NOTE: The following message and the related Scriptures below, can be utilized along with: A Suggested Format For Home Worship
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters….” [Isaiah 55:1-2]
There are some segments of Christianity that will use as a sales pitch: "Become a Christian and your life will be a fulfilling." I've always disagreed with this approach, simply because it is patently deceptive. An unbelieving soul's life, can be fulfilled in a number of [earthly] carnal ways and that person can feel quite, "fulfilled."
When Christ calls those to join Him and become His disciples, Christ did not (and does not) promise "fulfillment" as an end in itself. Christ's message to His disciples, was [and will , as long as this earth remains] be a call to commitment and persecution. [John 15 ; 2 Timothy 3:12]
The road of commitment peppered with persecution can be a long and hard one. It can be a very frustrating experience as the Christian is not only misunderstood, but ridiculed and gossiped about in a culture that is becoming evermore (increasingly) hostile and abusive. Right becomes wrong and wrong becomes right [Isaiah 5:20] and the Christian often feels all alone like the little boy with his finger in the dike, attempting to hold back the tidal wave of evil.
Upon the death of my father, one of his pastor friends comforted me by saying: "You know, Nathan, the prayer that your father often prayed in the Lord's Prayer -- "......but deliver us from evil......" -- that prayer has now been answered for him. Your father is delivered from this world."
But I would hasten to add, that this prayer will also be fulfilled for every believer in Christ -- not only deliverance from an evil world, but the wicked in our world -- and those who directly deal blows of persecution against the Christian.
For those who have ears to hear, allow me to share the following message that I prepared for September 3, 2006. I not only wish for you to be encouraged, but also pray that you would envision a future rest from your discipleship labors. Take great confidence in the Lord and His prophetic Word and be comforted that your faithful endeavors, in the Lord, will be rewarded and that the Lord will, Himself, in His time, deal with the wicked who, inhabit this [sinfully] fallen world.
There are some segments of Christianity that will use as a sales pitch: "Become a Christian and your life will be a fulfilling." I've always disagreed with this approach, simply because it is patently deceptive. An unbelieving soul's life, can be fulfilled in a number of [earthly] carnal ways and that person can feel quite, "fulfilled."
When Christ calls those to join Him and become His disciples, Christ did not (and does not) promise "fulfillment" as an end in itself. Christ's message to His disciples, was [and will , as long as this earth remains] be a call to commitment and persecution. [John 15 ; 2 Timothy 3:12]
The road of commitment peppered with persecution can be a long and hard one. It can be a very frustrating experience as the Christian is not only misunderstood, but ridiculed and gossiped about in a culture that is becoming evermore (increasingly) hostile and abusive. Right becomes wrong and wrong becomes right [Isaiah 5:20] and the Christian often feels all alone like the little boy with his finger in the dike, attempting to hold back the tidal wave of evil.
Upon the death of my father, one of his pastor friends comforted me by saying: "You know, Nathan, the prayer that your father often prayed in the Lord's Prayer -- "......but deliver us from evil......" -- that prayer has now been answered for him. Your father is delivered from this world."
But I would hasten to add, that this prayer will also be fulfilled for every believer in Christ -- not only deliverance from an evil world, but the wicked in our world -- and those who directly deal blows of persecution against the Christian.
For those who have ears to hear, allow me to share the following message that I prepared for September 3, 2006. I not only wish for you to be encouraged, but also pray that you would envision a future rest from your discipleship labors. Take great confidence in the Lord and His prophetic Word and be comforted that your faithful endeavors, in the Lord, will be rewarded and that the Lord will, Himself, in His time, deal with the wicked who, inhabit this [sinfully] fallen world.
The Eternal Relief Of The Righteous (9/3/06)
Psalm 9:5-17
“The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God.” (Psalm 9:17)
Psalm 9:5-17
“The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God.” (Psalm 9:17)
One key to understanding Holy Scripture:
The culture of our day is increasingly changing its understanding of the definition of the “truth.” “’Scientific’ truth” is regarded paramount and all other reality is beneath this “cultural god.”
Recently my wife and I viewed a history channel special on the “Exodus.” Without exception, all the miracles recorded in Scripture dealing with the Israelite exodus, were explained by some sort of “naturalistic” explanation.
