Worldwide News: “I BESEECH THEE, O LORD GOD of HEAVEN!”

The Bible says, “Nehemiah said, I BESEECH THEE, O LORD GOD of HEAVEN THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE GOD, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love Him and observe His commandments:

Let Thine ear now be attentive and Thine eyes open, that Thou mayest hear the prayer of Thy servant, which I pray before Thee, now, day and night, for the children of Israel Thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against Thee.

Both I and my father’s house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against Thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandest thy servant Moses. 

Remember, I beseech Thee, the Word that Thou commandest Thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations.

But if ye turn unto Me, and keep My commandments, and do them, though there were of you cast out unto the utter most part of the Heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set My name there.

Now these are Thy servants and Thy people, whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy great power and by Thy strong hand. 

O LORD, I beseech Thee, let now Thine ear be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant, and to the prayer of Thy servants, who desire to fear Thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, Thy servant this day…”   (Nehemiah 1:5-11)  My topic, “I Beseech Thee, O LORD GOD of Heaven, the Great and Terrible GOD!”

BRING IT DOWN ON HOME:

Have you been redeemed by the BLOOD OF THE LAMB, JESUS? If so (like Nehemiah), you can pray his prayer to cover yourself, your family, your home, your job, your finances, your neighborhood, and anything else you want to place under the Umbrella of Safety. JESUS IS THE ANSWER!  However, this prayer is conditional as you must turn from your repent and turn from your wicked ways.  You must be in a covenant relationship with the LORD GOD! Then and only then will the LORD GOD hear and answer your prayers.

Firstly, Nehemiah recognized and admitted error, ” Both I and my father’s house have sinned.” This confession is very important and we need to model ourselves after Nehemiah’s humble position. We too have sinned and our father’s house likewise. If you feel as if you don’t owe a confession and repenting heart to the LORD GOD, then you are grossly mistaken because “…all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God…”

Secondly, Not only did Nehemiah admit his and his family’s sins, he said, “We have dealt very corruptly against Thee [GOD], and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandest Thy servant Moses.”

Not everyone approved of Nehemiah’s confession and not everybody obeyed God’s commandments. By Chapter Five, we see the rich Jews (nobles and rulers) charging high interest to the poor “…mortgages, lands, vineyards, houses, which includes enslaving their sons and daughters…” (Nehemiah 5:1-13)

Nehemiah condemned these rich folks saying, “It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? I pray you let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.”  (Nehemiah 5:1-13)

Thirdly, After Nehemiah told these money lenders the truth, “They said, We will restore them and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest.” (Nehemiah 5:12a) At their promise, Nehemiah “…called the priests and took an oath of them that they should do according to this promise.” (Nehemiah 5:12b)

Now it really should not have taken all of this to get people to do right but Nehemiah made them swear before the Men of God! Yet, these well-to-do greedy Jews (knowing the history of the Children of Israel, captivity, and suffering) should have given much mercy to the poor folks but they did not. They only thought to line their pockets!

Although it is not stated, we can assume there were others (including the poor) who did not practice spiritually morality. Sin is sin and it is no respector of persons (rich or poor).

Like these greedy Jews, we have greedy corporations, loan companies, loan sharks, mortgage companies who are eager to reposses your assets at the blink of an eye. Literally, they don’t care if the sheriff puts you and yours outdoors on the streets. You know what happens next? In the USA, the general public can sort through your belongings and take whatever they want because it’s an open market to plunder goods left on the streets. We have very few Robin Hood’s today who rob from the rich and give to the less fortunate!

Like today, there are people in the church who hate and discriminate against races, genders, and ethnicities. Everybody ain’t truly saved and washed in the Blood of the Lamb! You cannot say that you love GOD and you hate your fellow man as it is a contradictory statement.

Fourthly, Nehemiah maintained his fear of the LORD GOD.  He said, “But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God…Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work…” (Nehemiah 5:15-17)

For twelve (12) long years, Nehemiah served as governor over these people and he did not rule in greed. He and his servants worked just like the people and he ate just what he earned and no more.

