Saturday 26 November 2011

Slave To Sin (MASTURBATION)

 
First of all, masturbation will not truly relieve the sexual pressure that one may feel. It may for a short moment, but in the long run it only creates a deeper desire and capacity for sex, which will lead to more masturbation. If you let yourself become enslaved to a sexual high, you will find that you need to go to increasingly extreme acts to maintain the same degree of excitement. There are even ungodly sex therapists who recommend masturbation as a way of increasing sexual desire, not lessening it. This creates a vicious circle, like the junkie who craves a "fix," but is only temporarily satisfied. The more he indulges in his dependency, the more ensnared by addiction he becomes. This is the nature of all sin. That is why Jesus declared that all who sin become a slave to sin (John 8:34).

Furthermore, masturbation usually involves fantasy, visualization, and often pornography. The Bible is very clear as to what God expects of us in these areas of fantasy and lust. It teaches that we must not look lustfully at each other nor should we behave in such a manner as to entice others to lust after us. 



Monday 14 November 2011

DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE

 One of the most controversial subjects in the body of Messiah is divorce and remarriage.  Is it a sin to get a divorce?  If not, is it a sin to re-marry?  Are you living in adultery if you re-marry after you are divorced?
     There has been, and is, much misleading teaching concerning this issue.  Many people needlessly feel guilty about their marital status.  Marriages have broken up because of false teaching.  People have been led to go contrary to Yahweh's law, only to end up committing suicide, because of wrong (according to the word) council.  Obviously there is a definite need for an in depth study of this topic.  The following is the author's attempt to harmonize all scriptures concerning this very controversial issue.
     Any study of divorce/re-marriage must be based on the law of Yahweh.  If it is based on anything else, it's not even worth considering.  With that in mind, we must define all of the key words in this study.  These words will be defined as we come to them.  The law concerning divorce and re-marriage can be found in Deuteronomy, the book of the law.  Please note that Deuteronomy is Yahweh's law, not the law of Moses.  Moses was merely the instrument of Yahweh (His servant).  Yahweh gave the law to all of Israel.  He delivered it to Moses, who was responsible to give it to all of Israel.
 Now, let's turn to Deut. 24:1-4.  All scripture will be quoted from the King James translation, unless otherwise stated.
     Deut. 24:1-4  1) "When a man hath taken a wife and marries her, and it comes to pass that she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her, then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.  2) And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.  3) And if the latter husband hate her, and write  her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house, if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; 4) Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled, for that is abomination before Yahweh, and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which Yahweh thy Elohim giveth thee for an inheritance."
     In verse 1, the words "bill of divorcement" are from one Hebrew word, #3748 in Strong's concordance, meaning a cutting of the matrimonial bond.  The words "send her out" are #7971 in Strong's, meaning to send away.  Please note that, in verse 2, after the woman has a bill of divorcement and is departed, she may go and re-marry.  Both qualifications must be met before she may be another man's wife.  This will be important to remember later on in the study.
     In verses 3 and 4, note that if a woman's second husband divorces her and sends her away, she may not re-marry her former husband!  I find it interesting that many of those who say that it is adultery to re-marry after being divorced, also say that one should divorce her second spouse and get back with their first.  Both statements are contrary to the law of Yahweh, and the second statement is an abomination.
      Deut. 24:1-4 is the law concerning divorce/re-marriage.  There are exceptions to that law.  I'll address those later, but for now, let's look at the various New Testament scriptures pertaining to this subject.
     Matt.5:31-32   31) "It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32) But I say to you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery:  and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery."
     If we take the King James version as it is written here, it definitely says that anyone who marries a woman that is divorced is committing adultery.   However, this is inconsistent with  Deut. 24:1-4, the law of Yahweh concerning divorce  and re-marriage.  I refuse to believe that Yahshua taught contrary to the law.  Therefore, let's take a closer look at this.
     Verse 31 is consistent with the law; therefore we can let it stand as is.  In verse 32 however, where it says "and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery", the word "divorced" is #630 in Strong's.  It means to free fully, i.e. literally relieve, release, dismiss.  The primary meaning here is not divorce, but to put away, as in a separation.  There are two specific words for divorce in the New Testament. In Strong's concordance, #647 means something separative, specifically divorce; #3084 means a loosening, i.e.  specifically divorce.  Yahshua did not speak contrary to the law here.  Most of our translations, though, are not accurate.  I believe that George Lamsa's translation is accurate in this case, that is the last part of Matt. 5:32.  Matt 5:32b (Lamsa)  "and whoever marries a woman who is separated, but not divorced, commits adultery."   Lamsa is correct here, because he is in agreement with the torah.  However, in the first part of this verse, he uses the word "divorces" where he should have used "put away".  Check your concordance.  The word is #630 in Strong's, meaning to put away! And so, correctly translated  Matt. 5:32  should read: "But I say to you that whoever puts away his wife, except for fornication, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is separated but not divorced, commits adultery."   I hope this clears up a very controversial new testament verse.
