Believe and Practice? Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Though we claim to believe the whole of Scripture, in practice we frequently deny much of it by ignoring it.

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

What God has to say about Shepherding

This content comes from our sub-ministry Advice for Young Ministers

What God has to say about Shepherding

~an exhortation~

     God takes shepherding very seriously, please read this collection of verses with a quiet heart and examine yourself.

And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. 4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. 5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; 8 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; 9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; 10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. 11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

Ezek 34:1-11 (KJV)

And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

Ezek 34:23 (KJV)

And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezek 34:31 (KJV)

      Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. 2 Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord. 3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.

Jer 23:1-4 (KJV)

Our Resource: Important Words for Young (and Old) Ministers   (just incidentally we give this away for free as an ebook if you sign up for our monthly devotional email here)

 

Repenting of Denominational Prejudice, Addressing False Doctrine

Evaluating “Strange Fire”

Repenting of Denominational Prejudice, Addressing False Doctrine

Ryan Marks

   I agree that barking like dogs, divine laughing, or other occurrences supposedly “charismatic” and evidenced by the “Toronto Blessing” are nowhere in Scripture and sound demonic. Satan does perform miracles to deceive. However, I am concerned by the extreme position John Macarthur takes on all those who believe in the “Gifts” or “speaking in tongues.”

     To start, nowhere in Scripture do we find a clear statement that says the Gifts have ceased or will cease before Heaven. There is record of Christian leaders since the time of the Apostles (Jonathan Edwards, Martin Luther, John Calvin and others) saying that the gifts have ceased, but again will we believe the Scripture alone or accept the teaching of men? The much quoted 1 Corinthians 13 passage by Cessationists says that tongues will fail when prophecies cease and knowledge passes away. Applying the proper hermeneutics of Bible interpretation looks at the context and clearly raises the opposition—have all three of these passed away? No. Knowledge is still around. We live in the information age and as Daniel prophesied, many run to and fro and knowledge is increased (Daniel 12:4). And in regard to prophecy, even Cessationists (those who believe the “Gifts” and “Tongues” have passed away) believe that prophecy is still occurring as a spiritual Gift through preaching.

    I grew up in a “Pentecostal church” and was homeschooled largely using “Baptist” textbooks. But I do not consider myself to be any label—“Freewill” “Calvinist” “Pentecostal” etc… I am a Christian and I endeavor to only Believe what the Bible teaches. Now, yes I believe that we all have probably been taught something wrong in church. No church is perfect, nor any spiritual leader—if they were we would not need to like Paul “oppose Peter to His face” at times. I enjoy discussions on doctrine when the heart of those discussing is really to understand what the Bible says. But when any church tradition is dogmatically held to, I know the conversation is going nowhere. It is dangerous to just be “Baptist,” “Catholic,” “Lutheran,” “Presbyterian,” or “Pentecostal” in one’s beliefs without ever considering what God’s Word actually says.

    However, it is very dangerous to say that all charismatics/Pentecostals are demonically influenced. The Bible nowhere gives evidence that the so called “Gifts” have passed away and Paul warned us not to despise prophesying (1 Thess 5:20) but to test the spirits and see whether they are of God (1 John 4:1). I love John Piper’s loving but non-agreeing response to Strange Fire on his Ask Pastor John podcast, I believe the episode aired late 2013; John Piper dealt with the issue from a solely Biblical perspective.

      Let me clarify that there are some false teachings (and John Macarthur makes references to most if not all of these in his book Strange Fire) among Pentecostalism (but there also are among Catholicism and Lutheranism and every ism); however, the issue should not be “all Pentecostals” but exposing the false doctrine just as not “all Catholics” or “all Lutherans” are unbiblical. I disagree with Mr. Macarthur as he strongly portrays that the entire group is corrupt (I hope I am wrong about him taking that stance), but agree that there are some major false doctrines circulating by primarily Pentecostal and Charismatic groups that are unbiblical:

·        The false doctrine of prosperity and comfort especially as a blessing for a “financial seed sown into their ministry.” Yes, God gifted Joshua, Job, and Abraham with success and some business sense, but that doesn’t mean life is easy and lucrative for the Believer.  …. “supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” 1 Tim 6:5 (KJV)

·        False doctrine that you must speak in tongues to be saved  …. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31 (KJV)

