GOD’S JUDGMENT— INSANITY

Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.

All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.  Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.  You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.

His dominion is an eternal dominion;

his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

All the peoples of the earth

are regarded as nothing.

He does as he pleases

with the powers of heaven

and the peoples of the earth.

No one can hold back his hand

or say to him: “What have you done?”

At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before.  Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. —Daniel 4:27-37

            Could it be that part of the judgment of God on this United States of America is insanity?  It seems that is the case.  Many things that were considered mental illness or illegal are now being paraded as the normal lifestyle.  Leaders are voting for what was illegal and deviant to be the normal lifestyle and apparently the vast majority of the populace is accepting these deviate lifestyles as the new normal as well.  What has been illegal and deviate lifestyles are now being accepted as normal.  Yes, this nation is becoming insane. 

            In the above verses from Daniel King Nebuchadnezzar we see that the king was full of pride and was not God honoring.  He would not do good and be kind to the oppressed.  No, he would not turn from his sin and so God judge him with insanity until he acknowledge and honor God.  Then his sanity was restored.  So it will be with our leaders and any others that will not honor God and turn from their sin.

“Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” —II Timothy 2:25-26 Oh, that people would repent and turn to God so they can come to their senses, escaping from the devil’s trap in doing his will!

Dear Father in heaven may this be done by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son, Jesus.  Yes, so be it!

LIARS WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE!

The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. —Deuteronomy 19: 18-19

            Wow… this would be helpful if it was applied today!  How many people today are being accused falsely of something and the person accusing knows it is false?  If a false witness were to pay the penalty they wanted for those they falsely accused then maybe lying about others would decrease.

There are so many lies floating around the political realm.  If this principle in the above verses were applied then no doubt political language would clean up or those practicing false accusation would be purged from office.  So also would it be in our courtrooms.  Lies would decrease.

God hates lying.  It is one of the Ten Commandments— “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16).  “There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers” (Proverbs 6:16-19.

Nobody is getting away with anything.  In the end every single person will be held accountable.  Make no mistake about that! We will all die.  We will all appear before God to give an account of our lives.  We will… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HRENqcbTUQ

Dear Heavenly Father I look so forward to being in glory with Jesus and all who love Him.  I so look forward to being in that perfect place where I will never fail You again, where I will never sin against You again.  Yes, I so look forward to being with Jesus.  May I finish the race You have marked out for me.  May it be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD6khv6pGkw&t=51s

A NATIONAL DISGRACE

You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. —Deuteronomy 16:19

            What was spoken to Israel centuries ago in this passage still applies to us today.  We are not:

• To pervert justice
• To show partiality
• To accept a bribe
• To be blinded by a bribe
• To subvert the cause of the righteous by a bribe

Oh, how justice is perverted in our nation.  Where is the justice for the babies that are slaughtered in the womb?  How is it that our top leaders can pass a bill that allows for infanticide?  https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/25/senate-defeats-anti-abortion-bill-1185531 Now they have gone beyond abortion to the allowing babies to be killed that survive an abortion.  This is wicked leadership by a wicked nation that put them into leadership.  Yes, we are a wicked nation and it is only by the mercy, grace and patience of God that He has not judged us as a nation… yet…  But beware, His patience does not mean judgment will not come. 

Now a baby that survives an abortion attempt can be murdered!  What bribery would bring a person to this wicked conclusion?  Really, is it to placate a group of people who want to kill kids in the womb?  Yes it is.  Where are the statesmen standing for what is right and just?  How is it we do not have a strong voice or voices crying out for the unborn and now those born who will be slaughtered?  The leadership of United States was slow to enter the battle against the atrocities of Hitler and now they continue to support the atrocities of our own nation.  Just as the Lord God Almighty used other nations to stop Hitler’s wicked works against humanity, so a line will be crossed where He will use other nations to judge us.  We are getting much closer to that line!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyUnpjd3TPU

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!” (Psalm 33:12) and “Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:15).  We are not this and we are in deep spiritual darkness, a blindness that causes even our leaders to make wicked choices.  Nothing and nobody can help us without a turning to the Lord God Almighty. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).  May He help us!

Dear Father without You a nation has no hope and no light and sinks deeper into wicked darkness where anything goes.  Lord please helps those who know you shine and speak out against the injustices and wickedness, exposing it for what it is.  May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus?  So be it!

HE IS FULFILLING HIS PURPOSE FOR YOU!

I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.  God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness…  For your steadfast love is great to the heavens. —Psalm 57:2-3, 10

            God is fulfilling His purpose for you!  You say it does not feel like it.  Well, let us not go by what we feel.  Instead, let us go by what God says.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).  Do you see it in this well known verse?  You “have been called according to his purpose” and “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”  Now instead of going by the feelings of sadness or anger or feeling nobody cares… KNOW THIS— HE IS WORKING OUT ALL THINGS, YES, ALL THINGS FOR THE GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM!  Do you love Him?  Then He has purpose through the “all things” in your life.  He is working.  I know you would like to see things move faster toward a direction you desire.  But remember that God is at work doing a work to bring about His work, His purpose.

