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Acts 20:29 say “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.”

 

The saying “Wolf in sheep’s clothing” simply means someone who is pretending to be something they are not. We have a lot of people in the Church pretending to be Christian, but they are not. Some are even wolves.

 

Wolves are sneaky. They watch the prey and plan the attack. We think that wolves are just false prophets, but many people I have meant were not prophets. Then how do you spot them?

 

 He or she is the one who calls secret meetings. They don’t agree how the church is being run, especially anything to do with the Spirit of God. They are worldly oriented and feel the worldly way of doing things is advantages.

They gain the trust of people and then rises up to attack, taking innocent victims with them.

 

He or she is usually talented and gifted, but not anointed. They think they know how to run the Church, without any experience or calling. They are not led by the Spirit of God. But a Spirit of faulting finding, and self-exaltation. Their goal is to take over the congregation or close it down. If they cannot close it down, they will take as many misguided, and deceived people as they can with them.

 

Where do they go? To the next church on their list. They play the victim card but have left a trail of victims, lies, and destruction behind them.

 

How did the wolf get in the church among sheep undetected? We let them in and sadly did nothing about it. When was the last time your church gave an altar call? When was the invitation to come forward to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord gave?

 

We don’t want to embarrass or offend someone, so we keep silent and treat everyone as sheep, even though they are not all sheep.

 

Galatians 5:19-21 (Amplified Bible)

"19 Now the practices of the [a]sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), 20 [b]idolatry, [c]sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], 21 envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

 

When the church begins to look like the world, by compromising the Word of God. When Galatians 5:19-21 is evident in the lives of those who profess to be Christian, but the fruit is not there, sooner than later that Church will look more like the world, than Jesus Christ.

 

Why? When was the last time the church gave an altar call? When did we call sin, sin, and when with Godly conviction and sorrow, pray for ourselves and the people to repent of their wicked ways and turn to the living God.

 

Acts 20:28-30 "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them."

 

Romans 16:17-18 (KJV) "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." 

 

 

Nineveh

Nineveh had practiced gross acts of cruelty and sin for centuries. It was a part of her social environment. They were living as though there was no tomorrow or eternity. It became part of the norm, acceptable just like immorality in the world and church today. Ninevites were not God’s chosen people, Israel was. Ninevites were a heathen nation that worships many gods, many idols.

God’s People

The problem was that God’s chosen people, who knew God, who God had delivered many times from their enemy, was doing the same thing Nineveh was doing, they were in gross sin, and rebellion against God. They should have been a model example to the Ninevites, to the world, but they were no different in their lifestyle. They knew the Truth, but you can know the truth and not walk in it. You can believe in God, and not obey Him.

The Church

Sadly, it is the same with the Church and the world. We have allowed the World to say what is morally acceptable and what is not, instead of God’s Word having the final say.

He Came to Save Us

Jonah 1:12 says, that Jonah said to throw him overboard into the sea, and the storm will cease, and those on the ship will be saved. God didn’t come to save them from the storm. He created the Storm. God didn’t come to deliver Jonah from the Fish; God made the fish just for Jonah. What God wanted to do is save Jonah and those on that ship from themselves! From their wicked and sinful selves. God used the STORM and FISH to do that.

Hell and Salvation

Many today, believe if they receive Jesus as their Savior, they will be delivered from Hell. So they receive Jesus Christ as their Savior, so they don’t end up in Hell, but their lifestyle doesn’t change. Jesus didn’t come to deliver us from hell but our sinful nature. Hell wasn’t created for man, but the devil and fallen angels. Man was created for God, but sin separates us from God. That’s why Jonah was in the belly of a fish, separated from God in complete darkness. Jonah himself called it Hell. Jonah’s rebellion against God put himself in that position.

 

Lukewarm Church

Just like God sent prophets to warn Israel and Nineveh, He is sending them today to warn a lukewarm church. When we think of lukewarm, we immediately think of something not on fire but straddling the fence so to say. Neither hot nor cold. 

