Judge Righteous Judgment I

God is Judge!
(Day 4—FOT)
Fred R. Coulter—October 3, 2023

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Greetings, brethren, and welcome to Day 4 of the Feast of Tabernacles, and as we say, time is always marching on! One thing about time, it doesn't wait for anyone!

God is Judge! We know Rev. 20 tells us what we're going to be doing during the Millennium after we're resurrected, and we are changed from flesh to spirit. Everything will be different at that point with us. However, at the present time, we are here to grow in:

• grace
• knowledge
• understanding
• maturity of spirit

so that we can be good

• judges
• priests
• administrators

all during the Millennium and then on out into all eternity! What is that going to be like?

Revelation 20:4: "And I saw thrones…"

Jesus promised to the 12 apostles that they would sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. So, there will be many thrones!

 "…and they that sat upon them, and judgment was given to them…" (v 3).

So there are major thrones, lesser thrones, and small thrones so that:

• we can reach all people
• we can have connection to God,
• we can yield ourselves to Him
• we can do everything according to the will of God

"…and judgment was given to them; and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the Word of God…" (v 4).

This tells us we're going to have to stand! Right now, as we have seen in some of the messages this summer, the mark of the beast is coming, is coming, is coming!

"…and for the Word of God…"—because there are a lot of people today that hate the Word of God, can't stand the Word of God.

"…and those who did not worship the beast or his image, and did not receive the mark in their foreheads or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years" (v 4).

• God is Judge!
• God is Lawgiver
• God is merciful
• God is kind

God is also the One Who will render vengeance and the judgment of fire!

Everything that there is comes from Him! That's what we need to grasp and understand with the whole Plan of God.

James 4—let's see something very interesting here  that tells us that God is Lawgiver and God is Judge, and He makes the judgment, but He will commit judgment to us. But the final judgment to eternal life will be Christ's and God the Father's.

James 4:6: "But He gives greater grace. This is the reason it says, 'God sets Himself against the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.'"

The best way to be humble is to understand that everything comes from God. We live and move and have our being in Him, and without Him, we can't do anything.

If we have difficulties, trials, circumstances and afflictions, those are all so that we can grow in grace and knowledge and draw close to God.

Verse 7: "Therefore, submit yourselves to God…."

We'll see a little later how to do that. That's through repentance and drawing close to God, living under His Laws!

"…Resist the devil…" (v 7)—because the devil is the one who wants to keep us from being in the Kingdom of God!

When we resist Him "…and he will flee from you" (v 7).

It says in 1-Peter 5 that we resist in the faith, trusting in Christ!
 
Verse 8: "Draw near to God…" How do you draw near to God?

• through prayer
• through study
• through your thoughts
• through everything that you do

And with God's Spirit in us, we draw near to God! Notice what James says with that:

"…and He will draw near to you…." (v 8). That's through the power of His Holy Spirit!

"…Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded!" (v 8).

Now, double-minded is like the man or woman who has one foot in the Church, one foot in the world.

• one foot in the Church so he/she can run to God if something goes wrong
• one foot in the world, so he/she can get along with people in the world and be accepted by them

Sooner or later it will come to the time that you can't get along with them! That's why James says this!

Verse 9: "Be grieved and mourn…. [repent, come to God] …and weep; let your laughter be turned into grieving, and your joy into mourning"—or sorrow!

That is if you're out here thinking, 'Oh well, everything is just fine and everything, God is there and He's for me.' You know, much like the Protestants and the Catholics do today. If you're a good Protestant, you're just fine. You don't need to do anything. You don't need to keep the Laws. Same with the Catholics: all you have to do is come to Mass. All you have to do is keep Christmas and Easter and you'll be saved.

NO! God says, v 10: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you"—in due time!

The time of exaltation does not come in this life. The time of exaltation comes at the resurrection!

Verse 11: "Brethren, do not talk against one another. The one who talks against a brother, and judges his brother…"—judging his heart!

We're told in Matt. 7 the same thing: 'Judge not lest you be judged.' That means judge the heart unto criticism, because the only One Who knows the heart is God!

And he who judges his brother "…is speaking against the Law, and is judging the Law. But if you judge the Law…" (v 11)—you're judging God!

That's what the world always does; they judge God! They don't know what's going on.