Today, we have people in authority who want more than their share of the pie. Not only that, there are people suffering in third world countries with no one to fight for them. It’s dog eat dog. There are wars and rumors of wars…people in high authority stand back as their armies pluck the lands robbing, killing, raping, and stealing.

These people do not have fear of the LORD. The only fear they house is in their weapons, tanks, guns,  power, authority, and ammunitions. They could care less about the poor, the needy, the aging, the homeless, the sick, the women, and the little children. They have no respect for life but I want you to know that the LORD GOD is looking and booking! For this reason, many, many people have been called into judgment, to an early grave, and into Hell.

We serve a great and powerful GOD and nobody will escape judgment from Him. Don’t you fool yourself!! Hopefully you have gotten something from this Blog and I hope you will pray as Nehemiah, “I BESEECH THEE O LORD GOD OF HEAVEN, THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE GOD THAT KEEPETH COVENANT AND MERCY FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM AND OBSERVE HIS COMMANDMENTS…” 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

Worldwide News: “OPPOSITION ON EVERY SIDE!”

The Bible says, “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hackaliah…one of my brethren came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

And they said, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.”  (Nehemiah 1:1-3)   Please continue to read,  “OPPOSITION ON EVERY SIDE!” 

BRING IT DOWN ON HOME:

After the 70 years of bondage in Babylonia, the Children of Israel were still facing opposition. King Herod’s temple was destroyed and the second temple was constructed but it was no match to the first!  However, Israel had a place to worship – thanks to Ezra!

Now the walls of Jerusalem needed rebuilding and Nehemiah (chosen by GOD) was commissioned to rebuild the walls. Prior to his commission, Nehemiah was the royal cupbearer to the Persian king, Artaxerxes. Back in the day, this was an honorable position. In modern times, Nehemiah was more like a chief butler to some dignified or prominent figure or king/queen. However, Nehemiah was in the presence of royalty and he had the king’s ear.

As the story goes, Nehemiah was serving the king (i.e., the queen was present) with a long sullen face and the king asked, “what’s wrong?”  The end result is that GOD touched the king’s heart to approve Nehemiah’s leave-of-request to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall. Also, the king gave Nehemiah sealed letters of approval for different people to assist him and to deliver building materials and whatever else.  Moreso, “…the king sent captains of the army and horsemen with Nehemiah.” (Nehemiah 2:9)

However, there was “OPPOSITION ON EVERY SIDE!”  Nehemiah and the Children of Israel were met with great resistence from Sanballat  (i.e., meaning enemy in secret) the Horonite, Tobiah the servant, the Ammonites, the Arabians , the Ashdodites, and many others who were grieved about the rebuilding of the Walls of Jerusalem. In fact, they all hated Nehemiah, “…it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the Children of Israel…” (Nehemiah 2:10; 5:7))

Like Nehemiah, you and I have received our commissions from the LORD GOD! Our job is to work on the battle field for the Lord as we spread the Gospel. May be you were not chosen to rebuild a city…may be you are not the president…may be you are not the governor…may be you are a good Christian person who loves the Lord Jesus! But, you are someone very special in the Kingdom of Heaven!

Trust me, there will be opposition against you from within and without. After much confusion and contention, you may leave your house only to face more opposition on route to your job! The driver behind your car is riding the bumper of your car… or persons on the bus or railway are talking loudly disturbing your peace and quiet…or you get a disturbing phone call from someone. Certainly, you will face opposition from people you love and trust. Inevitably,  you will get your feelings hurt from known/unknown persons who disagree with you. All of this is to be expected because the dEVIL is against JESUS CHRIST!

You may face opposition at work for no reason(s) or because of stupid reason(s)! You may face opposition at your local church because the Lord grants you more favor than others. Your may be negatively talked about because people cannot figure you out. You may find that people make up untrue lies about you and feed the gossip to others (who look at you crazy). You may never be able to get things right because the enemy is working against the Kingdom of GOD!

