THE DESERT: WHEN GOD IS SILENT

We all struggle with the difficult seasons of Christian life. Far from the mountaintop lie valleys of despair, and beyond, vast desert wastelands where God seems far off and we feel we’ve lost our bearing... missed the turn sign on The Way. Desert experiences can be a spiritual banquet for the willing Christian. Differing from the valley where adversity finds our address, and the mountain top where the presence of God prevails, in the desert there is no “still small voice”, there is no voice at all.

Elijah’s desert experience reminded him not to fear, that God was still The Boss and in control. David’s desert experience reminded him that God had not left him or forsaken him, and to put his faith in God, not in the experience. Our Lord had two desert experiences. The first, His forty day temptation in the wilderness, tested and approved His heart, that the enemy had no place or access in Him, and He “returned in the power of the Spirit.”  The second was in the garden of Gethsemane where our Lord experienced the extreme anxiety of separation from God at the worst possible time. The enemy attempted to crush His will to obedience... and failed: “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Although scripture highlights the experiences specific to each case, it is probable these experiences were shared by all:

*Fear not, for I AM with you, and I AM in control. *I will never leave you or forsake you, so have faith in God. *Give no place to the devil. Be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. * God’s will must be endured, and therefore can be – God’s will can always be endured!

The desert is an opportunity to learn more about God and ourselves. Left to our own devices we would never leave the temple, never venture into the barren desert wilderness. God speaks to us in many different ways we fail to recognize when basking in His presence. In the desert we begin to “see”... perceive, with the eyes of the Spirit. The lessons of the desert experience are similar, though wrapped individually for each of us.   That we are never ever alone and have nothing to fear, for God is in control. That we must plow up the fallow ground in our heart and sow it with God’s word, leaving no access point for the enemy to gain entry. That we must be filled and continually refilled with the Holy Spirit... God’s power in us, willing and doing of His good pleasure. And, that we must will to do His will, be obedient, for God’s will is purposeful – He’s a good good Daddy – and can always be endured. God told Elijah “Go back the way you came”: Take a trip back through your desert absorbing the experience completely then carry on God’s work. The primary reason for the desert experience, the critical lesson, is, after all, trust, our overwhelming need to totally trust God in all matters of life and death – in all matters... period – for there is nothing that trust in God cannot defeat... nothing! 

“GO BACK THE WAY YOU CAME”

IS GOD A RESPECTOR OF PERSONS?

The Bible interprets itself, using the context of verses and related passages to explain itself. The question at hand, “Is God a respecter of persons”, is discussed in seven related passages where the context in each passage is either Salvation, Judgment or Rewards, which explains the application and intention of this precept. It makes perfect sense and accords with the whole council of God that Salvation, Judgment and Rewards would be universal precepts applicable to all saints. Therefore, God is no respecter of persons when it comes to Salvation, Judgment, and Rewards. Except for these three areas, of course God is a respecter of persons: God is at liberty to deal with us differently, individually and uniquely. He created us as unique individuals with unique pathways of transformation, reflecting our uniqueness. We are born into different cultures and life situations having unique mixtures of attitudes, proclivities and personality traits,   have different innate interests and desires, are susceptible to different temptations, face different trials and chastening, have different callings and giftings, and drag behind a long train of unique and constantly changing life experiences. Jesus said the way to eternal life is difficult: Our uniqueness makes our confirmation into the nature of Christ uniquely difficult. (Acts 10;32; Rom. 2:11; Eph. 6:9; Col. 3:25; James 2:1; 1 Peter 1:17; 2 Chron. 19:7)

