You can watch us live each week!
http://www.lmcigreenville.org/watch-live/
Service Times
Sunday AM: 11am
Sunday PM: 6pm
Wednesday: 7pm
www.lmcigreenville.org
Worship Cast License #: 6786
CCLI #: 3105920
I HAVE BEEN TOLD, WHEN WE ARE TRIED, AND DON’T PASS THE TEST OF ENDURANCE, AND TRUST GOD TO FIGHT OUR BATTLE —- BY THIS, I MEAN, WE TAKE IT IN OUR OWN HANDS —-WE WILL AT SOME POINT IN LIFE, HAVE TO TAKE THE SAME TEST OVER AGAIN.
IT IS MUCH BETTER FOR US TO GO AHEAD AND WATCH GOD MOVE ON OUR BEHALF, AND WAIT IT OUT, AND LET GOD GET THE VICTORY FOR US, THAN TO HAVE TO FACE THIS AGAIN.
YOU WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN THROUGH A TRAIL, DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT; BUT YOU WILL FACE ONE AT SOME POINT AND TIME AS YOU SERVE THE LORD.
II CORINTHAINS 8:2 – HOW THAT IN A GREAT TRAIL OF AFFLICTION (OR IN A TIME OF MUCH TROUBLE) THE ABUNDANCE OF THEIR JOY AND THEIR DEEP POVERTY ABOUNDED UNTO THEIR RICHES OF THEIR GREAT LIBERALITY. PAUL IS WRITING A LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS TO INFORM THEM OF HOW THE MACEDONIAN CHURCHES WHO WERE GOING THROUGH A TIME OF GREAT TROUBLE, WERE STILL FILLED WITH JOY THAT THEY COULD BE IN AN OVERFLOW OF GIVING TO THE CHURCHES IN JERUSALEM.
MANY OF US WHO ARE GOING THROUGH A GREAT TRIAL, WHETHER IT BE PHYSICAL OR FINANCIAL, WHATEVER IT IS, COULD LEARN FROM THESE MACEDONIANS. THEY WERE ONLY ACTING ON THE PRINCIPLES OF THE PROMISES OF GOD.
THEY DIDN’T ALLOW SATAN TO STEAL THEIR JOY, AND THEY WERE SOWING AN OFFERING AGAINST THEIR OWN POVERTY TO MINISTER TO THE NEEDS OF THE SAINTS. WHAT A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE TO US.
IF WE ARE BEING TRIED, WE SHOULD FIRST, PRAISE GOD THROUGH IT, AND THEN, TRUST HIM FOR THE OUTCOME.
ALSO, WE SHOULD ASK HIM, “LORD,WHAT CAN I LEARN THROUGH THIS?”
I PROMISE YOU, HE WILL SHOW YOU, AND BRING YOU TO A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW HE WORKS.
JAMES 1:2-4 – MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YE FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS (OR VARIOUS TRIALS):
KNOWING THIS, THAT THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKETH (DEVELOPS) PATIENCE.
BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT (COMPLETE) WORK, THAT YE MAY BE PERFECT (MATURE) AND ENTIRE, WANTING NOTHING (OR LACKING NOTHING).
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN GOING THROUGH TRIALS THAT DEVELOPE PATIENCE, AND BEING TEMPTED TO DO EVIL. BEING TEMPTED TO DO EVIL , IS BEING DRAWN AND ENTICED BY YOUR OWN LUST.
GOD DOES NOT TEMPT MAN TO DO EVIL (JAMES 1:13-18).
JAMES 1:12 – BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURETH TEMPTATION: FOR WHEN HE IS TRIED, HE SHALL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE, WHICH THE LORD HATH PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM.
JAMES TELLS US TO COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN WE FALL INTO TRIALS (VERSE 2), BUT HE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT FALLING INTO SIN, HE IS TALKING ABOUT DISCOVERING THAT WE CAN FIND STRENGTH TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION AND ENDURE TRIALS, THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD AND HIS POWER.
WITHOUT THE POWER OF GOD IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER, TRIALS CAN CAUSE HIM OR HER TO BECOME BITTER AND CRITICAL AND LOOSE THE CROWN OF LIFE.
VERSE 12 READS …WHEN HE IS TRIED… THIS SHOULD TELL US SOMETHING: WE WILL BE TRIED AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIVES.
LETS PASS THE TEST THE FIRST TIME, SO WE WON’T HAVE TO TAKE IT OVER AGAIN!!!
God said to Me about this message: ” This is not a new revelation but a revelation long forgotten by man. I am ready for this to be revealed to My Church. Reveal it by radio,” and so I did. Tomorrow it will be aired by Radio in Greenville, SC, WELP AM 1360 @ 11:15 AM.
Think about it!!
Before the devil can do anything to you, child of God, he has to have God’s permission. We see this in the life of Job, but there are more accounts in the Bible also. In this message we will discuss some of them.
Genesis 50:20 – But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Literally, And you were thinking or meditating evil against me; but God (Elohim) was thinking or meditating for good.
What or who do you think caused Joseph’s brothers to meditate evil against their brother? You’re correct! It was the devil.
Intended evil is overruled by God when He has some good object in view, God always knows what the result of certain actions will be. If they are good actions they work in line with His will: if evil, He overrules them.
It is dangerous for the devil and those who scheme against God’s children. It is likely to be checked and to recoil. Someone has said, “A greater power than we can contradict may thwart our plans.” Men have so noticed this that a French moralist said, “I do not know what hidden force it is that seems to delight in breaking up human plans just at the moment when they promise to turn out well.” Yes, there is a “hidden force,” ever watchful, ever balancing human actions, ever ordaining the just need of praise or blame, of retribution or reward.
See how the scribes and Pharisees held council against Jesus, the gentle, pure, loving teacher of truth and healer of diseases. They sought how they might kill Him. They excommunicated Him, they sent others to entrap Him. They succeeded in nailing Him to the cross. They carried out their evil intentions; but that cross became the throne of the Savior’s power, the salvation, and the death of Christ became the life of the world. They went by wagging their heads, but at last they had to ring their hands. They themselves were left in their sins, and their “house left unto them desolate,” while unto the Christ they hated all men being drawn.
That God overrules evil should make us feel our dependence on Him. Joseph depended on God for his salvation. Although he fought for his freedom, he was overruled by Satan moving on his brothers. They really meant to kill him, but God intervened. God was actually moving on his behalf even when he didn’t know it or sense it. As he began to grow up in his slavery, God’s presence became more real to him as favor of man came. Even though he was falsely accused, and went to prison: there he received favor and prospered.
It’s up to us. Do we submit to God’s will no matter what it looks like? Do we depend on Him to get us out of this mess we are in, or do we just bury our heads in our hands and say, “Woe is me!!!!!”
We can trust God. To trust God is called “living faith.”
I had a dream this week. I don’t remember much about it, but what I do, has made a great impression on me: —–I was walking beside a wall of boulders and rocks, and in these stones, were poisonous snakes. Someone had given me a snake of my own. I carried it with me in my hands; and when I passed near a snake in the rocks, I just let my snake loose and it would devour the other one. I did this each time I sensed an attack.
My husband told me I was using my enemies to work for me. I liked that. My “armour bearer”, Cheryl Davis, reminded me of Moses and his rod. God said to Moses, “What is that in your hand?” and told Moses to put down his rod, and it became a serpent. In one account Moses put down his rod and it became a serpent and it devoured the enemies serpents: three of them.
