The Eagles and the Vine, Ezekiel 17

 

Let’s go back to somewhere around 590 BC and listen to the Lord give us a riddle, followed by an explanation, and then, a powerful, hope filled prophecy.

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel, ³ and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“A great eagle with large wings and long pinions, full of feathers of various colors, (King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon) came to Lebanon (Implies Jerusalem with the royal palace and temple largely made of majestic cedars of Lebanon) and took from the cedar the highest branch. ⁴ He cropped off its topmost young twig (Young 18 yr old King Jehoiachin of Judah, only 3 mo. on the throne) and carried it to a land of trade; he set it in a city of merchants. (Jehoiachin was taken captive to Babylon in 597 BC. This was the same time as Ezekiel. So, it’s possible he heard this prophecy and perhaps recognized himself in the story, as the topmost young twig).
⁵ Then he took some of the seed of the land and planted it in a fertile field; he placed it by abundant waters and set it like a willow tree. (Nebuchadnezzar took “seed of the land” Jehoiachin’s 21 year old uncle, Zedekiah, and planted him in Jerusalem as his puppet king of Judah. 2 Kings 24:17).

⁶ And it grew and became a spreading vine of low stature (the land of Judah was no longer a majestic cedar, but a growing vassal vine under Babylon); its branches turned toward him (they were subject to Nebuchadnezzar), but its roots were under it (but at least they were standing on their own soil, in their own homeland, Israel). So, it became a vine, brought forth branches, and put forth shoots. (Zedekiah and the land of Judah prospered peacefully, as long as they remained subservient to Nebuchadnezzar).

⁷ “But there was another great eagle with large wings and many feathers; (Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt); and behold, this vine (Zedekiah) bent its roots toward him, and stretched its branches toward him, from the garden terrace where it had been planted, that he might water it. ⁸ It was planted in good soil by many waters, to bring forth branches, bear fruit, and become a majestic vine.” ’

Even though life was good for Zedekiah, good soil, many waters, bearing fruit, growing into a majestic vine, in his homeland, even still, Zedekiah wasn’t happy as a vine, he wanted to be a majestic cedar.

Even though the prophets, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and others, told him what was happening was God’s discipline for their wickedness.

Even though he was told to repent and endure and not despise or rebel against God’s chastening.

Zedekiah wouldn’t listen.

2 Chronicles 36:12.
But Zedekiah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and he refused to humble himself when the prophet Jeremiah spoke to him directly from the LORD.   

Instead, he turned to Egypt (Jeremiah 37), asking for help to get out from under the thumb of Babylon, (and the Divine discipline of God).

The deceiver always offers a counterfeit.

Instead of staying the course, receiving the Promises of God through faith and patience, the tempter hisses, don’t wait, you’ll miss out if you hesitate, taste the forbidden fruit today.

Here’s what God has to say:

⁹ “Say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“Will it thrive? (the vine: Zedekiah, Judah).
(NO!) Will he not pull up its roots, cut off its fruit, and leave it to wither?
All of its spring leaves will wither, and no great power or many people will be needed to pluck it up by its roots. (It’ll be so weak and withered that it won’t take much to pluck it up).

¹⁰ Behold, it is planted, will it thrive?
Will it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it? (East, from Babylon).
It will wither in the garden terrace where it grew.” ’ ”

That’s the second time we’ve heard the words “garden terrace”. The Lord, making a point that His Divine discipline is seasoned with love, mercy and grace. Zedekiah was planted in a beautiful place to thrive, a land flowing with milk and honey, fruited plains, where God shed His grace on thee. 

John 15:5-6.  I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

All he, they, we, have to do, is willingly, humbly, patiently, abide in Him, covenant with Him, accept God’s chastening. Follow His leading.

If you’re in a pickle, drying, dying, on the vine, having problems, (especially of your own making), whatever the pickle, whatever the problem, the Answer is always the same. Abide in Him. Covenant with Him.

How do I do that?

TRUST. DELIGHT. COMMIT.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit your works to the Lord,
And your thoughts will be established.

Which is a Sunday School Picnic compared to what happens when we rebel. My yoke is easy, My burden is light. Matthew 11:30.

¹¹ Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ¹² “Say now to the rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Indeed the king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and took its king and princes, and led them with him to Babylon. ¹³ And he took the king’s offspring, (“Offspring” in KJV and NKJV, is not a good translation. Most other translations accurately say something like: a member of the royal family. Which, as we already mentioned was Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah) made a covenant with him, and put him under oath...

Nebuchadnezzar made a covenant with Zedekiah.

Covenants are a big deal.