Some examples: Job, a man whom God Himself called “a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil”, was chosen by God to demonstrate faithfulness under the harshest of adversity – including the death of his ten children – while his “comforting” friends suffered nothing. John the Baptist spent 30 years in the desert, wearing clothes made of camel’s hair and eating bugs, followed by a three month local ministry and prison, before losing his head. When’s the last time you seen a minister in camel’s hair clothes with locust breath. Stephen, the newly appointed deacon, was stoned to death before he could get new business cards printed, while Phillip, Stephen’s classmate in the first class of deacons lived to a ripe old age, had a long impressive evangelistic ministry, raised four godly daughters, and became the first, and so far the only flying deacon, being instantaneously transported from place to place -- carried by the wind of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle John – the “disciple whom Jesus loved” -- lived to a ripe old age dreaming of heaven, while the other eleven apostles were tortured and killed in the prime of their life.  The Apostle Paul, who wrote half the New Testament and planted churches throughout the world, suffered far more than anyone recorded in scriptures, was denied healing by God, and was beheaded in prison, while Lazarus, a friend whom Jesus loved, was raised from the dead to a long and peaceful life. God blinded one man for thirty plus years to demonstrate His Glory, and blinded Pharaoh’s heart, leading to his destruction. Jesus healed only one person out of the “great multitude of sick, blind, lame and paralyzed” at the Pool of Bethesda. .  And then there is Hebrews 11 where the great overcoming faith of the patriarchs is juxtaposed with the equally great faith of other unnamed saints who were tortured, scourged, imprisoned, stoned, sawed in two, slain with the sword, and left destitute, afflicted, tormented and homeless. “And all of these – the patriarchs and the other unnamed saints -- obtained a good testimony through faith.” (vs. 39) Hebrews 11:5 puts this in perspective: “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him...”; Let’s understand this: Enoch lived a blessed life, literally walking with God, then was transported home by God bypassing death.  Enoch got a get out of death free card and was transported away to paradise by God while other saints who were equally faithful and pleasing to God were tortured, imprisoned, murdered, and left destitute and afflicted! That sounds a little biased if you’re the one who has a date with a tree-saw! God does not treat us all the same! He deals with each of His children as uniquely created beings with unique personalities, dispositions, proclivities, whom He has predestined to be conformed into the nature of His Son. He is focused on our perfection... our transformation into Christlikeness, and uses the unique circumstances of our life to mold and shape each of us. Be God’s

ASK ENOCH...

THE PURPOSEFUL GOD

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD: The steps of a good man are ordered by the lord. “Ordered” is from the Hebrew word “kun” and means “to establish, to prepare, fixed, set in place”. If such a small thing as a step is controlled and ordained by God, there is nothing in our life He is not sovereign over, concerned about, and involved in - absolutely nothing! (Psalms 37:23)

THE NARROW GATED DIFFICULT WAY: Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity? “Adversity” is from the Hebrew word “ra/raah” and means “the entire spectrum of bad.” Adversity is God’s judgment on mankind, a reality of life. (Job 2:10; Matt. 7:14)

THE WORK OF GOD: Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked?  In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after Him (i.e., know what is to happen). God “appoints” through willing good and allowing bad. (Ecc. 7:13-14)

COUNT IT ALL JOY:  Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, Though the olive crop fails and the fields provide no food, Though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will be jubilant in the Lord, I will rejoice in the victorious God of my salvation. Rejoice... In everything give thanks. (Hab. 3:17-18; James 1; 2-4; Rom. 5:3-5; 1 Thess. 5:18)

GOD TURNS BAD INTO HIS GOOD:   He knows the way I take, When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandments of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. Only melted purified gold is minted! All things work together for our good. (Job 23:10-12; 1 Peter 1:6-7, 4:12-13; Rom. 8:28)

GOD’S PURPOSE... OUR PERFECTION: The Lord God is my strength, my personal invincible army; He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And enables me to walk over my “mountain” of trouble and suffering, And to make spiritual progress. Therefore, you shall be perfect... spiritually mature... Christ-like. (Hab. 3:19; Matt. 5:48)

ADVERSITY, GOD’S SCULPTURING TOOL:  We are predestined to be conformed to the image... nature, of Christ, for God loves us to much to leave us the way we are. The purpose of trials and tests is to teach us faith.  The purpose of tribulation, the pressures of life, is to teach us godly character... Christlikeness, through patience endurance. The purpose of chastening is to teach us obedience. The purpose of reaping what we sow is to teach us dependence on God. The purpose of demonic opposition is to teach us grace.  The purpose of persecution is to teach us godliness, filling up in our bodies what is lacking in the suffering of our Lord.  All of life’s difficulties work together for good in the believer to bring forth the implanted nature of Christ and teach us how to rest in the Lord... the peace of God. (Rom. 8:29; 1 Peter 1:6-7; Rom. 5:3-5; Heb. 12:3-11; Gal. 6:7; 2 Cor. 12:2-10; Col. 1:24; 2 Tim. 3:12)

