Obey And Live… Or Not

Jeremiah 37, 38, 39

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to an exciting episode of, “Obey And Live… Or Not?” Starring, Jeremiah the prophet, King Zedekiah, the Wicked Princes, and Ebedmelech the Ethiopian Eunuch! I’m your host, “holyell”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

*Being a prophet in Bible times was always associated with unjust treatment from those who refused to accept the truth of God’s words, spoken by the prophet. In our text, the prophet Jeremiah had lived, and served under two wicked kings, but was now given a measure of respect, from king Zedekiah. Unfortunately, those who were close to this king, refused to accept and hearken to the prophecies God spoke through Jeremiah, and chose to make life hard for the prophet.

(During the reign of king Zedekiah, the land of Judah was was attacked by the Chaldeans, who’s onslaught was hindered for a moment, after the people of God received temporary assistance from Pharaoh Hophra and his army.)

King Zedekiah: Messengers, come forth! I need you go unto the prophet Jeremiah, and request that he send prayers unto the LORD our God for us.

(Jeremiah arrives before the king.)

Jeremiah: Oh great king, may thy reign be forever. The word of the Lord came unto me saying, “Pharoah’s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land, and the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire. Thus saith LORD; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart.”

(During the commotion and dispersal after battle, Jeremiah then left Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to separate himself from the people.)

Captain of the Ward: (Sees Jeremiah approaching.) Halt! Who goes there? Are you with the Chaldeans, those who fought against God’s people?

Jeremiah: Absolutely not! That is false.

Captain of the Ward: I don’t believe you. Come with me.

(Jeremiah is taken before the princes.)

Wicked Princes: Who is this whom you bring before us?

Captain of the Ward: Some guy who got lost, but I’m certain he’s of the Chaldeans.

Wicked Princes: Is that so? Let’s beat him, then throw him in prison.

(The innocent prophet remained in prison many days.)

(King Zedekiah heard Jeremiah was in prison, and sent men to recover him.)

King Zedekiah: Jeremiah, prophet of the Lord, I am sorry for what happened to you.

Jeremiah: …

King Zedekiah: By the way, don’t mention this to anyone, but “Is there any word from the Lord?”

Jeremiah: “There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.

King Zedekiah: Oh my, geesh… I was not expecting to hear that again…sigh

Jeremiah: My king, what did I do to deserve all this?

King Zedekiah: What do you mean?

Jeremiah: Have I offended you, your servants, or your people? Why did you allow them to put me in prison? Where are all those prophets who prophesied unto you that the king of Babylon will not come against you, nor this land? Yet, I still stand before you with words from the Lord.

(Rather than release Jeremiah from prison altogether, king Zedekiah moved him to the court of the prison, no doubt to please the people.)

Wicked Princes: Oh king, we have heard the words spoken by Jeremiah, and we have concluded he deserves to be put to death! This man seeks not the welfare of the people, but to hurt them by weakening their hope with his words.

King Zedekiah: This is out of my hands, because there’s nothing I can do against your accusations.

(Jeremiah was cast into another prison, or dungeon, where there was no water.)

*Isn’t it strange, how when you do exactly what God tells you, things tend to get worse, before they get better?

Ebedmelech the Ethiopian Eunuch: Hey men, what’s going on? Why all the commotion and uproar?

Fellow Eunuch: Haven’t you heard the news? The prophet Jeremiah was left to die in the dungeon.

Ebedmelech the Ethiopian Eunuch: What?! Why?! Jeremiah is a true prophet of the LORD our God!

(The eunuch runs to the king, to plea for Jeremiah’s release.)

Ebedmelech the Ethiopian Eunuch: “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.”

*Isn’t it good to have someone in your life, who knows your walk with God is real, and will fight to keep you protected from wicked men?

King Zedekiah: Alright, take 30 men with you, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he dies.

(Jeremiah is brought before the king, and again he inquires a word from the Lord.)

King Zedekiah: Jeremiah, I want to ask you something, but you must tell me the truth, and leave nothing out.

Jeremiah: If I tell you, will you not put me to death?

King Zedekiah: You have my word, I will not put you to death. Now, tell me what you heard from the Lord.

Jeremiah: If you surrender unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then your soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your household shall live. But, if you refuse, the Chaldeans will burn this city, and you will not escape them. Obey the voice of the Lord, and it shall be well with you.

