Posted on 02/18/2015 5:11:54 AM PST by Gamecock
One comment that Christian pastors sometimes hear from people they are counseling is that it would be easier for them to have a strong faith if they could see God doing the same kinds of miracles today as are recorded in the Bible. The unspoken assumption is that seeing is believing—that the people who lived in Jesus’ day found themselves more readily trusting Him because they could see His great works.
Such comments show the need for a closer reading of Scripture, for there are many cases where seeing great miracles didn’t move observers to faith. For example, John 11 records Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead—a convincing sign if there ever was one. Yet the authorities took the miracle as a reason to oppose Jesus, not to believe in Him (vv. 45-53). Scripture also records occasions when even God’s people experienced disbelief after seeing many miracles. Consider Joshua 7, which records what happened at Ai not long after the Israelites conquered Jericho. After the conquest of Jericho, when a shout brought the walls “tumbling down” (chap. 6), you can imagine what the feelings were among the people of Israel. God had delivered them in a dramatic, supernatural way, removing from their path the most formidable obstacle to the conquest of Canaan. He had delivered on His promise that He would give them every place where Joshua set his foot. So, you would think there would be nothing but elation and confidence among the troops and especially in the heart of Joshua. But what transpires is a major comeuppance for Joshua and the Israelites. After a scouting party reports that Ai should be easy to conquer, Joshua sends a force to take the city, but it is quickly routed, and thirty-six people are killed (7:2-5). How does Joshua respond?
Joshua tore his clothes and fell on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening… . And Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?” (vv. 6-9)
Here we see Joshua, the one who in the past has always been courageous, the man of faith who gave the good report to the nation that Israel could take Canaan. Now he’s rending his garments and complaining to the Lord, saying, “Why didn’t You just leave well enough alone? We could have lived happily ever after on the other side of the Jordan, but now we’re humiliated and the news of this defeat will go all through the Promised Land.” Joshua, in a moment of disbelief, is saying to God, “What have you done for me lately?” His faith is so fragile that after one minor setback, he loses his confidence and is in mourning. Joshua thought he understood the full measure of God’s commitment to him and to his army, and he is beside himself when this defeat takes place at the hands of an enemy that Israel should have been able to run over without the help of God. Now even with God’s promise, they suffer this humiliating defeat. All of a sudden, Joshua’s wondering, “Was God’s promise of success an illusion? Was I hearing things? God promised that we’d never be defeated, and now we’re defeated.” What Joshua endures here, as we see in his fasting, mourning, and seeking God’s face, is a crisis of faith.
Why were the Israelites defeated? Joshua 7:1 tells us: “The people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan … of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel.” Yes, God promised Israel victory, but He also commanded the people to exercise scrupulous obedience to the terms of this conflict. God instituted the ban against the Canaanites, meaning that in this conquest of holy war the soldiers could not take any personal loot or booty. And one man in the army disobeyed. Achan succumbed to the temptation to line his own pockets with the spoils from the victory at Jericho. And because of one man’s sin, God held the whole nation of Israel accountable. Because of this trespass, God’s anger is expressed against Israel, and His providential judgment causes this defeat.
Scripture warns us that on this side of glory, there is not a one-to-one correlation between obedience and blessing. Faithful people are often successful, but sometimes they experience great defeat. The faithless often suffer for their wrongdoing, but sometimes they enjoy many outward successes. Nevertheless, success and strong, confident faith are some of the blessings that the Lord gives to those who keep His commandments (Ps. 1). Though God has not promised to act in the same miraculous manner today as He did in the days of old, we can expect Him to move in our behalf. We don’t merit righteousness before our Father by our obedience, and the Lord’s grace is so vast that He regularly blesses us in spite of our disobedience. Still, perhaps we would see more blessing and experience less doubt if we were to serve Him more faithfully.
It doesn’t change the fact that believers would be encouraged if the hand of God could be observed today. Instead there is one horror after another.
The hand of God is there. We choose not to see it.
Even if someone were raised from the dead, people wouldn't believe.
People will believe if they are going to and nothing will convince them if they are not.
It's hard living in times where evil appears to be running so rampant and apparently unrestrained.
But that's where our faith kicks in. To know that God is in it and God is good, and that He can only always be good. TO know that the spiritual realities are still there when we're overwhelmed with the physical one.
He's keeping account and payday will come for those who seem to be getting away with something now.
A pastor once said something to the effect of *Do not judge God's long term character by your short term experiences*.
And yes, I agree we would be encouraged more if we saw more. I think though, that instead of looking at the biggies, we look for the little ways God reveals Himself to us, that show that He cares about the little things in our lives and He is still in control. I know that has helped me tremendously.
Evidently Peter points to the word of God “2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. “
Good post, metmom. Lately I’ve been thinking about this from Romans:
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (15:4)
And Hebrews sets up a stadium filled with a “great cloud of witnesses” to cheer us along as we race.
Scripture is revealed truth FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Not just another “book”. It’s gentle milk and strong meat for our faith!
Nor has God promised not to act in the same miraculous manner today as He did in the days of old, nor that we cannot expect Him to move in our behalf in such a manner.
For God is sovereign, and can choose to give more grace to some and in some times than others, but with more grace comes more accountability. God could have brought Sodom to repentance if He had shown them the degree of unwarranted grace He showed others which came to repentance, or who did not, as proud prosperous (much as the USA) maritime Capernaum (which is, by interpretation, "the village of comfort"):
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. (Matthew 11:23)
For as
unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required, (Luke 12:48) then the Lord said,
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. (Matthew 23:14)
And even more accountable are those who were given even more grace (as me),
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. (Hebrews 10:29-30)
And there are periods when more grace is poured out, even in an ad hoc manner:
And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judæa, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. (Luke 5:17)
Plenty of adversaries such as John Newtons died in their sins without seeing the extraordinary long suffering and grace given to him, but which does not at all render their damnation unjust. For we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. (Romans 2:2)
In which souls are damned because of the sins which they were accountable for, having rejected the degree of light given them. (Jn. 3:19-21; Rm. 1:19-21ff; cf. 2:14) And by rejecting that light then they have in essence rejected the Light, Jesus Christ, the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:9)
Yet God also blesses obedience,
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
And promised,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:12)
The church did not begin and spread merely because it had better arguments, but by Scriptural substantiation in word and in power. And it is only insomuch as it thereby manifests that can it claim to be that of the living God, which has not said to place the book of Acts in a museum, or that He would take a sabbatical from doing as He ever could. But i think the problem lies with me, and with us, who too much draw back from the price of real revival.
That is not quite accurate, but if they will not hear "Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:31). But for those who are seeking light, and respond to at least the light of the essence of Moses and the prophets, then as we seen in Scripture then supernatural attestation can be efficacious to that end.
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. (John 14:11)
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:18-19)
As can the enduring overcoming faith of an afflicted saint, showing that God is not only the God of the mountain, but of the valley before the mountain as well, and in which is dare say the most important work is done.
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10)
Thanks. Good sermon.
YOu make God sound more like Allah.
How?
I've read that...
...someplace.
John 3:18?
Matthew 10:34
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.
I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
What a substantial argument! Which is absurd that it makes you sound like Baghdad Bob!
It is all there in the Scriptures, thus it is no surprise that a Cath would disagree and imagine that is like the god of Islam. Care to try your hand at arguing against what i said so all can further see what Catholicism can do to a mind?
Yeah I thought He was claiming to be a God of righteousness and justice.............
Calvinist
And a God of restoration that would bring back the years the locusts had eaten, and a God who would avenge us if we stood strong..........
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