Consider what he says to his household and all who were with him, Get rid of the foreign gods you have among you. David had flaws. To think our temptation is unique is to believe a lie. One of the most striking and helpful illustrations of Jesus humanity was His prayer life. Artists who sing about their abuse of women, drug selling, and gang banging will go platinum and get movie deals. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Let us marry your daughters, and take our daughters as wives for yourselves. That is the life that goes beyond the one we live on earth to the one we will live in Heaven with God. Thomas Watson, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. While there, Jacob built an altardeclaring that the God of Israel was God (Gen 33:20). In the middle of lifes battles, were tempted to question Gods ordering of our circumstances, but every follower of Christ can look back and see the conspicuous hand of Gods Providence. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s). In addition, not only does this story demonstrate the Divine authorship of Scripture, but also shows us what happens when God is neglected. Purify yourselves and change your clothes (v. 2). But Enoch did not waver in His faith. A result is a thing that is produced by something else; it is an outcome. The beautiful imagery of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 lets us know that the new earth will be a place that reflects the glory of God throughout. Study your Bible and listen to the Holy Spirit as you commit your entire being to knowing the will of God. Many of our kids are exposed to things they shouldnt be exposed to on the Internet, TV, video games, books, music, etc. And I have paid the price dearly. In Romans 12:3 Paul exhorts the believers not to think of themselves pridefully but rather to think of themselves soberlythat is, realistically or accurately. A really humble manwill not be thinking about humility, he will not be thinking about himself at all. Enoch had fellowship with God (Genesis 5:24) and was faithful to Him. Tagged: consequences of not walking with god . They are rife with envy, murder, strife, deceit, hostility. Dont miss or even delay your blessing because you refuse to wait on God. I have also heard an unbeliever saying, "If Christianity is all about the lifestyle of that pastor, I will never be a Christian.". Living in right standing with God? But if you do not agree to our terms by being circumcised, then we will take our sister and depart.. We know that Abraham wasnt perfect. As we study this narrative, we must be sober and aware that these unfortunate consequences of neglecting God can happen in our nations, communities, churches, and homes. Abraham and Sarah were promised a son but they werent content to wait for the promise to come to pass. Paul wanted Timothy to hold fast to the truth of God, not allowing himself to be divided. I praise you and pray for all these things in Jesus' name. In the previous narrative, Jacob had worked for his uncle Laban for twenty years, and while working for him, he was cheated and abused. Then he became very attached to Dinah, Jacobs daughter. All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added. Hiding sin does not remove it from Gods sight; but when we seek Gods forgiveness, the refreshing living water from the Father is poured out on us and we are restoredthat is the power of confession. His calling is to take the gospel to where no one has neither preached nor heard about Jesus. Genesis 1:28. This happened twice with Abraham, as his wife was taken into Pharaohs and Abimelechs harems (12:15; 20:2). Even our entertainment will be violent, as people apart from God love violence. (function() { There was so much pain and suffering that could have been avoided had Abraham and Sarah exercised a little patience and waited on God. Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible. For example, in Romans 2:9-11 (NIV) it states: You know the storyJonah ended up in the sea where he was swallowed by a great fish. Walking with God. They said to them, We cannot give our sister to a man who is not circumcised, for it would be a disgrace to us. This is a very dangerous trend in the body of Christ. Enoch was mentioned in the book of Genesis as a descendant of Adam through his son, Seth. Confusion. Intermarry with us. Andthey pour out drink offerings to other gods,to provoke me to anger. When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, who ruled that area, saw her, he grabbed her, forced himself on her, and sexually assaulted her. But Jonah fled west toward Spain because he feared the Assyrians. Oh, to see the glory of the Lord while in the midst of the disappointments in life. How do you view yourself? 25From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day,I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day after day. We may not realize it, but walking with God is so much better than walking without him and here is why. They captured as plunder all their wealth, all their little ones, and their wives, including everything in the houses. The false teaching, hunger for power and money, and manipulation of people will drive many away. It means we're honest first with God and . Copyright 2023 Haly Ministries All Rights Reserved. Judas worked for God, occupied a good position in Jesus' ministry, moved around with Jesus, yet he did not walk with Him. Congregations will find teachers who make them feel good by preaching myths. It was when they were prosperous and admired by others that they neglected God (cf. When he was about to encounter his angry brother, God protected him again. They become the authors and stewards of Gods Word. Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik. Abraham had flaws. You are so faithful and understanding of my circumstances and you reach down to me with compassion. The benefits of God are available to those who have a relationship with Him. (1) There may be a profession of fellowship with God, while the practice is utterly opposed to his character and will. { There are many paths that we need to avoid. God doesn't tempt us, but He may allow temptation to enter our lives in order to give us opportunities to make obedient and mature choices. If youre prone to worry yourself to sleep each night, turn your thoughts upward and close your eyes thinking of heaven and its eternal throne. I wonder how many Christians have missed out on entering into their Promised Land this side of heaven all because they failed to fully follow God and take the path that He wanted them to take in this life! 23 But this command I gave them: 'Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. Walking with God means that you are blessed, and you have access to His great promises, which He has given in His Word. In one sense, this chapter should give us all hope. James 2:23. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you. After the murder, they also plundered the city and surrounding fieldstaking the wealth, children, and women. Integrity of heart is indispensable. Jesus understood this better and gave a standing instruction that anyone who wants to be His disciple must walk with Him (Mathew 16:24). Some neglect their children simply because they were neglected as children, and therefore, they dont know how to properly parent. This is a consequence of walking in disunity. This is the tragic story of society, as we see these consequences happening all around us and often in our own lives. God does the same with us. Many people have walked away from the Lord and are not concerned about it. } Those who walk with God have a better understanding of the work of ministry. In a society where God is neglected, senseless violence becomes commonsuicide, the murder of innocents in schools and businesses, genocide, war, etc. To intermarry with the Canaanites would have threatened Gods promise. Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ. By following the instructions of God. Living our lives with God in it, makes things easier and gives us hope. Working for God without walking with Him will not give our works the desired value. Jacobs sons killed them and looted the city because their sister had been violated. Your relationship with God is very personal, and He knows what will work for you. Hello Jesus! You can make the bride price and the gift I must bring very expensive, and Ill give whatever you ask of me. 5. We live in a society that wears impatience as a badge of honor. The volunteer decided the dilapidated volume wasnt worth saving and was about to throw it away when she thumbed through it and found a hidden chamber. In mathematics two of the basic kinds of numbers are integers and fractions: 2, 100, and 56 are integers, while , , and 2.5 are fractions. Such is the picture David paints with his words in Psalm 32a drought of spiritual vitality brought on by his own sin. (We reserve the right to moderate comments. Religion was also abused for vengeance. Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquities. We've all been there, but we've all also experienced the results of not trusting God. Many who are genuinely called by God have deviated to pursue fame and wealth. Ezekiel 1:1, NIV, We often need fresh starts after enduring bitter disappointments. Prophetic Word, What to Do When you Feel like Giving Up (Christian Thought), Prophetic Word for January and New Year 2021, How to Take Control of your Thoughts The Biblical Way. Why Dinahs father or brothers are not with her is unclear. This is why Scripture says we should rejoice in various trials and tribulations, as they test our faith (Jam 1:2). Harriet Buell, in her hymn A Child of the King. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. The perfection of his work relied absolutely on his walk before God. It has everything to do with whats at the center of our affections. To live a life that pleases God and inspires others to know Him means that you know Him well and are intimate with Him. With Dinah, Jacob is probably quiet because she wasnt his priority. This leads to children disrespecting teachers, bosses, government leaders, and even Godcreating increased dishonesty, crime, and anarchy in society. His life was sold out to God, and he kept away from anything that could defile him. It is possible because of the fruit of joy that comes from the Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy 11:12, In a letter to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, George Washington marveled at how Gods hand had protected him and given success to the cause of liberty: The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.. Some people wonder about the value of the Old Testament in a Christian's life. This would be like only eating once a week! Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, and He took the same means of escape that is available to usobedience to God's Word (Matthew 4:111; Hebrews 5:8). Pauls topic is the grace given by God to each Christian to serve in the Body of Christ. Is it things above? THE CONSEQUENCES OF WALKING WITH GOD. I confess, patience is not my strongest virtue. When we declare Gods promises into our lives, they manifest and bless us tremendously, and the glory goes to God. You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. Inside was $4,000! 28And you shall say to them, This is the nation that did not obey the voice of theLordtheir God, and did not accept discipline;truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips. He knows, cares, pursues, and changes me.as He sees fit. We have a purpose for being hereto refresh the memory of others regarding the things of the Lord. Application Question: In what ways have you witnessed this growing trend of parents neglecting their children by not loving them, disciplining them, and setting boundaries for them? Again, not perfect or sinless, but in a right standing with God. Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. Could any father set a more worthy example to his children or grandchildren than that of being friends with God? Did you know in US Jews are harassed 7 times a day? How should true believers seek to remain faithful in times like these? E. M. Bounds, All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. These studies will take us through the idea of walking with God. Posted on Last updated: December 28, 2018. A leper approached Jesus and said, If You are willing, You can make me clean. Jesus touched the man, saying, I am willing; be cleansedand he was healed (Mark 1:40-42). Sadly, many of these consequences can be seen in our societies, churches, and individual lives. By walking with God, we have access to His precious promises that we see in the Bible. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. When God is denied, sexual immorality saturates society. Are you guarding yourself and others against sexual immorality? Proverbs 24:16 says, "For the righteous falls seven times and rises again.". He commanded them to simply obey time and time again. He fell in love with the young woman and spoke romantically to her. God stopped being their priority and there were terrible consequences because of this. Snap judgments and impulsivity may be excused for children, but not for mature Christians. 26Yet they did not listen to me or incline their ear,but stiffened their neck. A man who pleases God is one who obeys His commands and who submits to His plans. Titus 1:16. 2. Officially, church historians recognize seven ecumenical church councils held between A.D. 325 and A.D. 787. Abraham wouldnt allow Isaac to marry a Canaanite. A classic Bible verse that reminds us of one of the best benefits of walking with God is John 3:16. A classic Bible verse that reminds us of one of the best benefits of walking with God is John 3:16. Get instant access to the Grow Your Faith Devotional series delivered to your email. How should Christians protect their minds and bodies from this very present danger? (2) Religion is also used to control and abuse peopleas often seen in cults. Sadly, we live in societies where abortions happen more than live births. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles. Walking with God certainly has good results in our lives, which others witness and celebrate. The church in Corinth was an undisciplined church, and he was letting them know that even though the culture around them was in flux, their faith in Jesus Christ needed to remain focused and sure. The patriarch Isaac could have written that book about his father, Abraham. At the time of this instruction, Abraham was already working for God but most probably had not surrendered himself to God's deep relationship. Though his major struggles seemed to be over, his most difficult struggle appearedmaintaining faith in ease and prosperity. There is not too much we read about Enoch in the Bible. These two verses are giving all Christians major revelation on what God is looking for from each one of us. on: function(evt, cb) { declares theLord. It is also walking in the newness of life in Christ and not in our old life before Christ". How well God must like you you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along Dead-End Road, you don't go to Smart-Mouth College. Those who walk with God obey Him no matter what. 1. On the third day after their circumcision, when the pain probably was the worst, two of Jacobs sons murdered all the men in the town. You were moving forward, doing something, you even loved doing it, and suddenly all stopped. In fact, this demonstrates that all are sinnersJews and Gentiles. To think less of Gods gift would be to devalue it; to think realistically about it allows one to serve humbly. When you live a life of obedience to God, you make fewer mistakes, and you mostly make the right choices in life. If you want to revive your walk with God or strengthen it, there are ways you can do that. Theydevotetheir livestotheserviceofGodusing their spiritual gifts. We need the understanding that comes from the Spirit of God because we sometimes face situations where we dont know what to do. God eventually takes this blasphemous and murderous family and makes them the twelve tribes of Israel. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. thus walking out of God's protection. God loves diversity and everybody's walk with Him is different and unique. How can we do that? He pronounced a severe judgment on them, telling them that all of the men 20 years of age and older would not enter into the Promised Land due to their lack of faith and belief in Him to be able to accomplish this mission for them, and because they had notwholly followed God., However, God then states that He will allow Joshua, Caleb and all the men under 20 years of age to go in there to conquer and possess the land all because they had adifferent spiritin them and because they would be willing tofollow God fully.. And it also happened to Jonah: The word of the Lord came to Jonah the first time (Jonah 1:1) and then the second time (Jonah 3:1). Peter wrote his final letter shortly before his execution. I must pray for alignment with His heart and pray for a repentant heart. God will not hear any of it because He has seen the ceaseless sins of His people. This would have led to compromise and the Israelites further adopting the sins of that culture. (Now he was more important than anyone in his fathers household.) From a human perspective, adding this story makes no sense. They are idolatry, immorality, infidelity, and disloyalty. He acted on his desires, and it cost him dearly. Purify yourselves and change your clothes. 22For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to your fathers or command themconcerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. Has seen the ceaseless sins of that culture commit your entire being to knowing will! 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