By His Blood – Religion always quotes half a verse

“Nothing pisses off religious people like Context.”  — Brook Potter

The Children of Israel are at the Red Sea, and the Egyptians are bearing down ready to annihilate them from the earth.  The Hebrews hearts are failing them and Moses musters up the one of the most quoted verses in all the Scriptures; Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD…

I have seen this Scripture plastered all over Church buildings, Crusade meetings and Bus Tours.  The only Problem is what the Lord said in response to this Amazing Word of Faith; Exodus 14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me?…

Right there, we see the state of the church, crying out to God to do something, with great zeal and fervor,  but God’s response is to tell us that we already have everything we need, Go Forth.

Another great example of a verse we have butchered out of context is;

1 Corinthians 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Posters, Wrist bands and T-shirts all dawn this Scripture speaking of the wonderments of the Glory of God to come.  Or is it?  The very next verse puts an end to the great mystery.

1 Corinthians 2:10  BUT God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

In the words of Curry Blake, every time you see the word “but” in scripture, you can ignore what was said before, whatever proceeds is the real truth of the matter.  In this case, the Great Mystery, of God adopting humanity and abiding in Men, has ultimately been revealed to us.

Lastly, I’ll address the prayer of Solomon at the Dedication of the Temple upon its completion.  In 2 Chronicles 6, Solomon prays concerning the House of the Lord that has just been completed.  He speaks about the Israelite’s great history with the Lord, and His Father’s desire to build the temple.  He speaks about the Ark that rests within and reminds the people of the Covenant.  Then Solomon dedicates the temple to the Lord and lists a series of purposes for this place.  Solomon Prayers thusly;

2 Chronicles 6:26 -27   When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;  Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.

This brings me to God’s response, and to a verse that has continued to be taken out of context to encourage people to prayer and cry out to God, when God is ultimately waiting on us to Go out and do what we have been called to do.

2 Chronicles 7: 13 – 14  If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Many quote 2 Chronicles 7:14, on its own, not realizing its part of a larger dialogue between Solomon and God concerning the first temple.  Many have used that verse to suggest that we must fast, pray and repent from sin, in order to bring Revival to our Land, missing the great Context and ignoring the Finished work of Jesus Christ.  The New Covenant Truth is, We are Already Revived with the Holy Spirit. We don’t pray for God to Move, rather we Move and His Spirit Goes with us, to be revival everywhere we go.