I thought much on this, and God began to reveal how He uses the devil to work on our behalf, unknowing to him. Then I began to pray, “Lord, when an attack comes against me, I ask You to use the devil’s attack to work for me.” ——That might seem strange to you, as a believer, because we are into binding and loosening, but the Bible speaks of all prayers (all kinds of prayers) in Ephesians 6:18 – Praying always with all prayers and supplication in the Spirit…In the Holy Spirit.
In II Chronicles 18:18-22, God allowed a demon to go as a lying spirit to accomplish His plan.
It seems Micah saw a vision of a conference going on in heaven. There was present a demon spirit of which the Lord allowed to work to perform His purpose against Ahab.
There are other times in the Scriptures when demonic presence was involved in the plan of God.
Job 1:6 – Now there was a day when the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.
Here we see the Lord with an assembly going on , or a meeting with the angels of which Satan was at one time. Anyway, however it was, Satan had to present himself before the Lord. In this assembly, Satan doesn’t bring up the subject of Job, God does. Verses 7-12 – And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered My servant Job, and there is non like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God, and esceweth evil?”
Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought (for nothing)?
Hast thou made a hedge about him, and his house, and about all he hath on every side?…
Satan probably had seen this hedge before and was grieved because he couldn’t penetrate it and get to Job before.
Satan complains that God had blessed Job’s work of his hands and everything he had including his family. He said, Put forth Thine hand now, and and destroy all that he has and he will curse You to your face.
God gave Satan permission to take all Job had, even his children and his health. Job never did curse God, even though his wife encouraged it. In the end Job received double everything Satan stole from him, and his health was restored. All was better in the end than in the beginning.
Job 12:6 – The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. Job goes back to his main argument, and maintains that, the whole course of earthly events being under God’s directions, all the results are to be attributed to Him, and among them both the prosperity of the wicked, and, by part of reasoning, the sufferings of the righteous.
This in no way implies that God is unfair, it just means that God is long-suffering and uses the wicked to bring forth the means, of the end of His purpose.
The wicked will always be punished, and the righteous will always be victorious in the end; either here, or in the world to come.
PICTURE IN YOUR MIND, A PERSON STANDING IN THE CENTER OF A ROOM. WHEN A NEGATIVE WORD IS SPOKEN, THAT WORD IS CONSTANTLY SHOUTED AT THAT PERSON. THE PERSON IN THE CENTER BEGINS TO LOOK BEATEN DOWN. THEN, WHEN POSITIVE WORDS AND STATEMENTS ARE DONE THE SAME WAY, THE PERSON IN THE CENTER, REACHES OUT AND GATHERS (OR RECEIVES) EACH POSITIVE WORD AND BEGINS TO REJOICE. IF THE PERSON RECEIVES THE NEGATIVE WORDS, THEY WILL REMAIN IN A CAST DOWN CONDITION.
IF YOU CAN GET THIS PICTURE, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE MESSAGE.
SOME OF THE NEGATIVE WORDS AND STATEMENTS; OR WE COULD CALL THEM CURSES, ARE: “FAILURE; NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING; JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER; NO GOOD; GOING TO HELL; DRUG ADDICT; ALCOHOLIC; PROSTITUTE; JOHN; LAZY;” AND PROBABLY THE WORST OF ALL IS: “I HATE YOU; I WISH YOU WERE DEAD; I WISH YOU WERE NEVER BORN; WE’RE GETTING A DIVORCE; IT’S YOUR FAULT; I’M GOING TO KILL YOU; REJECTION; DESERTION; GET OUT; YOU’RE SICK!
YOU MAY EVEN BE HEARING VOICES FROM THE OTHER SIDE, “KILL!, KILL!; COMMIT SUICIDE!!”
FEAR AND ANGER ARE TWO OF THE FIRST SPIRITS OF EVLL THAT ENTERS THE LIFE OF THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE NEGATIVE WORDS FOR THEMSELVES, AND BELIEVE THEM. THEY BECOME A PART OF THEIR LIVES; WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THEMSELVES.
I MIGHT ADD, BELOVED, ADULTS, AS WELL AS CHILDREN ARE SUSCEPTIBLE AND SENSITIVE TO RECEIVING SUCH WORDS AS A PART OF THEM, IF THEY HEAR THEM ENOUGH.
II TIMOTHY 1:7 – FOR GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR; BUT OF POWER, AND OF LOVE, AND OF A SOUND MIND.
THE DEMON SPIRIT OF FEAR CAN PARALYZE ANYONE INTO BELIEVING ALL THESE LIES ABOUT THEM.
JOHN 10:10 – THE THIEF COMETH NOT, BUT FOR TO STEAL, AND TO KILL, AND TO DESTROY: I AM COME THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE, AND THAT MORE ABUNDANTLY (OR IN IT’S FULLEST MEASURE).
SOME OF YOU CAN HEAR YOUR SAINTLY GRANDMOTHER PRAYING NOW, “O GOD, SAVE MY BABY; DON’T LET MY BABY GO TO HELL!”
MANY OF YOU WHO ARE SAVED, CAN LOOK BACK OVER YOUR LIFE, AND SEE WHAT IT TOOK TO GET YOU TO THIS PLACE OF SURRENDER TO GOD.
IT WAS THE DRAWING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
IT WAS THE PRAYERS OF SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT YOU.
WHEN JESUS CHRIST COMES IN TO LIVE, AND WE BEGIN TO STUDY THE BIBLE, AND HEAR ANOINTED PREACHING AND TEACHING, WE BEGIN TO HEAR, AND DISCOVER POSITIVE WORDS IN THE SCRIPTURES: THAT TELL US WHO WE REALLY ARE IN CHRIST.
THAT IS, WHEN WE SEE OURSELVES AS CHRIST SEES US: LOVED, JOHN 3:16; SAVED, EPHESIANS 2:8; HAVING ETERNAL LIFE, JOHN 3:15; NO CONDEMNATION, ROMANS 8:1; DELIVERED, LUKE 4:18; HEALED, I PETER 2:24; CHILD OF GOD, ROMANS 8:16; JOINT HEIR WITH CHRIST, ROMANS 8:17; FREE, JOHN 8:32, 36; NEVER ALONE, MATTHEW 1:23; RIGHTEOUS, ROMANS 5:19; I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST, PHILIPPIANS 4:13; FORGIVEN, LUKE 6:37; VICTORIOUS, I CORINTHIANS 15:57; A NEW CREATION, II CORINTHIANS 5:17; OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY, II CORINTHIANS 5:17; PROMISE OF HEAVEN, HEBREWS 12:22, 23; WILL REIGN WITH CHRIST, ROMANS 5:17. REWARDS, PEACE.
CHRIST NEVER TOLD ANYONE, “YOU’LL NEVER MAKE IT; YOU’RE A FAILURE; I HATE YOU; GO TO HELL.”
BELOVED, EVEN IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, THE MIND IS THE BATTLE GROUND.
WE ARE TO RENEW OUR MINDS DAILY, BY READING AND STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD.
*WATCH FOR “WORDS” PART III
MANY TIMES, WE JUST CAN’T ACCEPT THE TRIALS AND EVENTUAL END OF OUR TROUBLES AS AN INCREASE IN OUR LIVES. ALL WE CAN SEE IS THE NOW. USUALLY OUR TRIALS ARE ONLY A FORERUNNER OF THE JOY TO COME. WHEN IT CONCERNS WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT US, IT IS REJECTION BY THAT PERSON’S ACTIONS THAT TROUBLES US THE MOST, EVEN IF WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS UNTRUE.