·        Unbiblical “revelations”—that contradict the Bible and supposedly need to be proclaimed as God’s truth in today’s world…. “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 1:3 (KJV)

·        False doctrine of the Word of Faith Movement—your words have the same creative power as God’s words-that’s blasphemy! …. “Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. 8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. 14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. 17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” 2 Corinthians 10:7-18 (KJV)

·        Healing Crusades—teaching people to “seek their miracle” rather than Seek Jesus  …. “Asa…was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians.” 2 Chronicles 16:12 (KJV)

·        False doctrines of confession—speaking into existence the “blessing you want”--this is nowhere in Scripture. However, we should pray about anything and everything to the Lord and cry out to Him. But …. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3 (KJV)

·        The false doctrine of cheap grace—(this one is not distinctly a Pentecostal error, but is appearing to gain a lot of ground at least among Charismatic leaders today) it is turning Christ’s grace toward us as an excuse for not trying to avoid sin or confess our wrongs and ask for the forgiveness of others.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer battled this in his book The Cost of Discipleship

·        Unhealthy-emphasis on healing, trances, etc… God can heal and there are a few instances of “trances” in Scripture—visions by Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Peter, John and others. However, nowhere in Scripture are we told to seek these or to claim them as “part of our inheritance.”

·        The Seeker Friendly gospel (again not distinctly Pentecostal, but appearing to gain ground amongst Pentecostal leaders) seems to be growing…now I believe this is across the board in all denominations, but I have seen a lot of it in bigger Pentecostal churches. The Seeker-friendly Gospel tries to make the Gospel appealing to sinners and tones down or even ceases to talk about sin and our need for Christ.  …. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV)

·        False Doctrine of Name it Claim It—again nowhere in the Bible  ….. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3 (KJV)

·        Turning speaking in Tongues to another Gospel. Salvation is not what many “Pentecostal’s” conversations are about, but experiences. This is dangerous. William Seymour (early Pentecostal leader) got it right when he told Pentecostals, “Don’t go out of here talking about tongues; talk about Jesus.”  ….  “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9 (KJV)

     I like the Baptist Faith and Message’s position on the Pentecostal-Charismatic debate—neutral on Spiritual gifts. In our discussions with other Believers, we should be careful not to make the issue of the “Gifts” a point of division. If they Believe in Jesus and KNOW Him then as Jesus said, whoever is not against us is for us. This is not an issue of clear sin and disobedience to God like homosexuality. The debate is about how God’s Holy Spirit interacts with Believers today based on Scripture. There should be unity around Christ and the maturity to disagree without be disagreeable.

We must keep the Gospel—repentance and receiving Jesus and KNOWING Him as the focal point of our ministry to others.

    I attend a small Southern Baptist Church now and am in a Southern Baptist Seminary at the time of this writing. I do not call myself “Southern Baptist” or any other denomination though because often the deformational card just stirs up offense and prejudice and many unbelievers equate Baptist with Westboro right now.

    However, I am thankful to be a part of the Southern Baptist Fellowship. I won’t talk about my “denomination” often, but I know that the Lord guided me to be a part of the SBC as I sought Him for many months on the “denominational accountability” issue in regard to the Pentecostal denomination I grew up in. I also, am around many like-minded Believers and am thankful that Salvation is the primary issue at the heart of so many in our SBC Fellowship and we keep that as our main focus—Do you KNOW Jesus? Also, I am privileged to be a part of the denomination that most major “revivalists” have come from: Billy Graham, D.L. Moody, Vance Havner & etc…  God’s blessings has been poured out upon our fellowship in this respect.

      I am concerned that many Pentecostals place too much emphasis on experience and too little emphasis on learning the Scripture, teaching sound doctrine, and discipleship. …They are very successful in many respects of evangelism and zeal however and we all can learn from them.

       I am equally concerned with liturgical traditions such as Catholicism and Lutheranism that place so much emphasis on repetition that the heart and life of Christ’s Spirit can be sucked out of the local church. ….yet, liturgical traditions have continued to faithfully expound many of Scriptures doctrines throughout the coming and going of changes in the Church throughout the centuries and we can all learn from that.

 

What should be our Non-negotiable issues?