"…But if you judge the Law, you are not a doer of the Law: rather, you are a judge" (v 11). If you do that, you set yourself above God!

Verse 12: "But there is only one Lawgiver, Who has power to save and to destroy. Who are you that you presume to judge another?" That is, judge their heart! That's left up to God!

This is quite a thing because here's what most people do.  Most people are always judging God one way or the other. When they judge God and judge the Law, they put themselves as adversaries of God! Here's what Paul writes:

Romans 3:1: "What then is the advantage of the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?"

Go back and read Rom. 2 right at the end and he says circumcision is of the heart; from within! But the Jews are judging everybody, condemning everybody!

Verse 2: "Much in every way. Primarily in that they were entrusted with the oracles of God."

So, the question comes up, why are they sinners?

Verse 3: "For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?…. [of course not] ...MAY IT NEVER BE! Rather, let God be true…" (vs 3-4)—which He is:

• always true
• always right
• always makes right judgments

"…but every man a liar, exactly as it is written: 'That You might be justified in Your words…'"

In other words, His words are always just and He is never wrong! People look in the world and look at the things that go on because of the penalty of sin that comes along and they judge God and say, 'Why would God do that?'

Well .because they reject God! Big lesson: You can't reject God and receive his blessings!

Speaking of God; "…'That You might be justified in Your words, and might overcome when You are being judged by men.'" (v 4).

That's what happens. Everyone has an idea about God, from:

• clear to the right
• clear to the left
• clear to the Bible
• rejecting the Bible
• accepting parts of it
• rejecting all other parts of it

They are all judging God when they do that!

Verse 5: "But if our unrighteousness brings to reality God's righteousness, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous to inflict His wrath?…. [of course not] …(I am speaking according to man's view.) MAY IT NEVER BE! Otherwise, how shall God judge the world?" (vs 5-6).

Remember this: Even where there is sin, that proves that the Word of God is true. And the consequences of sin as it comes, proves that the Word of God and the power of God is true and does exist!

Verse 7: "For if, by my falsehood, the Truth of God has shown itself to be supremely great, to His glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner?" Quite a thing! Yes indeed.

1-Chron. 16 is really very interesting because this is when God told David that he would have his son build a temple for Him. It was right after the time that David brought the Ark of the Covenant from where it was stored after the Philistines had it, Obed-Edom, and brought it to Jerusalem to his house.

In his house David had a special room that was set up with a small tent in there for the Ark of the Covenant. There's where he would go and pray. When that was finally set up, then we have this prayer that he gave. Asaph was the priest who was in charge of it with other Levites.

1-Chronicles 16:7: "Then on that day… [when the Ark was put in that tent right in David's house] …David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren in order to thank the LORD."

This was a glorious day giving credit to God for everything!

Verse 8: "O give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people. Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him, tell of all His wondrous works" (vs 8-9).

There are lots of them, especially today when we can look out and we can see the more vastness of the universe that at any time in the history of men.

Verse 10: "Glory in His Holy name, let the heart of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face continually" (vs 10-11).

That's what we are to do. That's what James was writing about there in James 4: seek God!

Verse 12: "Remember His marvelous works, which He has done…"

That's why we have the Old Testament, and the New Testament and the book of Acts; all of the marvelous works that  God has done!

"…His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth…" (v 12).

We'll see some of those and we will see that God is Judge of the whole world! No one is going to escape the judgment of God: either for righteousness or for wickedness.

Verse 12: "Remember His marvelous works, which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth, O seed of Israel His servant, children of Jacob, His chosen ones" (vs 12-13).

They never really did appreciate it. Even in spite of all of their sins—because of the promise to Abraham and a promise to Moses—God dealt with the children of Israel.

Verse 14: "He is the LORD our God. His judgments are in all the earth."

Everywhere that you look and see and go, there are all the judgments and the works of God!

Verse 15: "Be always mindful of His covenant, the word He commanded to a thousand generations"—and for us: for the New Covenant, always be mindful of that covenant; the Covenant of Eternal Life!

Verse 16: "Even the covenant, which He made with Abraham…"

Isn't now what he did there in Gen. 15? Yes, indeed!

"…and of His oath unto Isaac. And He has established it unto Jacob for a Law, to Israel for an everlasting covenant" (vs 16-17).

That included the coming of the Messiah; that included everything that we find in the New Testament, as well.

