Do you remember in the first chapter of 1 Samuel when Hannah, Eli’s wife, prayed silently and he thought she was drunk because he only saw her lips moving?
God heard that prayer and granted her a son.
The more I learn about how things work in the spirit world and how they effect the physical world…
The more I learn about the spiritual battles that take place over our lives by angels and fallen angels…
The more I realize that some prayers need to remain silent. Some things, some plans, some goals, and especially some fears need to remain between you and God.
Notice what happened when Daniel prayed about one of his visions, the angel that God dispatched to give him revelation was detained 3 weeks by a high ranking fallen angel…
Daniel 10:10-14 (NKJV)
10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, โO Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.โ While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.
12 Then he said to me, โDo not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.โ
Notice how Yeshua reminds us that we all have angels who minister to us daily…
Matthew 18:10 (NKJV)
10 โTake heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
You can’t believe in God without believing in angels and fallen angels (demons). These demons partner with the adversary (the devil) in being our aggressive antagonists.
Matthew 18:10 (NKJV)
10 โTake heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
The devil is our spiritual adversary, but he does not have the ability to know our thoughts. But, just like any physical human adversary, he can react to what you say to antagonize and hinder you. He and his fallen angel cohorts can react to what you say.
Just as a physical enemy will react to your words, so will the devil and demons. So, be very mindful that some things DON’T need to be said out loud.
Some prayers need to be spoken in your heart as you pray silently, just as Hannah did.
God has knowledge of what you need even before you ask.
His Holy Spirit steps in when words can’t be expressed or don’t need to be expressed…
When you pray silently it’s just like whispering in God’s ear.
Romans 8:26 (NKJV)
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession [a]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Be careful how and with whom you share your plans…
Be careful how and with whom you share your hopes…
Be careful how and with whom you share your fears…
Pray for wisdom on what should be spoken out loud and when you should whisper in God’s ear.
The devil is a deceiver and the father of lies, and remember, that Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) proclaimed this not to the overt, perverse ‘sinners’ but to the ‘elite’, self-righteous, religious leaders of the time. This same ‘spirit’ lives on in many people who claim to be believers today…
John 8:44 (NKJV)
44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
The fact is that he has been doing his thing long before we got here, and quite frankly he is good at it.
But, God didn’t leave us defenseless against his schemes…
2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV)
11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Leaders whose purpose is to deceive the saints WILL NOT ADMIT TO BE EVIL!
It’s our responsibility to recognize who the devil is working through. Just as we are created in God’s image, which means we have His attributes and character, those who are being led by the enemy have his attributes.
So, no matter what a leader may CLAIM to stand for, if their character hasn’t and doesn’t align with God’s character…beware. The fact is that the man of lawlessness will come with lying wonders that are designed to deceive the very elect…
Matthew 24:24 (NKJV)
24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Remember, the Jews were expecting the Messiah (Christ) to be a political and military leader as well as spiritual.
But here’s the more grave admonition. If they share the attributes of the Adversary, don’t be fooled by their deception, so you won’t be a partaker of their sins. Here are a few from Holy scripture…
These signs pertain to ALL leaders, world, national, local, professional and spiritual!
1. BEWARE OF LEADERS WHO ARE CONSTANTLY ACCUSING & PLACING BLAME…
This is a direct attribute of the devil. One of his titles, given by God, is the Accuser of the ‘brethren’…
Revelation 12:10 (NKJV)
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, โNow salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
I recommend that you don’t just beware of leaders who openly stand for evil, but for those who have the subtle attributes of the enemy. Beware of those whose character is to always accuse and never accept accountability. Be honest with yourself. Do you know any leaders that fit this description?
2. BEWARE OF LEADERS WHO ARE FULL OF PRIDE…
This is another direct attribute of the enemy that can’t be ignored or discounted. The bible makes it clear that PRIDE which is the first mentioned among deadly sins, in fact, it’s mentioned just before ‘hands that shed innocent blood’ which in manifested one way through abortion. Pride is just as deadly and just as much an abomination as abortion. God does not permit us to be proud of ANYTHING! Our nation. Our race. Our children. Our accomplishments. Instead, He demands we be THANKFUL for these things. One of the enemy’s most acceptable strategies is convincing believers that pride is okay in some situations. Do you know of any leaders whose looks and mouths are full of pride? Beware!
3. BEWARE OF LEADERS WHO ARE CONSTANTLY BOASTING ABOUT THEMSELVES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS…
This attribute is a direct fruit of pride and God warns to watch for it in both the Old and New Testatments. God told us that the spirit of the antichrist was already at work even in the 1st Century…
John 4:3 (NASB)
3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
We prove what we ‘confess’ by our lifestyle and words. That’s why Jesus said many who call Him ‘Lord, Lord’ will not enter into His Kingdom.
Don’t ignore the scriptures about leaders whose mouths are full of boasting…
Daniel 7:8 (NASB)
8 While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, [a]this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.
Proverbs 27:2 (NKJV)
2 Thessalonians 2:9-11(NASB)
9 that is, the one whose [a]coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and [b]signs and false wonders, 10 and with [c]all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God [d]will send upon them [e]a deluding influence so that they will believe [f]what is false,
Revelation 13:5 (NIV)
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.
Do you know of a leader whose mouth is full of boasting about him or herself? This person doesn’t have to be the anti-christ to be operating in the spirit of the antichrist to prepare hearts and minds for his coming.
4. BEWARE OF LEADERS WHO REFUSE TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS, GIVE FORGIVENESS OR REPENT…
When you carefully read about King Saul and King David, the thing that made David ‘a man after God’s own heart’ was that he had a heart of repentance, while Saul did not. Repentance isn’t saying I’m sorry, but actually turning from your sin with Godly sorrow. David allowed the Prophet Nathan to hold him accountable for his sin, and he repented…
Psalm 51 (NKJV)
Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sightโ That You may be found just [a]when You speak, And blameless when You judge. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. 16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heartโ These, O God, You will not despise.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
5. BEWARE OF LEADERS WHOSE CHARACTER DOESN’T ALIGN WITH WHAT THEY CLAIM TO STAND FOR…
No matter what we claim to ‘stand for’ we prove our faith in God through Yeshua the Messiah with our behavior. Are we perfect? No. But, it’s clear when someones overall character doesn’t align with what God commands. For example, I have seen one particular leader use profanity during speeches while crowds of people who claimed to be believers cheered, laughed and encouraged this behavior that God clearly forbids.
James 3:9-11 (NKJV)
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the [a]similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
I’ve seen believers make excuses for a leader who not only has never been known for his faith or integrity, but unrepentantly bragged about his past sinful exploits…rather than hold him accountable. This is enabling him just as much as enabling a dope addict by feeding his or her habit…
Ephesians 5:11 (NKJV)
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather [a]expose them.
When we don’t hold one another accountable, we become partakers of the same sins…
Ephesians 5:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
6. BEWARE OF LEADERS WHO CONSTANTLY HURL INSULTS…
We all insult one another sometimes, however, if we’re honest with ourselves, there are some people that have made hurling insults a part of their very character. This is of the devil, and Jesus Himself said it leads to hell fire…
Matthew 5:22 (NLT)
22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone,[a] you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot,[b] you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone,[c] you are in danger of the fires of hell.[d]
Remember, the enemy does not attempt to deceive believers by admitting to be evil, but disguising himself as an angel of light. Also remember that the wolf comes in sheep’s clothing…
Matthew 7:15 (KJV)
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
We are made in the image of our invisible God by displaying the Fruit of His Spirit, many of which our modern culture considers to be ‘weak’…
Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Israel didn’t become exiled because of the overt ‘sinners’ in the land, but because of the spiritual compromise, pride, and hypocrisy of believers. That’s why God said…
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
This article is intended to be an admonition for believers. Most of the time, these admonitions were rejected in the bible. Be careful of any spirit that would provoke you to immediately reject it.
Don’t forget that Herod was a great builder and political leader who even like John the Baptist, but was an enemy of our Lord and Savior…
Mark 6:20 (NLT)
20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.
I intentionally didn’t call any names, so if the name of a particular leader comes to mind, maybe it’s because they fit they description.
Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [a]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Remember, these signs pertain to ALL leaders, world, national, local, professional and spiritual!
And let us always pray that they submit to God’s will, word, love, truth and salvation!
Don’t worry, I’m not going rated ‘R’ on you but, I really think this is going to bless someone.
This is a much too common insult in our culture, and yes, the bad grammar is always intentional…
“You ain’t worth s**t! Of course, implying that someone doesn’t have the value of feces, crap, refuse, doo-doo, dung, ‘ish’.
It can be very hurtful if you allow it, especially if you are insecure or struggle with self-esteem. Or, if it’s told to a child by a parent, authority figure or peer. It’s damage can last well into adulthood.
So, let me give you a little ammunition with biblical support in case someone ever tells you, โYou ainโt worth shiggity!โ
God created everything with value. Everything! Even doo-doo! We all know that thereโs an industry built around the use of animal dung to make mulch and fertilizer.
Why?
Because God put purpose and power, even in poop. Not only does it have value, but great value.
People pay good money for a sack of s**t at Home Depot and Lowe’s.
God, in His wisdom gave waste the power to make things grow…so even waste doesn’t have to be wasted.
But, letโs look at the bible. There, we find the โSโ-word was used for two โFโ-wordsโฆboth FERTILIZER and FUEL. Not only did they use it to grow their food, but they used it as fuel/coal to heat their food too.
