Consequences ( Hebrews 3 v 15 )

 Last time I wrote about Solomon ,who was a great king for most of his reign, it appears that God was very patient with him but in the end God said enough,is enough.It need not have been like that in 2 Chronicles 7 ,after the dedication of the temple,God appeared to him and spoke to him.The first part of  the chapter is about God responding to Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple,the second is the importance of obeying God and the consequences of disobedience which would be very serious for him and the nation. In spite of that he did not take it  serious enough, but instead gradually moved away from God,His ways and His will.Think about disobedience and its terrible consequence,it all started  with Adam and Eve,and so we the children of Adam have followed in our first parents footsteps.Look at this world ,why are so many awful things happening?,the answer is mankind is living in disobedience to God,falsehood abounds in all sided's we should never be surprised at awful things happening, just look into our own hearts. Here is a word for us Christians, obey God, if we don't ,there will be consequences,but the good news is God is still in the business of forgiveness. If you are not a Christian repent and turn to Jesus  He will forgive you,and bring you from the road that leads to destruction, and put you on the road that leads to heaven not to hell.

Solomon ( 1 Kings 11 v 9 - 13 )

 I am going through that wonderful book of Proverbs written by Solomon, a man endowed with  tremendous wisdom from God.He blessed him not only with wisdom but with many blessings.Now in Deuteronomy 17 v14 -17,God gave instructions that as to what the kings were not meant to do,not to multiply horses,horses symbolised  military strength,God alone was to be Israels strength.What apples to Israel  and its king,applies to God's children, God must be our strength, without Him we can do nothing. Solomon disobeyed God in this ,1 Kings 10 v 29 - 30.The next thing the kings of Israel were not to do,was not to take many wives,Solomon disobeyed  that,he not only took many wives,but he took foreign wives 1 kings11 ,and these wives turned his heart away from God to foreign god's. Some see the marrying of the foreign wives as an act of strengthening political alliances. Let us all be careful as to whom we join hands with, the  word of God says,we are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers ,2 Corinthians 5 v17.We cannot join hands with other nations religions,or the worlds moral values.The next thing Israels  kings  were not to do was to accumulate large  amounts of silver and gold,in other words they were not to be materialistic. There is nothing wrong with being  rich, as long as that does not become our goal in life,and it becomes our god.Solomon for all his wisdom went beyond what he should have,and it had severe consequences for what followed,let us take note of that.

The secret sin. ( Exodus 20 v 17 )

We do not hear much as  regards the ten commandments in these days,possible because it is in the Old Testament,so let me stress that all scripture is to be honoured as being God's word (2 Timothy 3 v16 ) There are things in the OT that do not apply to us now, but they were still the word of God to be obeyed ,then.As regards the 10 commandments they are not to be ignored, of course our Saviour pointed out not just as to the basic commandment but to the spirit of the law,one may not have committed actual murder or adultery, but in ones thoughts you have lusted after someone,and hated someone ,then you are guilty of breaking those commandments (Matthew 5 v 21 -30) There is one of the commandments that many don't take serious, and it is the last one  coveting, it is a secret sin, but it is a sin for all that.Today many people are committing that sin. coveting what others have,their wives,husbands,money and many other things, consider all the evil that comes from coveting those things mentioned. It is a secret sin but it is not a secret with God,because God looks on the heart,He sees it for what  it is,we may not think it is sinful,but it is,and if you are involved in that sin which everyone without a doubt has committed,remember we cannot  hide our hidden sins  from an all seeing holy God .

