In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Quench not the Spirit.
Despise not prophesyings.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
I Thessalonians 5:17-21
Previously, I just posted this video with essentially no commentary or review. Based on questions I have received, I see that more discussion is warranted and have updated this post to address some of these issues.
Dr. David Owuor
There have been some questions about Dr. David Owuor; who he is and whether he is a true prophet of God. These are all questions that should be asked as we are told by God to test the spirit before receiving the words of any man.
I do not know Dr. Owuor personally. This video is the first I had heard of him. I have done some initial examination of his teachings - and while we don't agree on every point - I have found them to be largely Scriptural. His ministry seems to focus on a call to repentance and holiness before the Lord, especially in the church.
However, the purpose of this post is not to be an endorsement of any man (including Dr. Owuor), but to bring to the forefront the issue of God's judgment. Some feel uneasy talking about God's judgments as if they somehow show a level of insensitivity to those impacted by them. But it is an important topic to address, especially considering the days in which we live.
Judgments Aren't Supposed To Feel Good
Judgments are punishments. They are not meant to feel good. Anyone who has ever read even some of the Bible knows that God does send judgments. Examples include:
- Dismissing Adam & Eve from the Garden of Eden
- The Flood in Noah's day
- Fire & Brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah
- The destruction of the various tribes in Canaan as Israel moved in to possess the land
- Giving Israel into Babylonian captivity
Imagine being in Noah's day, where God sent the flood to address man's exceeding wickedness. Every person was destroyed except for 8 people. Some might think it "insensitive" to look at that tragedy and say it was God's judgment. But the fact remains that - no matter how unpleasant we may consider the thought - it was an example of God's judgment. We cannot base what comes from God by looking at how it makes us feel.
Judgment is defined as: 1) A judicial decision, sentence; God's favourable judgment by which he acquits man and declares them acceptable to Him or determines man to be unfavourable and condemns him; 2) A righteous act or deed
Consider this, a judgment IS a righteous act! If I commit murder and am sentenced to life in prison by the judge - even though the sentence is hard - the judgment is righteous. It is a just recompense for the deeds done. Why is it righteous? Because it enforces a standard of what is right and what is wrong. If we never judged crimes, then the streets would be filled with criminal activity and we would all be in danger.
This is why God's judgments are also demonstrations of His mercy and love.
Our God is a God of justice, but also a God of mercy. Through the blood of Jesus, God's mercy is available to us now.
It is up to us to decide to accept it.
We don't want to be camping out in "Sin Forest"
when judgment time comes.
Copyrighted by Joyful'toons
God's Judgment is Also God's Love
God has declared that the wages of sin is death. By God's own word, man is worthy of nothing more than death because of our sin. Again, this is a righteous judgment, for we are the ones who have sinned.
However, God was not satisfied to leave things in that condition. He could not override His law, and at the same time, man in a sinful state could not exist in His presence. God's answer was to come down to earth Himself, and pay the price that we could not pay. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was crucified as a sinless offering so that man - through faith in Him - could be reconciled unto God.
Let us be sure to understand the character and depth of love in God. He could have chosen to leave us in a sinful condition and damned us all to Hell for OUR sins (a righteous judgment). Yet, He did not. In compassion, He paid the price so that we would not have to. Now, He extends to man the choice to be reconciled to Him and not be damned by placing faith in the one and only offering that could cover our sin.
When God judges sin, it is an act of love and mercy. As we stated before in the example of crime, righteous judgments are a deterrent to wrong behavior, a protection for those who are the victims of such crimes, and a reinforcement of the standard of what is right and wrong. If God did not address sin, then fallen man in his depravity would destroy himself. It is also an act of mercy that He does not wipe all of man off of the face of the earth, for truly that is what we all deserve. We have all sinned and fallen short of His glory.
The Coming Judgments of God
Jesus told us that there would be judgments from God coming prior to His return to earth. He says:
"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." Matthew 24:7-8
These are some of the signs that He gives us so that we will know the time is drawing near. These events will be the "beginning of sorrows" or what other Scriptures call the birth pains.
Is it a joyful sight to see people starving to death, afflicted by disease, or killed in earthquakes? Of course not. Should we do everything we can to help those in need? Absolutely. But, if we claim to be Christians, we cannot ignore spiritual significance which may be attached to such events.
"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?" Amos 3:7-8
The bottom line is that God warns us. He tells us what will happen and why. He even sends men and women to proclaim the truth so that people may repent and turn to Him. If we fail to perceive the warning, then how will we heed it?
At some point, there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes that are part of God's judgments. Will we be wise enough to discern those times or will we be too afraid of people's reactions to proclaim what God gives us to say?
God does not see things as we see them. He does not want man to suffer, but at the same time He is not here trying to sustain our lives here on this earth. He is using this life to prepare us for everlasting, eternal life. If we repent and turn in faith to Jesus, that life will be spent with Him. If not, that life will be spent in eternal damnation.
Don't get so caught up in this life and in a human way of looking at things that you lose perspective on God and what He is doing. Some have painted a picture of God that is more akin to Santa Claus. He is a kindly old Father who doles out gifts and money. Make sure that the God in whom you place your faith reflects the whole character, love, and holiness of our Father. He is a God of love, of peace, of mercy, of judgment, of righteousness, of holy perfection, and of power.
It is not unkind or unloving to proclaim God's judgments if in fact that is what they are. Do not despise prophesyings.
"Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph." Amos 5:15
"But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." Amos 5:24
"But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin." Micah 3:8
"Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth." Habakkuk 1:4
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