IN HANNAH’S CASE, SHE DIDN’T RETALIATE AGAINST HER HUSBAND’S OTHER WIFE (POLYGAMY WAS TOLERATED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, BUT FORBIDDEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT), BUT PATIENTLY ENDURED ALL THE REPROACHES CAST UPON HER, YET SHE WEPT AND DID NOT EAT.
THERE WAS A REASONING IN THE MIND OF PENINNAH FOR HER TORMENT OF HANNAH: BECAUSE HER HUSBAND LOVED HANNAH MORE. SHE HAD FALLEN INTO A STATE OF JEALOUSY, BY WHICH SHE JUSTIFIED HER ACTIONS.
IF WE COULD JUST “GET-IT”, THAT GOD CARES ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON IN OUR LIVES, AND, AS A CHRISTIAN, WE HAVE THE PROMISE THEY WILL TURN OUT FOR OUR GOOD, WE WOULD HAVE JOY IN THE KNOWING THAT IT WILL NOT STAY THE WAY IT IS NOW, BUT THAT GOD WILL SOMEHOW TURN IT ALL AROUND.
ANOTHE EXAMPLE OF BITTERNESS IN THE BIBLE, IS ABOUT SIMON WHO WAS A SORCERER. HE WAS IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS. WHY? BECAUSE WHILE HE WAS A SORCERER, BEFORE HE RECEIVED SALVATION, IT WAS SAID ABOUT HIM, WHEN HE BEWITCHED THE PEOPLE, “THIS IS THE GREAT POWER OF GOD.” BUT AFTER SALVATION, HE NO LONGER HAD THE EVILPOWER.
ACTS 8:9-11; 13; 18-22 – BUT THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN CALLED SIMON, WHICH BEFORE TIME IN THE SAME CITY USED SORCERY, AND BEWITCHED THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA, GIVING OUT THAT HIMSELF WAS SOME GREAT ONE:
TO WHOM THEY ALL GAVE HEED, FORM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST, SAYING, THIS MAN IS THE GREAT POWER OF GOD.
AND TO HIM THEY HAD REGARD BECAUSE OF LONG TIME HE HAD BEWITCHED THEM WITH SORCERIES (WITCHCRAFT).
THEN SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED ALSO; AND WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED, HE CONTINUED WITH PHILIP, AND WONDERED, BEHOLDING THE MIRACLES AND SIGNS WHICH WERE DONE.
AND WHEN SIMON SAW THAT THROUGH LAYING ON OF THE APOSTLE’S HANDS THE HOLY GHOST WAS GIVEN, HE OFFERED THEM MONEY.
SAYING, GIVE ME ALSO THIS POWER, THAT ON WHOMSOEVER I LAY MY HANDS, HE MAY RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST.
BUT PETER SAID UNTO HIM, THY MONEY PERISH WITH THEE, BECAUSE THOU HAST THOUGHT THAT THE GIFT OF GOD MAY BE PURCHASED WITH MONEY.
THOU HAST NEITHER PART NOR LOT IN THIS MATTER, FOR THY HEART IS NOT RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.
REPENT THEREFORE OF THY WICKEDNESS, AND PRAY GOD, IF PERHAPS THE THOUGHT OF THINE HEART MAY BE FORGIVEN THEE.
VERSE 23 – FOR I PERCEIVE THOU ART IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS, AND IN THE BOND OF INIQUITY.
THEN ANSWERED SIMON, AND SAID, PRAY YE TO THE LORD FOR ME, THAT NONE OF THESE THINGS WHICH YE HAVE SPOKEN COME UPON ME.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE? WHY WAS PETER SO UPSET WITH SIMON? BECAUSE ALL THE GIFTS AND CALLINGS OF GOD ARE FREE, AND NONE COULD BE OBTAINED BUT THROUGH GOD, AND NOT FOR A PRICE. JESUS HAD ALREADY PAID THE PRICE ON THE CROSS.
SIMON HAD GIVEN UP HIS UNHOLY GIFT OF WITCHCRAFT, BUT HIS FLESH STILL LOVED THE EXCITEMENT OF THE SUPERNATURAL AND THE ATTENTION IT BROUGHT HIM. HE SAW SOMETHING THAT WAS MANIFESTED ON THOSE RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST AND THAT THE HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM IN SUCH A SUPERNATURAL WAY THAT OTHERS SAW SOMETHING HAPPEN, THAT HIS FLESH WANTED THIS POWER.
BUT WHAT WAS HIS BITTERNESS? I BELIEVE THAT HE NO LONGER HAD THE POWER TO THRILL PEOPLE LIKE HE ONCE HAD, AND SEEING THOSE WHO HAD THE POWER OF GOD ON THEM, HE WAS JEALOUS: WHICH IS A PART OF BITTERNESS.
THE GALL: A PERSON, A WICKED PERSON, WHOSE LIFE AND BEHAVIOR IS OFFENSIVE TO GOD. I T MEANS THIS WAS THE DEEPEST KIND OF BITTERNESS, BECAUSE IN HIS MIND HE WAS ASSOCIATING THE EVIL SUPERNATURAL WITH THE DIVINE.
HEBREWS 12:15 – LOOKING DILIGENTLY LEST ANY MAN FAIL OF THE GRACE OD GOD; LEST ANY ROOT OF BITTERNESS SPRINGING UP TROUBLE YOU, AND THEREBY MANY BE DEFILED (OR HOW YOU ACT AFFECTS THOSE WATCHING YOUR LIFE).
THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS, IS DEEPLY EMBEDDED BITTERNESS THAT COULD SPRING-UP UNEXPECTEDLY AT ANY TIME AND TROUBLE THE PERSON WHO POSESSES IT. IT CAUSES THEM TO SAY THINGS THAT CAUSES DISCORD IT THE BODY OF CHRIST AND FAMILIES, AND CAN DEFILE MANY.
THOSE WITH IT, MOST OF THE TIME, DON’T BELIEVE THEY HAVE IT, OR DON’T EVEN KNOW THEY HAVE IT, BECAUSE IT IS SO EMBEDDED DOWN DEEP WITHIN. IT HAS TAKEN ROOT IN THEIR PERSONALITY, AND HAS BECOME A PART OF THEM.
TO GET RID OF IT, THEY HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THEY HAVE IT, AND ASK GOD TO EXPOSE IT TO THEM; CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDE; AND BAPTIZE THEM WITH LOVE.
BUT MOST OF THE TIME, ALARMINGLY, THEY HAVE HAD IT SO LONG, THEY WANT TO KEEP IT. SO, MANY ARE DEFILED AND ARE AFFECTED, OR SHOULD I SAY INFECTED.
EVEN IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE A PORBLEM, ASK THE FATHER TO SHINE A LIGHT ON IT, AND SHOW YOU IF ONE EXISTS. IF IT DOES, GIVE IT TO GOD AND ASK HIM TO DELIVER YOU. ASK HIM WHAT CAUSED IT TO TAKE ROOT, AND EXPOSE IT TO YOU. THEN FORGIVE.
PROVERBS 14:10 – THE HEART KNOWETH HIS OWN BITTERNESS; AND A STRANGER DOTH NOT INTERMEDDLE WITH HIS JOY.
BITTERNESS IS DEFINED AS ANGER, DISCONTENTMENT, HEAVINESS, CHAFE. CHAFE MEANS ANNOYED, IRRITATED.
