"Suffering Consequences"
The Valley of Calamity • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 viewsOne of the greatest markers for recovery, whether it be from addictions, or from cancer, is spiritual well-being. Studies show that there is direct correlation between how one views their standing before God, and recovery from disease. In other words, if a patient feels that their wrongs can be forgiven by God, then recovery is swifter, and the patient is more likely to recover. However, if the patient feels that his/her wrongs are too great for even God to forgive, then recovery is longer, or nonexistent. This series will explore the lessons learned from the Book of Hosea to lay the groundwork to appreciate Resurrection Sunday in a new and greater way. The fear of punishment for wrongs is a great one - especially if God be the judge. The grace of the Cross helps us battle that fear, and hear the words, "do not fear" in a whole new way.
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Consequence - the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier: an act or instance of following something as an effect, result, or outcome.
Consequence - the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier: an act or instance of following something as an effect, result, or outcome.
A story with consequences
A story with consequences
The Lord’s anger burned against Israel again, and He stirred up David against them to say: “Go, count the people of Israel and Judah.”
Some clarification...
Some clarification...
Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.
So the king said to Joab, the commander of his army, “Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and register the troops so I can know their number.”
Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God multiply the troops 100 times more than they are —while my lord the king looks on! But why does my lord the king want to do this?”
Yet the king’s order prevailed over Joab and the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army left the king’s presence to register the troops of Israel.
They crossed the Jordan and camped in Aroer, south of the town in the middle of the valley, and then proceeded toward Gad and Jazer.
They went to Gilead and to the land of the Hittites and continued on to Dan-jaan and around to Sidon.
They went to the fortress of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites. Afterward, they went to the Negev of Judah at Beer-sheba.
When they had gone through the whole land, they returned to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and 20 days.
Joab gave the king the total of the registration of the troops. There were 800,000 fighting men from Israel and 500,000 men from Judah.
It took ten months, but...
It took ten months, but...
David’s conscience troubled him after he had taken a census of the troops. He said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I’ve done. Now, Lord, because I’ve been very foolish, please take away Your servant’s guilt.”
When David got up in the morning, a revelation from the Lord had come to the prophet Gad, David’s seer:
“Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am offering you three choices. Choose one of them, and I will do it to you.’ ”
So Gad went to David, told him the choices, and asked him, “Do you want three years of famine to come on your land, to flee from your foes three months while they pursue you, or to have a plague in your land three days? Now, think it over and decide what answer I should take back to the One who sent me.”
David answered Gad, “I have great anxiety. Please, let us fall into the Lord’s hands because His mercies are great, but don’t let me fall into human hands.”
So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the appointed time, and from Dan to Beer-sheba 70,000 men died.
Then the angel extended his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, but the Lord relented concerning the destruction and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough, withdraw your hand now!” The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
Suffering consequences, some lessons:
Suffering consequences, some lessons:
1. There are consequences.
1. There are consequences.
2. Consequences often have collateral damage.
2. Consequences often have collateral damage.
3. There are temporal consequences.
3. There are temporal consequences.
4. And then there are eternal consequences.
4. And then there are eternal consequences.
If you fail under pressure,
your strength is too small.
Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die;
save them as they stagger to their death.
Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.”
For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.
He who guards your soul knows you knew.
He will repay all people as their actions deserve.
5. It would be nice to have a David...
5. It would be nice to have a David...
When David saw the angel striking the people, he said to the Lord, “Look, I am the one who has sinned; I am the one who has done wrong. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand be against me and my father’s family.”
But it is best to have Jesus
But it is best to have Jesus
The consequence:
The consequence:
For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Instead,
Instead,
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.