A Reproof To The Reproover...

December 5, 2006

By Trevor Davis

I recently noticed in a message board a member finding fault about the general ministry of "sounding the alarm" because she said, "no one knows the hour"...

So true.  No one knows the hour of the coming of the Lord Jesus.  However, His people are not to be ignorant of the season.  That day of the LORD is not to catch His people unaware. (1Thessalonians 5:1-6; Luke 21:34-36)

This woman is an example of someone who just doesn't "get it".  The LORD is sending His ministries to voice His call to prepare and she finds fault.

In my own personal ministry, I am not at this time "predicting" specific events or time of judgments.  The issue is not specific events of judgment or the timing.  That is not the issue as I have told the people both in writing and in audio messages.  The issue is to be prepared and be right with God!

I will liken the ministry of sounding the alarm as follows:

If you saw someone's house on fire and you knew there were people inside asleep---what would you do?

You would probably pound on the door and shout and do all you could until you woke them up and led them to safety.

This hour is very serious.  The masses are generally unprepared and unaware of the perilous times we are living.

But the reality is these are the days to run unto the LORD and hide in Him!  Isa 26:20

The same was true in Jesus' day.  He came unto His own and His own received Him not.  He was utterly amazed and angered that the hypocritical religious people could discern the weather but not discern the times and the signs of the times.   Mat 16:2 Mat 16:3

God charged Ezekiel to warn the wicked.  As a watchman Ezekiel was responsible to tell the people what was coming on the horizon.  (Ezekiel 3 and 33)

And this, is not the "church" to hear what the Spirit says unto the churches? Rev 2:29   God is speaking today.  The signs are evident as well.  The coming of Christ draws nigh...and do not forget that Jesus warns those who profess faith in Him to watch, pray and be found faithful.  (Matthew 24:42-51)  But woe unto those who think their Master delays His coming and begin to mistreat people and eat and drink with the oblivious drunken!  Woe.  They will be split in two and given their portion with the hypocrites.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth! (Matthew 24:48-51)

So, the Lord is sending His ministries to warn the people.  Did not John the Baptist call the people to repentance?  Did not John prepare the people for the arrival of the Son of God?  Was he not austere and adamant about serving God acceptably and in godly fear?  Yes.  John the Baptist ministered outside the racket of the religious world.  But his ministry was pure and filled with the fire of God as even Jesus commended his ministry of declaring the truth.  John lost his head for serving the Living God faithfully and declaring the truth.  This is the way it is in the Kingdom of God.  The servants of the real Kingdom of God serve the real Living God--really.  What an honor and privilege.

The people do not generally understand the role of judgment.  Lot's wife is a good example of this fact.  Jesus tells us all to remember Lot's wife.  Luk 17:32 It is so unfortunate that people, even professing christians, oppose the fact that God does judge.  They forget the truth of the scripture.

The first coming of Jesus was to save sinners.

The second coming of Jesus is to judge sinners.

We face again the dilemma that Jesus, His apostles and followers and yes, all the righteous servants of the LORD since history began.  The majority of the religious people do not know what God is doing or saying.   And, they will persecute the ones that do.  This is what our Lord has told us.  They will persecute, take some of us into custody, they will beat you in their "synagogues", some of you will be put in prison, and others will be put to death.  But fear not!  Not a hair on your head will perish...

Lot's wife was more concerned for her comfortable home than the righteous indignation of God.  She was more concerned with her lifestyle than the fact that the wickedness of those lands was atrocious abomination before the eyes of the LORD.  Why are people more concerned about the "poor people" judged than the BROKEN heart of God over the evil of the land?  Why O why...

God's heart is BROKEN  Eze 6:9.  He gave His ONLY begotten Son as the sin sacrifice for the world.  The Father only had one begotten Son to give.  He gave Him willingly.  He paid the debt for sin through the red blood of His perfect Son Jesus.  It is paid.  How dare anyone not receive graciously such a gift of grace and kindness.  

How would any rational person react to someone impugning his or her great costly acts of charity for another?  It is an outrage!

And Jesus' horrific suffering on the cross...He laid down His life willingly...for you and me and for all.  How can anyone not be thankful? 

This is why God is judging.  What else could God have done that He did not do?  He gave us Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the scripture.  He has offered men and women repentance, faith and grace.  But why do the masses choose to walk in their own ways?  Why?  Why do people pretend to follow God as a pretense?

God showed us how He feels in dealing with Israel and Judah.  ( Isa 5:1 and following;  Jeremiah 2:5 )  God has not changed.  And unfortunately, most of the people have not changed either.  Jesus wondered when He returned would He even find faith in the earth...( Luk 18:8 )

Remember the cold facts according to Jesus.

The majority chooses the broad way that leads to destruction.  Many will be deceived.  Many will fall away.  Many will betray others.  Many will be false teachers and prophets.  Many will have their hearts grow cold from iniquitous lifestyles.

This is why the Lord has His servants that love Him urge the people to repent and seek the face of God.  This is why His servants beseech people to run unto the LORD before the judgments are fully unleashed. 

The critical faultfinders will continue through the end of the age.  They find fault for one thing or another.  They will malign and falsely accuse just as their relatives have done throughout history of the Kingdom of God.  They have their father.  The children of the Most High have theirs.

For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:  That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought. Isa 29:20 Isa 29:21