EPHESIANS 4:31,32 – LET ALL BITTERNESS, AND WRATH, AND ANGER, AND CLAMOR, AND EVIL SPEAKING, BE PUT AWAY FROM YOU, WITH ALL MALICE: AND BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU.
SO IT SEEMS, IN THESE VERSES, BITTERNESS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH UNFORGIVENESS.
IT IS STANGE TO ME THAT A WOMAN LIKE HANNAH COULD BE STRUGGLING WITH BITTERNESS:
I SAMUEL 1:10 – AND SHE WAS IN BITTERNESS OF SOUL, AND PRAYED UNTO THE LORD, AND WEPT SORE.
IF YOU RUN A WORD SEARCH, YOU WILL FIND THIS BITTERNESS IN HANNAH WAS THE SAME KIND OF BITTERNESS SCORNED IN EPHESIANS 4:31.
TO FIND OUT WHY HANNAH WAS BITTER, WE HAVE TO READ I SAMUEL 1:2-8 – AND HE (ELKANAH) HAD TWO WIVES; THE NAME OF THE ONE WAS HANNAH, AND THE NAME OF THE OTHER WAS PENINNAH: AND PENINNAH HAD CHILDREN BUT HANNAH HAD NO CHILDREN.
AND THIS MAN WENT UP OUT OF HIS CITY YEARLY TO WORSHIP AND TO SACRIFICE UNTO THE LORD OF HOSTS IN SHILOH.
AND WHEN THE TIME WAS THAT ELKANAH, OFFERED (WENT TO WORSHIP), HE GAVE PENINNAH HIS WIFE, AND TO ALL HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS, PORTIONS:
BUT TO HANNAH HE GAVE A WORTHY PORTION (WE COULD SAY A DOUBLE PORTION); FOR HE LOVED HANNAH: BUT THE LORD HAD SHUT UP HER WOMB.
AND HER ADVERSARY ALSO PROVOKED HER SORE (TORMENTED HER), FOR TO MAKE HER FRET, BECAUSE THE LORD HAD SHUT UP HER WOMB.
AND SHE DID SO YEAR BY YEAR, WHEN SHE WENT UP TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, SO SHE (PENINNAH PROVOKED HER); THEREFORE SHE WEPT AND DID NOT EAT.
THEN ELKANAH HER HUSBAND SAID TO HER, HANNAH, WHY WEEPEST THOU? AND WHY EATEST THOU NOT? AND WHY IS THY HEART GRIEVED? AM I NOT BETTER TO THEE THAN TEN SONS?
NEITHER OUR JOYS NOR OUR SORROWS CAN BE WHOLLY SHARED WITH ANOTHER; NO PERSON STANDS IN SUCH INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH US, OR CAN PUT THEMSELVES SO ENTIRELY IN OUR PLACE, AS WE FEEL WHAT WE FEEL.
THERE ARE MANY DARK SPOTS, MANY GRIEFS, OF WHICH OUR BEST FRIENDS KNOW NOTHING; THE SKELETON IS LOCKED IN THE CUPBOARD, SO-TO-SPEAK, AND NO ONE HAS THE KEY BUT WE ALONE.
BUT WE CAN TURN WTH CONFIDENCE TO JESUS WHO KNOWS US BEST, WHO WEPT HUMAN TEARS, AND BORE OUR SORROWS, AND WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE.
HE HAS TAKEN HIS HUMAN EXPERIENCE WITH HIM TO HEVEN. AND WHEN WE TAKE OUR FEELINGS AND HURTS TO THE LORD, AND BEGIN TO FORGIVE AND SURRENDER THAT THING THAT HAS WORKED ITSELF FROM UNFORGIVENESS TO BITTERNESS OF HEART, WHOLLY TO THE LORD, WE FIND JOY THAT, ALSO, NO ONE ELSE CAN SHARE.
HE IS NOT A STRANGER TO “GRIEF TURNED TO JOY.”
THERE IS A SAYING, “NO ONE KNOWS WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES SO WELL AS HE THAT WEARS IT;” AND ANOTHER, “TO EVERYONE, HIS OWN CROSS SEEMS HEAVIEST.”
WHEN A PERSON’S MIND IS SENSITIVE IT IS EASILY DEPRESSED BY GRIEF; BUT WHEN IT IS ELATED BY JOY, IT SHOULD RECEIVE IT’S PLEASURE AND RELIEF WITHOUT ARROGANCE AND RUDENESS.
IN CHAPTER I OF Ist SAMUEL, WE FIND HANNAH PRAYING, AND VOWING TO TH LORD IF HE WOULD GIVE HER A SON, SHE WOULD GIVE THE CHILD TO THE LORD ALL HIS LIFE. SHE WAS PRAYING, WITH ONLY HER LIPS MOVING, BUT HER VOICE WAS NOT HEARD.
ELI, WHO THOUGHT SHE WAS INTOXICATED, TOLD HER TO QUIT DRINKING, BUT SHE ANSWERED THAT SHE HAD NEVER DRANK WINE NOR STRONG DRINK; THAT SHE WAS SORROWFUL IN SPIRIT.
SHE TOLD HIM SHE WAS NOT A WICKED WOMAN, BUT THAT SHE WAS POURING OUT HER SOUL BEFORE THE LORD.
ELI RESPONDE BY SAYING, “GO IN PEACE, AND MAY THE LORD OF ISRAEL GRANT YOUR PETITION WHICH YOU HAVE ASKED OF HIM.”
VERSE 20 – HANNAH BECAME PREGNANT AND IN DUE TIME BORE A SON AND NAMED HIM SAMUEL (HEARD OF THE LORD), BECAUSE, SHE SAID, I HAVE ASKED HIM OF THE LORD.
WHEN BITTERNESS SETS IN, IT IS SEEN AS A VIOLATION TO THE WAYS OF GOD, FOR GOD HAD A PLAN AND PURPOSE.
WHEN IN HER TROUBLE, HANNAH WAS LED TO PRAY FERVENTLY, AND HER PRAYER WAS ANSWERED: GRIEF AND SORROW AND BITTERNESS GAVE PLACE TO REJOICING. THE FAMILY WAS BENEFITTED; AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD WERE GREATLY BLESSED.
SO IN HIS WONDERFUL WORKING, GOD “TURNED THE CURSE INTO BLESSING”!!
*Part II coming soon.
Today our message from God is:
WHAT IS YOUR FUTURE?
This is the question of the ages.
Our Scripture reading for today is:
Deuteromony 18:9-14 ,Isaiah 41:21-23,17,18
Future is defined this way = That which is beyond the present.
Many spend millions to find out their future.
Physic hot-lines and fortune tellers are paid thousands upon thousands of dollars each year.
Are you seeking to know your future?
Well, believe me, I know Who holds my future.
If these fortune tellers and these Physics know all the answers, why are they still working the phones, and live in houses of menial costs?
Have you ever asked yourself this question?
One of the most sought-out physics gives their report every year of what is going to happen the next year.
Why do they keep missing it, and people still inquire of them?
Good question.
A famous President’s wife consulted a physic for her husband while he was still in the White House. It was said, after he was shot, she sought the help of a physic before accepting any outside appearances.
The Scriptures are completely against any use of physic powers.
I talked to a palm reader one day and she was so deceived: she told me her powers came from God, and she wanted to help people.
I was not able to get her to understand, God would never give powers to anyone, that would go against His precious Word.
The Bible calls them Sorcerers which is defined as supposed possessors of supernatural powers.
They used, what the Bible calls, Divination, which is defined as an attempt to foretell the future by occult (or secret) means.
