Line up your life

God is not the author of confusion

by R. Douglass Mahaffey

     For the past few days I have been writing about the minor prophets of the Bible. I'll probably get back to that in a few days, but today, I want to talk about who God is, despite our self-centered opinions and despite the popular consensus in the main stream media. Too often, people fool themselves into believing that God is their buddy or that they have a deal worked out with Him. That is a very foolish place to be, because that is a very one sided deal, with God, the creator of everything and everyone, not having His will in a person's life.
     God is deity. God controls the circumstances that happen in our lives based on what we surround ourselves with. If we smoke, God allows a thing like cancer or emphazema to come into our bodies because of our disobedience to His command to not destroy the temple of God; the body. Now, that is not to say that everyone with cancer or emphazema has those conditions due to disobedience like smoking. (I realize that I am stepping on toes here. Bare with me).
     God allows things that we put before Him in our lives to be the thing that usually does us in. If a couple is permiscuous, then the Lord can allow a STD or unplanned pregnancy to come upon them for their disobedience in not presenting our bodies a living sacrifice unto Him. I also realize that not every STD is due to promiscuity. Blood transfusions have been known to spread them as well. And not every unplanned pregnancy is due to promiscuity. Some women are physically abused. I get that. (As I said before, bare with me.)
     Those reading this who may fall within the topics that I have brought up, whose circumstance is due to unrighteousness, get this. That doesn't have to define who you are today. The Bible says, "This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." That means that you have an opportunity to strive to be who God designed you to be every day that you wake up on this side of heaven.
     I know what some of you are thinking. "R. Douglass, you have sin in your life too. You have no right judging anyone." That statement is true. But let's examine the verse, "Judge not lest ye be judged." Anyone can use that verse to justify their sin and say that I have no right to point that stuff out to anyone. What is judging?
     If I were to come up behind my wife and wrap my arms around her and tell her that she looks wonderful in that dress, isn't that judging? It is. If I were to tell a co-worker that they did a good job and were a great example for other employees in the workplace, wouldn't that be judging? It is.
     When I go up to a woman at church and tell her that her daughter is a disgrace for allowing her boyfriend to get her pregnant out of wed-lock, then I have just condemned her daughter. I have no right to do that. But if I were a pastor, or a teacher, or minister, or just a friend in a church and I find out that a woman's daughter had just gotten pregnant from her boyfriend out of wed-lock and I offer to minister to that family about the example that God has called us to be to the world, and I offer help to the family in the way of counseling, Christian doctors, help with food and diapers when the baby is born, then I have judged positively and not condemningly.
     Let us not be confused, God is not mocked. Whatsoever you sew, therefore you will also reap. God is exact and clear in His word as to what will happen when we disobey him. But the judging that the verse refers to, is toward Christians. We can't tell a lost woman that she is a disgrace to the church because she got pregnant out of wed-lock. The lost woman got pregnant out of wed-lock because she is lost and not in God's will. We can't tell a new Christian that either, because maybe they just haven't learned about that part of godliness yet.
     I heard a story about a couple in Oklahoma who had just joined a church and had just gotten saved. Everyone there assumed that they were married. It wasn't until they were there for quite a while that they heard the preacher talking about fornication and having relations out of wed-lock. The couple fell under conviction and told their pastor the predicament that they were in, and that they had no idea that they were living in sin. Nobody had ever told them about that. Remember, they were new Christians. The pastor helped them to make things right and the two are still happily married and serving faithfully in the church.
     The verse about judging also goes on to say that whatsoever way you judge someone, you will also be judged. If I judge someone positively by showing them through the kind of love that God has for them that what they did was wrong, then God will do the same for me. If I cast condemnation down on someone because they messed up, then God will do the same for me.
     Some may still say, but what place do you have in telling someone how to live their lives? Well, here is some food for thought. If I tell them with love, and show them in scripture what God says about it, then it isn't me judging them. The word of God will be the conviction that is brought on them. How else will they hear it unless God sends someone to tell them?
     If God sends me, as He sent Jonah to tell Ninevah, that what they are doing is wrong, and I decide not to do it, as Jonah did, then I am securing their condemnation before a perfect God. If I do that then their blood is on my hands and I deserve to be swallowed up as Jonah was.
     If you are a child of God and you love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind, then get in God's word. Read it daily. Ground yourself deep within its pages. Pray to God. Not just at meal time. Take time out to talk to Him every chance you get. My pastor, Rick Neathery, said last night at church, "Show me a person who has nothing but drama in their lives and aren't happy, and I'll show you a person with no prayer life." Prayer is the cornerstone by which the Christian gains his strength from God. Prayer will allow you to hear the Holy Ghost, and will allow Him to guide your steps. Your life will line up in His will through His word. Read your Bible outloud to yourself, because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
     Don't let your circumstances from yesterday, or before you knew Christ, define you. If you are in Christ, you are a new creature. Behold, all things are forgotten and all things are new. If you are a Christian, then you are not the same person that you were when you were in sin. Sin no longer has control. Your chains are gone! You've been set free! God has ransomed you and you can conquer your past because you now have victory in Him!
     Learn from your past and don't repeat it. Tell the old person to take a hike, they are dead to you. Live life as though people are watching you if you are a Christian, because you know what? They are. Their chance of salvation may rest in your hands. And if they are in the same boat that you were before you got saved, God can use your experiences to reach them.
     If you are reading this, know that I love you very much. I just love people and I don't like to see anyone suffer if I can give them the encouragement through the word of God to line their lives up with His word and walk in His favor.
R. Douglass Mahaffey - Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.