*Sounded simple enough, right? Well, king Zedekiah refused to listen to the words of the Lord and he and his household suffered a gruesome end. Although the prophet Jeremiah endured persecution for simply speaking the truth of God’s Word, he was spared by king Nebuchadnezzar, who offered the prophet of God protection and safety. Not only was Jeremiah spared, but God looked on Ebedmelech the Ethiopian Eunuch, and blessed him and his house, for looking after Jeremiah in his time of need.

*Suffering for the sake of the Gospel is hard sometimes, even to the point where death seems near, but God will always send someone to aid us on our journey, and help others see the light of God that shines within us. God will protect us, even when others refuse to accept us.

This concludes the exciting episode of, “Obey And Live…Or Not?” Thanks for tuning in.

Are You There?

Lamentations 5

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to an exciting episode of, “Are You There?” Starring, Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, and God, the Father! I’m your host, “holyell”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

(Jeremiah calls to God, in hopes of pleading to Him for help.)

Jeremiah: (Ring! Ring! Ring!……Ring! Ring! Ring!)

Father:…

Jeremiah: Why won’t He answer, I know He’s always there? Sigh… I’ll keep trying. (Ring! Ring! Ring!……)

Father: (Picks up phone)…

Jeremiah: Hello Father, are you there?

Father:…

Jeremiah: Father, hello… can you hear me? It’s Jeremiah, your servant.

Father:…

Jeremiah: Father… sigh… I know you’ve rejected us, and are very angry with how we have been living, but we need your help!

Father:…

Jeremiah: Since we’ve turned away from you, things have gone from bad to really bad, and we are unable to save ourselves!

Father:…

Jeremiah: It’s evident you have called us to live according to righteousness, but our low standard of living has resulted in intense suffering!

Father:…

Jeremiah: Please Father, I know you see our struggles, so consider your people, and bring us back into your arms of protection!

Father:…

Jeremiah: All that we have been blessed with, has been taken by strangers; our inheritance, our houses, and we can’t rest because we are under heavy persecution!

Father:…

Jeremiah: Even the elders have refrained from serving, and our holy place is desolate! Father, please… restore us to our former glory in your presence! Do not forsake your people Lord. This is my prayer…

Father:…

*The longer we stray away from walking after righteousness, our sins will eventually find us out. The people of Jerusalem experienced the results of living contrary to God’s commandments, and were forced to suffer immensely. Although God heard the prayer of Jeremiah, He allowed the people a season of suffering, in hopes they would learn from the error of their ways, until He restored them once again. God loves His people, and will never abandon them, but when we continue in sin, He’ll allow seasons of suffering, in order to push us back into the right mindset and re-commit to serving Him.

This concludes the exciting episode of, “Are You There?” Thanks for tuning in.

From Faith To Fear

1 Kings 19

The great and honorable prophet Elijah had proven to be a reliable and effective conduit, by which God could work His glory and power through. Confronting a king of any stature, is never a wise action to take, but God was with Elijah, more notably when he opposed the king’s wicked beliefs, and obeyed as God commanded.

While doing the works of the Lord are indeed righteous, not everyone will hold your actions in a positive light. After hearing how Elijah had slain 450 prophets of Baal (who were in full support of the king and queen’s unrighteous rule), the cruel and brutal Jezebel sent a messenger to God’s prophet, warning him of his certain death. After performing many great wonders in the name of the Lord, one would assume that Elijah would simply laugh at the threat of a deceived and unrighteous woman, but the great and mighty prophet of the most high God, ran for his life! I have full understanding that a threat on your life should never be taken lightly (especially these days), but Elijah was not too far removed from making it rain, and slaying 450 men, by himself! What was it about Jezebel, that caused the once bold prophet to cower in fear? While king Ahab was known to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, Jezebel was responsible for spearheading many of those situations. She promoted and funded Baal worship, eliminated many of God’s representatives in Israel, then set her mind to rid the world of the prophet Elijah.

While it’s true, the mind and body require rest and nourishment, especially after a great spiritual experience, I’m certain God would have protected Elijah, had he stood his ground against the evil queen, but due to his overwhelming fear of Jezebel, the prophet Elijah ran from Jezreel, and eventually settled at Mount Horeb. While there, he talked with God…

The Only Wise God

Isaiah 57:14-21

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa 55:8-9 KJV). The more I try to understand the intricacies and details of God the Father, the more my head hurts. I often quote Dr. Kent Hovind when he says,”if my little three pound brain could understand the Creator of all things, then He would not be worth worshiping”. Simply reading descriptions of the nature of the Creator and His dwelling place, makes me so excited to soon inhabit eternity with Him! The Lord our God is many wonderful things, including eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, in all places at all times, humble, just, righteous, consistent in love and judgment, and more! God inhabits eternity, and dwells in the high and holy place (with Christ), and His plan is to revive the spirit of those who walk in humility, and restore the hearts of those who’s were broken.