Luke 13:7-8 (NKJV)
7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, โLook, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?โ 8 But he answered and said to him, โSir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
Ezekiel 4:15 (NKJV)
15 Then He said to me, โSee, I am giving you cow dung instead of human waste, and you shall prepare your bread over it.โ
So, donโt get it twisted. God has value for dung. He has a purpose for poo, and He has a purpose for you.
Feces is used to diagnoseillnesses, research for cures for disease, and do scientificresearch. There’s value in doo doo!
So, if anybody ever tells you that โYou arenโt worth s**t,โ tell them thank you! Tell them of it’s value. And then, remind them that if they ‘ain’t’ working Godโs purpose for their life, tell them โS**t is worth more than you!โ
Sometimes it seems that texting while driving has stolen the spotlight from drunk driving.
However, it’s still the same problem it was back in 1976 when my grandfather was killed by a drunk driver on his way TO work.
But, many drunk or buzzed drivers aren’t just the stereotypical, stumbling alcoholics.
How many well-respected, hard working professionals, both ‘blue and white collar’ share ‘a couple of drinks’ after work before going home FROM work?
Not only is it a part of day-to-day life in some work places, but in many work cultures it’s an expectation to network and ‘climb the ladder’.
It’s only by the grace of God that more of these happy hours don’t end in tragedy.
I’m not saying don’t go to happy hour, but be responsible. Many people leave one drink, and one blink from suddenly changing (or ending) their life…or someone else’s.
Ephesians 5:17-19 (NKJV)
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
Most of us are very busy, with many responsibilities pulling us many different ways, but God is good and has given us many means to sustain our lives. He has given us…
JOBS to sustain us financially…
FAMILIES to sustain us emotionally and with love and support…
Assemblies of The Most High to help sustain us spiritually…
But if we aren’t careful, we can allow the things that are MEANT TO SUSTAIN OUR LIVES DRAIN THE LIFE OUT OF US. WORK/CAREER…
God has blessed us with jobs and careers to earn the money to provide for ourselves and our families. It is God’s will that we all work, as the bible says that anyone who doesn’t work shouldn’t eat (2Thessalonians 3:10). We must be very careful however to not allow our jobs and careers drain the life out of us. Yes, jobs can be demanding physically, emotionally and spiritually. We have to deal with coworkers, bosses and customers that take our patience to the edge. I know sometimes we have to work extended hours…but some choose to do so because they either want more material things or have obligated themselves with more. Not all ‘deadbeat parents’ live away from their children. Many neglect quality time with their family when they don’t have to do so. Many compromise their respect, values and sometimes Christian character trying to get promoted and ‘climb the ladder”. Many come home from work depleted, grumpy wanting to be left alone with no energy left for anything else. FAMILY…
Families are a blessing (Psalm 68:6), meant to enrich our lives and to be the foundation of the Body of Christ, but sometimes the demands of family can drain us also. The stress of responsibilities, managing relationships, family rivalries, trying to be everything to everyone can drain us too. Home should be a place of peach and not drama. Sometimes we can bring stresses that originated outside the home, inside the home. It’s important to spend quality time with one another, but it’s also necessary to spend some quality, peaceful moments alone with just you and God, so that our family life doesn’t drain us. CHURCH…
Yes we must even be responsible in how we allocate our WORSHIP/REST to be obedient. It is very clear that God intends for His family to fellowship together, worship together and most of all, work together for His Kingdom. He told us clearly in Hebrews 10:25 that we aren’t to forsake assembling together. However, some people have ‘established their own righteousness’ by staying in church ALL DAY LONG. Some have established a church culture going to church school early in the morning, then they have worship service which is GOOD AND SUFFICIENT…but they then regularly have another service and/or rush or rush to visit another church for an afternoon service and sometimes have an evening service later. They then start their work weeks TIRED AND DRAINED because they worshiped and had fellowship but did not rest TOO as commanded. God COMMANDED THAT WE WORSHIP AND REST. If we don’t get rest we are being disobedient. We are to refresh ourselves so we can have energy to work and do Kingdom work during the week. Yes, there is the example of Paul preaching all night in Acts Chapter 20 but that wasn’t the norm, he did that because he planned to leave the next day. God intends for church to REFRESH AND ENRICH us, not drain us.
God intends for our lives to have BALANCE…don’t allow what’s meant to SUSTAIN YOUR LIFE…DRAIN YOUR LIFE.
Serving God, especially through serving one another, can sometimes be thankless, unappreciated and quite frankly seem unrewarding.
Most of the good that we do may go unnoticed. This can be hard when your sacrifice your time, your moneyโฆeven your reputation for the sake of Godโs kingdom.
If we arenโt careful, we can find ourselves in our human moments regretting the good that we do or done, especially when we see those who could care less about God prospering and even mocking believers. Or, we see those who are looking at God as a genie in a bottle brag about their prosperity is due to their faithfulness, so whatโs wrong with you.
God allows us the space to have brief human moments, and even ask Him as we would our parentsโฆ
โWhy?โ
โHow Long?โ
โWhy me?โ
โWhy us?โ
โWhy do THEY deserve such good โfortuneโ?โ
Notice what Psalm 73:12-14 saysโฆ
Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches. 13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
And washed my hands in innocence. 14 For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning.
The Psalmist laments saying in so many words, โHave I repented for nothing?โ โIโm still troubled all the time!โ
God knows we are fleshโฆdustโฆhuman and will feel weak sometimes (Psalm 103:14, Matthew 26:1)
But, pay close attention to how strong Psalm 73 finishes. We are reminded that God will eventually deal with the ungodly. The Psalmist then repents and thenโฆ
TURNS HIS PITY PARTY INTO A PRAISE PARTYโฆ
Psalm 73:18-28 (NKJV)
Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction. 19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake,
You shall despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was vexed in my mind. 22 I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand. 24 You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. 26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works.
When you feel discouraged about the good you do, let me encourage you with the word of Godโฆ
Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Even those who don’t believe in God have heard of it. The mark of the beast. The ‘mark’ that many will submit to showing that they have rejected Christ and accepted the antichrist.
Revelation 13:16 (KJV)
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark IN their right hand, or IN their foreheads:
The purpose of this quick post isn’t to discuss whether or not the church will still be on earth when it takes place. But, what will it actually be. This could be a long post, but I’m going to keep it short so you can digest it…and pray about it.
There are those who talk about a chip being implanted, a bar code that will be required for buying, selling and living everyday life. There are others who speak of a literal mark or tattoo on the hand and forehead. How many warnings have you heard in sermons or seen posted on social media or in sermon?
I say neither. That’s too simple. That’s too literal. Check out this verse…
Jeremiah 31:33 (NKJV)
33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Notice that God says, “I will put My law IN their minds, and write it ON their hearts.”
If you take an x-ray, will you find actual words written on your brain or heart? Of course not.
When God places something in your mind, it affects your thinking. When He places something in your heart, it affects what’s most important to you.
It’s the same with Revelation 13:16…
“In their right hand…” In the way you do things.
“In their foreheads…” The way you think.
John told us that the spirit of the antichrist was already here way back then…
1 John 4:3 (NKJV)
3 and every spirit that does not confess that[a] Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
The spirit of the antichrist has been at work for years affecting how Christians ‘do things’ and ‘think’. Convincing us to compromise when it comes to our Lord and Savior Yeshua, Jesus Christ.
Here’s a quick example…think about Easter. What does the name ‘Easter’ have to do with Jesus? Nothing. What do bunnies and eggs have to do with celebrating His resurrection? Nothing. But, you can’t convince well-meaning Christians to celebrate without calling it Easter because it has been to deeply ingrained in the way they ‘do things’ and the way they ‘think’. Why not celebrate His resurrection without calling it by a pagan goddess’ name?
Think of all the ways that the enemy is convincing the people of God to compromise.
Think of how the thinking of this world is changing to accept what God has forbidden.
It’s not what what you accept in or on your skin…it’s what you accept within.
This is word of admonition to those who call themselves to be believers.
The image of modern-day Christianity has been perverted by people who where pride as a necklace and their arrogance masquerades itself as confidence. Many of these people mean well, but they have been seduced by their passion against some obvious sins (namely abortion and homosexuality)…
1 Timothy 5:24-25 (NLT)
24 Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. 25 In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.
…to excuse, justify and even indulge in the sins that aren’t as obvious or politicized such as pride, arrogance. They don’t share their faith in love. They are accused of hating those whose lifestyles they reject, while they themselves accuse others of hating the proud and arrogant personalities they support.
God used proud and arrogant nations ( namely Assyria and Babylon) to punish His people because of their idolatry, hypocrisy, assimilation, refusal of justice, violence and their arrogant leaders.
However, after using these clearly ungodly nations and ungodly rulers to punish His people, He later harshly punished Assyria and Babylon. Go back and read Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel through this context.
The problem with many people in America who call themselves Christians is that they never see America as Assyria or Babylon…only as either persecuted or victorious Israel.
God has made a promise to those who have succumbed to pride and arrogance…
Jeremiah 50:31-32 (NASB)
31 โBehold, I am against you, [a]arrogant one,โ Declares the Lord [b]God of armies, โFor your day has come, The time [c]when I will punish you. 32 The [d]arrogant one will stumble and fall With no one to raise him up; And I will set fire to his cities, And it will devour all his surroundings.โ
Jeremiah 50:31-32 (NKJV)
31 โBehold, I am against you, O most haughty one!โ says the Lord God of hosts; โFor your day has come, [a]The time that I will punish you. 32 The most proud shall stumble and fall, And no one will raise him up; I will kindle a fire in his cities, And it will devour all around him.โ
You can’t fight against one sin by accepting and engaging in another.
