Consequences of Complacency
Jesus has an agenda and is executing a plan. It is vastly different than many expect. I don't say this from my observation of the world, or those near me, I say it because the Bible says it! The Bible says that many are complacent as His plan comes into view. For many years the stage has been set. Nations that will coalesce against Him have been brought into agreement nearly silently. The world economic conditions have ripened almost without any real fanfare. The wind, and the waves, and the rumbling earth have announced the arrival of that day like a gathering midsummer storm. We can hear the thunder, and the breeze is starting to pick up. The temperature is slowly dropping...it is that feeling just before the downpour and the crashing thunder and blinding lightning, when you realize a storm has just crept up on you and you better get inside quickly. The Bible says the storm IS coming, and it is a doozey.
The Bible says despite the obvious conditions, and the plan written out thousands of years in advance, many are complacent. As long as they remain somewhat comfortable...they can still see the sun, and the wind hasn't picked up too much yet...they will ignore what is guaranteed to happen:
Consequences of Complacency
Isaiah 32:9 Rise up, you women who are at ease, Hear my voice; You complacent daughters, Give ear to my speech. 10 In a year and some days You will be troubled, you complacent women; For the vintage will fail, The gathering will not come.(Resources are going to run out...comfort is going) 11 Tremble, you women who are at ease; Be troubled, you complacent ones; Strip yourselves, make yourselves bare, And gird sackcloth on your waists. 12 People shall mourn upon their breasts For the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. 13 On the land of my people will come up thorns and briers, Yes, on all the happy homes in the joyous city; 14 Because the palaces will be forsaken, The bustling city will be deserted. The forts and towers will become lairs forever, A joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks— 15 Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, And the fruitful field is counted as a forest.
"Until the Spirit is Poured out"...this is the promise of Joel 2:28-32. This is a promise that is kept in full by God at the time of the end of the age of sin, when Jesus returns. Until that time, there is much to do. The prophecy of the pouring out of the Spirit is an invitation. Prophecy is generally an invitation, not a blanket promise. In fact, look at what Joel says:
Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.
"It shall come afterward." "After what?", we should ask. This is the answer:
Joel 2:12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. 14 Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him— A grain offering and a drink offering For the Lord your God?
The pouring out of the Spirit on all of God's servants is in response to a wholehearted response to God before a time of judgment...specifically the judgments listed in Revelation 6. Great trouble is guaranteed to come to planet earth. As Jesus removes His hand of restraint from the desire of mankind to live in its own wisdom, and the evil in mans heart is allowed to blossom, the Bible describes some pretty intense things happening all in the span of 3.5 years. World war, widespread famine, disease, and pestilence. The widespread persecution of those who are loyal to Jesus. The fourth seal of Revelation 6 describes the death of 1/4 of the earth's population in two years. By 2020 (seven years from now) the population will be approx 8 billion people. The Bible says approx 2 billion will die in approx two years time. This is really intense. Those who approach these days casually will be very shocked as they unfold. That is why God desires a wholehearted response: anything less is unsafe ground to stand on as His plan is executed. God promises that this plan of His will "shake everything that can be shaken.". There is only one place that will not be shaken: where God stands. If He is doing the shaking, He is the only one standing on solid ground. The closer we stand to Him, the less shaking we will feel. His desire is that all would press in to Him and be spared the effects of the shaking that WILL occur.
God refuses to demand wholeheartedness from His sons and daughters. This message is to the church. "Daughters" implies those already in a relationship with Him. This isn't about saved vs. unsaved, this is about wholehearted (hot after God) vs. Casual (lukewarm). This is describing a return to a Sermon on the Mount lifestyle: recognizing the gap between me and God, being not ok about it and asking God to draw me close, give me hunger for Him, and make me wholehearted, and then responding with secret generosity, prayer, fasting...reaching for God with all our heart, soul, and strength (time, money, talents).
The consequences of being casual about the execution of Jesus' plan are tragic. Taking a wait and see attitude about a swiftly approaching thunder storm when you have a couple of miles to walk home ends up ugly, taking a casual approach to THIS storm is catastrophic:
Matthew 24: 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
This was Jesus talking to His disciples. He says "many will be offended.". What is coming is so intense, so jarring (shaking), that if disciples of Jesus aren't prepared, "many" will be offended and fall away. Paul said before Jesus returns, there will be a great falling away. The enemies plan will sound so good. So loving, so smart, so just...but it will end in widespread destruction. Now is the time for me to train my ear to the only Wise King. Then I will stand where He stands, love what He loves, hate what He hates, and I will dance in the shaking!