Members have told me, I didn’t go to church, because it’s snowing, too cold, raining, cleaning my house, too tired, family function, my children, and spouse didn’t want to go. Although none of these is a sin, it can and usually does lead to complacency.

Many think the church is boring. But the Church was never meant to entertain people. It is not meant to be a social club. It is a spiritual training camp…a refuge…hospital…sanctuary…an Mt. Sinai where God meets with His people. We have reduced it to programs and social events. God is calling us to come back to our first love, Him.

Jonah repented, and the fish threw him up on dry land. Jonah realizes Salvation belongs to the Lord. If you are saved, then the bibles say in Philippians 2:12 we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

If Jonah didn’t know God before, he knew Him now. If Jonah was pious, and a prideful man before, now he was humbled and yielded vessel. What does God’s need to do to get our attention? A still small voice or a giant fish? 

Jonah 1:3-4 says, “3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord and went down to Joppa, and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.4 But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea so that the ship was like to be broken.”

Jonah had forsaken the Lord, resigning from his ministry as a prophet in Israel or anywhere else. Jonah has left friends and family. He had openly refused to obey God. Although Jonah had left God, God had not left Jonah

Why didn’t God find someone else? God didn't want someone else; God called Jonah. God was dealing with Jonah. Who caused the Storm? God did. Whose fault that there’s a storm? Jonah’s fault. Most of the time people blame God for the storms that arise in their lives. When there’s a storm in your life, you are the reason for the storm. It’s not always because you are running from God, sometimes it’s because you are running to God. Storms come to make or break us. 

Whether the storms come from God, or the Devil it is for the same purpose, to make or break you. The devil can’t do anything unless the Lord allows him. Although the devil plans are to break you, destroy you if he could, but he can’t. God wants to break you too. Our Heavenly Father want's us pliable and yielded to His will. God wants to break off all rebellion, unforgiveness, fear, doubt, self-righteousness, etc. He wants to make you righteous, fearless, compassionate, forgiving, faithful, etc. Our Heavenly Father is not just our deliverer, but also our Healer. The thing we react instead of respond as in a defensive mode is an indication of an unhealed wound, which God wants to heal.

Jonah 1:4 “4 But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea so that the ship was like to be broken.”

It’s not the ship God wanted to break, but Jonah’s defiant, stubbornness, pride and lack of compassion. If we look to Jonah on how we should respond during a storm, we are looking to the wrong person; Jonah is not someone you want to follow nor emulate. In this story, we see that God is a merciful, faithful and loving God. He cares for us even when we disobey him; he loves us even when we sin. He protects us even when we're running away from his Presence.

In this biblical account it isn’t so-called self-righteous Jonah, but the heathens, sinners that have the right response. They prayed to their gods to stop the storm, which never works, they told Jonah to do the same. He didn’t.  Instead, Jonah’s responds by saying, in verse 9 “I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.”

Jonah like so many others didn’t fear God. If Jonah feared God, he would have obeyed him. 

In verse 10 we read, “Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him. Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord because he had told them.”

“11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought and was tempestuous.”

“12 And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.” Throw me overboard? Instead of let's pray. Jonah knew that the storm was because of him because he said,” for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.” 

14 "Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, and said, We beseech thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee.”

 

15 "So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. 16 Then the men feared

the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows.” 

The heathens prayed to Jonah’s God and made sacrifices to the Lord, and they made vows unto the Lord. Another word they repented and got right with God. 

Jesus had said, that he came to save sinner not the righteous. So what is Jonah doing? Drowning in a sea of regret, but not repenting. We can be sorry for what we have or have not done, but remorse or guilt is not repentance. 