Remember, pride is the first mentioned among the seven deadly sins because it is the parent sin to countless offspring sins.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NKJV)
16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to [a]Him: 17 A[b] proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)
18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before [a]a fall.
James 4:6 (NKJV)
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: โGod resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.โ
Many of those who call themselves evangelicals do not represent the true image of Christ any more than the Scribes and Pharisees them. The fact is that Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ warned to beware of their hypocrisy and teaching…
Luke 12:1 (NKJV)
In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, โBeware of the [a]leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Remember that the LORD’S scathing rebukes WERE NOT FOR THE ‘SINNERS’ but those who called themselves to be religious leaders!
Think about Jesus’ response when the woman was caught in adultery. Think about how He dined with ‘sinners’. Then think about His responses to those who called themselves to be ‘religious’…
Matthew 23:13-36 (NKJV)
13 โBut woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 [a]Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widowsโ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
15 โWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of [b]hell as yourselves.
16 โWoe to you, blind guides, who say, โWhoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.โ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that [c]sanctifies the gold? 18 And, โWhoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.โ 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who [d]swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who [e]dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
23 โWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 โWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and [f]self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 โWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead menโs bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 โWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and [g]adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, โIf we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.โ
31 โTherefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathersโ guilt.33 Serpents, brood[h] of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
You can’t ignore this powerful connection. The book of Enoch is referenced in the books of Jude, Peter and The Revelation..,and connected to the entire bible. It was never omitted from The Ethiopian bible.
Many people in America suffer from a spiritual epidemic of pride and refuse to acknowledge or address it.
One way this abomination manifests itself is through how history is perceived and presented.
Too many Americans feel they have the right to define which history is appropriate and which is not.
For example, when speaking of the Confederacy or the flag that represented that rebellious effort that fought against the United States…many will not only claim it’s history, but will boastfully say, IT’S HERITAGE NOT HATE. They will quickly tell you they don’t care WHO is offended by the Confederate flag or honoring that history. It doesn’t enter their mind that it’s in any way divisive or stirs up hatred.
However, when little-known history and atrocities committed by Americans is shared, such as the Tulsa Massacre of 1921, some of the same people consider this history to be ‘race-bating’, stirring up hatred, and divisive.
What?
Are you that hypocritical?
How arrogant, selfish and quite frankly entitled can you be?
One of the most beautiful things about the bible, both Old Testament and New Testament, is that it reports the SAME HISTORY from more than one perspective, From the prophets, to the synoptic Gospels compared to John. Study the bible and look at how prophets who were contemporaries conveyed the same story from different perspectives.
God doesn’t try to hide the ugly things Israel did, or paint them as glorious, but instead shows His anger at them, tells how He rebuked them, and left a lesson for generations to come.
Telling people that history they don’t prefer is inappropriate is a text-book attitude of entitlement and privilege. But, people aren’t that stupid. When they’re honest with themselves…they know that. These people get pissed off because they want complete control of the narrative of American history. You don’t get to define what’s HATRED and what’s HISTORY based on the history that you value.
“Too many people in America only see America as always the HERO or the โHOLY VICTIMโ. I love America, but we (none of us) have not ALWAYS been the hero.
Too many people only see America as:
Israel and never Egyptโฆ
Joseph and never his brothers who sold him into slaveryโฆ
Esther & Mordecai and never Hamanโฆ
Israel/Judah and never Assyriaโฆ
Israel/Judah and never Babylonโฆ
Jesus and never Judasโฆ
Jesus and never the Phariseesโฆ
Jesus and never Herodโฆ
Jesus and never Pilateโฆ
Israel and never the Romansโฆ
And, even when America sees itself as Israel, too many in America never see themselves as REBUKED ISRAEL which God is holding accountable for their sins, but only heroic, victorious or restored Israel.
The bible is full of accounts of Israel being rebuked for not only their sins, but not rejecting the sins of their โfathersโ. Instead, too many sins of Americaโs past are celebrated as โhistoryโ and โheritageโ. God has proven that everything about our past should not only go uncelebrated, but should be confessed and repentedโฆ
Leviticus 26:39-42 (NKJV)
39 And those of you who are left shall [a]waste away in their iniquity in your enemiesโ lands; also in their fathersโ iniquities, which are with them, they shall waste away.
40 โBut if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, and that they also have walked contrary to Me,
41 and that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies;if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guiltโ
42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember;
I will remember the land.
Remember this, for restoration, God called for those who call themselves to be His to repent, not the โovertโ sinners in the landโฆ
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land
To many, so-called patriotism has become a form of idolatry. Pride will destroy American before anything else does.”
Itโs impossible to ignore the presence of slavery in the bible. Many people wonder if slavery is evil, then why is it in the bible, both Old and Testaments. To fully explain this concept would take a series of lessons, which I do intend to publish soon, as I get time to responsibly put them together. I will however give you a brief answer for general understanding.
First and foremost, we in the 21st Century have the tendency to view things only from a 21st Century perspective, but Yahuah (God) exists outside of time and relates to us holistically throughout time, beyond time and the cultures we have created. Yahuah deals with us from and through the lens of HIS prospective. We must look at the many aspects of servitude throughout history.
ITโS CLEAR AMERICAN SLAVERY WAS EVIL
Slavery and servitude have existed in numerous cultures, in many forms throughout history. Yes, slavery as it was in America was evil. In fact, Yahuah strictly forbade kidnapping people and selling them into slaveryโฆ(Exodus 21:16)โฆ 16 โHe who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death). Itโs clear Yahuah forbade this and it was punishable by death. So, how do you explain Exodus 21 that outlines regulations for Hebrews who choose to buy a slave? Or how do you explain Ephesians 6:5-9? (5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him)
As for Exodus 21, these were not SLAVES; the word is more properly translated servants. These people were not enslaved for life. They were indentured servants, who served a period of seven years and were then to be set free, unless he or she chose to stay with his or her โmasterโ. Now, as crazy as this may seem to us in the 21st Century, in ancient times there was no government support as we have in the recent past. Social structure and societal roles were strictly set in many cultures. If a family was poor or destitute, then it would most likely stay that way for generations. To some, servitude was a means of supporting families and sometimes preventing homelessness and starvation. If you read Exodus 21, there was no separation of families as took place in the southern United States. You will also notice in Deuteronomy 15:12-18 that God commanded that servants were not to be sent away empty-handed. This was a means for families to be lifted up from poverty and being destitute, unless they CHOSE to stay. This was not the equivalent to American slavery. (Deuteronomy 15:12-18) 12 โIf your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you.13 And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed.14 You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As the Lord your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. 15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today. 16 But if he says to you, โI will not go out from you,โ because he loves you and your household, since he is well off with you, 17 then you shall take an awl, and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your slave forever. And to your female slave you shall do the same. 18 It shall not seem hard to you when you let him go free from you, for at half the cost of a hired worker he has served you six years. So the Lord your God will bless you in all that you do.
There is however another aspect of slavery, the evil aspect. Sometimes during war, people would be captured and subjugated. And, yes sometimes people were and are kidnapped and sold into slavery. Remember, God allowed His own chosen people to be slaves in Egypt for 400 years. Remember in Exodus God said He hardened Pharaohโs heart so He wouldnโt listen to Moses? (Exodus 9:12 But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.) This was for the purpose that God could show His power to the Egyptians and for our example. In Isaiah 10:5-6 God tells how He used Assyria, a heathen nation, to punish His own people. (5 Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury!) 6 Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder,). Remember that God allowed His people to be taken captive by the Babylonians, that at the time of Jesus Israel was under Roman rule and in A.D. 70 they destroyed Jerusalem. Remember also that God used the Romans, a pagan, non-believing nation, to crucify His only Son. Throughout the Old Testament, even though war is evil, God used to discipline His people, and as judgment on unbelieversโฆfor our example.
GOD USES GOOD AND EVIL FOR HIS PURPOSE
My point is thisโฆboth good and evil exists in this world, and God used both good and evil for His ultimate purpose. Itโs obvious God wonโt use good people to do evil, so He even uses evil people to discipline, and execute judgment on both His people and unbelievers. Afterward, the evil people will be judged. Itโs not that theyโre cursed, as Jesus said in John 3:18 says they are already condemned due to theyโre own unbelief. Notice in Isaiah 10 that God says even though He used Assyria as a rod of correction against His people, he will still punish them for their evil that were predisposed to do anyway.
The fact is that God often used the existence and reality of something as evil as slavery to discipline His people or judge unbelievers. In regard to Ephesians 6:5-9, God made provision for His peopleโs behavior if they happened to be servants. His Godly character and holiness must be maintained in all situationsโฆgood and bad.
Notice this, any group enslaved never remained enslaved. God always heard their cry and set them freeโฆhopefully to show His power to the oppressor and love to the oppressed.
Also notice in the book of Philemon, that God encouraged his friend Onesimus to return to his โmasterโ, but He also encouraged Philemon to do the right thing and set him free upon his return.
SO WHY DID MOSES INCLUDE IT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?
One more thing is worth your consideration. In Matthew 19, the Pharisees confronted Jesus, asking Him is it lawful for a man to divorce His wife. Notice Jesusโ response in the NKJVโฆ โ4 โHavenโt you read,โ he replied, โthat at the beginning the Creator โmade them male and female,โ 5 and said, โFor this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one fleshโ? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.โ
7 โWhy then,โ they asked, โdid Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?โ
8 Jesus replied, โMoses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.โ Isnโt interesting that even though the book of Deuteronomy 24:1-4 permits divorce, Jesus makes it clear that just because Moses put it in the law during that dispensation of history, that it was never Godโs will. Malachi 2:16 confirms this in saying that God hates divorce. This slight departure from the topic is to prove that just like slavery, just because there was provision made in the law, doesnโt mean that God condones it in itโs most evil form. Remember the โservantsโ in the New Testament were indentured, and Paul urged Philemon to release Onisemus was he returned. Itโs possible that Onisemus decided to stay beyond his seven yearsโฆno one knows.