     Now, let's look at Matt. 19:3-9.  (3) "The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?  (4) And He answered and said unto them, have you not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, (5) and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife:  and the twain shall be one flesh; (6) Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh.  What therefore Yahweh hath joined together, let no man put asunder."
If Yahweh brings a couple together, they won't have to worry about separation or divorce.  Yahweh is not going to bring two people together that are not compatable.
Matt. 19:7  "They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?  (8) He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives:  but from the beginning it was not so."
If a man does not diligently seek Yahweh's will in whom he will marry, he is likely to make the wrong choice.  Not consulting Yahweh is hard hearted.  Because men were, and are, making the wrong choice for their mates, Yahweh allowed for divorce and re-marriage (Deut. 24:1-4).
Verse 9: And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, commiteth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.  No bill of divorcement is mentioned here.  If a man marries a woman that is put away, but not divorced, he is committing adultery.
     Now, let's turn to Romans 7:2-3.  "For a woman which hath a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.  So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress:  but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be marrried to another man.
This is a favorite passage of those that say that it is adultery to be re-married if you are legally divorced.  If you ignore the law of Yahweh, these verses seem to say that a woman could not re-marry after a divorce, otherwise she would be an adulteress.  However, the simple fact is that if she be legally divorced, she no longer has a husband!  These verses only apply to someone who is married.  If you are divorced, you are not married!
     Paul was well versed in the torah (Gal. 1:14), and in his first epistle to the Corinthians, he wrote a passage that should leave no doubt in your mind, if you simply look up the meaning of the key word.  1 Cor. 7:25-28.  V. 25 "Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of Yahweh:  yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of Yahweh to be faithful."  The intended meaning of the word "virgins" is celibacy, and Paul writes that there is no commandment of Yahweh concerning this.  V. 26 "I suppose therefore that it is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.  (27) Art thou bound to a wife?  Seek not to be loosed.  Art thou loosed from a wife?  Seek not a wife."  If you believe that it is adultery to re-marry after a legal divorce, then it is convenient to assume that the word "loosed" refers to separation by death!  However the Greek word here is #3080 in Strong's concordance, and it has only one very specific meaning.  The word means divorced!  With that in mind, now let's put the last part of V. 27 with the first part of V. 28.  "Art thou divorced from a wife?  Seek not a wife.  But and if thou marry, thou hast not
sinned;"  Paul can only be addressing those who have been divorced here, and he says that if you marry you have not sinned!
     Isn't that amazing?  Paul, an expert in the law, says exactly the opposite of what many are teaching today.  Yahweh is merciful.  His mercy endures forever.  He doesn't expect us to live the rest of our lives with someone who may be totally incompatible, because we didn't seek Yahweh's will in the first place.  He does expect us to be firm if we do decide on divorce.  We cannot divorce our 2nd spouse in order to go back to our 1st.  Yahweh says this is an abomination (Deut. 24:4).  Yet, that's exactly what many people were taught.  I've heard of cases where people actually ended up committing suicide when they returned to their first spouse, and again it did not work out.  What a tragedy!  And yet, it could have been avoided, had they only sought Yahweh's will.
     I mentioned that there are exceptions to the law of divorce and re-marriage.  Let's examine those now.
Deut. 22:13-19 describes a case where a man takes a woman to be his wife.  He then finds out that he hates this woman.  He calls her a whore and says that she is not the virgin that she claimed to be.  If the woman's parents prove that she was a virgin when she got married, and that the husband is lying, then the
husband is bound to his wife for life.  He may not put her away all his days.
     The other exception is described in  Deut. 22:28-29.  It's short and simple, so I'll just quote it.  "If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found, then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days."
     Now, let's turn to Jer.  3:1-15.  You can read the entire passage at your leisure.  I'll just pick out the key verses for now.  Verse 8, "And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery, I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.  Now verse 14, "Turn, O backsliding children, saith Yahweh: for I am married unto you:  and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.  In verse 8, Yahweh says that He gave Israel a bill of divorcement, but in verse 14 He says that He is married to her!  Either the translation is inconsistent here, or my whole thesis does not hold water.  I believe that the King James translation is inconsistent again here.  The word "married" in verse 14 is #1166 in Strong's.  It means to be master, hence to marry.  I think that's a little ambiguous.  Therefore, I looked the word up in the Brown, Driver, and Briggs Hebrew lexicon. Here the meaning becomes clear as "to be lord over".  The Revised Standard version of the scriptures more accurately translates this verse as: "Return, O faithless children, says Yahweh, for I am your master;".
Obviously, Israel could not return to Yahweh if she were spiritually re-married, otherwise Yahweh would be breaking His own law (Deut. 24:3-4).
Anyone can come to Yahweh through Yahushua the Messiah.  When you accept Yahushua as your savior, and obey His law (Yahweh's law), you become a part of the commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians chapter 2).  This is how Israel returns to Yahweh.  It's the only way.  Yahshua is the door (John 10:9).  No man comes to the Father except by Him.  Yahushua is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:16).
