We are living at a time when men are genuinely being deceived. Many read and misconstrue the scriptures, but God has the last say. Regrettably, one of the areas being falsely interpreted has to do with where people will spend eternity.
Some declare that, in the end, everyone will be saved from eternal damnation. Some individuals who hear this and believe it are living ungodly lives. They assume at the end of their earthly existence, God will automatically forgive them and welcome them as kingdom citizens. Despite man’s assumption, the Word clearly states who will not be part of God’s kingdom.
In the last two chapters of Revelation, which is the final book in the Bible, Jesus shared this information with John. First, in Revelation 21:5-8, 27 He said, “Behold, I make all things new. Write: for these words are true and faithful. It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
Then, I believe for emphasis in Revelation 22:12-15, Jesus repeats portions of the list a second time. He said, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
These two groups of verses are a warning for all of us not to fall into the category of the fearful, unbelieving, abomination workers, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, liars, defilers, idolaters, and dogs. If we are found in these categories, our eternal destination will not be with Jesus but rather in the lake of fire because the Word of God has the last say.
In Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Revelation, Jesus repeatedly uses these words: “Ears to hear, let him hear,” and “He that hath an ear, let him hear.”
Commentators believe Jesus used these words to admonish people to listen carefully and comprehend the message He intended to convey. After hearing the message, they should conform their ways, thus yielding a positive outcome. It was also used as a warning to the unrepented, hardhearted, and unhearing that consequences would occur for their negative actions.
In Matthew 11:15, Jesus used the phrase, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” concerning John the Baptist while talking to the people who lived in Chorazin, Bethsaida, Tyre, Sidon, and Capernaum.
In Matthew 13:43, while talking to his disciples in a house, Jesus used the phrase, “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear, “concerning the parable of wheat and tares.
In Matthew 13:9, Mark 4:9, and Luke 8:8, while sitting in a ship teaching a great multitude, Jesus used the phrase, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear,” concerning the sower’s seeds distribution.
In Mark 4:23, talking to his disciples, Jesus used the phrase, “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear,” concerning the manifestation of hidden things.
In Mark 7:16, Jesus called all the people to him and used the phrase, “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear,” concerning that which defiles a man.
In Luke 14:35, as He traveled from one area to another, Jesus said to the multitude following Him, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” concerning the purpose of salt.
In Revelation 2:7, 11,17, 29, 3:6, 13, and 22, Jesus sent a message to the churches at Ephesus. Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. He addressed each of them concerning that which would allow them to be overcomers, and He used the phrase, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
As in the days of old, Jesus is yet speaking to us. It behooves all believers who have ears to listen, lest we are labeled like those found in Ezekiel 12:2, which states, “Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.”
According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Therefore I conclude Psalms 1:1-3, which is the focus of this blog, gives instructions on how to be a blessed and fruitful individual. Verses four and five, which I will not include in this blog, share the actions of the wicked.
Psalms 1:1-3 states, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
This first Psalms is categorized as a wisdom Psalms, and the Hebrew word “blessed” in verse one means happy. So, you can expect happiness when you adhere to the wisdom shared in the words of this scripture and reject the path, advice, walk, thinking, or actions of the wicked. Simply put, “Be directed by the Word.”
Please notice a sinful progression in verse one from walking to standing and finally sitting. A blessed man notes the declining progressions of the ungodly, and he is deterred from it.
- A blessed man’s actions do not bring a reproach on God and hinder the sinner from accepting salvation.
- A blessed man is not seated and numbered with the disrespectful, rude, and discourteous.
- continually finds pleasure and satisfaction in the laws of God.
- A blessed man mutters the Word day and night.
- A blessed man has structure, stability, and substance.
As a result of the above, a blessed man will be rooted in fruitful waters. He will produce at his designated time, and whatever he puts his hands to prospers. I pray you are a blessed individual, but if you are not following the steps of a blessed man, as shown above, can change your life.
