On my last blog, I gave the readers a question on which to reflect. The question was, “How do you determine if it is the devil interacting with you, or is it God testing, chastening or scourging you?” This question was the results of my pondering over the text below:
Hebrews 12: 5-11 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
To start let me say according to John 10:10 when Satan interacts with us, it is to steal, kill, or destroy. Therefore, when you are going thru painful experiences stop and think is one of these three things happening; if so, it is Satan and not God.
Fellowship means the condition of sharing similar interest, ideals, or experiences, companionship in a congenial atmosphere, and a close association of friends sharing similar interest. Thus, when things are moving smoothly in our lives, we can call this a time of fellowship. God is a blessing, and I am not messing!
When I researched the Greek meaning of the word chastening as used in the above text, the purpose was child training, instructions, education, warning, correction, and discipline. The English dictionary meaning was to correct by punishment or suffering. This leads me to believe this chastening is two-fold. One part is educational, and the other entails corrective discipline. God desires believers to grow up; therefore, our Christian walk with Him will include training, education, and correction. And as it is with natural schooling, education is accompanied by testing.
The final word scourging means to flog, whip, and to punish severely. When it is necessary for God to scourge us, it is probably because we were rebellious, and would not listen to His rebuke, and warnings. For this reason, His love for us makes it imperative for Him to tear our flesh up. A timeout just was not working.
Other principles to learn from the text are that every believer is chastised, and we are to accept it as a sign of the Father’s love for us. This text admonishes believers not to show displeasure or have an attitude toward God for whatever method He may use disciplining us; but rather accept it as proof of our position in Him and His continual love for us. Finally, the reverence and respect we give our earthly fathers for their chastisement should also be rendered to God for His chastisement.
This text was incredibly insightful for me, and I pray it will aid you in your understanding of God’s interaction in your life. Also, I invite you to revisit this blog site again as I continue to share God’s word with you.
Before this week the last time I posted a blog was on 6/26/12. I intented to start my next series immediately; however, my mind went on vacation. I have previously shared with you that writing is a challenge for me, and try as I might, I just could not pull myself together. Thank God summer has passed, and I feel a wind behind me pushing me ahead (back into writing).
This past Sunday, a portion of the text from my Sunday school lesson made me stop and ponder. The text is as follows:
Hebrews 12: 5-11 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
From this text, I surmised that our relationship with God could be in one of these modes: fellowship, testing, chastening, or scourging. After some reflection on this, I shared with my class that I felt it was essential for us to determine which mode we are in as we go through our life experiences. We often blame our negative experiences on the devil; when it is not the devil, but God is interacting with us.
As I told my class to take time and analyze the situations they are going through; I am going to say the same to you. Therefore, I am going to give you time to reflect on the following question before I share some of my thoughts about the above text in my next blog.
The question: How do you determine if it is the devil interacting with you, or is it God testing, chastening, or scourging you?
Also, remember I need your continued prays to be effective in this blogging. THANKS IN ADVANCE.
Last week a large portion of the population of the United States remembered that fatal day, September 11, 2001, when our land was invaded by the enemy. New York City, Shanksville Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. suffered from the attack. We were stunned, horrified, confused, and scared, to name a few emotions.
Also, on last week four dedicated Americans lost their lives in an attack at the American Consulate in Benghazi Egypt. Whether this was a pre-planned attack by a terrorist or the response to an anti-Islam film produced in America is still being investigated.
Anger against America has spread across the Arab world and beyond. Leaders, nations, and individuals are choosing sides and determining who they will support. Some are pro-American; others are anti-Americans who feel we are getting what we deserve, and still others are undecided.
Just as we the citizens of the United States put aside our differences and came together against the enemy there is coming a day when the world will experience disaster which will unite them against who they believe is their common enemy, the perpetrator of this event. Most of the people will not realize or accept the fact that it is God that orchestrated this event.
