April 25, 2024
Pastor Darin Youngberg
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Daily Bread
Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 by Bro_D
Daily Bread March 27, 2018
Isaiah 14:3-7 When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, (4) you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: "How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased! (5) The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers, (6) that struck the peoples in wrath with unceasing blows, that ruled the nations in anger with unrelenting persecution. (7) The whole earth is at rest and quiet; they break forth into singing.
What struck me this morning as I read these verses was the reality of suffering. Israel had been brutally tormented by Babylon. Israel had been in captivity; away from their homeland, distant from the temple of God, beaten, killed, harassed …. Certainly not the material for an advertising campaign to be a part of God’s family!
Notice that these verses point out trials and tribulations that come upon Israel --- not once do we find the words “may come” – Jesus said the same thing to His followers in John 16:33. Too many of us in the modern church want to focus on the “rest from your pain and turmoil” or “the whole earth is at rest and quiet” parts of Scripture. Those promises are great, don’t hear what I am not saying – BUT – we can’t just ignore the reality of the promise of trials … even great tribulation.
Too often in the 18+ years of ministry I have watched as people …. Good people …. Find themselves in turmoil and because of an inappropriate belief in what Scripture teaches, they depart from the “faith” – true … the faith they are leaving is a false faith – but it takes them away from the one place they can hear the Truth. Too many church folk are looking for the church that affirms their self-esteem or the place that will teach them the 5 steps to finding your life’s purpose. Here’s how the Bible puts it .. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, (4) and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. That’s why Paul exhorted Timothy to …. 2 Timothy 4:1-2 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: (2) preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. If the Word of God is not being proclaimed to the people, then when the people are faced with the great trials, they will try to lean on what they have been taught and find themselves falling to destruction.
Don’t doubt for one second that there are pulpits being filled this Sunday that will be proclaiming the news that tickles ears and passions – and don’t doubt one bit that there will be people filling the pews that will hear these words and turn away from the Truth. Don’t even doubt that your church, your pastor, your friends and family sitting in the pew next you might the place and the people Paul is talking about. Open the Bible, read it … every Word of it – don’t sit in the pew and soak in what man says – take it every Word breathed out by God.