Currently, another eagle, America, is trying to make a covenant with the devil, I mean, Iran and friends, which they will break.

Soon, the antichrist will make a seven-year covenant (which he will break).

Don’t you love God’s object lessons being played out in living color?  

Zedekiah swore an oath by God to abide by the terms of the covenant.

Akin to when we place our hand on the Bible and say: “I swear to tell the Truth the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth, so help me God.”

It’s serious. If you lie under oath, you’re not only committing perjury to the court, but breaking a covenant with God (more on that in a moment).

 ¹³... He also took away the mighty of the land, ¹⁴ that the kingdom might be brought low and not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand. 

Nebuchadnezzar stacked the deck in his favor.

To keep the people in check, Nebuchadnezzar took captive the mighty of the land, the leaders, the elite, the priests, the royal, the skilled, the best and brightest.

But to keep the land from becoming desolate, he left the poorest to serve him and take care of the land.

To oversee it all Nebuchadnezzar made a covenant with Zedekiah and planted him, as his puppet king.

¹⁵ But he (Zedekiah) rebelled against him (Nebuchadnezzar) by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and many people... 

Zedekiah swore an oath by God and then broke covenant with Nebuchadnezzar and asked the other eagle, Egypt, for help.

This was evil in the sight of God.

Covenants are a big deal.

2 Chronicles 36:13. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, even though he had taken an oath of loyalty in God’s name. Zedekiah was a hard and stubborn man, refusing to turn to the LORD, the God of Israel.

¹⁵... Will he prosper? Will he who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and still be delivered?

The questions are rhetorical.

The answers are obvious. No! he cannot break covenant and be delivered, escape and prosper.

God takes covenant seriously.

The moment you intentionally, sincerely, ask Jesus to be Lord of your life, you are signing a Divine Eternal Covenant, with God, written and sealed by the blood of Christ.   

In that instant you are in covenant with Him, a child of the King.

You are officially an ambassador for Christ.

Thus, required to represent Him with integrity and honesty.

Your word is your bond.

Psalm 15:1-4
Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

² He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;
³ He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
⁴ In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the Lord;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change

What does walking in covenant with God look like?

When you say you’ll do something, you do it.

Your handshake is an unbreakable contract.

When you commit to it, you finish it.

Let your yes be yes, and your no, no. Matthew 5:37, James 5:12.

God takes covenant seriously.

¹⁶ ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘surely in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke—with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. ¹⁷ Nor will Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company do anything in the war, when they heap up a siege mound and build a wall to cut off many persons. ¹⁸ Since he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and in fact gave his hand and still did all these things, he shall not escape.’ ”

Since Zedekiah despised the oath by breaking the covenant, there was a horrific eighteen month siege, ending in 586 BC when Nebuchadnezzar breached the walls of Jerusalem and destroyed the city.  

Zedekiah was captured and taken to Babylon where he spent the rest of his life in captivity.

¹⁹ Therefore thus says the Lord God: “As I live, surely My oath which he despised, and My covenant which he broke, I will recompense on his own head. ²⁰ I will spread My net over him, and he shall be taken in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and try him there for the treason which he committed against Me.

Wow!

In God’s eyes, Zedekiah committed treason against Him, by breaking a sworn covenant with Nebuchadnezzar.

Notice God calls it “My oath” and “My covenant” which Zedekiah despised and broke. And He said, “I will recompense... I will spread My net over him, and he shall be taken in My snare...for the treason which he committed against Me.”

Zedekiah and his men tried to escape the Jerusalem siege through a hole in the wall but were captured near Jericho. What a bunch of low life cowards, the king and his soldiers, leaving the citizens, the women and children, to fend for themselves.  

Once they were caught, Zedekiah’s sons were slain before his eyes. That was the last thing he ever saw because then, his eyes were taken, and he was led, blind and in chains, to Babylon. 2 Kings 25:4-7.

Life is so much better to walk in covenant with God and humbly, patiently, accept His loving chastening, rather than despise it and be turned over to wicked tormenters.

God takes covenant seriously.    

As a Christian, representing Christ, if we break our word, we break our covenant with God to represent Him with integrity and honesty.

When we commit to Christ we are swearing to tell the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth.

If you set your hand to the plow, and then turn back, Jesus says you’re not fit for the Kingdom of God. Luke 9:62.

²¹ All his fugitives with all his troops shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall be scattered to every wind; and you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken.”

A tragic end for Zedekiah and his men.

NOW, they know beyond the shadow of a doubt that the Lord has spoken.

NOW, they forever wish, they would’ve listened.

NOW, for them it’s too late.

