I feel kind of sorry for people who have been ‘advised’ to steer clear of all those ‘old testament’ stories and writings of the prophets found in our Bibles. I only say that because Peter told us to be ‘mindful of the words spoken’ by those prophets of old...who spoke of these ‘last days’ (2 Pet. 3:1-3; Acts 3:24-26). I mean, when you think about it...what ‘scriptures’ do you think they were studying back in those early days of the church where Jesus was ‘opening their understanding to the scriptures’? It certainly was not the New Testament which had yet to have been written down. (Luke 24:32,45; Acts 17:11)

It was Peter who stood up on the day of Pentecost to explain what the crowds were witnessing as the Holy Spirit fell upon the people...saying: “This is that...which was spoken by the prophet Joel...” (Acts 2:16). And Paul warned us to “beware...lest what had been spoken by the prophet Habakkuk come upon us”...in Acts 13:40. Sounds like what was written back then may have some ‘relevance’ for us NT believers today...would you not agree?

I’m continuing on from my message yesterday that was basically another reminder to us all that ‘fruit matters’. It really does...and it better be the ‘good fruit’ of the ‘Spirit’...that is plentiful and that it ‘remains’ (Gal. 5:22-23; John 15:8,16). I only say that because we are living in a time where the ‘wrath of God’ is being ‘revealed’ and unleashed against all ungodliness (Rom. 1:18). This would be the same ‘wrath’ that John the Baptist said was coming (Matt. 3:7-10)...emphasizing how the ‘ax was already laid to the root of the trees’.

Yesterday, we spent some time looking at the parable of the wheat and tares and how at the ‘end of the age’...God is going to send out the ‘reapers’...or ‘angels’ to gather up all the ‘tares’ first...those plants which have failed to yield good fruit. He even told us there in Matt. 13 that those tares represented all that ‘offend/cause and continue in sin’. Then...the good wheat would be gathered up...afterwards.

When it comes to this concept of ‘wrath’...granted, it’s not something we hear taught on much. Oh...whenever there is a major earthquake or hurricane or ‘plague’ ...you’ll hear voices talk about it being the ‘wrath of God’ punishing the world today for all its sins. But friends...we need to put on our ‘spiritual glasses’ and ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten us, which He wants to do. This wrath that is being ‘revealed today’, as Paul wrote...involves just a tad more than some rumblings in the land, sky , or ocean. Think in terms of an unleashing of spiritual forces of darkness being turned loose on the earth today. And only the ‘wise virgins’ will see and understand what is happening (Daniel 12:3-10). The ‘wrath of God’ is ‘destroying angels’ (Ps. 78:49). Yes...you read that correctly.

But this should not come as a surprise to anyone given how scripture continues to lay this all out for us to read for ourselves....when we have time to pick up our Bibles, that is...and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in to more truth (John 16:12-13). But something else you might want to consider when it comes to this ‘coming wrath’ which John warned the Pharisees was on the way...God’s ‘wrath’ was already on us to begin with, according to John 3:36. And Eph. 2:1-3 explains what that looked like.

This is what Jesus came to ‘save’ us from...the ‘wrath of God’ (Rom. 5:9). And do you know why ...this ‘wrath’ was already on us? Because we all broke God’s laws (Rom. 3:23; 1 John 3:4) and we know the ‘law brings wrath’ (Rom. 4:15). Jesus told us in John 3:17-18 that we were already condemned...so He was not coming to do that. He actually came to ‘save’ us by setting us free from sin so we could ‘go and sin no more’, and hence...not incur the wrath of God anymore.(John 8:34-36; 5:14; Luke 4:18)

Is this beginning to make sense to anyone out there? It really is like a puzzle coming together as God puts all these ‘pieces’ together to reveal a rather insightful and sobering picture for us to see. (Luke 10:21; 24:32,45)

And guess who are the ones that are protected from this wrath? Those who are ‘in the ark’, just like in the days of Noah when the flood was unleashed. Same for those today who are ‘in Christ’ and ‘abiding under the shadow of the Almighty (Ps. 91; 1 John 5:18). This is why I have camped out on this area of study for the past four years - most of us have been ‘in the dark’ when it comes to understanding The Law, The Flesh, and The Enemy. Those who are truly following Jesus...are meeting all the righteous requirements of the law, (that was never done away with)...provided they are living according to the Spirit...and not the ‘flesh’ (Rom. 8:4; Matt. 5:17; Gal. 5:18). And the sooner people wake up and make sure they truly are ‘in Christ’, they will begin to see and understand even more. But as Jesus pointed out...most will never see the flood coming that will take them away (Matt. 24:37-39; 7:13-14) just as it was in the days of Noah.

And yes...fruit really does matter (Matt. 7:17-20). Did I mention the only way this lasting fruit can be produced is by abiding in Jesus? (John 15:1-8). So now, please turn to Isaiah 5 and let’s see if this chapter might make sense to us even more...since we know this coming wrath and judgement will begin first....with the ‘house of God’ (1 Pet. 4:17). Would you please read the first 7 verses there in Isaiah 5. What was the Lord looking for, according to vs. 2? And what did He find?

We read yesterday what the owner of a vineyard did in Luke 13:6-9, but now read what God says He is going to do with this ‘vineyard’ that did not produce good fruit in Isa. 5: “I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down”(4-5).

Do you recall why Satan was unable to ‘touch Job’ back in his day (Job 1:9-10)? We are told that Job was a righteous man who feared God (Job 1:1,8). Would you let that sink in for a moment, and maybe jot down 1 John 5:18 again.

I realize this can be difficult to process given most of what we are taught today in our churches...but as I always say here...I’m simply pointing out many other verses found in our Bibles that were supposed to ‘fit’ with all those other ‘favorite verses’ of ours. And if they don’t fit...you better not cast them aside. Maybe it’s time for us to ‘unlearn’ some of those man-made doctrines we’ve all been spoon fed, because God’s people continue to be ‘destroyed for a lack of knowledge’...and mostly because they have ‘forgotten His law’ (Hosea 4:6). Meet me back here tomorrow...Lord willing.