Even after this storm, Jonah doesn’t repent. God in his Mercy prepared a fish just for Jonah. Some would look at that fish as punishment, but in reality, it kept him from drowning and from dangerous prey. To Jonah it was a prison, a living hell, but to God it was Jonah’s covering and protection. It’s amazing how the very thing we run from, the things we fear or reject are sometimes the very things that we should embrace, like trials and tribulations, storms and separation, deserts and wilderness, letting go and holding on, being still and change.

Verse 17 says "Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”

Jonah was in total darkness, a prelude to hell. Jonah wanted to run from the presence of God; he wanted to separate himself from the will of God. Separated from God, is hell. There is total darkness, fear, no peace, no joy. Jonah got a taste of what it’s like being separated from God for only three days; I can’t imagine what it’s like for those who reject Jesus as their Savior and spend eternity in Hell. 

The people on Jonah’s ship could have gone back to their false idols, and immorality after throwing Jonah overboard, but they didn’t. It wasn’t Jonah who left them with a lasting impression; it was God! They had to reason that If God is in control of the sea and the storm, what else is He in control of?

 

Jonah 2:1 says, after three days and nights Jonah prays. It took Jonah three days and night in complete darkness to realize he was not only wrong but needed God. Jonah finally prays. Most people would have prayed on the ship, and definitely when they saw a great fish coming for them.

What was Jonah doing for three days? He was probably looking for a way out, or perhaps he just gave up and was waiting to die, instead of praying to live. Jonah could have been waiting for God to do something like delivering him, but God was waiting for him to ask for deliverance, not just from the fish but his rebellious and prideful condition. It wasn’t just the fish Jonah needed deliverance from, and that also applies to us. It's not the storm God want’s to change, after all, He allowed it. God wants to change us. 

Jonah concluded his prayer by acknowledging in chapter 2:9 “Salvation is of the Lord.” …To be Continued

As I look over this past year, one thing sticks out more for me than anything else this past year. It isn’t the most significant trial I’ve gone through, nor the greatest miracle I received. Its seeing and experiencing God’s MERCY.

 

A man I knew came forward for prayer. He was having pain in his arm. I knew he was living in sin because he told me. I thought to myself. God’s not going to heal you; you are in sin. Never the less I prayed for healing in his body. To my amazement, God healed him. He was surprised, but I was surprised to even more. This blew my religious belief out of the water. I believed God does not answer prayers of those in deliberate sin. So I asked the Lord why did you heal him. The Lord simply said, “Because I love him.” You mean God loves the sinner, absolutely, but he hates the sin.

I could have argued with God, and told him, that wasn’t right, but I would be wrong. God is God, and I am not, mercy and salvation is of God, as Jonah will realize. 

Jonah 1:1-3

1.Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2. Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD and went down to Joppa, and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.”

Scripture says Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. Can you indeed flee or hide from God and He doesn’t see you, of course not? Instead of obeying God, Jonah fled from God. Why didn’t God find someone else who would obey Him? Why Jonah? Yes, God could have found someone else, but he chose Jonah. Someone else would have said yes Lord and went. But God chose Jonah. Why? God was dealing with Jonah’s heart and beliefs.

Jonah was called to preach and prophesize to the Israelite, but God did something different, something new. Jonah didn’t want the change. But God wanted to change Jonah. God calls Jonah to go to a heathen city of Nineveh to the gentiles and warn them of God’s judgment, just as Jonah had done with the Israelites. However, when Jonah is put to the test of being called to carry out a difficult and unpopular task, the true spiritual state of his heart was revealed. 

The Ninevites weren’t serving God. They were steep in sin and idolatry. They weren’t even his people; they were a heathen nation. As far as Jonah was concerned they deserved judgment. After all, they are reaping what they sowed.

Jonah is loyal to Israel just like many are loyal to their church. He may be religious and attends services regularly, he may tithe generously, but he is also "proud, self-centered, pouting, vengeful; without proper respect or obedience to God, or a love for his enemies." You can be called into ministry, have a spiritual gift, huge ministry, and following, and still, be running from God's purpose and will, Jonah did.