The Prophet Zechariah

A messenger with a vision of Israel's future

by R. Douglass Mahaffey

          Zechariah was a younger contemporary of Haggai who encouraged the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. You'll remember in the blog about Micah, the restoration of Judah that Micah foretold. Zechariah was the prophet that saw that prophesy come to fruition. Like the book of Daniel and Revelation, Zechariah prophesied about future events involving Jerusalem, with detailed reference of Jesus' arrival.
          Zechariah also prophesied about the judgment of the enemies of Jerusalem and the future glory of God's Kingdome in Zechariah 12:3-5; "3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut into pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 4 In that day, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open miine eyes upon the house of Judah, and smite every horse of the people with blindness. 5 And the Governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God."
          Zechariah's name literally means "Yahweh has remembered." The meaning is referring to the promise that God made to Judah through Micah that Judah would be restored. The message of  Zechariah completes that work that God began with Judah. Zechariah was the same as Ezekiel, in that he was of preistly extraction. His prophetical ministry began in the second year of the reign of King Darius, the King of Persia, in B.C. 520, or about 16 years after the return of the first company after the Babylonian exile.
          When the house of Joshuah had repented of their transgressions against the covenant with God, He restored their land as well. Chapter 3:3-4; "Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him, He said,  Behold I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment."
          When looking at application, God is there to fight for His people who choose to serve and live for Him. When those who God calls His enemies (unbelievers), come up against His children, He stands in our place. His wrath and His vengeance comes upon them and all we need do in that situation is pray for those who hurt and spitefully abuse us, as Jesus taught.
          All too often, we step in front of God and take His vengeance upon ourselves to serve upon our enemies. The problem with that is, we grieve the Holy Spirit and do things our way, instead of turning to our Father for help. Our way is selfish and unrighteous. If we allow God to move in on the situation and have His way on those that hurt us, the glory goes to God, who in His perfection and holiness, convicts the offender and can even align us into being in a position to win them with our living example of godliness.
          Another point of application is that when we take our eyes off the prize set before us in His will, and we get weary of running the race, He is faithful to forgive us and restore us when we come back to Him, like a wayward child coming back to a father who loves him. However, he allows him to learn from his mistakes in order to grow in patience, endurance in his walk, and willingness to turn to God when he is weak. For when we are weak, He is strong.
          Zechariah, who was ultimately martyred in the temple of Jerusalem, as referenced in the Gospel of Matthew and in Luke of the New Tesatment, stood strong for what he preached and the message that God gave him. At his final hour, he was not alone. God saw him through to the Kingdom of Heaven. When our time comes to 'put up, or shut up' while fighting for the cause of Christ, God will not let us down. He is the cornerston of our strength when the chips are down and the enemy has the deck stacked against us. Whether it is our final hour or not, we must stand our ground and not back down or give in.
          God sent His son Jesus to give the very blood in His body for the countless sins of His children. He did not give up. He did not tap out and he did not come off the cross. Instead, He stayed the course and continued fighting until He drew His last breath. The least we, His chosen elect of the Kingdom of Heaven could do is stand for Him when met with adversity from our enemies. He will stand for us and He will fight the good fight. For "blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 5:10. 