     There is another area of the law that applies to divorce and re-marriage.  Most people want to ignore this part of the law, but that does not nullify it.  The law that I am referring to is found in Deut. 22, starting in verse 23.  "If a damsel [that is] a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, [being] in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you."  Did you notice why Yahweh says the man in this case is to be stoned?  He was to die according to the law because he "humbled his neighbour's wife"!  A betrothed bride was considered the same as married.  In this example from the torah, both the man that lay with a betrothed virgin and also the virgin were guilty of adultery.
     I ask those who would condemn someone who has been re-married after being divorced, isn't being engaged to be married the same as being betrothed?  I would say that it most certainly is the same.  If getting re-married after divorce is not acceptable, then neither is marrying after splitting up from being engaged acceptable.  Let's be consistent with Yahweh's law.  "Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery?..." (Romans 2:22)
     We have seen thus far in this study that re-marriage after a divorce is in fact consistent with Yahweh's law.  A man can exact the law and divorce his wife, unless his case is one of the exceptions that was discussed.  "And now I will show you the most excellent way." (1 Corinthians 12:31) Colossians 3:18-19 NIV 18. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in Yahushua.  19  Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Ephesians 5:22-33 NIV  22  Wives, submit to your husbands as to Yahushua.  23  For the husband is the head of the wife as Messiah is the head of the assembly, His body, of which He is the Savior.  24 Now as the assembly submits to Messiah, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.  25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Messiah loved the assembly and gave Himself up for her  26 to make her holy, cleansing {Or having cleansed} her by the washing with water through the word,  27 and to present her to Himself as a radiant assembly, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.  28  In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  29 After all, no-one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Messiah does the assembly--30  for we are members of His body.  31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." {Gen. 2:24} 32 This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Messiah and the assembly.  33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
     If people would only take these words seriously, there would be no such problem as broken families.  Wives need to submit to their husbands, and husbands need to love their wives.  This is easier said than done.  Yahweh did not include any qualifiers in the above quoted scriptures.  That makes it real hard for a wife to submit to a husband that is not living as he should be.  Yet Yahweh did not say "wives submit to your husbands as long as he is totally righteous."  He simply says "wives submit to your husbands."  By the same token, husbands are to "love your wives, just as Messiah loved the assembly and gave Himself up for her.....husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  After all, no-one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Messiah does the assembly."  It's all about headship.  No woman who is seeking Yahushua is going to have a problem submitting to a man who submits himself to Yahushua and His word.  No man who is following the example of Yahushua is going to have a problem with giving of himself to his wife.
     However, we do not live in an ideal world yet.  People do not do a perfect job of living by the word of Yahweh.  Therefore, most marriages are not perfect.  We run into problems.  Are we supposed to end a marriage the first time we get frustrated?  No!  We need to follow the example of Yahushua in all things.  "To this you were called, because Messiah suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.  He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth." {Isaiah 53:9}  When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.  He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;" (1 Peter 2:21-24 NIV).
     Perhaps your spouse is ignoring the word of Yahweh, and you are being mis-treated, abused, neglected.  If you really believe the words of our Savior, if you consider yourself to be a believer, then you must respond as Yahushua would.  Do not retaliate.  Do not make threats.  Entrust yourself to Him who judges justly.  Remember these words of apostle Paul:  "If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.  And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.  For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband.  Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are set apart.  But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so.  A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; Yahweh has called us to live in peace." (1 Cor. 7:12-15)
     Why are there so many divorces/remarriages today?  One reason, I believe, is that we condition our young people for it by promoting the whole idea of dating!  Our teenagers date, get emotionally involved with someone, then split up and start the cycle over again.  There is no such precedent in the scriptures.  Yahweh's way has been forgotten and replaced by man's way.  The bottom line is that people are not living according to the word of Yahweh.  The physical is a shadow of the spiritual.  If unhealthy marriages are commonplace, then it follows that it is commonplace that our relationship with our spiritual husband, Yahushua, is unhealthy.  Look around you.  It is obvious that we need to return to Yahweh.
     Yahweh divorced Israel.  He is calling her back.  Yah is again going to marry Israel.  This time His bride will be submissive.  The bride that Yahushua is going to marry is a different Israel.  She has the same name, but this is a different person.  The Israel that Yahweh divorced had a heart of stone.  She would not submit to Yahweh.  This Israel was from a very specific blood line.  The Israel that Yahweh is going to marry this time comes from any and all blood lines.  This Israel does not have a heart of stone.  She has Yahweh's way of life written on her heart.  This is an entirely different person than the one that Yahweh divorced.  A new covenant has been drawn up.  This time the covenant has been sealed with Yah's own blood.  Let's be a part of that perfect marriage, and let's let our own marriages be a shadow of what is to come.

