God Sent a Great Wind

Jonah 1:4, 11-16

SUBJECT:  God’s Chastisement and Jonah

THEME:  Jonah’s experience teaches us how God uses means to chasten rebellious believers to turn our hearts back to Him. God in his sovereignty will use natural disasters and great wind storms in an attempt to persuade his people to repent and obey his will.

RELEVANCE: Chastening is any instruction, correction, teaching, rebuke or circumstances God uses to conform our hearts attitude and behavior to His will. In this account God sovereignly uses the natural element of the wind, which is related to Jonah’s circumstances to get this wayward prophet back on track. God still chastens His people today to keep us on track or to persuade us to repent and return to His will (Heb. 12:5-13; Rev. 3:19). Clearly, one goal of chastening is to bring about deep repentance—a change of mind and heart that results in a change of action or direction. A person who repents turns from his old ways to wholeheartedly commit himself to doing the will of God.  

INTRODUCTION:

No matter how you look at it, Jonah had rebelled against the Lord in a most flagrant manner. He had utterly refused to accept the missionary ministry to Nineveh; instead he elected a cruise in the opposite direction to Tarshish, a Pheonician colony on the southwestern coast of Spain about two thousand miles west of Israel. The last thing the wayward prophet wanted for the city of Nineveh was the mercy of Jehovah, so he rebelled rejecting God’s directive.  

Accordingly, the Lord has a way of dealing with wayward believers who insist on their way thus negating His will. God “sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken” (Jonah 1:4). No doubt someone will insist that the Lord only “allowed” the great wind to come…in an attempt to vindicate or defend the notion that God is a “good” God. However, the statement of this Scripture is transparently clear. “But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea…!” God is directly responsible for these developments in the light of His servant’s rebellion and willfulness. Yes, God “sent out” the great wind, which means he threw it down or hurled it far out there. Beloved, this was a deliberate and calculated attempt to turn this rebel, Jonah, around and set him back on track to reach a wicked people! God does not need to be defended on this point; His character is good, His actions are good and His motives are good. Why do we feel the need to defend Him concerning such passages?

MESSAGE:

God uses Great Winds to Chasten His Rebellious People (Jonah 1:11-16).

Beloved, it may not be an actual wind storm at sea for you and me, but God in his sovereignty over all things uses whatever means necessary to turn our hearts from rebellion back to Him. Obviously, he can use great winds and great fish, but he can use anything else he deems fitting to get our attention and redirect us in his will. So, God used a great wind, but why?

A.    To show Jonah how his rebellion negatively impacted innocent people (Vs. 11-13).

1.     I have heard people say in defense of their substandard Christian living, “I am not hurting anybody but myself” or “I am minding my own business, and what I do is no one else’s concern.”

2.     But this is not at all what God’s Word reveals; Jonah’s rebellion affected this captain and his entire crew and literally put their lives in mortal danger (1:11-17). 

3.     Often our sin does negatively impact others.

                                          i.     The Apostle Paul says to the Corinthians, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? ⁷ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: ⁸ Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”^[1] (1Cor. 5:6-8)

                                        ii.     Leaven here is a picture of moral sin. The apostle is saying that if they tolerate a little moral sin in the church, it will soon grow and expand until the whole fellowship is seriously affected. Righteous, godly discipline is necessary in order to maintain the character of the church.^[2]

                                      iii.     Our failures to confront our sinfulness will certainly impact others in negative ways.

4.     Lot’s worldliness compelled him to move to Sodom where he eventually lost his spiritual credibility (Gen. 19:24-38), his two daughters were corrupted by that society, and he lost his wife to worldliness well before she turned to look back on Sodom. The Lord Jesus warned, “Remember Lot’s wife.”

                                          i.     Although Lot’s wife was taken almost by force out of Sodom, her heart remained in the city. This was indicated by the fact that she turned back. She was out of Sodom, but Sodom was not out of her. As a result, God destroyed her by turning her into a pillar of salt.^[3]

                                        ii.     We cannot afford to be so attached to possessions, luxuries and earthly comforts when commitment to Christ demands prioritizing eternal and spiritual realities over worldly things. Beloved, our worldliness will impact others. Often what we parents practice in moderation, our children will practice in excess!

5.     Acchan’s sinful greedy heart compelled him to take the gold and silver, but his entire family died with him as punishment for his sin (Josh 7:16-26). Clearly, our sins impact others!

                                          i.     Romans 14: 7-8, For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. ⁸ For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.^[4]

                                        ii.     The lordship of Christ enters into every aspect of a believer’s life. We don’t live to ourselves but to the Lord. We don’t die to ourselves but to the Lord. It is true that what we do and say affects others, but that is not the thought here. Paul is emphasizing that the Lord should be the goal and object of the lives of His people.^[5]

B.    To show Jonah how God could still witness to His power, nature, and character (vs. 14-15).

1.     God did not leave Himself without a witness because the natural world responded to His will and evidenced His awesome strength.

2.     God wanted to show these mariners their need to fear the Lord (16), therefore He taught these pagans something about the “fear of the Lord” (Ps. 111:10; Prov. 14:26, 27; 15:33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4).

