Sin
SPIRITUAL ADULTERY 10.4.09
“The LORD said also to me in the days of Josiah the king; ‘Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot. And I said, after she had done all these things, ‘Return to Me.’ But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also. So it came to pass through her casual harlotry, that she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me with her whole heart, but in pretense,’ says the LORD. Then the LORD said to me, ‘Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.” Jeremiah 3: 6-11 NKJV
The LORD revealed these words to Jeremiah over 100 years after the LORD had brought the Assyrians against the northern kingdom of Israel. The Assyrians conquered Israel destroying cities, and carrying away a large number of the population into captivity. They never returned again to establish a nation, but were assimilated into the other nations. He did this because she had “played the harlot” by worshiping idols made of trees and stones, and committed spiritual adultery against the one true living God. Adultery is when a spouse has sexual relations outside of their marriage covenant. This most intimate of physical affections is only holy in the covenant relationship of marriage. God had formed a covenant relationship with Israel that allowed an intimacy of living with God. Israel received His blessings of revelation, guidance, prosperity, protection, love, mercy and grace as long as she remained spiritually true to Him. He calls His punishment of Israel a “divorce”; a severing of a relationship God had fully invested in preserving without violating Israel’s freewill to choose to do the same. Israel had turned completely away from God, and was destroyed.
Judah witnessed the destruction of Israel, and was saved from the Assyrian army by an intervention of an angel from God. Since that time Judah had fallen into more extensive idolatry by committing “harlotry” (spiritual adultery), and making a “pretense” of worshiping the LORD in His temple. God considered this sin of worshiping Him as being equal to these other gods more evil than completely turning away from Him. To choose not to worship God will bring punishment, but to worship Him as common with the teachings of other so called gods, prophets, teachers, enlightened one’s, etc. will also cause one to receive God’s just wrath in judgment. Jeremiah lived to see Judah conquered by the Babylonians, and Jerusalem along with the temple of God was destroyed. Judah was allowed to return after 70 years in order for God to fulfill His promise of bringing the Messiah (Christ) Jesus the Son of God through the lineage of King David of the tribe of Judah.
“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, ‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.’ But He answered and said to them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12: 38-40 NKJV
Most of the Jewish religious leaders living when Jesus was on the earth did not accept Jesus as the Christ. During His life time they heard His teachings, and even witnessed some of His miracles. Nevertheless, they refused to be satisfied, and demanded a sign. These men ignorantly were demanding God please them. Jesus calls them “an evil and adulterous generation” for seeking further revelation and proofs than Jesus had already undeniably and abundantly provided. These men were a part of a people living in a covenant relationship under the Old Testament- a Testament that prophesied of a New Testament (covenant) to be revealed with the coming of the Messiah. These men were violating the will of God, and the covenant by which they were joined to Him. They were committing spiritual adultery by rejecting the Son of God. These men were judged, and Jerusalem along with the temple were utterly destroyed (Matthew 24: 1-2). The Christians had escaped destruction by believing and acting upon the prophecy of Jesus (Matthew 24: 15-22).