Divination is an abomination (evil practice) to God. Look at Deuteronomy 18:9-14 —-When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of these nations.
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination (or fortune telling or channeling [interpretation of omens] , or an observer of times (which includes Horoscopes and also, I believe, Almanacs), or an enchanter (magician, wizard, witch ), or a witch (sorceress or enchantress),
Or a charmer (conjurer or shaman [medicine man, witch doctor]) or a consulter with familiar spirits (these are generational demons, that follow a family from generation to generation, and can give information to the one practicing such powers, so that they can fool the one who is desiring to hear from their dead loved one. They think they are actually speaking to their loved one. To me, this is the sickest of all deceptions of this line, because the people seeking to hear from their loved ones are experiencing grief and loss, and are so venerable to these deceptions.), or a wizard (a seer, diviner, charmer, and the list goes on), or a necromancer (one who inquires of the dead).
For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them doth drive them out from before thee.
Thou shalt be perfect (entirely obedient, upright, sincere) with the Lord, thy God.
This also includes all secret orders, which are occults. If you don’t believe me look up occult in the dictionary
I want you to know, we can put our future into the hands of our heavenly Father, who knows our past, present and future. He wipes away all our past when we come to Him, and can reveal to us His future plans that always come to pass. Only God knows the future. Listen to this word from the Bible:
Isaiah 41:21-24 —-Produce your cause, saith the Lord; (or Set forth your plans) bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen: let them show the former (or past) things what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end (or the present)of them; or declare us things for to come.
Show us the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.
Behold, ye are of nothing (or of no account), and your work of naught (or amounts to nothing): an abomination (detestable) is he that chooseth you.
God is saying, “Let your idols come and show what they can do. Let them try to tell us what occurred in years gone by, or what the future holds. If you are gods, tell what will happen in the days ahead! Or do some mighty miracle that makes us stand amazed.
But no! You are less than nothing, and can do nothing at all. Anyone who chooses you needs to have his head examined!”
God is unhappy to say the least with His people who have gotten off into idolatry. He was mimicking their idol gods to their face.
Many cultures worship and look to for their future to idol gods that cannot speak or hear. It is sad when people, intelligent people, follow after a deaf and dumb idol god, which is a waste of their time.
They should turn to the risen Lord, Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God, and is God, who came in the flesh and died on Calvary for all sinners, who are into any of these occults and witchcraft, thinking themselves so smart, they loose sight of the truth.
Jesus said in John 14:6 —-…I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father,but by Me.
Jehovah God is the only True and Living God, who knows and reveals the future.
You might ask, “Has God, the True and Living God, ever told you the future?
Well, I’m glad you asked that question. “Yes, more than once”.
I want to share with you one of them:
We go on missions trips twice a year, to different countries. Most of our trips are to the Dominican Republic.
On one of these trips we became burdened about an Orphanage in San Juan de la Maguana. There was no water there but a polluted river a few miles up the road from the orphanage. Most of the time they had to carry containers, on the back of a small truck, to the town of San Juan to get water. By the time they got back, much of the water was spilled because of the bumpy roads and holes in the road. We began to pray for good water for these children. You see, they live in the desert area.
One day, as I was praying with a friend at my home, God gave me a verse of Scripture. I cried as I read it. I knew that I knew it was God speaking to me. The Scripture is also found in Isaiah 41. Read it with me. Verses 17 and 18 —-When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
I shared this with my husband, and he agreed, this was from God.
We knew we had to drill a well for those orphans.
Later, a couple of godly men we know well, said, Roy it’s time we raised money for that well.
We, along with many of our friends raised $10,000.00 and shortly after, made our plane reservations to go. There was one American driller on the Island, who agreed to stop what he was doing in the Capitol and come to San Juan. God is a God of humor, because He sent with the driller a geologist form Purdue University, who was visiting on the Island.
Before we left home, the Lord spoke to my husband and said, “Don’t speak anything negative about that well, speak positive.”
My husband explained this to the whole group that was going, and all agreed.
You should have seen the children, when those big trucks drove up on the grounds. They were so excited, we had to draw an imaginary line for them not to cross for their own safety. You know how children are.
The Geologist told my husband, “You won’ find any water here, the soil is not right”.
Roy told the man to drill anyway, we’ve heard from God, you will find water.
We had hired three men in town who just happened to be walking down the street with picks in their hands. Believe me I have been saved since I was five years old, and I know there are no coincidences in the lives of a Christian, especially those on a mission.
They diggers began to dig a long ditch that would lead from the orphanage to the location where they were drilling.
The well driller told my husband, “You’ll have a nice ditch, but you won’t find any water.”
They drilled 277 feet and the driller told the group to give up. It was costing $25.00 a foot to drill and they had already gone down farther than they should and ran out of drill rod.
My husband knew what God said, so he asked the man if he had anymore drill rod on the island. He said, “In Puerta Plata’.
Roy said, “Go get it.” When they came back with the rod our trip schedule was coming close to the end and we were all keeping our mouths shut to keep from saying any thing negative. My stomach was hurting and I think my husband was close to getting sick. You see, if we didn’t get water, we were going to have to go home and face the people who worked so hard to raise the money, those who gave, and not to mention those, over sixty, little boys.
Before they began to drill again, they said they would have to clean out the hole.
I know nothing about drilling a well, so I asked the driller if the water would spew-up like a fountain, like those oil wells in the movies?
He said, “No. That’s only in the movies”.
I got out of the way, by this time, the children and others, formed a big circle of prayer and asked God to put water in the hole.
Many of the surrounding villagers heard what was going on, and you know how news travels, so they were gathered around to watch.
When they put the thing in with a light on it, they found out the hole had caved-in. They went down to clean it out, and at about 37 feet, the water began to spew-out, Just like the movies.
I was so excited!
Everyone was cheering and praising God.
And the droller and the Geologist, who was examining soil every so many feet and showing us it was impossible for water to there, were so amazed.
One of them, who was a backslider, said he was going back to Church. God made a believer out of them.
The word got around the San Juan area, that a group of crazy evangelicals had found water in the desert.
But we know who holds the future, and we know who holds our hand.
As the old song goes, something like this:
Many things about tomorrow,
I don’t seem to understand.
I just know who holds the future,
And I know, Who holds my hand.
Tell me, how can a person, who has seen many miracles, ever fall into the trap of the devil, and get involved in things are not even real?
Every other power, but God’s, is false, and will lead you into a place were there is no peace, and nothing but bondage and a future you will wish you never experienced.
Come to Jesus, Repeat this prayer with me. Mean it in your heart:
Jesus, come into my heart, save my soul. I‘m sorry I had it my way. Please forgive me of my sins.
Now, I want it Your way. I believe Jesus is the Son of God. I believe He died for my sins, and rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of God. I accept You, Lord, as my Lord and Savior.
Thank You for saving me.
Now, for those who were involved in demonic practices, repeat this prayer:
Jesus, I denounce all witchcraft in my life. Deliver me from every stronghold. I apply the blood of Jesus over me and my family.
Satan, you have no part of me. I belong to God from this day forth. I speak this with my mouth, and I believe it in my heart.
I love You Jesus.
Now, it is very important for you to get in a Bible believing Church.
Don’t look for a perfect one, you won’t find it.
Read your Bible everyday and make Jesus your best friend.
Talk to God in the name of Jesus.
He will hear You.
Evil began with Satan. With Adam, sin entered into the world.
Most Christians know this,
but there are things we must understand about our enemy, that keeps us from
being the best we can for God.
Satan uses demons, and shows
up himself, at times, as we are in the
process of developing in our
relationship with God.