But not for you, not for anyone hearing this message, or anyone you give it to.

NOW, the Lord extends Hope with a powerful prophecy.

²² Thus says the Lord God: “I will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender One, and will plant it on a high and prominent mountain. ²³ On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell. ²⁴ And all the trees of the field (nations of the world) shall know that I, the Lord, have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; I, the Lord, have spoken and have done it.”

I will plant in Israel, on the mount, on the tree, in the shape of an old wooden cross, the Seed, from which will grow the most bountiful Eternal Harvest the world has ever known.

Take note the Lord’s words, “I will...I will...I will” and then He closes by saying, I have done it.

As on the day, on that mount, upon that tree, He said:

IT IS FINISHED!

NOW, it’s up to us... you.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, even though You’ve been so Good, we, like Zedekiah, have despised Your chastening and have turned to Egypt rather than You. Yet, even now, like Ezekiel, Your Word comes to us. Thank You. Please forgive us, covenant with us, as we trust You, delight in You, commit to You. Please shine through us to draw others to You. So of all those You’ve given us, none are lost.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.       

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The Power of Patience, James 5:7-11

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

OUTLINE:

1.     ENDURANCE

2.     ESTABLISH

3.     EDIFY

What do you like better:

Red lights or green?

Stop signs, or yield?

How may I help you or, please hold?

We’ll have your results today or, we should know in three weeks?

Come on in, or please wait?

We don’t like to wait.

I disliked waiting so much when I was a teenager, I dug up a stop sign on the road I traveled into town every morning. My road was straight as an arrow at the junction where another road joined at a right angle. For some dumb reason my road had a stop sign and the road coming in from the side had the right of way. That was wrong. It made no sense. Why should I have to stop for a road interrupting my straight smooth sailing?

So, one night me and Sean Barnes, snuck out there and dug up the sign, post and all. It took some time because every time a car would come, we’d dive in the ditch and hide.

Finally, we replanted the sign on the side road—where it belonged.

I just knew once they saw how smart we were by moving the sign, they’d realize how dumb they were and just leave it there.

No more waiting!

It was awesome.

For a day.

The next day, they replaced the sign back on my road, but this time bigger and beefier with two posts instead of just one.

We were afraid they booby trapped them, so that sign is probably still there to this day, making innocent straight shooters waste their time stopping for some dumb sidewinder road.

We think waiting is a waste of time.

But the Bible says otherwise.

Good things come to those who wait. 

Isaiah 40:31
 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Heb. 6:12
 Through faith and patience we inherit the promise

Matt. 24:13
 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

James 1:2-4
 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect (teleios: full strength, clarity, maturity) work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Patience is a powerful and important characteristic of a mature Christian.

Impatience shows immaturity in Christianity.

If you lay on the horn the moment somebody sits too long when the light turns green, or they pull in front of you in traffic... you’re showing your diaper.

Notice how many times our text points to patience:

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

 

1.     ENDURANCE

See how the farmer waits.

Waiting like a farmer is work.

They don’t just plant in spring, harvest in fall, and sit around for the rest of the year.

Their waiting is preparing and repairing, equipment and fences and barns, fertilizing and watering and weeding and feeding and sometimes without eating or sleeping.

Farmers actively wait, like Jesus busy about His Father’s business, preparing for Harvest.

Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him. Heb. 12:2.

Godly patience is passing time productively, not passively.

Galatians 6:9, Weary not in well doing for in due season you shall reap if you faint not.

It’s not sitting idle watching the clock, waiting for this or that.

It’s living intentionally with Eternity in view.

Walking not by earth’s chronos clock but by Heaven’s Kairos time. Siezing the moment, ready in season and out, knowing our days are but a vapor, the harvest is plentiful, the laborers are few.

We have no time to waste on petty, earthly, foolish, debates and wranglings. Titus 3:9.

Waiting like a farmer, is working for God’s Great Harvest.  

 It’s easier said than done.

The world is drifting downstream toward the lake of fire. Waiting like a farmer is walking upstream against the current of the world.

So, it takes more than physical endurance, a good work ethic, or sheer will power.

It takes inner strength of the heart.  

2.     ESTABLISH

Establish your heart.

Establish: stérizó: Root of the word: steroid. To establish, strengthen, fix, set firmly.

Not just waiting like a farmer on the outside but also on the inside, in the heart.

This is where Power comes from.

Establish your heart. Strengthen your heart.

How?

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Psalm 16:11
 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Nehemiah 8:10
The joy of the Lord is your strength.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit your works unto the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.

So, if we faithfully follow the Lord, obey His Word, do what we know He wants us to do, He will direct our path, give us His strength, and joy, and the desires of our heart will be established.