THEREโS MUCH MORE TO SAYโฆ
This is definitely not an exhaustive summary of all the verses concerning slavery, and thereโs still much more to be said, but I think it will give you an idea of the concept in the bible. I know there are many who will not agree with this analysis, which acknowledges the reality, of servitude, as well as harmonizes, Old and New Testaments. I welcome comments and thoughts. You may expand upon the content of this article, or express why you disagree. I only ask that all comments are positive and respectful.
One of my greatest disappointments in ‘growing up’ was realizing how much we really don’t. You can look at some adults and sometimes easily tell who was the cry baby, the know it all, the spoiled child…the one who took their toys and went home when they didn’t get their way.
You can work in an office, school, store, restaurant, or even a church and youโll find the same thingโฆproof that some of us never really grow up. Many work places arenโt much different from high schoolโฆ
You have the so-calledโฆ
Popular/Cool kids
Nerds
Jocks
Preps
Bullies
Loners
You have those with aggravatingly high levels of โschool spiritโ and those who โsmoke in the bathroomโ and could care less…those who are โcompany peopleโ and those who spend most of their day in the designated smoking area.
You have those who โremind the teacher (boss) we have a testโ…those who canโt wait to remind the boss of that meeting that no one wanted to have.
You have those who are always late for class and never have their assignmentsโฆthose always late for work and hold up the process, the lineโฆprogress because they havenโt done their part.
You have the teacherโs petโฆthose who love โkissing the bosses behindโ trying to get noticed or get ahead, and you see it sometimes backfire on them at work just as it did in school.
You have those who keep their โdeskโ in perfect conditionโฆthose whose desk is an organized messโฆand those whose desk is a disaster area.
School should be a place where all children can go to learn in peace and safetyโฆbe challenged and enjoy rewarding friendships.
Our workplaces should be places where we can earn a living for ourselves or our families and be respected as adults.
Does any of this sound familiar to you?
Both school and workplaces are ruined by the same thingsโฆ
Selfishness
Immaturity
Over Ambition
Arrogance
Untrustworthy
Cliques
People who forget the real reason they’re at WORK.
God’s word tells us that we should always be mindful to treat others not only as we want to be treatedโฆ
Matthew 7:12 (NKJV)
12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
But, also better than ourselvesโฆ
Philippians 2:3 (NKJV)
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
God also expects us to do whatever it takes within us to get along with othersโฆ
Romans 12:18 (NKJV)
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
The bible teaches us that God expects us to be โperfectโ. But, perfect in the bible does not mean without fault. It means โmatureโ (according to Strong’s Concordance Greek teleios means mature or consummated).
Matthew 5:48 (NKJV)
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect
Philippians 3:15 (NKJV)
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
When youโre in fourth grade, you should be at that proper level of developmentโฆintellectually, emotionally, behaviorally and socially. You arenโt expected to be in the fourth grade on an eight grade levelโฆor vice versa. If you are on your appropriate level of development, according to the bible you are ‘perfect’ or mature.
The problem is that in our workplacesโฆtoo many people remained at the ‘forth grade’ level even though they have moved to ‘high school’. God expects us to grow up.
If we take Godโs work serious enough in our homes to instill it within our children, we will find our schools much better places to learn, which will create adults who make our workplaces better places to work.
The enemy doesnโt mind you going to church as long as you take him with you. He wants to distract and infect your worship. One way he achieves this is through division in the local church. Division in the Body of Christ is strictly forbidden, and is sinโฆ
Galations 5:19-20
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, FACTIONS
1 Corinthians 1:10
10 โNow I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be NO DIVISIONS among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
We as people tend to want to be in groups of people with either common interests, or people who can benefit us. Sometimes these groups can form in the church with an unwillingness to let others inโฆthatโs a CLIQUE (FACTION) .
Church can become like high school โ The Cool Kids, The Jocks, The Nerdsโฆ
Church can become like the outside world โ The Haves and The Have Notsโฆ
Church can become like the secular (or Christian) music industry โ Pastor, his Entourage, his Groupies and Fansโฆ
Are you in one of these CLIQUES?
These are all distractions from the enemy to make our churches carnal, unfruitful and unproductive.
Donโt let your small group, your ministry group, your choir, your circle of friends be a CLIQUE in disguise.
Clique- ‘ISH’ even tried to creep into the early church…
1 Corinthians 11:18-22
18 โFor first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lordโs Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.โ
The Body of Christ is one body with many members (1 Corinthians 12:12) and EVERYBODY IS SOMEBODY!
Even though we as people have a tendency to be CLIQUE-‘ISH’โฆ. we need to keep that CLIQUE-‘ISH’ out of Godโs church.!
1. Slang term often used to replace โs**t.โ Derived from the process of editing the vocals of rap-songs by revershing the curse words so said song could be played on radio or television.
Years ago I used to do nursing home ministry. I would visit two nursing homes, once each month. As I walked down through the halls I would see the same faces. There were some residents who had regular visits from family and friends, but unfortunately, there too many who never got a visitorโฆever.
There were also varying levels of mental health. One lady in particular at one of the nursing homes would say the same thing during every visit. She would sit in her wheelchair in the entrance to her room as I walked byโฆsmile and say, โIโm going home todayโ. No, she wasnโt going home. She was one of the residents who never had visitors, and her family had moved on with their lives. At first I felt sorry for her because her situation seemed so hopelessโฆbut then God gave me an awesome revelation.
In her hopeless situationโฆher dementia was a blessing!
Blessing? How was her dementia a blessing?
In reality, she woke up every morning WITHOUT hope of going home.
But through her dementia, she woke up every morning WITH hope of going home.
God gave her a reason to smile EVERY DAY.
God gave her something to look forward to EVERY DAY.
God gave her HOPE in a HOPELESS situation.
She spent her last days with HOPE.
What many may think of as a CURSE, was actually a BLESSING to her.
Godโs wisdom is amazing!
He can can pull HOPE out of HOPElessโฆ
FORTUNE our of unFORTUNALTEโฆ
Stop and give God praise for His unfathomable wisdom. Paul was right in Romans 11โฆ
Romans 11: 33-36
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 โFor who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become His counselor?โ
35 โOr who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?โ
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
When you stop and take look, you can see Yahuah’s wisdom in everything…and I mean EVERYTHING!
Yah’s first institution established in His Kingdom was the family. He put man and woman together with a plan. He told us to be fruitful and multiply because Yah wasn’t going to continue creating men from dust or women from men’s ribs.
He gave us the gift of physical intimacy (sex) to bring children into the world, and to enhance our marriages. Yah wants us to enjoy one another just as much as he wants us to enjoy Him, and that’s very clear in the bible.
Proverbs 5:19 (NKJV)
As a loving deer and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
And always be enraptured with her love.
Hebrews 13:4 (NKJV)
4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers Yahuah will judge.
He even told husbands and wives to ‘take care of each other’ intimately so that neither is tempted…
1 Corinthians 7: 1-5
Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:
It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
God made sex a physical crescendo that builds to a climactic, brief culmination of intense pleasure sought after by both those who are married and unfortunately, unmarried….We will use the euphemism ‘THE BIG O’. Everything God did has a holy purpose. It’s not God’s fault that we misuse His gift…and what a perfect gift!
Here’s where Yahuah’s wisdom comes in.
Yah knew…
If we were going to ‘be fruitful and multiply’…
If we were going to have long, healthy marriages…
Our gift would need to be something we look forward to…something we crave and not something we dread.
Few people want the physical crescendo without the ‘BIG O’…
And, few people want the ‘BIG O’ to come too soon…
But, dig this!
As much as we enjoy…
As much we anticipate the ‘BIG O’.
As much as we enjoy reaching that brief moment of euphoria…Yah was wise enough to make it brief.
It’s brief enough for us to look forward to it, but it’s short enough for us to enjoy it.
Think about it…no one would be able to withstand 5, 10, 15 uninterrupted minutes of the ‘BIG O’. I don’t even know if our bodies could take it.
If the ‘BIG O’ was too big or too long…we would dread it.
If the ‘BIG O’ was too big we would avoid it.
There would be no ‘be fruitful and multiply’.
There would be a strain on marriages due to lack of intimacy.
Even the most holy person can admit that a well-timed ‘BIG O’ is just the pressure release valve needed sometime to relieve us of the stresses of life.
Yahuah knew just how good to make it…Just how strong to make it…and just how long to make it.
I told you when you stop and look at it, you can see Yah’s wisdom in EVERYTHING.
It’s easy to see why the apostle Paul proclaimed…
Romans 11:33 (NKJV)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of Yahuah! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Too many people who call themselves Christians have a perverted view of strength.
They equate being proud, angry, loud, aggressive, insulting, retaliatory, impulsive, impatient, mean, ruthless, hard-hearted, violent and unforgiving to being strong…
While equating being humble, meek, quiet, patient, kind, gentle, self-controlled, merciful, willing to yield, soft-hearted, forgiving and turning the other cheek to being weak.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
James 3:17 (NKJV)
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
On social media and verbally, people brag about how easy it is for them to…
Cut people off…
Hold onto a grudge…
Revert back to their less patient, less forgiving, more hard-hearted and ready to ‘strike-back’ self.