Unlike the Bereans in Acts 17, who received the Word with gladness and searched the scriptures daily to know the truth, we live at a time when people are questioning and doubting the Word. Unfortunately, today many are calling right wrong and calling wrong right. However, despite this kingdom believers are not to be swayed from the truth of the Word. First and foremost, kingdom believers understand it is our responsibility to be obedient to the Word of our King and not attempt to alter it.
1 Peter 2 informs readers that Jesus is our cornerstone or foundation upon which we should build; therefore, I will use the Words of Jesus in John 12:47-50 as translated in the New International Version, to further show the pattern believers should follow. Jesus said, “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
From His Words, I gathered:
- Our mission is not to judge people who hear and reject the Word.
- Our mission is soul-winning.
- The Word people rejected will condemn them on the day of judgment.
- Believers do not speak their minds, but rather they speak what God commands.
- Following God’s command results in eternal life.
Similar to Jesus’ experience while on earth, there are those that will be angry with the words that kingdom believers speak; nevertheless, the Word must be communicated in love. Inform the listeners of your responsibility to replicate the Word you hear from your Father. I believe if we follow this pattern, man may not be pleased, but God will.
We are living in chaotic times and times of uncertainty. Consequently, most of us do not like the lawlessness or turmoil we are witnessing in this world and are praying for things to improve. However, if we truly understand the words of Jesus to his disciples in Matthew 24, we realize things will get worse and not better.
In kindness, God allowed the Bible to reveal how things would precede in the world before the rapture. With this knowledge, our prayers and confession must be intentional and strategic, rather than becoming desponded and thinking God is not answering us by changing things for the better. Prayers to evangelize the lost, not to be deceived, and to stand unwaveringly amidst the chaos is what is needed now.
With this in mind, I am recommending these prayers and confessions, which I have paraphrased from the scriptures:
Isaiah 61:1 Father, I pray that the Spirit of the Lord God will be on me; because you anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; you sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.
1 Timothy 4:1 Father, in these latter times, help me not to depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.
2 Timothy 3: 13 -14 Father, help me to be mindful of evil men and seducers who are waxing worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. Also, allow me to continue in the things which I learned and been assured of.
Proverbs 11:30 Father, make me a soul winner for I understand the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
2 Timothy 2:15 Father, help me to study to shew myself approved unto You, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, God hath begun a good work in me and will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 1:3 According to His divine power God hath given me all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called me to glory and virtue:
Isaiah 26:3 – 4God keep me in perfect peace, as my mind stays on You: because I trust in You. I will trust in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is my everlasting strength.
Ephesians 6:10-11 I will be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I will put on the whole armor of God, that I may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
1 Corinthians 15:58 I will be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as I know my labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through God who strengthens me.
Isaiah 40:31 As I wait for the Lord, my strength is renewed; I mount up with wings like eagles; I run, and I am not weary; I walk and not faint.
1 Chronicles 16:11 Father, help me to seek the Lord and His strength; to seek His presence continually.
2 Timothy 1:7 God has not given me a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control.
Psalm 16:7-8 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Exodus 15:2The Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my God, and I will exalt Him.
Psalms 18:1-2 1 I love you, Lord, my strength. You, Lord, are my rock, fortress, and deliverer; in whom I take refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my stronghold.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Father, help me to be strong and courageous, not to fear, nor be afraid; for you Lord goes with me; will not fail me, nor forsake me.
Psalms 121:8 Father, thank you for preserving my going out and coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
These scriptures are my suggestions, and I am sure you have more that you can add to this list. I hope I accomplished my goal in this blog of helping you realize your prayers and confessions must be in tune with the times in which we live. And I pray that God will bless you and strengthen you to stand firmly on His Word daily.
