. The devourer has come, the devil, has come to destroy and he is destroying the family.
--abortions have ravaged the land and whole lives; over 50 million it is estimated have died and filled the land with blood; An entire generation removed from the earth by the whims of men legalizing it, and women selfishly giving place to it; how deep is this pain and sorrow on the land;
--excess of resources and money have filled the land with indulgences and addictions of every wicked way; from drugs to alcohol, to gamling to sex to porn to filling our entire mind and time with pleasures of self and sin; I wondered at this paticular point of how many homes have not been ravaged by drug addiction or damage. I wonder how many homes have not been hit by the effects of drinking and drunkness and its fall out. I wonder how many marriages affected by pornography and sexual sins. And an entire younger generation being brought up with no limitiations and de-sensitized to any thing of modesty and blushing at sin. All because of our increase in technology, money and availability to such things."And when they were increased with good and had need of nothing, then they forgot the Lord God."
How much money is wasted on our love of self in a week? in a month? in a year?
Certainly enough that could feed a nation; provide Bibles to multitudes and send missionaries to many places within a year. But we would not, we did not, now we reap of a generation exited into hell due to our neglience.
--the land is filled with violence and death; murder-suicides are ravaging the land from east to west and north to south; so many homes and families affected by this tragedy. On a monthly basis there are average of 30 reported. This affects more than just the one who commits suicide. It affects the ones they murdered before they took their own life. These numbers are two to three that die at a time, impacting any and all places across the nation. Death by homicides are still rampaging in the bigger city but dangersouly affecting rural America. Chicago alone in July, 2013 is on pace to break last years count of 47.
--weather destruction and impact from coast to coast; last years drought was 3/4 of the nation in severe to exceptional drought; And although it still lingers, the effects are still upon them. The other weather so far this year has been the destruction of tornadoes, floods have been numerous up and down the east coast. Fires continue in the west among the dry lands, many homes, land and a tragedy of 19 firefighters losing their lives. And all this before hurricane season starts to heat up. Upon the land weather disasters cause such sorrow to loss of property and life.
--disease is a quiet sorrow; Yet, it impacts so many with cancer, diabetes, and other rare things that seem to crop up from time to time. And it almost seems at any moment another plague could be upon the land to remind us once again how much we need the Lord. "He is able to send the plagues of Egypt and He is able to remove them"
What is happening that declares such sorrow? Right in front of us on a day to day basis across our land is death and dying. Men, women and children ushered out of this world into eternity. And oh, so many of them are not ready to meet the Lord, and there eternity will be in hell forever. Is there any sorrow like unto my sorrow?
WHERE
Is there not a place in the United States that is not affected by such sorrow of sin? Every venue of life is corrupted and void. Government is filled with men and women in search of power, money and fame. The education system is eroding from the inside out. School shootings occuring, something that was never heard of, is now several times a year across the land. The education is contorted and configured for lost mens agenda to defame and denounce our Christian principles. Destroying history and truth for conjured half truths to further their own principles. And all the while the children lay in harm's way from other children and those we trust to watch over and protect them. How many cases in the last 10 years has there been of sexual relationships between teacher and students? Unheard of years ago, now a common thing. And what shall we say of the explicit actiivty on school ground of drugs, sexual tabloids, and all kinds of sin to affect our children. The age of being naive and innocent is all but gone.
The home is a disaster area. From relationships between parents (as previously mentioned) to parent - children relationship, it is destroyed. I don't know of the stats, but it seems that children are raising children. Multiple teen pregancies are happening local high schools at record rates. Unseen in days gone by, but now a common thing. And for those that can't raise them, grandparents in so many cases have had to fill the void.
Even the church, a supposed sound structure, is so desperate for acceptance by the culture, that they have watered down, cheated on the truths, and coerced the ways of the world into the church. All this done to say, 'we are winning them'. Winning them with what? the Gospel? the truth? No, winning them with their own ways and means, all of which is vanity.
Every fabric of life is filled with debauchery, detestable, defiling ways of sin and evil. And you dare ask, 'Is therre any sorrow like unto my sorrow? Wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me'
And even worse than the physical locations of our daily lives, the Lord hath afflicted me in my heart and mind. For I know the truth, yet the truth is not received. And as they cry out, 'let us alone'. This is where my sorrow and affliction is found. For there is nothing worse, than to have the keys to open a door, and never open it. To have the ways of eternal life in Christ, and for them to never receive. 'For to as many as would receive Christ, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.' But they would not. See wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me!
