THE SEASON OF LAWLESSNESS

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Judges 18:29-31

They renamed the town Dan after their ancestor, Israel’s son, but it had originally been called Laish.

Then they set up the carved image, and they appointed Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, as their priest. This family continued as priests for the tribe of Dan until the Exile.

So Micah’s carved image was worshiped by the tribe of Dan as long as the Tabernacle of God remained at Shiloh.


Most of the record we see in the book of Judges gives us information of events that happened before Israel had a king. We see that most of the time they chose wrongly and were always drawn to idolatry. They got themselves in bondage and as we have seen in the earlier chapters they cried to God and He will raise a judge from among them to come to their rescue, however, when any of the judge's time was over, they returned to evil again.


Was it that there was no law?


No, there was a law but it was not in the heart of the people.


What is the very first commandment:


Exodus 20:1-5

Then God gave the people all these instructions:

“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.

“You must not have any other god but me.

“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.

You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.


Notwithstanding how clear this command is, it was still the first one for them to break, it was so bad that it was in the very place this commandment was given that they broke it, by building a golden calf to worship!!!


What a people? What a nation? They really didn't deserve God!


Before we continue to castigate them, as I always say: "are we any better?"


Are you sure you are doing better than they did?


When you allow the situations around you, the people you want to impress, the lust and pleasure of the world take over the love of God that should be in you, what then makes you any better?


When you only remember God when you face difficulty, but glorify other things when everything seems to be going well, what makes you any better?


When you honour men/women and let them take the place of God in your heart and life, what makes you any better?


When you bow to idols, angels/demons, humans, pictures, images etc of things on earth or in heaven or of the dead etc, what makes you any better?


Exodus 20:4-5

“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.

You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.


We cannot walk in lawlessness and feel that we are any better than the rebellious Israel in scriptures.


Do you know how many times God wanted to wipe out the entire nation and start afresh?


Exodus 32:9-10

Then the Lord said, “I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are.

Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.”


The fact that God allows us free will (because that was how He made man - in His image) doesn't mean He cannot pass judgement over us.


Listen, I always tell my youths:


"You can do whatever you please, yes, however, remember that you cannot determine the consequences of your actions!"


The preacher said:


Ecclesiastes 11:9

Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do.


If you are born of God, you do not make a practice of sinning, your conscience will not be seared:


1 John 3:3-10

And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.

And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.

Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.

Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.

But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.

Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.

So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.


Listen, the whole world may lie in wickedness, that is no excuse for the believer to conform, NO!, instead you transform.


1 John 5:18-21

We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.

We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.

And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.


1John 5:19-20(kjv)

[And] we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.


O help us Good Lord.


We will learn from the mistakes of those before us, we will live the live of the Spirit, O Lord, the life that pleases You.


Glory to Your name Lord forevermore.


PRAYER

Dear Father by the power of Your Spirit, I will not make the mistakes of those gone before me. Lord I will walk in Your righteousness no matter what the world is doing, I know that I am of Your kingdom and there, righteousness reign. Help me Dear Lord, keep me through my long years on this earth, ever faithful to You and making positive impact. Glory to Your name Lord forevermore.


He calls us blessed.


Love

@the watcher.

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