C.    To correct Jonah’s rebellious attitude…. (Vs. 11-17).

1.     Jonah’s resentment and rebellion broke fellowship with the Lord. He brought these developments on himself when he departed from God’s will for his life. While we cannot live free of all troubles and challenges, some of the “winds” and storms we face are self-inflicted. That is correct, we invite the Lord’s correction through our carelessness and rebellion. In addition, the natural consequences of sin are a punishment in and of themselves.

2.     Tragically, the great winds did not produce the repentance God desired. Though the ship’s crew suggested something had to be done concerning Jonah in order for them to survive, Jonah’s response in verse 1:12 is absolutely shocking. He intimated that the only means of the sailors surviving was to cast him into the sea…since it was his fault they were in jeopardy. Though the sailors had suggested this, they were not ready to act on this notion of sacrificing the prophet. So, they worked even harder against the winds to bring the ship to safety, but they failed utterly. The great winds prevailed! Finally, accepting the apparent inevitable, they begged God to not hold them accountable for the death of Jonah, and they cast him into the sea. Instantly, the storm ceased from her ragging! What’s so tragic about that? Though Jonah had experienced all this trouble, fear and anxiety at sea, he still was not willing to go to Nineveh and preach God’s warning to them. He had not repented…he would rather have died first than to obey God!

                                          i.     What frightful bitterness and resentment is this! How stubborn can a human heart be to persist in such rebellion? What awful lying intoxication sin holds? Will we dare God kill us because we refuse to get right? Rational behavior is completely abandoned here.

                                        ii.     Beloved, this is jaw-dropping off the charts ridiculous! No wonder God had to turn up the heat and prepare a “great fish to swallow up Jonah.” There is zero repentance in this prophet’s heart at this time!

3.     But God initiated the process of restoration. In chapter 1:17, God prepared the great fish to swallow Jonah. This was an act of loving mercy on God’s part. He provided a means of Jonah’s safety, a means that brought him to repentance, confession, and to prayer. 

4.     God purpose for chastening His people is to produce righteousness in our lives: “... but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.” “...nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Hebrews 12:10-11)

5.     Many times we resent what God places in our pathway, but we need to see and consider His mercy, for He is working towards restoration. How far would Jonah have gone had it not been for the storm and the great fish?  How far would you and I have gone if it hadn’t been for the storms and the great fish (or whatever it was that God sent) into our lives?

6.     All things God bring to us, directly or indirectly, come for our good.  What kind of fruit did the chastisement of God produce in Jonah's life? It eventually produced repentance, and from a heart of repentance, Jonah sought the Lord in prayer.

CONCLUSION:

Clearly, Jonah’s experience teaches us how God uses means to chasten rebellious believers to turn our hearts back to Him. God in his sovereignty will use natural disasters like this great wind storm at sea in an attempt to persuade us to repent and obey his will.

What does all this mean for you and me? Honestly, we need God’s chastening—his instructions, corrections, teachings, rebukes or circumstances as he seeks to conform our hearts attitude and behavior to His will. We should appreciate His initiatives to convict us and bring about a godly sorrow. To our shame, we tend to persist in sinful attitudes and behaviors. We truly need the Spirit of God to deal with us fervently at times.

In our experiences, God will sovereignly use natural elements like the wind, or some other natural element related to our circumstances to get us back on track. He has used sickness, disease, financial straits, stock market crashes and even the death of loved ones to help us reconsider the course we have chosen. God still chastens His people today to keep us on track or to persuade us to repent and return to His will (Heb. 12:5-13; Rev. 3:19). Please do not miss this point: God’s corrective measures are acts of love towards his children. It is not because he hates us that he corrects us, but because he loves us. Clearly, chastening is designed to bring about deep repentance—a change of mind and heart that results in a change of action or direction. We have truly repented when we turn from our old ways to wholeheartedly commit ourselves to doing the will of God.  

A believer pursuing sin will experience God’s chastening. Although not all pain and suffering are related to chastening, certainly chastening can include pain, suffering, loss, and trouble. A believer who refuses the prompting of the Holy Spirit to repent and be transformed in character and behavior will experience a few semesters in “Whale University.” Jonah provides us with a great case study of how God in his sovereign love will use a number of means to steer us back to a lifestyle of obedience, submission, and conformity to His plan for our lives.

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^[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Co 5:6–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[2] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1760). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[3] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1437). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ro 14:7–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[5] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1736). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

So, The Lord Said "NO" Huh?

  1 JN. 5:14-15; 1PET. 3:7; PROV. 28:9; JS. 1:6-7; MATT. 5:23-25

SUBJECT: HINDRANCES TO PRAYER

                                                           

God Truly Does Desire to Say “Yes” to You and me When we Pray to Him. We must Recognize the “No” and “Wait” Answers from the Lord as Opportunities to Grow in our Prayer Relationship with Him.  