Where? in all the world. How abusive are the followers of Satan. So many of our brothers and sisters in Christ have been killed, homes burnt, threatened, deprived, removed and assualted. In all the world, the 10/40 window is so dark and dreary with false relgions, governemnts oppressive to Christianity. Filled with lies, and half truths and so many of the billions are without Christ, and little opporutnity for salvation. Is there any sorrow like unto my sorrow? over the lostness of the nations and the world.
WHEN
Even now it is upon us, day to day activites of all this that I have shared. Yet, the worst is yet to come. For soon, these trickles of evil shall mount in more succession of numbers and become a raging river of wickedness upon the land, upon the people., and they shall be consumed. Wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of His fierce anger.
For all the rejection, all the sinfulness, all the masses participating in it, all the evil occuring in one fell night, or during the broad daylight provokes the Holy ONe to anger and wrath. And each act of sin, puts one more drop in the cup of wrath. And this multitude of sin fills the cup so that when it is full, it overflows and pours out the wrath and vengeance of the Lord upon those that have sought how they might provoke and anger Him.
And that knwoing the attributes of the Lord, that He is the same, yesterday, today and forever; that HIs wrath in the Old TEstament and New Testament and history has shown His consistency in pouring out wrath on a people that would not obey and follow Him. Oh, soon and very soon it shall be upon us; yea, even now it is upon us.
WHY
Why does such destruction, sorrow, affliction and pain have to happen? It doesnt'. But the heart of men fail to understand the ramifications of their sinful, selfish choices over God's holiness.
And it is stated and reveealed that all this sorrow of JEremiah was not on his part, but on the people and the kings of Judah. They heard the word of the Lord, but rejected it.
the same is as true for Christ day. The children of Israel, Romans and other Greeks heard and saw all that Christ did and taught. And they rejected it.
And in this present day with all the blessings and mercies of God upon our land and the church, we have less holiness, less power of the Holy Spirit and less souls being saved. Yet, we do have more evil, more lost souls, more sin and a future that on this present course will mirror the sorrow of JEremiah and Christ. It is the doom of repeating death and dying of a nation and a people that forsook the Lord and turned away from the good and right way and embraced a sinful and evil way. Oh, what folly; what destruction awaits such foolish choices. Why would men ever chose such a way or path? It is the folly of their hearts that makes me do this. Satan lies, betrays, blinds and deceives them so that they hold no regards for God, but only for self. Self is god to them, and they will not be ruled by any other. Woe to the people that follow such a way of living, no, not a way of living, but a way of dying. 'For the wages of sin is death'.
"All ye that pass by, behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto mine sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of His fierce anger."
I am truly able to say that none of my sorrow compares to Jeremiah's sorrow. He not only stood alone and proclaimed the word of the Lord to numerous kings, warning them of judgment to come; but he also saw it all happen. Now, I don't know that there is anything worse than telling people what is going to happen unless they repent, confess and turn to the Lord, and then to have that plea rejected and dismissed. The Bible tells us in Titus 2, that the 'Gospel hath appeared to all men'. Those in hell today had someone tell them the Gospel truth of Christ great love and redemption, and they rejected it. Is there any sorrow like their's?
And what shall we shall of how great was Christ's sorrow here on earth. 'He behold the city and wept over it', for they did not receive Him and they did not know the day of their visitation. The city was destroyed because the rulers rejected the compassion and healing (physical and spiritual) of Christ for all men. And then on the cross, how great was His sorrow. 'My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me' was His horrible cry. None of us can ever say that prayer, for He hath said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." And to say that in times of difficulties, troubles and trials is to call God a liar, which surely none of us would be so foolish to do. But there was no sorrow like that of bearing the sins of the world, that Christ endured and died for.
In comparison to these two great examples of bearing sorrow, my sorrow is weak, little and frail compared to the depths of what they faced, experienced and saw. And surely I know that there are others who have hazarded their lives for Christ, endured great afflictions and assualts, known evil abounding all around them throughout many places and times of history.
