“Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise. These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. The one covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves. This is Hagar.” Galatians 4:21-24.
Who
was Hagar? She was the Egyptian slave of Abraham’s wife, Sarah. Paul used the
rather obscure argument about the mothers of Abraham’s two sons to explain why
believers in Jesus are not slaves but sons.
God
promised Abraham a son through whom He would make him into a great nation and
bless the world through him. In order for Abraham and Sarah to know that their
son would be a miracle child, God caused Sarah to be barren until the time came
for her to conceive Isaac. Because of their impatience, Sarah urged Abraham to
“help” God by resorting to the common custom of a husband producing a
child through a slave woman. The baby born would become the child of the barren
wife.
But
this was not what God planned. Instead of Sarah adopting Ishmael, the child
became a source of irritation between her and her slave. Ishmael was the son
born of the flesh in more ways than one. He was the result of human scheming;
he was the natural outcome of human intercourse; he was not conceived in
response to a divine promise; rather, he was Abraham’s way of trying to force
God’s hand; and his descendants would be enemies of the children of God down
the centuries.
Isaac,
on the other hand, would never have been born outside of divine intervention.
Everything was against Sarah having a child. She was both old and barren. Only
God could reawaken her dead systems and make them function again, and function
efficiently to enable her to conceive, carry a baby to term and go through the
rigors of childbirth unscathed and without the intervention of 21st century
medical skills. Isaac was a God-child from beginning to end.
A
good illustration, Paul! Anyone who thinks he can to satisfy God’s perfection
by trying to be perfect, is on his own. But the problem is that he is up
against his own perverse nature. Every time he is confronted with God’s
requirements, his rebellious sin-nature rises and resists. That’s what the law
does. We are not neutral; we are hostile to God, enemies, hating the light
because it exposes who we really are. Before we even attempt the impossible, we
are gonged out. What does that make us? Slaves! Enslaved by our own nature and
enslaved to sin.
On
the other hand, Sarah’s baby came easily. When God said it would happen, it
happened, on time and in His time. He made the promise, and He kept His
promise. Isaac was not a “borrowed” son but her son. Isaac belonged
to Abraham and Sarah because God gave him to them. They did not deserve him;
God did not give him to them as a reward for anything. God gave him to them
because He had a plan and Isaac was part of His plan. Isaac was the beginning
of God’s human family, Israel.
Salvation
is like that. God gave it to us through Jesus. God has a plan. He wants a
family of sons and daughters who are just like Him. Giving them rules to keep
did not work but it was part of His plan. It showed His people how stubborn and
rebellious their hearts were and that they could only become His true children
by grace and through God changing their hearts.
Before He could send Jesus, they had to learn what sin was and that
their only hope was through the sacrifice of a perfect Lamb. Jesus became God’s
perfect son and His perfect Lamb.
We
cannot have the law and faith in Jesus. The real problem is that people, even
God’s people, find it difficult to believe that we must do nothing except trust
in Jesus to be acceptable to God. Like Abraham and Sarah, we think we must do
something to “help” Him so that He will be pleased with us. Until we
get rid of that false notion and throw ourselves completely on His mercy, we
will never enjoy the freedom of being God’s beloved sons and daughters,
unconditionally loved and fully accepted as members of His family.
RUSSIA, IRAN, AND TURKEY
FORMING A BIBLICAL ALLIANCE
Vladimir Putin met with
Iranian and Turkish leaders in Tehran recently. The trip will mark only his
second trip outside of Russia since the Ukraine war began. In his previous trip
outside of the country, Putin visited Tajikistan (home to Russia’s largest
military base outside of its own borders) to discuss Afghanistan’s stability.
He then attended a summit in Turkmenistan to discuss energy policy with
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Turkmenistan.
Given Russia’s ongoing
military campaign in Ukraine, these trips highlight the significance of
Russia’s relationship with these countries – and with Iran and Turkey in
particular.
So why should you care? You
should care because more than 2,600 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel warned of a
future time when a vast coalition of nations will attack Israel. The leader of
this coalition is a man known as Gog, the ruler of Magog (Ezekiel 38:1). This
is why the invading force is known as the Gog of Magog coalition. According to
Ezekiel this alliance will send an overwhelming force to invade Israel in the
last days. And today, for the first time in human history, we see this alliance
forming.
