"Compromise Has A Price - Part IV"
Blessed be the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. That name brings blessings to us. It brings assurance that we have never-ending tomorrows, even if the sun doesn�t come up in the morning. Brothers and sisters, because of the name of Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross at Calvary, we have eternity in Heaven. This world becomes less attractive to me each day. We live in a world that lacks compassion (which is love at work). Many things are about to happen and it will be a dark day for those who don�t know Christ. I remember an old song, �It won�t be long, �til Jesus comes�� One verse says, �The sinners will fall down to pray, they�ll pray for the rocks to fall upon them. They�ll weep and pray but their prayers will be too late.� The hour IS late. It�s even later than I once thought it was, and God has been revealing that daily to me. I read the Bible, then turn on the news and watch it come to pass. Once-strong Christians falling to the right and to the left. Many chasing another man or woman. Many chasing the riches and pleasures in this world. Many going after a strange doctrine, an easy way, something that sounds good to the ear. They want the flesh soothed and a quick way to Heaven. Because iniquity abounds, the love of many waxes cold. They are on their way to hell, after some terrible times on earth. Jesus paid for our freedom with His life and suffering that we can�t begin to comprehend. Still, people daily sell their souls to the devil for temporal things of the world. We must stand planted, unmoved, not compromising the Word of God. Friends, �Compromise Has A Price.�
Since the Holy Spirit put this series of messages on my heart and I delivered it, our ministry has been under attack! Not just our ministry, but our home church and our very lives. Many have taken a step back from us, a step back from this ministry and our church. Out of obedience I�ve preached and taught these messages, and those I once called friends and family of God turned on me. This is happening to all men and women of God who refuse to bow to the pressures of this world! Recently I gave these messages to a congregation, and their mood was to stone me! The same congregation was shouting with me just a few services before. A group of men given to me to teach, divided � some departed and went off looking for an easier Word. God is blessing the ones that stayed and desired the truth. Those who left are miserable and keep sinking lower and lower. The Word of God from Genesis to Revelation is the Truth. It is uncompromised for our benefit. We will have intense battles, but the end is near and only those who endure to the end shall be saved! Our reward is not here, it is in Heaven. Yet we enjoy many blessings now. If I compromise, I endanger everyone I come in contact with. The slightest compromise has a consequence. �Compromise Has A Price.�
In Exodus 32, the children of Israel stood at the bottom of Mount Sinai. They were waiting for Moses to come back down, but they got tired of waiting. The very people who witnessed all God had done for them in setting them free from Pharaoh, and bringing them out of Egypt. The Red Sea had been parted and the army that pursued them destroyed. God had worked miracles and fought their battles. Oh but they could not wait for the man of God to come down off the mountain. These people started to put pressure on the next man of God in line. They told Aaron to make them gods. They wanted a god they could see and touch, not one that spoke through a man. Here�s ol� Aaron in the same spot many ministers are in today. I can hear the people now, �We�ll vote you out! We�ll cut off your offerings if you don�t please us!� Aaron, a leader, had a choice to make just like many ministers today. A decision that can impact whether you have full pews, money in your pocket and pats on your back, if... IF you give in to what they want. If you compromise! There�s some preachers today that know what I�m talking about. The pews empty, and even some of the people who fill them, sitting on finances that help keep the doors of the church open. My brother ministers, when people withhold finances from you, pray for them, because those sitting on tithes and offerings have a terrible price to pay! Aaron gave in and compromised God�s standard. He did it to please the congregation of Israel. He compromised in what he knew would be sin, he knew that it wouldn�t please God. Oh but the pressures from the wicked overtook him. He broke the second thing God told them not to do over in Exodus 20:4-5. Aaron told the people to bring their gold � it was worth about 15 million dollars. They could have used it to build a temple for God, but they desired their own god. So many people today use all their resources for their own god. Aaron and the people sinned against God by making a golden calf. If that wasn�t bad enough, they gave credit to their false god for all that God had done for them! Exodus 32:4 states, ��These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.