Pastor John,
I listened to you weeks ago (online) describe what it means to be “profane” in the sight of the Lord. You said it is to esteem carnal (earthly) things on a par with holy things of God.
I was also listening to your Old Testament Genesis teaching* and saw how Esau was profane before the Lord to say, “What good is my God-given birthright if I have no food and then ultimately starve?” Esau counted his life and survival on earth equally important with what God in heaven had done. Esau was profane.
Since then, I have considered how the coming generations of saints may be called to suffer being ostracized for having the witness and testimony of the spirit of God inside. They may be asked to deny the Spirit that bought them, just to carry on daily business such as working, or buying food, or traveling, or escaping death. It will be a test from God to not succumb to being profane. For one may say during such times, “What good is my life in the Spirit if I die here in the street from starvation?”
Today, I realized there is another risk of being profane before the Lord. It is to hear from God and have clear instruction from Him, but to say in our heart, “How can I obey God if it disrupts an earthly peace, or it damages earthly connections with friends or relatives?”
When we have heard from God, life for us freezes. There is no going forward without obeying. And there is no going around His word to us. Life for us stops until we obey.
It is a privilege and a terrible and fearful thing to be forever in the hand of God. I am so thankful He has been so patient and so loving. And He has!
Jerry
* Old Testament Course (Pt. 1) – Going to Jesus.com