Verse 18: "Saying, 'To you will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance.'"

Verse 23: "Sing unto the LORD, all the earth…."

Here is the Ark of the Covenant in the tabernacle tent in the house of David! He was there with this first song. Look what he says:

Verse 23: "Sing unto the LORD, all the earth…. [a prophecy of what's going to happen] …Show forth from day to day His salvation. Declare His glory among the nations…" (vs 23-24).

That's a prophecy of the Gospel going out from Jerusalem with the apostles of the Church and down to us today.

"…His marvelous works among all people" (v 24). That goes into the time of the Millennium and all the Plan of God!

Verse 25: "For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. He also is to be feared above all gods, for all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Glory and honor are in His presence, strength and gladness in His place. Give to the LORD, O you kindred of the people, give to the LORD glory and strength…. [and honor] …Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the beauty of Holiness (vs 25-29).

• you are there praying to Him
• you are there with all the saints gathered together

• when we get together and we worship God
• when we study His Word.
• when we learn what God wants

This is quite a tremendous and fantastic thing for us.
Let's see some other things about God.

Quite a thing really when you look at all the things concerning judge and judgment and the righteousness of God!

Psalm 82:8: "Arise, O God…"—which is the coming of Christ, or at any time that God judges any nation, because He's judging them all the time!

Verse 8: "Arise, O God, judge the earth, for You shall inherit all nations." That's referring to Christ and the setting up of the Millennium.

The Psalms are filled with many of these things for us to know and understand.

Psalm 96:9: "O worship the LORD in the beauty of Holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth."

So, this is a time when the whole world is under the rule of God!

Verse 10: "Say among the nations, 'The LORD reigns…'"

That's going to be our first message to everyone in the world wherever we are sent to help  the people come out of the things that happened during the Great Tribulation as we begin the Millennium.

"…'The LORD reigns, and the world shall be established; it shall not be moved; He shall judge the people with righteousness'" (v 10).

• How is that?
• Are not all of His commandments righteousness?
• Isn't everything about God righteousness, truth, love, mercy and grace? Yes it is!

Verse 11: "Let the heavens rejoice. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness of it. Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it; then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy" (vs 11-12).

Don't know how that's going to be, but we do know this:

• when there is love
• when there is peace
• when there is joy
• when there is right treatment of plants and trees

They flourish and they give off a radiance that can be measured, but we can't see it or hear it!

They do this; v 13: "Before the LORD; for He comes, for He comes to judge the earth; He shall judge the world with righteousness and the people with His Truth."

That's how it's going to be. It's not going to be any other way. This is why we need to understand and we'll cover it very thoroughly during this sermon in the next one or two about judge righteous judgment.

Now let's understand that this also comes clear back to the New Testament, as well.

Let's see what a tremendous thing that this is, and what it talks about with what God is going to do. Paul wants us to know that when we come before God in our prayer, when we come before God in the study of His Word, that we have all of these things in mind:

• this will help us understand the Word of God more
• this will help us love God more
• this will help us overcome more

We will see the key as to how that is done!
 
Hebrews 12:22: "But you have come to Mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem…"

Every time you get on your knees and you pray to God and you say, 'Our Father Who is in heaven…' you're coming to the living God and Mount Sion in heaven above and heavenly Jerusalem, which is, in the final analysis, to be brought to the earth by God.

"…and to an innumerable company of angels" (v 22).

Read Rev. 4 & 5; that's quite a thing!

Verse 23: "To the joyous festival gathering; and to the Church of the Firstborn…"—that's all of us!

There's a special place right there in God's presence that the Church of the Firstborn are:

"…registered in the Book of Life in heaven; and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the just who have been perfected

When you die in a faith, your spirit has been perfected and it goes to God, and he holds that. Understand that the spirit of man, likewise the Spirit of God cannot function without it being in the mind of the individual!

So, the spirit of man is kind of like a computer chip that when you die everything about us has been perfected, God is storing for the resurrection. Then when the resurrection comes, He puts it into a spirit body and a spirit mind! That's what we have to look forward to!

"…and to the spirits of the just who have been perfected; and to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant… [remember His covenant] …and to sprinkling of the blood of ratification, proclaiming superior things than that of Abel" (v 24).

Then Paul gives a warning; v 25: "Beware that you do not refuse to hear Him Who is speaking!…."