That day for believers will be a day of bliss for we will forever be with the Lord. For unbelievers who survive the aftermath of the rapture, they will be stunned, horrified confused, scared, and seeking answers. For those who heard the gospel but rejected God, they will no doubt regret their decision for they will know the catastrophic events that lie ahead for them in the days to come.
For us believers, since we understand the signs of the time which shows us that Jesus is soon to come for His bride, let us not only pray for this present world but let us pray for those that will be left behind; that in seeking answers they will find and accept God.
In this life, there are consequences for decisions we make, and sometimes we are not afforded a do-over or repeated opportunity to change things when we have made the wrong choice. This blog is about a man of God who missed his opportunity to continue prospering and living because he was disobedient to God’s instructions.
The blog narrative is found in 1 Kings 13, which tells the story of a man of God used to deliver a prophetic word of judgment to the reigning king of Judah. The king became angry and sought to harm the man of God; however, he was stopped when he experienced paralysis in his hand. The king now had to beg help from the man he wanted to harm. The man of God prayed for the king and he received miraculous healing. The king invited the man of God to come home with him; however, before coming to the king at Bethel, God had given the man of God specific directions concerning his departure from that place. He was told, “Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.” So, he refused the king’s invitation and started on his journey home. An old prophet met him along the way and lied to him concerning new directions from God. He believed and followed the old prophet back to his home in Bethel. While eating in the prophet’s house the prophet gives this word to the man of God, “Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.” After completing his meal, the man of God leaves the prophet’s house, and that same day was killed by a lion all because he did not obey the instructions he had received from the Lord.
This man of God was a young prophet used of God. He knew the voice of God; however, he allowed the voice of another to influence him. Listening to this voice cost him his life. When the old prophet spoke to him with new directions, he did not consult God but instead accepted the old prophet’s word as truth. His life, which appeared productive, was cut short by listening to the voice of a stranger. His disobedience caused him to miss future opportunities to deliver the word of the Lord to national leaders with miraculous signs following his ministry.
This text is a great learning tool for believers; for God speaks to us continually in many ways but mainly via His Word. There is not a day that is void of His Word to us, for we have the privilege of daily feeding on His Word, which provides us with correction, instruction, reproof, and exhortation. Heeding the Word without determent causes us to live and not die.
As I conclude this series on “MISSED OPPORTUNITIES” I pray you will purpose in your heart and mind to be obedient to God; thus, allowing yourself opportunities to advance in the kingdom of God. Finally, be a servant who will eventually become a leader, be prepared to enter in at the appointed time, be productive in all that is assigned to your hands, and be obedient to God.
The narrative for this particular blog is found in Matthew 25:14 – 31, and I saw so many nuggets in it, that I am genuinely excited to share them with you.
Verse fourteen starts this parable telling us that a man who is about to embark on a trip gives three servants talents to invest. These talents belong to the man, not the servants.
“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.”
I find we often boast about our abilities, but in reality, it is not ours. That is why when we are given a compliment, we should say earnestly, “To God be the glory.”
I believe the critical phase in this parable is found in verse fifteen. It states, “to every man according to his several abilities.”
“And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.”
God gives all of us talents according to our ability; it is He that determines our scale of responsibility. He does not give us more than we can handle. We can find people either doing too much, just enough or nothing at all. As believers, it is our responsibility to multiply what God has given us and not complain about the task that is set before us.
Verses 16 thru 18 describe what the servants did with their talents:
“Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.”
Two men doubled what they had received while the third acted in fear and hid what he had received. Listen to the response of the man to the productive servants.
“After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
I gather from these verses that God gives us time to be productive. Each one of us will be held accountable for our actions. God expects a return from what He has invested in us. He expects believers to be active, responsible, and live up to their God-given potential. God’s rewards are not based on accomplishments, but upon faithfulness, and the reward for faithful service is greater responsibility. I have to highlight my next statement. The reward for work well done is still more work to do. Most of us want to voice tiredness for our efforts, but God is saying He gives us the strength to do even more.
The last seven verses of this parable shows for the fearful and unproductive, God’s edict is unpleasant.