They say, “You don’t know who I used to be” with pride rather than regret.
They boast, “I haven’t always been saved”.
They assert, “I can come down to your level.”
They lament about not being able to ‘cuss you out’, and brag about how they would have ‘back in the day’.
They infer that in some situations, they have to let Satan handle it instead of God through their behavior.
All-the-while these people who claim to be in the Body of Christ are impressed by people who ‘keep it real’ and say ‘just what’s on their mind’, even though the word of God prohibits that behavior…
Proverbs 29:11 (NKJV)
11 A fool vents all his feelings,[a] But a wise man holds them back.
When called out on either engaging in or celebrating overly assertive behavior that clearly doesn’t meet God’s expectations, they quickly want to call out Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) turning over money changers in the temple…as if that was an example of strong behavior, but allowing Himself to be beaten and hung on the cross wasn’t.
But, even when the Lord was turning over money changers, He didn’t strike one person. New Testament Christians love to revert to the violent Old Testament to justify their visceral behavior rather than the New Testament that doesn’t give ONE example of Jesus allowing us to violently respond…
Matthew 5:38-40 (NLV)
38 โYou have heard that it has been said, โAn eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.โ 39 But I tell you, do not fight with the man who wants to fight. Whoever hits you on the right side of the face, turn so he can hit the other side also. 40 If any person takes you to court to get your shirt, give him your coat also.
When challenging so-called ‘strong words’, too many people mention when Jesus was calling the Pharisees hypocrites, a brood of vipers and sharply rebuking them, as if remaining silent before Pilate wasn’t strength.
People brag, “MY CUT-OFF GAME IS SO STRONG!”
People are competitive about how assertive and aggressive they can be to ‘get ahead’ in the world.
What if people bragged, “MY FORGIVENESS AND KINDNESS GAME IS SO STRONG!”
What if people were competitive about how gentle and willing to yield they can be to ‘get ahead’ in the Kingdom of God?
God doesn’t conform to the demands of our culture and standards…
We conform to His.
Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the [a]earth.
Notice what Jesus prayed for before He went to the cross in John 17. Notice how many times He said,โONEโ.
John 17:20-23 (NKJV)
20 โI do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Now, notice how many times He said I and my father are ONE.
John 10:30 (NKJV)
30 I and My Father are one.โ
Think about what who bears witness in heaven.
John 5:7 (NKJV)
7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one
What did Jesus Himself say about marriage?
Mark 10:8 (NKJV)
8 and the two shall become one fleshโ; [a] so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Notice that we’re told to speak the same thing and there be no divisions in our churches…
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV)
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
NOW…
Also notice something significant about the demons cast out of the man in Mark Chapter 5.
Mark 5:9 (NKJV)
9 Then He asked him, โWhat is your name?โ And he answered, saying, โMy name is Legion; for we are many.โ
Take note in Matthew Chapter 12 what demons do when they find a comfortable dwelling.
Matthew 12:43-45 (NKJV)
43 โWhen an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, โI will return to my house from which I came.โ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
Notice what atrocities Hitler was able to accomplished by getting people to agree with His agenda.
Look at what the LBGT community has been able to accomplish contrary to the word of God by banding together in agreement.
Why?
Because no force other than God and His love is more powerful agreement.
Oneness. Agreement. Unity. Works for both GOOD and EVIL. RIGHT and WRONG.
Think about it…
Marriage…agreement.
Family…agreement.
Church…agreement.
Street gang…agreement.
Mob…agreement.
All are only successful through ONENESS. AGREEMENT. UNITY…a force so powerful, it works for good and evil.
Why do you think the devil works so hard at trying to divide people who love one another…people who have so much in common?
God is love, and satan is not (yes, lower case on purpose.) Love covers all and conquers allโฆ
1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV)
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for โlove will cover a multitude of sins.โ
Godโs love is all powerful, but think about thisโฆ
UNITY, (AGREEMENT or ONENESS) is the only force and power that the enemy can use to try and RIVAL the power of Godโs love on earth to accomplish his agenda.
Thatโs why in John Chapter 17, after praying for Himself, then praying for His disciplesโฆHe prayed for us (vs.20), and He prayed that we are ONE in Him and in one another.
Because other than love, there is nothing more powerful on this earth than UNITY.
Yehovah Yireh provides perfectly through our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
We must always be careful that we never dishonor Him because we have our wants confused with our needs.
It didnโt take long for Israel to get tired of the โbread from heaven provided by God…
Numbers 11:1-20 (NKJV)
11 Now (A)when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; (B)for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the (C)fire of the Lordburned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. 2 Then the people (D)cried out to Moses, and when Moses (E)prayed to the Lord, the fire was [a]quenched. 3 So he called the name of the place [b]Taberah, because the fire of the Lord had burned among them.
4 Now the (F)mixed multitude who were among them [c]yielded to (G)intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: (H)โWho will give us meat to eat? 5 (I)We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; 6 but now (J)our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!โ
7 Now (K)the manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium. 8 The people went about and gathered it, ground it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, cooked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and (L)its taste was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil. 9 And (M)when the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.
10 Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and (N)the anger of the Lord was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. 11 (O)So Moses said to the Lord, โWhy have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the [d]burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, (P)โCarry them in your bosom, as a (Q)guardian carries a nursing child,โ to the land which You (R)swore[e] to their fathers? 13 (S)Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, โGive us meat, that we may eat.โ 14 (T)I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If You treat me like this, please kill me here and nowโif I have found favor in Your sightโand (U)do not let me see my wretchedness!โ
16 So the Lord said to Moses: โGather to Me (V)seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and (W)officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 Then I will come down and talk with you there. (X)I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. 18 Then you shall say to the people, [f]โConsecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept (Y)in the hearing of the Lord, saying, โWho will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.โ Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. 19 You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 20 (Z)but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have (AA)despised the Lord who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, (AB)โWhy did we ever come up out of Egypt?โ โ โ
How many times have you looked in the refrigerator, pantry or cabinet and said, โThereโs nothing to eatโ because it wasnโt what you wanted?
How many times have you complained about the job you prayed for and God is using to sustain your life this season?
How many times have you complained about the spouse, children or family that God gave you because they donโt always see eye-to-eye with you? Remember the children of Israel complained in the wilderness against Mosesโ leadership over and over again.
Complaining is one of the sins that pisses Him off the most…
1 Corinthians 10:10 (NKJV)
10 nor complain, as (A)some of them also complained, and (B)were destroyed by (C)the destroyer.
Remember, complaining is the opposite of thanksgiving.
The devil is a deceiver and the father of lies, and remember, that Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) proclaimed this not to the overt, perverse ‘sinners’ but to the ‘elite’, self-righteous, religious leaders of the time. This same ‘spirit’ lives on in many people who claim to be believers today…
John 8:44 (NKJV)
44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
The fact is that he has been doing his thing long before we got here, and quite frankly he is good at it.
But, God didn’t leave us defenseless against his schemes…
2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV)
11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Leaders whose purpose is to deceive the saints WILL NOT ADMIT TO BE EVIL!
It’s our responsibility to recognize who the devil is working through. Just as we are created in God’s image, which means we have His attributes and character, those who are being led by the enemy have his attributes.
So, no matter what a leader may CLAIM to stand for, if their character hasn’t and doesn’t align with God’s character…beware. The fact is that the man of lawlessness will come with lying wonders that are designed to deceive the very elect…
Matthew 24:24 (NKJV)
24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Remember, the Jews were expecting the Messiah (Christ) to be a political and military leader as well as spiritual.
But here’s the more grave admonition. If they share the attributes of the Adversary, don’t be fooled by their deception, so you won’t be a partaker of their sins. Here are a few from Holy scripture…
These signs pertain to ALL leaders, world, national, local, professional and spiritual!
1. BEWARE OF LEADERS WHO ARE CONSTANTLY ACCUSING & PLACING BLAME…
This is a direct attribute of the devil. One of his titles, given by God, is the Accuser of the ‘brethren’…
Revelation 12:10 (NKJV)
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, โNow salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
I recommend that you don’t just beware of leaders who openly stand for evil, but for those who have the subtle attributes of the enemy. Beware of those whose character is to always accuse and never accept accountability. Be honest with yourself. Do you know any leaders that fit this description?
2. BEWARE OF LEADERS WHO ARE FULL OF PRIDE…
This is another direct attribute of the enemy that can’t be ignored or discounted. The bible makes it clear that PRIDE which is the first mentioned among deadly sins, in fact, it’s mentioned just before ‘hands that shed innocent blood’ which in manifested one way through abortion. Pride is just as deadly and just as much an abomination as abortion. God does not permit us to be proud of ANYTHING! Our nation. Our race. Our children. Our accomplishments. Instead, He demands we be THANKFUL for these things. One of the enemy’s most acceptable strategies is convincing believers that pride is okay in some situations. Do you know of any leaders whose looks and mouths are full of pride? Beware!
3. BEWARE OF LEADERS WHO ARE CONSTANTLY BOASTING ABOUT THEMSELVES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS…
This attribute is a direct fruit of pride and God warns to watch for it in both the Old and New Testatments. God told us that the spirit of the antichrist was already at work even in the 1st Century…
John 4:3 (NASB)
3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
We prove what we ‘confess’ by our lifestyle and words. That’s why Jesus said many who call Him ‘Lord, Lord’ will not enter into His Kingdom.
Don’t ignore the scriptures about leaders whose mouths are full of boasting…
Daniel 7:8 (NASB)
8 While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, [a]this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.
