Parental Guidance Pt. 2

Daniel 9:4-6, 15-19

Good parents raise their children in such a way, they’ll be able to conduct themselves in a decent and wholesome manner, as they mature and develop throughout their lives. A good way to test the level of a child’s maturity, and how they’ll represent their family’s name is, to monitor them in public places, and around other people. Most parents set standards in their homes, which they expect their children to adhere to. Not only are children expected to conduct themselves accordingly at home, but away from home also. Children who obey their parents are typically rewarded for doing so, and render more help to the family as a whole, rather than create unnecessary problems for everyone. But, there are those who more often than not, give their parents a not so good name. If there’s one thing a parent despises, it’s dealing with children who give their name a bad reputation. Children often forget how impactful their actions are, and disregard the fact that they bear their parent’s name. Knowing this, they are known to find themselves in unfavorable and embarrassing situations, many of which their parents go out of their way to save them from.

The Bible teaches, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” (Prov. 22:1). Throughout history, men and women were not only known by their accomplishments, but more importantly by their names. The name of the Lord was to be reverenced and respected by His people throughout the Bible, but there were many times when the children of Israel gave the Lord a bad name. God is good, and always good, yet those who claim to serve Him have done major damage to His name for generations.

Our text picks up where God’s chosen people had once again, given in to sin, and were drawn away into diverse iniquities. Surprisingly, the man who interceded to pray forgiveness on their behalf, was not responsible for participating in their sin, yet he included himself in the prayer. Daniel expressed sincerely to God, “We have sinned, and committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments.” (vs. 5). Daniel did nothing wrong, yet felt responsible for defaming the name of the Lord as the people did. What a guy! Although Israel had taken the name of the Lord in vain, and connected themselves to wickedness, Daniel petitioned God to withhold His anger from the people for His own sake, because the people are called by His name. Whether they wanted to be or not, Israel were God’s children, in the same way we are to our parents, and whether we do good or bad, we can’t disconnect from being our father and mother’s child.

God loves all His children, but we have a mandate to keep His name holy. We must do this by obeying the Word, living according to godly principles, and committing all our thoughts, plans, and motivations to the will of the Father. When our priorities are to please the Father, we’ll be positioned to represent Him the right way, and avoid bringing shame and embarrassment to His name.

Parental Guidance

Ezra 10:1-12

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Eph 6:1-3). This passage of Scripture was engrained in my mind at an early age. By the age of ten, I could recite these verses from memory with ease. In my younger days, I often wondered why my parents focused so much time training my siblings and I on committing this passage, and others relating to obedience, to memory. My father and mother understood the importance of obedience to God, and the dangers of disobedience, and were wise enough to help their children develop an understanding of godly principles, through their biblical rearing.

When we obeyed our parents, I can safely assume it brought peace and a sense of joy and comfort to their hearts, as they witnessed their efforts have a positive effect in our lives. Unfortunately, raising seven children in the 80’s was far from a cakewalk. I can also imagine my mom and dad wanting to pull their hair out, during times when we were too much to deal with. Being our parents, and leaders of the home, we were expected to follow and respect their orders and commands, but there were many times when we did the opposite of what we were told, in order to satisfy our selfish wills. We were raised to live different from the world, and not mingle with behaviors and activities that were contrary to God’s Word. This same message was given to the children of Israel in our text, by Ezra the priest. God had already warned His people to keep themselves pure and undefiled from the ways and customs of the pagan people who dwelled in the land they would soon enter, but while some took heed to God’s word, others had different agendas.

Throughout the time of the judges, Israelite men had married heathen women, and then adopted their religious practices. God knew the dangers of mixing the holy with the profane, and told Ezra to warn the people to remain holy. As always, the people rebelled, and willingly mingled with the heathen nation. In the same way my parents probably showed frustration at the disobedience of myself and my siblings, Ezra the priest heard what the people had done, then tore his clothes and plucked out his hair and beard. If that wasn’t enough to show his frustration and disappointment, Ezra sat astonished all day, until the evening sacrifice. At the evening sacrifice, the priest fell on his knees, spread out his hands unto the Lord, and prayed.

