God's Blessings

 

In sharp contrast to the previous post, on God's wrath, here's what to expect if you elicit the favor of God because you listen to Him, you observe His commandments, and you show love, and gratitude to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 

King James Version

28 And it shall come to pass, 

if thou shalt hearken diligently 

unto the voice of the Lord thy God, 

to observe and to do all his commandments 

which I command thee this day, 

that the Lord thy God will set thee on high 

above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, 

and overtake thee, 

if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, 

and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, 

and the fruit of thy ground, 

and the fruit of thy cattle, 

the increase of thy kine, 

and the flocks of thy sheep.

5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, 

and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

7 The Lord shall cause thine enemies 

that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: 

they shall come out against thee one way, 

and flee before thee seven ways.

8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee 

in thy storehouses, 

and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; 

and he shall bless thee in the land 

which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

9 The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, 

as he hath sworn unto thee, 

if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, 

and walk in his ways.

10 And all people of the earth shall see 

that thou art called by the name of the Lord; 

and they shall be afraid of thee.

11 And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, 

in the fruit of thy body, 

and in the fruit of thy cattle, 

and in the fruit of thy ground, 

in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, 

the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, 

and to bless all the work of thine hand: 

and thou shalt lend unto many nations, 

and thou shalt not borrow.

13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, 

and not the tail; 

and thou shalt be above only, 

and thou shalt not be beneath; 

if that thou hearken unto the commandments 

of the Lord thy God, 

which I command thee this day, 

to observe and to do them:

14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words 

which I command thee this day, 

to the right hand, 

or to the left, 

to go after other gods to serve them.

Updated 21 October 2022

God's Wrath

 

Have we any idea of what happens when we turn from GOD?

And refuse to obey Him?

These verses tell us much:

Deuteronomy 28:15-68 

King James Version

15 But it shall come to pass, 

if thou wilt not hearken 

unto the voice of the Lord thy God, 

to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes 

which I command thee this day; 

that all these curses shall come upon thee, 

and overtake thee:

16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, 

and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

17 Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.

18 Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, 

and the fruit of thy land, 

the increase of thy kine, 

and the flocks of thy sheep.

19 Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, 

and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

20 The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, 

vexation, 

and rebuke, 

in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, 

until thou be destroyed, 

and until thou perish quickly; 

because of the wickedness of thy doings, 

whereby thou hast forsaken me.

21 The Lord shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, 

until he have consumed thee from off the land, 

whither thou goest to possess it.

22 The Lord shall smite thee with a consumption, 

and with a fever, 

and with an inflammation, 

and with an extreme burning, 

and with the sword, 

and with blasting, 

and with mildew; 

and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, 

and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.

24 The Lord shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: 

from heaven shall it come down upon thee, 

until thou be destroyed.

25 The Lord shall cause thee 

to be smitten before thine enemies: 

thou shalt go out one way against them, 

and flee seven ways before them: 

and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

26 And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, 

and unto the beasts of the earth, 

and no man shall fray them away.

27 The Lord will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, 

and with the emerods, 

and with the scab, 

and with the itch, 

whereof thou canst not be healed.

28 The Lord shall smite thee with madness, 

and blindness, 

and astonishment of heart:

29 And thou shalt grope at noonday, 

as the blind gropeth in darkness, 

and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: 

and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, 

and no man shall save thee.

30 Thou shalt betroth a wife, 

and another man shall lie with her: 

thou shalt build an house, 

and thou shalt not dwell therein: 

thou shalt plant a vineyard, 

and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.

31 Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, 

and thou shalt not eat thereof: 

thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, 

and shall not be restored to thee: 

thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, 

and thou shalt have none to rescue them.

32 Thy sons and thy daughters 

shall be given unto another people, 

and thine eyes shall look, 

and fail with longing for them all the day long; 

and there shall be no might in thine hand.

33 The fruit of thy land, 

and all thy labours, 

shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; 

and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:

34 So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes 

which thou shalt see.

35 The Lord shall smite thee in the knees, 

and in the legs, 

with a sore botch that cannot be healed, 

from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.

36 The Lord shall bring thee, 

and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, 

unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; 

and there shalt thou serve other gods, 

wood and stone.

37 And thou shalt become an astonishment,

 a proverb, 

and a byword, 

among all nations whither the Lord shall lead thee.

38 Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, 

and shalt gather but little in; 

for the locust shall consume it.

39 Thou shalt plant vineyards, 

and dress them, 

but shalt neither drink of the wine, 

nor gather the grapes; 

for the worms shall eat them.

40 Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, 

but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; 

for thine olive shall cast his fruit.

41 Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, 

but thou shalt not enjoy them; 

for they shall go into captivity.

