"And Elijah came to all the people, and said,
'How long will you falter between two opinions?
If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, follow him.'”
1st Kings 18:21
This was a time in Israel when there were many false prophets, and they swayed the people greatly. There was a severe famine in the land, but the people didn't get it - that the famine on the land was judgment because of their sin. Ahab the king accused the true prophet Elijah of being "the troubler of Israel" because Elijah had prayed and withheld rain, which produced the famine. But Elijah made it very clear to the king, that it was the king himself who was the troubler of Israel.
vs 18:
"And he (Elijah) answered,
'I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have,
in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord
and have followed the Baals (false gods).'"
Sin brings judgment. It's not enough to flock to churches after an event like 9/11. Oh how spiritual the people became after such a horrendous judgment. But it didn't last. Not long after 9/11 the people returned to their evil ways and they forgot the portentous meaning of the terror attack that God had not prevented.
Elijah rebuked the people for allowing false gods to sway them, but they couldn't make a sound decision. They acknowledged God, but their hearts were indecisive, swayed by the charisma of the false prophets.
America is under the sway of evil, involved in sins more terrible than has ever been the case since the country was founded. A severe judgment fell upon America on 9/11, and several more severe judgments brought floods and tornadoes and hurricanes, and fires and all manner of suffering. But these had no lasting effect on the people.
The patience of God comes to an end because in general, the heart of the people has not clung to the God who raised America up and kept her, but has gone after the sins of the world. The people have sat under the false teaching that you can "have your best life now," and that you can command health and prosperity. "God doesn't want you sick or poor," they say. The people have been sold a God who is falsely portrayed, and that is clear to anyone who knows the Word of God. This is a prime example of taking the Lord's name in vain. Taking his name in vain is not using "swear words," it's speaking false doctrine and lies in the name of the Lord.
The heart of the people is consumed with their recreations. Some go to the churches, but on Monday morning they've forgotten about the Lord and they immerse themselves in their interests.
Friends, make up your minds. You can't have it both ways. You're either sold out to the Lord completely, or you're sold out to the world. The time is now. The Lord has said that he will vomit the lukewarm out of his mouth. You have to make the decision whether to follow the Lord with all of your heart, or forget about him and go your own way, just don't be lukewarm.
In the Book of Revelation, the church of Laodicea represents the church of "the last days," and it is characterized by this very thing: a lackadaisical lukewarmness, a church that meets on Sundays to make the people feel they're ok because they've gone to church, but that has no real root or heart for the Lord. Jesus said to this Laodicean church:
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.
I could wish you were cold or hot.
So then, BECAUSE you are lukewarm,
and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth."
Revelation 3:15-16
Give it some serious thought. Days of judgment are coming and if your heart isn't settled on the Lord, you won't stand - you won't be ABLE to stand, because the Lord won't be with you. He has vomited such people out of his mouth. Consider what God has presented in his Word, and make a sound decision.
"...choose ye this day whom you will serve..."
Joshua 24:15
"As the deer pants for the water brooks,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?"
Psalm 42:2
In his distress, the heart of the psalmist longs to know the touch of God once again. When encountering the hardships of life, he instinctively knows that only God can be his refuge. He longs to hear from God, to be touched by him. Sometimes God seems far off when we're in the midst of deep trials, and in these times we yearn, oh how we yearn, for his touch once again. Nothing else and no one else can truly reach our hearts in hard times, and we yearn for the only One who can.
The psalmist speaks to himself and counsels his own soul to endure and to wait on the Lord knowing full well that God WILL move on his behalf and the time will come when he will praise him yet again for bringing him through.
vs: 5
"Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise him
for the help of his countenance."
Then the psalmist reminds himself of the times in the past when God moved mightily on his behalf, naming the specific times and places where he experienced the victorious power of God. This is a practice that can change everything for you. Think back on the times when God moved mightily in your life, changing things, showing his love and care for you.
vs 6:
"O my God, my soul is cast down within me,
THEREFORE I WILL REMEMBER you from the land of the Jordan,
and from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar."
The Jordan, Mount Hermon, the hill at Mizar - these were the places where David experienced God in a mighty way in his life, and by meditating on those stories he strengthened himself to hang on, knowing God has this too.
When in deep trial, think back upon the times when the Lord has mightily touched you and brought you through. It's good to keep a journal so that in times of heartache one can go back and remind himself of the great things the Lord has done in his life. Meditate on each occurrence and how God brought the victory, and that will strongly encourage you to endure, knowing that the same God who brought you through before, will bring you through again. It will strengthen you to keep your hope and your trust in him when all looks dark.
Speak to yourself! Counsel yourself, remind yourself, encourage yourself - that you SHALL yet again see the touch of God that will carry you through.
vs 11:
"Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise him,
the help of my countenance and my God."
And then - wait for him. Blessed is the man who has learned the secret of waiting patiently on the Lord, because:
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all."
Psalm 34:19
"Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.'" Leviticus 19:2 What does it mean to be "holy"? First, let's look at what it does NOT mean. A person who is holy is not one who goes around somberly performing religious rites. A person who is holy is not one who adorns his body with religious jewelry, crosses, rosaries, or medals. A person who is holy is not one who is always grim and gloomy. A person who is holy is one who has been called out of the world to be among a people set apart to God. One is accounted holy when he/she is born again. Being born again sets one apart from the rest of mankind. In the Temple, there is a golden cup which is holy. That means that cup is set apart for holy use. A person who is holy, is one who has been set apart from all others. A person who is holy is one who does not follow the crowds, who does not live according to the culture and traditions of man. A person who is holy is simply one who abides in the Word of God, feeding daily on his Word, and giving heed to all he has said. A person who is holy is one who has surrendered himself and his life to his Creator. That does not mean that he dwells in some cave somewhere. On the contrary, the person who lives surrendered in love to his God - this one will lead a more exciting and satisfying life than any other. To follow Jesus is quite the adventure. One never knows what he will do next. "Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. SO IS EVERYONE who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:7-8 "So is everyone…" The Holy Spirit is likened to the wind. You hear it and you see the effects of it, but you can't see where it starts or where it ends - it's totally unpredictable. "So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." That person lives in surrender to the Lord, and that means that the Lord will be directing every aspect of his life. The Lord will nudge him to speak to this one, encourage that one, go to a certain place and wait for direction. He needs always to be in the right place at the right time. It's exciting because when one gets up in the morning he has no idea what the Lord's plan for that day will be. "So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." That person lives in the realm of the supernatural, witnessing the things the Lord will say or do through him. The joy in that is like no other. To be "holy," is a choice one makes to be separate from the world, separate to his God, always watching and available, willing for the Lord to change his plan for the day, willing to respond to whatever the Lord sets up. A person who is holy is always mindful that he represents Jesus Christ to an unregenerate world, willing to be that light in the darkness so that the Lord can draw unbelievers by the light they observe in that person who shines in the darkness. A person who is holy loves the Lord with all his heart, and loves people - always drawing them to escape from "the world" and to joyfully surrender to the God who brought them into the world and has a plan for their lives if only they will enter in. That's what holiness is. It's not religion. It's relationship. It's joyful surrender. It's an unparalleled adventure.