Home Sermons Services Publications Links
Mustard Seed March/April 2013
The Author of this Violence-Past and Present
Ezekiel 28:12-26 reveals that before man and woman were created that Lucifer was an anointed/shining Cherub that covered God's Throne! Verse 5 states that he was perfect from the day he was created; until iniquity was found in him. Verses 16-17 reveals that his rebellion against God caused turmoil and violence throughout the universe! His name was changed to Satan (Greek: diabolos) which means (false accuser, devil, slanderer, enemy-adversary)! He persuaded a third of the angels to follow him in rebellion against God. verse16 also reveal that God cast Satan down from heaven to the earth!
Genesis 1 states that God created the heaven and earth (A perfect creation) but notice verse 2 which should read: "And the earth became without form and void (Hebrew & Chaldean meaning: tohoo and bohu--see Strong's #8414) - it became a waste because of that warfare! Gen. 1:3 reveals that God started His creation allover again, because of that destruction.
After that new creation; we see Satan being mentioned again
in Gen. 3 where he encountered Eve in the Garden of Eden - and she gave
in to his deception and lies! Man's violence began when Cain murdered his
brother Abel - setting off man's rebellion against God from that time
until now! The sad history of that rebellion and violence has been
continuous until now and Jesus prophesied that cold violence would lead
to the extinction of man, unless Almighty God intervened at the last
moment to save man (Mark 13:20) and then only because of the Elect (His
Saints)!
A Warning for God's Church
In His message to the seven churches in Asia Minor given to the Apostle John in Rev. 2 & 3, describing conditions that would be prevalent in His church, Jesus makes a strong statement in Rev. 3:14-22 to the church at Laodicea about an attitude of some of God's people - of being neither cold nor hot (lukewarm in attitude) and in verse 16 He states that because of this condition; that He will spew them out of His mouth. This is a warning to us brethren; that we not let the coldness of this world rub off on us!
We are to let God's Holy Spirit in us 'Put us on fire' (II Tim.l:6-7) molding us into Spiritual Perfection that is in Jesus Christ. Let us warmly embrace our fellow-brethren and the Word of God with firm and intense devotion continuously! A gun or rifle will not protect us from the increasing violence around us (See Matt. 26:52)! Let us remember that God is our Refuge and our Shield and Fortress (Ps. 28:7-9 and Psalm 91)! Jesus Christ has promised to be with us until the end of the age (Matt. 28-20) .
George A. Bratcher