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Watch for my new book from Shepherd Press coming in May!
J. J. Hall
“Author, Scholar, Janitor: Mostly the Janitor!” (Psalms 84:10)
Obadiah’s Cave: “As God is Triggered.”
So far we looked at “When God is Triggered” and “What Triggers God.” But as believers what are we to do “As God is Triggered?” The answer is simple. We preach the Gospel! Why the Gospel? Because as God is triggered, there is but one recourse for the saving of mankind, the substitutionary death of His Son Jesus Christ. As it is written: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;” (Romans 1:16-18)
But in an age where we have many of the news outlets content to flood the air with lies, doing their father’s work, how to we compete with such an overwhelming torrent of misinformation to preach the Gospel? Allow me to bring you back to the time before such influence by cable networks to reveal that this is not a new challenge, as the prince of the power of the air has always waged a misinformation campaign against the righteous. Isaiah seemed to be under such a barrage of news intended to drown out his voice on behalf of God. Yet the LORD conveys the following: “For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, Say you not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear you their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.” (Isaiah 8:11-15)
Our news is filled with “conspiracy theories” trying to persuade the public that the confederacy of pagans outnumber and are more influential than the righteous. Whether Russian collusion or Alex Jones telling us the government is going to get us, there are many who use fear to fulfil their agenda and gain notoriety. So it was in the day of Isaiah. But God counsels the prophet with a “strong hand.” Don’t be moved! Instead “What I tell you in darkness, that speak you in light: and what you hear in the ear, that preach you on the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:27-28) The answer is the Gospel, the only news that can save a soul from the wrath of God!
In today’s application, when Facebook filters conservative voices, preach the Gospel! When Twitter tosses you off their platform, preach the Gospel! When CNN show up to your house when you are accused falsely, preach the Gospel. If the FBI sends a SWAT team to your doorstep because you pray for President Trump, preach the Gospel! Fear the LORD so much that your first thought is to proclaim how we are all saved from His anger! Let them try to silence God! Their confederacy to do so will ALWAYS fail!
So is the LORD triggered? “The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. For the people turn not to him that smites them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.” (Isaiah 9:12-13) America shares Israel’s problems with Syrians and Philistines (Inhabitants on the West Bank), but our main difficulty is that we have not turned to the Lord who is chastening us. Indeed, we have even more responsibility to do so as it is written: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation of John 3:19-20) We are the land with a “personal” relationship with Jesus, but are too busy shopping God’s blessing to to give our Lord the time of day! Again, that is why the disposition of our spiritual leaders needs to be to fear the LORD and preach the Gospel instead of being “life coaches” on a 10% commission.
When it is time, God has a plan for the confederacy that is against Him. “He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak to them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.” (Psalms 2:4-5) In spite of His anger, He is laughing at the futility of those who oppose His will! This is not an out of control temper, but the confident disposition of omnipotent divinity.
Fear God. Preach the Gospel like eternal life is in the balance. God’s eternal nature is not what hangs in the balance, but the souls of sinful men.
May the LORD Bless you and Keep you!
IRON SHARPENS IRON Radio's
guest for *WED.*, JULY 25th, 4-6PM*ET*:
NANCY SNYDER,
K-12 Student Support Services Coordinator @
Logos Academy in York, PA, with experience as a homeschooling parent of 4 sons, & interpreter of
conferences & translator of seminary courses for
Deaf pastors, who will discuss:
"The GOSPEL For MOVING TARGETS:
Helping Active Children Grow in Grace"
Listen *LIVE* GLOBALLY @
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Thankful to Shepherd Press for publishing my book on prayer.
My 11-year-old daughter is working her way through Nancy Ganz's "Herein Is Love" commentaries and asked me this morning if there are any more that we can get. I told her that I wasn't aware of any, but I thought I'd ask if there are plans for any additional titles. They are so helpful!
FREE Book Giveaway
*TUES.*, AUG. 15th, 4-6PM *ET*
when our guest on "IRON SHARPENS IRON" Radio will be:
PAUL TAUTGES,
senior pastor @ Cornerstone Community Church in
Mayfield Heights, OH, series editor for LifeLine
Mini-books, blogger @ CounselingOneAnother.com
& author of many books including
Comfort the Grieving, Counseling One Another,
& Brass Heavens, who will address:
"PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING"
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Shepherd Press is a publishing company committed to providing God's people with solid biblical books and materials.