42 All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.

43 The stranger that is within thee 

shall get up above thee very high; 

and thou shalt come down very low.

44 He shall lend to thee, 

and thou shalt not lend to him: 

he shall be the head, 

and thou shalt be the tail.

45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, 

and shall pursue thee, 

and overtake thee, 

till thou be destroyed; 

because thou hearkenedst not 

unto the voice of the Lord thy God, 

to keep his commandments and his statutes 

which he commanded thee:

46 And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, 

and upon thy seed for ever.

47 Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God 

with joyfulness, 

and with gladness of heart, 

for the abundance of all things;

48 Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies 

which the Lord shall send against thee, 

in hunger, 

and in thirst, 

and in nakedness,

 and in want of all things: 

and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, 

until he have destroyed thee.

49 The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, 

from the end of the earth, 

as swift as the eagle flieth; 

a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

50 A nation of fierce countenance, 

which shall not regard the person of the old, 

nor shew favour to the young:

51 And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, 

and the fruit of thy land, 

until thou be destroyed: 

which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, 

or the increase of thy kine, 

or flocks of thy sheep, 

until he have destroyed thee.

52 And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, 

until thy high and fenced walls come down, 

wherein thou trustedst, 

throughout all thy land: 

and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates 

throughout all thy land, 

which the Lord thy God hath given thee.

53 And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, 

the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, 

which the Lord thy God hath given thee, 

in the siege, 

and in the straitness, 

wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:

54 So that the man that is tender among you,

 and very delicate, 

his eye shall be evil toward his brother, 

and toward the wife of his bosom, 

and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:

55 So that he will not give to any of them 

of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: 

because he hath nothing left him in the siege, 

and in the straitness, 

wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.

56 The tender and delicate woman among you, 

which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot 

upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, 

her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, 

and toward her son, 

and toward her daughter,

57 And toward her young one 

that cometh out from between her feet, 

and toward her children which she shall bear: 

for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly 

in the siege and straitness, 

wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.

58 If thou wilt not observe 

to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, 

that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, 

The Lord Thy God;

59 Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, 

and the plagues of thy seed, 

even great plagues, 

and of long continuance, 

and sore sicknesses, 

and of long continuance.

60 Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, 

which thou wast afraid of; 

and they shall cleave unto thee.

61 Also every sickness, 

and every plague, 

which is not written in the book of this law, 

them will the Lord bring upon thee, 

until thou be destroyed.

62 And ye shall be left few in number, 

whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; 

because thou wouldest not obey 

the voice of the Lord thy God.

63 And it shall come to pass, 

that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good,

 and to multiply you; 

so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, 

and to bring you to nought; 

and ye shall be plucked from off the land 

whither thou goest to possess it.

64 And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, 

from the one end of the earth even unto the other; 

and there thou shalt serve other gods, 

which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, 

even wood and stone.

65 And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, 

neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: 

but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, 

and failing of eyes, 

and sorrow of mind:

66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; 

and thou shalt fear day and night, 

and shalt have none assurance of thy life:

67 In the morning thou shalt say, 

Would God it were even! 

and at even thou shalt say, 

Would God it were morning! 

for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, 

and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

68 And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, 

by the way whereof I spake unto thee, 

Thou shalt see it no more again: 

and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies 

for bondmen and bondwomen, 

and no man shall buy you.

Related material:

WRATH of GOD

Verses from Bible Gateway

Updated  8 July 2024

Only 2 Choices in Life

 

Matthew 6:24 

King James Version

24 No man can serve two masters: 

for either he will hate the one, 

and love the other; 

or else he will hold to the one, 

and despise the other. 

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Is life really all that complicated?

Are choices really all that complex?

Hasn't it always been just a choice, between God, and the world?

The world made it complex, so you'll get confused.

For the world is wicked.

1 John 5:19 

King James Version

19 And we know that we are of God, 

and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

The god of this world doesn't want us to know the gospel of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:4 

King James Version

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded 

the minds of them which believe not, 

lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, 

who is the image of God, 

should shine unto them.

Your only hope out of confusion is to seek God.

If your heart is true, God will be there for you.

He has your heart mapped out.

He can tell if you're for Him, or against Him.

Have nothing to do with the antichrist.

1 John 4:3 

King James Version

3 And every spirit that confesseth not 

that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh 

is not of God: 

and this is that spirit of antichrist, 

whereof ye have heard that it should come; 

and even now already is it in the world.

He is the one who denies the Father, and the Son.

1 John 2:22 

King James Version

22 Who is a liar 

but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? 

He is antichrist, 

that denieth the Father and the Son.