When our prayers aren't answered in the way we want—generally speaking, when we receive a wait or a no answer—we sometimes become discouraged, perhaps even resentful. What we fail to recognize is that “wait” and “no” answers are tremendous teaching tools. Any serious student will admit that he or she has learned a lot from mistakes made on an exam. Our failures in life are very often our greatest teachers. So, to, with God's wait and no answers. They can reveal to us what actions we should take or how we should grow in our relationship with the Lord. (Stanley)

In this article we will focus on God's no answers to see what they might tell us. Again, I am assuming that you are in right relationship with God. The person who has not accepted Jesus Christ as Savior or who is in willful rebellion against God is not a person who can expect positive answers from God. God's answer is likely to be a repeated “no” until the person repents believing the gospel of Jesus Christ and surrenders his or her life fully to Christ.

Being a believer, however, and even desiring to live in right relationship with God does not always ensure that we will have all of our prayers answered with a "yes". There are certain practical and specific reasons why God does not always say “yes” to Christians.

CONSIDER GOD'S “NO” ANSWERS TO OUR PRAYERS.

When we hear about someone receiving an answer of “no” from God, our first impulse may be to assume that there is some deep dark hidden sin in that person's life. Likewise, when we are the ones receiving the “no” answer, we may assume that sin is the cause, and we may try to argue that point with God or justify our position and request. Another possibility, however, is that we may be living in ignorance, not necessarily high-handed rebellion, but still sinful. In such instances God may use a “no” answer to sharpen our focus and obedience to Him while correcting our mistakes.(Stanly)

Sin is willful disobedience against what we know God desires. Sin, especially on the part of a believer in Jesus Christ, is a matter of saying, “I know what God requires of me, but I prefer to do what I think is best.” It is a deliberate act of rebellion and defiance to God clear and specific guidelines. When we do this, we break our fellowship with the Lord. We are out of step and harmony with Him and His plan. As a result the Holy Spirit moves to convict us of our sin, usually with increasing intensity to help us confess and forsake our sin.

Ignorance, in contrast, is not knowing God's requirements; or an inadvertent act that violates God's standards of morality. These are not willful acts or feelings of disobedience. We do not know we are making an incorrect choice or engaging in unrighteous behavior because we have not been taught that our actions are wrong in God's eyes. We desire a relationship with God and will be quick to amend our ways once we realize our failures...but at present, we do not know that we are erring. God's “no” answer is a means of bringing us to the point where we recognize our error so we can correct our behavior. Once we correct our behavior, God's answer to our same prayer request may very well be “yes.”

There are at least six areas of error that evoke a "no" answer from God. So, God sometimes says,

A.  NO, BECAUSE OUR RELATIONSHIPS ARE NOT RIGHT BEFORE HIM.

Matthew 5:23-25, Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; [24] Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. [25] Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

One reason God gives us an answer of no is that our relationships with other people are not right.  Conflict with others will always hinder our prayer life and worship.

    1.  Examine Your Relationships With Others.

Matthew 6:14-15, For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Our heavenly Father always forgives, is merciful, and desires the best for us.

         A.  Are You Unforgiving?

He will not answer our prayers as long as we remain unforgiving, unmerciful, or self-centered and demanding of those He has given us as marriage partners, family members, and friends.

         B.  Are You Mean Spirited?

We cannot be caustic, sarcastic, cynical, mean-spirited, resentful, or selfish to other people and then come to the Father and expect Him to answer all of our petitions. He has clearly said that we must forgive if we are to be forgiven.

         C. Are You a Giver?

We must be givers before we expect to receive. (See Luke 6:37–38.)

Luke 6:37-38, Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: [38] Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Matthew 18:19-20, Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. [20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

    2.  Examine Your Relationship With Your Spouse.

1 Peter 3:7, Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

         A.  In 1 Peter 3:1–7, we find a balanced approach to the relationship that God desires for a husband and wife to have. Peter says that if this relationship is not in right balance, our prayers are hindered.

         B.  Your relationship must be right with your spouse for God to answer your prayers, because in marriage, two people are made one and are regarded as one flesh by God.

         C.  God will not answer your prayer unless He is fully assured that His answer is going to be a blessing that you are going to share fully with your spouse. Your request to God must be one that honors and considers your spouse and is generous toward your spouse.(MacDonald)

         D.  Feelings of resentment, growing from selfish conduct in the home, make effective prayer impossible. Effective prayer must be "without wrath" (1 Tim 2:8).

1 Tim. 2:8, I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Ephes. 4:30-32,

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. [31] Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: [32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 

B.  NO, BECAUSE OUR MOTIVES ARE SELFISH.

James 4:3, Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

A second reason why God gives us answers of no is that our request is totally self-serving. The epistle of James informs us that these believers asked and did not receive, because they asked amiss, that they might spend it all on their personal satisfaction and pleasures.

   1.  All of Our Actions as Christians Are Either Aimed at Self or God.

Our motive is either to exalt ourselves or to bring glory to God. In serving others, we bring glory to God, so we might say our actions are motivated either by a desire to serve self or others.

Proverbs 16:18, Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 21:17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.  

   2.  God Gives Us a “No” Answer So That We Can Confront Our Own Motives.

       A.  Why are we asking God for a certain thing or situation?

       B.  Is it so that we will look better, feel better, or get more praise from other people?

       C.  Or is it so we might help others better and be better able to fulfill the destiny that God has laid before us?

Isaiah 47:8, Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:

Isaiah 47:11, Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put if off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.

