Haggai 1:7 – Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

2 Kings 6:25 – And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.

Hello all, new blog today. Amos 8:11 – Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. There is a famine that has come to our land today, and the famine is here right now. It’s a spiritual famine. We don’t see, just like Jesus said in Revelation, that we are blind, wretched, naked. It’s not we don’t have the Bible, but people are tired of the Bible. Tired of God’s word. Numbers 21:5 – And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. People got sick of the manna, that manna which God faithfully provided, new every morning… just like people are tired of the Word of God… there is a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Just like in Exodus 32, when Moses went away up to the Mount… the Israelites quickly made a golden calf, made themselves some new religion, sure they attached some “Christianity” to it to legitimize it, and produced something more entertaining, something more worldly, they were committing fornication, idolatry, dancing, having a good old time with their new, cooler, religion.

2 Timothy 4:3,4 – For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. That’s what Christianity is like today, there are still the overcomers, the faithful few that God knows, God has still left himself with people just like the 7,000 who had not kissed or bowed the knee to Baal in Elijah’s day… but by and large broad road Christianity is a long way down the road now. Jesus said in the last days the love of many would wax cold, he said when he comes, will he find faith on the earth? Hardly likely. 1 Timothy 4:1 – Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. And there is a famine… just like in Joseph’s day… a famine so grievous that the years of plenty will be and are swallowed up and forgotten by reason of the soreness of the famine… and when there is a famine of HEARING the words of the Lord… faith goes with it. Romans 10:17 – So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. You have a Bible, but you don’t read it, you have access to the very word of God… which would set your life straight, but instead you turn away from it. Biblical faith is not something abstract, unfounded… true Biblical saving faith is beliving and obeying God’s word.  Romans 10:16 – But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 2 Thessalonians 1:8 – In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:17 – For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

You can say, what’s the big deal about God’s word? Well it is everything. It’s the only tangible thing we’ve got. The Word, WRITTEN down. So much easier to distribute. No wonder Jesus said in John 14:12 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. Think about it, the Bible, the gospel being spread through the whole world. The Word of God going to the four corners of the earth. But not to digress… God’s word… it’s our SOLE link to God… has been from the start. John 1:1,2 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. 1 John 1:1 – That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life. Because no man has seen God! Noone has. John 1:18 – No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. Now, Jesus is the Word, he is the Word of God. John 1:14 – And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Right from the beginning, it is and was the Word. That same Word that came to Adam, to Enoch, to Noah, to Abraham, to David, to the prophets, then the Word was made flesh… Jesus Christ… God with us… then the Holy Spirit given, and he brought to rememberance all the words, and the Word is written down. God has made it so easy for us. Talk about a better thing. You don’t need to go to Israel to seek the prophet, you don’t need to to to the temple with your lamb, God did provide something better for us. Jesus is the Mediator, the Intercessor, he is our go between between us and God. He is your only link to God. He is the way, the truth the life. He declared himself as the only way to the Father, no man comes to the Father but by him. So without Jesus Christ, your search for God and truth is vain. And if you claim you want truth, and you have God’s word, why don’t you settle on it? Those that truly seek, find. Jesus, God, promises that. Admit it, it’s because you truthfully… don’t want the truth. Isaiah 1:3 – The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. If you want truth, you will know it when you see it. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of… truth.

Yes, it is all a bit mind boggling. The Word. That’s all humanity’s had. People all through the Old Testament got the word from the prophets. Hebrews 1:1,2 – God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. The Word came to people, angels appeared to certain people, the angel of the Lord appeared, we can wish for seeing an angel thinking that would really seal the deal, but really, there’s nothing better than having the whole word of God at our disposal today. And if you have an evil heart of unbelief, doesn’t matter what God shows you, you won’t believe. And the Bible is the FULL counsel of God. No man hath seen God at any time. That’s why making idols, both physically and spiritually is such a sin. Deuteronomy 4:12 – And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. We commit idolatry today when we make a Jesus in our mind who isn’t the Jesus of the Bible. Heaps of people assent to Jesus with head belief… but don’t heart believe him… but furthermore heaps of people believe “a” Jesus who is a false Christ. An idol Jesus. Another Jesus, another spirit, another gospel. Read the Bible to get to know the true Jesus for yourself. Don’t be deceive, Jesus said many false Christs will arise… FOLLOW THEM NOT. Don’t follow a fake Judas Jesus all the way to hell. A false Jesus who tricks you to hell.