                                                     ' If we confess our sins,He is faithful

                                                       and just to forgive us our sins,and to

                                                      cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'

                                                                      1 John 1 v 9.

We make our plans. ( Proverbs 27 v 1 )

 A very famous directer of movies,spoke of his plans for the future, he went on at length as  to the different movies he hoped to make.As he finished I said to myself there was no DV in relation to what he said. I am sure you know that DV signifies ,'God willing', it was used in conjunction with a signature at the end of letters.In other words,'God willing ',the letter may reach you safely. Often people would say that to someone that they planned to meet again,but of course if you leave God out of one's life then God does not come into the reckoning. Many think that they are the master of their own souls,and destinies ,but they are not. Our Saviour told a parable as regards a rich fool (Luke 12 v 13 -21),he was making all sorts of plans,but God said to Him,''You fool ! You will die this very night.Then who will get everything you worked for?.' So many people are like that man, and don't realise God is listening,they ride off as it where into the sunset,and then they are ingulfed in the darkness of death,and all their plans have come to nothing. 

                                                'Here today,gone tomorrow

                                                         but where to?'

                                         

1

The greatest miracle. ( Isaiah 53 )

 I was watching a program as regards people who had never been able to hear,and how they received medical treatment and suddenly they could hear,for the very first time in their lives. Little babies stopped crying,older people started to cry,and I was crying to,It was an awe inspiring moment , for all those involved, wonderful beyond words. Then I thought of the miracles Jesus performed,consider the context, there were no cures for deafness,blindness,and so on,you could  spend all your money and you would never have got healed. Consider how those people must have felt when Jesus healed them,like the people who witnessed these healings they were filled with fear, awe, and amazement (  Matthew 9 v 8 )All except  the religious leaders, who took issue with Jesus for healing on their Sabbath, that clouded their vision,and they were filled with hated.And so they watched Him, hounded Him ..Instead of being filled with amazement they turned on Jesus like a wild beast (Psalm 22 v 16- 17),and finally got their way  and crucified Him.Yet strange as it may sound, God's plan and purpose was fulfilled,for out of that suffering and horrendous death the greatest miracle ever  performed took place,the work of salvation,  

                                                'God so loved the world that He gave

                                                 His only begotten Son that whosoever

                                                 believeth in Him should not perish,

                                                 but have everlasting life'

                                                                  John 3 v16.

Unanswered ( Habakkuk 2 v 3 )

 I  want to share with you what  Charles Bridges has to say as regards unanswered prayer,it commences like this,'But I see no answer'. Correct the errors of sense by faith in His word,which declares, whatever appearances may be- He heareth , Judge not by feelings or conceptions, but by His own unchangeable  word,.....that He will refuse you nothing that is really good; that thou dost obtain,if not what you desire; yet what upon the whole is best and fittest for thee. Have patience with God. Dictate nothing. Commit thy will to Him. Say not- ''I will  that Thou give me by and by''. ( Mark 6 v25 ) Leave time and all to Him. If He does not answer in thy time, He will in His own for better season (Isaiah 30 v18 ) He has clearly  shewn His Sovereign appointment, that those who pray must wait His time, and His will. (Luke 18 v 1-7 )'

                                                 ' Remember delay is not denial'.

Truth ( John 14 v 6)

 In John 8 v 32, Jesus said,''Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free''.The truth involves two things, Jesus and His teaching, you cannot have one without the other. Gandhi was influenced by some of the teaching of Jesus, but he didn't know Jesus,there are those who say they know Jesus but refuse   to accept and practice what Jesus taught.To enter into that freedom Jesus talks about ,we must know who He was and who he is,and must believe and practice His teaching.To really know Him means that you are forgiven and you no longer live under guilt,then He will free you from the power of  sin ,like hating others,not forgiving others, He will enable you love your enemies,love the unlovable,all will be changed.Yes you wont be perfect but you will be changed,we will walk in the light and not in the dark.You will have a peace that passes  all understanding, and you will have Jesus with you  always.You will be free from the fear of death for Jesus said ,even though you die you shall live. ( John 11 v25 ).The fact is we cannot change ourselves, it is impossible,one of the greatest enemies,I have to contend with is myself,all things are possible with Jesus. Is it not better to know and follow Jesus who is the light of the world than to walk in the darkness?.

                                                                   'Jesus said'

                                       I am the light of the world.Who ever follows Me

                                       shall never walk in darkness, but will have the light

                                       of life.  ( John 8 v 12)