Subjects that make us feel uncomfortable...or maybe topics we don’t really understand ...tend to keep us from wanting to pursue them in our studies, especially when it comes to things we read and hear about that come directly from the word of God.

Take for example...God’s ‘wrath’.

When was the last time you heard an in-depth study (or sermon) on it at your church? I would imagine it has been awhile, if ever, and I can understand why. Your pastor/preacher only has the bulk of his congregation for less than one hour a week to get his message across. He knows the multiple struggles and battles and hurts that so many in those pews are going through, and in his mind...the last thing they need to hear when they come to church is some sermon on something that has such a heavy and negative connotation to it; so we tend to want to focus on good, positive, and uplifting themes, heavily complimented with encouraging worship songs of hope. We sure love to make people ‘feel good’, do we not?

But what if...our ‘ignorance’ on this subject matter...is the very reason so many of God’s people today are hurting and struggling and suffering so? And why would God have wanted to convey this very message that it’s “HIS...people...who are destroyed for a lack of knowledge...” (Hosea 4:6)?

Let me tell you why most of us have ‘paid a price’ for neglecting such a topic, and I’ll begin by answering that with a question – Were you aware that the very thing Jesus came to ‘save’ us from...was God’s wrath? (Rom. 5:9). Imagine that. And how many of you were taught early on...that because you had ‘accepted Christ as your personal Savior’...you were now immune, exempt, and clear of ever suffering from or incurring... God’s wrath? That’s probably why Paul thought to include this reminder in both Eph. 5:6 and Col. 3:6: “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” You might also look at Jeremiah 23:16-17.

I would also submit for your consideration that our lack of knowledge and understanding as to what God’s wrath is, how it ‘works’, and why it's relevant to us today...might explain why there is a lack of a ‘healthy fear of God’ these days, as many might observe and agree with when they look around the world, and yes...our ‘churches’. Even Paul made that assessment when he quoted the Psalmist: “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Rom. 3:18)

Since the ‘fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge’ (Prov. 1:7)...and the ‘lack of it’ is what leads to God’s people being ‘destroyed’ (Hosea 4:6)...maybe it might be a good idea if we go back and review a bit, or so it would seem to me?

My prayer here is that we will all begin to gain a better understanding as to why this critically important topic is so relevant to us today; so can we agree up front...that this ‘wrath’ the Bible speaks about...is not a ‘good’ thing? In other words, it’s not anything we would want to experience or be on the receiving end of, correct? I only suggest that because the very definition of the word ‘wrath’ implies ‘extreme anger’. And if you add in to the mix...it being 'God’s wrath' we are talking about...well, need I say more?

As I closed out with in yesterday’s message...Paul was trying to clue us in on this ‘revelation’ that God’s wrath is here today...and is being ‘revealed from heaven against ALL ungodliness and unrighteousness of men...” (Rom. 1:18). So here’s a ‘newsflash’ for us all: God’s ‘wrath’ has been around for a very long time. We see examples of it in Genesis, with the flood that destroyed the world, and then His judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. And please note that in both of those examples...God still made a way to protect and lead His people out from it in order to spare their lives. And what did I say earlier that Jesus came to ‘save’ us from? (Rom. 5:9) God has not changed. (Mal. 3:6)

So yes...God’s wrath was around in the ‘ancient world’. And it’s not like God doesn’t give warning when He’s about to exercise or pour out...His wrath. What did He make quite clear to Adam in Genesis 2:17? And were you aware that Noah spent 100 years building that ark, and preaching (warning)?

We also read in Psalms 78:49-50 where God was not pleased with that first group of Israelites (His people) whom He delivered from Egypt, reminding us how “He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, wrath, indignation and trouble...(and please read this last part slowly, maybe underlining it in your Bible)...By sending angels of destruction among them...making a path for His anger...”.

You say- “Oh...but that was for all those people in the Old Testament days!”. Tell me then, why would Paul spend time elaborating on this very group, giving multiple and explicit examples as to how God poured out His wrath on these people whom He was ‘not pleased with’ there in 1 Cor. 10:1-11, even mentioning twice that those things happened to them...as ‘examples/warnings for us...upon whom the end of the ages has come” (6,11). And what did Paul tell us in Romans 8:7-8? (Go read that now, I’ll wait here for you). You may as well jot down Hebrews 3:7-19, as it applies to us today, as well.

I do think many sincere believers today would acknowledge that there is a ‘vengeful side of God’...and can point to the future where we’ve been taught about this ‘great tribulation’ where God is going to (future tense)...pour out His wrath and indignation on a sinful and rebellious world; but they need not worry because they’ve been told they will be long gone by then, compliments of the ‘rapture’.

We read in 2 Thess.1:7-9 how Jesus will be ‘revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God...AND...on those who do not ‘obey’ the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”. What does ‘obedience’ have to do with any of this? (Heb. 5:9; Luke 6:46; Matt. 7:21)

Where we make the mistake... is thinking in terms of past and future tense, when it comes to the ‘wrath of God’; so take a quick moment and look at John 3:36 and let that marinate in your spirit for a few minutes.

So once again, I end the message today with Paul’s statement from Romans 1:18, but this time I share it from the Amplified version: “For [God does not overlook sin and] the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who in their wickedness suppress and stifle the truth...” What do you suppose he’s trying to convey to us with that statement?    See you tomorrow?