This is why the Bible is put together 'here a little and there a little, and precept upon precept, and line upon line.' If we put it together properly this is going to be another one of these things in Isa. 57 putting it together about God is Judge! He's going to judge the world! He is going to do judge everything that there is!

Isaiah 57:15: "For thus says the High and Lofty One…"

That's God! God the Father and Jesus Christ; They are one! Didn't Jesus say that in John 17? Yes, indeed!

"…Who inhabits eternity…" (v 15).

This is something we won't understand until we are resurrected from the dead, but God is eternal; He inhabits eternity, and everything about what He is doing is centered around that and His great plan. And we have been called to be a part of that!

"…Whose name is Holy; 'I dwell in the high and Holy place, even with the one who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones'" (v 15).

That's quite a thing! God is not calling the rich and famous. He's calling us! That's why, and it goes clear back to where we started with James: 'Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and he will exalt you in due time.'

Let's see some other things concerning this. Let's come to Jer. 4, because this tells us more about God in judging; how it is and what we need to look to, and the reason that Jeremiah:

• did what he did
• spoke what he did
• wrote what he did
• carried out everything that God wanted

Jer. 4—here's the plea to Israel. Here was the plea to the Jews, because God gave us space of 40 years from the beginning of the ministry of Jeremiah until the end of it.

• they had that time to repent
• they had that time to amend their ways
• they had that time to stop sinning

Jeremiah 4:1—God says: "'If you will return, O Israel'…"—conditional!

Just like with us, we have got to come to God and coming to God every day in prayer and study; all of these things. These are important!

Verse 1: "'If you will return, O Israel,' says the LORD, 'Return to Me….'"

That is the true God in the  true way with a humble heart:

• according to His Word
• according to His love
• according to His mercy
• according to His Law

And another obligation:

"…And if you will put away your abominations out of My sight, then you shall not be removed" (v 1). Quite a challenge! Same way with the world today.

• they want to have God their way
• they want to have Jesus their way
• they want to have prophecies their way

not God's way!

They're not willing to submit to the judgment of God and they're not willing to come to God as He says right here.

Verse 2 "And will swear, 'As the LORD lives,' in truth, in judgment and in righteousness… [now notice those three always all go together] …then the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him they shall glory." But they wouldn't do it!

Now let's see God's judgment. Here's what God does. Remember God has given the laws and with the laws are blessings for obedience and penalties for disobedience, which are called curses.

So, God pleaded with them and pleaded with them, pleaded with the priest through Jeremiah.
 .
Jeremiah 6:16: "Thus says the LORD, 'Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths where the good way is and walk in it…'"

Again, giving them another chance, showing that it has to have direct action and you're walking, that is your way of life.

"…and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, "We will not walk in it" (v 16).

Same way today. Look at what is happening today in the world and how quickly Satan is taking over. An amazing thing is indeed.

Verse 17: "Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Hearken to the sound of the ram's horn.' But they said, 'We will not hearken'"—listen! No, no, no, there's no God!

Verse 18: "Therefore, hear you nations… [of Israel and the nations on the earth, because it applies at this time to everyone] …and know, O congregation…"

That's all the people of God, wherever they are scattered in the world.

"…what will happen to them? Hear, O earth, behold, I will bring evil on this people, even the fruit of their thoughts…" (vs 18-19). God does it by:

• what we think
• what we say
• what we do

But the thoughts!

"…because they have not hearkened to My words, nor to My Law, but have rejected it" (v 19). So God says, judgment is coming!

Psa. 19 is quite a Psalm! It tells us concerning:

• God's Way
• God's Truth
• God's Law
• God's Judgment

One of those foundational Psalms that we need to always keep in mind and understand!

This is what the world doesn't like, because human nature always likes to come along and say:

We know better or we'll accept this, but we won't accept that. Let's add this to it because it seems so good.

God says of His Word:

• you're not going to add to it
• you're not going to take away from it
• you're going to do it

Psalm 19:7: "The Law of the LORD is perfect…"

That's what God is seeking with His Spirit perfection in us, with his Truth and things written in our hearts and our minds that we have the perfect way of God in us.

"…restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple" (v 7).

See how all of this works together with God's way.

Verse 8: "The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandments of the LORD are pure, enlightening the eyes."