I really understand these dilemmas but do you? The dEVIL has his foot in everything – including the air!  Remember Lucifer is airborne!! The dEVIL is at work 24/7 even while you are asleep. The dEVIL is at work 24/7 while you are driving to church, school, pleasure, play, or work. The dEVIL is at work when you go into the restaurants to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The devil is at work when you go to the movies with family and friends. The dEVIL is at work when you return home to cook dinner, feed your family, walk the dog, wash the car, and take out the trash. No matter what you do, there will be enemies like Sanballats, Tobiahs, Ammonites, Arabians, Ashdodites, Persians, Hittites, Russians, Koreans, Blacks, Indians, Chinese, Japanese, and many others who will be grieved about the work JESUS CHRIST is performing through your ministry, gifts, and callings.

You will not be able to please everybody! In fact, you may only be able to impress a few (if you are lucky) such as your Mother, Father, a few family members, and a few of friends. Don’t worry about the rejections because your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life! We all must learn to look beyond our horizons into the infinity where the Lord JESUS exist because “…all things are possible to him/her who believe and love the LORD…” 

This earthly pilgrimage is not based on a do-it-yourself kit. We need the HOLY GHOST to break demonic controls, witchcraft, principalities of darkness, liars, and spiritual wickedness in high places!

Our jobs are not easy and all hell is breaking loose on Christians!  You may feel unlucky sometimes and you may feel that you are losing ground but keep on keeping on. Just remember that Heaven rejoices when one soul is saved from the pit of hell fires! There are times people will not listen to you but the seed is being planted. Whether or not they digest the seed (at that time) may not be for you to know.

As the Scripture says, “…one plants…one watereth…but GOD giveth the increase…” You may be a planter for the Lord…you may be a waterer…but it is all for the Glory of the LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Remember, there is nothing to hard for the Lord even though there is “OPPOSITION ON EVERY SIDE!”

Have a Blessed Day!

 

 

Worldwide News: ‘YOU CAN MAKE IT!”

The Bible says,

[vs. 2] “But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our GOD to speak unto you the gospel of GOD with much contention. [vs. 4] But as we were allowed of GOD to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but GOD, which trieth our hearts . [vs.7] But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children…” (I Thessalonians 2:2, 4, 7) If you haven’t deleted or spammed this Blog, you are interested in what I have to say. Please read on, because “YOU CAN MAKE IT!”

BRING IT DOWN ON HOME:

(1) WE SUFFER: Apostle Paul and Silas preached the Gospel in Philippi but a young damsel (possessed with a demonic spirit of divination) hounded them everyday. This girl was on every street corner mocking Apostle Paul and Silas, “These men are the servants of the most high God which show us the way of salvation.” (Acts 16:17) Can you imagine? These Men of God suffered at the hands of a silly girl! Although she spoke the truth, Apostle Paul and Silas did not need her to be their public announcer as she was a hindering spirit. So, Apostle Paul being grieved said, “I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.” (Acts 16:18)

THE UNSAVED: The dEVIL does not want the true Gospel to reach the unsaved! People want to here fables and lies. This same damsel was a money maker (like today) for her masters because people seek soothsayers and witch craft to tell their fortunes. After Apostle Paul rebuked the spirit in the damsel and she lost the power to prophesy. Since the damsel lost her talents, her employers could no longer line their pockets. The enemy will manufacture a lie and stir up silly crowds against you (like the employers of the damsel did to Apostle Paul and Silas).

Guess what? Her employers were quite angry and in retaliation they accused Apostle Paul and Silas of “being JEWS…and…exceedingly troubling the city and teaching customs which are not lawful for them to receive or to observe being Romans…” (Acts: 16:18-21) Once the damsel lost her talents, her employers could no longer lined their pockets. The enemy will manufacture a lie and stir up silly crowds against you (like the employers of the damsel did to Apostle Paul and Silas).