With the state in which the world is today, many, including Christians, have given up hope that God truly cares for those who suffer. But, know this; God never gives up on those He loves, those who walk in His ways, and keep His commandments. Even when we fall short, while trying to walk in the Spirit, God will pardon our iniquities, and restore us to a right place in Him. God sees our suffering and is fully aware that we need Him, but only in His perfect timing, will He step in to deliver His people.

We may not understand all that’s going on today, but focus your attention on being consistent in obeying God, because He made us, and He knows all about what we’re experiencing. In due time, the one whose name is Holy, will show Himself mighty in the lives of His children.

A Servant’s Plea

2 Kings 5:1-14

If you were suffering from a condition that alienated you from people, brought shame and misery to your name, and was guaranteed to make the rest of your days on the earth a living nightmare, would you pass up the opportunity to be totally healed, if told to do something that seemed uncomfortable and unconventional? Would you allow pride and arrogance to cause you to miss out on a once in a lifetime experience, and be left to suffer in your condition forever? I can’t speak for all men, but I wouldn’t hesitate to take that offer.

Our text introduces us to a man who was captain of the Syrian army, and was deemed great and honourable. He was also a mighty man in valor, and while these accolades portray him as someone of great prestige, there was something in his life that cast a dark shadow along his path. The head of the Syrian army suffered from leprosy. According to answersingenesis.org, leprosy was considered a curse of God for many centuries, and it was often associated with sin. It did not kill, but neither did it seem to end. Instead, it lingered for years, causing the tissues to degenerate, deforming the body.

Many have thought leprosy to be a disease of the skin, but it is better classified as a disease of the nervous system, because the leprosy bacterium attacks the nerves. Its symptoms start in the skin and peripheral nervous system (outside the brain and spinal cord), then spread to other parts, such as the hands, feet, face, and earlobes. People with leprosy experience disfigurement of the skin and bones, twisting of the limbs, and curling of the fingers to form the characteristic claw hand. Facial changes include thickening of the outer ear and collapsing of the nose. The Bible isn’t clear concerning the stage of the captain’s leprosy, but I’m certain he was ready and willing to do whatever it required, to be healed from it. Or was he?

After hearing from a young maid about a prophet in Israel who could heal the captain of his condition, the king of Syria sent a letter to the king of Israel, requesting the aid of the prophet. Elisha heard the news of what was going on, then asked that the men come to him at his house. When the captain and those with him arrived at the door of Elisha’s house, the prophet sent a messenger to them saying, “Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean” (vs.10). During these times, the Jordan river wasn’t known to be the cleanest, so upon hearing the instructions of the messenger, the captain became very angry, and thought he would receive healing by the hand and words of the prophet himself. He even made mention that there were other rivers more clean than the Jordan, so why not send him to those. Had it not been for his servants, who convinced the captain that the words spoken of the prophet should be obeyed, despite full understanding of the instructions, he probably would have kept his leprosy for the rest of his days.

The captain obeyed the words of the prophet Elisha, and his flesh came again like the flesh of a child, and he was clean. You may not suffer from leprosy, or a life altering disease, but God can do more than simply physically healing; He can restore the joy of His salvation in your heart, renew your mind and spirit, strengthen your weary faith and even bring your broken focus, back to Him.

“Trust God in all things, no matter how big or small, because there’s nothing to hard for Him to heal at all.” – Ell

The Last Meal

1 Kings 17:8-16

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to an exciting episode of, “The Last Meal”! Starring, Widow Woman, her son, and the great prophet, Elijah! I’m your host, “holyell”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

(Widow Woman arises from her knees with her son, after praying to God for strength, as she and her son prepare their last meal. Being a widow, it was very hard for her to make ends meet, especially during a time when the husband would provide majority of the family’s income and goods.)

Widow Woman: …in the name of the Father, amen. Son, go and wash your hands, while I prepare dinner.

Son: What are we having today mommy? I want a lot of food. I’m very hungry!