• this is what God wants to do
• this is the judgment he's already made
• this is the covenant that we enter into with him when we come to God and are converted

Verse 9: "The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever…"

That's the fear of God based on the love of God. And the love of God casts out human fear, but it brings Godly fear. Godly fear is that you're not going to go against God because you understand the  penalty that will come.

"…the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether" (v 9). There is nothing wrong with anything that God is doing!

Verse 10: "More to be desired than gold, yea, much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."

This is what we need to understand, because Jesus said, 'Lo, He's coming and His reward is with Him?'

We're all going to receive a reward and a new name and assignments and all of this to serve the people during the Millennium and then on into eternity.

Verse 11: "Moreover, by them…" that is keeping:

• His laws
• His commandments
• His statutes

"…Your servant is warned… [you give internal warning in your mind … in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors?" (vs 11-12).

You cannot understand your errors without the Word of God, which says, 'you shall not' and whatever.

You can't understand your errors. Do people in the world have any idea what's right and what is wrong? No! Because they don't follow the Word of God! By chance, some of them may follow some of it.

Verse 12: "Who can understand his errors? Oh, cleanse me from my secret faults."

That which is deep buried in our minds by living in this world. This is deep conversion!

• all of that comes from God
• all of that comes from His Spirit
• all of that comes because we judge ourselves with the Word and Spirit of God

That's a tremendous thing, isn't it? When we do that, then v 13 takes place!

Verse 13: "And keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; do not let them rule over me…"

• you cast them down
• you get rid of those thoughts
• you reject them

"…then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression" (v 13).

Here is the great judgment for us what we want in our lives today.

Verse 14: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

This is why God is Judge!

(break@42:17)

Let's see what is said of God by Abraham, because he understood what God was going to do to Sodom and Gomorrah.

Gen. 18, is quite a thing, because Abraham was able to approach God directly. This was right after the time that Abraham and Sarah were there, and then here comes the Lord God and two angels, obviously, in human-like form.

Abraham says, 'Come on in and eat and slay the calf. Sarah fixed everything up and so forth, and then they had the meal.

Sidebar: They had butter, they had milk, they had meat all at the same time.

God said to Sarah, You're going to bear a son when the time comes. She laughed, and God asked her, 'Why did you laugh? Well, I didn't laugh. He said, 'Yes, you laughed.'

Genesis 18:13: "And the LORD said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh, saying, "Shall I, who am old, truly bear a child?"'" She was 90 years old at that time!

Verse 14: "Is anything too hard for the LORD?…."

Even what sounds impossible to us, God can do! Never forget that.

"…At the time appointed I will return again, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son" (v 14).

Verse 17: "And the Lord said, shall I hide from Abraham the thing I shall do, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?" (vs 17-18)—going clear back to the promise given in Gen. 12.

Verse 10 "For I know him…." Now stop and think on this.

• Does God know us? Of course He does!
• Does He know our thoughts? Yes, He does!
• Do we have the Holy Spirit of God in us? Yes!
• Are we living by His Word? Yes!
• Are we keeping His commandments? Yes!
• Is He preparing us for eternal life? Yes!

Same way with Abraham here!

Verse 19: "'For I know him, that he will command his children and his house after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment… [doing the right thing] …that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He has spoken of him.' And the LORD said…" (vs 19-20).

Now let's look at this. This is something!

Verse 20: "And the LORD said, 'Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous.'"

How close are we to that today? Very close!

Verse 21: "I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which has come to Me."

Now that's interesting! When they cry, all the anguish of the sin comes up to God.

How close is God in contact with the things on the earth? Here's one to think on that we don't know how it's done!

Jesus said to the apostles, you're worth many sparrows, but even if one falls, that is falls dead, God knows. How does he know that? Well, we don't know, but it tells us this: God is more in touch with everything than we've ever given God credit for!

This is why God said what He's going to do. So then they came and they went from there towards Sodom, and Abraham stood before the Lord. Abraham drew near and said, now notice how he was right there with God, looking at the One Who was to become the Lord Jesus Christ of the New Testament, but here He was appearing to Abraham in human form, and Abraham was looking at Him right in the eyes. Abraham came right up to Him.  Can we have close contact with God? Yes, indeed! Look at this:

Verse 23: "And Abraham drew near and said, 'Will You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?'" Quite a question!