RACISM and DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER: So, racism and defamation of character are two major weapons of attack. The girl’s employers used this strategy to lure angry crowds and government officials. Being Jews (ironically Paul was a dual citizen both a Jew and Roman) was a secondary issue as the first issue was the financial loss. Probably, the damsel’s employers desired to hire Apostle Paul and Silas but they were true Men of God and not for hire. Most likely, the girl’s employers had a laid back life of ease because of this damsel’s abilities.

(2) BUT GOD TRIETH OUR HEARTS: However, Apostle Paul ‘s ability to cast out the demonic spirit was not purchased with money (gold or silver). This power “to cast out devils” came from the ALMIGHTY GOD. Apostle Paul said, “But as we were allowed of GOD to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but GOD, which trieth our hearts .” 

Like Apostle Paul and Silas, you are experiencing much “contention” from inside and outside your home, school, church, and workplace because of your belief in JESUS CHRIST. Do not think this is unnatural because it is a Worldwide dilemma for all who talk about the Word of God. You don’t have to be a televised pastor to be ridiculed for preaching the Gospel. You can be a nobody (like me) who just believes in testifying about the goodness of the LORD JESUS! It is the Will of God for believers to be tried and tested.

(3) DELIVERANCE: So Apostle Paul and Silas were put in the inner prison and their feet placed in stocks. But, O PRAISE THE LORD! At midnight, there was a great earthquake, the foundations of the prison were shaken and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s bands were loosed. You know the rest of this story, the keeper of the prison (awakened out of his sleep) was about to kill himself because he thought all the prisoners escaped. Instead, Apostle Paul “…cried with a loud voice Do thyself no harm for we are all here. “ (Acts 16:28)

Guess what? The jailer (trembling fell down before Paul and Silas) asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and thou shalt be saved and thy house.” (Acts 16:29-31)

You see, the enemy doesn’t care about your rights and freedom of speech when it inhibits his/her groweth, financial gain, and the abilitiy to draw large crowds. But the LORD ALMIGHTY has your deliverance date already set! You may not see it coming or you may be so tired of the people who surround you and hound you on a daily basis or you may be ready just to give up! Please don’t throw in the towel as your deliverance is just around the corner. Don’t take your life, don’t swallow poison, don’t run into on-coming traffic, don’t run away, don’t allow the enemy to take control of your life. Instead, remember the jailer who found salvation and he asked the question, “What must I do to be saved?”

That SAME NIGHT, the LORD GOD, delivered him and forgave him of his sins and the jailor’s whole house was saved!

If you don’t get anything else out of this Blog, just remember like the people mentioned above, “YOU CAN MAKE IT!”

Have a Blessed Day!

 

 

 

Worldwide News: “I SHOULD HAVE BEEN A TREE!”

 

The Bible says, “Blessed is the man [or woman] that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”  (Jeremiah 17:8)

When I think about my high school days, I remember a particular poem by Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918) who wrote (paraphrasing), “I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree…A tree that looks at GOD all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray…” Perhaps many of you remember this beautiful poem as it is a reflection on the greatness of God. Out of the many, many things man can do and duplicate, mankind cannot make a tree!  Please read on,  “I SHOULD HAVE BEEN A TREE!”

BRING IT DOWN ON HOME:

As Christians, we are blessed because we trust in the LORD and our hope is in the LORD, who made Heaven, Earth, our Solar System, and the extended Universe. We must not allow ourselves to put our trust in man because the Bible says, “…put not your trust in man for he shall surely fail you…” Think about the many times, you placed your love, faith, hope, and confidence in someone you loved and/or believed in and he/she/they let you down.

Another Scripture says,  “…there is no failure in GOD!”   Honey, you can take all Biblical Scriptures to the bank and deposit them as GOD’s Word is better than silver, gold, diamonds, and semi precious stones. There is nothing, nothing, nothing too hard for GOD to do. When others fail you, GOD will never let you down.

