THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE – 13 Are You Speaking Against The Lord?
“13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? 14 Ye have said, it is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?” (Malachi 3:13-14). KJV
Loved ones, we learn from the text that the Christian’s Spiritual Battle with Satan is nothing new. There were some of the devil’s henchmen who openly spoke against the Lord in Malachi's day.
They asserted that divine worship, obedience to God, and repentance were useless; that if they did those things they were no better off; and if they refused, they were none the worse off.
There are many today who speak against the Lord in every conceivable way.
1. Some speak words against God's existence. They say the idea of God is only a fable. When Mr. Ingersoll was asked if he believed in God, he replied, "Well, I have never seen one." Neither had he seen electricity, pain, nor sorrow; but they exist. Such people are called fools (Psalm 14:1). Even the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1).
Why should the idea of God be thought incredible when humanity everywhere testifies to the need of God? Man's need of God is so great that those who know not the true God create a god for themselves (cf. Acts 17:22-23).
2. Some speak against God's creative power. They try to explain the world in terms of evolution. But the evolutionist has to have something with which to start, and he does not know how to get that something. The only correct explanation of creation is found in Genesis Chapter One which begins with an all-powerful, self-existent being (cf. John 1:1-4).
3. Some speak against God's word. They deny that the Bible is God's inspired message. But if there is a God — and there is — it is reasonable to assume that He would communicate with man in a definite and concrete manner; so, the Bible is a reasonable thing. The Bible is inspired (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). It is easy to prove the Bible is true.
4. The words of some are stout against God's Son. They say Christ was a good man but was not the Son of God. But if He was a good man — and He was — then He was the Son of God; because He claimed to be the Son of God (John 5:17-23), and good men do not lie.
He was the only begotten Son of God (John 1:14), begotten by the Spirit, and born of a virgin (Matthew 1:18-23). The dual nature of Jesus – Son of man and Son of God — qualified Him as the one mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), because a mediator should be equidistant between both parties.
5. Some utter words against God's ability. They accuse God of writing a book that man is unable to understand. This reflects upon God's ability. The Christian faith is a religion to be taught and can be understood (Matthew 28:20; Matthew 13:15; John 8:32; 2 Timothy 2:15). It is evident that if we understand it at all, we understand it alike.
6. Some speak against God's impartiality. They accuse God of electing some people to salvation and predestinating others to condemnation, without the choice of either. This is the false teaching of Calvinism.
Our God loved the whole world (John 3:16) and would that all be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4). Jesus died for all (Hebrews 2:19) and invites all (Matthew 11:28-30). Man makes his own election sure (2 Peter 1:5-10). God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34-35).
7. Some speak against God's fairness. They accuse the Lord of holding an infant responsible for the sin of Adam and Eve – hereditary depravity. But sin is an individual thing (Ezekiel 18:20). The infant is born guiltless (Matthew 18:3) and becomes guilty of sin in youth, not in infancy (Genesis 8:21).
8 . Some speak against God's sincerity. They accuse the Father of hypocrisy. They say that God is behind all the religious faiths, doctrines, and bodies in the world. They say that God has called one man to deny what He has called another to affirm. If one man were to preach one doctrine one night and preach the very opposite the next night, you would say that he is a hypocrite. Well, what does it make of God, if He does it?
9. Some speak against God by taking His name in vain (Exodus 20:7; James 3:9-12).
God is not responsible for the divided state of Christendom (READ Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4-6; Philippians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; John 17:20-21).
Shared with you by Samuel A. Matthews, preaching with the Liberty NW church of Christ, meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA. The God of Heaven and Earth is so good, and His love reaches all. He is in control, so trust Him. We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35).