“For Strong Is The Lord God…”

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • In today’s world there is a great deal of emphasis and importance placed on “strength” (Bodybuilding; Athletics; etc.). Consider 1 Tim.4:8. To be “Strong in the Lord” (moral, ethical strength) is even more important than physical strength!

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • Rev.18 deals with “Judgment of the Great Harlot, Babylon the Great City.” Yet we see that even as she is being judged & destroyed, she is still in denial (vs.7). But “the Lord God is strong” - in determining guilt, in making a final judgment.

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • There seems to be a “natural weakness” in man to deal effectively with “judging; in dealing out justifiable retribution.” But God is not subject to human weaknesses when dealing with sin, nor with excuses and human rationale. God is able; He is strong, to render a final judgment against man and sin.

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - Against Self-Denial • Everyone sins - Rom. 3:10, 23

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; Romans 3:10 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - Against Self-Denial • Human reactions to sin: • We try to hide - Gen. 3:8

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - Against Self-Denial • Human reactions to sin: • We try to hide - Gen. 3:8 • We “pass the buck” - Gen. 3:12-13

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." 13And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." Genesis 3:12-13

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - Against Self-Denial • Human reactions to sin: • We try to hide - Gen. 3:8 • We “pass the buck” - Gen. 3:12-13 • We make up stupid reasons - Ex. 32:21-24

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” And Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?" 22So Aaron said, "Do not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. 23For they said to me, 'Make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' 24And I said to them, 'Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.' So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.” Exodus 32:21-24

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - Against Self-Denial • Human reactions to sin: • We try to “Cover-Up” - 2 Sam. 11 • We “Go into Denial” - Rev. 18:4-7

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.' Revelation 18:4-7

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - Against Self-Denial • But, “The Lord God is strong who judges her.” He is not influenced or distracted by any of these things - Gal. 6:7-8; Eccl. 5:6

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Galatians 6:7-8 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? Ecclesiastes 5:6

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - To Judge • Confrontation -- Why is it often so difficult? • Because we say: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” - Gen 4:9

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" Genesis 4:9

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - To Judge • Confrontation -- Why is it often so difficult? • Because we mis-understand: “Judge not” - Matt 7:1

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” Judge not, that you be not judged. Matthew 7:1

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - To Judge • Confrontation -- Why is it often so difficult? • Because we think "Faithful stewardship is expected. Why aren’t You?” - 1 Cor. 4:2

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - To Judge • Confrontation -- Why is it often so difficult? • Because we worry: “What will people think?” - 1 Cor. 4:3-5

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God. 1 Corinthians 4:3-5

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - To Judge • Confrontation -- Why is it often so difficult? • Other reasons; "Don’t want to get involved,” fear, shyness, lack of love, etc.

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - To Judge • But, “The Lord God is strong who judges her.” God is not hesitant to confront & to judge when it is justified and needed.

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - To Plead Our Case • “Judging” always involves “advocacy” (lawyers, arbiters, refs, umps, etc.)

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - To Plead Our Case • “Their Redeemer is strong...He will thoroughly plead their case.” - Jer. 50:34

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” Their Redeemer is strong; The LORD of hosts is His name. He will thoroughly plead their case, That He may give rest to the land, And disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. Jeremiah 50:34

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - To Plead Our Case • “Their Redeemer is strong...He will thoroughly plead their case.” - Jer. 50:34 • Jesus is our “Rule” (literally, “Arbiter”) - Col. 3:15; Eph. 2:14

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:15 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, Ephesians 2:14

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - To Plead Our Case • “Their Redeemer is strong...He will thoroughly plead their case.” - Jer. 50:34 • God is a “True & Righteous Judge.” - Rev. 19:2

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” “For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” Revelation 19:2

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - To Plead Our Case • “Their Redeemer is strong...He will thoroughly plead their case.” - Jer. 50:34 • God is a “Merciful Judge.” - Heb. 8:12

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Hebrews 8:12

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • God Is Strong - To Plead Our Case • “Their Redeemer is strong...He will thoroughly plead their case.” - Jer. 50:34 • God is the first one to want to see us “cleared.” - 2 Pet. 3:9

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • Aren't you glad that God is the final Judge instead of man? Can you imagine what it would be like if Judgment were left up to you or me - or to someone else--our enemies, the self-righteous, the weak, etc.?

“For Strong Is The Lord God…” • Listen to God's sentence on those who are disobedient (Matt. 7:23) and come to Jesus before it is too late. Leave the excuses, procrastination and questions behind. “And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Matthew 7:23

“For Strong Is The Lord God…”