The video games, movies, and music will be filled with it. listeners: [], He favored Rachels children over Leahs. So Jacob remained silent until they came in Jacobs sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully when they spoke because Shechem had violated their sister Dinah. Most likely, they had some servants help with this slaughter. They were offended and very angry because Shechem had disgraced Israel by sexually assaulting Jacobs daughter, a crime that should not be committed. End the relationship! Look up. He enables us to live a life that pleases Him, and we bear fruit in the work that He has called us to do. But with Jonah, the second time was because Jonah had failed to speak Gods word the first time. He uses discipline to help us repent and turn back to him. Used by permission. The passage 1 Samuel 13:13-14 shares the consequence for not waiting on God: "You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you . Walking With God Makes Things Possible. We'll start to question our decision and wonder if we made a wrong choice. The New Jerusalem, on the new earth, is that place. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you. This would have led to compromise and the Israelites further adopting the sins of that culture. They said to them, We cannot give our sister to a man who is not circumcised, for it would be a disgrace to us. That's just what we see in this chapterthe consequences of neglecting God, both among pagans and . But when he was about twenty-five, Ezekiel was seized and taken to Babylon, and he never saw the temple again. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones, and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions for one another. I praise you and pray for all these things in Jesus' name. If youre prone to worry yourself to sleep each night, turn your thoughts upward and close your eyes thinking of heaven and its eternal throne. He wasnt discouraged; he was looking forward to the future. Thats just when God appeared to him as he was among the exiles by the Kebar River. America is full of them. Red Dam Baptist Church 488 Red Dam Church Road Hardeeville, SC 29927 843.784.6083 office@reddam.org www.reddam.org Romans 1:28-32 says: And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. Isaac wouldnt allow Jacob to marry a Canaanite. They captured as plunder all their wealth, all their little ones, and their wives, including everything in the houses. Living in right standing with God? He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed (Deuteronomy 31:8). This is also common in society and church when God is neglected. In Romans 12:3 Paul exhorts the believers not to think of themselves pridefully but rather to think of themselves soberlythat is, realistically or accurately. But, since God is the ultimate author of Scripture, he doesnt hide the flaws of his people. I want to intentionally be sensitive to God's voice and have an obedient heart towards Him. When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Sexual immorality and homosexuality are results of denying God. You can make the bride price and the gift I must bring very expensive, and Ill give whatever you ask of me. When a man walks with God, his character will attract unbelievers to Christ without him knowing. In addition, not only does this story demonstrate the Divine authorship of Scripture, but also shows us what happens when God is neglected. The world only plans to corrupt them and take away their innocence. Talent vs. Faithfulness: What is God Looking For? To what things was Paul referring? When working reactively, you're not sure and often, you can't see beyond the task in front of you. Instead you thrill to God 's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. Walk the plank! A leper approached Jesus and said, If You are willing, You can make me clean. Jesus touched the man, saying, I am willing; be cleansedand he was healed (Mark 1:40-42). (Galatians 6:7) which states "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. "Woe to the rebellious children," says the Lord, " Who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who walk to go down to Egypt, and have not asked My advice, to . He listed them in verses 710. This passage really highlighted the consequences of not walking with the Lord. Jesus repeatedly said that He only did what the Father showed Him to do (John 5:19), and prayer was His means. From a human perspective, adding this story makes no sense. By thus walking with God the soul contracts a holy intimacy with Him. The time to strengthen your walk with the Lord is now (Prov. on: function(evt, cb) { Most likely, Dinah was around fourteen to sixteen years old. Use your imagination to see every word of Scripture turning to gold as you read it. We must train our children to be wise and at the same time innocent. The patriarch Isaac could have written that book about his father, Abraham. We may not realize it, but walking with God is so much better than walking without him and here is why. In what ways have you seen or experienced it in the church? It has everything to do with whats at the center of our affections. Henry Morris says, Unattached young women were