What, by and large, our culture fails to realize, is, that the God who created the universe, needs no natural phenomena to take place in order to make the type of changes in human history that He desires to make. The same God who created the universe is the same Triune God who created human history. He is, by definition “supernatural.” And, what He does, He does, “supernaturally.” His supernatural behavior and acts supersede the scientific. I prefer to refer to “science” not so much as truth, but reality.
When it comes to the truth, Christians who believe in the Triune God look to Christ who claims to be the Truth. For us, “the truth” is a “no brainer.” The Scriptures tell us that in Christ, “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” [Colossians 2:3]
Scripture is replete with examples, that to the unregenerate mind, are contradictory. One example keeps “cropping up” with unbelievers who charge God with not being true to His loving nature. They ask the question: “How can a loving God be a loving God that He claims to be and then send people to hell when they die?”
Some people will continually view God’s Gift, the Bible, as contradictory because they don’t realize that there is such a reality as the “paradox.” A “paradox” is “a statement that seems contradictory, unbelievable, or absurd but that may actually be true in fact.” (Webster)
To say that God is not a God of love, simply because He allows those who choose not to have anything to do with Him, to go to hell, is very unfair. God is, a “God of Love” – but, at the same time, He is a “God of Justice.” He gives the unbelieving soul their “free will” choice. He will not force the sinner and drag him into His Holy heaven! This is not contradictory. This reality is more of a “paradox.” God loves the sinner. But God will punish the sinner if he does not repent. No contradiction here -- only in the unregenerate mind.
The Psalm 9:17 Scripture Focus and Subsequent Understanding Of It:
Certainly if a Christian is living as Christ’s disciple, he will possess his share of enemies. Jesus makes this clear when it comes to even one’s own family. We are also told in one of the New Testament epistles [2 Timothy 3:12] “....all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
We also know from the Scripture that we are to find no amusement in the demise of our enemies:
“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.” (Proverbs 24:17,18)
Finally:
And so, very briefly, I propose that there is no contradiction with the reality of the wicked being cast into hell and with the righteous finding relief in that fact. Usually when we think of the “eternal ‘relief’ of the righteous” we think in terms of heavenly bliss, comfort and perfection. But for a moment, think of the Christian disciple’s relief as an eternal relief apart from his enemies, knowing assuredly that they are no longer able to wreak havoc upon his life and soul!
Without contradiction and without rejoicing over the eternal damnation of the wicked -- those unrighteous enemies of Christ, the Christian disciple can find sweet comfort in the reality that God is true to His Word and that God ultimately punishes the wicked and gives them their chosen destiny! It is a sweet relief to know that the unrighteous will not inhabit heaven to wreak havoc anymore upon the righteous.
It is a sweet relief to know that the wicked will not contaminate the believer’s existence anymore. This is not rejoicing in the pathetic demise of the unbelieving wicked. It is rather, a triumph of victory that the dear soul who trusts Christ, is finally without strife and in a perfect place that cannot molest or destroy his sweet communion and companionship with His Righteous God and Savior. Amen.
Note: The above message and related Scriptures (below) may be utilized in: "A Suggested Format for Home Worship"
Old Testament:
Psalm 1: The righteous as compared to the wicked
Psalm 37: The admonition not to fret over evildoers
Psalm 73: The frustration of the righteous over the wicked and the judgment end of the wicked
New Testament:
Matthew 7:13-29: Those who build their existence upon Christ, as compared to those who don't
Romans 1:18-32: The fate of those who disobey God
2 Timothy 4:1-7: The good fight of faith and finishing the course [race]
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The Christian Faith -- Parts 1-3:
1) What is meant by “Believing” and / or, being, “Saved?”
2) How the saving (believing) process of the Christian Faith takes place
3) What are the tell-tale signs that a person has been “saved” [is a Christian believer]?
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"Of Whom Does the Prophet Speak" by By Victor Buksbazen -- an in-depth view of Isaiah 53 and the prophecy of Christ, hundred of years before his birth. Isaiah 53 underscores the truthfulness of Divine Revelation as exemplified in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures.
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Complete list: Links to all the "Words in Season" topical messages
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Please note: http://christianhomeworship.blogspot.com/ is not intended to discourage Christian worship at another place and / or, particular [formal] denominational churches of worship. As its author, it is my prayer and hope, that many souls will find it, a useful and valuable Christian resource.
Rev. Nathan Bickel -- Bay City, Michigan