There's God, just promised him a son through Sarah, and that nothing is impossible.

Verse 24: "Perhaps there are fifty righteous within the city. Will You also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from You to act in this manner, to kill the righteous with the wicked. And far be it from You, that the righteous should be as the wicked. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (vs 24-25).

Notice how he brought this out. He didn't come up with a thought, 'O God, you're going to destroy it? That's not right.' NO! He says, "…Shall not the Judge of all the earth…"—past, present, future!' We find this through the whole Bible! That's why judging righteous judgment is important in everything that we do.

So then, Abraham bargained all the way down to ten. And He said that if there are ten, I will spare them. Then you know what happened. The only ones to get out of there were Lot, his two daughters, and his wife. But his wife didn't believe it, so as they were leaving she turned into a pillar of salt.

How important is it to believe what God says even through an angel? The angel's message was, do not look back! Let that be a lesson for us in this world of Sodom and Gomorrah today. Don't look back at the pleasures of the world and think somehow that God is not righteous in his judgment that He brings.

Now let's look at something else here. Let's see what God does since He's Judge of all the earth. This is always ongoing all the time. So, the judgment of God is always ongoing everywhere at all times because, He has the ability and capacity to do it. He has angels to help Him, and He also uses Satan and the demons as punishment for when things get evil and they turn away from God. But God gives the choice.

We will see that God makes His judgments always by what we choose!

Jeremiah 18:1: "The Word, which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 'Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words'" (vs 1-2).

Not only hear My words, but see what I'm going to do. And understand what I'm going to do.

Verse 3: "Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he was working at his wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was ruined in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'O house of Israel, can I not do with you even as this potter?' says the LORD" (vs 3-6).

Of course! There are other places which say, shall the potter say to the maker, what are you making?

"'…Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hands, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel'" (v 6).

Now think about the whole house of Israel, all twelve tribes, just like clay in a potter's hand. Do you think that any of us, large or small, whatever, great or unknown, can get away from God's judgment? Of course not!

That's the thing we need to understand, and then we need to realize that during the Millennium we're going to be judging just exactly like this under the supervision of Christ. We are to make righteous judgments! We'll see that. So here's what God says.

Verse 7: "If at any time I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck it up and to pull it down, and to destroy it."

Isn't that what we're seeing happen in America today? Yes, indeed! The hand of God is doing it.

You go to Church at Home and you watch the five segments that I have done on Satan Out of the Closet, because that's what we're seeing going on in the United States of America today. The hand of God because He has released Satan to do his evil because of the evil of our doing like we have covered so many times.

Verse 8: "If that nation, against whom I have spoken, will turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them."

But remember whatever He does is righteous and just and good, whether for blessing or whether for punishment.

Verse 7: "If at any time I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck it up and to pull it down, and to destroy it; if that nation, against whom I have spoken, will turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them" (vs 7-8).

• here is the warning today
• here is the warning for us
• here's what we need to understand

Verse 11: "Now, therefore, speak to the men of Judah, and to the people of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD, "Behold… [pay attention, listen] …I am forming evil against you, and devising a plan against you. Return now, each one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good."'"

But will they? That's always up to the individual. That's up to the nation.

• Will there be anyone who can bring anything about?
• Will there be anyone to say, 'here's the way, walk in it'?
• Will there be any of those so-called Christian ministers that God said that if they would preach His Word that He would honor that, but will they preach His Word?

• What about us with the Churches of God?
• What about us in our own individual life?
• What are we doing?
• What are we looking at?
• What are we judging ourselves on?
• How do we do that?

We know from the example of Jonah that when Jonah preached, they repented from the greatest to the least of them. And the king even put on sackcloth and fasted. That was a tremendous thing and God withheld His judgment for 120 years. True to God's Word!

Let's understand. We've been here in Deut. 30 many, many times, but let's go here and see how true this is. God is not going to turn his hand back from it.

This applies to all the children of Israel, as well as all the nations of the world, at any time down through history. That when we're in trouble and we seek God, it's for the purpose that we come to Him.

After giving everything in Deut. 28 & 29, all the blessings and cursings and so forth:

Deuteronomy 30:1 "And it shall be when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and when you shall call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you."

Took them out of the land, scattered them wherever they were to go!

Verse 2: "And shall return to the LORD your God and shall obey His voice according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul." Same thing we just read back there in Jer. 18!

