20/01/13

Sacrificing to the net

Habakkuk 1:16 - Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.


About a month back I was called to be part of an event whose purpose was to evangelize Christ to the people on the streets of a crowded area where Hindu extremist groups usually attack Christian preachers and people attending Christian churches. To find a way to get to do this event the main organizer heads used the disguise of a Catholic celebration and incorporating Catholic rituals which were non-biblical. When I came to know of this influx I was reluctant to be part of it, but then I prayed and asked Lord for guidance and I got this same scripture which we received today as message for the day.

The event went well, it had some hurdles but at the 11th hour they got sorted and we were able to reach out to many thousands of people giving tracts and giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the roads through loud speakers mounded on a large trailer.

Anybody seeing this would say what is wrong with doing this? It was a very bold step and met the purpose of reaching out to people and that too to great masses.

Today's message talks of the Chaldeans (means clod-breakers which symbolizes people who think out of the box to prosper) who were considered learned or wise people during those times. The Lord is saying in this message these people use extraordinary ways to get great results. Then the Lord points out to the area of problem with such people. He says they burn incense to the methods they use. He also points out these people do not empty their nets and thus become cause for the destructions of nations.

We need to understand as Christians there are many ways by which we can reach out to the masses of people at one time. These ways may look good but the Lord warns against them. He says if we use worldly ways which compromise His values we will land up not acknowledging the Lord as the giver of the Harvest but at our wisdom and ideas as being the cause of bringing people to God. The Lord also warns that in such cases since we were not inspired by Him we land up with a lot of people who start to depend on us for everything and people who we do not separate from us, although our purpose is to bring people to the Lord and not to ourselves.

The Lord is not telling us to stick to traditional ways of preaching but is says not to compromise with the values of God to do God's work even if they seem to look fruitful. We need to understand that Lord is the provider of our harvest. We need to go by His ways to have a good quality harvest.

Our aim should be more to make disciples for God and less just believers. We are here to make mighty men and many men.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, the ways of the world are easy but as your people You call us to go against the stream. It is You that give us the strength and ability to move against the stream. It is You who bless us with good results. There are many so called Christians who acknowledge You but do not acknowledge your Word, such people You hate, for your Word and You cannot be separated. Lord, we pray your workers do not use worldly ways to do work which is Heavenly but they totally be led by You. You do not desire a large army but You desire a good army where each one You will make mightier than a thousand...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Habakkuk 1:6-8,14-17
6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.
7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.
14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
15 They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.
16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

Joshua 23:10 - One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)