Ezra’s sincere prayer gives a great perspective on sin, because he recognized how serious it is, how it affects others, and how God would spare an undeserving nation, if they would only repent. Eventually, the congregation of those who turned away from the Lord, confessed their sins, and were forgiven.

Hearts Of Stone

Zechariah 7:8-14

Living as a born-again believer can oftentimes seem toilsome and laborious, but many who carry heavy burdens while on their spiritual journey, have more than likely added extra weight, due to their disobedience to God’s Word. I can attest to this fact, because I’ve ignored the Spirit many times in the past, thus finding myself in unfavorable situations that linger, even today. When we obey God and His simple commandments, we can avoid adding unnecessary distractions in our lives that cause stress, shame, depression, and regret.

The Lord orders our steps for reasons that cater to fulfilling His divine plan for our own lives, and those He connects us with. Conversely, when we disobey the Father, we can bring potential harm to innocent souls that could have been won, had we only obeyed. The prophet Zechariah was one of three prophets after Judah’s exile; the others were Haggai and Malachi. In our text, the Lord brought word to Zechariah, commanding His people to obey a few simple commands, so that He could bring restoration to the people and their land. The seven commands were, execute true judgment, show mercy and compassion, don’t oppress widows, don’t oppress the fatherless, don’t oppress strangers, don’t oppress the poor, and don’t imagine evil against your brother. Those commands sound extremely easy to follow, right? Hearing the words from the Lord is one thing, but doing them is where the real test begins. Rather than hear and obey God’s commandments, so they could be restored, the people did the total opposite! The text reads, “But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets:”

When a man refuses to obey the law, he is dealt the appropriate punishment. In the same sense, God dealt with Judah according to their disobedience. Judah refused to hear God and obey, so He, in turn, refused to hear them when they cried out to Him. God came upon the people with a great wrath, and scattered them with a whirlwind among all nations whom they knew not. “Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.”

Can you imagine how many blessings you’ve missed throughout your life because of your disobedience? Can you also admit, things in your life could have been a bit more manageable, had you only listened to the Spirit, urging you to do the right thing? Be mindful not to harden your hearts toward the Word of the Lord, as the people of Judah did, because only through the Word of God, can we find wisdom, direction, peace, safety, and provision, while avoiding the Lord’s wrath, and all that comes with the penalty of disobedience.

Live Holy

Leviticus 18:24-30

During the days of Moses, God built a reputation for Himself for consistently dealing harshly with those who defiled themselves with the customs and practices of pagan people. Many today even view God as punisher of evil, and accuse Him of being too hard on men. Why was God so severe in His judgments with those He commanded to refrain from idol worship? First of all, God operates from a standard totally opposite from the world. The God of Heaven and earth promotes peace and prosperity, but executes judgment on sin and wicked lifestyles. It’s sad to see how the present world has conformed to worldly standards, which contradict all that holiness exudes.

In our text, the children of Israel had moved from one idol-infested land to another, but were moments away from entering the land God had promised to them. God knew what the people would face in the land of Canaan, so He admonished Israel to do His judgments, keep His ordinances and statutes, and stay away from the abominations and practices the Canaanites took part in. A few of the wicked things Israel was to avoid included having sexual relations with close relatives, committing adultry, offering children as sacrifices, indulging in homosexual relations, and having sex with animals. I’m not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, but I’m almost certain, those practices are still being entertained today.

God wanted His people to remain pure and holy, so that His name could be glorified, as they represented His kingdom in the earth, so it was necessary for Israel to keep the statutes of the Lord close to their hearts, to avoid being tempted to follow after the abominable acts of the pagan nation.

While the church today may not be a direct descendant of the ancient Israelites, nor under the Mosaic covenant, we must continue to live holy, and walk after righteousness, not idolatry. In these last days, many who once professed holiness, have turned away to worship idols. Whether they were drawn away by their lust for money, fame, entitlement, or acceptance, many have made the unfortunate choice to walk in darkness, rather than light. I advise all who claim the name of Christ to keep yourselves covered under His blood, and refrain from defiling yourselves with the customs and abominations of this present world. We are all valuable to God, and have an important role to play in His divine plan, so re-commit yourselves to keeping His judgments, statutes, and ordinances. Keep God first, and don’t allow the world’s culture to hinder you from doing your best for the Lord.

