A Voice in the Wilderness |
*** PORTIONS *** Re: Enemies of God Must not Build (Ezra 4:2-5) "Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here." (vs2) Oh wonderful! Let us join your church, teach your Sunday school classes, staff your nursery, sing in your choir; ever since I went forward at the Billy Graham meeting, and at camp (several summers in a row), made committments to Him, gave my life to Jesus; I've been a Christian and have become spirit-filled. I've been doing all sorts of exploits for God, performing miracles, and worshiping every chance I get. I love to worship. I just love to praise the Lord! "But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers of Israel said to them, It is not for you to build a house for our God with us; but we ourselves together will build unto Jehovah, the God of Israel.." (vs3) Sad-to-say, today we don't see the equivalent of this verse very much. Instead, churches are having car washes and bake sales to get money from their unsaved 'customers'. When some other unbeliever offers to help with something, they are welcomed with open arms, with boasts of how "the Lord led that person to us to help". While the so-called Believers are worshiping, they pay unbelievers to watch over their babies in the nursery. To lure others in, they get them to sing in the choir...'con' them in, to hear the Gospel-by-stealth. We don't see much of "IT IS -NOT- FOR YOU". Churches are not content to trust the Lord and say, "..WE OURSELVES TOGETHER WILL...serve the Lord". But... didn't you hear them? They -said- that they've been worshiping God. They -said- that they are "Christians". Aren't you being awfully "judgmental"? Just who do you think you are, to reject them out-of-hand; to -rebuff- them so; when they make "claims-for-Christ"! Notice what happened when the offer was refused: "Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah. They troubled them in building..." and goes on to described how they tried to frustrate the work. (vs4-5) Indeed, when unbelievers are labeled for what they are, "Unbelievers", they certainly stir things up. I dare say the greatest compromise in church congregations is the choir. And also; where do most congregational conflicts begin? Having been choir director a lot in my younger years, I can tell you: the -CHOIR-! They are allowed in, and they behave like "counsellors" to -rebellion- against God's holiness. Always remember: "Holy" is NOT a -feeling-. Holiness is a -position-. Holiness is a position of "separation". 'Cut' away from, and unto. Away from the world and sin; and unto God. If we have the world in-amongst us when we serve God, we are not holy... BY DEFINITION. Isaiah saw the "Holy, holy, holy.." God. (Is6:3) Peter reminds us that it is written, "Be holy, because I [God] am holy". (1Pet1:16) Holiness is not walking along, head upturned at a certain angle, hands placed palms-together pointed upwards, eyes in a blank-empty stare, moaning and groaning chants and pious cooings. Holiness is being pure from sin, and keeping sinners away when we are in the presence of the Holy God, the Most High. OF COURSE the unregenerate stir things up if you do not pacify them by inviting them in! Why? vs1 answers this. In spite of their claims to having been worshiping God, who/what were they? "..the ADVERSARIES.." They follow their god, satan. Who/what is satan? "..your -ADVERSARY- the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1Pet5:8) If you don't invite them in, certainly they will be angry. But if you let them in, they will stir things up. That is satan's purpose, to try to "devour", like the "vicious wolves" Paul warns about. (Acts20:29) They can't devour if you don't let them in! If you claim to worship God, how could you possibly -DARE- to invite God's enemies in to join in fellowship! Oh, that there might be more like Zerubbabel and Jeshua, who will be willing and bold enough to say: It is not for you (Stay away!)...we ourselves together...will serve our Holy God in purity. Amen! ![]() |