We hear so many voices, and everyone has their own slant on a subject that, for many, it is hard to know who to believe. That is why I recommend that everyone incorporate these scripture verses found in Proverbs 3:5-6 into their daily routine.
Before I share my thoughts on these verses, I want to include several translations of them in this blog, and they are:
(KJV) Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord
(TLB) Trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success. Don’t be conceited, sure of your own wisdom. Instead, trust and reverence the Lord.
(MSG) Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God.
(TPT) Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make.
Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go.[b]
Don’t think for a moment that you know it all.
King Solomon, who was known to be the wisest man living at his time, told his son in whom he needed to place his confidence. He said to him that he should not waver and do this placement half-heartedly but do it whole-heartedly. Solomon expressed that his son should not put any stock in his ability but incorporate God into all of his affairs. Thus, with God involved in His choices and decisions, he would be successful.
Most importantly for all of us, I believe if we take the instructions of Solomon seriously, we will not start our day without seeking Divine intervention. If I am neglectful, it is an indication that I think my day will go well without His help. Furthermore, I believe the haughty spirit that wants to control our lives desires us to overlook God, but we must take authority over that spirit and humble ourselves to seek and trust God. Though many voices are speaking into our ears, causing us to question who is telling the truth, I thank God that I know and have a relationship with Him, the Truth Giver, and I am daily learning to trust and obey.
On that momentous day, He surrendered to the will of the Father, and His enemies hung Him naked. He took the abuse, pain, and humiliation and made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. He could have stopped His crucifixion, but He chose to suffer the excruciating pain and the embarrassment. He was innocent of all the charges against Him, yet He accepted the abuse placed on Him.
Like many of you, I visualized Jesus on the cross as depicted in the many displayed portrays of His crucifixion. I saw His arms stretched out on a wooden cross with spikes driven through the palm of his hands. One foot was placed upon the other with a spike piercing and tacking them on the wood. Additionally, I saw whip marks across His chest and a small piece of material covering his loins. Unfortunately, after the hours of inquisition, what is portrayed is not an accurate picture of how Jesus looked.
The account of Jesus’s crucifixion experience is written in Psalms 22:1-22; Isaiah 50:6; Isaiah 52:14; Isaiah 53:3-12; Matthew 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 22-23; and John 18-19. If you want more insight, I recommend that you do as I did and research the Roman practice of crucifixion to reveal a more vivid account of what transpired.
The scripture revealed while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane with His disciples and awaiting His captors, Jesus experienced hematidrosis, which resulted in Him sweating blood from the thought of what He was about to experience. It is here in the middle of the night Jesus is arrested and taken to Caiaphas, the high priest and the Sanhedrin where he was questioned, and because they thought He had blasphemed God, they plucked out His beard. Additionally, He was blindfolded, punched, slapped, and spat in the face by the guards.
In the early morning, He was taken to Pontus Pilate, the governor, to answer the charge of blasphemy, and when he refused to defend himself, Pilate sentenced Jesus to death. However, prior to His crucifixion, the Roman soldiers scourged Him, pressed a crown of thrones on His head, and struck it with a scepter.
With His body bleeding, marred beyond that of any human being, He was made to carry His cross through the streets to Golgotha until Simon the Cyrene was enlisted to help carry the cross. The week before the people had spread their garments in the streets as Jesus rode through Jerusalem while they cried, “Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highes,” but now some of the people jeered and mocked Him as He passed by.
At Golgotha, they offered Jesus wine mixed with myrrh which would have numb some of His pain, but He refused to drink it. So, He experienced added pain as the soldiers mercilessly nailed Him naked to the cross.
Medical science believed on the cross, Jesus probably experienced cramps, spasms, dehydration, dislocation of shoulders, lungs collapse, and heart failure. Altogether He experienced these five kinds of wounds: contusion, laceration, penetration. perforation and the last incision when a soldier thrust a spear into His side. However, in the midst of His pain and humiliation, Jesus continued to show concern for the people, for He prays for their forgiveness, and He connects His mother with His beloved disciple.
Everyone on Golgotha saw His horrendous physical wounds; however, few could imagine the mental and emotional pain He suffered. First, Jesus suffered the rejection of His disciples after He was arrested. Then while on the cross, He felt alone, rejected, and separated from His Father for the first time in His existence; so, He cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Nevertheless, in the final hour of earthly life, Jesus knowing He had fulfilled His purpose and God was in control He was heard saying, “It is finished” and “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
As a result of what I now know, Jesus’ crucifixion has added meaning to me. God allowed the people to see Him naked; nothing was hidden from their eyes. Jesus’ body fully exhibited the mistreatment and abuse He bore due to lies and jealousy. He hung naked as an example for us, for many of us have experienced pain and suffering at the hands of others. We have been ashamed and embarrassed to let people know what happened, but Jesus showed us what to say and do as He hung naked, completely exposed for all to witness. His experience served a greater good, and possibly our exposure could do the same.
