The Prosperous Wicked – 7.3.09

Jeremiah 12:1 Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

The question Jeremiah asks is a good one, and He wasn't the only person in the Bible to ask it. The writer of Psalm 73:3 confessed, "I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." David urges us in Psalm 37:7, "fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass." According to Proverbs 1:32, there are some whose destruction is chalked up to the prosperity of fools. In another place Jeremiah preached about wicked judges who seemed to prosper despite their wickedness (5:26-28).

I don't know about you, but at times I've pondered the very same question. If God is just and if you reap what you sow, why do those wicked people seem to be enjoying life? Why is it that they "prosper" despite their absolute disregard for the Lord and His word? Is their season of pleasure (Hebrews 11:25) ever going to end?

I believe there are two good Bible answers:

First of all, the Bible says, "The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works" (Psalm 145:9). God sends rain – in the context, a picture of blessing – on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). His purpose in doing so? It is His goodness that leads men to repentance (Romans 2:4). God in His mercy withholds judgment from the wicked oftentimes just as long as He can in hopes that the wicked will repent (2 Peter 3:9, 15).

Secondly, the problem is rooted in our own shortsightedness. If His word is true – and it is – then the wicked doesn't REALLY prosper. The only reason the wicked SEEMS to prosper is that we're focusing on the here and now. God is just, and eventually everyone will reap the due reward of their deeds. It's just that God's timetable is sometimes different than what we would like it to be.

Proverbs 24:19-20 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

Psalm 37:1-3 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good...

Why? – 6.30.09

Jeremiah 2:5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

You know the setting. Judah is backslidden and has been for hundreds of years. They're on the brink of being taken captive into Babylon. But God in his mercy calls a man to issue one final warning, to give one final urge to repent and escape the coming judgment. That man was Jeremiah, and he was faithful to his task though his message was mocked, ignored, and reviled.

In Jeremiah 2:5 he poses a very good question to the nation on behalf of the God he represents. What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

The question is as relevant today as it was back then. Because just like the nation of Judah, our churches today are full of saved people who walk after vanity – emptiness; want of substance; fruitless desire or endeavor; idle show; insubstantial enjoyment. They're going to heaven when they die, but in the meantime their focus and attention and affection and effort are directed towards all kinds of different things (sinful or not) that aren't going to matter a bit when they get there. They've got the right God (Judah had that) and the right scriptures (Judah had that), but they're careful not to get too close – they are gone far from me.

The question God asks is WHY? What iniquity have you found in me? When have I ever done you wrong? When have I ever led you astray? When have I ever had anything but your best interest at heart? When have I ever lied or broken a promise I made you? Why are you so afraid to get close to me? When have you every obeyed my words and not been blessed for it in the end?

Now, I understand that all flesh is grass, and we're all "prone to leave the God we love," but at those times when we begin to wander, let's remember to ask ourselves these questions. I don't want to get to the end of my life and have nothing to show for it in eternity. I don't want to spend the little time God has given me here in vain, empty, meaningless pursuits. The God that saved me deserves so much more!

Isaiah 34:16 II – 6.25.09

Isaiah 34:16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

OK, so maybe that last post was remotely related to the meaning of the phrase in its context, because best I can figure, it's a restatement of the prior phrase, no one of these shall fail, referring to the book of the Lord, in particularly the promises made in scripture. So when the Bible says none shall want her mate it's reminding us that no promise – whether of judgment (the context of Isaiah 34) or of blessing – will lack fulfillment.

And that's a good lesson for us to be continually reminded of. God's word is true. We know it's true. What God says will come to pass. Intellectually, we know it will. But sometimes we sure don't live like it. We ought to pray like the disciples, Lord, increase our faith (Luke 17:5) and by God's grace may our faith be increased to such an extent that we actually avoid what God says will be hurtful and get in on what He says will turn out right in the end.

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Joshua 21:45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

Joshua 23:14 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.

Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Isaiah 34:16 – 6.23.09

Isaiah 34:16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

Interesting phrase in the middle of that verse, and to tell the truth, I'm not real sure what it's doing there – none shall want her mate. What I am sure about is that in its context the phrase has nothing to do with the topic of this post, but nonetheless it provides a perfect opportunity to take a look at what the Bible says about finding Mr./Mrs. Right.

Now, thankfully, this topic is not at all applicable to me. I started praying about the girl I would marry when I was about 12 or 13, and I was blessed to meet the girl of my dreams when I was 15 years old. We immediately became friends…and quickly grew to become best friends…and figured out by the time we were 18 that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together…and praise God we became husband and wife on December 16, 2006 (21 years old). And it just keeps on getting better.

I do realize, however, that things don't work out quite that way for everybody. I'm sure there are many fine Christian young men and women who love God and want to be married, but aren't. There are also some Christian young people who aren't yet ready to be married but want to be one day and might end up waiting longer than they'd like. So I'd just like to give you a few Bible principles to consider in hopes of being a blessing and an encouragement.

1. Marriage is a good thing. Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. In my personal opinion, Paul's 1 Corinthians 7 recommendation of the single lifestyle hinges on the phrase in verse 26, for the present distress… If there's a good chance I'm going to be eaten by lions in the coliseum tomorrow, maybe I'd better rethink getting married today.