And yet, I come at this time seeing the 'cloud the size of man's hand' coming in the horizon for that which is ready to unfold and happen in our lifetime. An event, yea, a series of events that leave us to mirror what happened to Jeruslaem during the days of Jeremiah and during the prophecy of Christ of 70 AD for Jerusalem. And it is all due to the same 'cause and effect': Cause - they which rejcted God, His atonement, His redemption, His grace and mercy; Effect - you reap what you sow and we must now reap the whirlwind for our folly. 'He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall reap life everlasting'.
In studying this and the impact it will hold on us let us simply answer the questions in relationship to this verse in Lamentations: the questions of who; what; where; when and why
Who
Who is to be affected by this? Who is responsbile for this? Who will reap the whirlwind of this?
These are very personal and direct references for each that would give thought and place to it.
First, it is a very personal sorrow. "My sorrow. . .which is done to me . . .the Lord hath afflicted me. . ." Three references of personal relationship in dealing with this tragedy and sorrow.
--My sorrow - my pain, my tears, my anguish, my broken heart; What causes such things to me?
1. My own wretchedness. It is foolish for those that view everyone else's faults and sins and do not see who 'the chiefest of sinners is'. It is I, who takes that title away from Paul, who declared that he 'was the chiefest of sinners.' Paul lanquished because of his old self who attacked, killed and warred against the church. But oh, how much more I to be the chiefest for having been raised since a baby in a Christian home, a Christian church, having been taught the 'good and right way' only to cast it aside for self, sin and the world. And how much my sins, my transgressions go in knowing the wrong of my choices at that moment. It is not an avenue of ignorance or not knowing what is right and wrong. I ate of the tree of good and evil a long time ago. 'For he that knoweth to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.' And oh, much time and effort went in me knowing these truths; and yet, still choosing against them. Is it not enough that before I view others sorrows, I view what my sin cost my Lord. I view what the Lord could have and should have done to this wretched sinner; I should have died, I should have drank the cup of wrath and been burned and cast out into outer darkness where there is weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. But oh, brethren, look to the cross - 'at the cross where I first saw the light and the burden of my sin rolled away; it was there I received my sight and now I am happy all the day.' But oh, each day filled with new opportunities to fail my Lord; filled with moments of wrestling this old flesh, the old self, and knowing that at any moment I would think I stand, forgetting the words of solemn protest, 'take heed, lest you fall'.
My sin, my sorrow; my choices, my grief; my wretchedness, me. . . me. . . me
This is the beginning of sorrows!
2. And because I am able to see my own folly and sin, which makes me sorrow over such failure to Him Who loved me and gave Himself for me; I see the folly of other men. For the truth that pierces me, for not keeping it, pierces me also for others who will not keep it. Just as when Stephen preached truth and declared to them their wicked ways of their heart, they closed their ears and ran upon him to silence him. So today, men when they hear these truths of good and evil; practices that ought not to be done; words that ought not to be spoken, deeds done that are evil; and when they are reproved by the truth from which He has decalred to us all through His Word, where it breaks my heart and causes sorrow, they revel in it and refuse to hear and go in the good and right way. Sorrow fills any Christians heart for we know the truth, and that truth has set us free. But to these that we love, and earnestly desire to see them forsake the ways of sin and self, they refuse and add to our sorrow, for they will not enter the striaght and narrow way, but chose and have openly decided to go the broad and wide path. And we know where this path leads, it leads to eternal hell, to destruction of the soul. And once there never more to return or escape.
Did Jeremiah not exhort this same truth when gazing upon the souls of men, women and children in Jerusalem being killed, dying of pestilence and famine all because they would not hear and obey his words from the Lord? They died for their disobedience and choice to sin over giving heed to the words of the Lord. And he warned them, told them, beggged them and still they would not hear.
And how much more Christ revealing Himself to the children of Abraham that He was come. He showed them power, taught them, 'as no other man spake'; healed them, raised them from the dead, fed them and still they would not believe. But they crucified Him and put Him to an open shame, so that the plans of God for redemption might be done. He saw their wicked ways, He knows their hearts and He knows their future state of being in hell and forewarned them. But tears flowed because they would not receive Him. Crying out, 'Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you unto Me, but you would not'. And such is the ways of man today, 'they would not'.
Our way of life does not, nor did it have to be this way. But how hard are the hearts, how hard the minds that are turned against Him. so that it is true of this generation as well, 'having eyes to see, they cannot see; having ears to hear they cannot hear'. They 'profess Him with their mouths, but their hearts are far from Him.' And they openly embrace sin and everything that He has declared evil, and opposite of Him.
