Solomon, who became the third king in Israel, was the second son of Bathseba and the tenth son of King David. The Bible states in 2 Samuel 12:24 and 2 Chronicles 1:1 that God loved Solomon, was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. Additionally, the Bible states before David’s death he told Solomon, “I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.”
In the early days of Solomon’s reign, God appeared to him in a dream and said to him, “Ask what I shall give thee.” Solomon’s response was to ask for an understanding heart to judge Israel and the ability to discern between good and bad. His request pleased God in such a meaningful way that God told him, “Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.”
In his lifetime, with the blessings and favor of God, Solomon obtained fame and adulation. The Bible recorded that all Israel heard of the judgments of Solomon, and they feared him for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him. Furthermore, people from other nations of all socio-economic backgrounds came to hear his wisdom. He was a poet and a prolific writer who penned 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs, some of which are found in the book of Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, and Psalms. He built the first temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, a majestic palace for himself, and government buildings surrounded by gardens and roads. He accumulated thousands of horses and chariots, and his diplomatic skills allowed him to secure peace with his neighbors and build up Israel’s trade industry.
Unfortunately, Solomon loved women for the Bible states he had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. These wives and concubines were Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites, which God had instructed Israel not to marry. Solomon disobeyed God’s instruction which resulted in faulty behavior as seen in 1 Kings 11: 4-9, “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.” The consequence of his actions is seen in verses 9-11, “And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded. Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to thy son for David’s my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem sake which I have chosen.” What a sad end for the wisest man of his time who died at age sixty. He was wise, but not wise enough to be obedient to God, for he allowed the lust of his flesh to control a significant portion of his life.
Solomon’s life provides lessons for all of us to learn. First and foremost, be obedient to God’s instruction. Secondly, bring the flesh under subjection to the Word of God and, thirdly, don’t allow our actions to have a negative effect on our future generations. I believe these are vital points to adhere to for success in our Christian walk.
In my next blog, I am going to delve some more into problem areas in King Solomon’s life. So, I invite you to return to this website to learn more about Solomon’s errors. Prayerfully, these blogs will help you and me to please God and not our flesh.
Starting around the beginning of May 2020, I noticed my laptop on which I typed was moving extremely slowly. It was almost seven years old, and it had served me well. I was informed by a few people that my laptop was probably getting ready to die on me, and I took it to be serviced, and its death sentence was confirmed.
One morning after receiving the pending death notice, I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to transfer everything that I needed off the laptop to a thumb drive. I am so glad that I did not procrastinate because after I made the transfer, the laptop started acting up. It would freeze up and not allow me to type or see material that I had on it. Thus, I made up in my mind to purchase a new laptop.
Initially, I wanted another Toshiba, but I found out that Toshiba was going out of business and was no longer making computers; therefore, I had to shop around for a new brand. After reading some consumer reports, I decided on a Hewlett Packard. Due to Covid-19 and being unable to go into stores, I ordered it directly from the company. It took several weeks to arrive, and it took me over a week to learn all of the features and set it up to my liking.
I said all of the above to explain why I had not been able to do my weekly blog, which I hope you were missing, but with the help of God, I am restarting.
While unable to post blogs, one thing I have been doing is taking advantage of the many free conferences and seminars being publicized on FB. I can honestly say that during this time, when we have been made to shelter-in many ministries have made their conferences free to the public. Besides on FB all through the day, prayer, teaching, and preaching are being done. The Word is no longer behind the four walls of our churches, but it is going into the homes of the masses throughout the day. Furthermore, I believe there is no reason for us to be discouraged because someone during the day has the Word to fit every situation, and I have been feasting.
In closing, if you have not availed yourself to Word in the many forms and platforms being offered, I strongly recommend you to do so. (There is no need to be hungry when you can eat at any time during the day.) And as usual, I solicit your prayers as I restart my blogging.
