- araratchurch
- Aug 11, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 4
“Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:12-14 NLT
In 85 days our country will vote for our new leaders. No matter your political pedigree, you must know that our country is in trouble. The policies purveyed by many of our leaders seem to be a roadmap for complete upheaval and a further move away from the Judeo-Christian values that underpinned our original establishment. Even now, policies poking a finger in the eye of the Lord are enshrined in some of the laws of our land.
Now, although critical discussion and thought sharing can be helpful, arguing, finger-pointing, and “gotcha” maneuvers, will not restore our country’s peace, security, and the favor of God.
The only real hope for America is to be found in repentance before God. And, whereas a corporate repentance is certainly warranted, our days of repentance will be concerning very specific ways in which we have all—at some point—failed to do what is pleasing to the Lord. Only after these personal cries for forgiveness will we turn to asking God’s forgiveness concerning specific sins of our country.
After all the celebrations involved in the dedication of the temple Solomon had built for the Lord, the Lord appeared to him and gave him the instruction and the promise we see in our opening scripture.
You see, the Lord made it clear to Solomon that if they strayed from obedience to Him, He would withhold His blessings and His favor. Knowing that the people would fail, the Lord also instructed Solomon that God‘s protection, God’s favor, God‘s blessings, could only be restored through true repentance. That is, if the people expressed heartfelt sorrow for their sins and turned from those sins back to Him, then the Lord would restore their place of favor before Him.
Please join us as we repent before the Lord over these next weeks until the 2024 presidential election.
Indeed, repentance should be a lifestyle and must never be confused with a constant state of remorse. Truly, repentance brings freedom, true freedom, from the world, the flesh, and the devil, as we appropriate the work of the Cross of Christ for forgiveness, correction, and restoration for ourselves, as well as for our country.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Aug 9, 2024
- 4 min read
“My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.”
Proverbs 3:1-2, 4-8 NLT
“The Emperors New Clothes” is a rather humorous short story by Hans Christian Anderson. The plot of the story involves a very vain emperor who spent all his time acquiring and wearing new clothes.
One day two con men decided to cash in on the emperor’s vanity. The two con men came to the emperor and claimed that they had special looms that could weave beautiful fabric only seeable by those who are worthy of their position. In fact, they really hammed up the ruse by spending several days “weaving the fabric” for the emperor’s new clothes.
During this period of time the emperor sent some of his servants to see how it was going. Of course, they saw the looms moving rapidly with these two men “weaving” this miracle “fabric.” But alas, they could not see the fabric. However, fearful of losing their positions if they were deemed unworthy, they pretended to see this beautiful fabric and even gave the emperor rave reviews about how it was coming along.
When the time came that they were finished with the fabric, the two “tailors” brought in the emperor and carefully fitted the beautiful new clothes on him.
As you might’ve suspected, the emperor could not see the clothes either. But with everybody else giving rave reviews as to what they were seeing, the emperor was left with no choice but to join in about how beautiful the clothes were.
To celebrate his acquiring of these miraculous clothes, the emperor knighted the two “tailors” and ordered a parade which he would lead.
As the parade commenced, there were even servants “carrying” the beautiful train of the new clothes.
Having heard the story that only those who were worthy would be able to see the clothes, the people raved and cheered as the emperor walked past. That is, until a little boy screamed out the obvious: “The emperor is naked!”
Everyone, realizing they had been duped, began to laugh. The emperor did not laugh, but rather kept walking. He was too far in to turn back now.
Yes, we clearly see that the vanity of the emperor led to this embarrassing scene. And of course, we know that the other people in the story feigned seeing the fabric as they were fearful of losing their positions.
As preposterous as this story is, I can see definite parallels between this scenario and something that is going on in our society today.
You see, people are purveying some ridiculous notions that would have been summarily dismissed, rejected unceremoniously, only a few years ago.
Think about what we would’ve said just a few years ago about a man saying that he is now a woman and so competes in women’s sports.