considered fair game in cities of the time, in which promiscuity was not only common but, in fact, a part of the very religious system itself.3 This was particularly true of the Canaanites, who were corrupt and known for their sexual immorality (cf. David had flaws. Genesis 34 is one of the more tragic chapters in the Bible. When you walk with God, you become so precious to God and He can do anything to make your life a shining star as He did to Joseph. So Jacob remained silent until they came in. Talk about rejection! The passage 1 Samuel 13:13-14 shares the consequence for not waiting on God: You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. Instead, the Lord sought a new King to replace Saul. Genesis (Ge 35:1). Sex is emphasized on TV, movies, music, and the Internet. Here are two more good verses showing the negative consequences of not being willing to fully follow God in this life. You do not have because you do not ask; you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions. The beautiful imagery of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 lets us know that the new earth will be a place that reflects the glory of God throughout. If we are without discipline, we are not true children of God. Hello heaven! Profit has eroded their sense of mission and integrity. A great misconception carried by many Christians has to do with the location of heaven. When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful. To make this even worse, it is clear from the narrative that Dinah wasnt at home with Jacob but was being held captive by this family (Gen 34:26). It is obvious that every man's work will be tested by God, "But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. A bishop in Nigeria recently confessed how he got initiated into a cult called the The White Prophets and how he was employed by renowned scammers in the town of Delta State to fake miracles and prophecies in the church. Lifestyle evangelism has brought many to the saving knowledge of Christ even when the evangelist is not aware of the work he does through his lifestyle. THE CONSEQUENCES OF WALKING WITH GOD. Our relationship with God is never-ending because we become part of His Kingdom when we get born again, and His Kingdom lasts forever. Hebrews 11:5 says that Enoch was known as a man who pleased God. Take the necessary action steps today to strengthen your relationship with the Lord, and enjoy a sweet fellowship with Him, now and forever. One of the results we witness of someone walking with God is bearing fruit, Enoch was mentioned in the book of Genesis, Is there Hope for Ukraine and Russia? Abraham wouldnt allow Isaac to marry a Canaanite. Lets make our walk with God our central goal. When we declare Gods promises into our lives, they manifest and bless us tremendously, and the glory goes to God. God tells Jeremiah to not pray for the people who are being judged by God. Righteous doesnt mean sinless, of course. 'Today in the city of David a Saviour has been born to you. In the same way, when things are good, we tend to neglect God and fall into sin as well. Get instant access to the Grow Your Faith Devotional series delivered to your email. (2) Religion is also used to control and abuse peopleas often seen in cults. I am a classic type-A personality who feels that if Im not doing something, I must be in sin. In 2 Timothy 3:5-6 (NIV), Paul describes abusive spiritual leaders: having a form of godliness but denying its power. In fact, Josephus, a Jewish historian, said that Dinah went into the city, not only to see the ladies, but also to go to a pagan festival.1 It appears that while neglecting God, Jacobs family began to conform to the world and worship the idols of the world. That is why Scripture is of paramount importance. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.". Ready to take your faith to the next level? He didnt inquire of the Lord first. Yet, just as they were getting ready to cross over into their Promised Land, they started questioning and doubting that God could take these enemies out for them, even though God had just got done delivering them from an entire Egyptian nation several years earlier! Jesus understood this better and gave a standing instruction that anyone who wants to be His disciple must walk with Him (Mathew 16:24). forms: { In three days, when they were still in pain, two of Jacobs sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinahs brothers, each took his sword and went to the unsuspecting city and slaughtered every male. Here are two very powerful Scripture verses describing the above scenario. Enoch walked with God and entered . Asking someone to explain the importance of walking with God won't be the same for each person. "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. M. S. Kimber in The Sunday School World, 1893, I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside. It is commonly promoted on the TV, news, college campuses, and city parades. He knows, cares, pursues, and changes me.as He sees fit. Paul says when people dont acknowledge God, it leads to murder, hostility, insolence, ruthlessness, and even approval of such evils. There was so much pain and suffering that could have been avoided had Abraham and Sarah exercised a little patience and waited on God. Yet Ryries Notes Say Otherwise. Jacobs sons killed them and looted the city because their sister had been violated. ); I dont wait well. You know the storyJonah ended up in the sea where he was swallowed by a great fish. We have a purpose for being hereto refresh the memory of others regarding the things of the Lord. . Faithfulness and Fellowship enabled him to walk with God for three hundred years without wavering. Negatively. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.". Those are the consequences of not having enough faith and belief in God the Father and not being willing to fully follow Him in this life. Tagged: consequences of not walking with god . Theyre building a palace for me over there. Revelation 6: A shattered universe and a time of unprecedented terror, Relentlessly pursuing Gods will for your life, Passing on the faith: Good news and bad news, 7 effective lies the devil tells believers, My response as a former Muslim to Barry 'Phanatik' Goodwin leaving Christianity. Sometimes, in the course of life, your walk with God becomes weakened by the hardships, storms, trials, and difficult circumstances. When You Stumble, Get Back Up! The Bible Teachers Guide, Jacob: Being Transformed By Amazing Grace, When God Is Neglected, Sexual Immorality Saturates Society, When God Is Neglected, Parents Neglect Their Children, When God Is Neglected, Religion Is Abused, When God Is Neglected, Violence Increases, When God Is Neglected, He Brings Discipline to Help Us Repent. As Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, the life we now live is the life of Christ in us as we keep our faith in Him. Abraham and Sarah were promised a son but they werent content to wait for the promise to come to pass. He is Christ the Lord!'. Many people ask how one hears God, and this is because they dont understand how it happens. And he encouraged his readers not to make the same mistake he had made (verses 9-10). One of the results we witness of someone walking with God is bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God. God gave him a second chance. 1 Bruce Goettsches sermon from Genesis 34, When God Is Absent, accessed 5/25/2018 from http://www.unionchurch.com/archive/101099.html. 1 Corinthians 15:57. It is possible because of the fruit of joy that comes from the Holy Spirit. That is the first step to getting right with God. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s). We can imagine a child writing an appreciative and sentimental memoir about her perfect father, understanding that perfect was not intended to be taken literally. First, he believed the promises of God about the future God had planned for him (Hebrews 11:8-12). Maybe, Hamor thought, Oh, boys will be boys! This shows how acceptable the rape of a young lady was. Walking With God 3 1. The promises of God are in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). D. L. Moody, In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. It is important to know them, so we can repent of them. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed. You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. 23But this command I gave them:Obey my voice, andI will be your God, and you shall be my people. God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son, Jesus Christ (1 John 5:11). How should it be remedied? Consider what he says to his household and all who were with him, Get rid of the foreign gods you have among you. Life is full of hardships and heaviness. (4) Trusting in the Lord, not methods. In Romans 1:28, Paul adds: "And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done." When people neglect God, their thinking becomes depravedleading to depraved actions. Application Question: In understanding the consequences of neglecting God, how should we respond? Now God will make them known as the nation that did not obey and perished. To benefit, it means that there is an advantage that comes out of something. The story is tragic. 19Is it I whom they provoke? Though redeemed, believers still have a sinful nature that must be subdued by living in the Spirit (Gal 5:16-22). Our human wisdom has no comparison with the wisdom of God. Take more time to read and meditate on Gods Word, and allow Him to speak into your life. Though mankind was given the mandate to have dominion over (that is, to care for) all of creation, we have not done a good job. In addition, the Hivites, who were pagans, were already experiencing the results of not acknowledging the true God. We often hear about the benefits of waiting on God, but what about the consequences of NOT waiting on Him? Genesis 1:28. The treasury of Scripture will enrich your mind, refocus your goals, replace your doubts, and redirect your pathbut only if you read it and heed it. He fell in love with the young woman and spoke romantically to her. Our lives cannot be made perfect without our walk with Christ. When God is neglected in our lives, often, lust will rear its ugly head in some form or another. Sex trafficking is a growing illegal industry. When you see opportunities to care for creationnature or your own bodydo so as a way of glorifying the Creator. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. In response to Hamors and Shechems offer, Jacobs sons said that it would be disgraceful for Dinah to marry someone uncircumcised. There is not too much we read about Enoch in the Bible. In this story, a pagan rapes Dinah, and in return, the Israelites deceive and kill all the men in the citycommitting a worse sin. During the times when I don't spend time with God, I become numb or blind to sin. He was accused of blaspheming by saying He had the authority to forgive sinssomething only God can do. The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; (Proverbs 30:25) 1. Jacob fails his children practically and spiritually. Hatred and anger are seeds of murder; therefore, when Christians allow those emotions to foster, they lead to acts of violence. 2. In mathematics two of the basic kinds of numbers are integers and fractions: 2, 100, and 56 are integers, while , , and 2.5 are fractions. Many young ministers are deceived by those who claim that they walk with God. We must be zealous and brutal to stay pure in a world that is being increasingly sexualized. By devoting time each day to the study of Gods Word. Oscar Amaechina is the president of Afri-Mission and Evangelism Network, Abuja, Nigeria. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'halyministries_com-box-4','ezslot_11',617,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-halyministries_com-box-4-0'); When you dont know what to do, or you have confusion in your mind, ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will. Thats the view given by most English dictionariesa deemphasis on ones own importance. Have you responded to Gods willing invitation to come to Him? When David committed adultery and murder, Scripture says Gods hand was heavy upon him until he repented (Psalm 32:3-5 ESV). After God delivers Jacob and his family from Laban and Esau and they arrive safely in Canaan, it seems they neglected God. We, the children of God, are instructed to mark those who don't walk in unity and withdraw ourselves from them. She was a child of Leah, and she wasnt a boy. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles. But thankfully, Scripture gives us illustrations: Like us, Jesus suffered, experienced hunger, required sleep, ate food, and had limits on His knowledge (Mark 13:32). God doesn't tempt us, but He may allow temptation to enter our lives in order to give us opportunities to make obedient and mature choices. As believers, we should manifest fruits that are obvious to others. The Lord never said that our lives here on earth would be easy. You can unsubscribe at any time. Because of our human nature, we can easily be overwhelmed by troubles, especially, when they stay with us for long. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { All rights reserved. But his love for foreign women made him disobey God. But what makes this deception even worse is the fact that they used their sign of faith to secure the deal. He can take our thorns and make them our greatest boasts (2 Cor 12:7-9). But how about a book titledThe Righteous Father? I will continue to push forward and be faithful with my time with the Lord.. You are such a gracious God. He doesnt charge Shechem with wrong and doesnt even get involved with the negotiation. To intermarry with the Canaanites would have threatened Gods promise. You are so faithful and understanding of my circumstances and you reach down to me with compassion. That event is a beautiful example of the willingness of God. There are many benefits of being in a relationship with God. His life was sold out to God, and he kept away from anything that could defile him. It means that every child of God can hear God speak to them. In some areas, even unaccompanied men might be raped (cf. Daniels three friends in Babylon demonstrated integrity when they were threatened with being burned alive (Daniel 3:16-18). We can walk with God for life if we keep our eyes focused on Him. As our lives center on God, giving priority to hearing His voice and reading His Word, we become bolder in sharing our faith. When God is neglected in a society, sexual immorality saturates it. Asa fortified the land and built a strong army, (14:6-8) but when the enemy struck, he did not rely on his army, but on God (14:11). For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. Jacob had flaws, and the Israelites had flaws. Some neglect their children simply because they were neglected as children, and therefore, they dont know how to properly parent. Below Deck and its spinoff series may be reality TV shows, but there can be real-life consequences for the crew's actions both on and off the ship. This is a very dangerous trend in the body of Christ. There are no "new" temptations in life. Youll notice that there are people who are joyful, despite some things they are going through, and you wonder how they do it. The people that suffer most when you're not doing God's business are your close family. 2 Peter 3:9. You are. 21Thus says theLordof hosts, the God of Israel:Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh. Working for God without walking with Him will not give our works the desired value. 