You think times are challenging now, listen to what Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 24:21-22, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
Sometime after the church is raptured the tribulation will take place as recorded in Revelation and many books of the minor prophets. There have been discussions on whether the next day after the rapture will be considered the first day of the tribulation or if it will begin after the Antichrist is revealed. I don’t know exactly when it will start or when it will end but this is what I do know, it is going to happen. In total, the tribulation is said to last seven years but I understand God’s timetable is different from man; therefore, I can only speculate on this timetable and not be specific.
From reading the scriptures in Revelation, I understand the tribulation is divided into two parts. The first part which lasts three and a half years is called the tribulation and the last three and a half years is known as the great tribulation. During this seven-year tribulation as I stated in previous blogs, there will be 21 judgments meted out on the earth and its inhabitants. After the fourth seal judgment, one-fourth of the earth’s population will be dead, and by the time the sixth trumpet judgment takes place another third of the population is dead which means half of the earth’s population will be dead even before the great tribulation starts (Revelation 6:8; 9:15-18).
Believers have not been raptured nor have the world entered the tribulation period but we are seeing a magnitude of death on the earth due to sickness, natural disasters, famine, pestilences, murder, and suicide. The world’s death toll is going to significantly increase and the sad but true fact is calamities are only going to intensify and get worse.
Many people are having difficulty adjusting to the Covid-19 quarantine. Many feel they are experiencing or will be experiencing PTSD when things begin to normalize. This right here is a piece of cake in comparison to the future as described in Revelation; hence, all of us need to plan for our eternal future.
I know most of us are tired of hearing bad news and we don’t want to hear of pending disasters, but as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I am compelled to share biblical truths with the world. It is my responsibility to say there is danger ahead; however, God has provided safety and a way of escape for all who will invite Him into their lives. The good news is you don’t have to faint, nor be afraid for God cares for you and He desires that you should be saved and not eternally perish.
On today if you are reading this blog, and you don’t have a relationship with God, right now, you can invite Him into your life. God has provided salvation for humanity through the death, burial, and resurrection of His son, Jesus. As the saying goes, “Don’t put off for tomorrow, what you can do today.” In fact, this will be the best and greatest decision that you have made in your life, and if you do it you will become part of God’s royal family and you won’t have to worry about tomorrow for you made the right decision.
Unlike the children of Israel in the land of Goshen who was protected from the plagues that happened in Egypt, there is coming a period which the bible calls tribulation where the whole world will be experiencing the twenty-one judgments of God. As the saying goes, “It will be raining on the just as well as the unjust” and no one will be exempt.
Presently we are experiencing the Covid-19 pandemic which started in China and over months has spread to 210 countries and territories around the world. This virus did not occur around the world in one day it took time to spread. Jesus forewarned believers before His death to expect these pestilences, and during the tribulation, the book of Revelation records plagues happening around the world on the same day due to God’s judgments.
Additionally, we are witnessing and hearing of believers dying from the Covid-19 pandemic, and this will also happen during the tribulation for individuals who will turn to God but He will allow them to suffer death (Revelation 6:7,11; 13:7).
Recently the news reported the giant Asian killer hornets were spotted in the northwest United States. These hornets are said to be about two inches in length with large stingers that transmit toxic venom to their victims. They are known to decimate honeybee colonies and cause serious results to humans that disturb or come near their hives. These hornets remind me of the fifth trumpet judgment on earth during the tribulation that will lose tormenting locust on those individuals that are not sealed of God.
Around the world and particularly in third world countries Christians and Jews are being killed for their religious stance. This is mirroring the martyrdom that will happen during the tribulation (Revelation 6:9-11).
In American, we are experiencing tornadoes and earthquakes in areas of the country that previously were void of these occurrences but now they have become the norm.
As calamities and end time events happen my spirit is being quickened. I understand that what is presently taking place is only a foretaste of future events, and this has signaled me to follow the words of Jesus in Luke 21:28, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” So, if you pass by me and see me looking upward you will know why or better still you will also be looking up so you won’t even notice me.