The Invading Nations Which nations does Ezekiel describe? He identifies the invading
nations as “Magog, Rosh, Meschech, Tubal, Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and
Beth-togarmah” (Ezekiel 38:1-6). If you look on a 2022 map of the globe, you
won’t find any of these nations. So how can I say this alliance is forming?
Because these are the ancient
biblical names of these nations, and while their names have changed over the
years, we can still locate them on a map today. Below is a list of each nation,
followed by its modern day name:
Rosh = Russia
Magog = Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and
Afghanistan
Persia = Iran
Cush = Sudan
Put = Libya
Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Beth-togarmah = Turkey
Putin’s visit to Tehran will
mark the third nation he’s visited since the Ukraine war began, and all three –
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran – are part of the Gog of Magog alliance.
Moreover during the course of these three visits, Putin will meet with two
additional members of the Gog of Magog alliance – Kazakhstan and Turkey. Is
this a coincidence? I don’t think so.
It’s been centuries since
Ezekiel first recorded these prophecies. Yet, this alliance has never existed.
It certainly hasn’t invaded Israel. But now? Today, we see it coming together.
An Unlikely Alliance Putin’s trip to Tehran to meet with Iranian and Turkish leaders
should be of particular interest to those who study bible prophecy. Why?
Because, until recently, these three nations made an unlikely alliance. First,
these three nations have never been aligned in all of human history.
Second, Turkey is a member of
NATO, and until recently, actively sought EU membership. Third, for most of
recorded history, Russia and Iran had a turbulent relationship with little
cooperation. In fact, until the death of Ayatollah Khomeini, who deemed Islam
incompatible with the atheism of the Soviet Union, the modern nation of Iran
had little to do with Russia.
But in recent years, Russia’s
ties with both nations have strengthened. Following the death of Ayatollah
Khomeini and the end of the Iran-Iraq war in 1989, Russia (then a part of the
Soviet Union), started selling arms to Iran. In 1995, the Russian Ministry for
Atomic Energy signed an agreement with Iran to finish the Bushehr nuclear power
plant. The civil war in Syria was another area of cooperation between the two
countries.
Russia and Iran share a
common interest when it comes to keeping Syrian President Bashar Assad in
power. Russia has a vested interest in retaining access to the Syrian naval
base in Tartus and stopping the spread of ISIS. As a longtime ally of Assad,
Iran also has military forces in Syria. In addition, Iran is the primary
sponsor of Hezbollah, a radical terrorist organization. Hezbollah has openly
operated in Syria under Assad.
It’s clear Russia and Iran
have strengthened their diplomatic, economic, and military ties. But what about
Turkey? Of all the members of the Gog of Magog coalition, Turkey is the most
interesting. Why? Because it seems even more unlikely ally of Russia in an
invasion of Israel.
Following World War I, Turkey
established a secular western democracy and became a model democratic republic
in the Middle East. In 1949, Turkey became the first Muslim majority nation to
recognize Israel. In 1952, it joined NATO. For the latter part of the 20th
Century, Turkey was a strong ally of Israel, the U.S., and other western
nations. As the 21st Century dawned, Turkey explored membership in the European
Union. This would have further solidified the nation’s western ties. Instead,
an event took place that reshaped the future of Turkey.
In 2003, Turkey elected Recep
Tayyip Erdogan prime minister. A former member of a banned Islamist political
party, Erdogan’s administration has been hostile toward Turkey’s secular and
democratic institutions. Under Erdogan, Turkey has turned from its traditional
western allies and cultivated relationships with nations that oppose western
democracy.
In July 2016, Erdogan cracked
down on his political opponents following what he claimed was a coup attempt.
He imprisoned thousands of citizens and consolidated his grip on power. A 2017
referendum further extended that power. Now the president, Erdogan is the
undisputed ruler of Turkey. The nation, once hailed as a model of freedom and
democracy in the Muslim world, has quickly devolved into a totalitarian regime
eager to befriend America’s enemies.
In September 2018, Turkey met
the leaders of Russia and Iran in Tehran to discuss the future of Syria. In
February 2019, Turkey met the leaders of Russia and Iran in Sochi to coordinate
joint military plans in Syria. Now, these nations are meeting once again in
Tehran. The relationship between Putin and Erdogan is strong and growing. All
that’s left to permanently move Turkey into the Russian ally column is a clear
break between Turkey and NATO. What could cause that?