Proverbs 27:2 (NKJV)
2 Thessalonians 2:9-11(NASB)
9 that is, the one whose [a]coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and [b]signs and false wonders, 10 and with [c]all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God [d]will send upon them [e]a deluding influence so that they will believe [f]what is false,
Revelation 13:5 (NIV)
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.
Do you know of a leader whose mouth is full of boasting about him or herself? This person doesn’t have to be the anti-christ to be operating in the spirit of the antichrist to prepare hearts and minds for his coming.
4. BEWARE OF LEADERS WHO REFUSE TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS, GIVE FORGIVENESS OR REPENT…
When you carefully read about King Saul and King David, the thing that made David ‘a man after God’s own heart’ was that he had a heart of repentance, while Saul did not. Repentance isn’t saying I’m sorry, but actually turning from your sin with Godly sorrow. David allowed the Prophet Nathan to hold him accountable for his sin, and he repented…
Psalm 51 (NKJV)
Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sightโ That You may be found just [a]when You speak, And blameless when You judge. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. 16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heartโ These, O God, You will not despise.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
5. BEWARE OF LEADERS WHOSE CHARACTER DOESN’T ALIGN WITH WHAT THEY CLAIM TO STAND FOR…
No matter what we claim to ‘stand for’ we prove our faith in God through Yeshua the Messiah with our behavior. Are we perfect? No. But, it’s clear when someones overall character doesn’t align with what God commands. For example, I have seen one particular leader use profanity during speeches while crowds of people who claimed to be believers cheered, laughed and encouraged this behavior that God clearly forbids.
James 3:9-11 (NKJV)
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the [a]similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
I’ve seen believers make excuses for a leader who not only has never been known for his faith or integrity, but unrepentantly bragged about his past sinful exploits…rather than hold him accountable. This is enabling him just as much as enabling a dope addict by feeding his or her habit…
Ephesians 5:11 (NKJV)
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather [a]expose them.
When we don’t hold one another accountable, we become partakers of the same sins…
Ephesians 5:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
6. BEWARE OF LEADERS WHO CONSTANTLY HURL INSULTS…
We all insult one another sometimes, however, if we’re honest with ourselves, there are some people that have made hurling insults a part of their very character. This is of the devil, and Jesus Himself said it leads to hell fire…
Matthew 5:22 (NLT)
22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone,[a] you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot,[b] you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone,[c] you are in danger of the fires of hell.[d]
Remember, the enemy does not attempt to deceive believers by admitting to be evil, but disguising himself as an angel of light. Also remember that the wolf comes in sheep’s clothing…
Matthew 7:15 (KJV)
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
We are made in the image of our invisible God by displaying the Fruit of His Spirit, many of which our modern culture considers to be ‘weak’…
Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Israel didn’t become exiled because of the overt ‘sinners’ in the land, but because of the spiritual compromise, pride, and hypocrisy of believers. That’s why God said…
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
This article is intended to be an admonition for believers. Most of the time, these admonitions were rejected in the bible. Be careful of any spirit that would provoke you to immediately reject it.
Don’t forget that Herod was a great builder and political leader who even like John the Baptist, but was an enemy of our Lord and Savior…
Mark 6:20 (NLT)
20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.
I intentionally didn’t call any names, so if the name of a particular leader comes to mind, maybe it’s because they fit they description.
Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [a]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Remember, these signs pertain to ALL leaders, world, national, local, professional and spiritual!
And let us always pray that they submit to God’s will, word, love, truth and salvation!
I’m confident that I’m not the only one who can relate to the title of this piece. Both conservatives and liberals criticize me, mock me and feel that I’m as wrong as two left shoes.
I’m a Black man who as much as I’m concerned with social justice, equality and equity for my people still try to approach the world from a God’s Kingdom perspective. I feel that the Kingdom of God is a nation within a nation, so I make my decisions based on the leader of that ‘nation’, Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ).
On one hand many of the efforts to champion the cause of social justice, equality and equity for Black people is intermingled with efforts to champion the LGBTQ movement, same-sex marriage and abortion.
On the other hand, I can’t support a leader who embodies the very character of the devil and predicted behavior of the antichrist… proud, boastful, unrepentant, unforgiving, arrogant, insulting, constantly accusing, blaming and never accepting accountability. These are all biblically quoted abominations, but conservatives condone, excuse, justify and enable his behavior because they choose his abominations over the abominations of abortion and homosexuality. I have seen crowds of Christians laugh and cheer as he hurls out profanities within his speeches. Mr. Trump has wrapped himself into the causes important to conservative evangelicals just as the devil disguises himself as an angel of light. Even though he is not the antichrist, he is using the very tactics that the bible predicts will be used by the antichrist…he will make things look great to many.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NASB)
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
Because of where I stand…
I’ve had many liberals tell me that I hate gay people (which I don’t) and that I am judging them when I point out that lifestyle as sin.
I’ve had many conservatives tell me that I hate the President (which I don’t) and that I am judging him when I point out his pride, insults, and ungodly behavior.
Notice that they both make the same accusations.
Liberals have criticized me for speaking out against abortion and conservatives have criticized me for reminding them God does not view abortion as a greater abomination than pride…
Proverbs 6:16-17 (NKJV)
16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to [a]Him: 17 A[b] proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,
The fact is…
I’m not putting my faith in any man, Biden or Trump.
I’m not putting my faith in any party, Democrat or Republican
The fact is…
I’m not putting my faith in any man, Biden or Trump.
I’m not putting my faith in any party, Democrat or Republican.
The fact that both liberals and conservatives sometimes feel I’m on the wrong side confirms for me that I’m on the right side.
We must pray that all leaders submit to God’s word, will, love, truth and salvation.
And, both sides must stop condemning those who disagree, because there is no lesser of two evils.
If you’ve grown up in church like me, you’ve heard the phrase, “It only takes a LITTLE faith.” Of course this is based on the scriptures about ‘mustard seed faith’, such as…
Matthew 17:20 (NKJV)
20ย So Jesus said to them,ย โBecause of yourย [a]unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you,ย if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, โMove from here to there,โ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
BUT THINK ABOUT THIS…
Yeshua said, “Asa grain of mustard seed.”
It takes GREAT FAITH for something as small as a grain of mustard seed to move mountains, not little faith. We must have faith as a grain of mustard seed would have to possess to grow.
NOW THINK ABOUT THIS…
Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) ALWAYS rebuked His disciples for having SMALL (LITTLE) faith…
Matthew 20:17 a
20ย So Jesus said to them,ย โBecause of yourย [e]unbelief;ย
Matthew 8:25-26 (NKJV)
25ย Then His disciples came toย Himย and awoke Him, saying, โLord, save us! We are perishing!โ
26ย But He said to them,ย โWhy are you fearful, O you of little faith?โย Thenย He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Matthew 6:30 (NKJV)
30ย Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven,ย will Heย not much moreย clotheย you, O you of little faith?
Matthew 14:31
31ย And immediately Jesus stretched outย Hisย hand and caught him, and said to him,ย โO you ofย little faith, why did you doubt?โ
Every time the disciples faith was challenged and proven to be small, He REBUKED them for having ‘LITTLE’ FAITH. He never congratulated, confirmed, celebrated, approved of, or gave a ‘thumbs up’ to small faith.
NOW CONSIDER THIS…
The Lord was ALWAYS IMPRESSED by GREAT FAITH…
Matthew 8:10 (NKJV)
10ย When Jesus heardย it,ย He marveled, and said to those who followed,ย โAssuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
Matthew 15:28 (NKJV)
28ย Then Jesus answered and said to her,ย โO woman,ย greatย isย your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.โย And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Yeshua ALWAYS celebrated, congratulated, was impressed by, approved of, and REWARDED GREAT FAITH!
We must immediately STOP teaching that it ONLY TAKES A LITTLE faith to please God.
Carefully listen to this sermon by my Senior Pastor W. Michael Martin…
Presented with a dilemma with eternal implications unknown to him, and with Jesus before Him, Pilate asked a poignant question…
John 18:38 (NKJV)
38 Pilate said to Him, โWhat is truth?โ And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, โI find no fault in Him at all.
The TRUTH is absolute independent of how we view it… just like God.
We defile it…
We pervert it…
We skew it towards our own point of view or agenda.
We make the truthsubjective.
This is why the key to finding truth when two people are using THE SAME SCRIPTURE to justify their perspective is totally removing how we WANT to view the scripture and seeking to see it as God intended. WEโRE BOTH USING SCRIPTURE SOโฆHOW TO TELL WHOโS โRIGHTโ?
For example, Yeshua the Messiah clearly says we should “turn the other cheek” if someone strikes us, and He gave us that example just before He was crucified…
Matthew 5:39 (NKJV)
39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
Luke 22:63-65 (NLT)
63 The guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and said, โProphesy to us! Who hit you that time?โ 65 And they hurled all sorts of terrible insults at him.
However, Christians read the truth in the above scripture, and then reason for themselves how it’s okay to strike someone back when it’s not in self defense. They see turning the other cheek as a sign of weakness. If your life isn’t truly in danger, striking someone back is pride.
In our heated social, historical and political climate, people ‘research’… ‘fact check’… read history and filter the absolute facts we find through our subjective perspectives.
In both the Old and New Testaments the bible makes it clear that homosexuality is a sin just the same as fornication and adultery. However, people who want to justify what they want to do, but also claim to be Christian will say, “That’s not what the scripture means.” WHY ITโS STILL A SIN EVEN IF YOU WERE, โBORN THAT WAYโโฆ
Another example…Benedict Arnold led the British army in battle to the very men that he had previously commanded.
That’s a fact.