Think about what we would’ve said just a few years ago about someone saying that opinions with which they disagree are somehow violence being perpetrated against them.
Think about what we would’ve said just a few years ago about putting feminine hygiene machines in boy’s bathrooms. And yes, what about allowing boys, who are now “girls,” to undress in girl’s locker rooms.
These are but a very few of the absurdities seen today in our society.
So, many of us see the absurdity in these are ridiculous notions, but are intimidated to say what is obvious. And just like those people in the emperor’s kingdom, we fear losing our position in society.
Additionally, the people who are promoting these absurd notions, do so out of their own vanity. That is, they believe that if they think something should be a certain way, then it is that certain way.
People now even talk about a certain person’s “truth.” That is to say that truth can be personal or private to an individual, that each person can determine what is their own truth. Therefore, if a person feels a certain way, then that is what is right for them; that is their truth.
“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”
Proverbs 14:12 NLT
The Bible tells us that our own understanding falls far short of truth.
Indeed, we are told to not be conformed to the world’s notions concerning things, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind.
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Romans 12:1-2 NLT
Our way of thinking becomes changed, transformed, as we allow our thoughts to be informed by the word of God.
In our opening scripture we see the proverbial writer urging his child to not be impressed with his own way of being and doing. Rather, he should fear the Lord and seek His guidance. In doing so, he will find healing, body, soul, and spirit.
Child of God, I am not saying that we can, or even should, force our way of thinking on others. But make no mistake, when we conform to the world’s idea of truth, when we believe that individuals can have their own personal truth that is right for them, although diametrically opposed to the word of God, then we are in danger of not only looking ridiculous like the emperor and the people in our story, but looking that way before the throne of God.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Aug 7, 2024
- 3 min read
““Cursed is the one who does the work of the Lord negligently, And cursed is the one who restrains his sword from blood [in executing the judgment of the Lord].”
Jeremiah 48:10 AMP
The chances are pretty good that you have seen the sad digression of what was once a happy marriage, into what is at best, a marriage of convenience. Passion is long gone, having been replaced with a begrudging tolerance of what they feel they cannot escape.
As well, many of us have heard people in such situations express that they are just “going through the motions.”
Of course, we know that many marriages dissolve completely at the end of a slow roll toward indifference, after eventually evolving into resentment, or any number of negative emotions, toward one with whom was once shared real passion.
However, as awful is the dissolution of marriage through indifference and neglect, it is nothing compared to the tragic results of allowing our zeal for the Lord to be replaced with indifference. And even though the trappings of a relationship with the Lord remain, it is, well, just “going through the motions.”
In instructing Timothy, Paul warned concerning the trend of people’s behavior in the Last Days.
“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”
2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT
Notice, with all the other evil behavior being described, Paul speaks of those who have a form of godliness (acting religious), but reject the call to righteousness (denying the power thereof). The people described here still practice religious observances; but their service to God, is simply a form devoid of a real function in determining who they really are.
God has always recognized when His people have lost their zeal for Him.
“And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.”
Isaiah 29:13 NLT
In the Lord’s messages to the churches in the book of “The Revelation of Jesus Christ,” we find Him warning one that had lost their first love (Ephesus). He also warned one that had become lukewarm (Laodicea). Still another church was warned that they had become dead (Sardis). In fact, these churches were warned with the same emphasis as those involved in open sin.
In our opening scripture we see the Lord warning that doing work for Him in a careless, haphazard, negligent manner, brings a curse. In this particular reference, he is addressing the nations He has charged with executing His judgment; but the principle applies to whatever we do for the Lord.
Child of God, let us not gamble with the possibility of losing anything ranging from the Lord’s favor, all the way to losing our eternal reward.
Now, most of us can tell when someone is going through the motions in relationships. How then can we suppose that the Lord doesn’t see when what is done for Him is out of begrudging obligation?
If you have found yourself in such a place, repent and ask the Lord to restore your passion for Him. Then do your part by setting your heart and mind on that which is eternal.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!