Is there any sorrow like unto my sorrow?
WHAT
What shall be for these that refuse and reject the words of the Lord? Oh, what a price is being paid, and shall be paid. Although we have already addressed eternal rewards and punishments, let us look more to the here and now on the earth. As I have already somewhat shared what Jeremiah watched right in front of his eyes. Men dying by the sword, all because Zedekiah wouldn't hear and obey the Word of the Lord. Jeremiah went to King Zedekiah and pleaded with him to go out and surrender to the king of Babylon, and his family, and the city and the temple would be spared and saved. But the hardness of his heart was there and he would not obey. And because of that, they took him and him family. They slew his sons in front of his eyes. They burned and torched the city. They burned and destroyed the temple of God, where the glory of God had descended and abode. The walls were knocked down. And after all this, they put out his eyes and carried him away to captivity.
Jeremiah watched all this unfold and saw the after affects upon the city after the Babylonian army removed itself. Death and destruction was upon the city and the people. He preached and declared for them to repent and turn back to God. They would not, and so it came to pass.
What shall come to pass for us?
It is happening even now. Lift up your eyes and see across the land what is happening.
--Do you know of a family that is intact? that has not had the horrors of divorce and division. How rare is it to find what is termed a traditional family. Do you see whole families in church and serving the Lord? How hard is it to see whole families in the house of the Lord. Family is being destroyed. The recent Supreme Court rulings only continues to fraction it. It is crumbling. The devourer has come, the devil, has come to destroy and he is destroying the family.
--abortions have ravaged the land and whole lives; over 50 million it is estimated have died and filled the land with blood; An entire generation removed from the earth by the whims of men legalizing it, and women selfishly giving place to it; how deep is this pain and sorrow on the land;
--excess of resources and money have filled the land with indulgences and addictions of every wicked way; from drugs to alcohol, to gamling to sex to porn to filling our entire mind and time with pleasures of self and sin; I wondered at this paticular point of how many homes have not been ravaged by drug addiction or damage. I wonder how many homes have not been hit by the effects of drinking and drunkness and its fall out. I wonder how many marriages affected by pornography and sexual sins. And an entire younger generation being brought up with no limitiations and de-sensitized to any thing of modesty and blushing at sin. All because of our increase in technology, money and availability to such things."And when they were increased with good and had need of nothing, then they forgot the Lord God."
How much money is wasted on our love of self in a week? in a month? in a year?
Certainly enough that could feed a nation; provide Bibles to multitudes and send missionaries to many places within a year. But we would not, we did not, now we reap of a generation exited into hell due to our neglience.
--the land is filled with violence and death; murder-suicides are ravaging the land from east to west and north to south; so many homes and families affected by this tragedy. On a monthly basis there are average of 30 reported. This affects more than just the one who commits suicide. It affects the ones they murdered before they took their own life. These numbers are two to three that die at a time, impacting any and all places across the nation. Death by homicides are still rampaging in the bigger city but dangersouly affecting rural America. Chicago alone in July, 2013 is on pace to break last years count of 47.
--weather destruction and impact from coast to coast; last years drought was 3/4 of the nation in severe to exceptional drought; And although it still lingers, the effects are still upon them. The other weather so far this year has been the destruction of tornadoes, floods have been numerous up and down the east coast. Fires continue in the west among the dry lands, many homes, land and a tragedy of 19 firefighters losing their lives. And all this before hurricane season starts to heat up. Upon the land weather disasters cause such sorrow to loss of property and life.
--disease is a quiet sorrow; Yet, it impacts so many with cancer, diabetes, and other rare things that seem to crop up from time to time. And it almost seems at any moment another plague could be upon the land to remind us once again how much we need the Lord. "He is able to send the plagues of Egypt and He is able to remove them"
What is happening that declares such sorrow? Right in front of us on a day to day basis across our land is death and dying. Men, women and children ushered out of this world into eternity. And oh, so many of them are not ready to meet the Lord, and there eternity will be in hell forever. Is there any sorrow like unto my sorrow?