            His love toward you never fails and His faithfulness never ceases.  We can trust Him fully for whatever is going on in our lives.  What do we need to do?  Rest in Him and be faithful with what He says to us in His Word.  We need to trust what He has to say.  Otherwise our lives will be a wreck.  Our Lord God Almighty is fully trustworthy.  Trust Him as He works out His loving purpose in our lives.

Dear Father, I am grateful to know that You are working out Your purpose for me.  May I follow You and be faithful in whatever You desire of me.  May it be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibky__ABoLs

HE IS TO BE OVER ALL

And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good? —Deuteronomy 10:12-13

            What did the Lord God require of Israel?

• They were to fear the Lord their God
• They were to walk in all His ways
• They were to love Him
• They were to serve Him with all their heart and soul
• They were to keep His commandments
• They were to keep His statutes

All this was for Israel’s good!  God was not trying to make life hard for them.  No, He was looking out for their best interests.  They were to “fear the Lord their God.”  To fear the Lord is the “foundation of knowledge.”  It is to be wise and disciplined in that knowledge (Proverbs 1:7; 15:33).  Fear of the Lord is to hate evil and depart from it (Proverbs 8:13; 16:6; Job 28:28).  To fear the Lord is to judge with integrity (II Chronicles 19:7).  To understand the fear of the Lord is to gain knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:5).  The Apostle Paul said, “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience” (II Corinthians 5:11).  May we see to “persuade others” as well.

It is because of not walking in His ways that the Messiah would come.  “We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).  Israel, along with all mankind, has a sinful desire to walk after their own ways and not God’s ways.  The nation of Israel and all mankind needs a heart change and the coming Messiah would enable that through faith in Him.

We are to “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37).  Godly love is to be the motivation, the guiding foundation of our lives (I Corinthians 13; I John 4:7-12).  Anything and everything that is not the result of godly love is worthless.

You and I are to be servants.  Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant.  For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12) and that “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all” (Mark 10:44).  Yes, we are called to serve.  May we be a servant actively serving.  May it be so!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC617kE1maU

Dear Father I am grateful to be able to serve You and may I do so however You want me to.  May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit while I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus!

WE ARE GOD’S POSSESSION!

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. —Deuteronomy 7:6

For the LORD has chosen Jacob to be his own, Israel to be his treasured possession. —Psalm 135:4

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. —I Peter 2:9

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,  who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. —Ephesians 1:13-14

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. —I Corinthians 6:19-20

            Fellow follower of Jesus you are owned by God!  We are His servants and friends, His possessions.  Think about this!  He has chosen you.  He wants you.  He loves you.  His compassion is toward you.  His kindness is toward you.  His best interest is toward you.  He has promised never to leave you.  He has promised to be with you to the end.  He is working in you.  He is conforming you to His Son Jesus.  He chose you to declare His praises.  He called you out of darkness.  He called you into His marvelous light.  He sealed us with His Holy Spirit.  He has guaranteed our inheritance.  He has made our bodies temples of His Holy Spirit.  He bought us with a price— the precious blood of Christ.  Therefore, we are to honor God with our whole being.  May we do so!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ujSGPxnIKc

Dear Father, may I honor You by the way I live.  May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  So be it!      

LISTEN TO HIM AND LOVINGLY OBEY!

 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you… Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children… You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.  You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess…  Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.  “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. —Deuteronomy 4:2, 9; 5:32; 6:3-9

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. —John 14:21

Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” —Matthew 22:37-40

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. —Ephesians 6:4

            If you or I really love God we are going to adhere to what He has to say.  Not only that but we are going to immensely desire to sit at His feet and listen to what He has to say.  This is so vital.  He is the One who is sovereign.  He is Lord.  He is Creator.  He is the One who speaks to us His desires and we are to be His servants, being what He desires and doing what He desires.  We are not to add to what He says or take away from what He says.  What He says is to be passed on to our children and what He has told us we are to proclaim and make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:10-20).  Those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ will be made “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19) and will be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). 

            We are not to be forgetful hearers, but faithful “doers of the Word” so we will not be self-deceived (James 1:22-25).  That was the problem with Israel.  They heard God’s Word but they did not put it into practice and they wound up being self-deceive and went after other gods which are no gods at all!  So it is today.  When people do not adhere and live out God’s Word they are led astray.  They wind up with a god of their own making and doing what they want to do.  This often has a Christian veneer and is dangerous to the unsuspecting.  Measure everything and everybody by the Word of God!