Widow Woman: Sigh… yes my son, I will make you as much as your little tummy can hold (knowing all she had was enough for just the two of them, she didn’t want to disappoint her son).

(The son goes to wash and prepare himself for supper)

Widow Woman: (Speaking softly under her breath) Lord, we need you. Since my husband was laid to rest, I can barely provide for myself, and my son. After today, I have no provisions for the days after. Please Lord, make a way for us to survive. I know you have all power to do great things, so reveal your power to me and my son, today.

(Widow Woman tilts her head back, looks to the heavens, as tears roll down the sides of her face. All of a sudden, she hears a voice commanding her to prepare her home to receive an unexpected guest, who will require sustenance and rest.)

(During the reign of the most wicked and cruel king Ahab, God prepared the prophet Elijah, to speak on His behalf, in order to reveal His judgment to the king. After doing as God commanded him to do, the prophet Elijah went into hiding, as God provided unconventional means of food while he waited. When the source of provision had ceased, and the brook dried up, it was time for God’s servant to move to his next destination.)

Elijah: God, my Lord and strength, the ravens have gone scarce, and this beautiful brook has dried up. Where will you have me to go, so that I may rest and have food?

(God told Elijah to arise, and go to Zarephath, and dwell there, for He had already commanded a widow woman to sustain him while there. So, he arose and went where God instructed. As he neared the gate of the city, he saw a woman gathering sticks.)

Elijah: Hello madam! Excuse me, but if you don’t mind, could you please bring me some water to drink? My journey was quite long, and I am parched.

Widow Woman: (Thinking in her mind whether this was the unexpected guest or not.) Yes! Yes, good sir. I will fetch some water for you.

Elijah: Ma’am! Pardon, but while you’re going to get the water, could you please also bring back some bread, so that I may regain my strength? But only if the request isn’t too great a task.

Widow Woman: (Speaks with tears in her eyes.) As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

Elijah: Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.

(Widow Woman went to do as Elijah commanded. She arrives home to began meal preparations.)

Son: Hey mommy! Did you find all the sticks you were looking for?

Widow Woman: Yes son, I find them. I need you to sit there for a moment. I have to prepare a meal for a very special person.

Son: But mommy, I’m hungry! My tummy is making noises like a frightened horse!

Widow Woman: My son, you are a bundle of joy. Give mommy a few moments, then we all will eat well.

(After obeying the words of the unexpected guest sent by God, Widow Woman, Elijah, and her house, ate good many days thereafter.)

*Obeying the commands of God tend to get harder, the more we deal with the pressures of life. But, overcoming what wars against us with obedience to God, will guarantee that not only will our faith grow stronger, but God will make a way to deliver us from our struggle, no matter how intense it may be.

This concludes the exciting episode of, “The Last Meal”! Thanks for tuning in.

Keep It Simple

1 Corinthians 14:13-19

Doing ministry and works for the kingdom of God, are very noteworthy opportunities. God is the creator of all things, and working to fulfill His purpose is a great thing! I can remember as a child, I always wanted to go out on Saturday mornings, to help my dad and brothers mow lawns. I was always denied that privilege, because I was too small, and would probably hurt myself, or someone else. But, when the opportunity came to assist my dad with his side business, I jumped at the chance to finally contribute to bringing funds to our home. When we do works for the kingdom, it’s so that all members of the body of Christ can be blessed. There’s no secret to what Christians do, and all things are done for edification, and encouragement. For this reason, there should never be a time, when a preacher, teacher, prophet, or anyone who exercises their gift in the body, do so for self gain. Paul mentioned in our text, he can speak with tongues (multiple human languages) more than all of the Corinthian church members, but he would rather speak only five words the people could grasp and understand, rather than 10,000 words that would leave them beyond confused.

Never get so caught up in your spiritual gift, talent, or ability, until you lose focus on God’s purpose to help others, and not hinder them. Take pride in all the great things God has placed inside of you, and be careful not to abuse, misuse, or not use His gifts, but operate in them as they were purposed to be used.

“Let your light shine so bright, until someone can see it in their valley moment.” – Ell

Listen, And Live

Jeremiah 38:1-6

When God spoke a word, in the scriptures, it was always in the best interest of those whom His words were directed, to take heed, and do as He commanded. God gave instruction, direction, or warning, so that those whom He called to serve His purpose, would fulfill what He expected from them, without distraction or delay.