Isaiah 32:18 My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places, 19 Though hail comes down on the forest, And the city is brought low in humiliation. 20 Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, Who send out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey.
Revelation 3: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
The Bible says despite the obvious conditions, and the plan written out thousands of years in advance, many are complacent. As long as they remain somewhat comfortable...they can still see the sun, and the wind hasn't picked up too much yet...they will ignore what is guaranteed to happen:
Consequences of Complacency
Isaiah 32:9 Rise up, you women who are at ease, Hear my voice; You complacent daughters, Give ear to my speech. 10 In a year and some days You will be troubled, you complacent women; For the vintage will fail, The gathering will not come.(Resources are going to run out...comfort is going) 11 Tremble, you women who are at ease; Be troubled, you complacent ones; Strip yourselves, make yourselves bare, And gird sackcloth on your waists. 12 People shall mourn upon their breasts For the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. 13 On the land of my people will come up thorns and briers, Yes, on all the happy homes in the joyous city; 14 Because the palaces will be forsaken, The bustling city will be deserted. The forts and towers will become lairs forever, A joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks— 15 Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, And the fruitful field is counted as a forest.
"Until the Spirit is Poured out"...this is the promise of Joel 2:28-32. This is a promise that is kept in full by God at the time of the end of the age of sin, when Jesus returns. Until that time, there is much to do. The prophecy of the pouring out of the Spirit is an invitation. Prophecy is generally an invitation, not a blanket promise. In fact, look at what Joel says:
Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.
"It shall come afterward." "After what?", we should ask. This is the answer:
Joel 2:12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. 14 Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him— A grain offering and a drink offering For the Lord your God?
The pouring out of the Spirit on all of God's servants is in response to a wholehearted response to God before a time of judgment...specifically the judgments listed in Revelation 6. Great trouble is guaranteed to come to planet earth. As Jesus removes His hand of restraint from the desire of mankind to live in its own wisdom, and the evil in mans heart is allowed to blossom, the Bible describes some pretty intense things happening all in the span of 3.5 years. World war, widespread famine, disease, and pestilence. The widespread persecution of those who are loyal to Jesus. The fourth seal of Revelation 6 describes the death of 1/4 of the earth's population in two years. By 2020 (seven years from now) the population will be approx 8 billion people. The Bible says approx 2 billion will die in approx two years time. This is really intense. Those who approach these days casually will be very shocked as they unfold. That is why God desires a wholehearted response: anything less is unsafe ground to stand on as His plan is executed. God promises that this plan of His will "shake everything that can be shaken.". There is only one place that will not be shaken: where God stands. If He is doing the shaking, He is the only one standing on solid ground. The closer we stand to Him, the less shaking we will feel. His desire is that all would press in to Him and be spared the effects of the shaking that WILL occur.
God refuses to demand wholeheartedness from His sons and daughters. This message is to the church. "Daughters" implies those already in a relationship with Him. This isn't about saved vs. unsaved, this is about wholehearted (hot after God) vs. Casual (lukewarm). This is describing a return to a Sermon on the Mount lifestyle: recognizing the gap between me and God, being not ok about it and asking God to draw me close, give me hunger for Him, and make me wholehearted, and then responding with secret generosity, prayer, fasting...reaching for God with all our heart, soul, and strength (time, money, talents).
The consequences of being casual about the execution of Jesus' plan are tragic. Taking a wait and see attitude about a swiftly approaching thunder storm when you have a couple of miles to walk home ends up ugly, taking a casual approach to THIS storm is catastrophic:
Matthew 24: 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
This was Jesus talking to His disciples. He says "many will be offended.". What is coming is so intense, so jarring (shaking), that if disciples of Jesus aren't prepared, "many" will be offended and fall away. Paul said before Jesus returns, there will be a great falling away. The enemies plan will sound so good. So loving, so smart, so just...but it will end in widespread destruction. Now is the time for me to train my ear to the only Wise King. Then I will stand where He stands, love what He loves, hate what He hates, and I will dance in the shaking!
Isaiah 32:18 My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places, 19 Though hail comes down on the forest, And the city is brought low in humiliation. 20 Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, Who send out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey.
Revelation 3: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Comments
Post a Comment
I appreciate your comments.