“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
First and foremost, how you view God will affect how you serve Him. Fear of failure can paralyze you and hinder you from trying to succeed. Fear will cause you to miss your opportunity to produce. Fear will generate a negative response from God; for our excuse about why we did not or could not do is unacceptable to Him. He does not compare us with others, and He does not give us more than what we can handle, He expects us to achieve and attain.
Finally, like the unprofitable servant, if we miss our opportunity to multiply, advancement will be denied to us, and we are condemned to separation from the faithful, for the believer who is punished is the believer who missed their opportunity to try.
Most of you have heard of the parable found in Matthew 25:1-13 of the ten virgins. If not, for this blog, I recommend reading it.
To fully understand this parable knowledge of the typical Jewish wedding day in biblical times is helpful. The time of betrothal between the groom and bride can range from a month to a year, and the bride was unaware of how long the time would be.
While waiting for the wedding day, the bride, with the help of her attendants, would prepare her clothes and body for the ceremony. The groom would be preparing their future home and paying off the debt if any had occurred in the purchase of the bride. The groom had to complete these two things prior before the marriage. Also, the groom could not get married until his father approved of the home he had prepared for his bride. When he received that approva,l he was able to go and get his bride.
On the day of the ceremony which always occurs after sundown, a groomsman starts shouting, “Behold, the bridegroom comes,” and a shofar is sounded followed by a procession making a jubilant noise thru the streets to the bride’s home. The bride knows the marriage is going to happen; however, the exact hour or day is unbeknownst to her. When she hears the jubilant noise, she and her attendants are to be prepared to meet the groom and join the procession with oil in their lamps since it will be dark outside. When the groom arrives the bride, and her party is whisked off into the night back to the groom’s father’s house for the consummation of the wedding and its’ festivities.
If you read the parable, you will note there was a commonality among the ten.
- All were virgins.
- All were equipped with a lamp.
- All were waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom.
- Physically all were in a dormant state.
- All heard the midnight cry.
- All responded to the cry.
However, the wise five were prepared for the night travel, knew how to say no, and were able to participate in the wedding festivities at the appointed time.
The foolish five suffered a different fate. Have you ever heard the phrase, “You know the drill?” Well, the five foolish virgins knew they would need oil for their lamp; however, like most of us, they failed to prepare for the inevitable. To name a few excuses they either: did not anticipate the arrival of the groom, thought others would help them fix their dilemma, were procrastinators, or just lazy. Consequently, their actions prevented their entrance into the wedding celebrations, and they missed the opportunity to participate in an event in which they were supposed to be involved.
Each one of us needs to exam our lives and determine if we fall into the category of the wise or the foolish. There are many opportunities available to us that we miss because of our negligence. The good thing to know is today is a new day, and we can change the course of our life, and do better!
This blog is about two servants; one becomes a leader, and the other becomes a leper. Their names are Elisha and Gehazi.
The books of Kings give an account of the life of Elisha, who was a servant of the prophet Elijah for approximately eight years. When Elijah was taken from this earth, Elisha was granted a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. The Bible records Elisha doing twice the miracles done by his predecessor. Apparently, his time spent with Elijah was inspirational and instructive. He was impressed with the qualities of Elijah and wanted to be like him but on a grander scale. The words of Paul in Philippians 4:9 can be seen portrayed in Elisha’s life, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Gehazi unfortunately, was different; he had the same opportunity to learn from his master; however, he failed miserably. When Gehazi is first mentioned in 2 Kings 4, which tells the story of the Shunammite woman, he is already in the position of a servant to Elisha. At first, he appears sensitive to the desire of the Shunammite woman and can share this insight with his master. Years later, when this woman’s son dies, he is unable to perceive her grief and is stopped from manhandling her by Elisha. Elisha sent Gehazi with his staff to place it upon the face of the dead child, but the child did not respond. Lacking the anointing for the task Gehazi returns to Elisha, and Elisha comes and does what he expected Gehazi to accomplish.