R. Douglass Mahaffey - Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.

The Prophet Micah

Foretelling The Birthplace of Christ

by R. Douglass Mahaffey

The prophet Micah, whose name means “Like the Lord”, was a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah, Amos and Hosea. He is considered one of the twelve minor prophets of the Tanakh (Old Testament). Micah was from Moresheth-Gath in southwest Judah. His messages were directed toward Jerusalem.

            Micah prophesied the future destruction of Jerusalem and Samaria, the destruction and restoration of Judea and spoke out against the people of Judah for idolatry. The people of Samaria were rebuked for worshipping idols which were purchased with the money made by prostitutes. He also predicted the downfall of Jerusalem.

            Micah foretold the city’s demise due to the beautification of the city being financed by dishonest business practices, which caused poverty among the common citizen. He also rebuked other prophets of his day for accepting money for their visions.

            He waited for the destruction of the Judean state and promised the restoration of it, which would be greater than before. From there, he prophesied the peace that would come over the land that would be universal, and the glory of Zion and Jacob would be restored as the Lord forced the Gentiles to do away with their idolatry.

            In the market place of Jerusalem, Micah told the people “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God?” – Micah 6:8

            Israel admitted guilt to Micah’s charges and prophesies, and swore that they would rely on God for forgiveness, and that they would pray for that forgiveness. In Micah 3:11-12, Micah also foretold of the future plowing of Zion, and stated it again in Jeremiah 26:18, which was Micah’s only prophesy that was repeated in the Old Testament. The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B.C., about 150 years after Micah gave the prophesy.

            In Micah 5:2, Micah made a prophesy that reveals Bethlehem, a small village just south of Jerusalem that would be the birthplace of the Messiah. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. That prophesy eliminated all other cities in the world as places that the Messiah could be born. The passage closely mirrors Matthew 2:6 which reads, “And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah; for out of thee shall come a Governor that shall rule my people Israel.

            It was the unrepented sin of the other cities in Israel that caused God to choose Bethlehem for the Christ to be born into this world. Bethlehem found favor with God and for their righteousness, God brought them the Messiah to rule all of Israel and the uttermost parts of the earth.

            Putting it all in perspective, let’s examine our hearts this Thanksgiving and see where we stand with God. Are there things in our lives in which we are putting before God? Do we make idols of our money, possessions, social stature? Do we worry about our bills or where our next meal, or tank of gas is coming from, instead of trusting that God will meet all of our needs according to His riches in glory? When we go to the supermarket or to dinner, do we argue that we are getting less than we deserve just to save a buck?

            Don’t get me wrong, I like saving money too. And I believe in good customer service. But do we make something out of nothing (in other words, is the service or the price of an item acceptable, but we look for reasons to grumble just to get something for free, or much less than it costs)? Micah talks about dirty business practices that hurt the economy and relations with others.