ALL DIFFICULTIES ARE WITHIN GOD’S PURPOSES

THE SECRET

I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. I have learned how to be content, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted, in whatever state I am. I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me. I am ready for anything and equal to everything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me. I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency. Therefore saints: Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything... not even one single thing. In every circumstance and in everything continue to make your needs known to God, by prayer and petition with definite requests, and with thanksgiving. And God's peace shall be yours: That tranquil state of a soul assured of salvation through Christ and fearing nothing from God, being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort... that peace shall be yours. God’s peace which transcends all understanding, that is better than knowing why, shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  In this rejoice in the Lord always, delight and gladden yourselves in Him.  Again I say, rejoice!

I AM SELF-SUFFICIENT 
IN CHRIST'S SUFFICIENCY

End Note: This is based on Phil. 4:4-14, Amplified Bible, modified by the writer. Though this teaching, contextually, evolved out of Paul’s physical needs, the application is obliviously meant to be all inclusive: “all circumstances, every situation, all things, anything, everything, whatever sort, etc.” Paul lived the narrow gated “difficult” way, facing adversity at every turn, the same way we are called to, but he had a secret.                              

MUSINGS ON A COLD WINTER DAY

THE WARMTH OF THE SON: Sitting in the woods this wintery afternoon, feeling the warmth of the sun’s filtered rays, there is a stillness... a quiet reflectiveness as if time itself has stopped. We are such predictable creatures, adrift in a hostile world that hated our Savior and surely hates us, though we run from the thought. Many of us, saints so called, have built our house on shifting sand, dreading the storm but dreading death to our misplaced desires even more.  It would have been simpler if God had wiped our mental slate clean... tabula rasa, but He chose to give us free will... free choice, the right to choose wrongly. And, therein is our dilemma. So we wiggle and squirm, trying ever so hard to pay the piper – under the table so to speak – to have our cake and eat it too. Not all of us will make it home to heaven. There is a “great falling away”: It has already begun. Some... “few” is the term used in scripture, will give in to the “jealous yearnings” of the Holy Spirit and submit to lordship... to death... to a life quite different than we expected... to life on the narrow difficult Way. Most will join the many on the broad crowded easy way to nowhere... nowhere we really want to go. There is little solace in the warmth of the Son’s rays, till commitment seals one’s heart...

MY HANDS: My hands look old. All wrinkled up, spotted, gnarled, and veiny, they look old. They remind me of the quick passage of time. As I sit here, the sun streaming in through the window on this cold wintery day, I can feel the creeping passage of time as I look at my hands. I suffer from no delusions of grandeur; I have not done enough for the God whose love rends my heart. Mine is not a quest for payback; how could anyone suppose to earn or pay for what Christ did? No, my thought is a simple one: Time is the great deceiver, an enemy sold far too short that sprints while I saunter along through evil days, never quite redeeming the time – never quite doing my all for The One who gave His all for me. My hands remind me of my humanness, a life on the downhill slide toward home, loved beyond measure but still struggling with the unmitigated scope, breadth, and depth of that love, wanting somehow to balance the scales while knowing full well the impossibility. My hands remind me they will not always look old...

LESSONS OF THE GOD-STRUCK

Uzzah, at great personal cost, teaches us a valuable God lesson. God is not a household deity, guarded in our keeping. Our role on this Earth is not to keep the Almighty from mishap or embarrassment. He takes care of Himself. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” And yet there is something far more fearful and dangerous than to fall into His hands: not to fall into His hands.  But perhaps the most fearful and dangerous thing of all is the sin of Uzzah: to think that our job, should God stumble, is to ensure He falls into our hands. We can learn much from Uzzah about God and about ourselves. God is not safe, He's dangerous, not safe at all -- what “consuming fire” is -- but He is just and good. He seeks seekers then rewards their seeking. He seeks worshipers, gracing them with His life changing presence. But caregivers, protectors, any kind of God-handling is risky at best and deadly at worst. The all knowing, ever present, all powerful creator of all seems to think that being God is sufficiency by definition. We need to relinquish our assumed role as God’s protector and throw ourselves headlong into His tender embrace, taking refuge in Him and climbing into His lap of grace. And when He graces us with His presence, always be willing to dance.