Jonah is not a man to pattern your life after, yet there are many in the body of Christ just like him. They are loyal to their Church and family, but behind closed doors, there is a different personality that emerges when put to the test. Anger, jealousy, backbiting, gossip, profanity, vengeful, unforgiveness, etc.

Jonah 1:3 “But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”

So Jonah left his home, family, friends and most of all his ministry and took off for parts unknown. Was Jonah running from God’s presence?

It appears that Jonah was running from God, or was he simply running from himself? Was he running because he was wrong about God? Everything Jonah thought he knew about God from his religious upbringing and teachings was now in question. Was he running because God’s will and purpose didn’t line up with his?  

Jonah wasn’t just running from God’s presence. Jonah QUIT God. Jonah knew about the judgment and wrath of God for sin, He preached it and warned his people to get right with God. Now he was told to go to an ungodly nation and preach repentance. A people who were not God’s people but they were His creation.

If Jonah was wrong about judgment and mercy, what else was he wrong about concerning God, Israel, the word of God, God's real purpose and plan for Jonah. Can you quit God? People do it all the time, especially those in ministry. They are offended, angry or just plain hurt so they walk away from the Church, from there office or gifting, some even close the Church, and walk away from God. Yes, you can quit God, but God won’t give up on you. To be continued.

With Christmas soon approaching, people have already started or are finished with their Christmas shopping. The early birds find a need to beat the rushing mobs of people, and cash in on those great savings while they last. Those who are computer savvy have already ordered everything on line. They relish the ideal of not being inconvenience by leaving their home and fighting through the seemingly endless line at the check-out register.

 

We either force ourselves to get into the Christmas spirit by December 23 or we have all of our shopping done and decorations up by Thanksgiving Day or at least the day after.

 

Why do we do this to ourselves every year? Is it’s because we feel obligated? People give gifts during this special time for many reasons. Most of the time it’s because its a family tradition, others give because it is expected of them and some people give a gift simply because they want to. It seems the older we get the smaller the tree and less is best, whether it’s less gifts, money, decorations, or sending Christmas cards to a few special friends.

 

We try to give a gift that the recipient would like or need. Hopefully it is both something they want and need. Have you ever received a gift you didn’t want? Most of us have. Most people would exchange it or rewrap it and give it to someone else. The problem with my family is I can’t rewrap or give it to someone else.

 

Last year’s on my birthday I received a child’s used library book from my granddaughter, a dis set for golfing and a puppy. I was afraid to return the library book in, couldn’t imagine what the late fees would be over a couple of years. I injured myself trying to play dis golfing nine months before the gift and said to my husband then, I won’t play that again. He purchased the dis anyhow for my birthday. When I reminded him I don’t play dis golfing he kindly said, he would keep the gift he got me for himself, how convenient.

 

And the puppy (Luna) was a gift on my birthday that my grandson plopped into my lap. When I told him I didn’t want a puppy, take it back, He said it wasn’t my gift it was his birthday gift which had passed two months earlier. I have found out some gifts are not exchangeable or returnable.

 

John 3:16 says, For 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 3:16 says, God gave. God gave us a gift, His Son, Jesus Christ as a sacrificial offering for our sins. It didn’t cost us anything, but it cost Jesus His life. God the Father gave us a great and precious Gift, so that we can inherit eternal salvation. Although some gifts may not be exchangeable or returnable, many have rejected the gift of eternal life, salvation. While others, don’t even bother to unwrap the gift to see what their inherited blessings are.

 

Why did God give us His Son? John 3:16 says because he so loved the World, meaning us, humanity. But wait there’s more. After we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we receive more gifts.

 

Jesus also gave us gifts. Ephesians 4:8-9 says, “Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. When Jesus ascended into Heaven He gave gifts onto men.

 

 

A gift or a present is an item given to someone without the expectation of payment or return. So why all these gifts? The answer is because of covenant….to be continued

(Part 4 of 4) Moving on

 

To Isaac these wells were a necessity for survival, but to the Philistines these were a claim to the land.It appears that Isaac is laboring in vain. No matter what he does or where he goes Isaac is confronted with the same problem, even a change of venue (new place) or new beginnings can’t change that.

 

Genesis 26:22 "And he removed from thence, and digged another well;" But it cost him, Isaac had to let go of the wells, he had already dug.

 

Abraham had to lay down his promise (Isaac) on the alter. Isaac had to walk away from his inheritance. What are you willing to lay down or walk away from? Are you willing to lay down your right to be right? Are you willing to walk away from wealth, fame, position, friends, or family? If not you haven’t learned to let go! Isaac refused to stay where there was conflict and hostility.

 

22"And he removed from thence, and digged another well;

and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."

 

While Isaac may not have realized it for some time, it was the disputes over the ownership of the wells he dug or reopened that served to guide him in the direction of the land of promise. Opposition and adversity lead him into the direction that the Lord had for him.

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Verses 23-25 is the key to the interpretation of chapter 26. Here a very strange thing happens. Up to this time Isaac’s decision as to where he should stay was based upon the finding of abundant water and the absence of hostilities. But now, having dug a well that was uncontested, we would have expected Isaac to dwell there. Instead we are told that he moved on to Beersheba, with no reason stated for this move: “Then he went up from there to Beersheba” (verse 23).

 

He left the well he had previously dug. Why? There was no opposition with the enemy. Isaac could have stayed there. But, Isaac is not content to settle for the sheer comfort and pleasures of life. There is something missing, far more valuable to him then the well in verse 22.

 

I believe that a significant change has occurred in Isaac’s thinking. Circumstances and provision had previously shaped most of his decisions, but now something deeper seems to be giving direction in his life.

 

What’s so important about Beersheba? Beersheba was the first place that Abraham had gone with Isaac after they came down from the “sacrifice” on Mount Moriah.

 

Isaac knew that God had promised to give him the land promised to his father Abraham (26:3-5). I believe he had finally come to see that through all the opposition over the wells he had dug, God had been guiding him back to the land of promise, back to those places where Abraham had walked in fellowship with God.

 

I believe that Isaac went up to Beersheba because he sensed on a spiritual level that this was where God wanted him to be. If God had previously been “driving” Isaac through opposition, now Isaac was willing to be led.

 

24"And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.  25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well."

 

Verse 25 is of particular interest. Notice especially the order in which Isaac set up residence in Beersheba: Isaac shifted his thinking and action from about Him to about God. Previously knowing the will of God for Isaac had been circumstances—in particular, Isaac stayed wherever he dug a well, found sufficient water, and was not opposed. As soon as opposition a rise Isaac moved on. The unseen hand of God was guiding him, closer to his destination and purpose.

 

So he built an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.This was the first time in this chapter that Isaac built an altar.

 

The place for God’s people is the place of God’s presence. The place of intimacy, worship, and communion with God is the place to abide. That is how you build an altar. Isaac didn’t stop building wells, but he did it in the right order, and instead of opposition he had Peace. He was able to enter into the Rest of the Lord.

 

Genesis 26:18 says “And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.”

 

In Genesis 26, we are told that when Isaac dug water wells, he didn’t get to start with his own. Isaac recognized his hereditary right and responsibility to re-dig and restore the ancient wells of his father Abraham, which the Philistines stopped up after he died.

 

When God gives us a vision, a dream, it isn’t birth over-night. It takes patience and endurance, Our Heavenly Father always brings us under another ministry, or church. A ministry we must support and care for, It is not ours, but their ministry, their dream. Why? So that we might learn and grow. Many times it is difficult to submit under another leader and authority, because you too are a leader. You too have a vision, but it’s just a vision it’s not a ministry yet.

 

We feel the birth pang, the moving and stirring within us. The additional opposition from the enemy. The birth pangs are real, and only remind us we too, have a vision waiting to come forth. Many people walk away from where God has assigned them, because they are offended, or weary from battling the enemy. They just allowed the enemy to reap havoc, and take what belongs to them. It could be their children, spouse, ministry, peace, finances, health, etc. instead of persevering in prayer until the victory is won. Isaac walked away from what he was entitled to because of the enemy taking what was a part of his inheritance.

John 10:10 (KJV)

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 they might have it more abundantly.” We are waiting on God to do something and He’s waiting on us. Isaac’s father, Abraham had provided the well. But it was up to Isaac to reclaim what was rightfully his, that the enemy wanted to keep from him. Our Heavenly Father has provided for his sons and daughters everything they need to be victorious, but it is up to us to claim what is rightfully ours from the enemy.

 

19 And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. In the valley of Gerar Isaac dug a well that produced “living water,” that is, water that originated from a spring—running water, not simply water that was contained. The Philistine herdsmen disputed with the herdsmen of Isaac over it, so Isaac moved on. The wells of living water represent the flowing forth of God’s Spirit from our lives.

 

 20 And the herdsmen of Gerar did strivewith Isaac's herdsmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; which means STRIFE because they strove with him.

 

21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. SITNAH means HATRED.

 

You would think he would do what many people think to do when the enemy stirs up like that -- stop digging wells.

 

That is what the enemy wants us to do. To throw in the towel and quit.

But Isaac did not quit. Why? His very life and those with him depended on this natural resource to survive. Isaac had to dig the wells free of the plugging element. Our lives can be PLUGGED up with things the enemy uses to stop the flow of the well. These things can be trauma, betrayal, rejection, abuse, etc. No matter what it is it comes from the enemy, to plug up what God wants to release through us, and to cause us to give up.

 

It is up to us to unplug our lives and allow the living waters to spring forth to refresh and restore his people. It starts with us. We must let go of bitterness, unforgiveness, sins, etc. anything that the enemy can use to hinder the love, and purpose of God to be manifested in our lives.

Those wells were a source of life, for Isaac. Just like the spiritual water is to our spirit, soul and body.

 

It was Isaac inheritance as rightful heir. The well was a landmark also. Who-ever owned the well owned the land the well was on. Isaac wasn’t just unplugging wells he was taken back the grounds that the enemy had destroyed and stolen. He was taking back a part of His inheritance, his rights, his identity.

 

To be continued...

 

 

 

Genesis 26:1 says, “And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham.” This famine is specified to be a different one than that which happened during the life of Abraham.

 

So Isaac has to do something unnatural to receive something supernatural. Verse 12 says, “Then Isaac sowedin that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

 

Genesis 26:14-16 “14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

15 For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. 16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.

 

Isaac sowed during a time of great famine. That takes faith to give when you are in dire need. He received a hundredfold the same year. This should encourage us to tithe and sow during times of lack and during times of blessings.

 

Isaac was told to leave because God had blessed him. Scripture says the Philistines envied Isaac. So instead of working with Isaac, they worked against him. I have seen this so much in the Church, in the the pulpit and worship team. Instead of being bless by whom the Lord is sending to us, we fear they just might take our positon or title from us. They just might start their own church. How sad, that we would rather surround ourselves with mediocrity than greatness.

 

Unfortunately, those ministries and churches have folded or closed. I have even heard people say to me they are called to tear down and uproot certain churches, pastors or ministries in the name of the Lord. God has never call people to tear down or dismantle a part of His church. There is one Church and one Body. We have got to yield to God’s will and purpose for the Church. It is not about us, it is about Him, and the people that we are sent to make a different in their lives. Either we are yielded to the enemy (devil) or the Lord, there is no in between.

 

The Philistines had filled up the well. The wells were a source of refreshing and sustaining life. Water was a vital necessity then and it still is today. Why would the enemy destroy what they needed?

 

Why do Christian destroy what is needed in the Church today, unity in the Spirit? We need to build lives, not more programs and building expansions. We need those wells unplugged that living water can flow through us and affect homes, cities and nations.

