One of the many things we can give God credit for...is the fact that when He begins to deal with ‘sin and sinners’, He usually starts with His own people first. Before He pours out His wrath on all those ‘wordily sinners’, He first begins by calling out the sin in His own ‘camp’ (Joshua 7).

When Israel continued to rebel against God’s law, they crossed a threshold and suffered the consequences for it, as the prophets of old warned would happen (Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel). God brought Babylon in to destroy the city and the temple before the people were taken into ‘captivity’ for 70 years. (Did you catch yesterday’s message, by chance?).

Then, after those 70 years passed, God called His people out of Babylon because next on the list was Babylon itself who was going to suffer God’s wrath (Jer. 50-51). Interesting historical side note here- but less than 5% of those exiles in Babylon heeded God’s call to ‘come out’. I only share that because we read in Revelation 18:1-5 where God will once again call ‘His people’ out (of ‘Babylon’ of all places) before judgment is poured out on them. I mean, we see another pattern that is clear and consistent in the way God moves...He called Noah out before the flood hit; He called Lot and His family out before the fire fell, and interestingly, Jesus points to those two examples when He explained what His return would be like, in Luke 17:26-33.

And to whom did Peter warn where judgement would first begin, in 1 Pet. 4:17? In yesterday’s message, we reviewed, once again...who God ‘uses’ to carry out His wrath and judgements. You can even read of a very specific example in 1 Cor. 5:5, which probably adds more insight to what Jesus was talking about in John 5:14 (go and sin no more lest something worse happen to you).

Allow me to just speak plainly here for a moment. We often think in terms of God’s ‘coming judgements’ in the ‘future tense’; which yes, scripture does paint a picture of a ‘coming wrath’; but honestly...what is ‘on the way’ is just an uptick or extreme increase over what is ‘already here on the earth today’. That’s what Paul was speaking of in Romans 1:18-32 and how the ‘wrath of God IS (being) revealed from heaven...against ALL ungodliness and unrighteousness of men...”. It’s already here and has been for a very long time. We’ve just been blinded to it (Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:3-4). In other words, God is continuing to ‘lower the hedge’ and allowing the ‘enemy to come in like a flood’ (Isa. 59:19) to ‘test men’s foundations’ (Matt. 7:24-27). Guess whose houses remain intact? Those who actually ‘do’ the word of God (Matt. 7:24). Those are the ones who have been ‘born of God...and no longer sin’ (1 John 5:18).

In yesterday’s message, we were looking at Isaiah 5 and what happens when God ‘lowered the hedge’ (5). It’s a somber look as to how God dealt not only with Israel back then, but how God will deal with His people, and eventually the world...today. But look at Isa. 5:24-30 for a moment and how God’s anger was ‘aroused’...that leads Him to ‘whistle to them from the ends of the earth’ (26). Who do you think ‘them’...are? Interesting how they are described as a ‘roaring lion’ there in vs. 28. Anyone thinking of 1 Pet. 5:8 about now?

And what does this ‘enemy’ come to do, according to John 10:10? But as He always does, God draws a boundary as to whom these ‘lions’ can devour, and God once again provides a place of shelter and refuge for those who come to Him with all their hearts. It’s called ‘abiding under the shadow of the Almighty’ and you can read Psalm 91 to be reminded of those promises that are given to those who actually ‘abide in Him’.

Now...take a look at 1 John 3:6-9 and 5:18, for added insight as to what being ‘born of God’ and ‘abiding in Him’...looks like. And this is where it becomes problematic for most people. The majority of the ‘church world’ has been taught and conditioned to believe...that it’s impossible for a true ‘born again’ child of God to actually ‘go...and sin no more’. I’ve been around long enough and in plenty enough ‘churches’ and hear it all the time: ‘you is gonna sin because you are a flawed human being and will always sin on this side of heaven’.

I am coming up on my 6th anniversary of what I have often called my personal ‘awakening’. (I will post link to that story below if you care to read about it). And for the past six years, God has continued to restore my relationship with Him and brought so much of His word to light and understanding for me; and then in turn...has had me write and share with you here. I do not see myself as some self-appointed ‘prophet’, nor am I out to prove anything to anyone. I simply am compelled to continue sharing what little I do know with anyone who cares to investigate and study for themselves...if what I am sharing here from God’s word is truth...or not (Acts 17:11).

But I won’t lie...I feel, at times... what David had to feel when he first stood before Goliath on that battle field. Who...in their right mind...is going to believe some aging photographer and former school teacher who moved to California...that continues to beat that same old drum of a message, which the majority of the ‘church’ world would call ‘heresy’ or ‘false doctrine’...this idea that a ‘fallen’ human being can actually become a ‘new creation in Christ’ as they are ‘conformed to His image’ and actually go and ‘sin no more’ (2 Cor 5:17; Rom. 8:19; John 5:14; 8:11).

You might finish up with 2 Thess. 2:9-12, and then ask yourself...what ‘lie’ or ‘strong delusion’ might those who are perishing...believe in...that God Himself will actually send, because the people did not have a ‘love for the truth’? I’ll meet you back here tomorrow, Lord willing.

Testimony Link: https://foodforsheep.blogspot.com/2021/10/10_24.html