by Kim Josephons

The Bible says in Isaiah 66:2:
For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Isn't it amazing that we know so little of this heart? This generation of preachers struts and parades their paltry knowledge of God's Word like second rate carnival barkers. Televangelists and radio preachers hawk God's promises and guarantee miracles for money. It would be laughable except that this scam, this extortion, this crime against God's name and honor, robs widows and children and victimizes the sick and desperate among us.

The sad fact of the matter is that these lies and cons have made such a mockery of the things of God, that not only is the world totally turned off to anything about God, but the Church has been wounded to her very core. So many in the Body of Christ have been used and misused that the fire that used to burn inside them has been reduced to ashes. Oh, how wolves have fattened themselves on the very lives of the sheep!

Seduced by showmanship and spectacle, success has dictated a new gospel that serves only the creature and not the Creator. The old ways have been abandoned - the cross forgotten - the blood ignored - salvation trivialized - and sin coddled. God have mercy on this end-time generation! It appears we are being given over to the "gods" we choose! What will we do in the end thereof?!

Look at the Word! God says "but to this man will I look" - not to the strutting showman - not to the proud performer, professor, or entertaining clown - only to the poor, contrite spirit that trembles at the Word of God! Is this what you're being taught? I hear a lot about standing up, taking authority, demanding my rights and everything else but very little about humbling myself! Why would you humble yourself? You've been so pumped up in the flesh that the concepts of repentance, brokenness and contrition are gone from the Church - and so is the Holy Ghost in most of the congregations.

Do you honestly think that God will show up at the 5 minute invitation window we offer Him at the close of our so-called services? "Hurry up Jesus, get some folks down the aisle - but do it fast, we don't want to miss the kick-off of our favorite team!!" God have mercy! It's all such a joke - but it's not funny.

In Jeremiah 23:32 God says that He is "against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness;…" That is exactly the problem - lies and lightness. In this same chapter God exposes the false pastors and prophets as those who promise peace to those who continue to walk in disobedience (vs. 17) - and those who refuse to preach against sin and turn His people from their evil way and the evil of their doings (vs. 22).

Could anything more clearly paint the picture of what is happening in most of the churches across our land? Just look at the scandals inside the Church for proof of these words. Look at the drug and alcohol use inside the Church - domestic violence, divorce and all manner of impurity inside the Church!

Covetousness - adultery - fornication - foolish jesting - strife - lovelessness - idolatry and all manner of evil. God have mercy!
And what is the reason for this? It is because we have left the old paths. It is because a spiritually bankrupt, corrupt clergy has never taught us to tremble at the Word of God. Can you imagine, the demons believe and tremble but we don't! (James 2:19) Folks, the Word of God is not something to just kick around and think about - It is to be obeyed!! We've come to a place where we agree or disagree, like or dislike parts of the Word, like music on a radio! God have mercy! We've come to a place where we read over and over the parts we like and dismiss all the rest. What has happened to us?

We say "I just want the Gospel - the Good News". Well? Who is the Good News? It's Jesus - that's who it is! Everything about Him from Genesis to Revelation is Good News! In fact, He is the greatest news this world has ever heard! Well then, let's hear Him! If He's healing the sick - it's Good News. If He's feeding the multitudes - it's Good News. If He's preaching the Word - it's Good News! If He's railing at the scribes, pharisees and hypocrites - it's Good News. And if He's coming back on a white horse with a two-edged sword coming out of His mouth, taking vengeance on those who know not God and obey not the Gospel - it's still Good News! Why? Because Jesus is the Gospel!

He alone is the Good News! And what does the Word say about Him? It says He is the Word of God made flesh. And how should we respond to Him? We should humble ourselves, confess our sins and receive Jesus as our Lord - our King - our Master - our Boss. I tell you, if we knew Him as He really is, we would tremble!

So then, how should we respond to the written Word of God? We should read it, believe it and obey it. God forbid that we should offend Him by judging it, questioning it, or disobeying it. We should tremble at His Word lest we become careless with that which is holy. We should tremble at His Word lest we grieve and quench the Holy Spirit as He tries to speak with us through the scriptures. And we should tremble at His Word lest we sin presumptuously and trample under foot the blood of Jesus and do despite to the Spirit of Grace.

The Word is not for our consideration and entertainment. Jesus said "my words are spirit and they are life." (John 6:63) He said "Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away." (Matt. 24:35) These truths alone should cause us to tremble at His Word. Because His Word is eternal - what He blesses will be blessed and what He curses will be cursed eternally! Because His promises are yea and amen, we must understand that His threatenings are yea and amen, even after heaven and earth pass away. And finally, because He said if we would submit to, abide in and obey His Word, then He would abide in us. How good can it get? Hear it again…

For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Is. 66:2)
Could we possibly ask for more? God grant us the grace to tremble at Your Word and help us honor Your Word and Name with complete obedience from the bottom of our hearts.