We may be witnessing it now.
Turkey is experiencing massive inflation. They also counted on Ukraine for a
significant portion of their food supply. Inflation and food shortages threaten
Erdogan’s grip on power. Where can he get a steady supply of energy and food?
Russia. It may be what finally drives Turkey into Russia’s corner. When that
happens, the key players in the Gog of Magog alliance will be in place.
When Will All This Happen? So when will this invasion take place? The Bible says it will
come “in the latter days” (Ezekiel 38:8). The original Hebrew word in this
verse is “acharith” which means “after-part, latter part, last, close, or end.”
In other words, this alliance will form in the last days just prior to the
return of Jesus Christ. Ezekiel uses this same word “acharith” eight verses
later, when he says the invasion will come “in the last days” (Ezekiel 38:16).
This is confirmed again when
Ezekiel reveals the Russian leader’s thoughts. Gog says to himself, “I will
attack the once abandoned cities now populated with the Jews who returned from
exile among the nations” (Ezekiel 38:12). This tells us Russia and its allies
will attack the land when it’s filled with the exiles who return from among the
nations. In other words, the target is modern day Israel. This means the
invasion is coming in our day and time.
Ezekiel stresses this fact
again and again when He says the invasion will occur “after Israel’s people
have been gathered from among many nations” (Ezekiel 38:8) and “when I bring my
people home from among the enemy nations” (Ezekiel 39:27). This return home
from among many nations has happened only once in all of human history – modern
day Israel.
While we wait for that
moment, the military forces of the three most powerful members of the Gog of
Magog alliance – Russia, Iran, and Turkey – are now cooperating in Syria. This
puts their joint military forces right on Israel’s border. And not just any
border – Israel’s northern border. This is where Ezekiel said the invading
force will come from – north of Israel (Ezekiel 38:15; Ezekiel 39:2). Is this a
coincidence? Again, I don’t think so. Never in history have these three nations
formed an alliance. Now, they’re all stationed directly to Israel’s north.
The stage is now set for the
fulfillment of the Ezekiel 38-39 prophecies. Turkey has made a strategic choice
to align itself with Russia and Iran. Eventually, Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the
other nations in the Gog of Magog alliance will send an overwhelming invasion
force against Israel (Ezekiel 38:8-9). When they do, God will destroy them and
display His power and glory for all the nations to see (Ezekiel 38:23). It’s
one more sign of how close we are to the Second Coming of Jesus.
Jesus is Coming The rise of the Gog of Magog alliance is a major sign of the end
times and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Remember, Ezekiel said this
coalition will attack Israel “in the last days” (Ezekiel 38:16) “after they’ve
been gathered from among many nations” (Ezekiel 38:8). The prophet Jeremiah
spoke about this same regathering from among the nations.
He said God would “gather the
remnant of His flock from the nations where he had driven them and bring them
back into the land” (Jeremiah 23:3-4). And then? And then God will “raise up a
righteous descendant of King David, a king who will rule the land with wisdom”
(Jeremiah 23:5-6). This righteous King is the long-awaited Messiah.
Through the prophet Micah,
God promised to “gather His exiles and form them into a strong nation.” Then,
He promised to “rule from Jerusalem as their king forever” (Micah 4:6-7). The
modern day nation of Israel is the fulfillment of God’s promise to regather His
people back in the land of Israel.
So it should come as no
surprise to see Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the other nations Ezekiel noted in
cooperation with one another. According to the Bible, it’s only a matter of
time before they attack Israel (Ezekiel 38:8-9). And after that, it’s only a
matter of time before Jesus returns to establish His everlasting Kingdom
(Revelation 22:20). Take note – Jesus is coming!
“Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. It is fine to be zealous provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. My dear children, for whom I am again in travail in the pains of childbirth until Christ be formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone because I am perplexed about you.” Galatians 4:17-20.
Bull’s eye! Paul hit the nail on the head.
Those
who were going behind his back, teaching the new converts that they had to
become Jews in order to be Christians had a hidden agenda. They were more
concerned about being right so that people would follow them rather than following
Jesus. Just like the Pharisees who were constantly in contention with Jesus
over the interpretation of the Torah because they wanted to dominate people, so
these men were trying to draw new believers to themselves by alienating them
from Paul.
