Coming Judgement and those that sigh and groan

[Michael The Disciple]

One reason there is little weeping and mourning over sin is that the longsuffering of YHWH is interpreted as indifference on his part. Instead of perceiving that God is longsuffering not willing any should perish but come to repentance many feel he is not really angry with a worldly Church and ungodly world.

Having suffered little, American Christians think of hard times as not having sufficient funds to buy whatever they want. That tribulation is being passed over for a raise. Not being able to get a new car every few years.

Real tribulation however will bring forth a new attitude. When there is no hope EXCEPT FOR GODS MERCY men will seek him. Hard times and tribulation will be far more reaching than economic distress. War, famine, disease, persecution will produce the need to dwell in the secret place of the most high.

Most of all it will produce an understanding that HEAVEN IS GREATER THAN EARTH . How small and insignificant the things of Earth are in comparison to the things of heaven like immortality!

Perhaps it will be a revelation to the Church that Christ is ONLY coming back for a Church without spot, wrinkle, or blemish. Perhaps it will spark a desire to know HIM and the power of his resurrection.

Yes judgement is coming. It will be worse than you think. Yet faith in Christ will see us through. He is a rewarder of those who DILIGENTLY seek him.

[OGIA]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

One reason there is little weeping and mourning over sin is that the longsuffering of YHWH is interpreted as indifference on his part. Instead of perceiving that God is longsuffering not willing any should perish but come to repentance many feel he is not really angry with a worldly Church and ungodly world.

I like this, MtD!

[Praxeas]

Indifference really comes through being friends with the world. The friendship of the world is enmity with God. When we draw close to the world we are no longer disturbed by those things enough to make us weep

[Praxeas]

Bump for Essias

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Bump for Essias

Don't you mean Eliseus?

[Praxeas]

no, Essias, he knows who he is :-)

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

no, Essias, he knows who he is :-)

Oh, I thought Essias and Eliseus were the same person.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Oh, I thought Essias and Eliseus were the same person.

They probably are.....I prefer Essias though as a nick....

Originally Posted by philjones

It is my opinion that the reason we suffer a dearth of post-Pentecost power and demonstration is because of a dearth of pre-Pentecost sacrifice. We love to shout over the promise of Joel 2 but we dance around the prerequisites of the promise also found in Joel 2.

My dad used to preach and teach often on the fast of the solemn assembly! It created an awareness of the precedent for power... sacrifice in prayer and fasting!

Bro Jones, we also dance around the fact that God wants to move us out of the shame of our past. It's found prior to the same verses in Joel that we like to shout about.
God wants to restore the years that the locust, the palmerworm and the caterpillar have eaten. After this, it says that my people shall never be ashamed.
Incidentally, the Bible calls these destroyers "my great army". God sent these things to get our attention. Once He has it, He is wanting to restore those things that have seemed impossible to restore. Remember, with God all things are possible, including the restoration of our past.
THEN, the outpouring begins, not prior to us getting past the shame of the past and allowing God to restore those years.
I love this passage for it offers us so much hope.
NI

Originally Posted by Praxeas

This verse came to me as I was praying....there has been much said here about coming judgement. I wonder how relevant this verse would be for us

Eze 9:4 And the LORD said to him, "Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it."

Eze 9:5 And to the others he said in my hearing, "Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity.
Eze 9:6 Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one on whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the house.
Eze 9:7 Then he said to them, "Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out." So they went out and struck in the city.
Eze 9:8 And while they were striking, and I was left alone, I fell upon my face, and cried, "Ah, Lord GOD! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?"
Eze 9:9 Then he said to me, "The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For they say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see.'

Just a thought....could it be that while everyone is at war the church is being tempted to do the same when we should really all be on our faces sighing and groaning at the great abominations that beset out nation?

OUR nation is the kingdom of Heaven and there are no abominations going on there! If we're going to sigh and groan, we should be sighing and groaning over the abominations going on in the Church!