Modern Child Abuse
Modern Child Abuse
"And he went up from thence unto Beth-el: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. (2 Kings. 2:23-24, KJV.)
Some would call it child abuse, but the truth is the people at Beth-el, the house of GOD, had nurtured a bunch of rebels who had "NO FEAR” of the LORD. In our world today, we've done the same thing with our children. And I dare say many are being eaten by the “bears” of every day life and everyone wants to know, “Why would GOD allow something like this to happen to children?” The LORD should allow our sins of disrespect to bring grief upon us. Look around you, not only do these today not fear the LORD, they wear little pagan signs (certain jewelry, hairstyles, tattoos, and clothing) saying they don't fear the LORD. Many today flaunt their wickedness as if daring GOD to do something about it. Many leave a life and household of respect for authority and assume the “gangster” life style of imaginary menace and build a life of disrespect for everyone and everything. Such are those who ignore or oppose and ridicule GOD’S servants today in their effort to find respect and self-esteem for themselves. But they are searching without “Knowledge” or “fear of the LORD.”
For proper clarification of this Old Testament miracle with the modern day message, note the conjunction "And" that connects this to the passage before it. The truth here is plain. When the servant has been used by his Master, he must understand the devil WILL NOT let it go unopposed. Unpleasant truth it may be, but after a period of victory and success, Christians can expect sweltering, intense trials of their faith. After the power of GOD has attended his efforts to give glory to Jesus, he can count on experiencing a frenzy of retribution from the devil. Nothing infuriates satan like seeing his victims delivered from spiritual death, and bondage. He then turns on the obedient Christians in an effort to make them believe that they have been abandoned by GOD. It is one thing to know this theoretically and quite another to live it out in real life! The Bible says, "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you" (I Peter 4:12 KJV)
At the city of JERICHO, (the city of the curse) Elisha, is received with respect. The men of the city honor him and seek his help. Here he is able to be an instrument of blessing. At Beth-el (house of GOD) he is treated contemptuously, and ridiculed. Now where have we seen this happen before? One would expect to find blessing, not curses in the house of GOD. Upon reading this account, it seems that children then, are the same as now - wild, rude, and lawless unless they are taught better. But note the parallel with today. When there is an un-grieved Spirit in the church, the hand of GOD restrains the baser outburst of us all. But when the Spirit of GOD is grieved and quenched, by even a few, the restraining hand of the LORD is removed and moral decline is seen in all subdivisions of the community. Even in the children. Many have no understanding of why so many of their children die at an early age. This is what was spoken of earlier about “many being eaten by the “Bears” of everyday life.” “Honor thy Father and Mother” was the first commandment given with a promise. They are not raised to respect their parents, and therefore they will have no natural inclination to respect and obey any other authority either. Many children, if not most, today are allowed to grow older knowing only to respond to their glands and passions. This is where and how they become involved in all manner of un-godliness.
If parents today acted according to Proverbs 13:24, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” - 19:18 “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” - 22:15 “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” and 23:14 “Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.” - they are likely to be summoned before the courts for "child abuse". What we have recorded here is the days of Israel's degenerate living. “Juvenile delinquency” is one of the sure, main marks of a time of apostasy among any people. It is in the rebellion of the younger generation that destruction of the established, proven moral values is brought about. This is true in every society that has ever existed. It was true among GOD’S people in Elisha's day, and it remains true in the church today."
Remember, it was here at Beth-el, the house of GOD, that Jeroboam became afraid of losing control of GOD'S people, and so he "made two calves of gold” and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods," (1Ki.12:28-33) “THE CURSE OF CONVENIENT CHRISTIANITY“ is practiced in most of our churches today. Almost every church today, in some form or another has a program to pander to the baser requirements of the world. All have a taint of trepidation about appealing to the natural man in their “church growth” plan. Where once GOD'S smile was, now rests His frown. Where once His blessing rested in abundance now rests the desolation of His curse. In this scripture, this accounts for the severity of judgment against what was more than just a silly prank. What occurred was a deep, hidden manifestation of hatred of the true GOD and his faithful servant. The same "no fear" is seen all over western Christianity today. Israel's worship of Baal was far more heinous than the idolatry of the Canaanites. The church’s disregard of GOD’S Word, Will and Ways is far more grievous and insulting than the disrespect of the lost, pagan world.