• Will we return?
• How far will we return?
• What will we put away?
• The evil from ourselves?
• What is it?

So if we do that:

Verse 3: "Then the LORD your God will turn away your captivity. And He will have compassion on you, and will return and gather you from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you.

So, this shows another principle: God always honors repentance. That's what God wants. God's judgment are based upon our choices, whether for good or for evil.

Verse 6: "And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live."

That's coming into the time of the Millennium where people will be converted. That's what it means, circumcise your heart. Rom. 2 talks about that; we'll see that in just a bit.

Verse 7: "And the LORD your God will put all these curses upon your enemies, and upon those that hate you, who persecuted you. And you shall return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all His commandments, which I command you today" (vs 7-8).

So you see, sooner or later they're going to have to come and keep the commandments of God. But they look at those things and wonder. They don't understand them. They can't believe them. They have no knowledge of them.

Verse 10: "If you shall obey the voice of the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes, which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."

God doesn't like halfway things. God doesn't like it that we put Him on trial, because he's not to be tried. The whole book of Job proves that! We're the ones who are on trial, not God!

Verse 14: "But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may do it."

That's why there's so many Bibles in the world. They're available!

• people can repent
• people can come to the Truth
• people can understand what God is doing

Now, here are these choices. We've gone over this many, many times, but I tell you what:

• the more we go over it
• the more we understand it
• the more we realize what it's actually saying
• the more that God becomes real
• the more that we understand how important our choices are
• the more that we understand it is:
  • what we think
  • what we intend
  • what is in our mind

That is the most important thing as we come to God!

This is it for the world, for the Church, for every individual:

Verse 15: "Behold, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil, in that I command you…" (v 15-16). This is what God wants!

Verse 16: "In that I command you this day to love the LORD your God…"

How are we to do that? The first commandment is to love the Lord your God:

• with all your heart
• with all your soul
• with all your mind
• with all your strength

• no reservations for your evil
• no reservations for your sins
  • repent of them
  • get rid of them

That's what He wants!

"…to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments so that you may live and multiply. And the LORD your God shall bless you in the land where you go to possess it" (v 16).

That applies directly to the Millennium and this will be what we're going to preach to the people coming out of all the disasters and all the tribulation:

• you turn to God
• you receive his Spirit
• you become converted

So, God says this and He gives this warning and this is what we're seeing happen today because people won't return to God and the small little messages of repent and receive Jesus have nothing to do with the Truth. That's anything but all your heart and mind and soul and being.

Verse 17: "But if your heart turn away so that you will not hear, but shall be drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I denounce to you this day that you shall surely perish…" (vs 17-18).

You can't make sin work. There may be prosperity for a while but the curse is wrapped up in that prosperity and is deceitful and will entrap anyone who thinks they can get away with it because it's not possible.

"…you shall not prolong your days… [19]: I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life, so that both you and your seed may live, that you may love the LORD your God, and may obey His voice, and may cleave to Him…" (vs18-20).

Notice all of these mays. These are giving us permission, but we must follow through with the action by our own choice! Wherever you see the word may, that means that it requires action upon our part to do what God says! Then the blessings will come!

That's the message we're going to bring at the Millennium.

Let's understand something here! We know that judgment's on the house of God today as Peter said and that is:

• What are we going to do?
• How are we going to live?
• How are we going to obey God?

Let's come and see was is very important what is necessary concerning that.

1-Peter 4—here we are going to see that God's judgment now is upon each one of us, because we're being called to the greatest calling possible:

• to be of the Church of the Firstborn
• to be in the resurrection
• to be given judgment
• to be given rulership
• to be given teachings

for the Millennium!

That will grow in God's great plan into something fantastic for all eternity!

1-Peter 4:17: "For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God…"

When God looks down here, wherever it is, He is first of all judging the Church. He is judging all the ministers and all the elders"

• What are they doing?
• What are they teaching?
• What are they preaching?
• How are they living?
• How are they handling the Word of God?
• Are they yielded to God?
• Are they humble to God?
• What kind of judgment will they come under if they don't do the things that God wants?
• If they don't teach the Word of God the way that God wants?

Verse 17: "For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it first begins with us… [which it is, it's always first] …what will be the end of those who do not obey the Gospel of God? And if the righteous are saved with much difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" (vs 17-18).