This blog is the result of a conversation I had with a fellow believer this week. After our conversation, I knew I had to do this blog. What did we discuss, you may ask? We discussed spending eternity in the lake of fire. We talked about the unending pain that unbelievers will experience, their desire for the experience to be a dream, and the awaking realization that their situation will never change; it never ends. Why did this happen; because their names were not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and unfortunately, there is no do-over after the White Throne judgment.
This is the definition of eternity: infinite or unending time, a state to which time has no application, timelessness, endless life after death, a period of time that seems very long, especially on account of being tedious or annoying. Eternity is where everyone will exist when all is said and done. Some will be spending their time living peacefully on the new earth with Jesus, and others will be weeping and gnashing their teeth in the lake of fire.
There will be no comfort offered for those in the lake of fire, and no extended sympathy for everyone will be experiencing the same horror. Furthermore, the Bible reveals in the lake of fire, you are tormented day and night forever (Revelation 20:10). This means severe physical or mental suffering never ends.
As I look around, I see many people who grew up attending church, and I know that they were taught the Word while there. They were introduced to God and His son Jesus; however, from their current lifestyle, I know that they do not have a relationship with either. Truthfully, I can’t fathom what they are thinking, especially in the times in which we are living. If ever we need an anchor, a hope, and a hiding place, we sure need it now, especially knowing and seeing this world is not getting better.
Therefore, I must take this time to extend an invitation to anyone that is reading this blog who has not accepted Jesus as their Savior to do so now. Please don’t put this critical decision off, and don’t think you have time to do it later. God sent His son to earth to redeem us and to provide us with the opportunity to become part of His family. Most of all, He wants you to spend eternity which never ends with Him, and not in the lake of fire.
On tomorrow July 4, 2021, the United States will celebrate its’ 245 Independence Day. It is the day we celebrate our Declaration of Independence from Britain, which took place on July 4, 1776. There will be parades, picnics, family outings, concerts, and fireworks on this day throughout America. Additionally, the world will see the many forms of celebration via the various media platforms.
Americans celebrate Independence Day once a year, but believers can daily commemorate our spiritual Independence Day. We were liberated from sin, Satan, and death on two important days. First was the day that Jesus died, and then on the day, He rose from the grave.
Way back in the Garden of Eden, God declared our future independence to the serpent in the presence of Adam and Eve when He said. “I’m declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He’ll wound your head, you’ll wound his heel” (MSG). It took the passing of 76 generations for this prophetic word to come to fruition, and when it did, humanity was truly set free.
Our nation was freed from Britain in 1776, but in 33 A.D.Jesus freed the world forever. He gave each one of us the opportunity to take advantage of His sacrifice and the ability to confess, declare and experience our greatest Independence Day.
As this week progressed, I felt like I would not post a blog; however, while in the gym the other morning, I was praying about prayerlessness and decided I would post a blog about it this week.
There are those that are trustworthy intercessors, and they spend large portions of their day in prayer. Unfortunately, I am not one of them. Truthfully, I am the kind of believer that must disciple themselves to pray, and sometimes I struggle with doing so. I pray because I am a mature believer, and I understand the ramifications of a prayerless life. Additionally, I am comfortable with my struggle because I know that as a teacher of the Word, I can teach others about the struggle to pray because of my personal experiences.
In prayer, believers can fellowship with God, and they can get needed directions; therefore, this is the main reason the enemy wants prayerlessness to prevail. Satan at one time had a prestigious position in God’s kingdom; however, since his removal from that position, he does not want anyone else to become close to God. He is happy about the Spirit of Deception and pride that clouds our minds into thinking we are self-sufficient and have the ability to be successful without the assistance of our Creator. He is pleased believers don’t realize prayerlessness defeats and hinders the purpose, plan, pleasure, promises, and power of God.
There is so much for which to pray: God’s will on earth, the top news report, Israel. Countries in the world, governmental official, hospitals and their workers, law enforcement, charitable organizations, corruption, abuse, sickness, all levels of education and educators, businesses, religious organizations, parents and children, family members, and marriages. This is just a short list; I am sure you could add to this list. The Bible instructs us to pray without ceasing, and I guess as we see and hear things throughout the day, we would be praying without ceasing if we said a little prayer.