We
have to ask the question: Was Paul doing what they were doing – attaching
people to himself rather than to Jesus? No, a thousand times! It was always his
passion to point people to Jesus –
he never gave up on his fiery contention for the completeness of Jesus’ work on
the cross for salvation. He could not bear for a moment to take anyone away
from absolute loyalty to Jesus and absolute confidence in His finished work.
“When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:1b-2.
Paul’s
passion for Jesus was so strong that he felt as though he was in labour,
travailing for these beloved spiritual babies like a mother about to give
birth. He felt the pain in his heart like a woman feels labour pains in her
body. What was his passion? That Christ be formed in them. What did that mean?
The
gospel of Jesus Christ is ultimately about God’s plan to have a family of sons
and daughters who resemble His Son. Jesus came to earth to reveal the Father
and to reconcile us to the Father so that we can be restored to Him as His
children. Living under rules and regulations defeats His purpose because those
who do that are acting like slaves and not like God’s children. They are more
concerned about trying to be perfect and win the Father’s approval (and never
succeeding) than about relating to the Father in love because they are already
His children.
It
is a good thing to be zealous, “But,” said Paul, “zeal for the
wrong reasons is worse than no zeal at all.” Religion makes people zealous
for doing wrong things, even evil things, like murdering those who do not
subscribe to their beliefs, even if they murder their own family members. How
can ruthlessly killing someone who has the right to choose what to believe,
ever be right, just because your god says you must?
Zeal,
like sincerity, that is misplaced, is dangerous. Zeal for the one true God
demands that we always do the right thing according to God’s nature. He gave every person the right to choose,
whether we choose to do right or wrong and He jealously guards and honours that
right even if our choices destroy us. God never uses force or coercion. He
tells us the truth and appeals to our minds to think and choose what is true
and right.
Everything
God does for us and to us is governed by His love for us. He is always nudging
us towards Jesus because He is the model of a true and perfect son. When we are
joined to Jesus by the Holy Spirit through faith and obedience, He can change
us from the inside to become like His son so that we can be fashioned into a
family of people who are one with Him and with Jesus.
The
Holy Spirit in us replaces God’s demand that we obey the rules. He leads us
from within if we listen to Him. He is Jesus’ personal representative, always
guiding us towards Jesus and into the truth about Him and about ourselves. He
is like a mother-figure who tenderly nurtures us, feeds us, teaches, and
corrects us in order to produce the family likeness in us so that we will wear
the family name with honour and integrity.
IS SOUTH AFRICA BECOMING A SOCIALIST STATE? LESSONS FROM HABAKKUK
As
a young student at Bible College, perhaps one of the most significant lessons I
learned then, and am still learning today, comes from a short prophetic book in
the Old Testament, the prophecy of Habakkuk.
There
are many parallels between Habakkuk’s times and our own. Society in his day was
out of control. Despite God’s covenant with Israel, choosing them above all the
nations to be His own people, they were no different from their wicked,
idolatrous neighbours.
They
despised God’s instructions on how to live in harmony with one another and with
their neighbours. Instead, crime was rife, law and order had collapsed, the
rich oppressed the poor, and the justice system had failed to stop the rot.
Habakkuk
was desperate. The situation was intolerable. It seemed to him that God was
either deaf to his cries or powerless to do anything to intervene. He was
sitting on His hands, perhaps even indifferent to the mess His own people were
in.
When
we read the opening verses of Habakkuk’s prophecy, we could be reading today’s
newspapers.
“How
long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is
everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil
deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and
violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has
become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far
outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted.”
Habakkuk
1:2-4 NLT
How
often do God’s people cry out to the Lord to intervene in a situation like
Habakkuk’s, but God is seemly doing nothing! All we see is that sin is
escalating everywhere in the world, and not only in our own country. The whole
world has gone crazy!
(Despite
what is happening around us now, and the apostle Paul’s warning of a state of
meltdown in society that will characterise the end times, there are many
so-called “prophets” who happily and confidently predict a great and
worldwide revival before Jesus comes. Who is telling the truth? Jesus Himself
said that the love of most will grow cold).
God’s
response to the prophet’s complaint was both startling and frightening. “I
am doing something that, if I told you what it is, you would not believe me. I
am raising up the Babylonians.”
The
threat of Babylonian invasion may have seemed remote to Habakkuk at that time
but God alerted him to the reality that the Babylonians were coming, and they
would inflict great suffering on God’s people.