            After all, we are called to be different than the world, and we are to act as though we are set apart to be a living example of Christ. This Thanksgiving, be thankful for your family, your friends, your finances, no matter how great or small, and most of all, be thankful that God loves us just as we are when we come before Him, and that He selflessly gave His only Son, Jesus to pay the price for our sins that He didn’t owe.

R. Douglass Mahaffey – Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.

The prophet Amos:

A shepherd called by God

by R. Douglass Mahaffey

            A man who lived in a time of national optimism in Israel, Amos, a shepherd, was called by God to pronounce judgement by denouncing Israel’s luxurious living, idolatry and moral depravity. Amos urged the people of Israel to repent from their ways before the judgement of God come upon them.

            Amos foretold the dispersement of the Israelites, but also points to a day when God would regather them in the land of their forefathers. He lived in the northern kingdom of Israel ruled by King Jeroboam II, that was political as well as material, as the northern kingdom rivalled in the age of Solomon and David.

            Amos warns Israel that God will break the bar of Damascus and cut off the inhabitants from the plane of Aven, and of Eden, Syria and Kir. He also warned that God would send fire on the wall of Gaza, which the Palestinians and Israel still fight over to this very day. God said that He would devour the palaces there.

            God also said through Amos that he would send fire on the wall of Tyrus and Teman which will devour the palaces there as well. The text mentions three transgressions that the people are guilty of; luxurious living, idolatry and moral depravity, all sins of the spirit, moreso than flesh. The sins of the spirit are much harder to gain control of, and are harder to find deliverance from, because as the scripture says, the flesh is weak.

            But if the Holy Spirit is dwelling in a person, then they have had their eyes opened, and their hearts have once received salvation from repentance. But then turned back to their old ways. Christians back-sliding is nothing new, and it is overcomable. It takes the death of one’s pride, and the moment of realization that their sin offends and divides them from God if they go back to finding comfort in their sin.

            That is one point of life where the fruit of the spirit becomes spoiled and a Christian finds it hard to come back from, to true repentance and rededication. There, one finds God waiting; waiting to rebuild a relationship and a temple worthy of giving praise and worship towards God. That is the place that God delivered Israel to when he regathered them to the land of their forefathers. He delivered them to a mountain top so to speak, that was high atop a valley that was so low, that the people of Israel had only one place to look, and that was up; toward heaven. There, they foud reconcilliation with God.

            Sound familiar? There is not a Christian alive today that doesn’t know what that valley feels like. It was that valley that God found us in when He called us to be His children.

R. Douglass Mahaffey – Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.

The Prophet, Nahum

A servant of God with a message for the Ninevites

by R. Douglass Mahaffey
     The prophet Nahum, just as any prophet of God's, brought a warning to the enemy of Israel, that their days on the earth would be abbreviated.
     About 140 years after God spared Ninevah the fate they were facing post-warning, which was delivered by the prophet Jonah, the sin-torn country returned to its mistreatment of the Israelites. Only this time, the Ninevites would not heed the prophet's warning. Even after the destruction of the people was avoided and the blessings of the Lord poured out on the city for its repentant heart, the people arrogantly chose to forget what the repentance of their ancestors had afforded them.
     Nahum brought a new warning to Ninevah fueled with the wrath of God and a promise of true destruction to every citizen who remained there and unchanged. The warning was riddled with vengeful phrases such as Chapter 1, verse 14 that reads, "that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile."
     More phrases of vengence followed such as verse 15, " for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off..."  and Chapter 2, verses 4-6, which reads, "The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.
5 He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.
6 The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved."
     There is no doubt that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is not the Allah that the Islamic world claims He is because of His love for His people, Israel, the very country that the Quran speaks evil of. The proof: Ninevah ignored Nahum's message from God concerning their treatment of Israel and He did exactly what He said he would regarding the infadels that remained in Ninevah to continue the abuse of God's people.

R. Douglass Mahaffey - Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.