In those times when men refused to follow God’s direct instructions, a hard lesson was usually associated with their disobedience. One such example can be found in the book of Numbers. Despite all his favor, fame, and miraculous works, Moses never stepped foot in the land of promise, due to his disobedience. During the time when Moses had led the children of Israel into the desert of Zin, where no food or water was to be found, the people had become hungry and parched. Things were so bad, that even Miriam, Moses’ sister, died, and was buried there. So, Moses and his brother Aaron prayed to God earnestly, and God appeared to them, then gave Moses a simple instruction; “Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink”. Obeying God couldn’t get any more simpler than that… right? Unfortunately, Moses had become so frustrated with the complaining people, that rather than speak to the rock as God commanded, he literally whacked it, not once, but TWICE, out of disgust for the rebellious people. Shame on you Moses lol. He was almost there too!

Our text gives another example of the importance of adhering to the voice of the Lord. God had given a word to the prophet Jeremiah, to warn the people of the city to flee toward the Chaldeans, so they might live, because their city would soon be overtaken by the Babylonian army. By this time in Scripture, Jeremiah had proven himself to be a true prophet of the living God, but his words weren’t received well by the princes who were gathered in his presence also. Rather than take heed to God’s life-saving warning, the men convinced the king, that Jeremiah was only weakening the hands of the military, as well as the people in the city, by uttering such hurtful words. The naive king gave in to the cries of the princes, and had the prophet Jeremiah thrown into the dungeon. To give a shortened version to the conclusion of this story, God took care of His prophet, and rescued him from certain death, but as for king Zedekiah and those who remained in the city, well… let’s just say they never saw the light of day, ever again (the details of their judgment are extremely graphic).

When God gives instruction to us today (as He expects us to obey the Bible), it would be wise for us to read, hear, study, and take heed. God knows what’s ahead of us, and desires that we not be overtaken with sin. But, we must trust that His Word is true, and willingly do those things He asked of us, in His Word.

Why does the living man complain?

Ell

The Golden Years

Luke 2:36-38

After the just and devout Simeon was finally pleased after seeing the child sent by God, to save the world, another interesting character was noted in Scripture, as one who long awaited to see the manifested Savior. Anna, the prophetess, was very old, yet thought it necessary to devote her life to service in the temple, after losing her husband following seven years of faithful marriage. While many women would probably have remarried, and chosen to live the family life, Anna decided that her life would be more fulfilled, serving God night and day in the temple.

Moments after Simeon had blessed Joseph and Mary, Anna came in unto the Christ child, gave thanks to the Lord, then “spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (vs. 38b).

The birth of Jesus was indeed a great deal, but being able to witness the child was a moment few would ever forget. Like Simeon and Anna, we too should serve the Lord all the days of our lives. Simeon was obedient to God despite not knowing when the Holy Spirit’s words would be fulfilled, and Anna dedicated her life to service for God, even after losing her husband. Will you stay true to God, even when things in your life don’t turn out well? Or, will you give up serving God, the moment you face a hardship in life?

Commit your works unto the Lord, and allow His Spirit to guide you, even into your latter years. Be steadfast in the Lord, and tell of His goodness to all who seek salvation.

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

Ell

Power In Prophecy

Isaiah 61:8-11, 62:2-4

Of all the spiritual gifts God bestowed upon His chosen, the apostle Paul advised the church at Corinth to desire the gift of prophecy. Paul felt strongly about his preference, because “greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.” (1 Corinthians 14:5). Spiritual gifts that actually benefit the whole body of believers, offer greater blessings than those that bless individuals persons, so it’s wise that we covet those gifts that will edify more people, than just ourselves.

The gift of prophecy was exercised throughout Scripture; more notably through the books of the prophets. Isaiah was considered one of the major prophets, but not because he was greater than the others. His book comprises a great amount of text, and prophecy, than what the minor prophets have recorded. Isaiah’s prophetic words offer great hope, especially for those who have suffered, or are suffering for the sake of the Gospel.

Whether we choose to believe it, or not, Christ will return, and all who remain true to their calling, will be rewarded. We learn in our text, there will be an “acceptable year of the Lord”, where God will have vengeance on those who persecuted His children. Such prophecies help us endure hard times, and keep us encouraged, while striving to serve God daily.

Allow God’s prophetic Word to inspire, motivate, and push you to work diligently in the earth. Watch, pray, love, and exercise all the gifts you operate in, to the glory of the almighty God.

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

Ell