No, you can’t have it your way. “Why can’t I,” you may ask. The answer can be found in Isaiah 55:8 – 9, which states, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I believe everyone wants to be successful; to achieve this, one must first realize they need to be connected to God, whose ways and plans often differ from ours. True success comes from seeking God’s direction and following His recommended path, not ours.
Unfortunately, when Adam and Eve disobeyed the instructions of God in the Garden of Eden, humanity inherited a sinful nature. This nature has continuously caused humans to make the wrong choices. This is why God gave Israel the commandments, statutes, and laws so that they would have guidelines to follow. However, rather than accepting that God knew what was best, the stiffnecked people refused to submit. Instead, they sought directions from nations and people who did not believe in their God. Their actions were displeasing to God, and though they were told and warned of their error, they continued with it.
For those of us living today, we have the bible, which shares a clear picture of what can happen to those that allow the spirit of pride, disobedience, and stubbornness to reign in their life and persist in choosing their own way.
Recently I experienced sadness after reading the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. Each book showed God’s continual pursuit after a people who did not want Him. He was long-suffering with them. He pleaded with them to change their ways. He gave them warnings of disaster, but they did not believe the words He gave the prophets for them, and consequently, those that survived the enemy slaughter ended in captivity.
Further, in Isaiah 55, God said, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” God’s word will bring favor and blessings to those that seek Him and judgment to those that choose their sinful ways. So, my advice to you is before you decide to do a thing your way, check with God to see if He agrees with you. If he isn’t in agreement, find His way and then do that.
In this blog, I will share a portion of the lives of twin brothers Esau and Jacob and their rocky relationship until one of them chose to change.
The Word of the Lord came to pass, and the once barren Rebekah birthed twins Esau and Jacob for her husband, Isaac. The Lord had described the twins to Rebekah in this way, “Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23).
The scriptures revealed as they grew into young men, Esau, loved by Isaac, was a man of the field and a skillful hunter, while Jacob, loved by his mother, was a plain homebody man. One day after coming home from hunting, Esau, exhausted and hungry, sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of red pottage that Jacob had made (Genesis 25). Years later, when Isaac was old and had poor vision, he called Esau and told him to prepare his favorite venison meal, after which he would give him the double portion blessing. Hearing what Isaac planned, Rebekah plotted with Jacob and deceived Isaac into blessing, Jacob before Esau returned with the venison meal. When Esau heard and realized what Jacob had done, he begged his father to bless him, and his father replied, “Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck” (Genesis 27).
The scriptures revealed Esau hated Jacob for what he did and planned to kill Jacob when their father died. Rebekah was apprised of Esau’s intention, so she got Isaac to send Jacob to Paran to her brother Laban to find a wife. Jacob ended up staying in Paran for twenty years, and during that time, he reaped deception at the hands of Laban, similar to what he did to his father, Isaac.
When he decided to return to his home country, he feared for his life because of what he had done to his brother, but Esau had already forgiven him. Genesis 33 shares the details of the brother’s meeting. Jacob sent messengers to his brother informing him of his return, and Esau, accompanied by four hundred men, rode out to meet him. Trying to gain favor with Esau, Jacob sends a gift of 550 livestock ahead of himself. When they finally meet, Jacob bows seven times in homage to Esau. However happy to unite with his twin, Esau runs to him, embraces him around the neck, kisses him, and they both weep. After conversing, Esau offered to accompany Jacob and his family the remaining way home, but Jacob declined the offer with a false excuse. Esau and his men left Jacob and returned to Mount Seir, and Jacob disobeying God’s instruction to go to Bethel, took his household in the opposite direction to Succoth.
Unfortunately, Jacob was still a deceiver, and though He had a divine encounter on his way to meet Esau, his actions revealed a lack of complete trust in God and still retained some poor character traits. Esau, whom the scriptures did not share many details of his life during the twenty years absence of Jacob, had become loving and more trustworthy than Jacob when they reunited. Esau was willing to leave the past behind and have a positive relationship with his twin. I believe the word that Isaac gave Esau concerning when he had the dominion, he would break Jacob’s yoke from off his neck, came to fruition for him, for Esau and his 400 men could have easily slew Jacob and his household. When he was the dominating force, Esau forgave Jacob and freed himself from old wounds and the yoke that had been on his neck.
