The messages are questioned as is the custom for these things. Judgment on these types of things can falter - as once was the case for me... daily questioning, "Have I heard; have I heard?" These questions have faded into statements, "I have heard; I have heard;" but for most, the questions remain.
I had some inspiration concerning the titled text, Ezekiel 33:33.
The church continues to disembowel itself, cutting from its torso the very "guts" it was formed with. Today in Birmingham, Alabama a preacher stands on the witness stand before judge and jury defending a crooked, wicked politician bought off like Judas only this time it's with 60 new suits fresh for the ministry of the saints. A church in Mobile, Alabama is suing Jefferson county and Birmingham city officials because a judge ruled this week that "charity" bingo is illegal, and this church is upset that its sugar-daddy has been done away with because it receives kick-backs from these establishments. These happen to only be two stories of the day.... One would not be hard-pressed to find further where the church has lost its compass and has bought into the world's way of doing things.
The church is in trouble; we are in trouble and turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the corruption we buy into as well. We're sold out to this planet having revoked our own citizenship to that city not built with human hands. We ignore the warnings of coming judgment because it doesn't fit our popular gospel. We are blind and naked and alone and we cannot see it because part of the package we've bought into is the self-delusions this society (the Enemy) creates in our view of ourselves. We no longer see what is right because we no longer chose to do what is right.
America was built as a bastion of hope to a persecuted people. We framed laws and built a nation based on a moral superseding law that comes from a Divine knowledge that has been shared with us so that there can be unity in diversity... from many people, one. This was based on the knowledge that our government cannot be sustained apart from the Source - God - from which life and justice flow. Now our government seeks to be the Source - god - giving us all that we want and need so as to depend upon it as the all-in-all and the church has jumped on board; Christians have jumped on board with a secular mentality that thinks "the government can take care of the poor, that's not my department."
America has rejected it's partnership with Divinity in being a bastion of hope for the nations, and a friend to sinners - it itself has become the sinner. Judgment therefore is coming and God has warned us so that we would not be caught off our guards and so that those of us who need to repent can and have ample time to do so. God takes no delight from the death of the wicked, but the other side to that coin is that God cannot allow sin to continue unchecked.
Ezekiel 33:33 says, "So when it comes to pass--as surely it will--then they will know that a prophet has been in their midst."This text isn't so much about the vindication of the prophet than it is about the "they" who will realize that God has moved in justice and mercy. All will realize that He is God when these things come to pass... the key is to realize it and heed the warnings that have been given by His watchmen before they do come to pass. Otherwise one might find themselves the subject of the judgment.
God asks us to turn toward Him, trust in Him, lean on Him and He gives us the power needed to do so completely. He hasn't required something of us that we can not give, however it is often something we won't give... everything. The person who finds his life here loses his life there; the person that loses his life here (giving everything) finds his life there.
To quote the missionary martyr Jim Elliot, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he can never lose." Some will find this statement to be absolute truth, but only too late.
Soon these things are going to happen - and it's going to happen! Are you prepared? Are you trusting Him?
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