With all of the events that we are experiencing on earth, I share the sentiment of Apostle Paul who said for that which he was waiting in Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” This appearing will coincide with Jesus descending from heaven and the trump of God sounding as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Furthermore, just reading about the splendor of heaven I can only imagine what the trumpets in heaven look like.
The sound of a trumpet which was accompanied with thunder, lightning and a thick cloud of smoke upon the quaking mount Sinai was first mentioned in the Exodus 19:13,16,19. It has been concluded that this trumpet was blown from heaven because God did not assign an individual on earth to blow a trumpet, and its’ sound was so loud and long it caused the Israelites in the camp to trembled.
Trumpets designed by God and made by man were recorded in Numbers 10. According to scripture at the beginning of Israel’s journey through the wilderness beside the making of the tabernacle and its holy items God told Moses to make two trumpets of silver to use for the calling of the assembly, for the journeying of the camps, for an alarm in case of an enemy attack, and the announcement of the feasts and new months. Only the priest was allowed to blow these trumpets and they were given instructions on the various sounds that were to be made on them. Thus, when the people heard the sounds of the trumpet they knew how to respond.
Throughout the Bible, you can read the events where the silver trumpets were employed for the above mention reasons. However, in Revelation John describes the use of trumpets to announce the second set of judgments upon the earth and its inhabitants but details of these trumpets were not given (Revelation 8 -11). I can only speculate that one of these trumpets or one similar to the one used in Exodus 19 will be utilized to announce the coming of Jesus in the clouds to assemble his body to Him, and I await the sound with great anticipation.
In closing this blog, my question to you is, have you made your calling and election sure, and are you ready to be caught up in the air to be with the Lord? If not, this is your opportunity to invite God into your life, don’t wait or hesitate. I want you to be in the number who hear the trumpet sound, I don’t want you to be left behind.
This week I woke up singing a hymn from my childhood days, “IN TIMES LIKE THESE.” I haven’t sung this song in ages, and I was not sure that I was singing it correctly, so, I went to my hymnals and searched them until I found one that had the song in it. I was then able to sing the song completely and concluded that the words were relevant for today. Let me share two of the verses and chorus with you, so those of you that never heard this song will understand what I am talking about.
In times like these you need a Savior,
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
In times like these you need the Bible,
In times like these, O be not idle;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, Yes He’s the One,
This Rock is Jesus, the only One;
Be very sure, be very sure.
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
According to the dictionary, a savior is a person who saves someone or something (especially a country or cause) from danger, and who is regarded with the veneration of a religious figure. A savior is a rescuer, liberator, deliverer, emancipator, champion, a knight in shining armor, a friend in need, and Good Samaritan. Additionally, the dictionary states in Christianity it is God or Jesus Christ as the redeemer of sin and saver of souls.
The word anchor means reliable or principal support, a mainstay, something that serves to hold an object firmly, and without looking up the definition of “solid rock” we know that it is something hard that cannot be broken, and when an anchor grasps it, nothing is moving.
I am sure that all of us can say without a doubt we are living at a time where we are experiencing moment to moment changes and we need something tangible on which to hold. Our answer to this is declared in the song. We know God sent Jesus to redeem, save, and deliver us. Jesus is our rock, our answer, and only hope. Though the world has many gods there is only One for all the rest are conjured up by man; thus, all of them will fail and are like shifting sand. Nevertheless, thank God, we have a Savior, we are not dillydallying but anchoring on Jesus our solid rock.
Last week I wrote a blog titled “PRESSURED TO COMPLY” and in it, I speculated whether the Covid-19 was God’s judgment of the earth inhabitants. This week’s blog can be considered a continuation of that theme because of some of the events that happened this past week such as the decrease in the number of Covid-19 hospital admissions and the talk of lifting the shut-in status in several states. My present concern and questions are, “If Covid-19 is God’s judgment, did we learn anything and when things stabilize will we return to the practices that caused God’s hand of judgment to come upon us?”