Instant Transition

Acts 26:19-23

The more I study and meditate on the life of the apostle Paul, the more my appreciation for his testimony grows. During the time when Paul persecuted and wrecked havoc on the people of God, he received full support from the chief priests, to freely execute his devilish plans. Paul was adamant and focused on nothing except bringing down God’s people, to the point it became routine to kill believers. But, after his “Damascus Experience”, the same men who supported his wicked plans, would ironically turn against him.

The man who literally breathed out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, had become an instant protector and advocate for them. This night-to-day change was made possible, because after Saul met Jesus, he was willing to repent of his former doings. To repent is, to have a change of mind, followed by a change in attitude. Only then, will an individual’s behavior and actions align with true repentance.

Paul was bold for the Lord, and the more he preached the Gospel of Jesus, the greater the multitude of those who despised his message grew. Despite countless attempts to end his life, God protected His servant, and used him to impact the kingdom of God greatly.

It matters not the sin you committed, nor how bad you think you are; what truly matters is, God grants all men an allotted time to repent, and turn their hearts toward Himself. After giving his life to God, the apostle Paul began to realize the importance of time, and that he had to make wise use of it, and we should consider the same in our own lives. Receiving the gift of salvation doesn’t require a long process, but only takes a moment to change your mind, attitude, behavior, and actions. Just like the apostle Paul, you can instantly change your reservations from spending an eternity in damnation, to enjoying forever in the presence of the Lord.

Angelic Apostles

Hebrews 1:10-14

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to an exciting episode of, “Angelic Apostles!” Starring, Michael the Archangel, Gabriel the Messenger, and the Other Angel! I’m your host, “holyell”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

(Michael, Gabriel, and the other Angel prepare to leave the presence of the Lord, “to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation”.)

Michael: Gird yourselves, as we make ready to do the Lord’s business.

Gabriel: Yes Michael, I am prepared to do what thus saith the Lord.

Other Angel: Alright, so Michael…I know you’re going to prepare the way, so Gabriel can safely minister as God commanded him to do, but have you ever considered why God loves men so much?

(The three angelic beings take off, and soar majestically through the skies)

Michael: Well, God made everything, and called it good, even men, whom He made after His own image and likeness. The fact that the Father loves them so much, is evident of the same enduring love He has for us.

Other Angel: Okay, I get all that, but if they are so special, why did they turn against Him.. like…”you know who”?

Gabriel: Men, like us, were created with the liberty to choose as it pleases them. Like Lucifer, who was well established in our kingdom, but decided that he deserved the same, if not more honor and respect than God, was quickly dismissed from the perfect order of God’s domain.

Other Angel: Man, that guy was nuts. He had it made in the cool shade! Who would give up basking in the presence of the almighty, just to boost their own ego? I’ll never understand.

Michael: Alright, hold here for a moment. I have some contention to deal with. I shall return when the way is clear.

Other Angel: Okay Michael. Do your thing!

Gabriel: (smh)

Other Angel: Look at Michael. He ain’t afraid of nothing. So Gabriel, I just want to say, I can’t get enough of having Christ back with us. I mean, it’s like everything is just amped up to the infinite degree, since He sat down at the right hand of the Father.

Gabriel: I must agree, it is amazing just to be in His presence, but our business is of the utmost importance, as we must assist in helping mankind come to the knowledge of the glory we experience every day, because soon, those who accept God’s gift of salvation, will also enjoy the presence of the Father and Son forever.

Other Angel: Ooooooo I can’t wait! It’s gonna be like a family reunion for people we never met, but we love them, because they love God and the Son, so it’s kinda like we met, but not really, but….