WHERE
Is there not a place in the United States that is not affected by such sorrow of sin? Every venue of life is corrupted and void. Government is filled with men and women in search of power, money and fame. The education system is eroding from the inside out. School shootings occuring, something that was never heard of, is now several times a year across the land. The education is contorted and configured for lost mens agenda to defame and denounce our Christian principles. Destroying history and truth for conjured half truths to further their own principles. And all the while the children lay in harm's way from other children and those we trust to watch over and protect them. How many cases in the last 10 years has there been of sexual relationships between teacher and students? Unheard of years ago, now a common thing. And what shall we say of the explicit actiivty on school ground of drugs, sexual tabloids, and all kinds of sin to affect our children. The age of being naive and innocent is all but gone.
The home is a disaster area. From relationships between parents (as previously mentioned) to parent - children relationship, it is destroyed. I don't know of the stats, but it seems that children are raising children. Multiple teen pregancies are happening local high schools at record rates. Unseen in days gone by, but now a common thing. And for those that can't raise them, grandparents in so many cases have had to fill the void.
Even the church, a supposed sound structure, is so desperate for acceptance by the culture, that they have watered down, cheated on the truths, and coerced the ways of the world into the church. All this done to say, 'we are winning them'. Winning them with what? the Gospel? the truth? No, winning them with their own ways and means, all of which is vanity.
Every fabric of life is filled with debauchery, detestable, defiling ways of sin and evil. And you dare ask, 'Is therre any sorrow like unto my sorrow? Wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me'
And even worse than the physical locations of our daily lives, the Lord hath afflicted me in my heart and mind. For I know the truth, yet the truth is not received. And as they cry out, 'let us alone'. This is where my sorrow and affliction is found. For there is nothing worse, than to have the keys to open a door, and never open it. To have the ways of eternal life in Christ, and for them to never receive. 'For to as many as would receive Christ, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.' But they would not. See wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me!
Where? in all the world. How abusive are the followers of Satan. So many of our brothers and sisters in Christ have been killed, homes burnt, threatened, deprived, removed and assualted. In all the world, the 10/40 window is so dark and dreary with false relgions, governemnts oppressive to Christianity. Filled with lies, and half truths and so many of the billions are without Christ, and little opporutnity for salvation. Is there any sorrow like unto my sorrow? over the lostness of the nations and the world.
WHEN
Even now it is upon us, day to day activites of all this that I have shared. Yet, the worst is yet to come. For soon, these trickles of evil shall mount in more succession of numbers and become a raging river of wickedness upon the land, upon the people., and they shall be consumed. Wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of His fierce anger.
For all the rejection, all the sinfulness, all the masses participating in it, all the evil occuring in one fell night, or during the broad daylight provokes the Holy ONe to anger and wrath. And each act of sin, puts one more drop in the cup of wrath. And this multitude of sin fills the cup so that when it is full, it overflows and pours out the wrath and vengeance of the Lord upon those that have sought how they might provoke and anger Him.
And that knwoing the attributes of the Lord, that He is the same, yesterday, today and forever; that HIs wrath in the Old TEstament and New Testament and history has shown His consistency in pouring out wrath on a people that would not obey and follow Him. Oh, soon and very soon it shall be upon us; yea, even now it is upon us.
WHY
Why does such destruction, sorrow, affliction and pain have to happen? It doesnt'. But the heart of men fail to understand the ramifications of their sinful, selfish choices over God's holiness.
And it is stated and reveealed that all this sorrow of JEremiah was not on his part, but on the people and the kings of Judah. They heard the word of the Lord, but rejected it.
the same is as true for Christ day. The children of Israel, Romans and other Greeks heard and saw all that Christ did and taught. And they rejected it.
And in this present day with all the blessings and mercies of God upon our land and the church, we have less holiness, less power of the Holy Spirit and less souls being saved. Yet, we do have more evil, more lost souls, more sin and a future that on this present course will mirror the sorrow of JEremiah and Christ. It is the doom of repeating death and dying of a nation and a people that forsook the Lord and turned away from the good and right way and embraced a sinful and evil way. Oh, what folly; what destruction awaits such foolish choices. Why would men ever chose such a way or path? It is the folly of their hearts that makes me do this. Satan lies, betrays, blinds and deceives them so that they hold no regards for God, but only for self. Self is god to them, and they will not be ruled by any other. Woe to the people that follow such a way of living, no, not a way of living, but a way of dying. 'For the wages of sin is death'.
"All ye that pass by, behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto mine sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of His fierce anger."
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