The Fruit of Your Words


“From the fruit of his words a man shall be satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hands shall come back to him.” - Proverbs 12:14

Over and over again, the Bible teaches that we Reap what we Sow (Galatians 6:7). This principle applies to every area of our lives—to our finances, our relationships, our marriages and families, and our jobs. And Proverbs specifically tells us that this applies to the words we speak.
The Bible tells us we can find satisfaction from the words we speak, provided they are “good” words. Put another way, we will Reap the reward of great fulfillment and fruitfulness when we speak the right words, with the right spirit. This is such a practical principle, but we constantly need to be reminded of its truth.
This also applies to the work of our hands—what we do on our jobs, in our homes, with our friends and family members, in our churches and communities. We Reap a reward in our lives to the degree we invest ourselves in others and God’s Kingdom.
While this applies in a positive way, it also applies negatively. As we invest good things and make a positive contribution, we will Reap a positive reward. But for every negative Seed we Sow, for every negative investment, we will Reapnegative rewards.
Yes, in every way, the work of our hands will come back to us.
Today, think about all the “Seeds” you have: your talents and abilities, your resources, your time (and how you spend it), your thoughts, your words. In fact,everything in your life can be a Seed.
Seek to Sow your Seeds into “good soil.” Don’t hoard your Seeds or hold back. Be a Sower who invests all of your resources in God’s Kingdom and in the lives of others. Let Him multiply your Seed and give you a rich Harvest.

Stumbling Blocks

“Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of Saul, and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal. The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal, and Merib-baal became the father of Micah.” - 1 Chronicles 8:33-34 


Here, in the official genealogy of Saul’s family, we read how one of his sons was named “Eshbaal.” But in another account this son was called “Ish-bosheth”(2 Samuel 2:8). We also read how Saul’s grandson was named “Merib-baal.”However, in another account, this boy’s name was “Mephibosheth” (2 Samuel 4:4).
Why would these same people have different names? For one thing, both names in 1 Chronicles included “baal.” In ordinary speech, the word meant “lord.” However, it came to be associated with the Phoenician god Baal. This “god” and the religion associated with him became snares to God’s people.
It has been suggested that the names of these men were changed because they included the word “baal”—changed to eliminate any association between God’s people and foreign gods.
The fact is that everything about our lives is part of our testimony—the people we associate with, the places we go, the things we allow into our minds, the words we speak, the clothes we wear. In fact, our lives can impact others in surprising and subtle ways. All of these things either confirm or contradict the values we say we live by. They can strengthen or destroy our testimony.
The Bible tells us that we are not to “put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way” (Romans 14:13). Therefore, we need to be sensitive to anything that might be a stumbling block.
Today, seek to live in such a way that you point people to Jesus. Avoid being a stumbling block through the things you do, the words you speak, or the places you go.