   3.  God Will Not Answer Our Prayers Unless He Is Certain That We Will Be Good Stewards. 

        A.  That is with the things He gives to us and that we will be generous to others once we receive them of His generous hands.

        B.  Problems in prayer are often clues that wrong motives are at work.

        C.  James mentions the most common problems in prayer: not asking, asking for the wrong things, asking for the wrong reasons.

                — Do you talk to God at all?

                — When you do, what do you talk about?

                — Do you ask only to satisfy your desires?

                — Do you seek God's approval for what you already plan to do?

        D.  Your prayers will become powerful when you allow God to change your desires so that they perfectly correspond to His will for you. 1 John 3:21-22, Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. [22] And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

   4.  God Gives to the Generous Believer, but Not to the Selfish.

Proverbs 21:13, Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

        A.  Very specifically, God expects us to be generous to those who are in need. Many of God's blessings in the Bible are reserved for those who take care of the poor, the widows, and the orphans.

        B.  We must use what God gives us to bring about justice and equity for those who are lacking the basic essentials of life. No, we cannot meet every need, but what about the ones you can meet?

C. NO, BECAUSE WE HAVE WAVERING FAITH.

James 1:6-7, But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. [7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

Another reason why God says no to our prayers is because we are wishy-washy in our faith. God has little regard for faith that wavers—a faith that says, “Maybe God will, maybe He won't.” Such faith is unstable and unreliable.

    1.  Is Your Relationship With God Based on Emotions?

         A.  God sometimes gives us an answer of no so we will reevaluate our opinion of Him and also come to grips with our own emotions.

         B.  Many people are driven by their emotions. One day they claim to feel God's presence and they have joy and peace.

         C.  The next day, when they are a little down or discouraged, they say they don't feel God's presence; therefore, God must not care about them. They become resentful and bitter toward God.

                                   

    2.  Is Your Relationship With God Based on Scripture?

          A.  God, however, has not changed. Their emotional temperament is being tossed about like wind-driven waves.

          B.  Our relationship with God must be based squarely on what the Bible says God desires for us and has given to us through Jesus Christ.

          C.  We are not to base our relationship with God on how we feel on any given day. Feelings come and go and change like the weather.

          D.  God's Word remains the same all the time. Our prayers must be grounded in the Word, not in ourselves.  Hebrews 13:8-9, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. [9] Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. 

                                                                                   

D.  NO, BECAUSE OF OUR FAILURES TO TITHE OUR INCOME.

Malachi 3:10, Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

   1.  One of the Most Common Yet Unrecognized Errors That Can Bring about a “No” Answer from God Is Our Failure to Tithe. God does not tolerate stinginess—whether toward Him or toward other people.

   2.  If God Does Not Seem to Be Answering Your Request for Things, Money, or Material Goods, Check Your Giving. It may be God is seeking to teach you a new set of priorities in your handling of money. He may be attempting to give you a new understanding of stewardship.

   3.  God Will Not Violate the Cycle of Giving That He Established for Humankind: Giving, Receiving, Giving, Receiving. His law is one that requires reciprocation.

Leviticus 27:30, And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord.

E.  NO, BECAUSE OF OUR INDIFFERENCE TO HIS WORD.

Proverbs 28:9, He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

Sometimes God gives us an answer of no so that we will get serious about reading His Word and applying it to our lives. You cannot live with a closed Bible and expect to have an open line to Heaven.

    1.  The Bible Is God's Manual for Right Living.

        A.  It contains His promises related to prayer and the meeting of our needs.

        B.  It holds God's commandments for how to receive and use God's blessings and defeat the enemy of our souls.

        C.  We cannot turn a deaf ear to God's Word and then approach God with our requests.

ILLUSTRATION:  That would be like a college student telling his professors, “I don't need to attend classes or study any courses. Just give me a degree and I'll be on my way.” Can you imagine the response that student would receive? (Stanley)

    2.  The Bible Has Both Information and Inspiration That We Need for our Daily Walk with God.

Psalm 32:8, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

A.     David urged us to follow his example of honesty before God! Rather than being like a beast of burden that has to be harnessed into submission, we can choose to be led by the gentle touch of God's hand (Ps 32:6-11).  Thus he affords us information and through David’s example, inspiration. Especially the truth, that the Lord will tell us which way we are to take in order to reach a certain destination! God promises He will watch us, or will keep an eye on us; He will not let us go wrong.

B.     I also remember John was also a prophet seeking a response to the Word. The prophets often held out hope for the present—hope that God's judgment could be delayed if people would repent and turn to God in faith and obedience. That does not mean that the prophets offered an easy way out of all difficulties, as if somehow all problems would vanish if people would just profess their faith in God. Instead, like Winston Churchill standing amidst the bombed ruins of London, the prophets offered “blood, sweat, and tears” for those who would follow God. It would not be easy to serve God and fight against the evil of this present dark and sinful world, and yet the prophets knew that God would be victorious in the end and His people would share in that victory.