Yeah, but Doug, you don’t understand. I have trust issues. I have a hard time with commitment. I have desires at times that are anything but Godly.  

We all battle the flesh. But don’t put your stop sign on the wrong street. Don’t admit defeat.

Remember, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Saying, I have trust issues. I can’t commit. I have ungodly desires. I. I. I... is claiming that your flesh is in control, that your flesh is who you are.

That is a demonic deception, from gender dysphoria all the way to, “it’s just my Irish temper, I can’t help it, it’s who I am.”

HOGWASH. NO! IT’S NOT WHO YOU ARE!

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14.

You are created in the image of God. Genesis 1:27.

If you are a Christian, you are a new creature. Born again. A child of God. A child of The King! 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:3, John 1:12.

You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous Light. 1 Peter 2:9.

You are a spirit, you have a soul, you live in a body.

Your spirit does not like the things of the flesh but wars against them. Galatians 5:17, Matthew 26:41.

Therefore, do not say, “I have trust issues. I can’t commit. My desires are ungodly.”

Instead make your words agree with The Word:

I Trust in the Lord with all MY heart, I lean not on MY own understanding; in all MY ways I acknowledge Him, and He directs MY paths. Proverbs 3:5-6.

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11.

The joy of the Lord is MY strength. Nehemiah 8:10.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13.

I Delight myself in the Lord and He gives me the desires of my heart. Psalm 37:4.

I commit my works to the Lord, and my thoughts are established. Proverbs 16:3.

I’m glad when they say, let's go to the House of the Lord. Psalm 122:1.

I rejoice in the Lord always. Philippians 4:4-8.

My will is to do the will of my Father.  John 6:38-39.

I am blessed of the Lord, I love His Word, and nothing by any means offends me.  (Psalm 119:165.

My flesh may like to drink and smoke and cuss and chew and go with those who do...

But I don't.

From the abundance of the Godly heart will flow, not grumbling and complaining, but Life-giving edification.

3.     EDIFY

Do not grumble lest you be condemned.

Ephesians 4:29-32
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Do you want to hear a scary Scripture that ought to cure anybody of grumbling, gossip, idle, evil words?

Matthew 12:33-37
 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

God really dislikes grumbling and complaining.

Numbers 11:1-3. After God delivered Israel from Egypt, on their way to the Promise Land, they grumbled and complained. God sent fire that consumed many of them.

Numbers 16:31-35, When 250 leaders complained against Moses and Aaron’s Authority, the earth opened and swallowed them.  

Numbers 16:41-50. Then, the next day they complained about the leaders being killed, so God sent a plague killed 14,700 grumblers.

Numbers 21:5-6. They grumbled again against God and Moses, because they were tired and hungry and thirsty and sick of the same old food. So, God sent venomous snakes and many more died.

Numbers 14:26-38. After 10 of the 12 spies gave a fearful report regarding their chances of taking Promise Land, the multitude grumbled against Moses. So, God decreed that every Israelite 20 years and older would die in the wilderness. All but Joshua and Celeb, the two spies who gave a faithful report.   

The 10 fear mongering spies dropped dead on the spot.

Thus, they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, on a journey that should’ve been less than two weeks.

Take your time. Do it right. Don’t complain. You’ll avoid undue delays and have a much more harmonious journey.

Now, in closing, let’s look one more time at our text and notice the overriding purpose and theme:

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

 

Endure until the coming of the Lord.

Establish your heart, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Edify for the Judge is standing at the door.

How do we endure, with a strong heart, without grumbling, in this upstream battle?

Look to Jesus who is coming soon, yes, standing at the door.   

Hebrews 10:36-37
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry.

Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, help us to follow Your example, not complaining, edifying, ever planting toward Your Harvest. Waiting, like a farmer. Making heaven crowded.

Thank You Lord.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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Fraud, Waste and Abuse, James 5:1-6

 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! ² Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. ⁴ Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. ⁵ You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

The minister, which all Christians are, should speak to both sinners and saints. Not only in an echo chamber to like-minded believers.

James speaks to beloved brothers... and others; adulterers and adulteresses, sinners, double minded. (James 4:4,8).

Jesus said we are to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15.

So, here James speaks to the filthy rich, emphasis on filthy. Those wealthy by ill-gotten gain.

 James had undoubtedly heard Jesus’ words to the wicked wealthy:

Matthew 23:15-24
 ¹⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ ¹⁷ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? ¹⁸ And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ ¹⁹ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 

They weren’t exactly His favorite people.

He went on to call them.