And furthermore, no man can see the spiritual world. Can you see the spirit world? No, we don’t have the ability to, our physical eyes can’t see. So we’ve got a whole lot of Bibleless Christians running around, not reading their Bible, you can see why Christianity’s gone down the drain. Why? Because the Bible, God’s word, is the sword of the Spirit, it is a spiritual book, Jesus said his words are spirit and life. Your only hope of navigating the spiritual world with success (and the spiritual world is the ETERNAL world – the Bible says the things which are seen are temporal, but the things not seen are eternal) is through reading and obeying the Bible. Your Bible will give you SPIRITUAL eyesight. Without it, your life will get trashed. Think about how foolish it is to claim to be listening to the Holy Spirit, and you have no interest in the Bible, you don’t read God’s word, and your life doesn’t resemble anything written in the word. Do you think the Holy Spirit is the spirit that’s leading you around? No. We have mortal bodies, mortal eyes. God’s word gives you spiritual eyes, the Holy Spirit will guide you through and in accordance with God’s word. he bares witness of Jesus, his work in your life is to transform you, renew you all in Christ’s likeness, to sanctify you to enable you. He makes us spiritually alive to God, because if you are not born again you are spiritually dead, completely dead to God, alienated by your sins. We are utterly deceptive, sinful, let God shine his light in your heart today. 2 Corinthians 4:6 – For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. And that Word through history, through generations, throughout the world has been consistent… the same Word… Jesus the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last.

Back to the famine, we see a famine in 2 Kings 6:25 – And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver. And in this famine, people now cling to ass’s head and dove’s dung. They go to churches and cling to whatever ass’s head and dove’s dung some wishy washy, hireling teacher/pastor feeds them. And they think it’s so great. Wow, church was great today! Psalms 137:1-4 – By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land? Surely you long for something more as a saved person. Something of SUBSTANCE. Ezekiel 33:11 – Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Many people have been carried off into a strange land today.  Christians wandering in the wilderness, just like the Israelites did… never entering the promised land. Dying out in the wilderness. Not obtaining promises. The Bible says God was not well pleased with them, they provoked God with their unbelief, they murmured, they turned away in their hearts, they had hard hearts and stiff necks, they rebelled, they committed idolatry, they committed fornication, they rejected God’s word, they had no repentance, they didn’t truly believe… DESPITE everything God did for them! Christianity today has been wasted, sacked, the congregations are not feeding on the word of God, but instead they’re feeding on the ass’s head and the dove’s dung. And not only that, there is a great price on it. The ass’s head and dove’s dung were highly valuable! How can it all get to this state!? Couldn’t be this way today could it? But it is. People are highly valuing today that which has no value AT ALL. People are seeking, searching for fulfillment and truth… but as Jesus said in John 5:40 – And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. People don’t want the Lord Jesus Christ. They won’t come to Jesus, in fact they will try anything and everything else BAR what the Bible says. Just like Naamaan would’ve done. He got angry at Elisha’s simple command to dip in the Jordan river seven times to be cleansed of his leprosy. 2 Kings 5:13 – And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? As Jesus asked, wilt thou be clean? It’s simple. Just repent and believe the gospel. You don’t need to do something fantastic, have amazing experiences, spend a lifetime seeking God.

When we are saved, born again of the Spirit of God, we should hunger and thirst after the word. Because that’s how we grow. 1 Peter 2:2 – As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. So we repent, believe, are born again … and then have a life to live. We now love Jesus, we WANT to obey him and do his will… and his will for us, what he wants us to do and how to live is found in his… Word. He is the Word. His word is our food, we hunger for it, our relationship and fellowship grows with him through abiding in his word. Our lives are transformed as we read and believe and obey the Bible. He doesn’t leave us alone, he comes to us, we receive the Comforter, he gives us the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who births a new creature us… who enlightens us and teaches us all things… who reveals Jesus to us… who both makes his word alive and enables us to obey God’s word.

