WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-30
TEXT: "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace." (Leviticus 10:1-3) .
I. GOD GETS NASTY
A. If there is to be a continual approach to God, there must be a concern for holiness in all areas of our lives. Peter attempts to press this into our hearts when he wrote;
"But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." (I Peter 1:15-16)
And consider these words in Hebrews;
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" (Hebrews 12:14)
This urging to prepare one's heart so frequent in the Word of God that I would be afraid to ignore it.
B. How can one assume to continually approach God for an ongoing and growing relationship, and yet always bring with him elements contrary to the righteousness of God? Divine order must be maintained . Otherwise your communion with God will be hindered and we will not be able to progress ever upward in Him, ever seeking the righteous character of God to become the very core of our life and activity.
C. If we are to walk with God, the two of us must be in agreement.
"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3)
If we have one attitude and God has an opposing attitude, we better straighten out ours. God is not going to change. If we want His best, something must take place in us to cause us to correct our ways in order to conform to God's ways.
D. If correction is not forthcoming, God may take a rare extreme measure. It is not uncommon for God to take one totally, out of the picture to ensure His will is done in a group or in the life of a believer. God's actions may be very drastic at times, but He would like to avoid such harsh measures.
"A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory." (Matthew 12:20)
This does not mean that God enjoys a broken reed, and loves smoke in His eyes. What Matthew is conveying is God has patience with wrongs, but hopes for correction or victory through the judgment He sends. God does not want destruction, He wants correction. But if there can be no correction effected, then He must go to extreme, harsher measures.
E. The judgment of God for correction will always and continually be applied to those who are correctable, no matter how evil they may be, and no matter how long it takes. If God cannot get correction in one place under one type of judgment, H e will try another place under another type of judgment.
F. The longer correction is withstood, the greater the hindrance to spiritual growth. And as one continues in the wrong path, more and more of one's spiritual life is chipped away. For example: some believers refuse to apologize to others, or to make wrongs right, and therefore grow bitter toward these individuals. The increasing bitterness chips away at their spiritual lives, and no spiritual growth is realized. There are believers (believe it or not) who do not want to correct wrongs and straighten out their crooked paths. Are they waiting for the harshness of God?
II. PARTING THOUGHTS
A. A refusal to walk a straight path causes personal problems. Basic righteousness must be fulfilled. There is no way to skirt the issue and yet achieve progression in spiritual living. People who are operating in the gifts of the Spirit come to me with their problems. Usually I discover unfulfilled basics. These cause problems. Some do not believe even the most basic Scriptures. Others are more interested in their ministry.
B. God is after correction. He brings His people to the Wilderness of Sinai to iron out the wrinkles. The children of Israel spent many months in this wilderness. God brought them to a long halt in their journey in order to enhance their progression. Often times when we feel halted along our spiritual journey, it may be for correction and instruction, in order that our spiritual journey will be what it ought to be.
C. God will always bring His children into a place where they can receive correction. If we reject correction we are rejecting the best God can offer to us at that time. Correction from the Lord brings us into fulfillment and peace. Learning to receive correction from the Lord or one over us in spiritual authority will go a long way in our spiritual growth and development.
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