Michal, at great personal cost, teaches us another valuable God lesson. God is not the safe-keeper of our reputations.  God is not some priggish domestic deity, a heavenly Miss Piggy intent on prescribing etiquette that maintains polite assemblies, aghast by any outbursts of fervor. Our role on this Earth is not to keep ourselves from embarrassment, to protect our death-grip on propriety. We can learn much from Michal about God and about ourselves. Michal is described as Saul’s daughter, exhibiting his DNA, playing to the opinions of others at the cost of honoring God. Pride and dignity are catchwords for deifying self, the natural born enemy of fervent abandoned worship. God didn’t play to the crowds when He made His beloved son of “no reputation”, the greatest act of worship ever, and He doesn’t give a flip about how our expressions of worship are viewed by others. Worship is for God, and pure sincere heartfelt worship always puts a twinkle in Daddy’s eyes, always! The Psalms command us to “make a joyful noise” when in the presence of the Lord. Shrill cries of gladness and loud exuberant shouts of praise may sound like irreverent din, noise, to the natural ear. Sadly, the Spirit expressed is as strange to some as the manner of expression. Ditto dancing. It is our passion that God loves, for worship without passion is only a discipline. We must come before our Father dignified or undignified, robed or in rags, with the elite or social outcasts, always willing to dance.

We can learn much from David about worshiping God. The Hebrew “panah” translated presence or face is used when God says to Moses “My presence will go with you”, and when God says to David “Seek My face.” Panah has kingly origins: To see the King’s face meant being in his direct presence. Ditto God. “The lord spoke to Moses face to face”, in His presence. Panah coupled with the preposition “le” means toward face, “before.” David danced “toward face” of the Lord, literally “Before the Lord”, in His presence.  For those who think David’s dance was some type of solemn sedated ritualistic procession, the original Hebrew begs to differ: Danced, Karar: To whirl about, to roll, to move to and fro. Leaping, pazaz: To jump, jingle, with expressions of great joy and delight, with the nuance, to be impetuous. Play, sachag: In the Piel Stem: To be merry, laugh, celebrate, rejoicing with strong expressions of joy. Some translations, such as the NKJV, incorrectly insert the word music after play, as if David was simply playing his flute. Mighty, oz: With all one’s physical strength and power, often used of God’s empowerment. When David removed his royal robes and put on the linen ephod of a priest, he divested himself of human status and position, humbling himself as a servant of God, and worshiped in wild abandoned fervor. This dance was a wild kinetic expression of singing, shouting, no doubt screaming, while leaping and jumping about, unchoreographed spontaneous combustion. David was a man after God’s own heart, pursuing his pursuer, who suddenly was found by the lifelong object of his passionate pursuit. And David danced.                                         

DANCING BETWEEN

DEATH AND BARRENNESS

DIGGING FOR TRUTH

Is this statement true? “Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.” (Jn. 9:31) 

This verse is quoting the blind man Jesus healed in John 9:1-40 and should not be taken as a direct statement from God. In verse 3 Jesus states no specific sin caused the man’s blindness: he was blind “that the works of God should be revealed in him.” In other words God allowed his blindness so Jesus could demonstrate the Father’s works through him. “Sinner(s)”, hamartolos, the adjective of hamartano, to sin, is someone who keeps on missing the mark... keeps on sinning... sins habitually. It is clear from verses 35-38 this man was not in covenant relationship with God since he did not know who Jesus was, and did not believe in Jesus as the Son of God until later -- he was a sinner when he spoke these words. There are at least eight passages in scripture where God answers the prayer of sinners such as the nobleman in Jn. 4:49-53, or the publican in Lk. 18:9-14, so the first part of the man’s statement is not true. Now we cannot say God hears and answers all the prayers of sinners, or that He hears and answers the prayers of all sinners. We only know that God has, on occasion, heard and answered the prayer of a sinner, such as this man who no doubt prayed for healing of his blindness. God’s willingness to hear and answer the prayer of a sinner has a lot to do with the content of their petition and the condition of their heart. Having said that, one could suppose that every would-be saint, at some point in the process of their response to the call of the Father, prays as a sinner a prayer the Father hears and answers. 