I don’t mean he can be
everywhere at all times like God, but his demons are dispatched by him to
follow us around, to see if we will open the door for them to enter.
By this, I mean when we get
in the flesh, or look back to the world, we can take a back-step into what we
used to be before salvation, and be tempted to turn back to our old carnal
ways.
Why do you think God’s
ministers backslide?
Most of the time, it is
because they get so involved in God’s work,
they don’t make time to
spend with the God they serve.
Why do you think so many of
these occult religions get as far as they do?
They pray many times a day to their false god, which opens the door for
Satan to increase their growth, and spread their doctrines of error.
Evil will continue until the
end of the Church age, then it will become more furious during Jacob’s: The
Great Tribulation period of seven years, and will appear again, for a short
time, at the end of the millennial reign
of Christ.
We as Christians, should
guard against, or be watchmen, confronting
evil.
Surprisingly enough, sometimes, we as Christians, can be
influenced by Satan, to do his work.
How?
Hearts of
unbelief – Hebrews 3:12,13 —-Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the Living God.
But exhort one another daily, while
it is called today; lest any of
you be hardened through the deceitfulness
of sin.
Some begin to wander off
from the work of God, and God Himself, when the fiery trials come. They might get criticized for they way we do
things, and become despondent and loose
their vision, instead of turning it over to God.
Fear could arise, and they
might never start what God has called them to do. I have even seen people who are called to do
something, but try to influence someone else to do it, so they can be a part of
it, and they won’t have that responsibility on themselves. It never works, and the other person becomes
troubled and out of place, and ultimately out of the will of God. It won’t stand the test.
On the other hand, in the
body of Christ, we are commissioned to submit to authority. A person who is called to do a work, has authority over others under them. From the pastor, all the way down, we have to
submit to someone.
Every ministry that is
involved with a Church, has the responsibility of answering to the
leadership. If we can’t learn to follow,
we will never be successful leaders.
Moses had a problem like
this, but God quickly handled the problem; but people’s lives were lost in the
process. (Numbers 16:1-3) – Look at verse 3 —-And they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron, and said
unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy,
every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up
yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
Or, “Moses and Aaron, What
right do you have to put yourselves forward, claiming that we must obey you,
and acting as though you were greater than anyone else among all these people
of the Lord?
Now, look at verse 28,31-33
—-And Moses said, hereby ye shall know
that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of
my own mind.
And it came to pass, as he had made an
end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under
them:
And the earth opened her mouth, and
swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained (or related) unto Korah, and all
their goods.
They, and all that appertained unto
them, went down alive into the pit, and
the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
And Verse 34 states, All of
the people fled at their screams, fearing that the earth would swallow them up
too.
Have you noticed when people
come against leadership, how their whole family is affected?
They pray and pray, their
loved ones come to Church, get saved, and are growing in the Lord. (which, by
the way in itself, makes Satan and his demons mad) Soon they see
something they question about what the leadership is doing; they call a
family meeting, discuss it, and soon their family drops out of
Church, backslides, and they blame the Church? I’ve seen this over and over again. —-
Korah and his house were destroyed, as well as those who conspired with them.
The leaders are
responsible for the decisions they make.
It is not up to us to
straighten them out verbally, we are to pray for them.
Also, if you are not wearing
their shoes you have no right to judge them.
God called them to that
position. Most of the time, they are
following the leadership of the Lord, and they could know something you
don’t know.
When we serve the Lord with
all our hearts, the trials will come to try to stop God’s work. I have found, through experience, this is
when God is getting ready to do something great in that work.
Stay where you are, pray,
AND DON’T GIVE UP ON THE BRINK OF A MIRACLE.
We can be used unknowingly
in Satan’s plan: which is always trying to stop the work of God.
You wonder why you pray,
pray, pray, and can’t get peace?
Maybe you need to repent and
ask your family to forgive you for getting out of your place. We are not God,
we can’t control people.
You might ask me how I know
all this.
Well I’m sorry to say, I was
involved in something like this myself on two occasions of my life. When I understood, I repented.
But that didn’t keep me from
reaping what I sowed.
People of God, it is important
to me, to instruct you in how not
to fall into this trap of Satan.
There are no “Lone Rangers”
in the body of Christ, everyone is connected to someone.
We should be on guard and
stay out of things that could cause us to be influenced. How do the forces of evil influence us?
In our
thought life —- 1 Corinthians 13:4,5
—- Charity suffereth long, and is kind;
charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly,
seeketh not her own, is not
easily provoked, thinketh no evil (or we could say, is not ready to
suspect evil).
We see here,
devices that Satan uses, that could cause us to think evil of someone:
1- Lack of
love
2- Lack of
patience
3- Lack of
kindness
4- Envy (or
jealousy or rivalry)
5- The pushing
of self forward
6- Pride
7-
Inappropriate behavior
8-
Self-seeking
9-
Being easily provoked
10- I call these The Nine Rotten Fruit of Evil.
All of which,
manifest in someone who is ready to think or suspect evil of others.
Believe me,
these are things that should not, but do, operate at times in the body
of Christ.
We are told in
Romans 12:21 to …Be not overcome of evil,
but overcome (or Conquer) evil with
good.
In the very
next chapter, Chapter 13 we are instructed to honor authority.
These are
things the devil doesn’t want us to know that keeps us from being the best
followers of Christ we can be.
Evil Forces
Influence Us Through Our Companionships 1 Corinthians
15:33 —-Be not deceived: evil
communications (or companionships)corrupt
good manners.
Have you ever
noticed how, when you get around some people, even in the body of Christ, there
is a spirit of criticism that enters the conversation?
Before we know
it, we enter into the gossip without even meaning too; and we feel so
convicted afterwards; and wonder how we allowed ourselves to get involved.
In Proverbs
6:16-19, we are introduced to seven things that are an abomination unto the
Lord, which is called Seven Deadly Sins.
Let’s read it
—-These six things doth the Lord hate;
yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:
a proud
look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart
that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in
running to mischief,
a false
witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord
among the brethren.
Wow! God hates them, and they are an abomination (or loathsome
and wickedness) to him.
The sowing of
discord among the brethren causes more trouble in the Church than sinners or
demons on the outside.
The Church of
Jesus Christ needs revival, and a time of repentance.
This evil is
what the world and the Church are guilty of.
We see every day where there is a misuse of money in both.
Does the Word
say money is evil?
No. Look at 1 Timothy 6:10 —-For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after (or were
greedy about), they have erred (or
turned away) from the faith, and pierced
themselves (to torture one’s soul)
through with many sorrows.
It is the love
of money; that-is the putting of money before God.
God calls
evil, putting money and what you want, before Him and His work. He calls the love of money the root of all
evil.
Think about
it, what seems to be number one on the mind of the world, and also, I’m ashamed
to say, on the mind of much of the Church?
MONEY!
Money is not evil;
it is used by God to do good for His children and those in need.
It takes
money, to send the Gospel around the world.
It takes money
to live.
But, Church,
our dependency is to be focused on God.
He is the supernatural God who supplies all our needs and also gives us
the desires of our hearts. Our money may
fail, but God will never fail us.
The apostle
Paul does not condemn the possession of riches: they are only evil where they
are badly used. Neither does he speak against rich men: for he would condemn
such men as Abraham, and Joseph of Armethea who used their wealth
righteously. He condemns the haste to be
rich.
The rich must
not put their trust in their wealth, but put their trust in God, and their
focus on the treasures that have eternal value.