If you will pay close attention you can see here proof that Apostates are always the fiercest prosecutors of those who cleave to the truth. Their faithfulness is a condemnation of those who have forsaken the truth of GOD‘S word for their own proclivity about right and wrong. Our generation is hard pressed to perceive that the punishment here fit the crime. The Bible says, "Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm" (Ps.105:15) "He that receiveth you receiveth me,...(Mt.10:40) An insult done His people, is regarded by the LORD as an insult against Himself. “…as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethen, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40) Today apostate leaders teach lies about what the Bible teaches about truth, and then make fun of the true servants of GOD as they declare Jesus as the ONLY hope of mankind and His ways as the only ways. THE CURSE OF GOD NOW REST ON MANY A CHURCH AND PLACE WHERE HIS MINISTERS, PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS, WERE MOCKED, ABUSED AND RUN OFF IN DISGRACE BECAUSE THEY DARED TO SPEAK THE TRUTH OF GOD!
You'll know soon if GOD has taken His hand off of you, it'll show up in your children. Had Elisha sinned by calling down curses? This must not have been the wrong thing to do. Instead of rebuking HIS servant, GOD sent bears to fulfill his curse. Divine intervention would have prevented it if it had been the wrong thing to do. It is ALWAYS God’s will that “sin with a high-hand,” (Knowing better, but doing it anyway) be paid for with terrible suffering on the part of the “willfully wicked.” It was a fair warning about the judgment that Israel faced for their sins. It is a fair warning to the church today for the reckless direction she is taking in regards to His word and raising the next generation of believers.
In closing, for you who say this is Old Testament law, we, the church, are under grace and GOD will not deal with us in such manner, you need to read Acts chapter 5 about your GOD of grace in the life of Ananias and Sapphira. It's the same GOD in the New Testament that we find in the Old Testament. He does not change in His standards of morality or expectations of holiness from one Testament to the other. God wants to and indeed does deal with all of mankind in love. But we must remember that true love dictates that discipline be instilled in the objects of His love. The Bible teaches that GOD takes no pleasure in people being condemned. But you are going to have to humble yourself and teach your children to humble themselves before GOD. And that is NOT child abuse. Indifference to GOD and His word in one generation leads to full-blown rebellion in the next generation. It's not spinelessness to show "the fear of the LORD.” It's the beginning of knowledge. Knowledge that will lead to eternal life in Heaven for you and hopefully position your children where they can hear and respond to the voice of the Holy Spirit when He calls their name. (Ephesians 6:7 & 8).
"And he went up from thence unto Beth-el: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. (2 Kings. 2:23-24, KJV.)
Some would call it child abuse, but the truth is the people at Beth-el, the house of GOD, had nurtured a bunch of rebels who had "NO FEAR” of the LORD. In our world today, we've done the same thing with our children. And I dare say many are being eaten by the “bears” of every day life and everyone wants to know, “Why would GOD allow something like this to happen to children?” The LORD should allow our sins of disrespect to bring grief upon us. Look around you, not only do these today not fear the LORD, they wear little pagan signs (certain jewelry, hairstyles, tattoos, and clothing) saying they don't fear the LORD. Many today flaunt their wickedness as if daring GOD to do something about it. Many leave a life and household of respect for authority and assume the “gangster” life style of imaginary menace and build a life of disrespect for everyone and everything. Such are those who ignore or oppose and ridicule GOD’S servants today in their effort to find respect and self-esteem for themselves. But they are searching without “Knowledge” or “fear of the LORD.”
For proper clarification of this Old Testament miracle with the modern day message, note the conjunction "And" that connects this to the passage before it. The truth here is plain. When the servant has been used by his Master, he must understand the devil WILL NOT let it go unopposed. Unpleasant truth it may be, but after a period of victory and success, Christians can expect sweltering, intense trials of their faith. After the power of GOD has attended his efforts to give glory to Jesus, he can count on experiencing a frenzy of retribution from the devil. Nothing infuriates satan like seeing his victims delivered from spiritual death, and bondage. He then turns on the obedient Christians in an effort to make them believe that they have been abandoned by GOD. It is one thing to know this theoretically and quite another to live it out in real life! The Bible says, "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you" (I Peter 4:12 KJV)
At the city of JERICHO, (the city of the curse) Elisha, is received with respect. The men of the city honor him and seek his help. Here he is able to be an instrument of blessing. At Beth-el (house of GOD) he is treated contemptuously, and ridiculed. Now where have we seen this happen before? One would expect to find blessing, not curses in the house of GOD. Upon reading this account, it seems that children then, are the same as now - wild, rude, and lawless unless they are taught better. But note the parallel with today. When there is an un-grieved Spirit in the church, the hand of GOD restrains the baser outburst of us all. But when the Spirit of GOD is grieved and quenched, by even a few, the restraining hand of the LORD is removed and moral decline is seen in all subdivisions of the community. Even in the children. Many have no understanding of why so many of their children die at an early age. This is what was spoken of earlier about “many being eaten by the “Bears” of everyday life.” “Honor thy Father and Mother” was the first commandment given with a promise. They are not raised to respect their parents, and therefore they will have no natural inclination to respect and obey any other authority either. Many children, if not most, today are allowed to grow older knowing only to respond to their glands and passions. This is where and how they become involved in all manner of un-godliness.