Perhaps
what troubled Habakkuk the most was that God claimed responsibility for raising
them up and letting them loose on His own people.
How
could God use such a vicious and cruel nation to punish His own people who
were, to the prophet, “more righteous” than the Babylonians? Doesn’t
God hate sin? Wasn’t He too pure to condone evil?
Habakkuk
was determined to get answers from God, so he declared his intention to wait
until God answered him (most probably to his own satisfaction, since God’s
response up to this point provoked more questions than provided answers).
“I
will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guard post. There I will wait to
see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint.”
Habakkuk
2:1 NLT
Eventually,
God answered Him, but again, not in the way the prophet expected. Yes, the
Babylonian army would invade Judah. Yes, they would utterly destroy Jerusalem
and take God’s people into captivity. Yes, God’s people would suffer at the
hands of the invaders but….
God’s
focus is on those who remain faithful to Him throughout all the times of
hardship.
“Look
at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the
righteous will live by their faithfulness to God… “
Habakkuk
2:4 NLT
God
is never indifferent to the suffering that ungodly people inflict on those who
are faithful to Him. His cup of wrath guarantees that the wicked, be they
individual or nations, will be made to drink that cup to its dregs.
Habakkuk
finally got the picture. God uses situations that force people to make choices
that separate the godly from the ungodly. He never imposes change on people. He
uses circumstances and situation to drive them into a corner so that they must
choose for good or evil. (Hebrews 12)
Change
comes from within, and change happens when we recognise the evil of our ways
and return to the standards of God’s word.
And
so, when Habakkuk finally understood how God works, though His way might be
painful and difficult through hardship and suffering, his faith in God became
stronger and more resilient. Justice would be served on those who inflict
hardship on others. The prophet rejoiced in God’s grace to endure when
everything around him failed and fell apart.
“Though
the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the
olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in
the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be
joyful in God my Saviour. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet
like the feet of a deer; he enables me to tread on the heights.”
Habakkuk
3:17-19 NIV
How,
then, can we understand and participate with God in prayer in what He is doing
in our world today, as Habakkuk did in his day?
Let
me tell you what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me through His Word…
Some
time ago I asked the Lord why He has not stopped the war in Ukraine, since many
people around the world are praying. His response surprised me as much as His
reply to Habakkuk’s question stunned him.
He
took me to a verse in Genesis 15.
“In
the fourth generation, your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the
Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”
Genesis
15:16 NIV
God
told Abraham that his descendants would be enslaved in a foreign land for 400
years. After that, they would return to the Promised Land (and conquer it –
understood) because God was giving the Amorites time to repent or to fill up
His cup of wrath against them.
In
a process of unfolding revelation, He told me that Russia’s cup of wrath is not
yet full. He took me to the prophecy of Habakkuk and showed me the parallels
between the prophet’s dilemma and the dilemma of the church in our day.
South
Africa is not a nation in covenant with God but the church in South Africa, as
part of His church through the ages, is a covenant “nation” spiritually.
“But
you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special
possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of
darkness into his wonderful light.”
1
Peter 2:9 NIV
The
church is God’s representative to the world in the New Covenant era as Israel
was to the surrounding nations in their day. God’s attention is always on His
covenant people since they are part of His plan for showing the world who He
is.
“You
show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not
with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on
tablets of human hearts.”
2
Corinthians 3:3 NIV
When
the church fails to live as citizens of God’s kingdom in this evil world, the
Lord disciplines and trains through hardship and suffering so that we might be
a holy people, set apart for God. As, with Israel, He uses circumstances…
including people and nations, to do His work of sanctifying us for His glory.
“Moreover,
we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it.
How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They
disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us
for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems
pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of
righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Hebrews
12:9-11 NIV
A
short while after this encounter with Scripture, I had a mental picture, out of
the blue, of a huge ship ploughing through stormy seas, then slowing down and
turning around. The words came to me, “The juggernaut is turning around.”
Juggernaut? I looked up the meaning of juggernaut – an unstoppable force.
I
had no clue what this picture meant until I was riveted by a statement in a
weekly newspaper called “The Daily Friend” which I receive by email.
The articles are written by knowledgeable people who view current affairs with
insight and discernment.
The
article I was reading examined the reason for President Ramaphosa’s agreement
with Minister Gwede Mantashe that an “Eskom 2” was, a “good
idea” and should be built to stimulate competition with Eskom1 as one
option to deal with the energy crisis in South Africa.
