God Repays Each Person According to Their Deeds

Our God is not only a God of love, but also a God who repays each person according to their deeds, a God of retribution. Our God shows love to those who love Him. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (cf. John 3:16). But to those who do not believe, God will manifest His wrath. Both the Old and New Testaments embody this truth: God will execute retribution on these people.

Disobeying God's Word Invites Divine Wrath

When we study the prophetic books, we must endure the shock that God has no pity on unbelievers. God's wrath is kindled against these people, even though they are His own people, the Israelites. The Book of Isaiah was not written to the Gentiles, but to those who believe in the Lord. If believers do not act according to God's Word, the problem is very serious. During a prayer meeting, Sister LP's grandmother had a high fever, and she is also a believer. The verses from Deuteronomy came to my mind:

If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God, then the Lord will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and enduring. And he will bring upon you again all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. Every sickness also and every affliction that is not recorded in the book of this law, the Lord will bring upon you, until you are destroyed. (Deuteronomy 28:58-61)

Blessings and Curses are Personal Choices

If a Christian cannot properly believe in the Lord, the problem is very serious. Whether it was Moses or Isaiah, these prophets all exhorted the people: this is a blessing and a curse, choose for yourselves. God has already described clearly the things that bring curses. If you do not obey, it is your own choice; do not say that God is truly harsh. When Isaiah wrote Isaiah chapters 3-5, he described how people rebelled against God and how God judged these people. The Book of Isaiah and the Book of Deuteronomy are in line with each other. The Book of Isaiah describes the situation of that era in greater detail.

Things God Abhors

For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert enchanter. (Isaiah 3:1-3)

People especially like to rely on certain things, feeling secure if they have people or money. In this generation, many people think that there is no problem because they have connections, but the facts prove that this person is unreliable. If you want to rely on some people, such as officials who think they must have talent, and feel secure only when there are talented people below them, God begins to hate you, and God will begin to judge you.

King David was a king after God's own heart. Besides committing adultery and killing Uriah, and taking Uriah's wife, he committed another sin, which was counting the warriors of Israel. When he counted the warriors of Israel, God sent a plague on the Israelites because he was deceived by the devil: you have so many mighty warriors, so you have no problem fighting.

This is a wrong logic, it is untenable, it is human logic. So God was furious with David. He made these two mistakes in his life, and the latter mistake was more serious than the former. The former mistake was at most a criminal offense, while the latter almost caused God to abandon him. That is to say, rely on God, rely on God without reservation. Once you start relying on money, food, water, warriors, judges, prophets, etc., you are finished. Never rely on these things, so everyone should remember a saying: Rely on the wall and the wall will fall, rely on the tree and the tree will lean; only relying on our God will not lead to shame. Relying on people is unreliable, so learn not to manage these things, only manage the relationship with God.

Following the Customs of this Age, Speaking Human Words

For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence. (Isaiah 3:8)

Everyone should be very careful. Many Christians open their mouths and speak human words, and naturally oppose the Lord. Your mouth should speak God's words; speaking human words will corrupt people. I have noticed that some brothers and sisters like to speak human words and like to listen to human words. Jesus said to Peter: Get behind me, Satan! Because Peter advised Him not to go to Jerusalem to be crucified, Jesus said: Because you are setting your mind on human things, not on God's things. If you set your mind on human things, everything you say is worldly customs, which is very dangerous.

Why is the spirit of the dragon so prevalent among the people of the world and so difficult to drive out? Because in the people of the world, worldly customs are deeply rooted. Whether or not to eat Zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival is not the key, but the custom of the Dragon Boat Festival in your mind is the problem. So Ephesians chapter 2 says that the ruler of the air uses worldly customs to corrupt people:

in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2)

It seems harmless, but it is actually Satan's power of darkness. When a person follows the customs of the world, what he says is very palatable to people, and although it does not feel harmful, it can become a bondage to people. Worldly customs bind people because their speech and deeds are against the word of the Lord. It does not matter if unbelievers do so, because they are already living in such circumstances. If a Christian still follows the customs of the world, he is opposing the word of the Lord and inviting God's wrath.