People may or may not be saved… but then they get entangled in what they were brought out from. God saved the people out of the land of Egypt, but then they wanted to go back. They got sick of the manna. Manna means “what is it?”. Is God’s word “what is it” to you today? Or do you know God’s word. If you have the Holy Spirit, and a sincere, humble heart you should start KNOWING things. And Israel went back to their old ways. 2 Peter 2:20-22 : For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

How does this happen? Well 2 Peter is a great chapter on false prophets, false teachers… the Bible describes them as wells without water. And teachers and pastors today are wells without water. They talk emptiness, they waffle, they waste their time and YOURS, there’s no word of God, no authority. The Bible says they are clouds carried of a tempest, and these people just like their congregations are carried and tossed around by every lie of the devil, but in Ephesians 4:14 – That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. Heed Colossians 2:8 – Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Beware Christian! There are plenty of wolves out there, in sheep’s clothing! Look at the fruit of your life, look what’s been produced, honestly look at where you are at, consider your ways.

When will we grow up? Jesus said of John the Baptist, he was a rough old man, he preached it hard and straight, he preached repentance… Luke 7:24 – And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? John was not a reed shaken with the wind, but Christianity today is. Are you going with the wind? There is no grounding in the sure, pure, preserved Word of God.So these false teachers, these worthless hireling preachers and prophets today… how do they do it? Well they hook you like this. 2 Peter 2:18,19 – For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. False teachers cater to your lusts, they tell you what you want to hear, smooth words… and the end result is you will be entangled… just like in Proverbs the flatterer who casts his net and catches you… and you will return to your vomit, you will wallow in the mire.

You refuse preaching… but preaching is how people are saved. Romans 10:14,15 – How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 1 Corinthians 1:21 – For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. But how do you receive preaching? Because truth is extended, but then it comes back to your heart. How do you react to preaching, to the declaration of truth… of God’s word? Acts 2:37 – Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Maybe you will be pricked in the heart, but you will receive it? Will you receive the truth? 2 Thessalonians 2:10 – And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. If you don’t love the truth, you won’t be saved.

You may respond like this. Luke 6;11 – And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus. The truth makes you mad? The gospel offends you? John 6:61 – When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? John 6:66 – From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. There’s other ways you may respond. Luke 4:28,29 – And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. There were different responses in Acts 17:32-34 – And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. Are you a … I’ll hear you again (and I’ll hear you again is not good enough! Don’t put it off… putting it off is the same as saying no… you put it off, guaranteed you will NEVER be saved… there will never the a “convenient season”… mark it down) … or will you CLEAVE unto the truth, lay hold on it… as certain men did?

You may be this. Acts 26:28 – Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Are you an almost? Almost won’t get it done, sorry. Jesus said in Revelation… I would that ye were hot or cold. Lukewarm is spewable… and Jesus will spew a lukewarm person out his mouth. Because there is no middle ground. You’re either FOR him, or AGAINST him. Jesus said that. Here is a common reaction. Stephen preached to the Jews, and the truth whacked them very hard. Acts 7:57-59 – Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. So you have a decision to make… will you harden your heart… or soften your heart? Your call. Pharaoh’s heart hardened, Cain’s heart hardened. Are you hardening up, more and more. Tightly shut up to God. Stopping your ears? It’s easy to resist… pride resists God. Job 41:15-17 – His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

Anyway, I have digressed a lot! The Bible says in 1 Samuel that the Word of God was precious in those days. The Word of God is precious today. What a shame to so many people. And many people will be ashamed and embarrassed at judgement. But that will be the least of your worries, because apart from embarrassment and shame… you will be cast out if you are a fake, a phoney… doesn’t matter how good a show you put on in this life time. Matthew 22:12 – And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.  We are all guilty, we all need to be saved, we all need to be born again, we all need to live right… not be to be saved… but because we ARE saved. We are saved by grace through faith, that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any many should boast. That’s TRUTH! But someone that’s truly saved is changed, there should be evidences of your salvation. And sure, life does happen, life does get messy absolutely, we can do a good old job of destroying our lives. But it’s time to wake up. The past is gone, deal with the past, get your sin under the blood, and press on.