DESTROYING THE DEVIL'S WORKS




"The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8 


Jesus did not come to tolerate the work of the devil or just make a dent in the works of darkness. No. He came to destroy these works!
      Just what did He come to destroy? The Greek words John used suggest that the devil can attack and disrupt any part of life, anything we can do-our work, our relationships, our marriages and families, our children and businesses, our churches and countries, our thoughts and emotions, our words and deeds.
      In other words, the devil and his demonic forces are constantly at work, disrupting people throughout the world in all of these areas. Whether you realize it or not, they are at work in your life. They seek to spread confusion, deceive you into believing lies, and prevent you from receiving God's richest blessings. 
      But Jesus came to destroy anything the devil might do. He offers to eliminate any influence the devil has in our lives, to loosen any grip the enemy has on us, to free us from bondage, to dissolve any shackles, and to release us into fruitfulness for God's Kingdom.
      Every day, we must turn our hearts and minds toward God and consider any ways the devil might be influencing our lives. Then, we must believe that God sent Jesus to destroy the works of the devil in each and every one of these areas. We must receive the complete and total victory we have through Christ.
      Today, don't tolerate any form of evil in your life. Don't allow Satan to have any control or influence. Don't give up or accept any compromises! 
      With Jesus, you have dominion over every demonic force. You can live in His victory! 

Thursday 10 November 2011

Loving Others like Family





Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Romans 12:10
The apostle Paul wrote, "Love each other with genuine love" (Romans 12:10). The terms he used convey a love that is "full of tenderness" or "affectionate." Actually, his first term "love" translates a compound Greek word that literally means, "love of the family." The word translated genuine affection is a familiar Greek word, philadelphia. It means literally "love of the brethren." I find it quite intriguing that Paul employs two words--love of family and love of brothers--to communicate the need for commitment in loving.

The deep affection and abiding commitment made between natural family members, like the Chicago mother toward her children, should be expressed in the spiritual family as well. We are to love our brothers and sisters of faith, as we love our brothers and sisters of blood. Brotherly kindness is an affection that family members have for one another 


Jesus has given authority to the entire world to judge whether or not we are genuine believers on the basis of our love for fellow believers. Love is the badge that identifies us as followers of Jesus Christ. Any time we do not show love toward fellow believers, we forfeit our right to proudly represent Jesus Christ in the world.

People around us who are bored by doctrine and can't fathom theology instinctively understand love. People look at Christians before they look at our creed. They form their opinions about our religion when they see how we behave. If they like the melody, they will listen to our words. If what they hear is discord, then the lyrics of our faith seldom register in their lives.

As believers in Jesus Christ we need to make a clear, unequivocal commitment to loving each other as a family, for our own sake and for our witness to a watching world.






Taking God Seriously



Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. . . . But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
1 Timothy 6:6, 9-11

During the Exodus, the ancient Hebrews escaped the slavery and punishment of Egyptian rule. On their journey home to Israel, they witnessed the miracle of God parting the water at the Red Sea that brought doom to their Egyptian pursuers. These people had everything. God guided them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. God's leader, Moses, was out in front of them. God provided nourishment with manna from heaven and water from the rock. They were surrounded by unparalleled privileges. God's presence was constant. His workings were evident. In fact, one would think that these people would be the epitome of godliness, if for no other reason than out of gratitude for what God had done for them. But they were not. The apostle Paul wrote of these people, "Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness" (1 Corinthians 10:5). As they journeyed from Egypt, they played games with their lives and with their God. 

That is dangerous business. 


What happened to these potential saints? What caused their demise? Paul, again, surmises their tragedy and demise, "The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry" (1 Corinthians 10:7). It sounded like a fraternity party. The supernatural became commonplace. God-talk abounded. But they lacked a reverence and awe for God. They became calloused to the divine. They became nonchalant in their values. They forgot their heritage. Apathy ran rampant. They did not mean business with God. The relationship with him became a farce. 

Sound familiar? Never in the history of the world has one country been so blessed. We are inundated with churches, Christian radio and television, Christian magazines and books, Christian schools, Christian conferences and seminars. Never has the potential for religious instruction been so paramount. Our churches should be overflowing with godly men and women. Are they? All too often, we walk down the same paths of carnality as these ancient Hebrews. We make light of what we should honor. We wink at what we should weep about. We play with what we should take quite seriously. And our families suffer the effects of our lax faith 


The children of Israel serve as a warning to every believer. Heed the warning. Take God seriously.