The second part of this man’s statement puts two conditions on God hearing our prayers, that the petitioner be a worshiper of God, and that the petitioner does the will of God. Note also the results of meeting these two conditions is “He hears them”, implying if God hears a prayer He answers it. We know from 1 Jn. 5:14-15 “If we ask anything according to His will He hears us”, and when “He hears us ... we have the petition that we have asked.” God either hears and answers our prayers, or He doesn’t hear them. 

Since Jn. 9:31 is the statement of a sinner we must prove or disprove these two conditions with other scriptures. There are no passages where being a worshiper is stated as a condition to answered prayer. Worship, is, literally, every God directed thought, deed or action, including praise/worship, prayer, bible study, giving, etc., Worship is the very essence of what a Christian is and does, the linkage between all aspects of the Christian life, and the product of the Holy Spirit revealing Christ in us. True worship... worship in spirit and in truth, is submission to the Lordship of Jesus. (Rom. 12:1-2) This is why God is seeking worshipers (Jn. 4:23). “Doing God’s will” is much more than simple obedience -- living our life within the boundaries of the truth we have received. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” (1 Thess. 4:3) To do the will of God is to be set apart and consecrated to a holy life in the Beloved... in Christ: Submitted to the Lordship of Jesus, our body a living sacrifice, dying daily to our old nature, yielding to the implanted nature of our Lord, transformed by the renewing of our mind, abiding continually – heart to Heart -- in Him. The prayers of such a person, a worshiper doing the will of God will most certainly be answered, for they will be the prayers of God’s own heart. “Now this is the confidence that we have...”

THE COST OF PERFECTION

When Jesus said “you shall be perfect” (Matt.5:48, James 1:4) He meant it.  The primary purpose of the Christian life, from salvation to death or rapture, is to be changed into the likeness of Christ, to literally become like Jesus.  The Great Commission, our ministries and our Christian works all emanate from and find their source in our ever increasing experience of the life of Christ flowing through us.  We are all in the Potter’s house and God, the Master Potter, is using the fiery trials and pressures of this life  to test our faith (1 Peter 1:6-7, 4:12-13), molding and shaping us into the very likeness... the nature, of His dear Son (Rom. 8:29). 

God doesn’t deliver us out of our troubles; God delivers us in our troubles.  Our strength is in the strain!  This is why James said, “rejoice and be glad” and the Apostle Paul said to “boast” (James 1:2-4; Rom. 5:3-5) in our troubles. They could see beyond the “natural”, the trials and tests, and with the eye of the Spirit comprehend how God was utilizing these afflictions, “all things”, to work together for good in their life, in accordance with His purposes (Rom. 8:28, 2 Cor. 5:7).  Just as Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him (Heb. 12:2), they knew their faith was being tested and they knew God was taking them to another level of spiritual walk, another level of His glory.  They knew their steps were ordered by God (Ps. 37:23), that this was a pathway they must walk, so they set their mind on things above (Col. 3:2) and rejoiced!  They boasted!  They knew they were more than conquerors thru Christ (Rom 8:37), they knew Jesus would never leave them or forsake them (Heb. 13:5), and they understood and wanted God’s perfection, their spiritual maturity.  They rejoiced, “Counting it all joy”! 

OUR STRENGTH IS IN THE STRAIN!

FEAR NOT

Worry is conforming to the world’s way of responding to the pressures of life, Worry is fear all dressed up... masquerading as something normal... we all worry, right? But, for the blood bought saint, worry vents our fears, giving fear a voice denouncing our faith in God. This makes worry about the worse thing a saint can do. There are only two ways for a saint to respond to the pressures of life, either Fear or Trust, and they are diametrical opposites that cannot co-exist. And just as fear bears the fruit of worry, and ultimately depression, trust bears the fruit of love, joy, and peace... even in the worse storms of life. Our fruit always tells on our heart. Following is a reflection on how David, the great psalmist, handled worry by destroying fear with the reality of God’s sovereignty:

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.  You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar off.You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.