1.     Do you KNOW Jesus?

I take Jesus statement literally—many will cast out demons, heal the sick and raise the dead, but yet they won’t know Him. This statement by our Lord picks my heart primarily for Pentecostals, but I am also pricked for the “attendees” of every church that have never surrendered to Jesus as Lord and just have “accepted” Him as fire insurance. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22-23 (KJV)

 

2.     What Sin is—anything you think, say or do that breaks God’s heart (Child Evangelism Fellowship) and “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4 (KJV)

3.     Who Jesus is-- Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord. Genesis 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8,24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16. (The Baptist Faith and Message)

4.     Repentance—“repent ye, and believe the gospel.”  Mark 1:15 (KJV)

5.     That the Word of God is the final authority and if you teach or Believe something that isn’t in the Bible then you’re wrong.  “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:20-21 (KJV) 

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

“Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:6 (ESV)

The Lost Will Perish UNLESS they Believe on Jesus

For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish Ps 73:27 NKJV

 

 

 

God is For Us!

“For behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown: and I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded.”

 Ezekiel 36:9-10 KJV

 

Contemplate this Verse

Scripture

Scripture

      The Word of God, the Bible, is a necessary element of a Christian’s life. One must stay in the Word of God  to grow in the knowledge of God and to obtain the wisdom of God. O what agony our spirits will be in without the Word of God continually flowing in us! We must feed our spirits as much as possible, we must remain hungry for the Lord and He will fill us. Stay in the Word, for that is where power, nourishment and strength lie. I cannot fully describe the necessity of it, but you must live on the bread of the WORD, the bread of Christ—you cannot really live on natural bread once you have tasted the spiritual, the supernatural, the perfect Words of the Bread of the Bible.

Thought 92: Scripture Selections for Meditation

Thought 92

Scripture Selections for Meditation

 

Read John 14.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” 1 John 5:14-15 KJV

 

  *Please note that we can ask God anything, but when we ask according to His will, God gives it to us. If we ask with a manipulative spirit, God knows that and will not answer our prayer (see James 4:1-3). But how will we know the will of God? By intimately knowing Jesus Christ and to know Him we must spend time with Him.

--Taken from Thoughts by Ryan M Marks

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The Remannt in Isaiah: A Scriptural Introduction

The Remnant in Isaiah

A Scriptural Introduction

 

 

     To introduce the topic of the Remnant, I want to share with you from Isaiah. But before we dive into that, let me paint with a broad brush. God has always preserved the Remnant that is devoted to Him. God preserved Noah, a preacher of Righteousness. He preserved David, a blameless man with a price on his head. He protected and used Joseph, Daniel, Ester, Nehemiah, Josiah, Hezekiah, Peter, James, John, Luke, and Paul as well as, many others.

 

     Rarely do the masses serve the Lord. For example, only Joshua and Caleb walked purely before the Lord and entered the Promise Land. Probably close to 2 million others, including Moses were not so fortunate. Throughout history, were the Martin Luther’s, Pilgrim’s, and Puritan’s who stood for what was right and were preserved by God despite the incredible odds and numbers of people that wanted them dead.

 

      Today is not different. As I wrote in Hope for When the Storm Hits, this country is headed for trouble unless a miracle happens and we need to prepare wisely—a  prudent man foresees trouble and takes refuge (Proverbs 27:12). Yet, God is the one who will take care of those who are devoted to Him (Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6). We need to realize that America has is at the point of having a small, faithful Remnant. The odds may against us but the season is ripe for God to do some amazing things in terms of providing for and preserving His remnant. Few leaders in this nation are standing for what is right, anarchy is on the doorstep, the bulk of the American Church seems to have walked down the road of another gospel: one of numbers and programs—yet there are small, dedicated communities of Believers. There are little groups of faithful Believers, faithful families, and faithful pastors who are putting God first and focusing their eyes on Him and standing for what is right amidst the turmoil. I believe God has called me to this nation—so as I look at American I’ve been asking questions about what that means for my family and ministry in the days ahead, specifically about discipling young men and concern for the condition of the Church of Jesus Christ here, so I don’t think I’ll be leaving, but the reality is challenging days are likely ahead—you have to be next to blind not to see that.