Our flesh wants to rule us, but we must bring it under subjection; we must rule over it. When struggling to pray, cast out the Spirit of Prayerlessness, Spirit of Jezebel, and Antichrist and bind the Spirit of Prayer, Grace, and Intercession to yourself. Don’t allow the enemy to defeat you. God is calling us to be a co-laborer with Him on the earth. He intervenes on our behalf when we pray; so, let’s untie His hands and defeat prayerlessness by praying.
Last week I posted a blog titled, “YOUR DUE SEASON IS CONDITIONAL,” and this week, I am going to share information on what to expect when you follow God’s instruction on receiving your due season.
Let me start by reminding you that God’s ways are not our ways, and He definitely does not think like us. As seen in my blog last week, I believe many of His actions are to foster our dependence on Him. He puts us in highs and lows and in a land where we must trust and rely on Him for our well-being and productivity.
From the two scriptures given in last week’s blog, we learned the prerequisite for the due season is walking, keeping, doing, listening, loving, and serving. All of these actions cause the rain to come to water the land; however, there must be clouds for the rain to come, and here lies our dilemma.
To help you understand what I am saying, let me share some of the definitions of a cloud:
- A visible collection of particles of water or ice suspended in the air, usually at an elevation above the earth’s surface.
- Anything that obscures or darkens something or causes gloom, trouble, suspicion, disgrace, etc.
When I read the second definition, I thought of the things Paul described in Romans 8:35, 38-39: tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword, death, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, heights, and depths. To me, these things could be included in the second definition. So, while I welcome the clouds that will produce the rain for my due season, I will also experience hardships.
To help me endure the hardships, God gives benefits, as seen throughout the Bible. First, in the cloud direction was received (Exodus 13:21; Deuteronomy 1:32- 33). Second, in the cloud, the glory of God was revealed (Exodus 16:10; Exodus 24:16 -17), and in the cloud, God communicated with His people (Exodus 19:9; Numbers 11:25; Psalms 99:7; Luke 9:34 -35). Thus, God does not exempt us from the issues of life, but as we trust in Him, He gives us benefits to help us successfully navigate the terrain.
Knowing these things in our mind and heart should provide comfort and assurance that God is for us, He is with us, and He won’t leave us alone as we wait on our due season and eventually experience it.
Most of us want our due season to manifest in our lives without understanding the implications of due seasons. Many of us recite the scripture found in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” believing if we endure, the due season will eventually come to us. What we fail to understand is the “well-doing” in which we must participate. So, to increase your understanding of due season in this blog, I will exegesis the following two scripture passages.
Leviticus 26:3-5 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.
Deuteronomy11:10-15 For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs: But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: A land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.
In both of these passages, God speaks to Israel and informs them what He expects from them and what He will do if they meet His expectations. He gives them the conditions that will open the door to productivity, but he lets them know first some requirements must be fulfilled.
In Leviticus 26, there are three conditions: walking in God’s statutes, keeping His commandments, and doing them. God did not allow Israel to make up their own statues and commandments. Instead, he spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai and gave him specific instructions to give to Israel. In the future, the leader was to rehearse these ordinances periodically with the people.
In both of these passages, the due season of rain was the first rain that happened in September and October when the farmers were planting their crop, and the latter rain in March and April to make the harvest bountiful. Furthermore, God told them He would cause the crop to last for several seasons; Israel would not experience food insecurities.
Additionally, in Deuteronomy11:10-15, God told Israel the promise land was different than Egypt. For three months, the fields in Egypt were underwater, and the farmers knew how to irrigate their properties. The promise land was depended on God’s benevolence. The promise land was made up of hills and valleys. In other words, Israel would experience highs and lows. And as previously stated in Leviticus 26:3-5, God’s intervention depended on Israel meeting certain conditions. Listening earnestly to God’s commandments, loving Him, and serving him with all of their heart and soul were the conditions given in Deuteronomy11:10-15.
Knowing God does not change His principles, I believe that just as He gave Israel conditions for their due season, those principles remain the same. Therefore, the reward of a due season will be contingent on our positive actions and not on disobedience.
For now, I hope this blog has given some answers and direction for those of you praying about your due season, but I must warn you there will be some unwanted experiences that company it. I will share that information in another blog. Until then, don’t get weary nor faint.
I recently heard a teaching on “Agape Love,” and Romans 5:6-8 using the Message Bible was quoted in the presentation. It said, “Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.”