And right now, there are many pretenders to God's throne.

Matthew 24:24 

King James Version

24 For there shall arise false Christs, 

and false prophets, 

and shall shew great signs and wonders; 

insomuch that, 

if it were possible, 

they shall deceive the very elect.

He will blaspheme against God.

Daniel 7:25 

King James Version

25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, 

and shall wear out the saints of the most High, 

and think to change times and laws:

 and they shall be given into his hand 

until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Be not deceived, for he will show himself to be as God.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 

King James Version

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: 

for that day shall not come, 

except there come a falling away first, 

and that man of sin be revealed, 

the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself 

above all that is called God, 

or that is worshipped; 

so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, 

shewing himself that he is God.

That's why we know the return of Jesus is imminent, and that we are to make a decision now, not later.

1 John 2:18 

King James Version

18 Little children, 

it is the last time: 

and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, 

even now are there many antichrists; 

whereby we know that it is the last time.

Have you chosen God yet?

Pray to Him with all your heart.

Let God send you His Holy Spirit, who will teach you everything about Jesus, and God's truth.

It is also inevitable, you will have to be born again.

Only then can you understand things of the Spirit.

There are no short cuts.

That's the first step to knowing God.

And it's a really beautiful step.

Related material:

JESUS and Satan

Updated 21 October 2022

Jesus Redefined Leadership

 

Are you a leader?

How would you define leadership?

How effective is your form of leadership?

Do people like following you?

Where are you taking them?

What are your real objectives?

Twenty years ago, this was what formed in my mind:

The greatest leaders are those

who cause others to know.

This morning, this is where the Holy Spirit led me to, refocusing my vision:

Matthew 23:11 

King James Version

11 But he that is greatest among you 

shall be your servant.

Greatness is no longer measured by what you can teach others, or whether you inform them.

Unless you are informing them about God, that is no purposeful information.

The world is steeped in disinformation, if anything.

By the grace of God, the Lord helped us.

He sent His Son to inform us.

Jesus redefined leadership.

He said the greatest leaders are servants.

That's revolutionary, in a world designed for ego, greed, vanity, disinformation, and ambition.

Jesus wants us to love God, and others.

That's a 180-degree turn from how the world's been operating for so long.

But it's the only one that makes sense.

This world has a chance for survival, if we seek God.

With our only aim to serve, to love, and to get God's Word right.

Following the example of Jesus, our only desire must be to lead everyone to the Father, the One who deserves ALL the glory.

Now, leadership is of a different sort, especially if you're born again.

Once you're born again, the Holy Spirit will start teaching you everything about Jesus, for the Holy Spirit is the "Spirit of truth".

He has a very great role in teaching us everything about Christ.

Jesus did say:

John 15:26 

King James Version

26 But when the Comforter is come, 

whom I will send unto you from the Father, 

even the Spirit of truth, 

which proceedeth from the Father, 

he shall testify of me:

Everything will now be defined if we have Jesus in it.

The very survival of this world hinges upon our knowledge, belief, and acceptance of Jesus.

Whether it's work, leadership, life, relationships, the only question that matters now is this -- is Jesus in it?

Ideally, Jesus is it.

The world is chaotic because we follow a different leader.

The pretender to the throne of God.

The fallen one.

How can he inform us of God, when He is the very antithesis of God?

He does all he can to keep us in darkness.

But Jesus is Light.

John 8:12 

King James Version

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 

I am the light of the world: 

he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, 

but shall have the light of life.

Surely, you've tried everything.

Has it worked?

I invite you to commit yourself to the Lord's way.

A good start would be to become born again, so you can understand the ways of the Spirit.

Let the Holy Spirit of God teach you.

Let Him lead you to the truth you've longed so much for.

And prepare for the most wonderful adventure of your life!

You will be the rare leader, the world needs so much of.

Updated 2 October 2022

Perfect Delivery of God's Message

 

2 Timothy 4:1-8 

King James Version

4 I charge thee therefore before God, 

and the Lord Jesus Christ, 

who shall judge the quick and the dead 

at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word; 

be instant in season, 

out of season; 

reprove, 

rebuke, 

exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come 

when they will not endure sound doctrine; 

but after their own lusts 

shall they heap to themselves teachers, 

having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, 

and shall be turned unto fables.

5 But watch thou in all things, 

endure afflictions, 

do the work of an evangelist, 

make full proof of thy ministry.

6 For I am now ready to be offered, 

and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought a good fight, 

I have finished my course, 

I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, 

which the Lord, 

the righteous judge, 

shall give me at that day: 

and not to me only, 

but unto all them also that love his appearing.

"There is tremendous power in the Word of God."

