October 19, 2010

1 Kings 22
A few weeks ago there was a guest speaker at OSU. I assume that he was brought here by the gay lesbian community. One of his statements, according to the O’Colly was, “Hate the sin but love the sinner just won’t fly.” Other articles have appeared recently in the O’Colly and News Press implying that the high suicide rate among gays and lesbians can be partially attributed to those who contend that the practice of homosexual acts is sin. The implication is that we are condemning those who act in such ways. Since they cannot live with that condemnation, they commit suicide. The implication is that we hate those who practice such acts if we should ever suggest that such acts are sinful acts.
Jehoshaphat went up to visit Ahab. Ahab talked him into going to war with him. But Jehoshaphat wanted to consult the Lord before he went to battle. Ahab was against it because he thought that the prophet of the Lord hated him. What was Jehoshaphat’s response? “Let not the king say such things!” The Lord indeed hated the things that Ahab did. But He had previously shown mercy upon Ahab. He hated the things that Ahab did; does that necessarily mean that He hated Ahab? The truth must be spoken. Ahab heard the truth. Had he taken the advice of the prophet of the Lord, Ahab would not have died in that battle.
Why do we proclaim that the practice of homosexual acts is sin? The true motive ought to be because of love. If we love someone, we don’t want them to be destroyed by their sin. Ahab heard the truth. He had opportunity to repent and escape the end that he received. To hate him would have been to remain silent. Decades ago, my uncle divorced my aunt. I went privately and as gently as I knew how, I rebuked him. He could have said, “You hate me because you rebuke me.” He did not. He was gracious to me. I once had a friend who was hooked on alcohol. The Lord laid on my heart to tell him that if he did not repent, he would be burned. He did not repent. A month later he died. I rebuked him because he was headed toward destruction. Would it have been love to remain silent? No, love always speaks the truth. But rest assured it will be spoken it in a manner that also communicates love. They go together. Our God is a God of both love and righteousness. That is what makes Him so glorious. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!--Pastor john

2 Thessalonians 2
Who is the one who restrains? Many interpreters believe that the One who restrains is the Holy Spirit. He is Christ's, as such, He is the glory of Christ. The glory of Christ restrains the lawless one. As humans, we are depraved--we are as bad off as we can be. However, we are not as bad as we can be. The glory of Christ restrains the human race from being as bad as we can be. One day the One who restrains will be removed from the earth. On that day, the lawless one will be revealed. He will do his work upon the earth for a little while. During that time, we will see how wicked man can be. But then, Jesus will return. When He returns, He will consume the lawless one with the breath of His mouth. Now that is some powerful breath! Do you get the picture? Is it literally that Jesus has toxic breath or is it an image designed to get us to see how powerful He is. If He desires, even just His breath will consume the most powerful man to ever live on earth! He will destroy with the brightness of His coming. Jesus is so holy and beautiful that His very presence consumes and destroys evil. Oh that His presence might find its fullness in me, consuming all my sin and evil! One day it will be. In that day, I will obtain His glory. Wow! I will obtain His glory! Let's go out and embrace Him! Lord Jesus show me Your glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John