In 2 Kings 5, the narrative of the healing of Naaman, the leper and the duplicity of Gehazi is told. After Elisha heals Naaman, Gehazi lies to Naaman, and receives monies and clothing for himself and then lies to Elisha about his actions. Consequently, Gehazi’s covetousness, merchandising the gift of God, and deception causes Elisha to curse him and his future generations with leprosy.
At first in his role of a servant, Gehazi appears attentive and sensitive, but as the years pass, he becomes callous and manipulative. Gehazi failed to understand the divine connection and the spirit of transference. He failed in performances and missed his opportunity to advance in ministry. All the years Gehazi traveled with Elisha he should have been mindful of Elisha’s feelings, teachings, lifestyle, and character. He did not take advantage of the positive things that he could have learned to advance his future. He did not realize Elisha was sowing seeds into his life.
It would be a wonderful thing if all believers had the heart of a servant and felt that the ministry in which they belong was divinely ordered by God. It would be a wonderful thing if all believers continually partook of the spiritual reservoir offered to them by their pastor and church. It would be a wonderful thing if we heard pastors complaining because their congregation was spiritually draining them of all they had to offer and they needed to replenish themselves for the hungry flock. It would be a wonderful thing if we saw pastors beaming over a member’s accomplishments in the work of the ministry. It would be a wonderful thing if we were like Elisha and not Gehazi. It would be a wonderful thing if we did not miss our opportunities to emulate the great qualities and spiritual gifts of our leaders.
After receiving direction from the Holy Spirit for this blog series, I experienced “writer’s block.” I had the necessary material and thoughts to compose the blog; however, I was having difficulty translating it on to paper. What I realize for me writing is not an easy task, and I need the help of God to do this. I have found that when a project or task is challenging to accomplish the fruits of it are massive. So, please pray for me in this endeavor; that as the title of this series, I do not miss my opportunity to do what I am called to do in this season.
“Oh, man, I missed it.” This has been the statement that many of us have made in our lifetime. The opportunity that we missed represented something that we wanted whether small or great and sometimes it is a chance that we may never again experience. The Bible contains these kinds of passages where individuals missed their opportunity. Over the next several weeks, I will be sharing some of these passages with you.
Let me start with the definition of these two words:
1. miss Failing to hit, reach, catch, meet, or otherwise make contact with. To fail to perceive, understand, or experience. To fail to accomplish, achieve, or attain. To fail to attend or perform.
2. opportunity A favorable or advantageous circumstance or combination of circumstances. A favorable or suitable occasion or time. A chance for progress or advancement.
As you read and apply this series, I pray as Paul states in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 the reproof, correction, or instruction that you may need will be attained and applied to your life; so that you will be thoroughly furnished unto all good works, and not miss your opportunities.
I have desired to share my knowledge of the book of Revelation with you. As I previously stated, I found Revelation to be a difficult book to read and understand. Much of the symbolism can be baffling, and commentators differ in their interpretation of it. I will be continually learning and gaining insight from it. Therefore, I have attempted to keep it simple so that you, the reader, would be able to get the gist of what is being said.
I pray my goal has been accomplished that my seeds have fallen on good ground, and you are now inspired to share your knowledge of this subject with others.
God richly bless you and thank you for taking this journey with me.
As the book of Revelation comes to a close an invitation is given to those that hear, are athirst, and willing to come and freely take of the water of life offered to them. This invitation is available to everyone; no one is exempt. It has always been God’s desire that all should be saved and none lost.
Secondly, a warning is given to take the writings of Revelation seriously. Often believers pick and choose what they will believe, accept, and obey. We are admonished that there are consequences for adding or diminishing the Word. Simply, we must eat the whole loaf.
Lest we forget, Jesus reminds us, “Surely I come quickly.” In my words, “Be prepared and watching for Him.”
Lastly, John gives the benediction: Revelation 22: 21, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Grace is unmerited favor, which is extended to each of us and for which I am grateful for it has offered me the opportunity to receive from God eternal life.
The Teacher's Pick 