When Jesus taught the Scribes and Pharisees about God's love, most of them rejected it because the Old Testament manifestations of God were harsh, including lightning bolts, smoke on the mountain, and tablets of stone. When Jesus told the Pharisee Nicodemus that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16), it likely rattled his theology. What I’m about to share with you, Faith Leader might rattle your theology too. However, it is the truth about God, and as Faith Leaders, God expects us to declare the entire counsel of His Word, not just the comfortable parts.
The Whole Truth
Those of us who consider ourselves “faith preachers or teachers” typically focus on God's dominant characteristic, described in 1 John 4:8: God is love. However, I hope your “label” is more than just a “faith preacher or teacher;” I hope you are a “Word preacher or teacher.” As Leaders in the body of Christ, we should minister the entire Word of God. God is love, but He has another side that we must not ignore.
Nahum 1:1-2 describes the side of God we often ignore. It reads: The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
The key word in the above verses is vengeance, nagam in Hebrew. It means revenger. God will take revenge on His enemies and the enemies of His people. Although we live in the dispensation of grace, let us remember that Malachi 3:6 tells us, For I am the Lord, I change not. This truth is confirmed in the New Testament. Romans 12:19 says Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Again, in Hebrews 10:29-31, we read about this other side of God. It says Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Our Responsibility
God will judge everyone, and His vengeance will be upon whoever opposes Him, His Word, His Son, Jesus Christ, and His chosen people, Israel. I understand this is not a popular message, but our responsibility is to teach the whole counsel of God’s Word and to warn people before it’s too late.
I’ve noticed a lot of people who claim to be Christians taking a stand against Israel. Maybe they’re unaware of Genesis 12:2-3, which says I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
There’s no daylight between God and His Word. If God utters something, it happens. We don’t have a choice but to stand with God’s people. Isaiah 34: 8 is one of several verses that confirms God’s expectation of us to stand with Israel. It says for it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. The word controversy means cause. So, this indicates those who come against the nation of Israel will face the vengeance of God.
If we don’t tell people the truth about standing with God’s people, they won’t hear it anywhere else. They won’t hear it on broadcast media, and it’s rare to see it on social media. Faith Leaders, it’s our responsibility to tell the truth about both sides of God and how to stay on His good side by accepting Jesus, standing for His Son, His Word, and His chosen people.
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