Injustice and Unrighteousness

For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry! (Isaiah 5:7)

God establishes His kingdom, hoping that there will be fairness and justice in His kingdom. Do you know what God's justice is? God's justice is mercy. For example, Israel established God's kingdom, the nation of Israel, but they found it difficult to understand God's words: if an Israelite became poor, he would sell himself to others. In the Year of Jubilee, he should be released and given some money to leave. Every seven years is a Jubilee year, and all his debts are forgiven. Can you understand that?

In the New Testament, if you lend money to someone, you should not expect it back. The New Testament speaks of injustice and unrighteousness even more severely than the Old Testament. If you see someone in need among the brothers and sisters in the church and you do not help him, hiding your compassionate heart, fearing that he will not be able to repay your money, then you are in injustice and unrighteousness. Why do people cherish their money? Because they think money can help them, and they think it is impossible without money. But in fact, if you do not have God, it will not work even if you have money.

Not Paying Attention to the Works of the Lord

The harp and the lyre, the tambourine and the flute and wine are at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord, or see the work of his hands. (Isaiah 5:12)

If a person only cares about his work but does not care about the works of the Lord, it is very dangerous. This does not mean that you should do your work poorly, but if you care about the works of the Lord and pay attention to the work of His hands, you will know what a great grace it is to trust in God. A Christian has a job, but he does not care about the deeds of God, nor does he pay attention to what God has done. His heart is not filled with these things, he only cares about his daily life, and God's kingdom is all secondary. Then I ask you: what is your dream? To travel to Hawaii? To travel around the world? These are just seeking physical enjoyment. What does the Lord require of us? God wants us to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.

Walking with God is a very enjoyable thing. If you see brothers and sisters living in bondage, what will you do? Do you really have a compassionate heart? Every time I see brothers and sisters in bondage, I don't shed tears; I only set my heart on fighting, but when I see them get released, I choke up. I encourage our brothers and sisters to walk with your God, do not disregard the deeds of the Lord God, and do not neglect the work of His hands.

Not paying attention to God will lead to judgment. How God judges Israel and Judah, so will He judge His people. What God is doing among us now is so shocking. Our whole church is running forward, and brothers and sisters must keep up, do not dawdle behind. Some people are unwilling to keep up, and the result is that they are devoured by the devil and receive the wrath of God.

Calling Evil Good, and Good Evil

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)

Many people have ideas that are completely contrary to God's ideas. People often lose the judgment of things from God's perspective. Why should a person read God's Word often? Because when you read God's Word often, you will know what God considers good and what He considers evil. You need to know that what people value is what God abhors. Therefore, those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter, are all looking at things from a human perspective. If a person often speaks human words and looks at things from a human perspective, what will he get? It’s Woe!

Rejecting the Instruction of the Lord

Therefore, as tongues of fire devour straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust; because they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 5:24)

People should read God's Word often. When Isaiah wrote this book, Israel had already fallen, but Judah had not yet fallen. The people of Judah could not listen to the instruction of the Lord, and felt that things were pretty good as they were. I often hear many Christians say, Pastor, aren't people living well? It is because of God's mercy that He allows you to be well for a while. Therefore, everyone's eyes need to begin to change. Eighty to one hundred years after Isaiah, the kingdom of Judah was destroyed by Babylon, which was very tragic. In 70 AD, when the Greeks and Romans destroyed Israel, it was also very cruel. Therefore, do not think that if he lives well one day, he will live well forever. But if you trust in the Lord God, you will live in God's grace all your life.