Gabriel: Alright, alright stop before you hurt yourself. I understand. (chuckles)

(Michael returns to join the others)

Michael: Let’s continue our journey, the way is clear.
So what were you two discussing as I was taking care of business.

Other Angel: We were anticipating the day, when all of Heaven, and mankind will gather together, and rejoice in the presence of God for eternity!

Michael: I anticipate that day as well, but it has become very hard for mankind to remain focused on the truth. The one who once abided in our company, daily influences them to do evil. But, God has given them the other Comforter, to help them become stronger, and stand against the wiles of the enemy.

Other Angel: That dude is BAD NEWS! He already tried to stink up Heaven, and now he’s messing with those innocent humans.

Gabriel: Well, let’s be certain to do as the Holy One has commanded us, and hope that mankind turn back to the Father.

*I don’t know what the heavenly beings discuss as they carry out their assignments for God, but I do know, they fight for us, and root for us to be strong and victorious.

This concludes the exciting episode of, “Angelic Apostles”! Thanks for tuning in.

Huddle Up!

Acts 5:12-16

One of the hardest things to do on this planet is, get a group of people to agree on the same ideals, required to reach a unified goal. Many sports teams fail to win the coveted championship trophy, because certain members of their team aren’t in sync with the coach’s gameplan. We often see how certain individuals act out of character, when their team is on the verge of winning a game, thus causing them to suffer a loss. Even when playing a game of tug-of-war, if all members on a team aren’t working collectively as a group, they’ll easily be pulled over to the other side. Teamwork really does make the dream work, especially when all who are joined together share the same mindset, and one goal. This same concept can be applied to an individual, and their body. When the natural body is healthy, one can easily accomplish those things the mind is set to achieve. Unity is the key ingredient to any collective group, seeking to achieve success.

In our text, the apostles of Jesus were responsible for doing many signs and wonders among the people of the early church. Their miraculous manifestations would not have been made possible if confusion and ill will was among them, but their minds were set on being obedient to God, and fulfilling His command to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The body of Christ consists of many members, all who may be affiliated with different denominations, but if all have their minds and hearts set on fulfilling God’s will, then God can do great things through His people, no matter who they are affiliated with. The truth will indeed stand forever, so when the church collectively spreads the truth of the Gospel to all men, God will reveal His awesome power through all who are of one accord.

“Unity is what makes success a reality.” – Ell

Soon, The Sighs Will Cease

Isaiah 35:3-10

Soon, and very soon, all our troubles in this life will be over. The long days and nights of struggling to make ends meet, will forever be changed, when Christ comes to receive His church. On that day, there will be no more stressing, worrying, wondering, contemplating, pondering, wishing, hoping, doubting, disbelieving, crying, moaning, hurting, yelling, screaming, shaking, kicking, running, hiding, or blocking out anything and everything that could potentially push us over the edge.

Soon, and very soon, the things we thought mattered in this world, will mean absolutely nothing. We concern ourselves with all the distractions the enemy floods in media streams, and cause ourselves to lose focus on the simple fact that God is still in control, while Bible prophecy fulfills itself. We lose hope in the power of God, when we make life’s problems bigger than He is, but His mercy is everlasting, and He knows that we are only human, and can only take so much. But, there’s no excuse to lose heart, even in a world of unyielding wickedness, because many before us endured worse situations than we’ll ever face.

Soon, and very soon, we won’t have to sigh anymore, because, “…God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Rev 21:4). Soon, the sighs will cease, then the rest of our days will be lived enjoying the presence of the almighty, all-powerful, and all-knowing God of all creation!