There is much
more I could go into about The Forces of Evil and How They Work, but time won’t
permit today.
We will stay
away from the evil one, if we set ourselves to live in the Word, and God’s
Spirit. ——– Until next week.
Most of us know we can’t hide from God, because He sees and knows all.
He continues to deal with those who run from Him, because it’s not His
will that any should perish. He will continually, draw them to Himself, but we do
have a will of our own. He will draw us but His desire is, that we come to Him freely. This is why
He gave us a choice.
When we do come to Him, and receive Him as our personal Savior, He then, deals with
us: first, as babies, on milk; and then expects us to grow-up.
When we raise our children, we expect things out of them, but we do have to teach them. If they don’t grow up properly, we begin to have trouble with them and they can cause us much heart ache.
Well, God has guidelines and rules, similar to the rules we enforce on our children.
We offer our children many advantages. Most of the time they don’t see that until they grow-up. This is the samewith God and His children.
Some of our advantages of being God’s children are:
1-
His giving of His only begotten Son’s life for our Eternal life
2-
A personal relationship with Him where we can communicate through prayer, and see our prayers answered
3-
The precious promises in His Word
4-
The way to live a victorious life here
5-
Healing and deliverance
6-
The fruit of the Spirit
7-
We can operate in His gifts
8-
Heaven, when we leave here
9-
We will rule and reign with Him in the future Millennial Reign of Christ
And much, much more.
But, we have a part to play in this, which is the difference in having the favor of God, that
we all want, or we could receive the judgment side of God which brings with it much trouble.
We are always telling our children, when we send them out to play, “Stay out of trouble.” You got it! —– With God It’s the same. We know if we break the rules, we are in trouble.
Today we are going to learn:
How to stay out of trouble with God:
Many of us have tried to make a deal with God. We say “If You will do this, I will do that.”
This is not how God operates. We have His Word: if we will do this, He will do that. We’re always trying to ‘get the cart before the horse’ (so to speak).
WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD BY BEING OBEDIENT: Our relationship with
God, and our anointing has much to do with our obedience to Him.
Acts 5:29,32
– Then Peter and the other Apostles answered and said, We ought to obey
God rather than men.
And we are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.
John 15:10 —- If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.
And
1 John 3:22 —- And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
Matthew 7:21 —- Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.
God Word is very clear about how to follow His will—we must trust and obey.
One of my most quoted Scriptures is found in Proverbs 3:5,6 —-
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own
understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He
shall direct thy paths.
We are instructed to trust and obey and leave the rest to Him.
He can cause circumstances around us to change. All He wants usto do, after trusting and being obedient, is to do good when it is in our power to do so; but the most important of all requirements, is to spend
time with Him each day.
SEEKING THE LORD CAN KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD:
This is where we get direction, and are refreshed by His presence.
How can we know what He desires of us, unless we have a relationship with Him?
Seeking Him, by spending time with Him, and praising and worshipping Him, brings relationship.
It can keep us out of trouble, even though, most of our trouble, is brought-on by our decision
to ‘do it our way’.
Acts 17:27 — That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far away from every one of us.
2 Chronicles 15:2 — The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.
Lamentations 3:25 — The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.
And
Ezra 8:22 — The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all that forsake Him.
WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT AND NOT THE FLESH:
Romans 8:12,13 —- Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Or we could say, we are not obligated to our carnal or old sinful nature, to do what it begs us to do.
Verse 13 — For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify
the deeds of the body (that is die to self), ye shall live.
Let’s explain it this way. If you keep on following theold sinful nature, you are lost and you will perish, but
if through the power of the Holy Spirit you crush it and it’s evil deeds, you shall live.
You might say, ”This is hard to do”. Well, — I can tell you, it can be done, with the help of Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to help you.
Look at Titus 2:11,12 —- For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD IF WE TAKE THE WALK OF LOVE:
1-
Brotherly love
2-
Loving God
Let’s start with brotherly love:
There are probably many words that are the opposite to the word love, but the most prominent is hate.
There are others that could describe the lack of brotherly love, like despise, judgmental, unforgiveness,
and the list goes on. I ‘m sure you could think of others right-off, and you would be right, but this will do for
now.
1 John 2:10, describes those
who love their brother (talking about other believers), as abiding in the
light. — He that loveth his brother
abith in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling (or error) in him.
1 John 4: 7,8 —- Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love.
E M Bounds, on prayer, says,
“By prayer, the ability is secured to feel the law of love, to speak according to the law of love, and to do everything in harmony with the law of love.”
We need divine aid to act brotherly.
Jesus, our perfect example, was and is a devoted friend. He gave His life willingly that we might live. He
gave us Eternal life.
We need to judge our love walk.
JUDGING OURSELVES CAN KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD:
Corinthians 11:30,31,32 —- For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (or are dead).
For if we judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be
condemned with the world.
To judge self, is when the believer sees self as God sees him. He will renounce or forsake self.
It is replacing the self life with the Christ life.
To judge self is to deny self. This is more than self-denial. Self-denial is denying one’s self of the gratification or enjoyment of the flesh. If we practice self-denial only, it is treating the symptom and not the cause.
But when we judge self, we are attacking the cause.
*To judge self, is to lose the self-life and find the Christ-life:
Galatians 2:20 — I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
*To judge self, is to no longer be self-conscious, but to become Christ conscious:
Matthew 28:20 — Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:and, lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. Amen.
*To judge self, is to no longer be self controlled, but become Christ controlled:
Acts 9:6 — And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me do?
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told
thee what thou must do.
*To judge self, is to no longer practice self-esteem, but to esteem others better than self:
Philippians 2:3 — Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
*To judge self, is to become selfless or unselfish.
We are to search-out our lives, to see if there be any wicked way in us, and get rid of it, by askingGod to cleanse or take it out of us, so we can stay out of trouble with God and be a part of that Church without spot or wrinkle.
MANY PEOPLE STRUGGLE FROM HEARING FROM GOD, AND TODAY I BELIEVE YOU WILL BE ENLIGHTENED ON THIS SUBJECT.
GENESIS 8:14 – IS ANYTHING TO HARD FOR THE LORD? AT THE TIME APPOINTED I WILL RETURN UNTO THEE, ACCORDING TO THE TIME OF LIFE, AND SARAH WILL HAVE A SON. GENESIS 21:1,2 – AND THE LORD VISITED SARAH AS HE SAID, AND THE LORD DID UNTO SARAH AS HE HAD SPOKEN. FOR SARAH HAD CONCEIVED AND BARE ABRAHAM A SON IN HIS OLD AGE, AT THE SET TIME OF WHICH GOD HAD SPOKEN TO HIM.
THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD “APPOINTED” IS, ASSIGNED OR ARRANGED.
HOW MANY OF US HAVE HEARD FROM THE LORD, AND BECAUSE IT DIDN’T HAPPEN WHEN WE THOUGHT IT SHOULD, WE SAID,”MAYBE THIS WAS IN MY MIND; MAYBE I DIDN’T REALLY HEAR FROM GOD.”
THIS IS WHEN DOUBT COMES IN AND FAITH GOES OUT.
II SAMUEL 17:14 —-HERE WE FIND ABSALOM, TRYING TO TAKE OVER DAVID’S KINGDOM; BUT DAVID WAS CHOSEN BY GOD AS KING. AND EVEN THOUGH DAVID IS RUNNING IN THE NATURAL, HE KNOWS HIS APPOINTMENT—-FOR THE LORD HAD APPOINTED TO DEFEAT THE GOOD COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL, TO THE INTENT THAT THE LORD MIGHT BRING EVIL UPON ABSALOM.