But, how history views him is subjective. America views him as a traitor, while people from Britain might not think so. Calling him either a traitor or a hero creates a narrative, so he truth is filtered through perspective.
One last example…a zebra is black and white, however subjectivity creates a narrative when say the zebra is ‘black with white stripes’ or ‘white with black stripes’. Science has determined that their skin is black and their stripes are white per the website LIVESCIENCE.COM…https://bit.ly/3xjAqeA.
We make the truth subjective through our perspective.
When people say they’re LIVING THEIR TRUTH, give them this gentle reminder… “The truth doesn’t belong to you.”
John 14:6 (NKJV)
6 Jesus said to him, โI am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
perยทvertverb/pษrหvษrt/
alter (something) from its original course, meaning, or state to a distortion or corruption of what was first intended.
Don’t get it twisted. This is not just a self-righteous, judgmental platitudeโฆitโs biblical truth.
Why is God anti-gay?
Because God is anti-adultery, but not anti-adulterer.
Heโs anti-fornication, but not anti-fornicator.
Heโs anti-murder, but not anti-murderer
Heโs anti-malice, but not anti-malicious.
Heโs anti-hate, but not anti-hater.
Heโs anti-lie, but not anti-liar.
Heโs anti-foolishness, but not anti-fool.
Heโs anti-pride, but not anti-proud person.
Heโs anti-greed, but not anti-greedy person.
I think you get the picture. God is anti-sin, but He is not anti-sinner. Even though there are those trying to now establish that homosexuality is not a sin. It still is. Even though many people are trying to say that thatโs not what Sodom and Gomorrah was about. It still was (Genesis 19). Even though many people are trying to say that Jesus never addressed homosexuality, He still did (Matthew 19:4-6)FOR THOSE WHO SAY JESUS NEVER ADDRESSED HOMOSEXUALITYโฆ. And even though people are refuting what Paul said about it, itโs still truth (Romans 1:24-27).
Calling out homosexuality, as well as any other sins, is not hateโฆitโs our responsibility (Ezekiel 33:1-11, Romans 6:23). But, we must always rememberโฆ
To do so in love (1 Corinthians 16:14).
To remember that we are all sinners saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8).
So no matter what your sin may be, God still loves you!
God is anti-sin, but He is never anti-you!
1 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)
9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
Even though we may not all be Pastors, every disciple of Christ is a minister. We are all called to serve and represent the glory of God in everything that we doโฆ
Proverbs 3:6 (NKJV)
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct[a] your paths.
Colossians 3:17 (NKJV)
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
There are some things that God expects of every believer. We must remember that even though we arenโt always in church, we are always in worshipโฆ
Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Acknowledging God and honoring Him in everything that we do is a ministry in which we serve Him and worship Him daily. Here are 4 ministries that we all share as believers…
MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION
Anyone who loves his or her parent wants to see their siblings be in good relationship with their mother and father. If they have an estranged brother and sister, they will do all they can to convince them to be reconciled to their parent(s). Thatโs the responsibility that God gives us as disciples of Christโฆto convince our brothers and sisters to be reconciled to our Heavenly Father through our Lord and Savior, Yeshua, Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (NKJV)
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christโs behalf, be reconciled to God.
MINISTRY OF FAMILY
Our roles in our families could also be defined as our responsibilities in our families. God has defined our family responsibilities in His wordโฆ
Colossians 3:18-21 (NKJV)
18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV)
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
God expects us to not only be led by Him in how we relate to and manage our family relationships, He wants us to define to those who donโt believe how families deal with both the good and bad situations and challenges of life.
MINISTRY OF WORK
The word lets us know from the Old Testament to the New, that God expects us to work to sustain our lives and familiesโฆ
Genesis 3:19 (NKJV)
19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.โ
2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NKJV)
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
He goes on to let us know that we our to honor Him as we do our jobs. That we represent His very presence while we are there, and that we are to do our jobs as if we our serving Himโฆ
Colossians 3:22-23 (NKJV)
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
Remember that the bible uses the term โservantsโ interchangeably for both slaves and โhired servantsโ.
God expects us to define to unbelievers His integrity on the job. He expects us to define how to deal with the difficulties of the workday, office politics, unfairness in His Spirit and character without complaining of grumbling. Itโs not always easy, but itโs possibleโฆ
Matthew 20:1-16 (NKJV)
โFor the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, โYou also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.โ So they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle,[a] and said to them, โWhy have you been standing here idle all day?โ 7 They said to him, โBecause no one hired us.โ He said to them, โYou also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.โ[b]
8 โSo when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, โCall the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.โ 9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 12 saying, โThese last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.โ 13 But he answered one of them and said, โFriend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?โ16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.โ
God expects us to recognize when our job or career is coming between us and Him, and to be able to choose which is most important. He expects us to not allow our jobs and responsibilities to our employers to provoke us to sin. DOES YOUR JOB PROVOKE YOU TO SIN?
4. MINISTRY OF FUN
All lives need balance. God expects us to laugh and have fun. It is our responsibility to set the example of how to have fun.
Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NKJV)
4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
But we have to be very careful of how we entertain ourselves and realize that we are setting the standardโฆ
Ephesians 5:4 (NKJV)
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
Thereโs nothing wrong with music that is not necessarily Gospel, but celebrates life and fun, as long as itโs doesnโt contain ungodly lyrics. Thereโs nothing wrong with romance as long as it is within Godโs will… GODLY MARRIAGE: YOU CANโT GET ROMANTIC WITH A HYMNALโฆ Again, we are setting the example to let the world know that you donโt have to give up laughter and fun to be a disciple of Christ.
Remember that when you leave the four walls of your church building, that worship doesnโt end, but the ministry of LIFE begins.
Hymnals are an important and beloved part of the Christian tradition during worship service.
Many hymnals sung in churches were written centuries ago, but the lyrics are just as relevant today.
However, God raises up talented, creative and anointed psalmists for every generation. Yes, there’s plenty of meaningless, forgetful music out there intended to appeal to the senses and not the spirit, but there’s also tons of Christian songwriters and musicians who focus on honoring the scriptures with their music.
They write powerful, scriptural lyrics that live in specific genres to connect with believers all over the world.
Just as much as these ‘new hymnals’ are contemporary, those old songs were once ‘new school’ too.
The truth is, that as powerful and meaningful that, “Yield Not To Temptation” may be, the song and songs like it just won’t connect with some people in our generation or generations to come. However, all sincere believers have favorite spiritual songs that deliver the same message and help them connect with God.
None of the traditional songs that are so reveredtoday (except for the Psalms) were writtenduring ‘bible times.’ They’re spiritual but not scripture.
There are some Christians who will make you feel guilty about omitting classical hymnals during worship and using ‘bible apps’ instead of bound bibles.
They must be reminded that classical hymnals were once new, and bound bibles were ‘new technology’ after scrolls.
God DOES accept your worship as long as the songs are God-inspired and scriptural.
Traditional hymnals are a beautiful tradition, but they’re still just that…tradition NOT SCRIPTURE.
One day, the new songs written today will be Old School too.
Colossians 3:16 (NKJV)
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another (A)in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
I may lose some readers and/or ‘followers’ for making this post, but it’s my prayer that God will gain some.
Okay, I know this is a morbid unpopular subject, and most people donโt like to talk about or preach about it any more, but as I read Matthew Chapter 7, I can’t read past verses 13 and 14 without drawing the conclusionโฆthat most people will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15).
Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV)
13 โEnter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are MANY who go in by it. 14 Because[a] narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are FEW who find it.
The LORD says, โmany go in by itโ meaning the gate to destruction, and then He goes on to say, โ few are they who find itโ in regard to those who find the way which leads to life. Jesus lets us know that the road that leads to life is difficult.
So, according to scripture, the truth is that MOST people will not enter into Godโs Kingdom.
We all have loved ones who died without accepting the Christ Jesus as LORD and Savior. Itโs a difficult thought to accept their eternal plight.
Thatโs why in Jesusโ parable of โThe Rich Man and Lazarusโ, the rich man who died asked for a message to be sent to his brothers so that they would not end up like Him.. Your loved ones who died outside of Christ would tell you the same thing if they could…
Luke 16:19-31 (NKJV)
19 โThere was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell[a] from the rich manโs table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abrahamโs bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 โThen he cried and said, โFather Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.โ 25 But Abraham said, โSon, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.โ 27 โThen he said, โI beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my fatherโs house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.โ 29 Abraham said to him, โThey have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.โ 30 And he said, โNo, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.โ 31 But he said to him, โIf they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.โโ
The awesome news is that if youโre able to read this post, God has given you grace and time to accept Yeshua, (Christ Jesus) as LORD and Savior of your life.
Romans 10:9 (NKJV)
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Thatโs how easy it is to avoid eternal separation from the presence of God. Now, I know there is much debate over whether itโs a literal Hell, Lake or Fire, whether you burn forever or are immediately consumed. I know there are those who say that the church ‘created’ Hell to control the masses, but all of that is another discussionโฆ.all I know is I donโt want to find out the hard way.
As much as I love to encourage you, I wouldnโt be responsible as a minister of God if I didnโt warn everyone of the ultimate consequences of sin…
So, even though itโs difficult, enter into and continue the narrow path. Even though most people โwonโt make it inโ, you can make sure that you do.
God answers prayers! I’m a witness that He has answered countless specific prayers, intercessions and supplications for me. However, there are situations when God rejects our prayers. We can’t ignore this.
God has given us examples in the Old Testament of the behaviors that causes Him to reject the prayers of His people. However, rejection and punishment always came with a promise.
Please go back and do a dedicated bible study from the perspective of what provoked God to ‘hide His face’ and reject the prayers of His people.
