GOD SPEAKS

There is fear of future ruling in many people. What will happen tomorrow and how it will affect my life is an uncertainty. This could be one of the reasons all want to know their future in advance. Disciples also asked our Lord- When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power Acts 1:6-7. Our Lord told them that times and seasons are in the control of the Father.

Though some times, the question of future may not belong to us but still the anxiety to know future rules in our minds. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following ; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee ? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do ? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee ? follow thou me. John 21:20-22. See how our Lord replied Peter. Lord Servant Peter was concerned about the future of the disciple John whom Jesus loved so much. Our Lord gave reply but at the same time, he asked –what is that to thee? Knowing future of others is not our concern. He only told him to follow me.

This uncertainty about future always troubles us. Some happenings in future will really distress us. Read this verse- And David was greatly distressed ; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters : but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:5.  David lost Ziklag . All those who came with him saw their city burned and lost their families thought to stone him. Did not God choose David to be his king? Why such thing happened?  Most of us think- why would such a loss happen in my life? If God be there, why should I have this disease?   Your may read the following two verses from the Bible –

(1) He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble ; I will deliver him, and honor him. Psalms 91:15.   What does this verse says? Does not it mean God is also with you in your troubles? Does not it mean, though your future is not told in advance, He is there for you to help and deliver you from all your troubles?  If troubles do not come in future, does it have any meaning in his promise – I will be with him in trouble?

(2) For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord Jeremiah 30: 17.  What does Bible say – Does not it mean that He can restore even your health? If there is no need for healing to his people in future, why do God say it in advance that –I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds?

Worrying about future and knowing things of future in advance does not make any difference. Remember his promises given for you. God can revive, restore and reconstruct everything in your life.

The Bible says -He shall call upon me, and I will answer him. This was what exactly David did when he was distressed. And David inquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop ? shall I overtake them ? And he answered him, Pursue : for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. 1 Samuel 30:8.  Learn how He could restore your loss. Put all your trust on the Lord. Do never lean on your own understanding or on your strength. David was a valiant man who killed Goliath. But he did not think to use this as his confidence for moving against the troops. David inquired at the Lord.  Receiving his word strengthens your faith in all circumstances. Look at this verse –And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. Matthew 15:28-29. Observe the conversation. Peter asked the Lord for His command to walk on the water. After receiving the word, St Peter was able to walk on the water.

Therefore, learn to bring all your current (not future) problems things before Him. Practice inquiring at the Lord. Have answers from HIM for all your troubles who promised to be with us in our troubles.

From the above, it is told us- (1) times and seasons are in His control (2) Knowing the future of others is irrelevant to us (3) Though the future is not in favor to us, only thing he asked us to do is – Follow Him . (John 21:20-22) and Call Him in our troubles (Psalms 91:15) Remember His promise -But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:30. If hairs of your head are numbered, does not it tell how much more He cares for you both in present and future?  (4) Above all, inquiring at the Lord is the remedy for all your fears of future.

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 7:12.

In the History of the world we see people of different nations fought for their independence. They were under the authority of their colonial rulers and were like servants. Bondage turns you into a servant from the state of citizen. Independence changes the status of a man from servant to citizen (heir). After independence, authority also changes its form but do not disappear. After having got their independence, they made their own constitutions, laws etc., to live freely with their freedom rights. Does it mean they can do anything they wish? These freedom rights have their own limitations and are subject to the law of the land. Hence this freedom is not absolute though they are free.

In the context of the Bible, freedom is also granted to man from beginning of his creation but with a condition. At this point of time, man was under the authority of the Lord God. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it : for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die Genesis 2:16-17.

The Bible says – the Lord God commanded the man. This tells man was created under His authority. This authority functions through God’s love. This authority is for your wellbeing but not for your punishment. Also, authority moves with responsibility and justice. Therefore, an authority should advise the consequences of disobedience too. Without telling the consequences thereof, if a punishment is given, it would be injustice. But our God is justice.

Adam and Eve were ignorant of what is good or evil before making a decision to eat (as if it is the only tree existing there for them to eat – it is lust of the flesh) the fruits of the tree of good and evil though they were already told the consequence of disobedience was death. Whoever did not know the difference between good and evil would be able to make a decision (as our decisions are made only after evaluating the consequences will be good or bad for you)? Yes, but they made it and the origin for their decisions was from sensual or an outsider. Therefore, this is not from the Father. As the Bible says –For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.1 John 2:16. Does not it tell us that there is a probability that you make decisions by other’s (Satan’s) influence? Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience Ephesians 2:2. As the punishment has already been decided for Satan, there would be no loss for him if he influences you to commit sin as this will not make any difference for Satan. But for you this is very much important to consider. Your decision whether you have taken by ignorance or by devil’s influence does not matter for the LORD. It is who has made this decision and acted accordingly is considered for your punishment.