 

The enemy was attempting to undo what Isaac was called to do. Those wells belonged to Isaac’s father, therefor they are a part of Isaac’s inheritance, which Philistines (enemy) didn’t want him to have.

 

We like Isaac can be discouraged and disappointed doing what we believe God has called us to do. We expect it to be easy since God says its ours, and He’s on our side. But there is a time to fight and not give up, and there is a time to walk away. We find ourselves laboring to receive an inheritance that’s already ours. Every time Isaac unplugged a well, the enemy came and plugged it back up. Why? The wells is a landmark, whoever owned the wells, owned the Land. God owns the land and he has given us the Land as a part of our inheritance.

 

Now understand when I am speaking about our land, I am not referring to soil, or acreage, I am speaking of earthen vessels! 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 says “7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." 

"15For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. 16And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we. 17And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there."

….To be continued

 

Genesis 26:1-2 says, “1And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech King of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:”

Chapter 26 is the only chapter in the book of Genesis devoted exclusively to Isaac. While he is mentioned in other chapters, he is not the focus of attention, in this chapter he is the main person. Here we get a better look at who Isaac is. He is not a shadow of his father, he has his own identity and purpose, as we all do. Although he will take over where his father left off, God clearly uses him differently, and blesses him separately from his father’s blessings. Isaac receives his own inheritance from his Heavenly Father. Isaac undoubtable will know that it was God that has blessed him, and not man.

God give Isaac clear instructions. Abraham went into Egypt. Isaac decided to go down to Egypt just as his father had done (Genesis 12:10). This was not according to the plan which God had for Isaac, and so He appeared to him with this word of instruction and promise. The Lord in essence is telling Isaac, you are not to settle in Egypt (world), you are not to do what your father did. I don’t want you to follow in your father’s footsteps, but follow my instructions.

“3Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; 4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because 5)that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

God gave Isaac a promise. The same covenant promises he gave Abraham, Isaac’s father. But, the Lord makes it clear to Isaac that Isaac’s father was bless because in verse five, “Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws”. 

Another words, if you want to receive the promises of God, if you want to be blessed Isaac, then you to will have to obey God’s voice. You too will have to keep His charge “Faithful”. You also must keep His commandments as not to give place to the enemy(devil) in your life. God’s statutes and laws are a reminder of our dependency on Him. Isaac cannot enter the covenant promises based on his father’s faithfulness to God. He too like us, must enter in through the narrow gate, and through the blood (blood sacrifices), keeping the statues and laws.

Genesis 26:1 says, “And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham.” This famine is specified to be a different one than that which happened during the life of Abraham.

We can all agree that famine is extreme scarcity of food, due to unnatural climate condition, human error such as war and plundering, or imbalance in nature (locust). God told Isaac he would bless him, as he did his father. He told him this during the famine, not afterwards. God made a promise to Isaac base on Isaac’s obedience to God, but also based on faith. What Isaac is seeing in the natural does not line up with what the Lord’s promised. 

So Isaac has to do something unnatural to receive to receive something supernatural. Verse 12 says, “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. 13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: 14For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.” Isaac sowed during a time of great famine. That takes faith to give when you are in dire need. He received a hundredfold the same year. This should encourage us to tithe and sow during times of lack and during times of blessings.

To be continued….

John 5:1-14 says, “1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.”

The Feast of the Jews just happens to be the Passover. The pool is called Bethesda, which means in Hebrew, “The House of Mercy.” This pool was located next to the sheep market. Where sheep was purchased for sin offerings. There are five porches leading down into the water. It must have been a beautiful sight to behold. However, this place wasn’t a tourist attraction or a medical facility. It was here because of God’s Mercy and Love for his own people. 

This scripture says that a place called “House of Mercy” (Bethesda), had five porches, five stands for Grace. That during the Passover an Angel would stir the water and people who entered into the water were healed. All of this took place before Jesus came onto the scene. Yet, it all points to Jesus as the Lamb of God, our Deliverer and Healer.