That's a statement from Bob Russell, former senior minister of Southeast Christian Church in Kentucky, who served that church for 40 years.

Pretty often, I listen to sermons the Holy Spirit of God leads me to.

This video was particularly compelling for the right amount of humor, gentleness, compassion, and emphasis.

I liked his voice and measured delivery, even before I saw who he was on the video.

This is actually my first encounter with this pastor who has served God for 50 years, starting at age 22.

I feel, if sermons are delivered gently, happily, and lovingly like this, more people would listen

His focus for this particular video is on mentoring other ministers, of which he has done a lot of.

Bob Russell's delivery of God's Word is perfect for my soul, and I think, it will be for you, too.

It is a wonderful balm for the soul.

Updated 25 January 2022

The Cause of Downfall

 

Proverbs 16:18 

King James Version

18 Pride goeth before destruction, 

and an haughty spirit before a fall.

When you've reached the pinnacle of your career, what more can you reach?

When you've reached the top of the highest mountain, do you intend to stay there?

What is the law of gravity?

What accelerates the fall?

What was it that was said before?

"The bigger they are, the harder they fall?"

The Lord Jesus was witness to such one fall.

Luke 10:18 

King James Version

18 And he said unto them, 

I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

What could be a bigger drop, than that particular fallen cherub?

Scripture testifies to that.

Isaiah 14:12-15 

King James Version

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, 

O Lucifer, 

son of the morning! 

how art thou cut down to the ground, 

which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, 

I will ascend into heaven, 

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: 

I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, 

in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; 

I will be like the most High.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, 

to the sides of the pit.

Ezekiel 28:12-19 

King James Version

12 Son of man, 

take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, 

and say unto him, 

Thus saith the Lord God; 

Thou sealest up the sum, 

full of wisdom, 

and perfect in beauty.

13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; 

every precious stone was thy covering, 

the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, 

the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, 

the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, 

and gold: 

the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes 

was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; 

and I have set thee so: 

thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; 

thou hast walked up and down 

in the midst of the stones of fire.

15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways 

from the day that thou wast created, 

till iniquity was found in thee.

16 By the multitude of thy merchandise 

they have filled the midst of thee with violence, 

and thou hast sinned: 

therefore I will cast thee as profane 

out of the mountain of God: 

and I will destroy thee, 

O covering cherub, 

from the midst of the stones of fire.

17 Thine heart was lifted up 

because of thy beauty, 

thou hast corrupted thy wisdom 

by reason of thy brightness: 

I will cast thee to the ground, 

I will lay thee before kings, 

that they may behold thee.

What really makes us fall from God's grace?

Pride.

A haughty spirit.

Hardheartedness.

Sin.

The weight of such clearly accelerates our fall, for the gravity of our errors -- especially unrepentance -- is an abomination to the Lord.

Be not like the fallen cherub, who rules the world.

Now, we know why the world is the way it is.

Be a leader who serves God, instead.

Updated 21 October 2022

A Call for a New Form of Leadership

 

Luke 10:25-28 

King James Version

25 And, behold, 

a certain lawyer stood up, 

and tempted him, saying, 

Master, 

what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 He said unto him, 

What is written in the law? 

how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, 

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God 

with all thy heart, 

and with all thy soul, 

and with all thy strength, 

and with all thy mind; 

and thy neighbour as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, 

Thou hast answered right: 

this do, 

and thou shalt live.

The era of the selfish leader is over.

A new form of leadership is needed now.

One perfectly attuned to God, delighted in following His commandments, eager as a child to know everything about Him, in perfect obedience to Him, repentant of all personal errors, and focusing completely on His Word -- Jesus.

At any given moment, the Lord can return, having the dead meet Him in the air, and having the faithful do the same, after which, judgment will come.

And after that?

You will not want to be in this world.

Why won't you correct your ways now?

What has the world promised you?

Is that more important than finding your way back to God, mending your ways, and following the narrow path to eternal life, as led by Jesus?

Will you really lead yourself, and others, to destruction?

To be found in the pit of hell, with the fallen cherub who continues to cause people to sin in this world?

What kind of a leader would that make you?

Leaders are beyond profit.

Where we're going, we won't need money.

The new breed of leaders must now be guided by the Holy Spirit, for He is the Advocate, the teacher of all things Jesus.

We are not masters of time.

Only God would know when it's time to call it in.

Hopefully, we would all be found with God, having expressed our love and devotion to Him alone, humbled from our many erroneous ways.

Holy Spirit and I created this blog purposely so we may warn you, alert you, and awaken you.

Only Jesus can save us now.

Related material:

BEWARE these leaders

Image: Kind Png

Updated 9 September 2024