C.     So John was a prophet, calling his generation—and ours—to repentance and faith and action. He knew that we could never build the kingdom of God on earth, no matter how hard we might try. Only God can do that—and someday He will, when Christ comes again. But John also knew that God's judgment on this world could be delayed if we would repent and turn to Christ.

D.     To some, John's message of the future may have sounded gloomy and depressing. John knew, however, that the worst thing he could do would be to assure people that everything was alright and that there was no need to be concerned about the evil in the world or God's judgment. But John's message is ultimately a message of the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.

   3.  Read and Study the Word for Daily Inspiration for Zealous Christian Living.

Avail yourself of it. You'll gain important insights into how to pray so that you get yes answers from God.

Psalm 119:105, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Once again see Isa. 1:11-20; Zech. 7:11-14; 2Tim. 4:3-4).

F.  NO, BECAUSE OF UNCONFESSED SINS IN OUR LIVES.

Isaiah 59:1-3, Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: [2] But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. [3] For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

  1.  Acknowledging Sin is Not Enough.

God sometimes gives answers of no in response to our unconfessed sins. Just recognizing our errors and sins is not enough.

  2. Confession of Sin is Required.

Proverbs 28:13, He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

     A.  We must Confess Them to God and Receive His Forgiveness.

It is not sufficient that we recognize that our relationships are wrong, we have failed to tithe, we have wavering faith, we are selfish, or we are indifferent to God's Word.

     B.  We must Actually Confess These Errors to God and Then Repent of Them, Which Means to Make a Willful Decision to Change. Every believer must humble themselves before God in a spirit of repentance trusting God to restore and revive us in Christ Jesus!

Proverbs 15:8, The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

Proverbs 15:29, The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

     C.  God Cannot Give Us “Yes” Answers If We Only Recognize Our Errors, but Do Not Obey Him and Change Our Ways by the Power of His Spirit.  God constantly reminds of this requirement!

1 Peter 3:12, For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

James 5:16, Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

   3.  Confession or Cover-up is the Question?

A.     Honest Confession of Sin Is Always Better than Any Attempt to Conceal an Unpleasant Truth (see Job 31:33; Ps 32:3-5; 1 John 1:9). 

                                                             i.      The individual who covers his sins by denying or extenuating them, (1 Sam 15:20-21) “shall not prosper.”

                                                           ii.      QUOTE:   “To hide a sin with a lie is like a crust of leprosy drawn over an ulcer” (Jeremy Taylor).

B.     Many People Try to Cover Their Sinful Failures by Laying the Blame on Others (Gen 3:12-13; Ezek 18:2).

                                                             i.      They effectively deny themselves the “prosperity” the Lord desires for them. 

                                                           ii.      Some even cry out in anger, “I am not the only one, or the first one who did it, and I shall not be the last.” 

C.     This Is Altogether Different from What We Find in the Account of Acts 19:17-20. 

               1.  The blessings come only after the confession and forsaking of sin!  Acts 19:17-20, And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. [18] And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. [19] Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. [20] So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

               2.  Ephesus seemed to be a center for black magic and other dark occultic practices. Evidently, the people would create magical formulas to give them wealth, happiness, and success in marriage. Obviously, superstition and sorcery were commonplace. Many of the Ephesian converts had been involved in these dark arts.

               3.  But notice the sincerity of their confessions.  Because of the powerfully demonstrated superiority of the name of Jesus over evil spirits (Acts 19:11-17) many of the new believers in Ephesus did some spiritual spring cleaning. 

·Specifically, they renounced their fascination with all occult practices and their secret spells. Then, taking the left-overs of their pagan pasts, they burned them at a public bonfire.

·Yes, making a clean break with sin is costly -- the magic books alone were worth several million dollars (literally, fifty thousand drachmas). A drachma was a silver coin equal to a worker's pay for one day. 

·But the end result was the Word of God grew and prevailed! (MacDonald)

     D.  The Person Who “Confesseth and Forsaketh” Sin and Refuses to Be like a Dog Returning to His Vomit, (2 Peter 2:22) Shall Have the Sweet Mercy of the Lord.

               1.  In all actuality the sincerity of the confession is proven by our forsaking our sins (Job 34:31-32). Then mercy is sure to be ours (Ps 32:5; 1 John 1:8-10).

               2.  Consider the heart of God and the love in his appeal to return to him and faithfulness.

Jeremiah 3:11-15, And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.  [12] Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. [13] Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. [14] Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: [15] And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

  

God's foremost desire is not to give us answers of "wait" or "no", but to say “yes” to us. Deuteronomy 28 is an important chapter for us to read and study. It tells us that God desires to bless us:

Deut. 28:1-2, And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: [2] And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

God's desire is for blessing, but if we, His people, turn to follow other gods and do not obey His Word, then we will find ourselves in a position in which the “heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.” (v. 23). In other words, the heavens will be closed to our prayers, and nothing we attempt to do on earth will prosper. When we know what to do, we are responsible for doing it. Then, and only then, can God trust us with His 'yes' answers and His greatest blessings.

Deut. 28:23, And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.

