Zeal for His will

 This morning, it would seem the theme of "Zeal," would go in another direction.  

There is another who is "zealous" to do and to act.  "O Lucifer, son of the morning! art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend...I will exalt...I will ascend...I will be like the most High." (Isa 14.13,14)

The first mention of "will" in scripture is when the Lord God said He would "make an help meet" for the first man on earth.  This was good.  The second mention of will was not good. The Lord God issued a decree to judge the one who caused the man and woman to sin against their Maker.  "I will put enmity between thee and the woman..." (Gen 2.18, 3.15)  Even though the next mention of His "will" is all destruction, be reminded that the promise of a Saviour is given in Gen 3.15.  

The Lord Jesus plainly spoke of why He came;  "Father...not My will but Thine be done." (Lk 22.42)

Because our nature is to do the opposite of everything right and true, we must look to the scripture to follow His will.  Some things are His will without question; "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, Honor thy father and thy mother, don't steal, covet...." (Exo 20).  But what about the nuances of life?  Should I work on Sunday? Should I let my child go to this new friends house? Should I answer this lunatic's questions about what I believe?

Jeremiah reminded us that the Lord knows us very intimately and has an "expected end" for us.  (Jer 29.11) We also know that it is His will to "give thanks" for ever thing, good or bad. (I Thes 5.18) But what about all that is in between?

It is the "zealous" belief of this blogger that when one "conforms" to all that is according to scripture (Rom 12.2) and "delights" in "the Lord," (Ps 37.4), His will is mostly made known.  With all the rest we must be patient and wait on the nudging of the Holy Spirit towards one thing or another.

When one cannot know the will of God, it has been the experience of this believer that there are two choices; First, if permitted, wait! Second, if a decision must be made, then choose the one closest to scripture, according to the Spirit's leading.  The Lord knows your heart on every given matter.  Trust Him.

Be "zealous" to do His will and peace will be your reward.

Zeal for destruction...

The last post was given with thankfulness of "the zeal of the Lord"  from a loving, tender heart to give believers His best.  Today, that same zeal will go in the opposite direction.

Nothing disturbs this believer more than the grand statement, "God is love," standing alone among all His other attributes.  It causes one to be misled and perform "those things which are not convenient/Sin!" (Rom 1.28-32).  

It is wonderful to note His love for His children as well as the mercy and compassion that follows.  However, it would be error to preach/teach only that doctrine.  Because He is holy, the only way we can get to Him, of course is through His Son, the Lord Jesus.  Because He is holy, that holiness cannot look on sin in any form.  (1 Sam 2.2,  I Pet 1.15, 16, Isa 57.15, Lev 11.44-47, Lev 19.2, Eph 1.4, Ps 96.9, Isa 6.1-13, Ps 103.1-22)

Let's take a look at current devotional reading in Isaiah 13.6, 9 and 11.

"Howl ye; for the DAY OF THE LORD is at hand it SHALL COME as a destruction from the Almighty...Behold, the DAY OF THE LORD cometh cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and HE SHALL destroy the sinners thereof out of it...And I WILL punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I WILL cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease and WILL lay low the haughtiness of the terrible."

If we would understand some of His nature, we must allow that His holiness must be justified.  All the scripture references noted above testify of His holiness.  We cannot come near Him because of that.  Our sinful flesh, even those that have been washed by the blood of the Lamb, would defile His holiness and that cannot be.  So then, how are we to escape such fiery judgement and destruction?  In John 14.6 the Lord Jesus tells us plainly that "(HE) is the way, the truth, the life and NO MAN cometh to the Father but by me."  We are saved from eternal destruction, through Him.  We pray in the Holy Spirit, by Him.  We CANNOT get to God apart from Him!  He lived a sinless, perfect life when we could not.

The old preacher pointed out that to go to God apart from the Lord Jesus is destruction.  We are not sinless and perfect and apart from the Lord Jesus never could be. It is indeed sobering to think of One so powerful as to destroy "sinners for their iniquity." (Isa 13.11)  

This destruction is complete.  Scripture also points out in references too numerous to mention, the destruction that will be the "lake of fire" when this life is over.  Bear in mind this is eternal damnation. No turning back once it is done.  Look it up. There are 54 verses in 17 of 66 books of the Bible that tell of that awful place.  Among others, the "UNBELIEVING" (Rev 21.8) are of the number that will end up in this dark, sad place where "the worm dieth not."(Mk 9.44-48)

How does one escape the "zeal" of the Lord to also perform destruction on the unbelieving?   Again, look it up!  Salvation, escape from eternal damnation.  A few verses to back the truth of the Lord Jesus.  Titus 3:5 - "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

(Eph 2.8-9, Rom 10.9, Mt 7.21, Jn 14.6, Acts 4.12, 6.44, Jn 15.1-27, Acts 16.30-33, Ps 3.8, Ps 37.39, Acts 28.28, Rom. 6.14, Jn 3.16-18, Ps 60.5, Gal 2.21, Jn 3.17-21, Acts 2.1-47)

To gain perspective for any truth presented in scripture, it is paramount to get the "WHOLE" truth.  ALL scripture is relevant and "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God (any believer) may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim 3.16, 17)

New Year...what's next? "Zeal"

The year 2020 is gone and 2021 has arrived.  The pestilence named "COVID-19" is still with us. Church attendance is still minimal to prevent the spread of said pestilence. This heart struggles for the good feelings and emotions of days gone by.  Days of joy in the Lord and lightness of spirit.  

As a believer, it is understood that burdens are always a part of the life of faith.  However, because of recent national events it is apparent the Lord's coming is closer than ever.  With those thoughts in mind, this heart has been directed to begin reading in the prophetic books, beginning with Isaiah.  

To begin this New Year of increasing faith thru the scriptures, the following verse leaps off the page; "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." (Isa 9.6)  Perform what?  

In the chapters preceding this proclamation, sinful Judah is brought to bear. Chapter one yields a positive note regarding sin, "...though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;...IF ye be willing and obedient..." (Isa 1.18.19)  Then, there are prophesy's of things to come brought to light. "...neither shall they learn war any more." (Isa 2.5) The day of the Lord is a fierce thing. (Isa 2.19-21).  To read from chapter two until the chapter nine, verse six is to note judgement, judgement, judgement.  Until the promise given in  9.6.

These thoughts would compare with Lamentations 3.22, 23, " It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness."  His holiness demands perfection.  This is why judgement must prevail. Yet, because of "the son" that is "given," compassion also shows evidence. Thus, yielding to "the zeal of the Lord of hosts..."

 To comprehend a bit more of the passage being discussed, one must define "zeal."  Zeal in the Hebrew (H7068) is "passion, jealousy to move."  Zeal from Webster's 1818 dictionary is described as "passionate ardour in pursuit of a thing. Eagerness of desire to accomplish something. 'The blind conductor of the will. In other words, "The zeal of the Lord..." was the rush to send us "a son...Wonderful, Counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Though never at the expense of His Holiness, God Himself in compassion and tender mercy sent a Deliverer for His people.  There are no words to express this great love.  Just believe.

To make practical application of "zeal," every believer practice the passion to follow hard after His will and His way.  "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2.14)

God bless you all and Happy New Year!  Ps 57.7