“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” Hebrews 2: 1-4 NKJV
The Old Testament referred to as the “word spoken through angels” was to be followed strictly. Those who did not were rejected, divorced from God, and the nations of Israel and Judah were utterly destroyed. The New covenant referred to as “so great a salvation” must be followed with all diligence and a full commitment of self. To do less puts one in danger of the wrath of God in His judgment. To do less dishonors the covenant we’ve entered into with the living God. Let us honor our partner in this covenant as superior to any other. Let us not worship the LORD our God through His Son Jesus Christ with any pretense of conscience or action; our Covenant Partner knows our hearts. Let us believe and follow all of God’s revelation, and live according to the New Testament of Jesus that is the only Law unto salvation. There are blessings in the Covenant! ~ LRW
ANGRY WITH GOD 10.11.09
“The LORD said also to me in the days of Josiah the king; ‘Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot. And I said, after she had done all these things, ‘Return to Me.’ But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also. So it came to pass through her casual harlotry, that she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me with her whole heart, but in pretense,’ says the LORD. Then the LORD said to me, ‘Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.” Jeremiah 3: 6-11 NKJV
The LORD revealed these words to Jeremiah over 100 years after the LORD had brought the Assyrians against the northern kingdom of Israel. The Assyrians conquered Israel destroying cities, and carrying away a large number of the population into captivity. They never returned again to establish a nation, but were assimilated into the other nations. He did this because she had “played the harlot” by worshiping idols made of trees and stones, and committed spiritual adultery against the one true living God. Adultery is when a spouse has sexual relations outside of their marriage covenant. This most intimate of physical affections is only holy in the covenant relationship of marriage. God had formed a covenant relationship with Israel that allowed an intimacy of living with God. Israel received His blessings of revelation, guidance, prosperity, protection, love, mercy and grace as long as she remained spiritually true to Him. He calls His punishment of Israel a “divorce”; a severing of a relationship God had fully invested in preserving without violating Israel’s freewill to choose to do the same. Israel had turned completely away from God, and was destroyed.
Judah witnessed the destruction of Israel, and was saved from the Assyrian army by an intervention of an angel from God. Since that time Judah had fallen into more extensive idolatry by committing “harlotry” (spiritual adultery), and making a “pretense” of worshiping the LORD in His temple. God considered this sin of worshiping Him as being equal to these other gods more evil than completely turning away from Him. To choose not to worship God will bring punishment, but to worship Him as common with the teachings of other so called gods, prophets, teachers, enlightened one’s, etc. will also cause one to receive God’s just wrath in judgment. Jeremiah lived to see Judah conquered by the Babylonians, and Jerusalem along with the temple of God was destroyed. Judah was allowed to return after 70 years in order for God to fulfill His promise of bringing the Messiah (Christ) Jesus the Son of God through the lineage of King David of the tribe of Judah.
“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, ‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.’ But He answered and said to them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12: 38-40 NKJV
Most of the Jewish religious leaders living when Jesus was on the earth did not accept Jesus as the Christ. During His life time they heard His teachings, and even witnessed some of His miracles. Nevertheless, they refused to be satisfied, and demanded a sign. These men ignorantly were demanding God please them. Jesus calls them “an evil and adulterous generation” for seeking further revelation and proofs than Jesus had already undeniably and abundantly provided. These men were a part of a people living in a covenant relationship under the Old Testament- a Testament that prophesied of a New Testament (covenant) to be revealed with the coming of the Messiah. These men were violating the will of God, and the covenant by which they were joined to Him. They were committing spiritual adultery by rejecting the Son of God. These men were judged, and Jerusalem along with the temple were utterly destroyed (Matthew 24: 1-2). The Christians had escaped destruction by believing and acting upon the prophecy of Jesus (Matthew 24: 15-22).
“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” Hebrews 2: 1-4 NKJV
The Old Testament referred to as the “word spoken through angels” was to be followed strictly. Those who did not were rejected, divorced from God, and the nations of Israel and Judah were utterly destroyed. The New covenant referred to as “so great a salvation” must be followed with all diligence and a full commitment of self. To do less puts one in danger of the wrath of God in His judgment. To do less dishonors the covenant we’ve entered into with the living God. Let us honor our partner in this covenant as superior to any other. Let us not worship the LORD our God through His Son Jesus Christ with any pretense of conscience or action; our Covenant Partner knows our hearts. Let us believe and follow all of God’s revelation, and live according to the New Testament of Jesus that is the only Law unto salvation. There are blessings in the Covenant! ~ LRW
TRADITION 10.25.09
Tradition is a word that in the minds of most people brings thoughts of family and friends enjoying a reoccurring event. Traditions are teachings that have been passed to others; and can be good or bad depending on their source, truthfulness, and activities of the participants.
“But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.” 2 Thessalonians 3: 6
Paul uses the word “tradition” in regards to those things that are in accordance with the teachings of the “Lord Jesus Christ”, and in this passage is dealing with a specific sin being committed by some of the brethren at the church in Thessalonica. The “tradition” of the revealed New Testament of Jesus is what we are to live by and pass on to others.
“Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” Matthew 15
Notice that the scribes and Pharisees are accusing Jesus and disciples of doing wrong (sin), because they “transgress the tradition of the elders” in regards to washing their hands before eating. To transgress is to act contrary to an ordinance so they are being accused of breaking a law. Jesus responds that they “transgress the commandment of God”, and gives one example. These Pharisees were appealing to the traditions of the elders, and Jesus was appealing to the commandments of God contained in the Law revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai. The specific “tradition of the elders” that Jesus mentions is speaking of someone whose parents are in financial need, but the tradition taught that it was more important for money to be given as “a gift to God” than to be given to their parents in need. The religious leaders benefited from these additional contributions at the expense of the individual’s parents poverty. This was a perversion of the Law of God, because it violated the commandment for a child to honor their parents. The Law of God commanded that a person who dishonored their parents was to be put to death. Jesus tells the scribes and Pharisees, “Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.” He relates a prophecy from Isaiah foretelling the attitude of heart these men would have, and that they would be “Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” The result was a vain worship of God.
Jesus says of those who follow the traditions of men in the place of the commandments of God: “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”. Jesus teaches the multitude and the disciples that the evil that defiles a man comes from within his own heart, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile ones’ soul. All today who place the traditions of men above the tradition of the revelation of Jesus Christ are defiling their souls with evil. Jesus says the teachers and their followers will be uprooted by God. They are blind to the tradition of God, and by following their own traditions they will fall into a ditch. The teachers who are suppose to be studying God’s word to help others see clearly will be judged, but those who blindly follow them without learning the tradition of God through the revelation of Jesus Christ will also be judged by God.
Are you being led by the revealed word of God or are you being led by the traditions of men? I beg you to follow the word of God so that you may see clearly how to worship your God, and live a life that truly honors Him. ~ LRW
ANGUISH OF SPIRIT 2.7.10
Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage—in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.
Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. Exodus 1: 8-17
The children had been strangers in the land of Egypt for 400 years, and for most of that time they had been in bondage. The Egyptians feared them, because they had grown great in number. They were the slave labor force for the Egyptians, and their lives were difficult. It was a cruel bondage under task masters who did what was necessary to force them to work, and a policy of male infant genocide had been proclaimed by the king.
Moses and Aaron arrive according to the LORD’S will, and tell Pharaoh to let the people go three days journey to sacrifice to the LORD. Pharaoh responds with more hardship.
“You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it.” Exodus 5: 7-8a.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD I was not known to them. I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the LORD.’” So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. Exodus 6: 1-9
Moses is bringing good news that the LORD will deliver them. The LORD is not even placing conditions on them to do this. He is acting on His part of the covenant to fulfill the promises to Abraham, and all they had to do was wait for it to happen. It seems that this ongoing condition and increase in their burdens had caused them to lose hope, and they were in anguish of spirit. They were unable to free themselves or to take control of the country. It should have been obvious to them that they needed the LORD to save them, and they should have welcomed the news. They had lost faith.
We face many trials in this life. Some are common to man, some are common to our society (which is still more comfortable than most), and some are common to being a child of God. If we allow ourselves to become discouraged we will view our situation as one of cruel bondage and, in anguish of spirit, we will have greater difficulty listening to the words of God. It is in times of difficulty that we need to know that God is with us, and will deliver us in His time.
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4: 12-13
Sin places us in anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. Most people in this condition willfully ignore it or try to ease the pain with some sinful pleasure. Christians who fall into this trap are refusing to heed the words of the one true living God who provided them salvation, and continues to offer guidance through prayer, Providence, and His word. This willful refusal to repent and turn to God places them in a spiritually dangerous position that could cause them to be lost. Consider how the apostle Peter responded to the newly converted Simon who had been a sorcerer and had committed sin by trying to by the power to give the gift of the Holy Spirit to others.
“Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” Acts 8: 22-23
Sin had made Simon miserable and he repented. Simon was able to have the peace of God, and so is everyone who will faithfully rely upon Him.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 6-7 ~ LRW
HOMOSEXUALITY by Rhonda Harper 2.21.10
Life affords us an opportunity to encounter all manner of people who hold all manner of beliefs dear to their hearts. Many of these people are walking as faithfully as possible in the service of the Father, daily striving to fulfill His will by submitting their lives to His Word. Unfortunately, the thought process of today’s society is for all to be tolerant and accepting of everyone, as they perceive the LORD to be so accepting. Is God as ‘tolerant and accepting’ as these people would have us believe? Through deep study and much prayer, I cannot see God in that light. I do not base this decision on my personal opinion, for I am only one of God’s creation. In Romans 1:26-32, the apostle Paul (guided by the Holy Spirit) wrote, “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over Life to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Obviously there are people whose lives are not in accordance with God’s desires for His people.
In Romans 1: 20-23, we read, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” Some people I hold dear in my heart are walking paths God does not approve. They are telling us that God loves them no matter how they conduct their lives. God does love them; but that love does not approve of their actions. God loves you, but He hates lying. God does not approve of pre-marital sex, but instead of hating the participants, loves them and wants them to be saved. Those of us who are parents can almost comprehend this love God has for us. When our children misbehave, we disapprove and punish them as is fitting the wrong. But we never stop loving our children for their wrongs. Many parents have stood by as their children have walked a path leading them farther and farther from God’s will. With tears and prayers, these parents never stopped loving the erring children, but, sometimes gently, sometimes more firmly, urged them to change their ways. God, also, does not give up on His erring children, but as a parent, He recognized more quickly than we that at some point in time you simply turn your children over to the lifestyle they refuse to relinquish. People who live this lifestyle, regardless of how religious or diligently in their own mind they attempt to have a relationship with God, are deluding themselves. In truth, they have elevated their need to justify their sinful practice above the will of God, and are judged by God the same way as an idol worshiper.
In the beginning of time, God created man in His image. He brought all the animals to Adam for Adam to name and yet, not one of those animals was found to be suitable as a helper for Adam. For this reason, God created a woman from Adam. They were to live together as one flesh, leaving their own parents. (Genesis 2:18-25) God created a man and a woman. Nowhere in His word does He ever approve of 2 men or 2 women living together as a married couple instead of one man and one woman. In several places, God specifically condemns this practice.
One cannot say that God made him/her to be homosexual, because God created perfection and not aberrant beings. IF God had been the one to create people as homosexual, He would be overriding His own command for the couples to populate the earth (Genesis 9:1) since this is impossible for homosexual couples. God also granted man the freedom to decide how to live his own life. If man is given the freedom to choose, how can someone say, “God created me this way? I have no choice in whether I am homosexual or heterosexual.”?
If God approved of homosexuality, there would not be so many warnings in the Bible against it. (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10) If God had created you to be homosexual, He would not have led the apostle Paul to write the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 in naming the practice as unacceptable, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” but then turn around and point out in verse 11, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
Praise God, we can be forgiven of our sins and through the love and support of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome our weaknesses. Whether our weakness is controlling our tongues, avoiding drunkenness or gluttony, or practicing homosexuality, God will forgive and accept with open arms the soul who comes penitently to Him, seeking to reorder his/her life in accordance with God’s will.
I have several friends who are homosexual whose souls I pray for daily. But I pray for them as I do any of my other friends who are battling any other evil in their own life. I pray for their souls just as I pray for my own, for I, too, have many faults which can prevent me from entering God’s kingdom, if I persist in them. You know your own personal weaknesses. You probably pray for God to help you in these areas. If you want others to help you pray, or pray for you, just ask. To my homosexual friends I will ask this, please do not hate me for this article. Some of you have been my friends for many, many years, and I pray we can be friends for the rest of our lives. If you want to pursue this issue with me, I am more than willing to hear you and study God’s word with you, without passing my own judgment. It is not my place to judge you, nor yours to judge me, but God’s place. He is the Judge. ~RJH