What
was underlying this ridiculous proposal to solve the problem of an already
failing state enterprise? The writer’s conclusion, (that Gwede Mantashe is a
“died-in-the-wool” communist whose sole purpose is to turn South
Africa into a socialist state, to which President Ramaphosa agreed at this
point), set alarm bells ringing.
This
was not the president merely giving nodding approval to the suggestion,
according to the writer, but a deep-seated conviction that this is the way to
go for this country, underpinned by the SACP’s partnership in government.
Imagine
my surprise when I read this statement near the conclusion of this article…
“The
ANC, which has always been under the tutelage of the SACP, is intent on turning
the ship of state around (!!!!!!) and leaving this embarrassing period of state
failure behind them….”
Shortly
after reading this, I learned that South Africa is to become the headquarters
of the news channel, “Russis Today” after other countries had refused
them.
With South Africa’s sympathetic attitude and close links with Russia, is there every possibility that the “ship of state” is intent on leading South Africa towards becoming a socialist state? We have only to examine the new policies the government is proposing (e.g., EWC, NHI, BIG, etc.), and new legislation being inflicted on the people in South Africa to recognise that the ANC is moving us ever closer to absolute control over our nation.
How
does this tie in with Habakkuk’s interaction with God?
God
claimed responsibility for raising up the Babylonians. His purpose was to
punish His people for their disobedience to His covenant, and to bring them
back, through their suffering, to faith in Him.
He
also had to deal with Babylon. Their wickedness, cruelty, and oppression of
God’s people may have been the final drops in God’s cup of wrath which they would
drink when the Medes and Persians overthrew Babylon in one night (see Dani 5).
I
present my conclusions in the form of questions since I have no right to put
words in God’s mouth or claim to speak for God. I can only conclude, on the
strength and authority of God’s Word, that He might be using similar tactics as
He did in Habakkuk’s day to bring His church back to Himself or, at least, to
refine the remnant of His faithful ones who will survive the troubled times we
are living in.
Since
God is sovereign in all human affairs, can it be that He has raised up the ANC
to purify His church and restore the simplicity of faith in and obedience to
Jesus as Lord?
What
if the ‘ship of state’ is turning us back to communism – the scourge that
Russia let loose on the world – with its avowed intent to rid the world of
faith in God and in Jesus as Lord, and to control the world and its wealth by
oppressing the poor? Is that not Putin’s intention – to restore Russia’s rule
over its once vast empire by bringing its former member-states to their knees?
Russian
and Chinese communism’s attempt to destroy the church has failed. It produced,
instead, a purer and more powerful witness to Jesus. Perhaps this shaking may
just be what the church in South Africa needs to sift out the counterfeit church
and refine the bride in preparation for the Bridegroom’s return.
I
claim no prophetic gift or office. I ask only that you consider what I have
offered you and heed the message that faithfulness to Jesus and His ‘law’ of
faith in Him and love for one another (1 John 3:23) is our only hope of
survival despite all attempts to nullify our faith and drive us to deny our
allegiance to Jesus as Lord.
How
did Habakkuk respond to God’s startling and terrifying revelation of His ways?
Did
he “pray against” the invasion by the Babylonians? Did he “take
authority” over the devil and his attack on God’s people? Did he
“identify” and “pull down” altars and strongholds? Did he
organise “prayer walks” and mass prayer meetings to deal with the situation
he was enduring?
“No!”
to these reactions which are so often typical of the current “prayer”
movements.
Habakkuk
reflected on the coming destruction of those who would harm God’s people. He
remembered God’s great deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. He
remembered how God’s power over nature destroyed the enemy and opened the way
for His people to escape. If God did that for them, then, He could do it again.
His prayer, in response to all that God had revealed to him, was simple.
“I
have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In
this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in
your anger, remember your mercy.”
Habakkuk
3:2 NLT
Armed
with a renewed confidence in the sovereignty, power, and wisdom of God,
Habakkuk ends his encounter with the Lord in a song expressing his profound
faith in God despite impending disaster. The Babylonian army may come and
destroy everything but… accompanied by wild music and dizzy dancing, the
prophet expresses his confidence in God’s grace to see him through the test.
“The
Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to
tread upon the heights.” (For the choir director: This
prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments).
