Grace Bible Church
Pastor Robert R. McLaughlin
Friday November 17, 2017
Pastor Rick Bettez
Exo 20:3-7 is an answer to why Israel suffered under the hands of their enemies. Idols & taking their relationship with God in vain.
The Bel is a reflection of Israel, this includes CA Bel, though we are not under the OT Law. We are to live by a set of Godly standards that means applying BD while filled with the Spirit.
The New Covenant we have with the Lord Jesus Christ does not exclude the standard God has concerning idol worship, taking His name in vain or for that matter, sins that separate us from fellowship with Him.
Mal 3:6 "For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
God is immutable, He does not change!
Num 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Luk 21:33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
God has not changed since the OT, His relationship with the CA Bel is unique, the church is established under a new covenant due to the indwelling ministry of Trinity & availability of divine assets, but God does not change His viewpoint or protocol toward sins.
Everything falls in front of the Divine Court of Heaven…adjustment to the justice of God is still the protocol for His plan.
The book of Leviticus is a book of establishing doctrinal standards and principles for not only the OT priests but a young client nation unto God.
Lev 26:15 if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances so as not to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, 16 I, in turn, will do this to you: … (Introduction to the 5 cycles of discipline.)
Statutes- CHUQQAH, meaning a prescribed standard or a limit.
Ordinances- MISHPAT, meaning a legal standard or a judicial decision that is finalized in the courtroom.
Statutes- CHUQQAH, meaning a prescribed standard or a limit.
Ordinances- MISHPAT, meaning a legal standard or a judicial decision that is finalized in the courtroom.
We can’t put God in a box, but also we have to measure God by how He has handled other infractions in ancient history. This should give a client nation a clue as to how God may deal with them at some point in the future.
Lev 26:14-17 is not only the introduction but displays the first cycle of discipline. Failure to respect the Laws of Divine Establishment (volition, marriage, family & nationalism) set this cycle into motion.
Rev 3:19 Those whom I love,
I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
God sends warnings signs & prophets/teachers to His people before His heavy hand comes down upon them.
1st cycle has five forms of discipline;
- Illness- mental and physical.
- Property or business destruction.
- Weakness within the military.
- Authority under attack.
- Sublimation becomes prevalent.Lev 26:16-17 it speaks of terror, consumption and fever, of wasting away. Your soul is pining away, your crops will be useless, taken from you, enemies attack and rule over you…no one is pursuing yet you run.Psa 9:20 Put them in fear,O LORD;
Let the nations know that they are but men. Selah.Luk 12:5 “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”(words of Lord Jesus Christ.)Crop destruction during this 1st cycle... Would equate to corrupt business practice, weakened economy, heavy taxation that cripples small business, government intrusion, greed and financial inflation /depression.#4 on list of the 1st cycle- Deep disrespect for authority which starts at the top level of government and bleeds downward into the nation. This covers the whole sphere of authority, church, parents, law enforcement, government, schools.Leaders who lie & cheat or step all over founding principles, laws of the land for the good of a party not the good of the country, leave the door open for others to follow, there becomes a careless attitude;
“everyone else is doing it!”
#5 -Sublimation of society is when they run from problems or responsibility and replace it with fun activity and selfish motives. A cycle of discipline can last months or many years.
Ecc 1:8 All things are wearisome; Man is not able to tell it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing.
It goes on to say in verse 9…nothing new under the sun!
There are periods of rest or a time when God allows a nation to turn back to Him after a cycle of discipline but often the majority, ignore the warnings.
Lev 26:18 ‘If also after these things you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.
God waits on repentance but if it does not occur He repeatedly will bring similar disaster to the nation’s doorstep
In today’s day and age this is really highlighting a dwindling of natural resources as well as the nation failing in the area of trade, manufacturing and business. Farming issues and struggling capitalism would be earmarks of this as well.
Lev 26:18-20 -2nd cycle, shows us that the strength of a nation in the open market and their world-wide wealth begins to diminish, natural resources become scarce. Corporations & manufacturing slowly fall apart and profits disappear.