MONDAY February 6, 2017
A Rebuke to Carnal People
Then the word of the Lordcame by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this templeto lie in ruins?” - Haggai 1:3-4
In the first return from captivity about fifty thousand reentered the land; but notice how easy it was for them to return back to their same routine and forget God. Those wealthy among the people were living in their beautiful paneled houses. This became more of a priority to them, than the urgency to build God’s house. The people had become selfish, and when that happened the rich got richer and the poor became poorer.
Imagine, as they resettled in Jerusalem, they quickly forgot the hardships they had suffered as a captive in Babylon. Those that had plenty of food and prospered chose to forget about their God. The Lord had already warned them about the loss of this first priority Is pHis commandements once they prospered (Deuteronomy 8:11-20). Amazingly––Haggai, at this time in history, became the man of the hour who God had called upon to proclaim a strong rebuke to His people.
How many times do we see people who do not want to rebuild their lives in the Lord? They have become carnal people, living for their own benefit as they yield to their fleshly desires. These people have become like the Corinthians, who were carnal and not spiritual. The Apostle Paul needed to rebuke them. He hoped that his epistles to the Corinthian Church would cause them to repent of their carnality (2 Corinthians 7:8-10).
It is important to know that if you choose a life of carnality you will be wiped out––spiritually speaking. I urge you to read over Paul’s two epistles written to the Corinthians. Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of any carnality. Then begin to rebuild your lives according to God’s Word.
For to be carnally minded is death,
but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
~Romans 8:6~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!