You may note Satan only tempted Eve but did not give the fruit of tree of the knowledge of good and evil by hand to Eve. This means- They listened and obeyed another’s word- did not it? If the definition of disobedience is not listening and doing according to HIS word, does not it mean listening and following another’s word is obedience? Did not it mean that Adam and Eve had obeyed to the power of another (SATAN)? There is a mention of this power in the Bible. By your disobedience, you will move under another power – the power of darkness. Your disobedience to God is not ended in itself. Your disobedience to God automatically makes obedience to Devil. When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Luke 22:52 and also read who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. Colossians 1:13.

Disobedience makes you to leave the narrow way where you feel there is no freedom for you to do your own wills. But it is important to know that once you leave your living God, you are moving under Satan’s power where you feel it is wider and no restrictions on your life. But the end of the road is the second death. Enter ye in at the strait gate : for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat : because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthews 7:1

Therefore, (a) As the Bible says –Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. John 8:34, let not your status down from an heir (citizen of heaven) to a servant. You are born free but with limitations as this is a narrow way. The way appears tight when others enjoying in the broad way that leading to destruction.

(b) Let not your own mind to take your decisions. Our knowledge is like foolishness and unclean before the Lord. Read –This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. James 4:15. Acknowledge His authority to direct your paths or decisions. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3: 5-6.

(d) See in all your decisions how it will change your relation with God and make decisions from the point of view of God. There is none greater in this house than I ; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife : how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God ? Genesis 39:9. Joseph did not dare to take a decision against the God. Therefore, it is better to be under the authority of the Lord than submitting yourself to the power of darkness.

Scorners and mockers do not believe the things of Spirit. The reason behind this is written in the Bible –But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14. Only those who are filled with His spirit can discern and believe the things of the Spirit. This category of people is more dangerous than sinners. Whereas Sinners mind their own business, scorners interfere into the matters of your faith.

Our Lord promised the children of Israel to give the land flowing with milk and honey. Those who believe the things of the Lord shall see everything from God’s point of view. Thought it appears for them to be difficult, they believe that the Lord is with them and everything goes fine. But Mocker is a natural man who believes only things that can be seen. Whoever says himself as the follower of the Living God and speaking words against His promises, what kind of faith they have? Do such people believe the things seen or unseen? It is written in the Bible that faith is a substance of things not seen. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Hebrews 11:1.

But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people ; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof ; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. Numbers 13:31-33.

In this process of inheriting His promise and the land, some of the heads of Israel brought an evil report about the land and disheartened the people. In other words, we may say that they did not believe the promise of the Lord. Was it because of their strength they could inherit the promise of the Lord or because of the grace of the Lord?  Perceiving the things from your point of your strength or skills weakens your faith and thereby you speak words of no faith.  Does it make any difference between a mocker, who never believes the things of the spirit, and a follower speaking against His promises thereby discouraging other’s faith? The Lord sees them not as followers but as people with unbelief.  See this verse –And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have showed among them ? Numbers 14:11.  Our Lord said only those brought good report shall enter the Promised Land. Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun Numbers 14:30.  Does it not communicate with us that how much it is important to speak and proclaim things of faith when you claim yourself as the follower of the Living God? Those who are of such mind shall enter the land flowing with milk and honey (or say Heaven as the key for its entrance is faith)

In another instance, Our Lord Jesus dealt with such people in the same way. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.  Luke 8:50-54.

In the above verse, people bewailed for the maid but they did not understand Lord’s words or about His intention in saying – she is not dead, but sleepeth. When our Lord said that she was not dead but slept, they all laughed him to scorn. Therefore, the he pulled them out before doing His miracle. Those who believed that he is the God who gives life to mankind were permitted to be with Him to see this great miracle. Scorners and mockers have no stand in the congregation of the righteous. God allows only them to be with him those who discern things of spirit as they are filled with His spirit. Just think- If He does not permit them to be with him and see this miracle on the earth, will he permit them to enter His kingdom in heaven?

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh ; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death ; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace  Romans 8:5-6. People after flesh, though say they are followers of Christ, speak evil reports and discourage other’s faith too as the Mockers also speak against our faith. There appears no difference between them. Those who see and believing things of the spirit, though you do not understand fully, brings forth good reports as they are after the spirit for whom the everlasting life in the Heave is waiting.