Monday, August 11, 2008

Attacks - Isaiah 33

Attacks

Isa 33:1 Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

Woe to those who take from God's people, who afflict and persecute them with no real reason; you who deal treacherouly; faithlessly, deceitfully, offending, without cause. All this will be returned to you. Whether this be a bully in a playground, or Assyria coming into Israel, or finally the Antichrist; God will avenge, for they shall reap what is sown.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Taking this to a personal level. When we come against someone, taking away his or her reputation, trying to destroy their work for the Lord by gossip or public ridicule, God is watching. You shall not prosper spiritually.

Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

In the Internet chats, people come to destroy the work of God. When leading someone to the Lord, they interrupt in disagreement with style or method or their theology. We do not interfere with God's servants. When entering a room, watch, listen and discern what is going on. Do we enter a church service loudly once it is in progress? Some interrupt Bible studies, prayer or praise without considering that they may be hindering the work of God. Jesus met every need, we are to be sensitive to urgent needs. He would touch those seeking him; but he also saw the hypocrisy in false religious leaders and he rebuked them. What is the point here? We are to be honest before God and towards his people. If we attack his people, he takes it personally and he will not allow this to prosper. We are to work together the work of God, each as gifted in their way. Never are we to put another down so that we look good; God is looking too. All fail in the flesh; look for their good work and encourage them to continue in the Spirit of the Lord.

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

No comments: