.... with
all your heart, soul, and strength. Two verse stood out to me this
morning. The one above, and one from yesterday' readings “But
from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if
you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul”
(Deuteronomy 6:5; 4:29). The “there” of 6:5, is about the place
of disaster that comes when we fail to obey the commands of the Lord
and in particular of this verse. Under the Old Covenant, the
enemies were flesh and blood, and it was God who sent disasters upon
His people when they rebelled (i.e 11:17; Isaiah 59:1). Under the
New Covenant our enemies are not flesh and blood, but principalities
and powers (Ephesians 6:12). And disasters come, following our
disobedience, from two sources. The first has to do with the legal
right we give the enemy when we rebel. As with Adam and Eve, our
disobedience essentially hands power over to the enemy. The second
source is the principle of reaping and sowing. In secular terms, bad
choices have bad consequences (Galatians 6:7).
After the
disaster of 9/11 the churches were full, but it didn't last. “These
are the ones by the wayside where the Word is sown. When they hear,
Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in
their hearts” (Mark 4:15). I keep coming back to 2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people ....” In terms of the “turn from their wicked
ways” in this verse, there is a big difference between being sorry
that we got ourselves into this mess, and true repentance. In this
we follow Ancient Israel who time after time in the midst of disaster
cried out to the Lord and He saved them (Psalm 107). But true
repentance, stems from godly sorrow, and it leads to a life lived
that reflects the first commandment (2 Corinthians 7:10, 11;
Deuteronomy 6:5). It is almost as if the Lord needs to allow
disasters of increasing magnitude in order to get through to us. That
was certainly the case with me. But my disasters were personal, not
global disasters.
The good
news is that while Satan has power (“His power and craft are great”
- Luther), he does not have authority. So then who has the
authority? Well to repeat what I have have been saying in these days,
firstly it is us. “Behold, I give you the authority to trample
on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy”
(Luke 10:19). Secondly in order to exercise this authority, we need
to position ourselves (2 Chronicles 20:17). In particular we need,
in identification repentance (Daniel 9), to confess our own sins and
those of the church. In particular, tha we have been lukewarm,
saying we have no need, not knowing that we are miserable and poor
and wrenched and blind and naked (Revelation 3:17).
Father,
I want to thank You this morning that “as many as You love You
chasten,” and that “You stand at the door and knock.” We repent
Lord and welcome You fully into our lives (Revelation 3:19, 20).
Grant Lord that this be true repentance, and that our obedience be
full Lord, so that we, Your called out ones, can walk in the
authority and trample the snakes and scorpions that are seeking to
destroy us. We love You Lord and we give You praise and glory in
Jesus Name Amen
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