Remember, idols aren’t just made of stone or wood. The devil knows he can’t convince you to ‘bow down’ to a statue. Stop and think about the ‘modern-day’ works of our hands. “…and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5).
Isaiah 2:7-8 (NKJV)
7 Their land is also full of silver and gold, And there is no end to their treasures; Their land is also full of horses, And there is no end to their chariots. 8 Their land is also full of idols; They worship the work of their own hands, That which their own fingers have made.
Deuteronomy 32:20-22 (NKJV)
20 And He said: โI will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will be, For they are a perverse generation, Children in whom is no faith. 21 They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; They have moved Me to anger by their [a]foolish idols. But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation; I will move them to anger by a foolish nation. 22 For a fire is kindled in My anger, And shall burn to the [b]lowest [c]hell; It shall consume the earth with her increase, And set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
Jeremiah 32:28-32 (NKJV)
28 Therefore thus says the Lord: โBehold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it. 29 And the Chaldeans who fight against this city shall come and set fire to this city and burn it, with the houses on whose roofs they have offered incense to Baal and poured out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke Me to anger; 30 because the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done only evil before Me from their youth. For the children of Israel have provoked Me only to anger with the work of their hands,โ says the Lord. 31 โFor this city has been to Me a provocation of My anger and My fury from the day that they built it, even to this day; so I will remove it from before My face 32 because of all the evil of the children of Israel and the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke Me to angerโthey, their kings, their princes, their priests, their prophets, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 8:3-18 (NKJV)
3 He stretched out the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which provokes[a] to jealousy. 4 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the plain.
5 Then He said to me, โSon of man, lift your eyes now toward the north.โ So I lifted my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the altar gate, was this image of jealousy in the entrance.
6 Furthermore He said to me, โSon of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations.โ 7 So He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, there was a hole in the wall. 8 Then He said to me, โSon of man, dig into the wallโ; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door.
9 And He said to me, โGo in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there.โ 10 So I went in and saw, and thereโevery sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, [b]portrayed all around on the walls. 11 And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up. 12 Then He said to me, โSon of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, โThe Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.โ โ
13 And He said to me, โTurn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing.โ 14 So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the Lordโs house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for [c]Tammuz.
15 Then He said to me, โHave you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these.โ 16 So He brought me into the inner court of the Lordโs house; and there, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east.
17 And He said to me, โHave you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose. 18 Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.โ
Everything written in the Old Testament was for our example today…
1 Corinthians 10:6-11 (NKJV)
6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, โThe people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.โ 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us [a]tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now [b]all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our [c]admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
You wake up, reach over and kiss your spouse. You then you turn on the television to check the weather and traffic. You go into the kitchen and grab a bite to eat and promptly brush, floss and take a shower so you can get out the door and be on time for work.
What’s wrong with this morning scenario?
You acknowledged your spouse…
You acknowledged the weather…
You acknowledged the traffic…
You acknowledged your hunger…
You acknowledged your hygiene (even your ‘low’giene:-)…
You acknowledged your job…
But did you acknowledge the One who made everything else you acknowledged possible?
Did you acknowledge God? Did you tell Him good morning? Did you tell Him thanks for protecting you and your family, while you were unconscious all night? Did you thank Him for waking you up? Did you thank Him for brand new mercies..
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV)
22 Through the Lordโs mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
This world is far too dangerous. Too unpredictable… Too evil for us to begin our day without acknowledging the God of our salvation.
Too many people say they are believers, but when they are honest with themselves, they live as if God isn’t even there.
We acknowledge, relate to and take seriously what is real to us.
I believe that beginning the day without acknowledging God first thing each and every morning is the ultimate ‘intentional’ act of arrogance and pride.
We are saying, (without saying )… “I’ve got this.” “I don’t need your protection.” “I don’t need your provision.” “I don’t need your guidance.” “I don’t need your wisdom.” “I don’t need your help.”
In as sense we are saying, “I don’t need you today!”
When you love someone…when you’re in love someone, you act like it. In fact, not only do we expect the love we give be reciprocated, we demand it of one another.
We prove how real God is to us, and how much we love Him by how we relate to Him. How we talk to Him. How we fellowship with Him in His word and prayer.
Have you talked to God today? If not, why not stop right now and…Tell Him you’re sorry. Tell Him you love Him. Thank Him for His grace and mercy. And make a commitment that God is the first Person that you talk to each morning.
Psalm 63:1(NKJV)
O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.
Psalm 5:3(NKJV)
3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.
When it sometimes seems God is ‘TION’ing (shunning) you…
Isaiah 54:7-8 (NKJV)
7 โFor a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you. 8 With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,โ Says the Lord, your Redeemer.
On those days you may think God has turned His back on you.
Those days you think He is avoiding, ignoring or even rejecting youโฆ
For the days you think God is โTIONโing (shunning) youโฆ
Maybe He is trying to take you to a higher level ofโฆ
ConsecraTION and SactificaTION
Joshua 3:5 (NKJV)
5 And Joshua said to the people, โSanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.โ
So you can refocus your…
ConcentraTIONโฆ
Colossians 3:2 (NKJV)
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
On His gifts ofโฆ
JustificaTIONโฆ
Romans 5:1 (NKJV)
5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
ReconciliaTIONโฆ
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (NKJV)
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
RestorationTIONโฆ
Psalm 23:3 (NKJV)
3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His nameโs sake.
And, not take for granted His gift ofโฆ
SalvaTION.
Romans 10:9 (NKJV)
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
And, maybe, just maybe,
Youโve beenโฆ
โTIONโing Him.
Jeremiah 3:22 (NKJV)
22 โReturn, you backsliding children, And I will heal your backslidings.โ
โIndeed we do come to You, For You are the Lord our God
I was ordained into the ministry back in 1996, and I take my assignment very seriously.
Even though I was ordained in a Baptist church I prefer to be simply referred to as a Disciple of Christ (Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus).
There are many titles by which people address ministers, one of which is Reverend. Personally, I prefer NOT to be called by that title. Here are 5 reasons why.
1. HOLY AND REVEREND IS ‘HIS’ NAME (IMPLYING TO BE EQUAL TO GOD IS BLASPHEMY)
Psalm 111:9 (KJV)
9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name
Psalm number 119 in the King James Version states that God’s name is holy and ‘reverend’. The word reverend in the passage comes from the Hebrew word ‘Yare’, which means to fear, revere, be afraid, to stand in awe of, be awed. Neither I nor my name are not to be feared, revered, afraid or in awe of…that is reserved for God. I also know that one definition of blasphemy is putting oneself equal to God, of which is what the Pharisees often falsely accused the Lord. I prefer not for my name nor myself to be made in anyway imply equality to God…especially as a religious title.
2. GOD WARNED US ABOUT RELIGIOUS TITLES
Yeshua hurled a long list of rebukes and woes at the religious leaders in Matthew 23, one of which directly addressed religious titles…
Matthew 23:6-11 (NKJV)
6 They love the [a]best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, โRabbi, Rabbi.โ 8 But you, do not be called โRabbiโ; for One is your [b]Teacher, [c]the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
The Lord clearly rebukes the religious leaders concerning being called RABBI, FATHER, or even TEACHER (which could be equated to Dr. today) however we know that even though REVEREND wasn’t a religious title of that day, but originated in the Catholic church that it is still within the context of that rebuke. I have heard some people contend, we call our male parents father, but that’s not a religious title. No matter how we may try to excuse or justify it, it’s still easier to just leave it alone.
3. THE APOSTLES ONLY REFERRED TO ONE ANOTHER BY NAME
When you read the letters of the Apostles, you will notice how they referred to themselves, one another and other elders and church leaders only by name. They didn’t refer to each other as Apostle, Rabbi, Father, Pope or any other title, but simply by name…
2 Peter 3:15 (NKJV)
15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvationโas also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
James 1:1 (NKJV)
James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:
Greetings.
Timothy 1 (NKJV)
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,
2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
Titus 1:4 (NKJV)
4 To Titus, a true son in our common faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and [a]the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
Revelation 1:9 (NKJV)
9 I, John, [a]both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
I could go on and on, but I invite you to please go back and read through the epistles and notice how the apostles referred to one another and other church leaders…by name only, or brother.
4. THE APOSTLES REFUSED TO BE ‘WORSHIPED’
Acts 14:11-15 (NKJV)
11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, โThe gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!โ 12 And Barnabas they called [a]Zeus, and Paul, [b]Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, โMen, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,
Acts 10:25-26 (NKJV)
25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, โStand up; I myself am also a man.โ
Even though the bible says that honor should be given to those who are ministers of the Gospel, there is still a thin line between honor and worship. It’s very easy to allow people to ‘feed our egos’ if we aren’t careful. It’s easy for honor and respect to morph into worship.
5. THE ANGELS DIDN’T ALLOW MEN TO WORSHIP THEM
When John received The Revelation of Yeshua he was in such great awe of the angle that he attempted to bow down to him, but the angel quickly told him NO…
Revelation 19:10 (NKJV)
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, โSee that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.โ
Revelation 22:9 (NKJV)
9 Then he said to me, โSee that you do not do that.[a]For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.โ
Yes, the bible says that elders are worthy of double honor, but that doesn’t mean that we should accept that what is reserved for God.
1 Timothy 5:17 (NKJV)
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
As I said earlier, as much as some leaders can justify being called REVEREND or being put on a pedestal…I would rather just leave it alone.
serving one another, can sometimes be thankless, unappreciated and quite frankly seem unrewarding.
Growing In Yahuah 