GOD SPEAKS

But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. Mark 6: 16 and Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Luke 20: 36

Herod the king misunderstood the concept of resurrection. He thought that people who died will resurrect and live on earth. This is reason he believed that Jesus is the prophet John whom he beheaded.

Some people may believe that there is resurrection of the dead. But they may believe that there is another form of life again on the earth i.e., punarjanma or rebirth on earth. The Bible never refers to punarjanma on earth. As the Bible says there is resurrection of the dead

1. Those who accepted Jesus : to live like angels in heaven but not on earth to die again.(as Herod misunderstood that Prophet John came as Jesus to live on earth)
2. To those who did not believe the salvation through Jesus, the eternal punishment in hell

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her.Mark 6: 17

Do not hesitate to say ” No ” when it is against the word of God.

Most of the times we face situations where you will be compelled to say “YES” though it is against the word of God. When some of your friends or anyone persuades you to do a thing which is not right in the sight of God, what do you reply them? Do you say “YES” or “NO”? Remember what kind of answer given by Joseph to potiphar’s wife! Do not hesitate to say “NO”.

Prophet John said boldly that king was wrong in the sight of God. He neither hesitated nor compromised with the king against the word of God. You are a child of God. Remember always the word of God And try to see everything in the light of word of God. Learn to say “NO” for the sake of God.

Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the  midst of thee; for thou art a stiff necked people: lest I consume thee in the way. And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned.      Exodus 33:3-4

Believers should always check whether our God is with them while we are sojourners in this world:

God promised the Israelites that he would give them a land flowing with milk and honey. The land flowing with milk and honey may be compared with the heaven or everlasting kingdom in which the Lord is preparing mansions/place for us.

 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would  have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.        John 14:2-3

Though God gives promises, we ourselves could be a reason for its non-fulfillment. The reason may be our stiff-necked nature.

God’s anger kindled against Israelites and told that He would not go up with them to the land flowing with milk and honey. It is because God was vexed with their deeds. But, God servant Moses was with them and told the intention of the Lord to Israelites and they came to know the God was not willing to come with them. But for us who is there to tell us whether he is coming with us?

Let us understand this:

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest ; and how can we know the way ?      John 14:5

 The Lord is our way. He knows where to go and how to go. If He does not come with us how will you reach the land flowing with milk and honey or to a place where he promised us to receive again? As believers of God, you should always examine yourselves whether the God is with you while you are a sojourner on this earth.

And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.  And Jesus answering said, were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? Luke 17:14-17

People following the Lord Jesus with religious observances cannot understand His intentions. Your faith should adhere to gratitude.

The ten lepers requested him to heal them with one voice. He gave them a direction to show themselves to the priests. This direction seems to be religious to us, but his intention is not. While they were on the way to the temple to show themselves before the priests, all believed Jesus would heal them. All had faith and all were healed. But can you call all of them as faithful followers of Jesus?

You may see the following in the above instance:

(a) Jesus accepted their request (prayer) to heal them. To Him, there is no difference whoever you are. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28”. This is the reason He healed the Samaritan too. All that He wants is your faith on Him!

(b)   Had it be His intention that they should go to temple to show themselves before the priests, he would not have asked –“And Jesus answering said, were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine ? Luke 17:17”. Why did he ask –where are the remaining nine?

You all know the priests worship in the temple and therefore, when they were told to show themselves before the priests, the ten lepers might have understood or assumed that they should go to the temple.

(i)       He is the temple. Read this verse- “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. John 2:19” . His intention could be that those have faith on Him and asking for his healing should understand that He is the Temple of God. Instead of going to the temple made of hands, they should have come to him. Instead of standing afar off and going to the temple made of hands, they should have come near to Him. As it is written in the Bible-“ And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off : Luke 17:12”.

(ii)      He is the High Priest. “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Hebrews 3:1.” Our Lord’s intention was that they come near to Him and understand that He is the High Priest.

(c) After receiving a miracle from the Lord, only one Leper came to Him. The Samaritan, we may assume that he could not understand the Lord’s intention as he is a gentile. But, he glorified God and came to Him to say thanks. But, what about the other nine, who could be non-gentiles and who may know the Word of God? You may see the other nine lepers also had faith like us. But they could not exhibit the deeds of faith and gratitude.

If our faith is like religious observance, we may not understand our Lord’s intentions. Your faith without gratitude is merely a religious observance. There will not be any difference between YOU and the other NINE. Your faith should adhere to gratitude.

Most of us have loose tongues. However, our tongue speaks out of abundance of heart. Our words tell the state of our mind and faith. As it is written in the Bible, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things ? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Matthew 13:34.” 

God speaks to us. But, we speak or reply to Him immediately without thinking much the consequences thereof. Let us examine some of the instances from the Bible.

(1) And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked ? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat ? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. Genesis 3:11

When God asked Adam a question, he replied and gave an incomplete answer. Adam gave answer only to the second part of the question. He did not answer who told him that he was naked. But he gave indirect answer to the Lord. Though the answer was not a satisfactory one, they were given relief from the severe punishment.

 (2) And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother ? And he said, I know not : Am I my brother’s keeper ? Genesis 4:9

And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much ? And she said, Yea, for so much. Acts 5:8

When God is asking you something to have an answer from you, remember always that it does not mean He knows nothing. While giving an answer, remember if the same is a lie, you are welcoming curse from the Lord. You may see both Cain and the wife of Ananias received a curse from the Lord.

(3) Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh : for he hath been dead four days. John 11:39.

Martha had faith in Him. Jesus said to Martha that his brother shall rise again. But, she said – “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”  She did not understand His intention. This is the reason when the Lord told to take away the stone; she immediately replied that he will stink and it could be her intention that the stone need not moved. Sometimes, though we have faith, if we do not understand His intentions, we ourselves could be an obstacle for the miracles He wants to do in our lives. Because of her ignorance, her word was not taken into account and was excused. Let not your mouth speak improper words so that you yourself become an obstacle to the miracles.

(4) Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord ; Thus saith the Lord, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.II Kings 7:1-2

When you have no faith in the prophecy (which the Lord speaks), it is better not to speak even a single word against it. Here, the lord on whose hand the king leaned answered against the prophecy of the Lord. He could see the fulfillment of the Lord’s prophecy. But he could not eat the blessed food but also saw the taste of death.  You may or may not believe His prophecy and it may not harm you much. But, your abusive words could become a curse to you if you speak against it. You may not enjoy the fruits of the prophecy.

In view of the above, if you give an answer to the Lord (1) though it is not satisfactory but not a lie, you may at least receive His grace (2) is a lie, you will receive a curse and suffering (3) not out of ignorance, you yourself may be an obstacle to you miracle in life (4) against His prophecy, you may see its fulfillment but cannot enjoy the fruits thereof. Therefore, take heed what you speak to the Lord as the consequences thereof will change your life.