John 10:1-5, 7-8,14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
According to John 10 while talking to a multitude of Jews Jesus shared insight into the relationship of a shepherd and his sheep. This discourse happened after Jesus had healed on the Sabbath a man who was blind from birth. Instead of being excited over this miracle, it made the religious leaders very angry; therefore, Jesus wanted to point out the difference between Him the good shepherd, and them the false, robbing shepherds.
Knowing the multitude understood the maintenance of the sheepfold in His day Jesus used it in a parable for them. In the evening the shepherds would lead their sheep to the central walled-in fold where the flock gathered. This fold had one entrance and was guarded by a porter or doorkeeper throughout the night. While in the fold the sheep were able to mingle with sheep that were not part of their flock. In the morning when their shepherd came for them, he would stand at the entrance and call the sheep by name, and they responded by coming to him. Each sheep had developed a relationship with their shepherd, and it was his voice they followed without hesitation. If an unknown shepherd called a sheep, it would not respond but rather flee in another direction. In ending this communication Jesus informed the multitude He was the good shepherd, and His sheep’s ears were closed to those that would do them harm for He and His sheep were intimate with each other.
Many believers struggle with knowing the voice of Jesus but this discourse that He had with the multitude gives us the solution. Spend time praying and becoming intimate with Him and you will be able to distinguish His voice from that of a perpetrator; there will be no mistaken identity.
During the month of September, I had the privilege of teaching the Book of Revelation for a Powerhouse Bible study. Midway through my presentation of the last class, I stopped and invited people who had not accepted Jesus as their Savior to do so. I did this due to the information I shared about the twenty-one judgments that would occur during the tribulation. If people understood what was going to happen prayerfully, they would make the right decision.
I am one of the individuals who believe the church’s rapture is imminent. As far as I can see, things are in place, and the signs of the times verify this to me. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 24:4-7 “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul also told Timothy, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” The events and attitude of people, as stated by Jesus and Paul, is readily seen in today’s society; therefore, people do not have time to lollygag.
At the White Throne’s judgment, everyone, small and great, will become immortal, and the question of where they will spend eternity will be determined. According to Revelation 20:15, if a person’s name is not found in the Book of Life, they will be cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone in which the antichrist, false prophet, and devil that deceived people from the beginning of time were already cast (Revelation 19:20; 20:10). Some have stated that an unbeliever’s spirit would be placed in the lake of fire and not an actual live person; however, the Bible repudiates this notion in Revelation 19:20.
As revealed in Revelation 20:10 and Matthew 24:51, 25:30, 46, the lake of fire is a place of torment day and night forever. I don’t want to go there, and I suspect others feel the same; thus, I close this blog doing what I did midway through my presentation. If you haven’t done so already, I invite you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. This is the greatest decision you will make in your life; the choice is yours, and it will determine where you will live forever.
This blog was inspired by a message I heard preached this week by Bishop Fred Jackson. Toward the end of his message, he gave the example of the actions of King Hezekiah when he received a threatening letter from the Sennacherib king of Assyria in 2 Kings 19:14. After reading this undesirable letter, the king went to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord and prayed. In his prayer he first acknowledges God as creator and sovereign ruler in the earth. Then, he requested God’s attention to the words of Sennacherib. He spoke of Sennacherib’s conquest of other nations. Finally, he said, “Now, O Lord our God, please, save us from his hand so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know [without any doubt] that You alone, O Lord, are God.” Subsequently, after his prayer, God sent him a word via Isaiah the prophet that his enemy would not come into Jerusalem and conquer it, for God would defend and save it.
Most of us have experienced getting a letter incorrectly delivered to our home address. Then there are times we receive mail, but, due to its content, we wish we had not received it; this is the case of King Hezekiah. The king knew seeking outside intervention would be useless, for the arms of flesh would fail. He knew complaining to people would not resolve the issue; his answer was to take this undesirable letter to God, the ultimate fixer.
The example of King Hezekiah is one that all believers should follow. When bad news is sent to you, please take it to the one who can remedy the situation. Acknowledge God for who He is in your life and world. Since God is omniscient, he knows how you are feeling and your thoughts, so be forthcoming in sharing the problem. Let God know your problem is His problem, and you’re requesting His intervention. The mail addressed to you is being forwarded to Him because you are not accepting it. Finally put your faith into action and trust and believe God to handle this mail.
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.
The Teacher's Pick 