 

    As Isaiah prophesies in his book of the Bible, God’s warning judgments have already started—sounding the alarm to run back to Him! Through feminism, women are ruling over many in this country. I’m not against women, but it is a sign of God’s judgment when there aren’t men leading their families, businesses, or politics anymore. Apostasy is rising—large numbers have fallen away from the faith. The statistics are showing that the number of Christian teens and twenty something’s that are staying true to the Faith are now in the single digits. Idolatry is everywhere—compromises have been made by the people of God. Women are bald (I think this may be a sign of cancer) all across the land. Mass sickness in a nation, is a sign of the judgment of God. In Deuteronomy 28, God promised that if the people served the Lord that He would heal them and there would not even be miscarriages. I am not saying that cancer or miscarriages are all a direct result of sin, but Scripture does clearly point out that they are signs of the judgment of God upon a nation. Children are being murdered all across our land through abortion. Young men are considered worthless by most of our society—they aren’t productive, they typically do not have any drive or purpose and most are not seeking the Lord and obeying the Word. These are just a few of what Isaiah mentions:

 

As you read these bits of Isaiah, think about how appropriately they describe the United States, a nation that was founded on a covenant with God.

 

Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. 7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. 9 Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

Isaiah 1:4-9 (KJV)

Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Isaiah 1:16-20 (KJV)

Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

Isaiah 1:23 (KJV)

Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. 28 And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the Lord shall be consumed.

Isaiah 1:27-28 (KJV)

O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. 6 Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. 7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: 8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made

Isaiah 2:5-8 (KJV)

And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. 5 And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

Isaiah 3:4-5 (KJV), emphasis added

For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

Isaiah 3:8 (KJV)

The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. 10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

Isaiah 3:9-11 (KJV)

As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

Isaiah 3:12 (KJV), emphasis added

Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: 17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts. 18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, 19 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, 20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, 21 The rings, and nose jewels, 22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, 23 The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. 24 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. 25 Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. 26 And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.

Isaiah 3:16-26 (KJV), emphasis added

For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

Isaiah 5:7 (KJV)

many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant

Isaiah 5:9 (KJV)

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

Isaiah 6:5 (KJV)

And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. 11 Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, 12 And the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. 13 But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.

Isaiah 6:9-13 (KJV), emphasis added

Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son; 7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks

Isaiah 8:6-7 (KJV)

Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13 Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Isaiah 8:12-13 (KJV)

And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

Isaiah 8:15 (KJV)

Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

Isaiah 8:18 (KJV)

The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. 16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. 17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. 18 For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.

Isaiah 9:15-18 (KJV)

The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. 22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.

Isaiah 10:21-22 (KJV)

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. 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. 11 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.

Isaiah 13:9-11 (KJV)

Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.

Isaiah 13:16 (KJV), note: ravished means raped

And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.

Isaiah 24:2 (KJV)

The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth

Isaiah 24:5-6 (KJV), emphasis added

O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. 2 For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. 3 Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. 4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. 5 Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.

Isaiah 25:1-5 (KJV)

Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Isaiah 26:2-4 (KJV)

they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

Isaiah 28:7 (KJV)

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little

Isaiah 28:10 (KJV)

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men

Isaiah 29:13 (KJV)

Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin

Isaiah 30:1 (KJV), emphasis

Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: 9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: 10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits

Isaiah 30:8-10 (KJV)

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Isaiah 30:21 (KJV)

Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. 16 Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. 17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places

Isaiah 32:15-18 (KJV)

For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.

Isaiah 33:22 (KJV)

Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:27-31 (KJV), emphasis added

He (Christ) shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

Isaiah 42:3-4 (KJV), parenthesis added

And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Isaiah 58:11 (KJV)

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear

Isaiah 59:1 (KJV)

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

Isaiah 59:2-4 (KJV)

For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; 13 In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

Isaiah 59:12-13 (KJV)

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

Isaiah 61:1-3 (KJV)

For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery

Isaiah 61:8 (NKJV)

as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

Isaiah 62:5 (KJV)

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence

Isaiah 62:6 (KJV)

But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy

Isaiah 63:10 (KJV)

As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.

Isaiah 63:14 (KJV)

 

  May we seek the Lord in the challenging days ahead. May we place our trust in Almighty God. God will provide for His people. And He will preserve His remnant, but it doesn’t mean that it will be easy—Daniel, Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego, and probably Nehemiah were Eunuchs. Joseph was a slave. Esther was stolen from her family for a pagan king searching for a beautiful replacement-queen.

 

   I still hope and pray for revival, but there is also that fact that Americans are typically very cold and hardhearted to the Gospel message and have been rejecting God pretty much as a nation since around World War II. Historically and Biblically speaking in terms of how long God typically gave nations to repent (drop what they were doing, forsake it, and come to Him), we’re getting very close if not already past the deadline.