� How many today give God�s credit to man? Oh, they�ll give it to a doctor, to some judge, or even to a preacher. They worship false gods! They create their own gods by molding them to be what they want them to be. A god that suits their lifestyle and selfish, self-pleasing attitude. The Word says that the Israelites rose up to play. They ate! They drank! They gave offerings to their false god. They indulged in sensuous dancing and became naked. I believe Aaron sat in the midst of this and even appeared to have a good time, but inside he was miserable. I don�t believe any man that has known the power of God�s anointing can ever enjoy himself in sin again. I don�t believe he can stand the weight for very long of knowing he�s sending souls to hell by compromising God�s Word. The only way is that he becomes a reprobate! God saw all of this and was ready to destroy them all. Only Moses, the true man of God, stood in the gap for them. Moses made intercession for them. Many of you today better be thankful that a Pastor, that a family member or loved one is standing in the gap for you. As we read the rest of the chapter you�ll see Aaron making excuses. The people out of control because a leader compromised! Many died right there counted as enemies of God � they weren�t on the Lord�s side. The children of Levi stood by Moses on the Lord�s side. In doing so they broke a curse put on them in Genesis 49:7, and it was turned into a blessing. Moses went to make atonement for the people�s sins. He represented what Christ came later to do for all of us. Still, in Exodus 32:33-35 God speaks clearly concerning judgment on their sins. Much of Israel was carried off into bondage time after time. Today, all these generations later, many are still trying to return to their people. All this took place because they desired to sin and one leader compromised. �Compromise Has A Price.�
We must call compromise exactly what it
is � sin. Sin in a church or sin in a family or even an individual�s life has consequences. The penalty can be severe. It can hinder or reduce blessings. It can take away the blessings of God completely, it can take away a life. When compromise is tolerated and people refuse to speak out against it, God will judge. And not only on the one who continues in the sin, but on the whole family or congregation if they allow it to continue. Without repentance the blessings of God can be lost altogether. God will not allow sin in the midst. We are all members of the body, and one member out of order affects all! Compromise in the congregation of God�s people allows the destructive power of our adversary to enter and influence. A perfect example of this is found in Joshua 7. Remember Achan�s sin? God spoke to the children of Israel as a whole, because Achan sinned. He took a goodly garment, 200 shekels of silver, a wedge of gold of 50 shekels weight. They were commanded to destroy every-thing and to take nothing. The Word of God called it accursed. Achan coveted it and took it, but all paid the price for it. Joshua was unaware of the sin � he didn�t understand why his blessed mighty men had been defeated at Ai! The hand of God pulled back because of one man�s sin in the midst of the congregation. Achan finally confessed and gave up the items of his sin. It cost Achan and all of his family � they were all stoned to death, then they and all their possessions and cattle were burned. Why? I have no doubt it was because they knew of the sin and looked away. They too compromised. Is there sin in the camp of your congregation? Is there sin in your family? If there is, beware � you may not like the penalty imposed by the Lord. Sometimes the price is very high. If the sin is ignored, it will permanently take away the grace of God. �COMPROMISE HAS A PRICE!�
In Judges chapters 13-16, we read about Samson. He was set aside to be a Nazarite unto God. He was to live by God�s highest standards. Even though God had empowered him with the Spirit, Samson continued to compromise God�s standards. He totally disregarded the instruction of God given by his parents. He misused all of God�s gifts. Samson took an unbeliever for his wife without concern for God�s commandments concerning mixed marriages (Exodus 34:16, Deuteronomy 7:3). He fought and killed the Philistines not for God, not for the Hebrew children, but for his own revenge. Yet still the Spirit of the Lord was upon him. That doesn�t mean he had God�s approval � no, God is longsuffering. The Holy Spirit is speaking to someone right now! Samson frequented the harlots � that was his downfall. Pleasing God was not a concern for Samson � satisfying himself was. Finally in 16:20, the Spirit of the Lord departed from him! You all know the story � he repented. In 16:28, the Word says that Samson called unto the Lord. His prayers were answered and the Spirit came upon him one last time. He killed more with his death than in his life. Samson repented and had a renewed faith. We all have had that opportunity. �Compromise Has
A Price.�
I have to end this message and the series. God has had me teach and preach these for a reason. I urge you to study this for yourself by reading about Naomi and her family in the book of Ruth. Read about King David, a man after God�s own heart, who compromised. Read about Lot�s wife who just had to have that one look back. If you are reading this it�s not to late. If you have been compromising God�s Word by indulging in sin or by turning a blind eye to it around you, this is your opportunity to restore all of God�s blessings to you, your family, your church! Or, you can stay on the easy path and receive judgment. Remember, �Compromise Has A Price!�
In Christ's Love, Bro. Don George