It’s a good thing to shut our mouths, stop our bluster and pretense and self excusing and self justification and humble ourselves before God. Romans 3:19 – Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Job 40:4 – Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. God is holy, everything is naked and open unto the eyes of him. You won’t slip anything by him. Judgement is going to be terrible. That’s why Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:11… Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. Hebrews 12:25 – See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven. The same God of the Old is God of the New. Hebrews 12:21 – And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:). If Moses, a man who spoke to God face to face, who spoke as a friend of God… feared and quaked exceedingly, how much more should we? Where is the fear of God? 1 Peter 4:18 – And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? We are SCARCELY saved, and it took the holy, pure blood of the Lord Jesus, a Lamb without spot or blemish. That’s why 2 Peter 1:10 – Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. 2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? Are you a reprobate???

We all become numb to the message, used to it, immune to the truth. The people of Israel did. They got SICK of Moses. They had contempt for him. They got USED to the manna and started loathing it. Think about all they saw, the signs and wonders and miracles… yet still they did not believe. John 12:37,38 – But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? You can have all the experiences in the world, see all the sights, and still you won’t believe. Because ultimately you believe God’s word or not. Simple as that. They saw the Red Sea part, these same people who wasted out in the wilderness, who PROVOKED God.

We are so used to it all, used to church, used to playing religion. Familiarity breeds contempt… Eli’s sons had utter contempt for their position in the priesthood. 1 Samuel 2:22 – Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. They caused God’s name to be blasphemed, people abhorred going to the tabernacle, people saw it was all a big joke. They had seen it all, they knew it all, they were in the PRIESTHOOD, serving Holy God, the Creator of the Universe. Big danger growing up in Christianity… we can become very familiar, very used to holy things, just as they did. Uzziah touched the ark… and God struck him dead. The Philistines looked inside the ark, and God struck them dead. God is Holy. He is more Holy than he is Love. How can I say that? Well God loves you, he loves you so much he sent his Son to die for you. But you will go to hell. Because he is Holy. We have all sinned. Unless you repent of your sins and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life, unless you are washed by his blood, unless you RECEIVE him and what he’s done for you you will go to hell. He loves you, but he won’t pervert justice and judgement for you. Sin must be dealt with. And yet here they are. Eli’s two sons, wicked, wicked sons, but playing church. And they had a high position as well. And Eli protested a bit, but he did not restrain his sons, he compromised with them and the Bible says they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them. Is that you today, literally a dead man or woman walking? You’ve pushed God too far?

Is God hid from you? 2 Corinthians 4:3 – But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. Are you lost? Truth is hidden? God’s voice has finished with you? Just living out your days? Have you missed your day of visitation? Jesus in Luke 19:41-44 – And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. Israel missed their day of visitation, thousands of years ago. What a terrible price they have paid throughout history for rejecting God. Is this going to be your story? Such a great opportunity… all missed? Such waste! Israel had its king there and then, but they rejected him, they knew him not… and Jesus wept over Jerusalem… Jerusalem’s spiritual state was completely bankrupt… despite the magnificent temple and the religious people being so good!! A wonderful exterior that hid a dead interior. Completely dry and barren spiritually. Jesus said in Matthew 23:37 – O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

We can get really numb to God. The gospel preached, and it doesn’t faze us a bit. Ephesians 4:19 – Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Are you “past feeling”, you don’t feel anything anymore? You’re just living your life, the gospel means nothing, Jesus is dirt to you. It’s not just to believe Jesus existed, was a good person, and died and rose. Do you have saving faith? Heart belief? Have you received HIM and what he’s done for you? Forgiveness is extended to all, few actually GRAB it. Hebrews 10:29 – Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? What about this, is your conscience seared? You’ve spent so much of your life living and going your own way, that your conscience doesn’t even bother you anymore? 1 Timothy 4:2 – Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. It’s not people don’t know, the Bible says we all have the knowledge of God, we all are without excuse, Jesus created you, you will know your Creator when you stand before him, but has your heart become vain and darkened? You’ve gone your own way so much, you don’t know any different, you do wrong and feel nothing? Romans 1:21 – Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Has the Holy Spirit moved on your heart, moved upon the deep, the deep of your soul, but you say no God. The cost is too great. Esau didn’t value that which was eternally valuable, meanwhile these people in the famine in Samaria were literally paying an arm and a leg for something as worthless as dove’s dung! How twisted our thinking is! That’s why we are not meant to lean unto our own understanding…. that’s why God is true and ever man a liar. God’s word is right. Read the Word and let God put you in your right mind, and you’ll start making GOOD decisions! The possessed man of the Gadarenes was clothed and in his right mind after Jesus cast Legion out of him. But this is the problem. We are numb, cold, immune to truth. We are seared, not tender. Ephesians 4:30 – And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 – Quench not the Spirit. Nabal was a fool, he had his chance, he showed direspect and utter contempt for king David, who had done him so much good! He rewarded good with evil… the Bible says WOE to those that do that. And God’s been so good to us, but we reward him with evil. We say, nah don’t need your Son’s blood. Thanks but no thanks. And you can assent to God, but living your own way, your life is SPEAKING that to God, even if you don’t SAY it. Remember your life speaks more than your words. 2 Corinthians 3:2 – Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men. People are watching. The Bible says this – 1 Samuel 25:37 – But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died. Is your heart stone? You’re completely closed for business? God’s done with you?