I want to be like the tree described in the following Scriptures:

(1) Psalms 1:3: “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

While on this Earth, all Christians should strive to delight themselves in the Law of the Lord and to meditate His law day and night – a 24/7 hour job. This simply means Christians should not walk in the counsel of ungodly men, nor stand in the way of sinners, and nor sit in the seat of the scornful. STOP RUNNING WITH UNGODLY PEOPLE AND STOP TRUSTING IN THEM!

Sometimes, this is very hard to do! If we are seeking financial counseling, we don’t want to go to a poor Christian who cannot managed his/her monies or pay their bills on time. Instead we seek the advice of a financial banker but hopefully a Christian financial banker (i.e., not one who is ungodly or has bad business practices). Yet, GOD gives us five senses and spiritual wisdom and understanding on what to do, Amen!

(2) Revelation 22:14: “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

Apostle John is talking about the redeemed ones whose names are recorded in the Book of Life! Also, Apostle John is talking about the earthly/eternal city called, New Jerusalem.

The redeemed of the LORD shall live eternally (free from all sickness, worries, hunger, stress, tears, and death) and we shall live in the presence of GOD! Praise the Lord! We shall see HIM face to face! The Word states, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I [GOD] will be his GOD, and he shall be my son[or daughter]. (Revelation 21:7)

(3) We’ve got opposition: This means we have a heavy job to do down here on this Earth as there is a flip side to good which is evil. Trust me, the dEVIL [Lucifer] ain’t gonna make it easy for you because he is jealous, eternally fallen from grace, and he cannot be redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb.

Trust me, the dEVIL don’t want you to be saved and he don’t want you to make it! For the latter reason, Lucifer throws all kinds of monkey wrenches in your paths. Furthermore, these obstacles come like hurdles one after the other…after the other…and… after the other.

Lucifer had his opportunity (way back in the beginning of his creation) to do right by GOD but he did not! He was created the most beautiful angel who chose to lead a war against GOD, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How are thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou has said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit…”   (Isaiah 14:12-15)

(4) GOOD NEWS:  The Word says, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help; My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:  He that keepeth thee will not slumber. “ (Psalm 121:1-3)  If the LORD never sleeps or slumbers, then we have a 24/7 hour watch over us!  While we are asleep, the LORD sends our guardian angels to watch over us.  Unbeknown to us, we have been in dangerous situations but the LORD kept us!  Thus, we must look up and not down on the ground at the ants and bugs.  Instead, we lift up our eyes and alms to the ALMIGHTY GOD!

Once again, you can take this to the bank. Like a tree planted by the rivers of living water, we’ve got to develop a hard core against the wiles of the dEVIL. This outward core is not merely wooden bark, but it is the WORD OF GOD which we clothe ourselves in. We are rooted and grounded in the WORD OF GOD!

Like the tree planted by the rivers of water, we must bring forth fruit in our season.  What are you doing with your seasons?  Perhaps, you missed a couple of seasons but its not too late to get back on board! Like the tree planted by the rivers of water, our leafs shall not wither and whatsoever we do, it shall prosper. Are your leafs green or withering?  Is your fruit prospering? 

Like the tree planted by the rivers of water, we shall spread out our roots by the water source (the WORD OF GOD) to drink as the root is connected to the Fountain of Living Water (CHRIST JESUS).   The good news is to stay connected to the water source.  We will not be thirsty when the heat cometh (i.e., today there is a Worldwide heat wave across the Globe) and people are dying from the heat. Not only are we suffering from heat waves, there are earthquakes, storms, and floods.   This is a real wake-up call from the ALMIGHTY GOD for the entire World to know that JESUS is coming again and it won’t be long.  If we are rooted in the WORD OF GOD, we will not be eternally lost. Are your drinking from the Fountain of Living Water?   Please note there is only ONE fountain!

Have a Blessed Day!