DON'T TEMPT THE LORD GOD

Leviticus 10:1-3

Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the Lord by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded.

So fire blazed forth from the Lord’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the Lord.

Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord meant when he said, 

‘I will display my holiness through those who come near me. 

I will display my glory before all the people.’”And Aaron was silent.

I would want to believe that Aaron's sons were somewhat drunk when they came to offer this strange fire. This is not recorded in scriptures, however when we read verse 9, we see . . .

Leviticus 10:9

“You and your descendants must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink before going into the Tabernacle. If you do, you will die. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation.

There is a reason for this command just after they offered the strange fire and were killed.

This brings us to yesterday's topic:

Ephesians 5:18

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

We must be careful with our soberness, there is no room for us to play around with spiritual things. There are things that must never be taken for granted.

Some would say that the Lord killed them etc, however what we do not consider is the fact that some things have been set by default, you only have to take the action for it to have it's reaction.

Take for instance electric power, if you decide to grasp an exposed electric power source with bare hands you can be sure that it will immediately cause an electric shock, no being or spirit has to command it to be so, it is a law!

The same way, so many things have already been set by default. Let us look back at the garden of Eden, God had told Adam that the day he eats the fruit he will die, so immediately they did, the effect took place, no one has to command it to be, it happened!

Genesis 2:17

except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

We see many foolish ones making mockery and taking spiritual things for granted. Many have used the name of the Lord to extort money from people. Some have taught and are still teaching strange doctrines. Some worship angels, dead humans and other forms of idols. All these are not of the Lord God.

Some others still toil with sin. Willfully sinning and refusing to seek forgiveness, they hurt others and walk in divers forms of unrighteousness and wickedness. In all these evils some boast about it and still claim to be in Christ.

The psalmist wrote:

Psalms 37:7,9-10

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. 

Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

Soon the wicked will disappear. 

Though you look for them, they will be gone.

As a believer we do not have room to tempt the Lord God, He is not our equal, He is God. The fear of Him as God must yet remain with us. Yes He is our Father because of our redemption in Christ Jesus, we must honour Him as Father and fear Him as King and God.

Malachi 1:6

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name!“But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’

Many do not look at the meaning of this verse, the minister quickly goes to the next chapter to the verse that talks about tithes and offering. It is more than that, the beginning of our honour of God is in representing His name!

Not just about what language or title we give Him, but on how we represent His name.

Listen,

Exodus 20:3,7

“You must not have any other god but me.

“You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.

It is not just saying cursed is his name No! It is bearing the name of the Lord and then misrepresenting Him. Many have done atrocities, extortions and other forms of wickedness in the name of the Lord. That is disrespecting and dishonoring His name. These are the strange fires still being offered on the altar, these ones are already set for destruction.

We must not be caught in this evil. Come out from among them.

2 Timothy 2:19

But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”

The enemy during his temptation of Christ got this response:

Matthew 4:7 

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

With all our philosophies, maturity and whatever awakening we receive as we and the earth matures we must never get to the point when we take God and the things that concern Him for granted. I am not talking about manmade doctrines, religions and other things humans use to control others but about the Heavenly Father and what is dear to Him.

You may think you are having a swell time, that you are wise or that this or that person or people are doing it, don't be deceived judgment will yet come. Many you think are alive are walking dead, tools in the hand of the enemy that will themselves be condemned.

Honour the Lord God, give Him His respect, worship Him in truth and holiness, let no one take your heart away. Be sober, never be caught in the evil web.

Do not tempt the Lord God.

The Lord will keep us safe as we continue to honour, obey and walk in His righteousness.

We will be counted among the faithful.

Glory to God forevermore.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher.