Worldwide News: “AND WE GO ON MAKING MISTAKES!”

The Bible says, “And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly. And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-gaber. Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesized against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast join thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.” (II Chronicles 20:35-37)

BRING IT DOWN ON HOME:

Well folks, here we go again! How many times does king Jehoshaphat have to align himself with the enemy. What in the world is he thinking? He allowed his son Jehoram to marry king Ahab and Queen Jezebel’s daughter who was just as wicked as her parents. Then king Jehoshaphat acted more foolishly by going down to dine with king Ahab in Samaria. What does the Bible say about eating with fools? “It is better to put a knife to your own throat rather than to eat the rich man’s delights!” This feast was truly a fanfare as they both had two separate thrones to sit upon and Ahab killed sheep and oxen in abundance for Jehoshaphat. Very impressive! However, Mr. SLICK (king Ahab) had a reason because he wanted Jehoshaphat’s army (more than one million men) to join him in battle against the king of Syria.

How about your best in-laws invite you to dinner and the table is spread with all the delights you can imagine (turkey, ham, steaks, potato salad, greens, black eye peas, baked rolls, cornbread, cakes, pies, BBQ, whatever). After you fill up your belly, they pass out guns and sawed-off shot guns stating that their neighbor and his bad-boy thugs are coming at 10pm to have a shoot-out. What on earth will you do? Run Forest Run!

In spite of Prophet Micaiah’s vision and warning, king Jehoshaphat went into battle with his eyes wide open but quickly found himself squealing like a pig – as the Syrian captains of the chariots were pursuing him because he was dressed-up like a king. But Mr. SLICK – king Ahab had disguised himself like a regular soldier. Why didn’t Jehoshaphat think within himself, “Ahab is not in royal attire but I’m dressed up in costume?” Ahab said, “I will disguise myself, and I will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes.” (II Chronicles 18:29)

Certainly, you and I would ask intense questions to our so-called friend(s) who tell us to get dressed up in our best for a party but we learn upon arriving its a swim party on the beach. So we show up with our hair ratted up high (stiff as a board), eye lashes, pound make-up, blush, perfume to the heels, tight skirt, and stiletto heels! But, everybody else is in swim suits or shorts! Was king Jehoshaphat stupid or was he filled-up with too many delights, gazelle, turkey, and wine? After the chariot captains realized that king Jehoshaphat was not Ahab they turned their chariots away from him – but they did not do this of their own accord. Because of an oath to king David, the LORD GOD intervened and caused the chariots to retreat from king Jehoshaphat. Literally, GOD spared king Jehoshaphat’s life!

Ain’t that just like our LORD GOD and MASTER of the UNIVERSE? HE loves us so much until HE bestows forgiveness, grace, and mercy upon us as we keep on sinning. None of us are perfect – we all know that but its wrong to wear out GOD’s patience as we keep on sinning and sinning and sinning and sinning. In-between each offence, we ask for HIS divine forgiveness and the next day we sin again. One of these days, the LORD’s going to get tired of us and HE will come to collect our souls and we better be ready!!!

Next, we see king Jehoshaphat running behind king Ahaziah of Israel who was so wicked your eye balls would pop out your head. Both kings enter into a business deal as ship builders to sail to Tarshish (to get richer and richer). According to II Chronicles18:1, “…king Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance…” Just how much more wealth did he need and to do what? This time, king Jehoshaphat did not consult the LORD GOD for direction – neither did he ask king Ahaziah for a true man-of-God to consult.

Once again, we can see ourselves (like king Ahab) because we are sooooo very sure of ourselves. We want to purchase a big house with a jumbo loan and buy a new SUV and put the kids in private schools but we fail to ask the LORD GOD for direction. In the COVID pandemic, we have many who have lost their jobs, homes, cars, medical plans, and their hope is all gone. Some people just started a small mom/pop business and now they cannot payback their business loans nor maintain their house notes.

You may be thinking without the finances to fund our creature comforts, we have no hope and people are dying left and right. I beg to differ! Our hope is in CHRIST JESUS and HE will never, never, never, never, never, never forsake us. HE said, “…lo, I am with you even unto the end of the world…” To you who are struggling, the LORD GOD is trying to regain your attention. HE IS A JEALOUS GOD and HE wants us to return to HIM and lean upon HIM! Don’t lean upon each other, nor the company, nor your wealth, nor you smart brain, nor your business adventures. Scroll back up to this Blog and re-read how the Lord blew upon the newly built ships of king Ahaziah and king Jehoshaphat! GOD can blow us all out of our socks and shoes anytime – day, night, hour, minute, or second!

You (including Constance) have been operating on our own accord and we are finding out that we ain’t nothing without the LORD GOD! It’s high time for all believers to re-activate our FAITH as time is running short. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Do you remember the rich man who had a barn filled up with wheat, barley, corn, so many other grains, a big farm with livestock, and servants. He didn’t think about the poor people in the city or the old widow woman (with seven mouths to feed) down the road. He didn’t think about the poor across town and/or over the mountains who were starving. Instead, he said, “I have so much wealth that I will tare down this barn and build me a new and bigger barn…” Honey, that night, the Angel of the LORD (JESUS HIMSELF) came to him saying, “Thou fool, tonight thy soul will be required of thee…” FYI, that foolish rich man died that very night! Let me know if you enjoyed this Blog.

Have a Blessed Day!

Worldwide News: “A LYING SPIRIT!”

The Bible says,  “And the LORD said,  Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?  And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.  Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said,  I will entice him.  And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?   And he said,  I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.  And the LORD said,  Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail:  go out, and do even so.  Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.”   (II Chronicles 18:8-22)    Please read this Blog with an open heart!

 BRING IT DOWN ON HOME:      

Background on King Ahab: Ahab was the king of Israel and he was a wicked man who was engaged and married Jezebel, a wicked Phoenician princess.  As Queen of Israel, Jezebel brought the false worship of Baal to the Children of Israel!  Although the marriage was political, Jezebel caused an entire nation to fall, frustrated the righteous, killed many of the Lord’s prophets, and conspired to steal Naboth’s vineyard (which belonged to his father). 

Naboth lived in Jezreel and his land was next to king Ahab’s palace and the king looked out of his window every day to admire Naboth’s vineyard.  However, king Ahab coveted Naboth’s land because he wanted it make it a vegetable garden but Naboth refused to sell his inheritance!  And, this made king Ahab so sick that he could not eat and he went to bed.  So, queen Jezebel laughed at king Ahab and schemed to take the field from Naboth.  She used the king’s name, hired two lying witnesses, and wrote a letter to the elders announcing Naboth as a blasphemer against God and king Ahab.  Thus, they convicted Naboth (who was innocent) and stoned him outside the city of Jezreel.  

Let me say that many jealous and wicked people turn into haters against others.  As the Lord blesses His children with houses, land, cars, children, wealth, raises on the job, promotions, and other prosperities, the children of the wicked get sick and conspire to do harm.  For instance, if you get a new car and drive to the grocery store or mall, someone may scratch it or key it!  Some people will say, “That’s a nice car!” But the jealous person may see you getting out of the car, dislike you for no reason, and scratch your car or truck.  I know this for a fact as I have spent so many repair bills for keyed vehicles. One time, I came out the store and a grown woman (who parked her car next to mine put her grocery bags and purse on the hood of my car saying, “I didn’t hurt your car!”  Perhaps, you received a promotion on the job (as partner, director, manager, or supervisor) and an angry co-worker conspired against you with false accusations.  You get the picture.    

Background on King Jehoshaphat:  Jehoshaphat was a righteous king of Judah.  Unfortunately, king Jehoshaphat aligned himself with king Ahab of Israel.  To make matters worse, king Jehoshaphat’s son (Jeham) was married to Athaliah, the daughter of king Ahab and Jezebel. Bad news bears for sure!  Thus, the houses of Jehoshaphat was tied to the house of Ahab.  

One day, king Jehoshaphat was visiting king Ahab and they each sat on their own thrones.  However, king Ahab was on the brink of war with the king of Syria ; so he asked king Jehoshaphat to go up with him to fight at Ramoth-gilead.  (II Chronicles 18:3)  The king of Judah said,  “I am as thou art and my people as thy people, and we will be with thee in war.”  (II Chronicles 18:3)  For your information,  the king of Judah had a large army more than 1,160,000 men which did not include the soldiers in the other fenced cities of Judah.

Next, king Jehoshaphat asked king Ahab to seek the advice of the Lord’s prophet as king Ahab’s four (400) hundred prophets told him to go up and he will have victory.  So, king Ahab called for Micaiah (a true man-of-God) but king Ahab hated Micaiah!  Before they brought Micaiah to prophesy, the men who brought him to the king told him to speak good to king Ahab.  Eventually, Micaiah told the truth,  “I did see Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd:  and the Lord said,  These have no master; lt them return therefore every man to his house in peace.”  (II Chronicles 18:16)   Oh Boy!  This angered king Ahab and he told king Jehoshaphat,  “Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?”   (vs. 17)  /

A LYING SPIRIT:  Why did GOD send a lying spirit to king Ahab.  Well, king Ahab’s kingdom was built upon lies, failures murders, false worship, and a terrible queen who brought the worship of Baal to the Children of Israel.  It only took one woman to destroy a kingdom and it took one LYING SPIRIT to go into the mouths of 400 prophets!  How about that!   This spirit appeared before GOD and requested permission to go down to Earth and be a lying spirit in the mouths of Ahab’s prophets convincing the king to fight against the Syrians.  And king Ahab believed his prophets and he did not accept Prophet Micaiah’s testimony.  How stupid!  Although king Ahab requested Micaiah to tell the truth, the king still rejected the truth because he hated Micaiah. 

Let me say this!  Sometimes, we cannot receive the truth because we want things to align with our desires.  Meaning this:  You may be dating someone or married to someone who is a user.  You really love this person but your love is not reciprocated and it may take months or years for you to realize the truth even though the truth has been staring you in the face. 

Many of the older Saints use to say,  “Be careful how you treat people because what ever you sow that shall ye also reap.”  Honey, this saying if in the Bible as well.  When we walk away from the Lord, then the dEVIL sends his demons and lying spirits to us.  We are no longer covered under the Blood of Jesus and without this covering we are like sitting ducks.  For this reason, we sin! For instance, we may in and out of personal relationships and marriages because we allow the dEVIL and his lying spirits into our hearts.  Once the heart is no longer turned toward the LORD GOD, it is now wide open for the dEVIL and his demonic spirits who bring confusion, frustration, drugs, alcoholism, and many more vices into our lives. 

Evil is not something, it is someone – a person without a body but he is looking for a body because that’s the only way he can drink, take drugs, have sex, and do a host of things which will cause one to lose his/her soul.  Spirits don’t have sex with spirits as they need bodies to inhabit to fulfil their lusts. You cannot see spirits walking down the street until their enter into a body. When you see someone violating the laws of the land, you know that it is an evil spirit(s) in control. For instance a child molester has a demonic spirit living within.

Therefore, we must use the Blood of Jesus, the Word of GOD, and our personal testimony about the Lord and we must say it and believe it..  The dEVIL and his demons tremble at the very name of JESUS!  This is the only way to avoid LYING SPIRITS!

II Corinthians 10:4-5 reads, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” I want you to know this one thing, you are not alone on this journey. The enemy has come against you and is ready to take-you-down but you have THE WORD OF GOD and that WORD was made FLESH and HE dwelt among us and HE is making intercession for us in HEAVEN! JUST CALL ALOUD HIS NAME – JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS!

Have a Blessed Day!  

Worldwide News: “Rebuke is Forthcoming!”

The Bible says, “And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek GOD.” (II Chronicles 19:1-3)

BRING IT DOWN ON HOME:

If you recall, king Jehoshaphat was aligned with king Ahab who sought false prophets, disobeyed the LORD, and died in battle – slumped down in his chariot as a certain man Jehu drew his bow and the arrow striking king Ahab. The writer of this book says that the driver of king Ahab’s chariot turned away from the battle and the king died at the setting of the sun. Certainly this is divine/poet justice. What a terrible way to go but lets look at king Ahab conniving ways just before the battle. He knew that the king of Syria was seeking to kill him! In spite of that, king Ahab disguised himself and told king Jehoshaphat to wear his kingly robes during the battle. Why? This wicked Ahab hoped that the opposing army would mistake the king of Judah as the king of Israel. When the captains of the chariots approached king Jehoshaphat, immediately they realized him not to be the king of Israel. Naturally, king Jehoshaphat was hollering and crying out loud. The Scripture says, “…and the LORD helped him, and GOD moved them to depart from him….they turned back from pursuing him.” (II Chronicles 18:31-32)

Let me say that people (including family, friends, co-workers) who are close to you will inevitably set you up for failure. Jealously is a strong motivator. If you don’t believe me, just get a promotion on the job and somebody will be furious (especially if they expected to get that blessing). If people have nothing to tell about you, they will make up something even as stupid as you said something in jest about another people. Perhaps, you were just kidding but that’s not the way it will be perceived. As rumor goes, you were looking funny at somebody and/or you said this or that. Not only will your friends (family and co-workers) betray you, there are certain dignitaries, agencies, officials, policemen and so on and so on who will set you up to save themselves.

At this point king Jehoshaphat became very diligent with a second revival to turn the people back to the LORD GOD. This means that he revived the Law of Moses within Judah by setting judges in the land throughout the fenced cities. He said, “Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our GOD, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts…deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.” (II Chronicles 19:7-11)

“Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they return to Jerusalem. And he charged them saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of he LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart…ye shall warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and on your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.” (II Chronicles 19:8-10)

You see, we all need to stay in the presence of the LORD GOD! Meaning what? Without righteous covering, there is no hope for us. To get things right, we have to make an about-face-to the LORD. After the rebuke, Jehoshaphat got his act together. He marching throughout Beersheba to Mount Ephraim and brought the people back to the LORD. Like this king, we too must collect ourselves and reach out to as many as possible concerning the LORD. It’s only right to voice your opinions to others. Tell them that the LORD knows everything about them any how (as he has a 24/7 recording video on them in Heaven).

Today, we might be feeling just fine but next week, we could be carried by ambulance to the hospital. None of us knows what tomorrow will bring and we need to behave ourselves. If you want to avoid FORTHCOMING REBUKE, you need to act right! There is a LORD GOD and HE rules over the entire Universe. Should the LORD rebuke us its because we are His children and whom the LORD does not rebuke, he is a bastard! Honey, that is directly from the Bible! Remember, king Jehoshaphat was crying out for help and the LORD GOD help him! Like this king, we must cry out to the LORD GOD for help. When one is facing an imminent situation or death, you don’t care about how you look or being polite or dignified. You’d better holler real loud for your life!

Have a Blessed Day!