 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?  If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” even the night shall be light about me; indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.  I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You. Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.

 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; in You I take shelter.  Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.

Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. In Your mercy cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul; for I am Your servant.                                                                                  

FOR I AM WITH YOU

(Psalms 139:1-18 & 143:8-12)

UNIVERSALISM: THE ABUSE OF GRACE AND LOVE

THE ABUSE OF GRACE: The Apostle Paul dealt with the abuse of Grace in many passages, including Romans 5:21-6:2 (John’s translation): “Just as our sin nature has ruled us and will cause our physical death and eternal separation from God in Hell, so also our right standing with God will allow God’s enabling power to rule us, providing heavenly life of endless duration through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say to this?  Shall we continue to allow our sin nature to rule us that God’s saving grace and mercy may increase more and more? God forbid, may it never be!  How can we who have died to our sin nature continue any longer to spend our life under its control?” How indeed...

We are either slaves to our past, slaves to our habits or slaves to God.  Either our sin nature will rule us or God will rule us. Grace gives diplomatic immunity: “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Rom. 5:20B NKJV).  The grace of God has been given in greater measure than needed and will always be “more than enough” for sinner’s with a repentant heart.  This in no way implies we should flagrantly sin and presume upon God’s grace.  “Shall we continue to allow our sin nature to rule us that God’s saving grace and mercy may increase more and more? God forbid, may it never be”! The phrase “God forbid” used in this passage is the strongest Greek idiom for repudiating a statement, and does not indicate when or how God forbids.  We don’t know when we have gone too far, when we have crossed the line where God’s merciful Grace is no longer available.  God’s Grace is not automatically applied to those who sin willfully; the existence of grace and mercy do not guarantee application if one does not seek and desire God’s help.  If a born again believer willingly and deliberately commits sin, with full knowledge that it is sin, there simply is no guarantee of abounding grace. Access to God’s throne of grace may be justifiably denied. Such a believer spurns and tramples underfoot Christ’s atoning work, treating as common, unholy and profane the precious blood of Jesus, and insulting and outraging the Holy Spirit, the one who imparts Grace (Heb. 10:26-31). Grace is amazing and awesome, but it is not ours to fragrantly abuse and wastefully expend. Nowhere does God’s word teach a Grace that supersedes God’s command to holiness or demand for Justice.

THE ABUSE OF LOVE:  John made the primary assertion that "God is Love." 'God" has the definite article and "love" is anarthrous; the predicate is expressing the quality, character, or nature of the article here. This means, God as to His nature is love, He has a nature that is loving. But God is not literally ‘Love”, God is not an emotion! John also states “God is Spirit” using the same Greek grammatical construction; God has a nature that is spirit, not physical or visible. John also said “God is Light” and in Him is no darkness at all. Paul said God dwells in unapproachable light... His glory, the metaphor being God’s brilliant glory penetrates the sin darkened soul of man. The Psalms tell us “God is a Just Judge”, and God calls Himself “A Just God” in Isaiah. God applies justice within His own infinitely wise council neither needing nor heeding the council of man. The Bible states categorically, unconditionally and repeatedly that “God is Holy.” The standards of God’s holiness were not created, they exist as an integral part of His nature, from eternity past to eternity future, and they are not negotiable. Much of the N.T. is about the reconciliation of God's Love and God's Justice, which is found in the cross. God's holy demand for Justice made the cross necessary, providing the opportunity for His Love to be demonstrated. We simply cannot dissect God's nature and attributes, He is infinite in all of His perfections, holy in all His ways. It would be most foolish to think God’s love for us would somehow override His command to holiness or His demand for Justice. Blindness of this magnitude is motivated by man's desire to "help" God by tweaking His message. "Cool" and "Relevant" are the “in” gospel adjectives, the mortar of which strongholds are built. But God... well, He is still the same...