“But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.” Luke 3:19-20
Didn’t John say that he must decrease? Well, it happened.
“For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” Luke 1:48
Do you want the Lord’s regard? Then remain in a low estate.
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
Though it may require a lot of discipline to get your flesh to pray, be encouraged that the Spirit in you has great desire to pray. As you learn to walk in the Spirit, your desire for prayer will increase.
“But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.” Mark 11:32
Quite often, the common everyday Christian has more discernment than some of our ministers when it comes to recognizing the men and women who are called of God. The Pharisees quietly rejected John the Baptist while all men counted John as a prophet.
“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Mark 11:23
Many Christians would consider these words of Jesus to just be an exaggeration. After all, who has told a mountain to be cast into the sea? Others would say that Jesus doesn’t really mean a mountain of earth and rock, but the mountains of trials in our life. I can agree with them about the mountains of trials. Still I ask, can we really say to a mountain made of earth to be removed and cast into the sea? Most definitely. Some would ask, “Why then hasn’t anyone ever done it. It is because they don’t believe they can. Why don’t they believe they can? Because God did not tell them to do it. It has to be incredibly difficult to muster up faith for such a thing if God is not in it. If God is in it, then we can have the faith to accomplish anything that He desires.
“Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield. 6He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver. 7But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.” II Chronicles 25:5-7
Before we are quick to involve some believers in ministries, we should make sure that God is with them.
“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” John 12:43
Those who want the praise of men and not the praise of God, want what men give and not what God gives.
“And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. 25For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.†Mark 4:24-25
Liberals and socialists, even though some like to quote the words of Jesus, would not like what Jesus says in these two verses of scripture. They believe in the Robin Hood agenda, take from the rich and give to the poor. Though Robin Hood is looked at as a hero, he is nothing but a thief. The kingdom of God has different principles than the socialists. In the kingdom of God, those who have and use what they have for the glory of God, are those who will receive more. The little the ungrateful and unfaithful have, will be taken from them. Stay faithful saints and get ready to receive more spiritual blessings.
“So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen…. 10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified….1On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen…” Esther 7:1,10, 8:1
The final showdown is soon to take place. The king (Jesus), Haman (Satan) and Esther the queen (the bride of Christ), are all in one room. There, Esther pleads for the life of her people. Haman, a man who hated the Jews was a man who was promoted over all the officials, just as Satan who hates God’s people was given this world to rule. There is coming a day when it will all come to a head. God will cast Satan into an eternal hell, and Christ the king will give His bride authority to rule and reign with Him. Be encouraged today oh saints of God.
“That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.” Nehemiah 1:2-3
Today is not much different than the days of Nehemiah. I hear reports all the time, not about Jerusalem, but about the church and the desperate state many are in. They may be doing well financially (rich and in need of nothing), but they are spiritually broken down. However, there is a remnant in the midst of this, you may be one of them, who will not be afflicted by this. Some will have to “come out from amongst her.” Some will be rejected by her. These remnant will be the Nehemiahs for our generation who lead the rebuilding of the wall and gates.
