Have you ever tried to talk with an unreasonable person? It’s pretty difficult. Their mind may already be made up, and no matter what you say, the words are bouncing off the wall that’s been erected all around them. That wall may have been constructed a long, long, time ago, to protect any rejection that they may have already suffered or currently feel. Perhaps it was their upbringing, their background that caused this protective wall.
God loves to get close and water the hardness that’s around them. He chips away at the high fortress until He is let in.
Paul is speaking to the church about the idol feast and the Lord’s supper. These Christians had come out of a background of paganism. Temples of worship to pagan gods and goddesses were part of their everyday life–it was in their community and in their culture.
Paul is presenting a message and reminds them of Israel’s history of idolatry. In his letter he says, “Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.” (1 Corinthians 10: 14-15)
He tells them to consider the people of Israel. “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.” (1 Corinthians 10: 21)
- Make a separation. Truth cannot be mixed with lies.
Not everything is beneficial to us. Not everything is permissible either.
- What are we allowing in our lives that needs to go?
This issue of eating food sacrificed to idols was something they really struggled with. This one issue was causing such a ruckus in the church.
- When there’s continual heavy commotion, it’s usually fed by a spirit.
There is a freedom as a believer that we walk in. “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” (1 Corinthians 10: 24)
Why do we let the enemy place these little foxes, wedges that separate and divide us? Pull them out! How? Do what’s honorable for one another and don’t cause anyone to stumble.
When we seek the good of many, and not be self-seeking, we will please God and man.
“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10: 31)
- If leaders are spending too much of their energy putting out brush fires of division, their attention is taken off of igniting the fire of God.
- Don’t get trapped and pulled into the wrong fire.
- Sometimes a brush fire will fizzle out itself.
- The enemy uses distractions to keep us away from what we are truly called to.
Follow the plan and example of Jesus.
(Shared from 1 Corinthians 10, Modified)
Amos sees a basket of ripe fruit. Fruit that is ripe is ready to be plucked. Amos was talking to nonsensible, unreasonable people. He was speaking about a famine in the land, prophesying, “The days are coming, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I will send a famine through the land–not a famine of food or thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of God.” (Amos 8: 11) I think we are here folks!
Note: The famine is not the lack of God’s word it’s a famine of hearing God’s word. (David Guzik)
Be sensible! Listen and hear God’s Word. How do we know when we are hearing it? One simple word, obedience!
(Shared from Amos 8, Modified)
The kings unite by the direction of God. The king of Judah, the king of Israel, and the king of Edom unite to fight against the common foe. The armies were stranded in the desert without water, they ran out. The Godly, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, suggests seeking counsel from the Lord through Elisha the prophet, asking what they should do. Before he prophesies he requests music from the harp. Yes, anointed music feeds the anointed for hearing the voice of the Lord.
The people get ready. They are told, by Elisha, “Make this valley full of ditches. You will see neither wind, nor rain, yet this valley will be filled water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink.” (2 Kings 16-17)
- The Word of the Lord contains a promise and a directive.
How do they prepare? They responded in faith and obedience.
They are told to dig ditches and get ready for an outpouring of supernatural water. God went over and beyond their immediate needs of water, he wanted to show His provision and complete victory over the enemy.
- The rain and water of the Holy Spirit will give complete victory over the enemy.
- God’s people must be ready to dig the ditches and prepare the trenches to receive.
- We win by the power of the Holy Spirit, as we are led and guided by the Word of the Lord.
Suddenly, in the morning, the water was flowing and into the trenches, overflowing, supplying for all.
The reason the water became available to them, was that they were willing to be in the trenches and dig the ditches. Every soldier knows that trenches are dug as protection against the enemy.
- Sensible and spiritually sensitive people, serving the Lord, are willing to dig deep in the things of God.
- Sensible, Spirit-filled people of God look ahead and look up realizing an open heaven shall be poured out upon the land. They are not afraid to ask for it.
- Prepare the people to receive. (Shared from 2 Kings 3, Modified)
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
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