27So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. They work together to offer sacrifices to other gods. We see this happening all around us. - Today is the day that you can know that the Saviour has been born for you. It happened to Samuel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Haggai, Zechariah, and others. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. This has nothing to do with how much money you do or dont havea poverty-stricken person can covet just as much as a billionaire. When the apostle Paul wrote to his young pastoral protg, Timothy, he told him to show integrity in doctrine, to be incorruptible in belief and in actions. Before Jesus left the earth, He told His disciples that they had the ability to recognize the Holy Spirit, because He would be with them and in them (John 14:17). Most likely, they further explained the symbolic nature of circumcision. God gave what He could to His people to keep them from worshipping other idols. For example, in Romans 2:9-11 (NIV) it states: Here are two more good verses showing the negative consequences of not being willing to fully follow God in this life. Working for God without walking with Him will not give our works the desired value. Soon we find ourselves far away from God and his people, and doing things we never thought we would do again or worse. While the Hivites were in pain from their circumcision, two of Jacobs sons, Simeon and Levi, murdered all the men of the village. Ezekiel looked up and saw remarkable visions of Godthe throne of God surrounded by angelic beings. Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is . Therefore, if we are to experience victory in this life, it will come only as we depend on Him. (1 Jn. When we have a relationship with God, He puts His Spirit in us, who then gives us divine wisdom (Colossians 1:9). And walk in all the way that I command you,that it may be well with you.24But they did not obey or incline their ear,but walked in their own counsels andthe stubbornness of their evil hearts, andwent backward and not forward. God always has a plan, and our false starts become His fresh starts. But with God, it is possible. If you need a victory in your life, begin every day by renewing your faith in Christ in whom all our victories are to be realized. The young man did not delay in doing what they asked because he wanted Jacobs daughter Dinah badly. A prayerless person becomes preoccupied with the things of the world instead of God. King David was a classic example of impulsivity. Paul wanted Timothy to hold fast to the truth of God, not allowing himself to be divided. Then he became very attached to Dinah, Jacobs daughter. He stayed faithful. He can be trusted and He wants to bless you beyond your imagination (Ephesians 3:20). If we do so, wont their livestock, their property, and all their animals become ours? We should neither overestimate the gift of Gods grace or underestimate it. This is also common when God is neglected in our world today; religion becomes abused for selfish and evil reasons. Friendship is the marriage of affections. When God sees their lack of faith and belief in Him that He could conquer these lands for them, He threw up His hands and said that was going to be it. We respect your privacy and will never share your email address or personal information with others. Privacy Policy, Then God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. This was to be a perpetual sign of their covenant with God for generations. They do not have empirical knowledge of Jesus' way of working. The evidence of you having a relationship with God is people see that God is in your life. One of the best benefits we have of walking with God is that we can be sure we have eternal life. Why is this happening? Copyright by Michael Bradley and Chris Bradley. One of the most dramatic examples of one group of people who followed Godfullyand another group who did not were the Israelites who were tested by God the Father in the desert after being rescued from the Egyptians in the story of Moses. Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced the growing promotion and acceptance of sexual immorality in society? This is why Scripture says we should rejoice in various trials and tribulations, as they test our faith (Jam 1:2). Application Question: How have you seen or experienced violence increasing in the world? Sadly, we live in societies where abortions happen more than live births. Every ministry has workers, but are all workers in the vineyards of God genuine Christians? Many parents set no appropriate boundaries, which allows the enemy to tempt and influence them negatively. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. Purify yourselves and change your clothes (v. 2). Colossians 3:5. All rights reserved. If we dont do that, the world will expose them in a negative wayit will be done in a way that promotes evil and lures them into sin, instead of away from it. 18The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire,and the women knead dough, tomake cakes forthe queen of heaven.
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