Of all of the words in those verses, the terms “we were of no use whatsoever to him” penetrated my spirit. It really hit home to me that when I had no value or worth, God loved me enough to send His Son to ransom me. He knew I would fail Him, and my actions would grieve His spirit at times, but He chose me to be part of His royal family.
God allowed my parents to hear the gospel and receive salvation. Growing up in a God-fearing household, I too came to accept Jesus, and with His continuous, gracious, merciful help, I yet stand. I can shout it from the rooftops, “Christ died for me. He paid my penalty when I had nothing to offer Him in return.”
Additionally, in accepting Jesus as my Savior, I became useful for God allowed me to partner with Him as His ambassador in the earth. He gave me dominion, blessed me, and told me in Genesis 1:28, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
So, I end this blog rejoicing in the fact I who was of no use has become useful, a vessel of honor, sanctified and meet for the master’s use.
On this coming Sunday, May 23, 2021, the Christian world celebrates Pentecost Sunday. As recorded in Acts 2, this is the day 120 followers of Jesus received the infilling of the Holy Spirit while waiting in an upper room in Jerusalem. The scripture said in Acts 2:1-4, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Speaking in an unknown language was a new sign to the believers that they were infilled. This sign was also experienced ten years later in the household of Cornelius as read in Acts 8:44-46 and twenty years later when Paul ministered to the disciples of John as read in Acts 19:1-5.
When new converts were questioned about what they received when I was young, their response would be, “I received speaking in tongues.” Now that I am older and have become a student of the Word, I know the correct response to the question would be, “I received the Holy Spirit.” The reason I say this because the Holy Spirit infilling does more than that one thing. The Holy Spirit working in the life of a believer gives us dunamis to be all that God planned and purpose us to be.
Knowing God has no limitations, failures, or faults, believers can be confident that we can also function at our maximum capacity with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God within us. With all of this in mind in this blog, I want to remind you of the many works of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. Additionally, I am including the scripture reference for your personal study.
- Empowerment – Acts 1:8
- Teacher and Reminder – John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13
- Guide and Revealer- John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:10 -12
- Testifier – John 15:26
- Adoption into the family of God – Romans 8:14 -15
- Imparter of spiritual gifts – 1 Corinthians 12:4, 11
- Regenerates and quickens – Romans 8:10 -11
- Convicts of Sin – John 16:8 -11
- Constrainer – Acts 16:6 – 7
- Keeper of good things – 2 Timothy 1:13 -14
- Imparter of love – Romans 5:5
- Giver of life – John 6:63
- Anoints – Luke 4:18 -19
- Moves men – 2 Peter 1:21
- Sanctifies – 1 Corinthians 6:11
- Produces fruit – Galatians 5:22 – 23
- Generates supernatural praying – Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 14:2
- Edifies – 1 Corinthians 14:4
With the workings of the Holy Spirit in your life, God has called you to be powerful. I pray this list encouraged and inspired you to be all that God has chosen you to be, not just on this Pentecost Sunday but every day of the rest of your life.
For the past two weeks, I had the privilege of doing a two-part seminar on the Holy Spirit. After teaching it, I was surprised by some of the responses. I was surprised to find out there were believers that did not realize their God-given ability to speak in an unknown language should be utilized in their daily walk with God.
Some people call speaking in unknown tongues the prayer language of a believer; however, I have labeled it our “secret weapon,” and here is why I have done so. I Corinthians 14:2 states, “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries,” and Acts 2:4 states, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” When individuals speak in an unknown tongue, they are doing the speaking; however, God gives them the words to say. Additionally, when that person speaks in an unknown language, they speak mysteries that only God knows unless He chooses to reveal it to others. It is heaven talking to man through man and man talking back to heaven. It is intimacy with the Lover of our soul. Most importantly, we can do this for a short time or a long time. We can do this anywhere and everywhere. We don’t need permission for access; the door of heaven is open and waiting for us to enter.
Because we are not ignorant of Satan’s devises, believers need to understand the enemy of our soul does not want us to pray in tongues. He would rather we speak in our native language so he and his demonic force can understand what we are saying and strategize their evil plans against us. Plus, the enemy of our soul does not want us to speak in our unknown tongues because, according to 1 Corinthians 14:4a, “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself. For sure, Satan does not want believers to be built up nor strengthened. Satan prefers believers to be weak, confused, and unstable.
So, in closing, with the information, I have shared in this blog if you have not been building yourself up in the Holy Ghost and if you have not been speaking in your unknown language, I encourage you to do so. For that matter, don’t wait to start that intimate conversation with God, do it now.
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