What we fail to recognize is that “wait” and “no” answers are tremendous teaching tools. Therefore, learn as much as possible from your mistakes!  Always bear in mind that our failures in life are very often our greatest teachers.(Stanley) So, too, with God's “wait” and “no” answers. They can reveal to us what actions we should take or how we should grow in our relationship with the Lord. Use this article to examine your own life. Allow yourself time to be completely transparent and open with the Spirit of God. Confess all known sin so that your fellowship with the Lord is restored and strong. Continue praying in faith knowing the Lord does indeed hear you and will answer positively in His precious time and according to His will for us. Beloved, do not allow yourself to become discouraged in your prayers. Examine the heart and make things right with the Lord. Then...keep talking to Him!  

Satan Shall Be Loosed!

If you have ever heard the saying, "Out of the frying pan and into the fire," then you know exactly how this article unfolds. God gives Satan a get out of jail free card and Satan rounds up his crew to lead a worldwide rebellion. As they situated themselves to attach The Lord Jesus' headquarters in Jerusalem, God rains down fire and brimstone and destroys them all. As a result the unsaved dead and Satan end up in the Lake of Fire! Incredible right! Oops...maybe I am getting a little ahead of myself!
This is a continuation of two other posts, "Christ's Kingdom Will Come," and "Reigning With King Jesus Christ." This is part three in the continuing exposition of Revelation chapter twenty.

III. Satan Leads a Rebellion After the Millennial Age (Rev. 20:7-10).

Satan will revolt after his release from the bottomless pit.

A.  THE MASTER OF THE REBELLION (REV. 20:7).  “Satan shall be loosed”

     1.  At the Close of the Millennium, Satan Will Be Released from the Pit.

But, why Satan specifically?

         A.  He will be permitted to lead one last revolt against the Lord. 

         B.  He is loosed to bring cohesive leadership to the world of rebels born to the believers who entered the kingdom at the beginning.

         C.  He is loosed to reveal the character of Christ-rejecting sinners who are brought into judgment for the last time ever.

     2.  This Action Demonstrates That Satan Will Not Repent.

After the Millennium, Satan will be released from the bottomless pit and will make one final desperate attempt to dethrone God but will be utterly defeated and thrown forever into the lake of fire.

B.  THE MANIPULATION OF THE REBELS (REV. 20:8).  “Shall go out to deceive the nations”

     1.  Immediately, Satan Will Deceive the Nations at the Four Corners of the Earth. (Rev. 20:8)

The children born during the kingdom age and after the battle of Armageddon lived throughout the thousand-year reign of Christ, but as soon as Satan is set free, they will be deceived and ready to gather for battle.

         A.  He Will Use Deception to Manipulate Them.

                1.  Deception is Satan’s primary mission and method (Rev. 12 to 18, in particular Rev. 12:9; 13:14; 19:20; 20:3, 10).  No sooner is Satan let loose, than he again begins deceiving the nations, and stirring them up to make war with the saints and servants of God.

John 8:44, Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

               2.  It would be good if the servants and ministers of Christ were as active and persevering in doing good, as his enemies in doing mischief.

         B.  He Will Use Temptations to Manipulate Them. (Rev. 20:8)

The popular phrase, “The devil made me do it” is not actually true.  Actually this excuse has been around since Eve.

              1.  The truth of God's Word is that the devil has never made any person do anything contrary to his or her will.

              2.  The devil is a deceiver and the father of lies. But the devil's only power over people is through manipulation and deceit.

              3.  If he could actually make us do things, he wouldn't need to go to the trouble of deceiving us!

              4.  If Satan could make us sin, the temptation process would be unnecessary.  Let it suffice that we conclude that the devil cannot make us do anything.

2 Cor. 11:3,  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

     2.  This Shows That People Will Rebel Against God If Given Opportunity.  (Rev. 20:8)

No matter how long or how many chances they are given to repent, it makes no difference at all.

          A.  QUOTE: “Imagine the tragedy of this revolt: people who have been living in a perfect environment, under the perfect government of God's Son, will finally admit the truth and rebel against the King!”   — W. W. Wiersbe

          B.  QUOTE: “A thousand years of confinement does not alter Satan's plans, nor does a thousand years of freedom from the influence of wickedness change man's basic tendency to rebel against his Creator. . . . Neither the designs of Satan nor the waywardness of the human heart will be altered by the mere passing of time.” — Robert Mounce 

     3.  Why? As Final Proof That the Heart of Man Is Desperately Wicked. (Rev. 20:8)

Mankind can only be changed by God's grace.

           — QUOTE: “The phrase total depravity . . . declares that no part of us is untouched by sin, and therefore no action of ours is as good as it should be, and consequently nothing in us or about us ever appears meritorious in God’s eyes. We cannot earn God’s favor, no matter what we do; unless grace saves us, we are lost.

Total depravity entails total inability, that is, the state of not having it in oneself to respond to God and his Word in a sincere and wholehearted way (John 6:44; Rom. 8:7-8). Paul calls this unresponsiveness of the fallen heart a state of death (Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13)”.  ^— Packer, J. I.

