“THIS BOOK OF THE LAW!”

Joshua 1:5-9 (ESV) “5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 “THIS BOOK OF THE LAW” shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to ALL THAT IS WRITTEN IN IT. For THEN you will make your way prosperous, and THEN you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your GOD is with you wherever you go."” In earlier years, I was honored to serve as a member of the Board of Directors on the local school district. When the administration would bring a proposal to the Board of Directors, the request would normally say “We seek the Boards ‘guidance and direction’ in the matter”. In hind sight, most of the time the administration would be seeking the Boards approval, but asking for “guidance and direction”. The WORD of GOD, or better known as the HOLY BIBLE, IS where we as Believers are to look for “guidance and direction” for our daily lives. Joshua, and his cohorts, had only been exposed to the first five books of the HOLY BIBLE, called the “Pentateuch”, which many believe were written by Moses under the guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT. GOD explicitly told Joshua that the Israelites should meditate on “THIS BOOK OF THE LAW” DAY and NIGHT, meaning that they should continually seek GOD’s “guidance and direction” as they made decisions during their journey. We all should learn and benefit from the instructions delivered to the Israelites, GOD’s chosen people. Staying in GOD’s WORD can make us prosperous and bring us good success, but not necessarily monetarily. We were created to Glorify GOD ALMIGHTY, and our main focus should on accomplishing what we were meant to be! Regardless of what some say, we aren’t created to enjoy our best life here on earth. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says “But, as it is written, "What NO EYE HAS SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR THE HEART OF MAN IMAGINED, what GOD has prepared for those who love HIM". Our requests to GOD can become like the requests to the School Board I mentioned previously. We can try to put a “spin” on our requests by saying “in JESUS name”, but GOD knows our hearts...... and HE knows how time much we have been TRULY seeking to know HIM better by being in “THIS BOOK OF THE LAW”! It is amazing how the closer I get to the LIGHT, the more filth and dirt I can SEE! There MUST be a purpose for GOD instructing us to not depart from “THIS BOOK OF THE LAW”???

“NO WARNING!”

“NO WARNING!” Ezekiel 3:17-19 (ESV) “17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from MY mouth, you shall give them warning from ME. 18 If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him “NO WARNING”, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, IN ORDER TO SAVE HIS LIFE, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at YOUR hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.” Sharing is a joy and a privilege when it is something that isn’t opposed by the elements of “this world”. There are social media memes that say if you agree with the message, the invitation is to LIKE it and SHARE it with others. The choices that the prophet Ezekiel was given of whether or not to relay the message given to him by GOD ALMIGHTY were plainly spoken. He could be quiet and keep GOD’s Judgement to himself (and pay the price!), or he could SHARE with others what GOD had said HE would do if they refused to listen (and leave the Judgement up to GOD!). His options were very clear! Today, GOD called pastors have the same options. They can elect to tickle the ears (2 Timothy 4:1-5) of the people that listen to them, or they can opt for the TRUTH and let GOD’s Message have “free course” (2 Thessalonians 3:1) to accomplish all that HE has planned! Surely we all would rather not experience the WRATH of GOD ALMIGHTY, so why don’t the Messengers deliver what GOD has said? HE is the ONE that will deliver Judgement, not the preachers!?! SHARING memes isn’t performed by many because we have no concern about worldly issues. Many “preachers” don’t love their flocks as much as they love their salaries, or the message would be totally different! Ezekiel had a choice, and he chose wisely. But I am not a Messenger from GOD! Or am I? Everybody has a means of SHARING HIS Word, whether it be verbally, written, and especially by the lives we live! It is IMPERATIVE that we send a message that they are speeding recklessly to a certain end that IS coming, as sure as their last breath! After reading this Message, you can never say you had “NO WARNING”!

“REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT!”

2 Timothy 4:1-5 (ESV) “1 I charge you in the presence of GOD and of CHRIST JESUS, WHO is to judge the living and the dead, and by HIS appearing and HIS kingdom: 2 PREACH THE WORD; be ready in season and out of season; “REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT”, with complete PATIENCE and TEACHING. 3 For the time is coming when PEOPLE will NOT ENDURE sound teaching, but having ITCHING EARS they will accumulate for themselves TEACHERS TO SUIT THEIR OWN PASSIONS, 4 and will TURN AWAY from listening to THE TRUTH and WANDER off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” “You can be a youth minister, a Bible teacher, a pastor, or a missionary.” This advertisement was on a social media site recently and it caused me to ponder the real reason that pulpits have become greatly ineffective lately. A “man of GOD” used to mean that this person would speak the TRUTH, even if it cost him his life. Nowadays, pulpits are being filled by whomever can attract the largest crowd, tickle their ears with three points and a poem, and get the audience released in time to make it to the restaurant before the other churches! The HOLY SPIRIT of GOD inspired the Apostle Paul to write to Timothy to PREACH THE WORD, “REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT” Believers. He didn’t require Timothy to do this to “gain control” over the flock, but to avoid them turning away from THE TRUTH! Tin doing so, Timothy was to preach with PATIENCE and TEACHING, allowing GOD HIMSELF to change the lives of the chosen who were hearing the Word delivered to them. It can be very frustrating and discouraging when people are BLIND to TRUTH, even when it is delivered to them in a calm and loving manner. It might be that “REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT” was delivered IN THIS ORDER specifically, because hardheaded people such as I must be corrected before they can be EXHORTED? However, when I err, I must have correction IN LOVE lest I remain on the path of deceit! “You can be a youth minister, a Bible teacher, a pastor, or a missionary”, but you must be called by GOD or you will not have HIS HOLY SPIRIT guiding and directing you. When you “REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT”, more than likely you are going to upset the people who are of “this world”! They are offended by THE TRUTH and will argue with you with every thing they have to convince you they ar right. Remember that “REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT” definitely includes EXHORTATION, but it begins with REPROVE and REBUKE!!

“LET THERE BE!”

Genesis 1:1-3 (ESV) “1 In the beginning, GOD created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the SPIRIT of GOD was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And GOD said, "LET THERE BE” light," and there was light.” ALMIGHTY GOD created everything that is, and HE did that from NOTHING, HE did not have instructions nor blueprints! The very ground we are walking on was non-existent before GOD said “LET THERE BE” (Genesis 1:3)! I’ve heard it said that the silence of “nothing” being interrupted by that VOICE saying “LET THERE BE” must have sounded like A BIG BANG??? It will be glorious to one day understand everything (1 Corinthians 13:12)! However, just because we don’t currently understand how GOD has accomplished everything doesn’t mean that we need to know to make HIM more complete. We are HIS creation, not HIS equal who “deserve” anything except HIS Judgement! When JESUS (GOD IN THE FLESH) walked among us, HE was doing so because there was “no other way under heaven” by which man could be reconciled to GOD! GOD requires HOLINESS and the only way for us to be Holy is through the IMPUTATION of the righteousness of JESUS into our lives, and JESUS bearing the punishment for our sinfulness! Understanding that GOD knows all, one has to accept that HE knew beforehand that mankind would cost HIM a perfect sacrifice, and that sacrifice could only come from HIM? Yet, HE created us anyway, all because of HIS Love for ALL! HE had to have known that when HE said “LET THERE BE”, it would cost HIM HIS SON’s life?!? But why would HE allow me to be born if my sinful life would cost HIM such a tremendous price? These words (which I will not attempt to improve upon!) were written by the late Rev. R.C. Sproul. “As we approach the subject of the holiness of God, let us be mindful of the importance of this divine attribute. R. C. Sproul makes this insightful observation from Isaiah 6: “The Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy. Not that He is merely holy, or even holy, holy. He is holy, holy, holy. The Bible never says that God is love, love, love, or mercy, mercy, mercy, or wrath, wrath, wrath, or justice, justice, justice. It does say that He is holy, holy, holy, the whole earth is full of His glory.” ALMIGHTY GOD IS HOLY! The ONLY way we could ever be anything close to HOLY is to accept the FINISHED work of JESUS CHRIST! We cannot earn our way into Holiness, for “our righteousness is but filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) before a HOLY GOD! HE has provided the only HOLINESS that I will be able to offer at the Judgement Seat. And HE did this before HE said “LET THERE BE” anything! THAT is LOVE!!!!

“WITH PATIENCE!”

Romans 8:23-25 (ESV) “22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the SPIRIT, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it “WITH PATIENCE”.” The body of CHRIST where I attend was honored to have a man of GOD speaking to us Sunday through Wednesday evening. Justin Peters Ministries founder has a gift from the Holy Spirit that uncovers false prophets which removes the gowns of deceit they hide behind. Being able to drive him to Shreveport to fly home, the opportunity to listen to him and my pastor talk was well worth driving. During the conversation Romans 8 was brought up, so I decided to read the entire chapter. The reading was going fine, until I got to verse 25,,“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it “WITH PATIENCE”.” After reading this, I HAD TO PAUSE! If we only live by what we can see, we remove all possibility of the Miraculous occurring in our lives, acknowledging only what we can see! But if we TRUST in what we CANNOT SEE (what we HOPE for), our FAITH begins to gain control of our lives. Hebrews 11:1 says “Now FAITH is the assurance of things HOPED for, the conviction of things NOT SEEN.” IF we WAIT “WITH PATIENCE” for things we CANNOT SEE, we ARE people of FAITH! But having FAITH in anyone, or anything other than GOD is saying that you prefer your desires over what GOD ALMIGHTY has planned for you! We must be careful NOT to try to be co-GOD! WAIT for HIM “WITH PATIENCE” and let HIM bless you for believing in and for HIM!!!

“A PRISONER FOR THE LORD!”

Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV) “1 I therefore, “A PRISONER FOR THE LORD”, URGE you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with ALL HUMILITY and GENTLENESS, with PATIENCE, BEARING with one another IN LOVE, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the SPIRIT in the bond of peace.” The Brain Hemorrhage in 2007 required some adjustments in my life. For instance, my body temperature WAS around 98.7 or 98.8 degrees. Ever since, it is commonly 95.9 to 96.4 degrees??? Adjusting to being cold natured isn’t the only thing that has been adjusted. My ability to recall exactly the precise word that I want say is still a challenge at times, and I am pretty sure that GOD was telling me that I needed to SLOW DOWN my life, especially my quick and sharp tongue!! The Apostle Paul URGES us to walk in a manner worthy of our calling! But I’m afraid that I fail to walk with ALL HUMILITY at times? Voluntarily choosing to submit to the LORD and HIS precepts is a characteristic that HE will have to instill in me, much like HE changed my body temperature. And showing “GENTLENESS, with PATIENCE, BEARING with one another IN LOVE” may be traits that I will have to work on for the rest of my life! Being GENTLE has always been a preferred way to be for me, but when you are 6’6” tall and almost 300 lbs. the challenge is REAL to not be a brute! PATIENCE??? I’ll not linger very long on this! And BEARING with one another in LOVE will most assuredly require DIVINE INTERVENTION!!! Just as I didn’t have ANY CONTROL over my body temperature following the Brain Hemorrhage, the Holy Spirit will have to “improve” my SPIRITUAL condition to be more that GOD wants me to be. I am not capable of doing anything good enough to please HIM, so HE will have to complete the changes! After all, I am “A PRISONER FOR THE LORD” and HE can do with me whatever HE chooses!!!

“I DID NOT KNOW!”

Numbers 22:21-35 “21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. 22 But GOD's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took HIS stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the donkey saw the ANGEL of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in HIS hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. 24 Then the ANGEL of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. 25 And when the donkey saw the ANGEL of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again. 26 Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the ANGEL of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because YOU HAVE MADE A FOOL OF ME. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you." 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?" And he said, "No." 31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the ANGEL of the LORD standing in the way, with HIS drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before ME. 33 The donkey saw ME and turned aside before ME these three times. If she had not turned aside from ME, surely just now I WOULD HAVE KILLED YOU and let her live." 34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I HAVE SINNED, for “I DID NOT KNOW” that YOU stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in YOUR sight, I will turn back." 35 And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but SPEAK ONLY THE WORD THAT I TELL YOU."” Most people who know me understand that I am constantly harping on Psalms 46:10, “BE STILL, and KNOW THAT I AM GOD!....”. Far too often mankind gets in their mind what the BELIEVE the PLAN of GOD to be and work feverishly to accomplish that PLAN, even if GOD has a different idea! “We want” to display what we did for GOD, but HE never wanted what we believed HIM to want in the first place. Ashamedly, I still need to “BE STILL” and WAIT ON THE LORD” to guide me to do HIS PLAN!!! Balaam was in a similar position in the Scripture above. He saddled his donkey and began on a journey that GOD had not ordained. GOD, SOVEREIGN as HE is, had the donkey continue moving where Balaam was “uncomfortable” (to say the least) and so Balaam struck the animal.....three times! Finally GOD gave a voice to the donkey and she explained what she was doing. An ANGEL of the LORD then told Balaam that had the donkey continued on it’s path that “surely just now I WOULD HAVE KILLED YOU and let her live." How many times have I been guilty of a “if it don’t fit, force it” mentality? Perhaps “I DID NOT KNOW” everything that ALMIGHTY GOD could SEE and that HE was preventing me from danger? Whether we admit it or not, we are not equals with GOD and we are not qualified to guide and direct our own lives, let alone the lives of others. Exhibiting that “I DID NOT KNOW” is something that I am becoming more and more experienced in displaying. We can CHOOSE to voluntarily WAIT ON THE LORD, or we can be subjected to our donkey laying down on us! Recognizing that ALMIGHTY GOD is HOLY and we aren’t makes it a lot easier to say “I DID NOT KNOW”!!!