Yesterday’s blog ended with the hope of God’s promise to David, but looking at this world and then seeing how powerless the church is, it would appear to be hopeless from a human perspective. I quoted a writer who said, “Most Americans believe Jesus rose from the dead on the first Easter Sunday. They’re just not sure it matters much. Despite accepting the biblical accounts of Jesus’ resurrection, many Americans have conflicting thoughts about the Bible and seem to see little connection between Jesus rising again and their daily lives.” You can add most others to that as this basically sums up the church today. Most in the church believe Jesus rose from the dead but because they have grown accustomed to operating in the flesh, they have come to believe the powerless church is how the church is supposed to be. The problem is that the church doesn’t think it is desolate nor does it need to be freed from our captors, because most believe that the way they have taken is the right way and pleasing to God. Because most have been led to believe that the power we see in the bible was for that period of time only, most do not expect it or they believe anything supernatural would be satanic thus given praise to satan’s power and not God’s.
The promise to David will happen even though most do not understand that only a remnant will be saved. Daniel said Daniel 9:7 “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. 8 We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you.” Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart.” But for many it will be too late because they refuse to adhere to God’s word. But for those who will adhere to God’s word, Peter went on to say Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” All these words can be said about the church.
When you look at the mess the church is in with everyone doing as they please and see fit, it would be easy to say there is no way possible for the church to be restored and that is where we would be wrong. When Judah was being attacked by Babylon, we se why it is possible for even the church of today to be restored. Jeremiah 32:2 “The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace of Judah.” Then Jeremiah said “The word of the Lord came to me: 7 Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth, because as nearest relative it is your right and duty to buy it.’” Jeremiah was obedient but this seemed odd and Jeremiah questioned God. Jeremiah 32:16 “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord: 17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. 18 You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents’ sins into the laps of their children after them. Great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, 19 great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve. 20 You performed signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours. 21 You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror. 22 You gave them this land you had sworn to give their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law; they did not do what you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster on them. 24 “See how the siege ramps are built up to take the city. Because of the sword, famine and plague, the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you said has happened, as you now see. 25 And though the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians, you, Sovereign Lord, say to me, ‘Buy the field with silver and have the transaction witnessed.’”
God’s answer was this and this is why we have hope; Jeremiah 32:27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? 42 “This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. 43 Once more fields will be bought in this land of which you say, ‘It is a desolate waste, without people or animals, for it has been given into the hands of the Babylonians.’ 44 Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 33:10 “This is what the Lord says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a desolate waste, without people or animals.” Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more 11 the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever.” For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the Lord.” Amos 9:11 “In that day “I will restore David’s fallen shelter— I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be”
Today, David’s shelter has fallen. Yes, the temple was eventually rebuilt but once again it falls. Then the next temple to fall would be the church. The church was doing as it was supposed to do in the book of Acts. The church was going to the ends of the earth preaching the good news with power and authority. Acts 15:12 “The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: 16 “‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’— 18 things known from long ago.” Then like the Jews, the Gentiles turned away from God’s word and once again needs to be restored. We have hope but if you are breathing, you don’t know which breath will be your last, so you need to be ready which is why turning form our wicked ways is so important. Because of God’s great power there is still hope for the church. Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