The book of Judges talks about twelve leaders chosen by God to bring about justice and deliverance for the oppressed people of Israel for they appeared to be in a cycle of sin, suffering, supplication, and salvation. Thus, Israel needed God’s repeated interventions due to their disregard for His laws, commandments, and statutes. God was always delivering them and bringing them out of their captivity but after a period of repentance they forgot about the hardships and oppression they experienced and they returned to their sinful practices. This is seen in a key verse that describes them in Judges 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
In Revelation chapters, two and three John the disciple of Jesus was told to address the seven churches in Asia. In these letters were instructions on what was needed to be an overcomer and at the end of the letter was this statement, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” God gave them the vital directions for their success, but would they listen.
This is where we are today. Many voices are saying, “The world has been shaken and now there is an awakening.” However, I fear that we will follow in the footsteps of those that have gone before us and when we settle back into our daily routine we will forget. Our awakening will be momentary and not permanent and it will be necessary for God to judge us again. Furthermore, as stated in Matthew 24 by Jesus who knew the failures and immoral habits of man that wars, famines, pestilences, calamities, and earthquakes would intensify and become more frequent as the end time draws nigh. And these catastrophes are not even the 21 judgments that will occur on earth during the tribulation.
All I can say and pray is “God help us to remain awaken after the shaking.”
On 12/28/19 I posted a blog titled “THE YEAR OF THE MOUTH,” and in that blog, I wrote about the Hebraic calendar which is different than our Gregorian calendar celebrating the year 5780 and that this new era is known as “Pey,” which means “voice” or “mouth.” Additionally, I wrote prophets are calling this time, “The Year of the Mouth.” and in accordance with this, as God’s ambassadors our voices must be heard unlocking God’s kingdom plan and aligning heaven and earth with His plan.
Ministers, prophets and fellow believers that understood the mandate for this year have been sharing it with people. Unfortunately, though this information has been shared it did not always fall on good ground, for many believers have forgotten it or have not allowed their voice to be heard in the atmosphere. In other words, a large portion of the body of Christ is missing in action So, what does God do? It is possible that He allows unpleasant circumstances to happen in the world to awaken His children.
I don’t know if Covid-19 is God ‘s judgment on this sinful, ungodly world, or Satan’s orchestration. In Isaiah 26:20-21 it states, “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain” (KJV) and another translation reads, “Go home, my people, and lock the doors! Hide for a little while until the Lord’s wrath against your enemies has passed. Look! The Lord is coming from the heavens to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will no longer hide the murderers. The guilty will be found” (TLB). The preceding verses in this chapter are a song of praise by the believers that were partakers of the millennial reign of Jesus, but at the end of the chapter verses, 20-21 instructs the believers that they must sequester themselves while God metes punishment on the unrighteous. So, this Covid-19 may be a move of God and if it is a remedy can be found in II Chronicles 7:13-14 which states, “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.
Presently we have been advised to shut-in and this has resulted in some positive things and some negative things. For me, the positive things have had preeminence; it has caused me to open my mouth and declare the Word of God into the atmosphere of my home and community more than I was previously doing, and I know that the various kinds of stress and anxieties that people are experiencing have caused them to also pray, decree and declare the Word of God more intensively and intentionally.
Furthermore, my church is meeting from our homes, on our church prayer line, and we are spending time praying, decreeing, and declaring; so, collective prayers, declarations, and decrees are going up to God from all of our homes. If we were not experiencing Covid-19 this would not be happening. Thus, amid our present crisis I see the hand of God for the sleeping church is awakened and pressured to comply with the mandate for this ear; the year of the mouth.
Finally, all I can say is, “Praise God,” He does all things well, and He knows what to do to cause His will and plan to be accomplished in the earth.
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