Unrecognized

Bulletin

Dan Peters
02/19/23 - Obedience

Over and over the Bible repeats a principle that, “Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares,… for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed.” (1Sam. 2:30). Almost 300 years later, the prophet says to the king, “ As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you.” (2Kings 3:14). It is not that king Ahab was snubbed by Elisha the prophet, but by God himself. Ahab did not recognize or honor the commandments, so God would not recognize or honor Ahab. He became invisible to God.
The elders of Judah that were taken into captivity to Iraq (Babylon), came before the prophet Ezekiel 3 times. The first time Ezekiel pointed out just how God loathed idols (Eze. 8 - 11). Now the elders come with idolatry still in their hearts (Eze. 14:1-5), and Ezekiel calls upon them to repent (14:6-8). They come now a 3rd time, but Ezekiel tells them, “Thus says the Lord GOD, “Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “ I will not be inquired of by you.”’ (Ezek. 20:3). Unwilling to get rid of the idols in their hearts after the previous two warnings, God does not recognize them or their inquiry.
The New Testament does the same sort of thing. ((For you see the Bible is relevant today for two things; Mankind does’t change, and God changes not (Mal. 3:6 & Heb. 13:8). Why should God change if he is perfection? And the problem with mankind is that he thinks he is too)).
You can’t veto God.
The women in Corinth tried to take on the role and authority of man. But God said, “The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.” (1Cor. 14:34). Will the women of Corinth accept this? Will the women preachers of today? So Paul adds, “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.” (1Cor. 14:37-38). It seems as if Paul knew this was not going to go over very well at Corinth, so he verbally made an exclamation point. “But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized”. Will I be humble and accept what God says, or will I arrogantly veto it? Jesus, being equal with God, humbly submitted to his father. We honor Jesus for this, with the highest honor.
In this cancel culture age, please do not cancel God. You do not want God to cancel you out. It is time to humble ourselves and recognize Jesus and his apostles. If we recognize what he says, he will recognize us too. He promised. Dan Peters