If parents today acted according to Proverbs 13:24, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” - 19:18 “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” - 22:15 “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” and 23:14 “Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.” - they are likely to be summoned before the courts for "child abuse". What we have recorded here is the days of Israel's degenerate living. “Juvenile delinquency” is one of the sure, main marks of a time of apostasy among any people. It is in the rebellion of the younger generation that destruction of the established, proven moral values is brought about. This is true in every society that has ever existed. It was true among GOD’S people in Elisha's day, and it remains true in the church today."
Remember, it was here at Beth-el, the house of GOD, that Jeroboam became afraid of losing control of GOD'S people, and so he "made two calves of gold” and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods," (1Ki.12:28-33) “THE CURSE OF CONVENIENT CHRISTIANITY“ is practiced in most of our churches today. Almost every church today, in some form or another has a program to pander to the baser requirements of the world. All have a taint of trepidation about appealing to the natural man in their “church growth” plan. Where once GOD'S smile was, now rests His frown. Where once His blessing rested in abundance now rests the desolation of His curse. In this scripture, this accounts for the severity of judgment against what was more than just a silly prank. What occurred was a deep, hidden manifestation of hatred of the true GOD and his faithful servant. The same "no fear" is seen all over western Christianity today. Israel's worship of Baal was far more heinous than the idolatry of the Canaanites. The church’s disregard of GOD’S Word, Will and Ways is far more grievous and insulting than the disrespect of the lost, pagan world.
If you will pay close attention you can see here proof that Apostates are always the fiercest prosecutors of those who cleave to the truth. Their faithfulness is a condemnation of those who have forsaken the truth of GOD‘S word for their own proclivity about right and wrong. Our generation is hard pressed to perceive that the punishment here fit the crime. The Bible says, "Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm" (Ps.105:15) "He that receiveth you receiveth me,...(Mt.10:40) An insult done His people, is regarded by the LORD as an insult against Himself. “…as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethen, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40) Today apostate leaders teach lies about what the Bible teaches about truth, and then make fun of the true servants of GOD as they declare Jesus as the ONLY hope of mankind and His ways as the only ways. THE CURSE OF GOD NOW REST ON MANY A CHURCH AND PLACE WHERE HIS MINISTERS, PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS, WERE MOCKED, ABUSED AND RUN OFF IN DISGRACE BECAUSE THEY DARED TO SPEAK THE TRUTH OF GOD!
You'll know soon if GOD has taken His hand off of you, it'll show up in your children. Had Elisha sinned by calling down curses? This must not have been the wrong thing to do. Instead of rebuking HIS servant, GOD sent bears to fulfill his curse. Divine intervention would have prevented it if it had been the wrong thing to do. It is ALWAYS God’s will that “sin with a high-hand,” (Knowing better, but doing it anyway) be paid for with terrible suffering on the part of the “willfully wicked.” It was a fair warning about the judgment that Israel faced for their sins. It is a fair warning to the church today for the reckless direction she is taking in regards to His word and raising the next generation of believers.
In closing, for you who say this is Old Testament law, we, the church, are under grace and GOD will not deal with us in such manner, you need to read Acts chapter 5 about your GOD of grace in the life of Ananias and Sapphira. It's the same GOD in the New Testament that we find in the Old Testament. He does not change in His standards of morality or expectations of holiness from one Testament to the other. God wants to and indeed does deal with all of mankind in love. But we must remember that true love dictates that discipline be instilled in the objects of His love. The Bible teaches that GOD takes no pleasure in people being condemned. But you are going to have to humble yourself and teach your children to humble themselves before GOD. And that is NOT child abuse. Indifference to GOD and His word in one generation leads to full-blown rebellion in the next generation. It's not spinelessness to show "the fear of the LORD.” It's the beginning of knowledge. Knowledge that will lead to eternal life in Heaven for you and hopefully position your children where they can hear and respond to the voice of the Holy Spirit when He calls their name. (Ephesians 6:7 & 8).
posted by The Discipler | 6:00 AM
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