We don't know. It's going to be something. So don't look at any affliction that you're going through now as something that you cannot  bear.

• ask God to help you bear it
• ask God to help lift it from you
• ask God to intervene to heal you
• ask God to guide you in everything that you are doing

Verse 19: "For this reason also, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in well doing, as to a faithful Creator."

The first thing we're going to do in the Millennium is we're going to preach repentance. And here's how it has to be, and it's going to be difficult.

Think of all the shell-shocked people that are going to be because of the wars and the plagues and all the things coming upon the earth.

Isa. 55—this also tells us about how we need to repent, how we need to come to God, how  we need to have our minds changed, and to realize that God is there to help us with everything.

So that we get the whole setting, this is what we're going to preach because there will be people in all nations wanting to know about God. There will be some who will be resisting. we read about that in Zech. 14 at the beginning of the millennium, what's going to happen to them.

Isaiah 55:1: "Ho, everyone who thirsts… [that has to be us] …come to the waters…"

That is, come to God and receive of His Holy Spirit living waters.

As Jesus said to the woman at the well, "…and he who has no money, come, buy and eat. Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price" (v 1). Come freely from God!

Verse 2: "Why do you spend money for what is not bread? And your labor for what never satisfies? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat…"

Remember the Psalm that says, "O taste and see that the Lord is good'? Remember the Word of God that the angel told John to 'take and eat'? That's what it means!

"…eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness…. [in other words, all of the great blessings of God] …Bow down your ear, and come to Me; hear… [this is the lesson that's going to go out] …and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David" (vs 2-3).

So it's going to be done! They'll have to come to the point of repentance and come to the point of baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit of God.

Verse 4: "Behold, I have given Him [Christ] …for a witness to the people, a Prince and Commander of people. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know; a nation that did not know you shall run to you because of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for He has glorified you" (s 4-5).

That shows what we're going to do. We're going to come to them quickly. Now, here's the message right here. This is what we are to do. This is the message of repentance so they can come to God and do those things that are right and have judgment in their lives, mercy and forgiveness of their sins.

Verse 6: "Seek the LORD while He may be found…"

Of course He will be found because all the saints will be on the earth and Christ will be on the earth.

"…call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way…" (vs 6-7).

• get away from it
• get rid of it
• stop it
• don't live in it
• renounce it

"…and the unrighteous man his thoughts… [because the conversion comes in the mind]  …and let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (v 7). Notice how great this is going to be:

• the Plan of God
• the plan of conversion
• the plan of salvation

for all the Millennium! Then on into all the universe after that!

Verse 8: "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways,' says the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth…'" (vs 8-9). Think of that!

God is bringing us this knowledge that's higher than the heavens above the earth.

"…so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (v 9).

That's what it's going to be!  It's going to bring out everything; let's see how it goes!

Verse 10: "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from the heavens, and does not return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater."

That's what it's going to be.  It's going to make everything right.

Verse 11: "So shall My Word be which goes out of My mouth…" We're the ones to speak it!

• God speaks it
• it's written down
• we are to read it
• that's the same as God speaking it

"…it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall certainly do what I sent it to do" (v 11).

That's what it's going to be. God is Judge! He judges:

• the heavens
• the earth
• everything on it, every individual in it

We then are given judgment to bring this to the people so that:

• they can know God
• they can have an opportunity for salvation

God will usher in the thousand years of peace. Come back tomorrow for more righteous judgment and how important that that is.

Scriptural References:

• Revelation 20:4
• James 4:6-12
• Romans 3:1-7
• 1 Chronicles 16:7-18. 23-29
• Psalm 82:8
• Psalm 96:9-13
• Hebrews 12:22-25
• Isaiah 57:15
• Jeremiah 4:1-2
• Jeremiah 6:16
• Psalm 19:7-14
• Genesis 18:13-14, 17-21, 23-25
• Jeremiah 18:1-11
• Deuteronomy 30:1-3, 6-10, 14-20
• 1 Peter 4:17-19
• Isaiah 55:1-11

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• 1 Peter 5
• Matthew 7
• Romans 2
• Revelation 4; 5
• Genesis 12
• Deuteronomy 28

Also referenced:

Church at Home {churchathome.org}: Satan Out of the Closet

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 8/3/23

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