There was another man who got blessed, God used, God moved upon, but he REJECTED God’s word, he disobeyed God’s word. Saul. He was a joke, he said he obeyed but he didn’t, his heart was far from God. 1 Samuel 15:35 – And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel. 1 Samuel 16:14 – But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. God was finished with Saul, Saul began to seek God but God was done with him (and he was still a fake!!) and Saul ended up consulting a witch, he got so messed up, he was mad, he ended up in hell. There was another man who pushed God too far… he went BEYOND… and it’s a scary place to go beyond something. Belshazzar. He had utter contempt, disrespect for God. He was partying using the holy things of the temple that taken when Babylon took Israel into captivity. And so we can do that. We love our parties, revellings, living it up, but we don’t have value and reverence and fear of the Lord. We even use holy things, put holy names to our own sin, to our own lasciviousness. Daniel 5:5 – In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Daniel 5:6 – Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. Daniel gave the interpretation, and God had said Belshazzar was done. He was weighed in the balances and found wanting. God weighs us all in the balances… are you WANTING?

You’re not too special to go to hell. God spared not the angels, he spared not the old world (of Noah’s day), he spared not Sodom and Gomorrah… he spared not Israel… he spared not… HIS OWN SON. You think he will spare you? If you are not saved, you are going to hell. Period. 2 Peter 2:5 – And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly. There was a day when that door of the ark was shut. Jesus said he is the door. He is the door to eternal life. He is Jacob’s ladder. He is the way, the truth, the life, the only way to the Father. NO MAN cometh to the Father but by him. That door is open today. Revelation 22:17 – And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  But is he shut to you? Because there will be a time, God knows, when that door is shut. And once shut… you’re done. Revelation 3:7 – And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth. Genesis 7:16 – And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. Don’t take God’s grace for granted. You think you’re getting by in life. The eternal mistake so many have made and do make of thinking God’s not there because they’re sinning and nothings happening… the longsuffering of God is waiting for you. But as God says, judgement lingers not, damnation slumbers not. And in Revelation 22:11 – He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.  Once you die, it’s done. If you are unjust now, you will be forever unjust, filthy now, forever filthy… hell and then the lake of fire your home for eternity. No second chances… ever.

How long since God spoke to you? Do you hear his voice? Eli didn’t hear God’s voice much anymore. It took the boy Samuel. God moved on. God will move on from you. Don’t think you’re too important. Job had three wise friends, but they were put to shame but a young man, Elihu. Job 32:9 – Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. It’s the Spirit of God that makes us wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A babe can have more wisdom than an ancient. God loves you, he can use you… there was a man of God in 1 Kings 13 who God used, but he disobeyed God, and a lion killed him. Chapters later, we see Elijah pop on the scene. The nameless man of God, God dealt with. God can and will take you out. 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 – Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. Are you weak? Are you sickly? Is your sleep (death) coming? Because you claim to be a Christian but live like a devil? Do you know the voice of the shepherd? If you don’t read your Bible… you won’t know his voice. You’ll follow any voice. Do you know HIS voice. This is what God’s voice is like.