15:31 – AND ONE TOLD DAVID, SAYING, AHITHOPHEL IS AMONG THE CONSPIRATORS WITH ABSALOM. AND DAVID SAID, O LORD, I PRAY THEE, TURN THE COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL INTO FOOLISHNESS.
DAVID HAD A REBEL SON, ABSALOM, WHOSE PLAN WAS TO TAKE OVER THE KINGDOM GIVEN TO HIM BY GOD. FOR THE PROMISED SEED TO COME : JESUS, WAS TO COME FROM THE LOINS OF DAVID.
ABSALOM TOOK COUNSEL FROM TWO MEN, BUT HE ACCEPTED THE COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL, ONE OF DAVID’S COUNSELORS WHO JOINED IN THE CONSPIRACY WITH ABSALOM AGAINST DAVID, THE KING.
WHEN SOMEONE TOLD DAVID THAT AHITHOPHEL, HIS OWN ADVISOR, WAS BACKING ABSALOM, DAVID PRAYED, “O LORD, PLEASE MAKE AHITHOPHEL GIVE ABSALOM FOOLISH ADVICE.”
AS SOON AS HE HAD FINISHED PRAYING, AND HAD REACHED THE TOP OF THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, WHERE PEOPLE WORSHIPPED GOD, DAVID FOUND HUSHAI THE ARCHITE WAITING FOR HIM. BUT DAVID TOLD HIM, “IF YOU GO WITH ME, YOU WILL ONLY BE A BURDEN. RETURN TO JERUSALEM AND TELL ABSALOM, I WILL COUNSEL YOU AS I DID YOUR FATHER. THEN YOU CAN FRUSTRATE AND COUNTER AHITHOPHEL’S ADVICE. SEND WORD BACK TO ME WHAT IS GOING ON.”
SO WHEN DAVID’S FRIEND, HUSHAI, ARRIVED, HE WENT IMMEDIATELY TO SEE ABSALON.
ABSALOM ASKED HIM, “WHY AREN’T YOU WITH DAVID?” AND HE ANSWERED, “BECAUSE I WORK FOR THE MAN WHO IS CHOSEN BY THE LORD AND BY ISRAEL, AND ANY WAY, WHY SHOULDN’T I? I HELPED YOUR FATHER AND NOW I WILL HELP YOU!”
THEN ABSALOM TURNED TO AHITHOPHEL AND ASKED HIM, “WHAT SHALL I DO NEXT?” AHITHOPHEL TOLD HIM, “. GO SLEEP WITH YOUR FATHER’S WIVES, FOR HE HAS LEFT THEM HERE TO KEEP THE HOUSE. THEN ALL ISRAEL WILL KNOW THAT YOU HAVE INSULTED HIM BEYOND RECONCILATION, AND THEY WILL SUPPORT YOU.”
SO ABSALOM DID EVERYTHING AHITHOPHEL TOLD HIM, UNTIL ONE DAY AHITHOPHEL ASKED FOR TWELVE THOUSAND MEN TO GO AFTER DAVID AND KILL HIM WHILE HE WAS DISCOURAGED.”HE AND HIS TROOPS WILL BE THROWN INTO A PANIC AND EVERYONE WILL RUN AWAY,” HE SAID. BUT ABASOLOM ASKED HUSHAI HIS OPINION.
“WELL,” HUSHAI REPLIED, “THIS TIME I THINK AHITHOPHEL IS MISTAKEN. YOU KNOW YOUR FATHER AND HIS MEN; THEY ARE MIGHTY WARRIORS AND ARE PROBABLY AS UPSET AS A MOTHER BEAR WHO HAS BEEN ROBBED OF HER CUBS.
YOUR FATHER IS AN OLD SOLDIER AND ISN’T GOING TO SPEND THE NIGHT AMONG THE TROOPS. HE HAS PROBABLY ALREADY HIDDEN IN SOME PIT OR CAVE. WHEN HE COMES OUT AND ATTACKS AND SOME OF YOUR MEN FALL, THERE WILL BE PANIC AMONG YOUR TROOPS AND EVERYONE WILL START SHOUTING THAT YOUR MEN ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED. THEN, EVEN THE BRAVEST OF THEM WILL BE PARALIZED WITH FEAR, BECAUSE ALL ISRAEL KNOWS WHAT A MIGHTY MAN YOUR FATHER IS AND HOW COURAGOUS HIS SOLDIERS ARE.’
“I SUGGEST YOU MOBILIZE THE ENTIRE ARMY OF ISRAEL. AND I THINK YOU SHOULD PERSONALLY LEAD THE TROOPS. THEN, WHEN WE FIND HIM, WE CAN DESTROY HIS ENTIRE ARMY, SO THAT NO ONE IS LEFT ALIVE.”
THEN ABSALOM AND ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL SAID, HUSHAI’S IS BETTER THAN AHITHOPHEL’S.” FOR THE LORD HAD APPOINTED TO DEFEAT THE COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL, WHICH REALLY WAS THE BETTER PLAN; SO HE COUD BRING DISASTER UPON ABSALOM. —-AND HE DID.
WHEN GOD GIVES US A WORD, THAT HE IS GOING TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE, IT IS BEST FOR US TO KEEP OUR MOUTHS SHUT UNTIL THE APPOINTED TIME, AS WAS IN THE LIFE OF ZACHARIAS AND ELIZABETH (LUKE 1). THE ANGEL TOLD HIM WHILE HE WAS DOING HIS SERVICE TO GOD IN THE TEMPLE, THAT HIS WIFE, ELIZABETH, WOULD HAVE A SON NAMED JOHN. BECAUSE OF ZACHARIAS’ UNBELIEF THE ANGEL STRUCK HIM DUMB UNTIL THE APPOINTED TIME.
WHEN GOD DECIDES TO DO SOMETHING, HE HAS A PURPOSE AND A PLAN HOW HE WANTS IT CARRIED-OUT.
THE BEST THING WE CAN DO, IS WAIT IT OUT UNTIL IT COMES TO PASS. IT IS VERY EASY FOR US TO GET INTO UNBELIEF. WHEN WE GET TIRED OF WAITING, WE CAN BRING AN ISHMAEL INTO OUR LIVES, AS DID ABRAHAM AND SARAH. THEN WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE ACTIONS THE REST OF OUR LIVES.
WHEN THE PROMISE DOES COME, WE FIND WE CAN ENJOY IT LIKE GOD PLANNED IN THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE WE HAVE NO ISHMAELS TO DEAL WITH.
WHEN WE BEGIN TO QUESTION GOD—-WE SHOULD BE SAYING, “GOD, I TRUST YOU WITH JUST THE RIGHT TIMING, AND I TRUST YOU WITH WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND ME.”
IN THE BOOK OF ESTHER, ESTHER’S UNCLE, MORDECAI HAD TOLD HER. “NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO ACT. NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO REVEAL YOURSELF.”
ESTHER 4:14 – FOR IF THOU ALTOGETHER HOLDEST THY PEACE AT THIS TIME, THEN SHALL THEIR ENLARGEMENT (OR HELP) AND DELIVERANCE COME FROM ANOTHER PLACE; BUT THOU AND THY FATHER’S HOUSE SHALL BE DESTROYED: AND WHO KNOWETH WHETHER THOU ART COME TO THE KINGDOM FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?
BY MAKING HER MOVE AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME, SHE DESTROYED ALL THE ENEMIES PLANS.