God's Judgment

The people will oppress each other— man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable. (Isaiah 3:5)

The City Will Be Desolate, Filled with Sorrow and Mourning

Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the Lord will expose their private parts.” In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, the earrings and bracelets and veils, the headdresses and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, the signet rings and nose rings, the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls. Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-dressed hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding. Your male children will fall by the sword, your warriors in battle. The gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground. (Isaiah 3:17-26)

The Vineyard Devoured and Trampled

Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it. (Isaiah 5:5-6)

God did not bring these things upon those who love Him, but upon those who manifest His anger. The first six points talk about how people disobey God, and we must take this as a warning. When reading the prophetic books, be sure to read these. We who love God speak of love, but do not think that loving God means you can disobey Him. The desolate days do not come in one day; Sodom was not destroyed in one day. When it is destroyed, no one can escape. Therefore, fear the glorious and awesome name of the Lord (see Deuteronomy 28:58). Deuteronomy 28, chapters 1-13 talk about blessings, and the rest talk about curses. Few people receive blessings, and many receive curses. Don't think that people who lose their Mingding Destiny can live well. I encourage everyone to know the actions of the Lord, see what His hands have done, and begin to take on God's Mingding Destiny.

Sparse Life

The Lord Almighty has declared in my hearing: “Surely the great houses will become desolate, the spacious and splendid ones will have no one to live in them. A ten-acre vineyard will produce only a bath of wine; a homer of seed will yield only an ephah of grain.” (Isaiah 5:9-10)

That kind of life is very bad, a state of very poor returns. They have great and beautiful houses, but they become desolate and uninhabited. Does this house still have value? Therefore, we must be especially careful about how we live in God's will.

The People Taken Captive

Therefore my people will go into exile for lack of understanding; those of high rank will die of hunger, and the common people will be parched with thirst. Therefore Death has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth without limit; into it will descend their nobles and masses with all their brawlers and revelers. (Isaiah 5:13-14)

God opened the mouth of sheol, and the spirit of sheol, hell, and death rampaged among these rebellious people. Some people often say: Getting cancer is God's will. In fact, this is not God's will, this is God's wrath. People really need to wake up and truly walk in God's will.

Darkness and Hardship

Therefore the Lord’s anger burns against his people, his hand is raised and he strikes them down. The mountains tremble, their dead bodies lie in the streets like refuse. Yet for all this his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised. He lifts up a banner for the distant nations, he whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Here they come, swiftly and speedily! Not one of them grows tired or stumbles, not one slumbers or sleeps; not a belt is loosened at the waist, not a sandal strap is broken. Their arrows are sharp, all their bows are strung; their horses’ hooves are like flint, their chariot wheels like a whirlwind. Their roars are like that of the lion, they roar like young lions; they growl as they seize their prey and carry it off with no one to rescue. In that day they will roar over it like the roaring of the sea. If one looks at the land, there is only darkness and distress; even the sun is darkened by clouds. (Isaiah 5:25-30)

I hope that brothers and sisters know that this is how God judges rebellious people, so that we can have a heart of honor for God's glorious and awesome name. Last Sunday, we drove out the spirit of the dragon in the church. One brother was released that day and was very excited. When he returned to work, he shared it with another Christian, who actually said: Is there really such a thing? Isn't this what the devil always says? Then our brother will be confused. This kind of thing is especially common among Christians.

Give Birth to a Waiting Faith

In that day the branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. After the Lord has washed away the filth of the women of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire, then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain. (Isaiah 4:2-6)

Our God wants us to live in His protection, and those words of blessing will be fulfilled in us. May God make our church a blessed church, and may our brothers and sisters be raised up to see the actions of the Lord. You must also know that those who forsake God will be ashamed. Some people who forsake God may be OK today, but when they are not OK, they are basically unable to turn around. What God has established, whether it is blessing or disaster, has a period of distance with what you do.

If you do justice and love mercy, God's blessing will surely come, but it will take some time. It may be three days, or it may be thirty or fifty days. If you sow seeds and sprout beans, you will see the bean sprouts grow in three days. If you plant a fruit tree, it will bear fruit in seven years. Therefore, brothers and sisters, have a waiting faith. If you sow a curse, you may wait seven years before you reap the fruit of the curse. Why does this happen to you? That is what you planted before. You sow God's wrath and reap God's wrath; you sow blessings and reap blessings, all of which increase exponentially. Therefore, brothers and sisters, you must have a heart of reverence for God. Why is there a period of time? Why isn't it immediate? Immediate things do not require faith. What God wants is people with faith.