1 Kings 19:11 – And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

1 Kings 19:12 – And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

1 Kings 19:13 -And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

You want experiences? Feelings? You after sensual, fuzzy, mystical feelings, divine interactions? Feelings, emotions are part of life, but that’s not what God’s voice is. His is a still, small voice. God wasn’t in the wind, the earthquake, the fire. And he asks you … What doest thou here <your name>? What are you doing. Where are you at. This is also what God’s voice sounds like. Genesis 3:8.9 – And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? Do you think God knew the answers to those questions. Yes. Genesis 4:9 – And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? God asks you questions today, to get you thinking, to see where your heart is at. He knows your heart already. And if you abide in his word, as we are commanded to, you will hear his voice. It’s not something weird and freaky, it’s a still, small voice. It’s an unmistakable voice. John 10:27,28 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. The Holy Spirit will guide you into truth, and in accordance to the Word of God. People all over the world “hearing” things, “seeing” things, but their words and deeds completely contradict the word of God. You don’t see the ministry of the Holy Ghost much today, particularly in… churches. 2 Corinthians 3:17 – Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. True liberty, not the false liberty “I can do whatever I want”… no that’s turning God’s grace into lasciviousness. If you are truly saved, God will clean you up, he will transform you, he will renew you. You will be changed… after all being born again is CHANGE. We still battle the world, the flesh, the devil… and we do have this treasure in earthen vessels, but its time to… like the prodigal son… come to ourselves. He came to himself… will you? he came to himself in a far country, he realized what he’d done. He repented. The Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of Jesus Christ. What’s your life looking life? You read your Bible, you humble yourself before his Majesty… you’ll start hearing from God. Simple.

Just as Joseph opened all the storehouses in Egypt when the famine came, and was able to provide food during the famine, so Jesus wants to open the word to you today. He is the only one in existence worthy to open the book in Revelation 5. He’s given you his Holy Spirit, if you are born again. You can feed off the king’s table, the Canaanite woman of Jesus’ day said the dogs eat the crumbs off the table. If only we had that attitude and placed that value on God’s word. He will ENABLE you to live right. That’s his grace. He will transform your thinking. Abide in Him. Maybe you’re that axehead that’s flown off the handle in 2 Kings 6. 2 Kings 6:5 – But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. Maybe you’ve been lying down in the bottom of the muddy Jordan river for a long time now. It’s time for rescuing, for revival. Jesus is here today to make that axehead swim, to bring you out the depths, because you and I are helpless down there, we need divine help, divine power. 2 Kings 6:6 – And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. You need the stick put in the water. Cast the stick into your life. The stick is the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:14 – But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 1 Corinthians 1:18 – For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. We should never grow tired of Jesus, or of the cross, or of his word. That’s signs you’re slipping if you are. It is all about Jesus. Ask him to revive you, and he will. Revelation 22:10 – And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. The time is at hand. It’s time to awake. But will you slumber on?

People say don’t judge me! And people talk like judgement between them and God will be a time of negotiation and discussion. A compromise will be found. No it won’t. John 12:48 – He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. We know how the judgement is going to go already. God has warned us, he had warned you. The books are opened, and you are judged according to the book. God keeps good records. And this is the record. And if your name is not found in the book of life you will be cast into the lake of fire which burns forever and ever. If you are saved, you will also be judged, your soul will be saved, but if your works, if your whole life has been wasted, all your works will be burnt up, but your soul will be saved. You will bear eternal cost for being so negligent. A few years of pleasure down here costing you eternally. It doesn’t seem like a good investment. Lot made a bad investment. He invested his life, his family, his finances, his desires, his occupation, his career in Sodom… and it all was destroyed. Wisdom is found in the Bible. It’s God’s word. What is wiser than building your life on God’s word? Seriously. God has revealed his will to you through his word. He’s told you what to do. So that it will go well for us. The Bible says his commandments are not grievous. He wants good for you. He is a good Father. He loves you. He gives you abundant life. His word has authority, his word is with power, his word is what goes. There is nothing wiser than heeding the word of God. The first verse quoted from Haggai is God saying consider your ways. Because Israel neglected what was most important. They got the order of their life wrong. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 7:24 – Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Matthew 7:25 – And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Matthew 7:26 – And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

Matthew 7:27 – And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

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