D
Real question, as in I don't know. So I'm asking if you do.
I've been studying the Book of Hosea recently, and it talks about a lion coming into Israel to destroy. Israel -- what is left of God's people. Not Israel the larger nation. The lion was clearly the Lord himself and he was coming into his own church to wipe out those who will not believe nor worship him to protect his remnant of followers.
I'm a literalist, in many ways, so I was picturing a real lion coming into a real church on Sunday morning and he kills all those who aren't believers. Imagine the horror if you were in that church that morning? Somewhere along the line, you notice he's attacking only the the ones who come every Sunday, but you know they don't believe. And then he goes after your best buddy, or your spouse. You want to do something, but you're frozen in place watching this. And it hits your mind, "Will he kill me too?"
Most frightening is you know who the lion is, so you know the judgement is real. It IS his righteous wrath in a house of his people, because many claim to be his people, but he knows the difference. It has to be horrifying, even if you walk away from it later.
But then, Spurgeon had a sermon about God raising up four carpenters to fight evil from the four corners of the earth to protect his people.
Yay, Lord, for raising up the right people at the right time!
Is my question making more sense now? How do we know if the battle being waged at us is the Lion of God or four-carpenters-worthy? Because obviously there is a battle going on inside the church right now. So how do we know who is waging it? And, how about this for the kicker? Let us not assume we're all on the lion's side. Because, honestly? Israel thought that, and they weren't. That's what the book of Hosea is all about -- God's wrath on religious people.
That was the point in history when Israel, as a larger nation, died. This seems to be the point in history where our nations are dying. So, how do we know if God will be raising up four carpenters or if the Lion has come? And how do we know if we're due to become the Lion's meal, or the ones he is protecting? AND, are there four carpenters in the house? Because if this isn't the Lion at work, God is raising some carpenters right now. How do we know if we are carpenters?
Do not make this yet-another-thread-about-fortune-telling-our-future. (Another my-eschatology-is-right thread.) This is about knowing what's happening now, not what's happening in the future.
I've been studying the Book of Hosea recently, and it talks about a lion coming into Israel to destroy. Israel -- what is left of God's people. Not Israel the larger nation. The lion was clearly the Lord himself and he was coming into his own church to wipe out those who will not believe nor worship him to protect his remnant of followers.
I'm a literalist, in many ways, so I was picturing a real lion coming into a real church on Sunday morning and he kills all those who aren't believers. Imagine the horror if you were in that church that morning? Somewhere along the line, you notice he's attacking only the the ones who come every Sunday, but you know they don't believe. And then he goes after your best buddy, or your spouse. You want to do something, but you're frozen in place watching this. And it hits your mind, "Will he kill me too?"
Most frightening is you know who the lion is, so you know the judgement is real. It IS his righteous wrath in a house of his people, because many claim to be his people, but he knows the difference. It has to be horrifying, even if you walk away from it later.
But then, Spurgeon had a sermon about God raising up four carpenters to fight evil from the four corners of the earth to protect his people.
“And the Lord shewed me four carpenters.” Zec_1:20
In the vision described in this chapter, the prophet saw four terrible horns. They were pushing this way and that way, dashing down the strongest and the mightiest; and the prophet asked, “What are these?” The answer was, “These are the horns which have scattered Israel.” He saw before him a representation of those powers which had oppressed the church of God. There were four horns; for the church is attacked from all quarters. Well might the prophet have felt dismayed; but on a sudden there appeared before him four carpenters. He asked, “What shall these do?” These are the men whom God hath found to break those horns in pieces. God will always find men for his work, and he will find them at the right time. The prophet did not see the carpenters first, when there was nothing to do, but first the “horns,” and then the “carpenters.” Moreover, the Lord finds enough men. He did not find three carpenters, but four; there were four horns, and there must be four workmen. God finds the right men; not four men with pens to write; not four architects to draw plans; but four carpenters to do rough work. Rest assured, you who tremble for the ark of God, that when the “horns” grow troublesome, the “carpenters” will be found. You need not fret concerning the weakness of the church of God at any moment; there may be growing up in obscurity the valiant reformer who will shake the nations: Chrysostoms may come forth from our Ragged Schools, and Augustines from the thickest darkness of London’s poverty. The Lord knows where to find his servants. He hath in ambush a multitude of mighty men, and at his word they shall start up to the battle; “for the battle is the Lord’s,” and he shall get to himself the victory. Let us abide faithful to Christ, and he, in the right time, will raise up for us a defence, whether it be in the day of our personal need, or in the season of peril to his Church.
In the vision described in this chapter, the prophet saw four terrible horns. They were pushing this way and that way, dashing down the strongest and the mightiest; and the prophet asked, “What are these?” The answer was, “These are the horns which have scattered Israel.” He saw before him a representation of those powers which had oppressed the church of God. There were four horns; for the church is attacked from all quarters. Well might the prophet have felt dismayed; but on a sudden there appeared before him four carpenters. He asked, “What shall these do?” These are the men whom God hath found to break those horns in pieces. God will always find men for his work, and he will find them at the right time. The prophet did not see the carpenters first, when there was nothing to do, but first the “horns,” and then the “carpenters.” Moreover, the Lord finds enough men. He did not find three carpenters, but four; there were four horns, and there must be four workmen. God finds the right men; not four men with pens to write; not four architects to draw plans; but four carpenters to do rough work. Rest assured, you who tremble for the ark of God, that when the “horns” grow troublesome, the “carpenters” will be found. You need not fret concerning the weakness of the church of God at any moment; there may be growing up in obscurity the valiant reformer who will shake the nations: Chrysostoms may come forth from our Ragged Schools, and Augustines from the thickest darkness of London’s poverty. The Lord knows where to find his servants. He hath in ambush a multitude of mighty men, and at his word they shall start up to the battle; “for the battle is the Lord’s,” and he shall get to himself the victory. Let us abide faithful to Christ, and he, in the right time, will raise up for us a defence, whether it be in the day of our personal need, or in the season of peril to his Church.
Yay, Lord, for raising up the right people at the right time!
Is my question making more sense now? How do we know if the battle being waged at us is the Lion of God or four-carpenters-worthy? Because obviously there is a battle going on inside the church right now. So how do we know who is waging it? And, how about this for the kicker? Let us not assume we're all on the lion's side. Because, honestly? Israel thought that, and they weren't. That's what the book of Hosea is all about -- God's wrath on religious people.
That was the point in history when Israel, as a larger nation, died. This seems to be the point in history where our nations are dying. So, how do we know if God will be raising up four carpenters or if the Lion has come? And how do we know if we're due to become the Lion's meal, or the ones he is protecting? AND, are there four carpenters in the house? Because if this isn't the Lion at work, God is raising some carpenters right now. How do we know if we are carpenters?
Do not make this yet-another-thread-about-fortune-telling-our-future. (Another my-eschatology-is-right thread.) This is about knowing what's happening now, not what's happening in the future.