2. God wants to give you good things. Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

3. But He wants you to put Him first. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. The these things of Matthew 6:33 are the temporal needs of this life. Brother, sister, if you're striving to serve God and you're putting His will first in your life, and you need a spouse – God will give you one. (And you'd much rather God give you one than you find one yourself.) The best thing to do would be to make sure you walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11), seek the Lord (Psalm 34:10), put Him first (Matthew 6:33), and trust Him to provide what you need on His timetable, not yours.

Bro. James once preached a message from Genesis 24 on "Choosing A Spouse." It focused on the qualities and characteristics to look for in a marriage partner, but there are two lines from that message that I will never forget. The first one is, "It'd be better not to be married and wish you were than to be married and wish you weren't." And the second went something like this, "If I were looking for a husband/wife, I'd be doing all I could to make sure I was the best God had to offer…"

There's probably nothing better in this life than marriage the way God intended it, and there's probably nothing worse in this life than a marriage that's out of sorts. If you want God's blessing (and you do) then be sure you do things God's way. Amen.

God’s Favor – 6.17.09

Psalm 5:12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

FAVOR is defined as:

• Kind regard; kindness; countenance; propitious aspect; friendly disposition
• Support; defense; vindication; or disposition to aid, befriend, support, promote or justify
• Lenity; mildness or mitigation of punishment
• Leave; good will; a yielding or concession to another; pardon
• Advantage; convenience afforded for success

I believe you'd agree it'd be worth our while to obtain the FAVOR of Almighty God, and the book of Proverbs outlines 4 ways we can do so:

1. Being merciful and truthful

Proverbs 3:3-4 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

2. Seeking after wisdom

Proverbs 8:35 For whoso findeth me [wisdom, v. 1] findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

3. Doing justly, loving mercy, walking humbly with God

Proverbs 12:2 A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

4. Marrying a wife

Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

It is an amazing and a humbling thing to think that the Almighty God of heaven would compass me with His kind regard…His support…His defense…His good will…His advantage…What a worthwhile endeavor it would be for each of us to court HIS FAVOR!

And praise the Lord for allowing me to get in on #4. I love you, Lauren!

Summer & Sleep – 6.15.09

Proverbs 10:5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

Summer is upon us. Now, we've got an ambitious group of young people here at THE BIBLE Baptist Church and many of them are working jobs, taking classes, doing internships, or all of the above. But for the average student summer means quite a break in the load of responsibility. Summer means no school, no studying, no quizzes, no teachers, no tests. Summer means hanging out with friends, hitting the beach, going on vacation, swimming, snorkeling, shopping, sports, sleepovers, smoothies…you get the point.

But one of the most popular summer activities that I failed to mention also starts with s – SLEEPING. You ought to hear Bro. Danny Farley (pastor of Shady Acres Baptist Church in Houston, TX) correct the popular phrase "sleeping like a baby." He more appropriately describes it as "sleeping like a teenager." Teenagers can sleep! I mean out for 12 hours without moving a muscle, and nothing – not the rooster's crow, not the alarm clock's annoying ring, not mom's yelling or sister's piano practice, not the rocket launch, or the bomb that went off at the neighbors – is going to wake them.

Now, I'm all for getting a healthy amount of sleep. I'm not a real happy person when I don't, but there is a spiritual lesson here.

Summer is a great time to get in on gathering God's harvest. The summer time, when responsibilities are somewhat diminished and you've got some free time on your hands, is a great time to get involved in the outreach ministry of your church. It's a great time to take full advantage of the opportunities for you to fellowship with God's people and spread His gospel.

If your church is taking a summer mission trip or a summer youth trip – GO! If your church is planning a special evangelistic effort – GET INVOLVED! If your church is doing what it should and regularly reaching out with the gospel – PARTICIPATE!

Wake up and make your summer count.

1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Because Why – 6.5.09

Psalm 119:68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

Psalm 119:73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

Psalm 119 – what a chapter! 176 verses (the longest in the Bible) and all but 2 directly mention the word of God (word, statutes, judgments, law, commandments, etc.). Its structure is curious. It has 22 sections, each with 8 verses. Each section corresponds to and begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet – in order. That is, the first section begins with "aleph," the second with "beth," and so on (see the headings in your Bible).

One of the many great things about the Bible God has given us is that it not only tells us what we ought to do, in many cases, it tells us just exactly why we ought to do it.

Now, God has every right to give us one of those parental BECAUSE I SAID SO'S – but he doesn't! The Bible is full of arguments and reasons for why we should do what's right. The individual who says that serving God doesn't really matter just as long as you're saved is obviously one who isn't carefully reading the scriptures.

For example, here in Psalm 119 the Lord very clearly lays out 2 very sound lines of reasoning as to why we should seek to learn and obey His word.

1. Because God is good (v. 68)

God is love (1 John 4:8). And somehow, someway, for some unknown reason, He has chosen to extend that love to us. His commandments, His instruction, His rebuke, His chastening, are only extensions of that love. If we could settle in our minds and hearts that God's commandments have been issued with the object of our well-being, it seems we'd do a much better job of staying in line.

See Deuteronomy 10:13; Psalm 34:10-22; Psalm 37:4, 23, 37; Jeremiah 7:6, 19, 23; Jeremiah 25:7; Micah 2:7; Acts 3:26; 1 John 5:3.

2. Because God is God (v. 73)

The fact that God made us argues very strongly for the fact that He's got things figured out a whole lot better than we do. I mean, do we really think that we know better than God? No sane person would ever admit that, but sometimes we sure act like that's what we're thinking.

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Romans 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?