Who Is On The Lord's Side?

One of the greatest benefits of preaching the Word of God is, if I say what he says, I'm never wrong. Dr. Mike Murdock says... I'm never wrong when I quote God.

In the last few days there's been a phrase that has been going over in my mind. I'm very well aware of where it came from. It is the phrase, who is on the Lord's side?

As I said I know exactly where it came from. The setting was when Aaron had led the children of Israel to worship a golden calf.

This is how it goes...

Exodus 32:22-25 And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. [23] For they said unto me, make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. [24] And I said unto them, whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. [25] And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)

That's when Moses made a statement... He said, who is on the Lord's side, let him come unto me?

Now friend, this is the point that I want to make right now. When Moses made that statement... Who is on the Lord's side? He wasn't just asking for a show of hands.

This was a matter of life and death. What he was doing was calling for separation. He was calling for clear distinction between the factions. And he was giving everyone an opportunity for decision.

You see Israel had committed idolatry, which is spiritual adultery. And God was giving them a chance to forsake their sin, and turn back to Him.

The fact is every one of us have to make this decision... whose side are you on?

The sad truth is, for much too long it's been difficult to tell which side many are on.

We have been through some very difficult times in the United States of America, and around the world. And like you, I have not enjoyed it at all. But I have to say that I am finally beginning to see the hand of God behind it.

God's desire is to save America, and all nations of the world that will turn to him. So God has allowed America and the world, to go into the ringer. To be squeezed, to be spun, to be rung out. For the purpose of separation, distinction, clarity, of who's side you're on.

Going back to our text, I want you to see how severe this matter was in the sight of God...

Exodus 32:26-28 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. [27] And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. [28] And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

This is how real this issue is to God. You can't have two gods. God said you shall have no other gods before me.

This mixture was deadly, and it had to be removed. What has been happening in this nation and around the world is this... God is identifying the poisonous mixture that has got into the church, that has taken the hearts of men and women away from God, and set before them other gods.

It is almost beyond the reach of the imagination to think that God would deal so severely with his own people. But when the disease is severe, the cure must be severe.

The point is, God was showing us separation. He was showing us the intensity of his love for us, and his unwillingness to share our hearts with other Gods.

To take the Lord's side is not a small issue. To take the Lord's side, puts you at oughts with the world. There may be thousands of different religions in the world, but the simple truth is, everything falls into one of two categories... you're either on the Lord's side, or you're on the enemies side.

In other words, you're either in the Lord's camp, and you're for the Lord. Or you're in the enemy's camp and you're for the enemy.