Whitewashed sepulchers full of hypocrisy and lawlessness, serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?

Rather than viewing the provision of God to further the work of God, they saw it as a means of gain, to consume upon their lusts.

Jesus condemns them without so much as a call to repentance.

James does the same. Notice he says, weep and howl, not weep and repent. Weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you, where there will be weeping and howling and gnashing of teeth.

Their relationship toward God was revealed by their relationship to money.

Where I put my money, paints a picture of my heart.

Good or bad.

It justifies or condemns.

It condemned the filthy rich, the greedy scribes and pharisees, but it justified the woman who put in her two cents worth.

Mark 12:41-44
Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. ⁴² Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.

⁴³ Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. ⁴⁴ For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”

Then, she walks outside, bumps into the rich young ruler, it’s love at first sight, they get married and live happily ever after 😉.

The rich young ruler is the one that asked Jesus what good thing he must do to have eternal life.

Jesus told him to obey the commandments.

He said, “I’ve done that since my youth.”

Jesus looked at him, loved him, told him to sell what he had, give to the poor, and follow Him.

The man went away sad because he had great riches.

Then, Jesus told His disciples, it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Matthew 19:16-24, Mark 10:17-27

My money trail, paints a picture of my heart.

What does it look like?

Does it show that I love God?

Or...? Fill in the blank.

I love... Food? Clothes? Family? Fun? Travel? Reading? Hobbies? Gardening? Golf? Fishing? Smoking? Drinking? Drugs? ...? Puzzles?

What if entrance through the Pearly Gates required an audit of my discretionary spending to verify my relationship with Jesus.

Would I pass the audit?

Doug, hold on! Get real. You can’t see a heart by looking at a checkbook.

Oh really?

Let’s ask Jesus.

Where your treasure is there your heart will be also. Matt. 6:21.

Well, that settles it.

My relationship toward God is revealed by my relationship to money.

Where I put my money, paints a picture of my heart.

The numbers don’t lie.

Just in case you’re wondering. No, we can’t have both. We can’t love the world and the Lord.

There’s no two-timing God.

Jesus says it like this:

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matt. 6:24.

Now, just to be clear. It’s a heart issue, not a money issue.

Money is not the root of all evil. The love of money is the root of all evil. 1 Tim. 6:10.

The love of money is why we have overwhelming debt nationally and individually.

The love of money is why we have fraud, waste and abuse, in our nation.

If we could eliminate the love of money we’d fix the dept crisis.

Fraud waste and abuse was also in our text (James 5:4-6), did you see it?  

⁴ Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

The Lord of Sabaoth, is not the Lord of Sabbath, but literally the Lord of Hosts. God is Commander in Chief of Heavens Armies.

He hears the cry of those frauded by the filthy rich, lawless, brood of vipers.

Today every tax paying American citizen is being:

Frauded out of free and fair elections.

Frauded out of multiplied billions upon billions of dollars.

Our children are being frauded out of the Truth of a Godly education including:

·       America’s Godly Foundation built on Biblical Judea Christian Principles

·       Biblical Truths regarding marriage, gender, life, liberty.

Fraud is deception.

Deception is of the devil, the father of lies. John 8:44.

The Lord of Hosts knows it and hears our cry.

 ⁵ You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.

We’ll follow James and Jesus’ example and speak directly to the fraudsters, wasters, abusers.

You know who you are.

You had opportunity to do good, to make a difference, instead you wasted it, on the passing pleasures of sin for a season.

The corrupt treasures you’ve heaped will rise in witness against you.

Your wasted position and wasted life will haunt your wasted soul with the pain of fire eating your flesh, forever.

Such a waste.

 ⁶ You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

To cover your own corruption, you abuse, you condemn, you murder, you assassinate, the innocent, and he does not resist you.

But make no mistake, don’t think you got away with your fraud, waste and abuse, your stealing, killing, destroying.

Don’t think he does not resist you out of weakness.

Tremble knowing it’s because you’ve been handed over to the Lord of Sabaoth.

Your filthy riches, your putrid power, will not help you when you stand before the Judge of the wicked and the dead.

Jesus puts it like this:

Revelation 3:14-22

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: ¹⁵ “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷ Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 

This is where my flesh thinks the story should end with the filthy rich being vomited into hell.

But the depth of God’s love is beyond understanding, and He’s not done.

¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. ¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. ²¹ To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

²² “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 

Lord Jesus, thank You for telling us this life is but a vapor, this world is passing away. Thank You for giving all things that pertain to Life and Godliness. Please help keep our priorities straight, with Eternity in view, pressing ever onward closer to You. So that of all those You’ve given us, none are lost.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.