Our God works in extremes, He does not like people He loves them ! For example John 3 vs 16 says for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. He does not dislike He hates, Proverbs 6 vs 16-19 says these six things the Lord hates, yes seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies and one who sows discord among brethren. There is no sitting on the fence with God. It is either cold or warm no lukewarm . Revelations 3 vs 15 says I know your works, that you are neither cold not hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
God is love ,1 John 4 vs 8 says He who does not love does not know God , for God is love. Because God is love , He corrects , Proverbs 3 vs 12 says whom the Lord loves He corrects. Correction is out of love not hatred. Proverbs 13 vs 24 says he who spares his rod hates his son , but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
God deals with disobedience in two ways ,chastisement or rejection. God does not take disobedience likely. 1 Samuel 15 vs 22 says to obey is better than sacrifice .There is lot to gain from been obedient to God. Exodus 23 vs 22 says if you obey God your enemies will be His enemies. Exodus 19 vs 5 says if you obey God you will be His special treasure. John 15 vs 14 says we become God’s friends if we obey Him. Matthew 7 vs 24 compares an individual who obeys God to a man who built his house on the rock. Jeremiah 7 vs 23 says but this is what I command them, saying , ‘obey My voice, and I will be your God , and you shall be My people. And walk in the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you. According to Isaiah 48 vs 18 , when obey God our peace will be like a river.
Disobedience , stubbornness and rebellion are synonyms . In 1 Samuel 15 vs 23 , God likens disobedience to the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness to iniquity and idolatry. When people disobey God , He either chastises them or rejects them. There is no man alive who has never disobeyed God. Psalm 130 vs 3 says If You, Lord, should mark iniquities , O Lord who could stand ? Although the Lord said there is none like Job on earth, a blameless and upright man , who fears God and shuns evil – Job 1 vs 8, Job himself knew He was far from God’s description . That was why He said “truly I know it so , but how can a man be righteous before God – Job 9 vs 2.
God’s chastening is not easy .Hebrews 12 vs 11 says now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present ,but painful. Although the chastening maybe painful but Hebrew 12 vs 5 admonishes us not to be discouraged when He rebukes us. There is no son that the father does not chasten – Hebrew 12 vs 7 . Chastening is only disapproval, it is not the end . When a child does something the parent disapproves of , they chastise such child but it is not the end . After correcting the child ,they still show him or her love. When we disobey God and He chastises us , it is not the end of the relationship between Him and us.
If God loves you or He regards you in anyway expect Him to chasten you when you disobey Him. The Lord loved Solomon to the extent that He gave him a name – Jedidiah meaning beloved of the almighty , 2 Samuel 12 vs 25.Prior to his birth in 2 Samuel 7 vs 14 , the Most High said He will be his father, if he commits iniquities , He will chasten him with the rod of men and the blows of the sons of men. The same thing happened to David. Although David was a man after God’s heart , when He misbehaved the Lord chastened Him- 2 Samuel 12 vs 7-12 . The Lord did this out of love.
The other way He deals with disobedience or sin Is through rejection. The Lord’s rejection is worse than His chastisement . Once the Lord rejects a man or a woman , the next thing that follows is shame, disgrace and death a times .If you do not believe me ask Miriam . She was one of the first prophetess in Israel. According to Exodus 15 vs 20 , she was not only a prophetess , she was the equivalent of the first lady in Israel because all the women looked up to her . Because she despised the man of God -Moses , although she was older than him the Lord rejected her immediately and she became a leper-Numbers 12 vs 10. Moses pleaded on her behalf and the Lord cured her after seven days but do you know that the bible never mentioned her name , she never prophesied until her death- Numbers 20 vs 1.A woman a country had always looked up to because of the power of God in her life suddenly became a nobody.
The same thing happened to Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26 vs 1-23.The Lord orchestrated it in away that instead of his father he was made king of Judah at sixteen years . Because of his humility and conduct especially to God and God’s prophet the Lord made him prosper. This young king was so rich he stopped building towers in the city and began building towers in deserts just because he could afford it. The bible records that he had an army of three hundred and seven thousand five hundred (307,500) excluding around two thousand and six hundred (2600) chief official of the armies. United Kingdom has 197,780 active army personnel in 2012 ,Uzziah had 307,500 active military personnel back in 750 BC . This king was really blessed and pride got into him . He entered the temple to burn incense even when the Lord had warned that the task is for Aaron and his sons. Because the priest questioned him , he got angry and the Lord said enough. You know the end of the story ,immediately he became a leper. He was taken away from the palace and kept in a isolated house.
One thing we discover from Proverbs 3 vs 12 is that the Lord does not correct everybody. When He decides to correct you or rebuke you in any way then you should be happy because He loves you. When we disobey him and He keeps quiet then something has gone wrong. That is why we need to be worried if our conscience has stopped condemning us when we do something wrong or sin. In Mark 8 vs 31 -34 , Jesus told His disciples what was going to befall him and how this had to be done to fulfill the will of His father. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him for planning to die. Jesus got angry and scolded Peter. He even described Peter’s action as that of Satan , not because He hated Peter but because He was disappointed in Peter. The same Peter He built His ministry on . Do you know Judas stole from the purse and the Jesus never rebuked him for once ! -John 12 vs 6 . Why did He keep quiet , because He had already rejected Judas. The love of money that drove Judas to steal from the purse also drove him to betray Jesus. By the time he discovered his mistake it was too late. He could not face the world so he committed suicide.
The fact that you are still speaking in tongues or dreaming or seeing vision does not mean you are living right. You can live in sin and still speak in tongue or dream or perform miracles. Although Judas was rejected by Jesus, he was still part of the disciples until the last supper. He moved with Jesus and ate with him . Why did Jesus permit this because He was giving him chance to repent but Judas did not repent. You might be in sin and gifts of the Holy Spirits are still manifesting in your life , the Lord left them for you to repent. The gifts of the Holy Spirits are not proof that you living a life of righteousness. Beware of the vices of the devil.
Do you also know that if He continues to chasten you over an issue and you do not repent , it might lead to rejection ? Proverbs 3 vs 11 says My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction. Proverbs 10 vs 17 says he who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray . Most times the Lord rebukes us through our parents in the Lord or boss at work or earthly parents. We should heed correction . After several warning from God to Eli , he did not change. He did not rebuke his children .Because he refused correction the Lord sworn that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever – 1 Samuel 3 vs 14 .Now tell me if the same God who said in Leviticus 4 vs 1-5 that if a man sins unintentionally , he should bring a young bull without blemish as a sin offering now decides that a sin offering can atone for a man’s sin then you should know that it is serious.
This is why if you are yet to give your life Christ I will beg you to do so now. We can not continue to ignore Him when He calls us to be His child . If He continues to call you and you reject Him , He will simply go . I pray that He will not leave you .
The bible said in Romans 3 vs 23 that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6 s 23 says For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The gift was explained in John 3 vs 16 , For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What shall we do to be save ? The bible says in Romans 10vs 9 that if you confess with your mouth , Jesus is Lord , and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10 vs 10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that you confess and are saved.
Pray this prayer from your heart today!
Dear Jesus , I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart . Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm You love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others, Amen.
Welcome to Christ brethren, Please join a bible believing church.
Samuel Oluwatoki
Please forward this newsletter to a friend, family or colleague . Remember Matthew 10 vs 32 which says whoever confesses me before me , him I will confess before my father who is heaven.
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