                — QUOTE:   “The understanding is darkened (Eph. 4:18; 1 Cor. 2:14); the heart is deceitful and wicked (Jer. 17:9, 10); the mind and conscience are defiled (Gen. 6:5; Titus 1:15); the flesh and spirit are defiled (2 Cor. 7:5); the will is enfeebled (Rom. 7:18); and we are utterly destitute of any Godlike qualities which meet the requirements of God’s holiness (Rom. 7:18).”   —William Evans

     4.  Rules, Regulation, Religion, Nor Environment Can Change the Human Heart. (Rev. 20:8)

This rebellion proves that a rule of perfect law cannot change the human heart; sinners would rather follow Satan.  The source of rebellion against God comes not from the environment or even from Satan himself but from within the human heart.

         A.  Sin Against God Is Going Beyond the Boundaries Established by God.

               — It is not only a behavioral problem, however—one rooted in attitudes, motives, actions, and patterns of conduct. It is a “nature” problem, an identity or “state of being” problem.

                — Man's sin nature is one of pride, greed, and total self-centeredness and self-will. Every person is born with this sin nature. Behavior is learned; our natural tendency to sin is not.

                — A sin nature is inherent, and it is inherent regardless of the spiritual condition of our parents. It is part of our inheritance as fallen human beings, the descendants of Adam and Eve.

         B.  Now, a Person Might Change His or Her Behavior as an Act of the Will.

But a person cannot change his or her basic sin nature, regardless of how much “willpower” is exerted. We are incapable of transforming our spirits or of altering the core of our spiritual being. We are born with a “sin condition” that only God can correct.

         C.  The Good News Is That While We Were in this Helpless, Ungodly State, God Sent His Son, Jesus!  He came to die for us so that we do not have to experience the consequence of our sin nature—which is separation and alienation from God. We can be transformed and made new in spirit.  (See Eph. 2:1–3; Rom. 5:6, 8, 10).

     5.  The Work of Satan and the Reaction of the Rebellious Nations Prove That Eternal Judgment is Necessary.  (See Rev. 20:11-15).

         A.  It Is No Coincidence That Satan and Fallen Unrepentant Mankind Around the World Rebel Before There Is a Final Judgment of Humanity.  Before mankind appears at the Great White Throne Judgment and is cast into an eternal Lake of Fire, God shows why it is necessary. 

         B.  Satan and Sinners Alike Prove That They Are Rebels to the Core and must Be Rejected from God’s Eternal Kingdom and Reign. (Rev. 20:8)

                    

C.  THE MULTITUDES OF THE REBELLION (REV. 20:8) “four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog . . . the number of whom is as the sands of the sea.”

   1.  The People.  (Rev. 20:8)  “The Nations”

Who are these who will follow Satan?

    

      A.  Those Believers’ Children Who Survive the Tribulation.

These believers will enter the Millennium in their natural bodies, and they will bear children and repopulate the earth (Isa. 65:18-25).

      B.  They Will Live in Ideal Circumstances in Which All Know about Jesus Christ (Jer. 31:33-34). 

Though many will outwardly profess faith in Christ without actually placing faith in Him for salvation.

      C.  Their Shallow Professions Will Become Apparent When Satan Is Released.

The multitudes who follow Satan are evidently those who have never been born again during the millennial kingdom.  

      D.  Rebellion is a matter of choice. The people had to decide whether they would obey the Lord, who had proven his trustworthiness, believe in Christ and be saved, or obey the devil, with his fail coup attempt. 

            — Truthfully the times will come for each of us to choose who or what will control us.

            — The choice is yours. Will it be God, your own limited personality, or Satan?

            — Once you have chosen to be controlled by God's Spirit, reaffirm your choice every day.

   2.  The Populations.   (Rev. 20:8) “in the four quarters of the earth . . . the number of whom is as the sand of the sea”

Satan’s release will produce a worldwide rebellion against the millennial reign of Christ. The armies will be so vast in numbers that they are said to be like the sand on the seashore.  Clearly we are referring to billions and billions of people.

   3. The Portrayal.    (Rev. 20:8) “Gog and Magog, to gather then together to battle”

Who are they?  The question has been raised as to whether this war is the same one discussed in Ezekiel 38-39, where Gog and Magog are also mentioned (Ezek. 38:2).

      

       A.  Whom They Are Not.

            1.  QUOTE: “This is not the battle of Gog and Magog, for that battle takes place about the end of the first half of the Tribulation (Ezek 38-39) and results in the Beast defeating both Russia and Egypt. Rather, this battle involves perhaps Russia (Gog and Magog) as the leading force . . . These armies will attack the millennial Jerusalem, but fire from heaven will devour them.”  —W. W. Wiersbe

            2.  QUOTE: “The naming of "Gog and Magog" (Rev 20:8) does not equate this battle with the one described in Ezek 38-39; for that army invades from the north, while this one comes from the four comers of the earth. This is only the name given to the army of rebels and its leader at the end of the Millennium.”  — John MacArthur

            3.  QUOTE: “These are two different battles, for in the war of Ezekiel 38-39 the armies come primarily from the north and involve only a few nations of the earth. But the battle in Revelation 20:7-9 will involve all nations, so armies will come from all directions.