Let us be faithful to listen to what God has to say in His Word and then live as He wants us to live.  Dear Father may this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  Yes, may this be so.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xOCRYENXTk

THE IMPACT OF OBEDIENCE AND DISOBEDIENCE

And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. But as for you, turn, and journey into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea. —Deuteronomy 1:39-40

That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness!  Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” —Numbers 14:1-4

As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected.  But as for you, your bodies will fall in this wilderness.  Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness.  For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’  I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.” —Numbers 14:31-35         

            Am I using someone as an excuse or reason for not obeying the Lord?  The Israelites used their children as an excuse or reason to not obey the Lord.  Going into the Land was not an option.  The Lord told them to go in and take possession of it.  Still, out of fear and lack of faith 10 of those who spied out the Land gave a bad report and influenced the whole nation to the point of stoning Joshua and Caleb who wanted to go in (Numbers 13:26-14:4, 10). 

            OK, fine… they would not go in, but their children who they said would become a prey would be the ones that would inherit the Land 40 years later (Numbers 14:26-35).  As for those who were disobedient, every one of them would die in the wilderness over the next 40 years.  After they were all dead then their children would enter the Land.

            Don’t use somebody as an excuse for not following the Lord.  Those parents actually did not have their children’s best interest in mind.  If they did they would have obey the Word of the Lord and entered the Land.  That was the best thing they could have done as an example to their children of faith and obedience.  Instead, their disobedience greatly impacted their children for the next 40 years as they wandered in the wilderness.  This was not necessary, but it happened because of the children’s parent’s disobedience. 

            Watch out!  Disobedience today can have long term affects not only on our own children, but on many people!  Let us trust the Lord and obey Him.  Obedience will benefit many!  Disobedience can be destructive to many!

Dear Father help me to trust and obey in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  May it be so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-LdHCuo5-Y

WAIT ON HIM WITH THE GODLY

Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day. Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah  You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.  But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah  The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying,  “See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!”  But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.  I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly. —Psalm 52

            Evil men plot destruction.  They are workers of deceit (II Corinthians 11:13) and have a sharp tongue, causing conflict.  These type men love evil more than good and lying more than speaking what is right.  They think they are in control, but they are not!

            God is in control and He will have the last word in everything.  The evil man does not make God his refuge, but those who love God do.  Those who do not trust God trust something else.  They even seek refuge in their own destruction! 

            Those who “trust in the steadfast love of God” will be like a green olive tree that produces fruit.  These type people have a thankful, grateful heart because they know whatever they are and whatever they do is because of God’s grace in their lives.  Those who love God “wait for His name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly” and trust Him to work out whatever He desires to work out in any and every situation… good or bad.

            What situation do you find yourself in?  Wait on Him, but do this among those who love Him.  Do not isolate yourself!  Enjoy the wonderful support from God’s people.  He is working.  He is in control.  He has our best in mind.  Yes, He does!

            Yes ago, while Elaine and I were going through a very difficult time, I was going to ask the Why question.  Before I did the Lord said to me, “See Ted, now you can understand a little bit more of how much I have suffered for you.”  Instead of asking the Why question, in tears I fell down and worshipped!  Wait on Him!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsQmsEE_2-s&index=7&list=UUf1NPIFOBwzTLVQiEDnq4Cw

Dear Father I am so grateful to know that You ultimately are in control of all things and are working out Your purposes as You have through the ages from the beginning of time.  Please help me to rest in You.  I do trust You to work out Your will.  But I do have to say it does not feel very good at times.  It is so painful at times.  Yet I know this helps me to understand a little more of how much Jesus suffered for me.  I am grateful.  I am thankful.  I love You Lord Jesus.  I am so glad I am safe in Your hands.

REPENTANCE

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment…. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me…  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise —Psalm 51:1-4, 10, 17

            When is a person truly repentant?  Is it when they shed tears?  Not necessarily because that could just be “worldly sorrow” that “brings death” and destruction.  It is “Godly sorrow” that “brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret” (II Corinthians 7:10).  Repentance is acknowledging I am going the wrong way, Satan’s way, the way of the flesh, the way of the world’s system of darkness and I have a change of mind and purpose to follow God’s ways.  There is evidence of a transformed life when one has repented.  It is a process as the mind is renewed (Romans 12:2).

            A person can say they have repented, but their actions will truly show over time.  Jesus told us it would be by their “fruit” that we would know false prophets.

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. —Matthew 7:15-20

            In time the Lord has said of a false prophet, a false communicator’s sin that “you may be sure that (their) sin will find (them) out (Numbers 32:23).  It will eventually come out just as it did in David’s life.  He thought that he had covered his tracks, but he was living a lie, appearing to be something on the outside when something hideous on the inside was taking place.  God will expose a man’s sin in time…

            When God does expose a man’s sin then the man has a choice to make.  He can repent and get right with God or he can become hardened in his sin and become even more destructive.  In David’s case, as a believer, he acknowledged his sin, repented and desired God’s ways. 

            Has God shown you that you need to repent and desire His ways and hate evil?  May you do so.  That is God’s desire for you.  Otherwise you will be living a lie…   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RnDuwbz5UI

Dear Father please search my heart and reveal any wicked way in me.  Oh, that I would confess my sin to You and be thankful for Your forgiveness.  May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.