Don’t give up! Don’t give in! Do not quit! You’ve ran the race well this long, so trust God to give you strength to finish.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Apostles chosen for ministry

Mark 3:7-19

Raising children, teaching students, or molding the minds of young people in any positive capacity can present the most enjoyable, yet challenging experiences. Parents set good examples for their children to follow, so that when their time comes to be responsible, they’ll be prepared to face adulthood with the necessary tools required to be prosperous in life. In the same sense, good teachers take pride in shaping the minds of their students, in order that they become equipped to face life’s challenges, and use the knowledge they acquire, to become successful. Unfortunately, parenting and teaching are two of the most unappreciated and undervalued virtues in this life. Good parents get labeled as strict and mean for preferring the safety and wellbeing of their children, over trying to be their best friend, and good teachers are criticized for pushing their students to rise above mediocrity, and do their best. The time will come when children will grow up, and students will graduate, and what was instilled in them will be presented with the inevitable challenges of life. A few knicks and bruises from stumbling in the real world, will send a reminder to those who felt they were pushed too hard by teachers, or sheltered by parents, and will humble them to a point where they’d wish they had embraced those teachings more back then.

Our text presents a similar situation where the disciples who were handpicked to study under Jesus’ wing, would soon be ordained to spread their own wings and share the Gospel under the power and authority of their teacher. These twelve men were witnesses of the sinless life Jesus lived, as well as partakers in His miraculous healing, deliverance, and restoration missions. I think it’s safe to assume that the disciple’s ordination came at the most appropriate time, when they were aware of most things involved in following after Christ, and immediately after Jesus felt the immense pressure of multitudes of hurting people pressing hard just to touch Him, so that they could be healed. Placing His power in those He taught and trained, would allow for Jesus to shy away from the spotlight a bit, as it was mentioned in verse twelve, “And he straightly charged them that they should not make him known. Stick a pin in that thought for a moment. Jesus, the only begotten Son of the omnipotent God of all creation, left Heaven, came to earth to die for the sins of men, yet refused to be made known among the earth. How many “preachers” do you know off the top of your head, whose names are known around the globe? I’d bet anyone three dollars and my new box of toothpaste that everyone reading this came up with about five names in less than a minute. Why do Christians want to be so popular on this earth, when we were commissioned to walk in humility? We see the faces of pastors and leaders on book covers, magazines, and always appearing on television shows. We are to walk in the light and knowledge of God’s Word, and not in the spotlight of wicked and selfish men. Now don’t judge my words prematurely, as I commend those who are on platforms, and are using it effectively for the kingdom of God, but to those who want to be relevant by the world’s standard, I shake my head at you, and pray you change before this world consumes you. Notice, that none of the disciples promoted themselves, but were elevated by Jesus, who obviously felt they were ready for such responsibility.

Ok, unpin that pin, and I’ll leave you with these two scriptures: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).

Walk in love,

Ell

Take care of widows now

Acts 6:1-6

The early church in the New Testament started off great! The people had all things in common, and no one lacked anything. Even those who owned land or houses, sold them so the funds could be evenly distributed among the believers who needed assistance. The apostles operated in the power of God and were responsible for many great miracles.

The fame of the church grew and membership increased greatly. The more people there are together who will believe God, the greater will be the atmosphere of faith created. This will make it easier for others to experience answers to their prayers. But wherever you have a large gathering of church folk, problems become inevitable.

The early church was comprised of a mixture of people from different lands, who all were protective of their own. We learn from this text that the “having all things common” situation had finally flown out the window, as there arose murmuring among the people.

The Greek-speaking Jews complained against the Native Jews who spoke Hebrew, because their widows were neglected in the “daily ministration.” I researched what the daily ministrations were, and can safely assume this included all the relief from what was accumulated after the people had sold their houses and land. In any case, something had to be done, because we learned from the previous lesson God’s feelings concerning the protection and safety of widows.

In order to resolve this issue before it escalated, the apostles gathered together and selected seven holy and faithful men to attend to the tables where collections were received and distributions to the people were made, so that they could continue to spread the word of God. This worked out perfectly!

The work of ministry requires that everyone play their part in keeping unity among the body. All members of the body are important, and no one should ever be left unattended to.

If you belong to a ministry where one department is favored over another, then there should be a meeting to discuss reorganizing or structuring the departments, so that all areas are treated equally. I often mention how the usher board at many churches seem to get little to no recognition, yet they hold one of the most important jobs in the church.

Never get too caught up in your position, until you neglect the needs of others. Allow the Holy Ghost to order your steps, and guide you every way that you should go.

Seek peace,

Ell