Furthermore nothing in the context of Ezekiel 38-39 is similar to the battle in Revelation, as there is no mention of Satan or of millennial conditions. In Revelation 20:7 the context clearly places the battle at the end of the Millennium, whereas the Ezekiel battle takes place in connection with end-time events.” — Walvoord

       B.  Whom Are They.

            1.  QUOTE: “They were names of ancient enemies of the Lord. Magog was the grandson of Noah (Gen. 10:2) and founder of a kingdom located N of the Black and Caspian Seas. Gog is apparently the leader of a rebel army known collectively as Magog.”  — John MacArthur

            2.  QUOTE: “Why then is the expression “Gog and Magog” used by John? ... In Ezekiel 38 Gog was the ruler and Magog was the people, and both were in rebellion against God and were enemies of Israel. It may be that the terms have taken on a symbolic meaning much as one speaks of a person’s “Waterloo,” which historically refers to the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, Belgium, but has come to represent any great disaster. Certainly the armies here come in the same spirit of antagonism against God that is found in Ezekiel 38. ” — Walvoord

   4.  The Place.  (Rev. 20:9).  These two events are related, however, inasmuch as in both battles, Israel is the focal point.

        A.  Jerusalem the Capital City. 

In this case, Jerusalem will be the target ("beloved city," Ps 78:68; 87:2). Jerusalem  will be the capital city during Christ’s millennial reign.

Jeremiah 3:17, At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

        B.  This is not the New Jerusalem. 

Which is commonly called “the city of My God” (Rev. 3:12) and “the holy city” (Rev. 21:2). This city is clearly the renewed earthly Jerusalem.

        C. Jerusalem is the Home of the Saints. 

“The beloved city” symbolically refer to the home of God’s people. The saints will be living around the city where Christ reigns.

Isaiah 24:23, Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

Zech. 14:9-11, And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. [10] All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses. [11] And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

D.  THE MAULING OF THE REBELLION (REV. 20:9).  “Fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”

God will fight this last and decisive battle for his people, that the victory may be complete, and the glory be to himself.

    1.  God Will Deal with this Revolt Very Quickly and Efficiently! 

The result is immediate judgment. “Fire” will come down from heaven and devour them.

    2.  In Contrast with Ezekiel 38, There Is No Mention of Earthquake, Hail, or Other Disasters.

The only similarity is that in both cases there is fire from heaven, a frequent method of divine judgment on the earth (Gen. 19:24; Ex. 9:23-24; Lev. 9:24; 10:2; Num. 11:1; 16:35; 26:10; 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:10, 12, 14; 1 Chron. 21:26).

    3.  Rebellion Will Ultimately Lead to Judgment.

Jude 1:5-8, I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. [6] And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. [7] Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. [8] Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

        A.  Jude Gave Three Examples of Rebellion:

             (1) The children of Israel -- who, although they were delivered from Egypt, refused to trust God and enter the Promised Land (Num 14:26-39);

             (2) The angels -- although they were once pure, holy, and living in God's presence, some gave in to pride and joined Satan to rebel against God (2 Peter 2:4); and

             (3) The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah -- the inhabitants were so full of sin that God wiped them off the face of the earth (Gen 19:1-29).

        B.  If the chosen people, angels, and sinful cities were punished, how much more would these rebels be severely judged?

E.  THE MISERY OF THE REBEL (REV. 20:10).  “The devil that deceived them was cast into the Lake of Fire”

   1.  Satan Will Be Cast into “The Lake of Fire.”  (Rev. 20:10)

 After Satan’s followers will be destroyed, he will be thrown into the lake burning with sulfuric fires. Being cast into the lake that was prepared for him and his angels is the final judgment on Satan.  The Lake of Fire is the place of punishment God has prepared for rebellious angels and unsaved men (Mt. 25:41; Re. 20:10,15).

   2.  Note That "The Beast" and “False Prophet” Will Still Be Suffering in the Lake of Fire.  (Rev. 20:10) This is after 1,000 years!

      A.  This Is a Significant Support of the Doctrine of Eternal Punishment!

This concluding statement is key, “shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.” This includes the devil, the beast, and the false prophet.

Matthew 25:41, Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Matthew 25:46, And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

2 Thes. 1:9,  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

      B.  The Lake of Fire Is Not Annihilation!  (Rev. 20:10)

Are the wicked annihilated in hell? No, because the beast and false prophet “are” still there a thousand years after they experienced their final judgment (Rev. 19:20).  

            1.  This proves the punishment is not annihilation, but is eternal torment. the Lord Jesus actually said it would have been better if Judas had never been born (Mt. 26:24).

            2.  Jesus' words make no sense if Judas was only going to be annihilated.

QUOTE: “In one sense, the millennial kingdom will sum up" all that God has said about the heart of man during the various periods of history. It will be a reign of law, and yet law will not change man's sinful heart. Man will still revolt against God. The Millennium will be a period of peace and perfect environment, a time when disobedience will be judged swiftly and with justice; and yet in the end the subjects of the King will follow Satan and rebel against the Lord. A perfect environment cannot produce a perfect heart.

God is now about to "wrap up" human history One great event remains.”  — W. W. Wiersbe

Be sure to look for the next article in this series based on Revelation chapter twenty!