Habakkuk
3:19 NLT
Is
it possible, then, that God’s message to Habakkuk is His message to us today?
It is not our mandate or role to direct the political affairs of state by
interference or prayer. Our role as members of Jesus’s church is to be faithful
to Him, to live in obedience to His word and the leading of His Spirit, and to
trust Him that He is working, in all things, for our good, to conform us to the
image of His Son (Romans 8:28-29).
All
the signs of South Africa becoming a socialist state under the present
government are there. Communism’s goal, as demonstrated in the history of
Chinese and Russian communism, is to destroy the church and annihilate God’s
people.
Unless
God rescues us from the present regime with its hidden and not-so-hidden
agendas, the church in South Africa will be shaken as never before. Whether we
stand or not will depend on our commitment to be faithful to Jesus, no matter
what.
Communism
or not, God is sovereign. He will use whatever is necessary to transform us
into true children of God. His perfect family is His goal. Let our prayers echo
and reflect the faith of Habakkuk, submitting to God’s ways and trusting Him
for grace to endure suffering until His purified church becomes the light that
points the way to Jesus who will take us to the Father.
“I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you and, even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel from God, as if I were Jesus Christ Himself. Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:12-16.
A
tiny glimpse behind the scenes! Paul does not tell us much about himself in his
letters. However, it is in times like these, when he is contending for the very
souls of his converts, that we catch glimpses of the heart of this man.
It
seems that he visited the area in Asia Minor called Galatia during a bout of
sickness. In those days there was no such thing as a diagnosis. Conditions were
lumped together according to their symptoms. His illness may have affected his
eyes, hence his reference to the compassion of these Galatian people who would
have given him their eyes if they could.
But
Paul did not allow illness to rob him of the opportunity to preach Jesus to a
new group of people. He did not shut himself away and feel sorry for himself.
He used every opportunity to give away the message of Jesus even if it was
through painful and infected eyes. Perhaps his very vulnerability made the
gospel even more appealing.
Here
was a man who could have been at home, taking care the needs of his family
instead of facing the rigors and dangers on the road and at sea, traversing the
empire to tell people about Jesus. They listened and responded to Paul’s
message, grateful for a man who was willing to risk his life for people like
them. They tenderly cared for him and nursed him back to health and rewarded
his suffering by joining the empire-wide community of faith.
But
now? What had happened to them that they were so easily swayed by a bunch of
false teachers? Had Paul not grounded them in the truths of the gospel? Were
they not securely enough anchored in their faith in Jesus? It must have been
extremely difficult for these new converts to stand firm against the onslaught
of wickedness and religious bigotry that would have surrounded them in their
society.
They
had no resources to feed on as we have today; no Bible on their bedside table
or bookshelf; no theologically well-educated pastor to turn to; no Google
search engine to find answers at the click of a mouse. It would have been easy
for them to succumb to the persuasive arguments of these false teachers.
It
was up to Paul, with his clear understanding of the gospel and his ability to
explain it to his readers, to draw them back to the truth in the face of the
barrage of lies they were subjected to from every quarter. Paul was wise. He
set out, not only to explain the Scriptures to them but also to appeal to their
experience to convince them that their faith in Jesus was not a fantasy. When
he preached the gospel to them, what happened? They believed the message. And
then what happened? They began to change from the inside.
The
Holy Spirit in them brought joy and peace to their souls; He formed the
love-bond of unity and fellowship they experienced; He did miracles through
them and among them; the presence of Jesus was real among them. All their old
beliefs and practices began to fall away as they embraced this new life in
Jesus.
But
now? Somehow their attitude to Paul had changed. Paul felt it and he grieved.
What had been a beautiful relationship had turned sour. They were no longer
warm and friendly towards him. The atmosphere had turned hostile. It was as
though they had become his enemies. Is this what the truth does when people
embrace lies – turns them against Jesus and His church?
How
often it happens that a spiritual leader begins to move away from the truth of
the Word and entices people to follow him instead of joining them to Jesus. These
false teachers insist that they are the only ones who know the truth. They
twist the message of Jesus and inject just enough lies to lure people away from
grace. Families and friends are divided; there is suspicion and hostility where
there was once unity because the Holy Spirit is no longer active to bear
witness to Jesus.
Believers
beware! Never trust a spiritual leader who entices people to follow him, and
who insists that he is the only one who is right. Dangerous!