Scriptures says, “5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, wilt thou be made whole?” 

Jesus passed by many of unhealed bodies to get to this one man.  

Jesus asked him if he wanted to be made whole? Why would Jesus asked the obvious question? If we look closer Jesus isn’t just asking the man if he wants to be physical healed. Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be whole. 6 verse Jesus said, “Wilt thou be made whole?” People can be healed of an infirmity and still not be whole.

To be whole means to restore or made complete. Many people want the immediate physical pain gone. We want our limbs intact. But many don’t want let go of bitterness, resentment, or unforgiveness. Do we really want to be whole? Are we willing to let go of our pet sins? Are we willing to forgive and released those who have hurt us, so our Lord can release and heal us? We can be healed in our body, and still be an emotional wreck or mentally tormented.

Jesus is wanting to deal with more than a physical manifestation. The root cause of this man’s decaying health isn’t physical, but spiritual. This is one reason why many don’t get healed today. Many of people in this pool was healed physically, but other including this man was not healed. For thirty-eight years he went through the motions, did what he was expected of him, but was not healed.

“7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.”

The man never answered Jesus question. Jesus asked, if he wanted to be made whole. The man did not say yes, but gave excuses of why he isn’t healed.

He said; “I have no man to put me in the water, also other step down before me keeping me from entering in.” According to this man, its everyone else’s fault he isn’t healed.

What I question is if he cannot get into the pool by himself how did he get there in the first place? Somebody had to bring him. Year after year, somebody brought him to the pool.  

It’s so easy to blame others for our problems. To make excuses or allowance for our situation. I hear excuses all the time, even among Christians; It’s my exes fault we are divorced. It’s because of the manager I lost my job, the Pastor is the reason my gifts or calling is not being used. I don’t need to go to Church to love the Lord.

Then you hear the words I forgive them, but I don’t forget or I forgive them but I don’t know why I’m still hurting. If you’re still hurting, it’s because you are not whole. If every time you see or hear about that person or church it opens up old wounds, then you need healing. Your soul needs healing. Jesus said, “Wilt thou be made whole?” 

When Jesus asked him if he wanted to be whole he assumed it was the physical problem, yet there were other issues in his heart. In his mind, he was helpless and nobody cared, people just walk all over him. However, he never even acknowledged the help or kindness that was extended toward him over the years by the one that brought him to the pool called, “House of Mercy”. He only saw the bad. 

It doesn’t take much to feel sorry for yourself. It doesn’t take much to be angry, resentful, or bitter. We can blame the devil, or we can blame others, but the real problem lies with us. The question is do you want to keep making excuses and feeling sorry for yourself or do you want to be made whole?

This man needed more than a physical healing, more than a job, a place to stay, more than a friend. He needed to be made whole. In order to keep his healing, keep a friend, a place to live, a way to support himself he needed to be made whole.

Jesus did say to him in verse eight “to rise, take up your bed, and walk”, why? Why, because this is what the impotent man wanted, but not what he needed. What He needed to understand is why he was in this condition, and how to keep his healing.

“9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath.

10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, it is the Sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.”

“11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, take up thy bed, and walk.12 Then asked they him, what man is that which said unto thee, take up thy bed, and walk?13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.”

14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

His physical condition was due to his spiritual state, SIN. Jesus warned this man the sin you committed put you in this physical condition, and if you continue in this sin, your physical condition will be worse.

This man’s particular sin brought a curse into his life. The curse was a physical ailment. Jesus was saying to him, “You have been set free, for I have come to set the captives free.” Now that you are free don’t put yourself into that position again, because it will be worse for you.

When the Lord delivered this man from a physical problem he also set him free from spiritual bondage. We can ask for a physical healing, wealth, a spouse, house etc. but God wants us whole so we can continue to be blessed and be a blessing to others.