I close my blog with this question, “Which brother do you prefer to be like?” Either choose the brother that did not realize his worth but, after years, was able to forgive the person that took advantage of him or the brother destined to be successful but unable to relinquish bad traits. If you chose Esau, I hope you now view him differently and know you can forgive those who hurt you with time. If you decide, Jacob, know that despite bad traits, God still means to bless you while reaping what you sowed.
Solomon, the tenth son born to King David, was the successor to the throne when David died. Solomon started building the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in Mount Moriah, the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign. After many years the Temple was completed, and King Solomon gathered in Jerusalem the elders of Israel, the heads of the tribes, and the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, and brought the ark of the covenant and placed it in the Temple in the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubims. 1Kings 8:10-11 records, “And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.”
Afterward, Solomon, since he was a king and not a priest, stood outside the Temple, spreading his hands toward heaven, and prayed publicly to God in front of the people. First, Solomon acknowledged the covenant-keeping God and then praised Him for who He was to Israel and recalled the promises of God to King David. The body of Solomon’s prayer was that of intercession for Israel. Using various scenarios of Israel sinning and being out of place, Solomon asked God to hear in heaven and forgive, judge, restore, send rain, minister justice, give victory, help foreigners, deliver, and preserve. Solomon concludes his prayer by blessing God and the people.
God responded and appeared to Solomon a second time and addressed Solomon’s prayer request. God told him, “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:13-14).
This instruction will work for the nation of Israel and every believer that will heed the Word, for God desires to bless His people and change unfavorable conditions that occurred due to disobedience. Remember, God’s nature prevents Him from tolerating sin; however, because of His mercy, he gives us the stipulations and opportunity to obtain His blessings. The stipulations require submission to Him by humbling ourselves to his will, praying for direction, seeking to know Him for who He is and not just for what he does, and stopping sinning. Lastly, God has given us the ability to do his will; we have no excuse; we just have to do it.
Today I want to assure you that God is omnipresent and sees you. No matter where you are and your experience, God sees it and is with you.
Sometimes as in the case of David, you are not in the place God desires for you, and He sees you. And sometimes you are like Hagar, who felt desolate, friendless, and lost; God also sees you and is concerned about your welfare. To illustrate God’s response to people in similar situations, I will share some of David’s and Hagar’s stories.
After fleeing from and being chased by King Saul for many years, David and his men left Judah and went and lived with King Achish in Gath. The king allowed David and his men to live in Ziklag. 1 Samuel 27:7 reveals they were there for sixteen months, and during this time, David thought he was escaping Saul, but He was not escaping the presence of God. God watched over him even though he was in enemy territory, following the dictates of his flesh and being prayerless. When their loved ones were kidnapped, their possessions taken, and David’s life threatened by his men, David sought direction from the God that saw him.
Having learned many lessons later in his life, David exclaimed these words found in Psalms 139:7-10. “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”
Hagar, the handmaiden of Sarai, was pregnant with Abram’s child, and due to the harsh treatment of Sarai, she ran away to the wilderness in Shur. It was there she had an encounter with an angel of the Lord who spoke to her about her unborn child and told her to return to Sarai’s household. This encounter so moved Hagar that she called the name of the Lord that spook to her, “Thou God seest me.” Additionally, she said, “Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?” Being comforted with the knowledge of God’s concern for her, Hagar’s encounter allowed her to return to an unpleasant situation and exist in a hostile environment (Genesis 16:13).
For those that had not heard of the life of David and Hagar Paul in Romans 8:38 – 39 wrote, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hence, no matter where you are, remember God sees you, loves you, is interested in you, and will assist you if you allow him.
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